One Small Step ((RP for _freaksrus))

[prodigalwatcher]

The world was still full of demons and vampires, monsters that prowled the alleys of the city in the wee hours of the night and monsters that put on suits and ties and made decisions involving hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives and ordered Vietnamese takeaway for lunch downtown. There would perhaps never be an end to the fighting, and the struggle, and Wesley had come to grips with that a long time ago, even before his friend Angel had learned that lesson at Wolfram & Hart. What mattered, as he'd told the vampire once, was the little bit of happiness one could find.

And that was why Wesley was standing outside the door of his own apartment, key hovering just in front of the lock, balancing a package under his arm. He glanced back at Gwen, holding her bag and standing what seemed like a safe distance away. Wesley smiled at her.

"You look like you might be a bit nervous," Wesley said, smiling. "You've been through this door before, you know."

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen dragged herself from her thoughts and looked at Wesley, returning his smile. "Yeah, I have. Never with stuff though." And never with her own keys to give him in return, she continued silently. "Just making sure Dennis didn't booby trap the doors or something with pails of water." She winked at Wesley. "Or spectral goop."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

He laughed. "I doubt that, considering he was the one that laid out the welcome mat initially, so to speak." Wesley glanced at the door with some curiosity, then turned back. "Shall I go first, then?"

Unlocking the door, Wesley stepped through with eyes closed. When nothing happened, he beckoned Gwen inside. "Looks like your welcome is confirmed."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen followed him inside, laughing. "Never hurts to be careful." She said to the room at large. "Hey, Dennis." Then turned her attention back to Wesley. "Thanks for taking one for the team even if there wasn't one to take."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley gave her a smirk. "Feel free to thank me all you like once you're settled in," he told her. Standing beside Gwen, he gestured at the apartment. "So, where did you want to start? Closet, dresser?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"Kinky." Gwen grinned and waggled her eyebrows. "Might be a little cramped but..." She trailed off with a laugh as she teased him. "Closet first I think." Gwen held up her bag. "Don't want to crinkle the leather."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley chuckled. "Didn't know we'd need to re-christen the apartment, but I'm not opposed in the least," he teased back. Nodding at Gwen, he showed her the space that Dennis had helpfully cleared. "Not that I'm complaining, but how did your fashion sense develop?" Wesley asked, fingering one of Gwen's leather pieces. "The more insulating ones I understand, but these...?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"Those?" Gwen smirked, "Those are because I like them but my fashion sense started with luring people in. After that, the leather evolved because I liked the way it felt against my skin." Her eyelid lowered in a sexy wink, "I'm a very tactile person."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"So I've come to learn," Wesley replied, letting his fingers brush over her arm for a moment before moving to help her with her things. "My own experimentation with leather attire was somewhat less successful."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen let her gaze roam over him as she picked up a couple of pair of leather pants. "Yeah? I think you'd look hot in leather. Didn't like the way it felt?"

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"I, er, was either in possession of the wrong size or was not properly instructed in the wearing of them," Wesley admitted. He shifted from foot to foot, remembering the awkwardness of them with no fondness at all.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen didn't laugh which was a testament to how much she liked Wesley, but there might have been a smirk teasing the edges of her lips.

"Well, leather chaps should be easy enough to wear." She couldn't help the slight teasing. "But not everyone can wear leather. You have the attitude for it, that's all that matters."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley smirked. "Well, if anyone could talk me into trying again, it would be you... plus, you'd be of a lot more help getting me into them properly."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"And getting you out of them. I'm good at that, too." Gwen winked at Wesley, then laughed. "We can go on a leather shopping trip."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't say no," Wesley replied. He left the closet to Gwen and opened the dresser drawer that had been cleared. "You didn't happen to bring anything potentially embarrassing, did you? I seem to occupy that position much more often."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen hung up a couple of her leather pants and pulled out a few more tops. Laughter floated behind her at Wesley's question and she turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. "It takes a hell of a lot to embarrass me."

There were the two keys burning a hole in her pocket but that wasn't really embarrassing. Potentially terrifying but not embarrassing.

The two tops and a sweater hung next to her leather pants and she bent down to pull out a couple of pairs of shoes. They were placed neatly next to Wesley's. It was oddly domestic and as she looked at the imagery it didn't call up the sweaty palms or clammy skin that she'd thought it would.

Gwen took a deep breath and jumped the chasm, metaphorically speaking, as she turned to face Wesley. "I did bring something extra that might cause you to raise your eyebrows. Just not embarrassing."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"So I've noticed," Wesley quipped. He watched as Gwen seemed to gather herself for something, and stayed silent while she did. Whatever it was, it was going to be important.

"Well then, unless there's some sort of preparation I need to make, feel free."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"I would tell you that you might need to sit down for this, but I won't." She smiled, reaching into her pocket and pulled out the small key ring with two keys dangling from it.

This was uncharted waters for her. Sure, she had Buffy as a roommate and Nic had keys but this was a hell of a lot different.

"They're keys to my place. One for the building and one to the apartment. I want you to feel like it's yours, too." She looked at Wesley, her smile hanging on but barely. Gwen idly wondered if he could hear the pounding of her heart. "Shocked? Stunned? Want to sit down?" Her smile grew with the questions. "I want to take that next step with you." A beat, "My house is your house."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley's eyebrows raised in surprise when Gwen presented him with the keys. He'd already given her access to this apartment, not to mention her new spaces, but Wesley was more than aware of what a step this was for her. How greatly they had changed from the wary, guarded people they had once been, he mused.

He stepped closer and closed his hand over both the keys and Gwen's fingers. "I'm honoured," Wesley said quietly. "I know how difficult it can be to let someone in, and it means more than you know." Wesley leaned in for a kiss, then smiled. "It looks like you and I are going to have to get used to the word 'us', doesn't it?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Her muscles relaxed slightly at his response. They were still a little tense and her heart beat was still going at a rapid pace, but the nerves were slightly lessened. "A term I never thought I'd hear." Gwen said with an ironic smile. "I can't promise there won't be bumps since this is the first time I've ever done this but I'm glad we're an us."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm more than expecting bumps," Wesley answered, returning the smile. "Nothing worth the trying is ever simple or easy, I've found." He laughed. "Now, I think we just have to make sure we avoid ever getting... let's say too 'sweet' as an us."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen shook her head with a smirk, "I don't think we will ever be the too sweet kind of us unless that means matching tattoos. I will promise not to wear a vial of your blood around my neck though." Her eyes danced with her teasing.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley closed his eyes, trying to imagine the idea of it, and failed utterly. "I'll have to take your word on why anyone would want to do such a thing, short of having some sort of enchantment on the vial." He smiled at Gwen. "So what's left to put away?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen hadn't thought of that before but enchanted blood vials made a lot of sense when it came to Billy Bob and Angelina.

"Just the lingerie." She waggled her eyebrows holding the last of her clothes that she'd brought. "Or lack of it." Now that she'd crossed the hurdle of giving the keys and the world hadn't imploded, Gwen was back to being her relaxed self.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley smirked, feeling the tension in the room lift, and seeing it ease its way off of Gwen's expression. "If you didn't look so good in all that, I'd tell you not to bother with it."

Once packed, the closet door and drawer closed on their own. "Thank you, Dennis," he said to the air. "So, I suppose a night in is the proper celebration. I have delivery menus somewhere around here."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"That sounds good to me." Gwen turned to leave the bedroom. "You wouldn't happen to have any delivery menus for Thai would you?" When going through her things to bring over, she'd run across pictures of her grandfather which brought to mind Thai food.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure I do," said Wesley, leaving the room. "Although I do have to tell you that the Thai restaurant can take a very long time to deliver..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"Well, we can either find something to occupy ourselves until it gets here or I'm good for ordering something else." Gwen raised her voice so he could hear her while settled on the couch, getting comfortable. She glanced over at him with a smirk.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no," said Wesley, sliding onto the couch beside her. "I was very specifically hoping you'd pick the slow Thai establishment."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen placed her hand on his upper thigh, softly stroking with a soft caress. "Yeah? Did I forget to mention I have a serious craving for Thai food and I'd really rather have that?"

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"Well then," he drawled, reaching out to wrap a curl of Gwen's hair around his finger. "I'll be right back with the menu and a phone, and you can consider how we'll pass the time."

As he rose, Wesley looked over his shoulder, glad that domesticity could have interpretations that were anything but staid and boring.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen watched as Wesley walked away then let her gaze roam over the room. It wasn't like she was seeing it for the first time and it certainly wasn't like she'd never stayed over before, but it felt different. Gwen wouldn't say that she felt a part of it, but in some way she did. She didn't feel like a guest, but it also didn't feel like home. She kind of liked the feeling. One foot here and another foot at her place. Easy enough to retreat if she needed to. Maybe that's why she wasn't freaking as much as she thought she would with bringing some of her things here. Baby steps, but steps nonetheless.

"How does scrabble sound? I hear that takes up a lot of time. There's also Monopoly." Gwen turned her attention back to Wesley with a smirk as she teased him. "I'd say charades but I'm pretty kick ass at that and It would be over too quick." A beat. "Of course we could always play strip chess if you're up for it."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley returned with the menu tucked under one arm, and a bottle of wine under the other, along with two glasses. He took a moment to note just how pleasantly comfortable and settled Gwen seemed to be making herself in the apartment. Wesley knew just how much of a leap she'd just taken and he wanted to make sure he both acknowledged it and didn't dwell on it.

"Probably not the latter," he answered. "My chess games go for hours."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen arched an eyebrow, "Hours? Hm, I'd like to think that I'd be a little bit of a distraction that you wouldn't be able to concentrate that long." Her eyes danced with her teasing though her expression remained with a mock indignant look.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley's smile turned sly. "You underestimate my ability to concentrate all my attention on something as fascinating as disrobing you. I have a feeling building up that much anticipation could be very exciting."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen's fake indignant expression faded in a blink of an eye and in its place a sly one to match Wesley's. "Now you're going to have me craving something else besides Thai food. You know how much I love a build up."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

"Then might I suggest ordering quickly, and then doing something about taking the edge of our appetites?" Wesley slid along the couch just a bit closer and raised an eyebrow.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"See? That's one of the many things I like about you." Gwen responded by shifting her weight and moving her body closer to his. "I like the way you think and you pick up on what I'm thinking." Not that Gwen was all that subtle when it came to teasing and flirting with Wesley, but it was still a trait that she genuinely did like about him.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Raising an arm, Wesley curled it around Gwen's shoulder. "I think the same of you. Which I suppose means you know that right now, I'm thinking we should get on with ordering so we can get to the 'waiting' before its delivered?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

Gwen leaned in to nip at his lips, gently tugging his lower lip, then smiled settling back on the couch. "Great minds think alike." She plucked up the menu and looked through her choices. She finally settled on one, "I think Pad See Ew with chicken and a papaya salad." Turning her head to look at him, she waggled her eyebrows, "and I expect you to have dessert." Or it could be interpreted you for dessert.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley made his own selection and phoned the restaurant, relating the order. He nodded and made a few affirmative noises before setting the phone down and pulling Gwen closer. "They're very sorry to say that delivery will take at least one hour to get here."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

"An hour?" Gwen settled her body in next to Wesley, the palm of her hand coming up to caress his jaw. "I guess that means we have plenty of time to indulge in my other craving."

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

Wesley leaned in until his lips were just short of touching Gwen's. "Come and get it," he said, smiling, before closing his mouth over hers.

OOC: And scene?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_freaksrus/]

[And scene. :) As always, thank you.

[prodigalwatcher.livejournal.com]

OOC: And thank you.