Giving and Taking
"Just put those on the counter," Gabriel said, motioning to the stack of dishes Alicia was carrying. He stood with his arms elbow deep in murky dish water.
"Want me to dry?" Alicia asked, after putting the dishes down. She dipped her hands into the clear rinse water, pulling out a plate.
"No that's okay. You should go to bed. I can finish this." Gabriel took the plate out of her hands. Suds from his large palms spread over the clean dish.
Alicia looked through the hall to the small bedroom of their hotel suite. Then to the living room that connected to the tiny kitchen where they stood. The rooms were so close together, if she took four steps away from the sink she'd run into the sleeper sofa that served as Gabriel's bed. She pursed her lips thinking of how uncomfortable that bed must be for him. Her own bed wasn't that great.
"You're the one who needs the sleep. Not me." She looked at the dark circles that seemed to be permanently imbedded under her friend's eyes.
"Right. I'm the one who practically kills myself every day taking powers from people."
Alicia looked at the gun laying on the counter by the stack of dishes she had just laid down. She wondered, not for the first time, why he insisted on carrying it. It wasn't like it was going to do any good against the kind of people they faced. He was just going to get himself killed.
"Now, go on," Gabriel said, flicking a few suds at her.
She smiled but didn't move. He turned his back to her and started washing the dishes again.
Why didn't he just ask for a power. If he one they would be equals. As it was, she felt like the all powerful superhero and he was little more than her butler.
Four months had gone by, Alicia kept waiting for Gabriel to ask for a power, but he never did. He seemed content to be her human man-servant.
"No more," she whispered. She placed her hand on his back, her finger tips touching the nape of his neck. Sifting through her arsenal of ever growing powers she chose "instant freeze" for him.
Electricity passed between them and the gift flowed into him.
Gabriel spun around, taking hold of Alicia's wrist.
"Take it back!" he said, is voice hitting her like a stone.
"Why?" Alicia asked, shaking her hand free. He let it go easily.
"Alicia. Take it back. I don't want it."
"Gabe, be reasonable. It's been months. We've collected dozens of powers, you can take one."
"I don't want one! I don't want any!" He looked more angry than she had ever seen him.
"I can't be trusted with them…" his voice trailed off into a whisper.
"Yes, you can. You don't have The Hunger, in you anymore. You can have as many as you want now."
Gabriel fell down to his knees his wet hands dripping on the pale carpet with little thumps. "Please," he said, he sounded tired and defeated.
"If you don't take it. I'll just have to get another partner."
He looked up at her with hurt in his eyes.
"I won't have your blood on my hands," Alicia said, trying to sound confident.
"I won't have your's on mine either." They both knew his words had a different meaning than hers.
Alicia got down on her knees so that they were eye to eye. She put her hands on his shoulders. "Gabriel, I just want you safe and that stupid gun of your's isn't going to do it."
He smiled at her, not her favorite toothy grin, but a sad slow smile. "The gun isn't to protect me. It's to protect you. You may worry that I'm only human, but it's the only thing that keeps me from worrying."
His hands found their way to her face making her cheeks wet. He rubbed his thumbs across her eyes and cheeks.
"You're a good man, Gabriel. I can see it even now."
"It doesn't matter. I still don't want it. If I die then I die. But I'll die a man… Not a monster."
His wet finger tips continued to trace every line in her face. He had never touched her so tenderly before.
"Alright." Alicia, with her hands still on his shoulder, took the power back from him. The shock ran through them, but they stayed where they were; holding on to each other to keep from falling backwards.
When it was gone, Gabriel gave her that favored smile, the one that sent thrills through her chest.
"Thank you," he said. Then he let go of her and got to his feet.
Water splashed around the sink as he got back to work.
Alicia watched his back for a long time, his muscular arms deep in grimy water. She slowly got to her feet and went to the rinsing sink. She grabbed the same plate as before and taking a clothe started drying it.
"Let me-" he said, but she cut him off.
"If you won't let us be equals in power than we are at least going to be equals in menial labor."
He smiled at her, his chocolate eyes crinkling at the edges. "Whatever you say." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head.