It was a little weird how you followed this guy, that you had pretty much pushed away from you just a few days ago. Far way from you, so you could give yourself a break. And here you were, getting yourself into it again. And this time you couldn't even blame anyone else. It was awkward, actually. You had never been the type that got into trouble much, or act so careless. But since you were here, you have been acting like another person.

Gabriel was still walking in front of you, not saying a word since he refused to give you your clothes back. He hadn't even turned around a single time. It was a strange atmosphere, and you began to wonder if he was sore after all. You actually were kind of stalking him now. On the other hand, how could he complain? He was following you first. And you still wanted your outfit back.

After walking a while, you had reached a part of the city that you had never seen before. There was a shopping district ahead, with colorful lights and signs everywhere. You were gazing at the scene in pure amazement, when Gabriel suddenly turned left and entered a shop. Quickly you ran after him, and before you knew it, you stood inside an incredible candy store, called 'Sugar Heaven'. It was huge and filled with colorful, sweet treats from the floor up to the ceiling. It was almost surreal. A child's wildest dream. Well, or a trickster's. Gabriel had taken one of the shopping baskets at the entrance and was already busy filling it with all kinds of chocolate, cookies, gummy bears and other diabetes-friendly goodies. You were not sure what to do or say, other than to keep on watching him.

»Pick some things.« He suddenly turned to you, pointing into his basket.

»Uhm... uh?«

»You will get hungry following me all night.«

He put the basket on the ground, suggesting you should put things into it. Your face just turned a little red again, feeling as if you were caught in some way.

»I mean it, come on.« He grabbed you by the hand quickly, and pulled you to a large shelf with chocolate bars.

You didn't know where to look first. They had everything you could imagine.

»So, what's your favorite?« He swung himself in front of the shelf, as if he was some kind of salesman on TV.

You had to smile a bit, thinking he would do great as such.

»Oh...eh... I... I don't know.«

»Come on! Everyone has a favorite chocolate!« He grimaced.

»Well... uhm... maybe one with... nuts?«

»Peanuts, hazelnuts, pecan nuts, pistachios, almonds?« Gabriel enumerated, like he wanted to find the chocolate of your life.

»... hazelnuts... I guess...?«

»What kind of chocolate?« He seemed to have fun with this.

»Hmm... milk chocolate.«

Like an expert, he pulled a bar from the shelf and held it in front of you, before throwing it into his basket.

»Not very creative, but it's a start.«

He raised his brows before pulling you further. After like ten minutes he had dragged you through the whole store, making you choose between all sorts of candy flavors. You had never seen anyone buying so many treats at once. But he was probably a regular customer here. After paying, he carried two big plastic bags out of the store. It was a funny picture and it made you laugh a bit inside. This grown man with enough sweets to to feed a whole school class, having happiness written all over his face. You just kept on walking, expecting him to head back home now. But he took another path, away from the shopping mile. He made his way through residential areas and quiet streets and finally reached a little park. All the way you didn't ask anything. You just wanted to see what happened next. Gabriel stepped onto the grass and found himself a nice spot under a white willow. He let the bags drop and sat down, leaning against the tree. It was a beautiful, lonely place, but you wouldn't wanna be here alone at that time. You slowly sat down as well, watching Gabriel unwrap a Bounty. The first thing you saw, when looking into your bag, were some cookies, so you decided to try them.

»So... you think that... 'lesson' worked?« You asked, opening the package.

»I don't know, tell me.« He took a bite from his treat.

You raised a brow in confusion.

»What do you mean...?«

Gabriel smiled slightly, while chewing.

»That lesson wasn't just for Miranda.«

»Woah... wait. You are saying it was for...me?«

What the hell was going on here? The guy was just grinning at you.

»I took you to work. Now tell me, is it so bad, what I do?«

»Putting bugs in someone's dinner, I guess no. Chopping someone's head of, well, yes!«

Your voice had a far more serious sound to it now, and Gabriel seemed to notice that. He breathed out and and looked at the ground for a moment.

»You see... I give bad people the chance to become better.« He tilted his head to the side, looking like a teacher. »Some change, and that's great. Every human can change. I saw that. And I believe in it.«

Your expression didn't change much, as you listened.

»But some... just don't. And those... they pay.«

For a moment, the look in his eyes frightened you again. You actually wondered, if you had ever done something mean enough for Gabriel to make you 'pay'.

»You should thank me. Soon you'll have burgers for lunch again.«

Sometimes his comments were so silly, you just had to smile.

»If not... Miranda will wake up with one hell of a rash, next week.«

You couldn't prevent yourself from grinning at that imagination, and Gabriel laughed as he noticed that. You realized that you really didn't know what to think of all that anymore. What was it that he was doing? How were you supposed to feel about that? He was killing people. The bad ones, but still. It was vigilantism. Murder. Yet you liked him, there was no denying that. Just looking at him, made your pulse speed up. If he was a human being, you would seriously consider him a potential partner.

You never had that specific thought before. It was a little awkward. Anyway, unlike you, he wasn't human.

So it was pointless.

»Are there... more... of your kind?« You were curious.

»Sure.«

»And... do you have like... a family...?«

»Hmm... yes.« He answered, looking up, as if he thought of someone.

You were a little surprised. Imagining him with family members was a weird picture.

»How... are they?«

He opened a bag of skittles before he spoke.

»Well... I have brothers. But... they are kind of dicks when they are together, so... «

»They hate each other?«

»No! … No, not really. They're just... different.«

Something about Gabriel changed in front of your eyes. His whole expression became so different. There seemed to be a side of him, you hadn't seen yet.

»Do you see them?«

»It's been a while since I last saw any of them...«

»Are they... like you...?«

You imagined a bunch of Gabriels, fighting at a cake buffet.

He just laughed a bit.

»They wouldn't go shopping with you, sugar.«

Wow. If Gabriel was so sweet to you, and yet killed people, how would his brothers be? You really didn't want to find that out.

»Listen, sweetheart... I personally, like humans.« He put the candy back into his bag.

»... especially you.«

You blushed once more, at that sudden statement.

»I won't hurt you. I won't even bother you, if you say so.« He got on his feet and helped you get up.

»I do what I do. You can live on, fearless, never seeing me again.«

Your eyes met his, as you stood up.

»Or you can visit me and Archie for more cake, candy and excitement. That's up to you.«

You looked down at your feet, not sure what to say. You had made that decision before, but here you were again. Was it even possible to simply be friends with Gabriel? Could you really push aside the thought of the cruel things he did? Being with him felt so good. But thinking about it all was so complicated.

»... can you bring me home...?«

»Of course, sugar.«

Hey people! :) In case that will be deleted for being the wrong format, you can still read at deviantart username NESSASAN