"I really appreciate this. Teaching me the ropes."
"No problem Angela. It might save your life some day." If I'm not there to do it personally.
An awkward standoff ensued. Angela looked up and down the corridor and broke first.
"Would you like to come in for coffee?" She looked shyly up from a curtain of shiny darkness. Is she using a new conditioner? Do I say something?
"Coffee would be great." Take your hands out of your pockets, she'll think you're up to no good. Am I?A slight grin, a breathed laugh. Always.
Her parted lips formed a pleasant smile and she casually unlocked the door.
"It's a bit cluttered, I've been meaning to go through everything..." She folded her arms, expecting criticism.
"My place is worse, really." 'Cept I don't have a "crazy-wall" of paranormal stuff. She even used red wool to connect the pins, like in the movies. How cute. Constantine took his jacket off and looked for a place to put it, glancing up at the altogether new sound of a giggle from Angela. "What?"
" You fold your clothes."
"So?"
"Just unexpected."
He frowned and sat down with a faux grumpiness. People always had to compare him to what was normal, or what was right. Who sets up those rules anyhow?
"I hope we can be good friends again" Angela admitted after empty small talk.
"Hmph. I thought we were. But if you're going down that route, I'm far too sober for that conversation." He took out a flask and tapped it to his coffee cup. Again. And again. When it was empty, which didn't take long, a repetitive clinking filled the apartment. He looked up to see her blank and vaguely confused. "Sorry." He downed the entire cup in one long go.
"That can't be good for you."
"The things we want rarely are."
"So now your lungs are fine you're going to start on your liver?"
"Are you trying to tell me what to do?"
"No. I'm not stupid. I'm trying to figure you out."
"Good luck. Shrinks and-" he air-quoted, "divinity, have been doing that for a long time. Trying to find me, figure me out and break me."
"Do you hide?" she asked, wide-eyed and curious, lower lip jutting out appealingly.
He sat back on the couch, surprised she had asked.
"I mean it sounds reasonable that a person would hide" she tried to clarify, pursing those lips.
"You choose your battles. Sometimes, especially as a human, you need to take some time to heal, to plan, to prepare." He grinned, and sang "only fools... rush in..."
She laughed, closing her eyes momentarily and raising her shoulders like she always did when she laughed. "If it's singing we'll be doing, then I'm the one who needs a stiffer drink." She sauntered to a small dark wood cabinet and poured herself some red wine. Winking over at him, she downed that glassful in one and poured herself another. Walking over to the couch with the bottle in one hand and glass in another she leaned over him, stopping inches short of John's face. "Can I tempt you?" She began teasingly and finished seriously.
They saw one another differently. Psychic to psychic. Man to woman, woman to man. Lust clashing in a met-held look. John crossed the divide, the air perfumed with tension and his lips found soft new playmates in hers. No urgency, a languid play of pink warmth.
He heard her put down the bottle and felt a slight pull as she gently placed her glass on the table. Then her hands went straight to his neck, the fingertips in his hair. At this, he pulled her closely, held her tightly until she made a noise of urgency. He eased somewhat, broke the bond of their lips and whispered "Bedroom."
She changed the momentum, gravitating towards a door behind her. John nearly tripped as she silently slipped her shoes off into his path, but neither of them cared, even enough to laugh. He took the reminder to slip off his own, beginning to unbutton her shirt and slipping the linen off the fine curves of her shoulders. When he met resistance in the slow dance as flesh met architecture, he pushed her against the door and slightly up, held her there firmly by the wrists.
She moved a leg, initially brushing John's thigh, he growled until she pushed the door handle downward with her knee. John caught her before she fell onto the floor and carried her to the bed, slowly lowering her. He deftly kissed her neck, quickly removing his socks with one hand while she pulled at his tie.
"John" she whispered.
She was far noisier, later.