Author: Eleantris

Title: Drifting

Rating: T

Hello everyone! T'is Eleantris here... You may recognise me from such stories as A Scarlet Letter, Broken Hearts and Twisted Minds, and An Illusion of Life...haha, hi. :P Anyway, I wrote this for the 'Boredom' prompt, I hope you enjoy it! And don't forget to review this and all the other stories for this prompt challenge too! :D

"You know what your problem is, Bols?"

Alex lazily flicked her eyes up to meet Gene's gaze and gave a small, clumsy shake of the head. Her chin was resting sloppily in one hand, propped up at the elbow on their corner table in Luigi's, and she had been staring morosely into the half empty glass of wine that rested by her other hand. A moody pout worthy of the man sitting across from her was resting on her lips.

"What?" she said, the 't' slurring slightly at the end.

"You don't do anything but work and get pissed," Gene said, leaning back in his chair and regarding her with a steady gaze. "That's why yer so bored, Bolly. Yer need a hobby."

A bright spark of indignation came into Alex's eyes at that, which until that point had been glazed over with the after effects of too much alcohol and not enough sleep. She sat up straighter, removing her chin from her hand to narrow her eyes at him.

"All I do is work and get pissed?" She gave an unladylike snort and reached for her wine glass, downing what remained of its contents in one. "Says the one."

"Yes but I was designed for it, Bolly," Gene told her, affecting wisdom and watching her as she looked groggily around Luigi's. It was late, the lighting dimmed, and the only people left were them and Luigi himself, who was stood cleaning glasses behind the bar and shooting them furtive glances, probably wondering when or if they were ever going to leave. "You on the other 'and need something more exciting t' occupy the brains in that pretty little head of yours."

Swivelling said head back round to rest her sceptical gaze on him once more, Alex huffed out a sigh and raised her eyebrows. "Oh and here I was thinking sitting here all night with the infamous Gene Hunt was the epitome of excitement!" She shrugged sarcastically and shifted as though she was making a move to get up and go. "Well, if you'd rather I find a more interesting drinking partner then I'd be happy to call this charming young man I met the other week who – "

She was interrupted by Gene grabbing hold of her wrist and tugging, resulting in her dropping back down into her chair with a soft thump. "Don't you dare," he growled. "Thought you'd 'ave satisfied your appetite for thatcherite wankers by now, Bolly."

"Well if you don't want me around then…"

To her surprise, he didn't let go of her wrist at that, but gripped it tighter. Her gaze moved to meet his and she was met by a renewed intensity in the stormy depths of his eyes. Unconsciously, she wet her lips, feeling herself locked to him. When he spoke, his voice was slightly softer than before, although still possessing that rough northern edge that she secretly loved so much.

"I just meant that I can understand why yer might be bored, Bols, sitting around 'ere with me every night and doing nothing."

The flicker of a frown created a small indent between her eyebrows as she looked at him, surprised. She felt him relax his grip on her wrist slightly and her gaze couldn't help but move to briefly glance at the way his long fingers were loosely curled there, just brushing her skin, her pulse point, and she suddenly became more aware of the blood flowing through her veins, her heart pumping it that little bit faster, sending it racing past the point where he was touching her, connecting them.

"I-uhm…" Momentarily, Alex forgot what she had meant to say. Then she snapped her gaze back up to his face, reminding herself to take a breath. What on earth had gotten into him tonight? Or more to the point, what had gotten into her? Perhaps it was still the lingering haze of alcohol making her think this way, or maybe… She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her thoughts.

"What are you talking about, Gene? I'm fine here; I like doing this. God knows I don't have anything better to do."

At length Gene sighed and then finally withdrew his hand, leaning back in his chair again. Alex didn't want to admit it, but her body immediately went cooler at the loss of contact. She pulled her arm back closer to her, suddenly finding the table-top and its many scratches, nicks and stains very interesting.

"But that's what I'm saying, Bols… I don't want yer t' think you need to sit here all night every night on my account. Aren't posh birds like you meant to have hobbies, interests? Yer know, visit art galleries and attend lawn parties, that sort of shit?"

That made her laugh, and for a moment Gene was caught by the way her eyes lit up, her head tilting back slightly as the rich, delighted chuckle escaped her, her smile wide and low light dancing on her face.

"No, Gene," Alex said softly, shaking her head and still smiling in amusement as she looked back at him. "Or, if that's what we 'posh birds'," she waggled her fingers in the air, "supposedly do, then I must not be quite as posh as you think."

Gene simply raised an eyebrow. "No?"

She shook her head again and smiled. "No."

There was silence between them for a few moments, the faint sound of Italian opera playing in the background before Alex spoke again, her voice distant and thoughtful.

"I suppose I used to do things like that, a long time ago…or a long time in the future, depending on how you look at it. I'd visit art galleries on weekends and go to friends' dinner parties, and read books and even bake things… But that's all gone now."

Gene frowned, confused by what she was saying and the sad tincture to her voice. He hadn't meant to upset her, for heaven's sakes; he'd been trying to cheer her up, encourage her to do something that made her happy. Because sitting here getting drunk with him every night surely couldn't be making her happy, much as he enjoyed and secretly treasured her company.

"What do you mean it's gone, Bols? Still plenty of poufy art galleries and books around from what I can see."

Alex smiled up at him, the way a parent might smile at a child who doesn't understand, but who appreciates the sentiment anyway. "Well," she said, shrugging, "There isn't anyone to do any of that with anymore. And…I don't really fancy being a loner, the cliché single woman wandering around an art gallery, hoping someone will notice and talk to her."

Letting out a short huff of amusement, Gene sat forward properly in his chair again, arms resting on the table as he looked across at her. "Well if yer expecting me t' look at art with you and fanny around buying books and baking brownies you've got another thing coming, Bolly-Kecks."

His words had the desired effect and she laughed again, smiling and shaking her head at him. "Oh don't worry, Gene, you're quite safe. Good Lord, Gene Hunt in an art gallery? The world might just fall down around his ears."

He smiled at her for that – gave her one of his rare, fleeting smiles that she had only seen once or twice before.

"The truth is, Gene," Alex said with a sigh, her tone growing serious again as she too leant forward with her arms on the table, "I really don't mind. I just… I find I'm not really bothered about any of that stuff anymore. I'm not bored doing this, if that's what you're thinking. I'm happy to sit here, drink Luigi's finest house rubbish," she nodded towards her empty glass and then met his gaze, her voice quietening, "and pretend I don't want to kiss that pout off your face every damn night."

Gene froze. He felt his heart thud once in his chest and then skip over a beat, his eyes widening. Wh-… Had she just said…? He stared at her for a moment, caught the intense look in her eyes as she stared back at him, and then caught the brief flicker of her gaze down to his lips, and then back up to his eyes again. Oh sweet lord.

"I think…I think you've had too much to drink, Bolly," he murmured, but still he found himself incapable of pulling away. He couldn't break the connection between their gazes and lean back, stand up and walk away. Sweet Jesus if she would only stop looking at him like that.

The shake of her head was so slight it was almost imperceptible. The tip of her tongue slipped out to wet her lips and Gene could have sworn she leant in just a few millimetres further, so that her face was mere inches from his, her lips – warm, moist and inviting, just glimmering in the dim light – so close to his that if he wanted he could just…

"No, Gene," she whispered, her gaze meeting and capturing his again. Warm amber collided and melted into azure blue and in that moment, Gene felt he understood something. He was stuck there, and there was no way he was walking away from yet another chance of something more with her. "You're wrong. I'm not bored, I'm…drifting."

His throat was dry, and Gene found he had to swallow and wet his lips to be able to speak. "Drifting?"

"Mmm…" she let out a small murmur of agreement, her gaze now distracted by his lips, her body leaning in further almost unconsciously now, as though pulled in magnetically by the weight of his gaze.

"I want you, Gene," she murmured, and he was lost.

-Galex Galore-

The kiss was gentle at first, his lips barely brushing hers, sampling the faintest taste of her as a hand came up to cradle her cheek, fingertips caressing. She tilted her head, inviting him in, parting her lips slightly as he kissed her again. His lips were warm against hers and her eyes fluttered to a close, her whole body exhaling with relieved tension. Feeling the hand at her cheek pull her closer, Alex parted her lips further, allowing his tongue to explore and probe her lower lip, their lips moulding together and creating a warmth that spread through her that she didn't know was possible.

Gene was in heaven, and somewhere in the back of his mind there was a voice saying that this couldn't be happening, that he couldn't possibly be kissing Alex Drake and she couldn't possibly be letting him, but he ignored it. She tasted of mint and red wine and something sweet he wasn't sure he wanted to put a name to, and he could feel the buried feelings of suppressed arousal stirring in the pit of his stomach, urging him to draw her closer, deepen the kiss.

A dance ensued between tongues, her teeth occasionally nipping his lower lip and his lips occasionally pressing harder against hers, sparking up a fire they had long been fighting hard not to feed. She moaned into the kiss, unable to help herself as his hand moved to her neck, fingertips trailing and sending heat through her veins.

"Gene," she breathed, only pulling her lips away from his for a second before he claimed them again, drunk on the taste of her as she was on him. "Do you want…to-to take this upstairs?"

He drew away from her properly at that, but still stayed close enough that she could feel his warm breath caress her face. She licked her lips, savouring the lingering taste of him as a small smile touched her face.

"Are you sure, Bols?" He paused, slipping the hand that was at her neck down to rest against the point where her shoulder began. "That it's me yer want, I mean…And that you're not just…bored?"

Alex shook her head, moving closer again to press her lips to his, eyes closing in bliss. "I'm sure," she whispered, touching her forehead to his and opening her eyes to meet his gaze. When she spoke, her voice was low and seductive, but utterly sincere.

"Come to bed with me, Gene."

He smiled and kissed her again, drawing reluctantly away to smile against her lips, the hand that wasn't at her jaw line finding hers on her thigh under the table. Their fingers intertwined, his thumb caressing the back of her hand.

"Thought you were never going t' ask, Alex."

-Galex Galore-

Hehe, aww, I quite enjoyed writing that! Thank you to fashiongirl97 for the prompt challenge, and thank you for reading. :)

X :D