Dichotomy

Summary: He will destroy her. It's the one thing about him that she can say for certain. Chuck/Vanessa

Setting: season 2 (around the era of "Remains of the J")

A/N: this one is more Nate/Vanessa and I'm not quite sure if it fits exactly... but enjoy anyways.

division.

"Can we talk?"

She should say no, she knows, but she doesn't think she will ever be able to refuse Nate Archibald of anything that he asks her to do. It's actually kind of (extremely) pathetic, and she feels her cheeks flush with a poorly disguised embarrassment.

"About what?" she asks him carefully; she doesn't want to seem too curious, too interested. Vanessa takes a sip from the glass she's holding before coming to her senses and remembering that she absolutely hates champagne.

"Come for a walk with me? Please?"

She should hesitate, she knows, but in spite of what Vanessa has told Chuck, she doesn't know anyone here and that fact alone makes her nervous and uneasy. Almost unreasonably so. She can still feel the eyes of Blair's minions on her, questioning her motives. Besides, she may not want to admit it, but it does feel good to be the holder of Nate's full attention for once.

"Fine." She shrugs, setting her drink on the table and feigning indifference as she stands to follow him.

Nate ushers her out onto the sidewalk, politely waving away the driver who opens up the door to the backseat of a limo.

He places his arm around her shoulder, forgetting for a moment, it seems, that it is not his place to do that, not anymore. She won't deny that she misses it; Vanessa wraps her arms around herself, a poor substitution for his.

He's silent for a full two minutes and seconds before he opens his mouth, she feels her guard go up. "I've been a little... concerned about you."

She scoffs in disbelief at Nate's gall, taking a step away from him and crossing her arms defiantly across her chest. "Don't be. I'm fine."

"Do you really think that Chuck cares that much about you?"

The accusation makes her bristle, though the reasoning why she feels so slighted is a little hazy. Probably because what Nate said could very well be true. "You don't know him as well as you seem to think, Nate."

"And neither do you. Ness, just listen to me—"

The nickname makes Vanessa feel nostalgic, something she can't afford to deal with right now. "Nate. Stop. You don't have the right to worry about me anymore, remember?" She is attempting to sound distant and detached, but she's sure he can sense the bitchiness that has crept into her tone.

"Don't be like that," he begs. Good, she thinks evilly and a fleeting sense of pleasure washes over her, but seconds later Vanessa is starting to wonder just what the hell has gotten into her. It doesn't feel good to see Nate suffer, but at the same time... it does.

God, she's so fucked up.

"Is Blair aware of your concerns?"

He flinches, although it happens so fast and he covers it up so well Vanessa is almost convinced she imagined it. "Why does that matter?"

"Of course it matters, Nate!"

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, but—"

"Trust me, you didn't."

"But it's not like you were completely honest with me, either."

There's nothing Vanessa can say to that, not really. She closes her eyes, hands holding on tightly to opposite elbows and sighs. "I'm sorry."

"Me, too." Her eyes are still closed- she thinks, some part of her is too busy fighting off tears - when she feels Nate step towards her, his hands on her hips, his mouth pressing against hers. He parts her lips with his tongue, briefly, before Vanessa takes a step back, shaking her head.

"You should go back inside, Nate. Before Blair notices you're gone."

It seems that everything between them is destined to be brief.