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WHO: Theseus & Zoe (w/Greed)
WHEN: Friday
WHERE: A very old cafe
WHAT: Memories are funny things
WARNING: Smarm, charm, and harm.


Zoe thankfully didn't see Greed again after their literal run in. She wasn't happy he kissed her but at least she now knew her feelings were good for knocking him to the ground so she could get away. She did however get texts. Lots of texts. She'd block one number and another would start harassing her. And it wasn't even about her. It was about Kansas and it made her feel like shit each and every time. Right now, she shut her phone off and decided to go somewhere that always made her feel better. It was in a quieter area of the city (if such a thing existed this would be it) and was a tiny cafe that had been around for 75 years. Her grandmother, Sophia, used to bring her to it when she was little and they were visiting New York. Once they permanently moved back, they had come often but ever since she passed away, Zoe didn't have the heart to come as much.

Right now she wore the retro yellow dress with black tights she'd worn for her and Greed's birthday. It was one of her 'comfort' pieces, it just calmed her nerves when she wore it. It belonged to Sophia, as most pieces in her wardrobe that weren't casual did, and was a favorite of Sophia's that she tailored to fit her granddaughter. Zoe's grandmother wasn't the best person but she had been all Zoe had so she adored her and her things. The gold locket hung around her neck and she was feeling better by the time she ordered her favorite hot chocolate with mini marshmallows on the side, a whole bunch so she could play with them and stuff the cup with it. It was a kid thing to do but no one was watching and she deserved a treat.

Comments

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Poseidon had offered Theseus a spot in his office, but office work wasn't really something that appealed to the adventurous demi-god. He was all for the family business, but the offer was turned down flat much to his father's displeasure. It did not put him on his good side, but hey, at least he was still fitting the hotel bill.

Theseus pulled off the tie he'd put on for the 'interview', unbuttoned his collar by about three buttons and switched out his nice coat for a leather jacket he'd had waiting in his car. His eyes were quick to notice a yellow dress from across the street. He knew that yellow dress he just wasn't caught up on the details of the face. Crossing the street he jogged over eying the pretty thing curiously.

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Zoe was thankful for some time alone. Well, that was a lie. She hated being alone. She was always alone. But as much as she missed Greed, she had to get used to being without him. She wasn't paying attention to her surroundings, she wasn't used to much attention and even when she got it, it took her by surprise.

She rested her elbow on the table and her chin on her fist. She put a mini marshmallow on her spoon and hit the tip, flicking the puffball through the air and making it land in her hot cocoa.

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Name...name...what was her name? It was sitting on the tip of his tongue but his mind was a little fuzzy. The hottie was still so busy with her hot chocolate that she didn't even notice when he sat down across from her at her table. Those eyes, that skin tone, that dress!

"So--phia?" That was it! He'd met her before right in this spot when he came passing through. Granted he hardly knew when it was he'd been here before, New York seemed incredibly new this time.

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Zoe didn't even hear what the guy said she was that lost in her thoughts, she just knew it was something. She blinked, looking surprised, "Oh, I'm sorry. Can I help you?" big brown eyes looking at him. She had her grandmother's eyes for sure, her bone structure, there was a definite family resemblance. But this dude was someone that Zoe didn't recognize at all.

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"It's alright, honey" he threw a side smirk catching those brown eyes as they bounced in the light. "Sophia?" she better have heard him that time because he was sure it was her. There was no mistaking that pretty face. "It's been a little while hasn't it?" He had no idea that he'd left Sophia some time ago and that this was her granddaughter. His granddaughter. In Theseus' world a few centuries were more like a few years.

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Zoe frowned. Honey? She blinked when he called her Sophia. She shook her head, "No, I'm sorry. I think you have me confused with someone else." Well, her grandmother's name was Sophia but what the hell would a guy in his 30's have to do with her? She gave him that polite look of you can leave now.

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Looking at her complexion he snapped his fingers in thought. That had been his name a few years ago which he'd thought on the spot when he'd first met Sophia because of her medium skin tone. "Moreau. Sophia Moreau. Don't you recognize me?" He had kind of dropped off for a few years after the kid got past age two. Or was it three? Maybe four. He wasn't good with keeping track of numbers.

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Zoe looked stunned. She smiled a little more out of bewilderment than anything else. "Sophia Moreau was my grandmother.." she said slowly. She pointed at him in disbelief, "You knew her?"

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Theseus tipped his head to the side, shock clearly hitting his face for a moment. "Grandmother? Shit..." Had it been that long? This girl had to be in her twenties--he started to count on his fingers. "Really?" he asked again in disbelief.

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Zoe smiled sympathetically, "Yes.. I'm sorry to tell you this but she passed away about ten months ago." but.. why did he think she was Sophia? Her grandmother was in her sixties when she passed away. Still a striking woman but this guy had confused Zoe for her. She couldn't help but ask, "How did you know her...?" because she was sure her grandmother never mentioned knowing some young man.

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"Dead?" Well that put a damper on things. Granted he wouldn't have been a welcome sight with him still looking as young as he had the day he'd met her. He forgot mortals were so quick to age. He'd gotten used to looking good over time. It seemed easier to just skip town with most of the women he married when they started to age and he didn't. It raised questions. It fit in with his lifestyle to jet without a second thought to the next most pleasant spot with a new life. Sophia had been one of few that actually knew what he was.

"That's a shame really..." he rubbed his finger against his stubbly chin. "We were married for a bit."

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Zoe's face twisted into one of what the hell, "I'm sorry, what?" out of all the things this guy could have said, that was not one Zoe would have ever expected to hear.

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"I think it was Theo then....is that what I was calling myself?" His eyes ventured off into the air while he thought. "You single?" because that would have been a nice way for history to repeat itself. Not every woman he met wanted his throat.

"She never tell you?" That stubborn and blessed old woman.

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Zoe couldn't keep up and was about to tell this guy he was a lunatic. But when he said his name was 'Theo', she looked like he slapped her. She made a disgusted face when he asked if she was single and shook her head to get them back on track, "Theo Moreau was my grandfather so you can't be.. tell me what?" was it getting warm in here?

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Both hands sat on the table wiggling as she pronounced that big word. He didn't look like a grandfather, but neither did the rest of his clan. He should have been turned off that she was part of him, but he was Greek what could he say?

He leaned in putting his hand up to the side of his face as if he was telling her some big secret. "I'm not like you." He slouched back in his chair. "Though, I bet that's where you get your youthfulness. How old are you?" He still hadn't told her who he was yet. He was getting to that part, he was just easy to sidetrack.

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Zoe still just looked shocked, her mouth was slightly open and all she could do was blink and answer his question, "Twenty five.."

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"Damn it has been a while." He pointed towards her locket. "I gave her that." It had something in it that was important to him but he couldn't put his finger on it, "For safe keeping." In some unknown way he was picking up where her fallen relationship left off. There were a lot of similarities threaded with this girl like a ball of yarn. He was good at falling into mazes.

"Theseus." He told her as her mouth looked about ready to hit the floor.

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Zoe's hand instinctively went to her locket when he pointed it out. She'd had it taken (and given back) by Greed already but she didn't like the way Theseus was looking at it. She automatically said, "Zoe." to give him her name and then shook her head, "What am I saying.. what are you saying? Are you saying you're..." she trailed off not able to finish the sentence because it was just so absurd.

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"What am I saying?" He propped his elbow on the arm of his chair, looking over the tops of his hand, trying to remember what it was about that locket that had been imperative Sophia hang on to it. "Oh, right, you were asking me something...yes it means I'm a demi-god son of Poseidon. Or Aegeus. Depends on who's asking."

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Zoe frowned and tilted her head, "Did Ray put you up to this?" she wouldn't know why the young girl would though but the mention of Poseidon meant Raiden was the first person she thought of. She just nodded, "Right. Okay. So. Lovely meeting you." she stood up abruptly, not even having finished her cocoa but you know what she had swiss miss at home.

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"Who?" Theseus looked at her quizzically as if she had been the one to grow three heads. Was she playing a game now? He held out his arms in protest. "What, no hug for your dear ol' grandad?" He didn't pretend to be excited over having her around. Considering how many wives and kids he'd popped around the globe (a lot like his old man), she was one of many certainly.

Greed had been stalking the poor girl since the other day. When she refused to answer his texts (all fifteen different numbers), he happened upon her little date. Before the poor girl could get up to move he seized the opportunity to get under her skin, because Greed could never take 'no' as an answer. He slid down in the chair beside her, stringing his arm across her shoulders. "Hey sweetie, sorry I'm late." He kissed her on the cheek playing the good boyfriend. He was either chaining her to that spot with this situation with Theseus to figure out who Theseus was and if he was a threat, or he was using it as a chance to make a few steps forward. To Greed this was a game of Monopoly.

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Zoe was taken aback by Theseus' nonchalant attitude. This was.. she had family? And he was treating it like.. like.. Hey sweetie. She felt like her head was going to explode as Greed materialized from nowhere as if this was perfectly natural. Was she the crazy one or had the world gone crazy? She made a face and looked annoyed at him when he kissed her cheek, leaning away from him and trying to get his arm off her shoulders. "What're you doing here!?" she hissed at him.

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Theseus took a gander at the boy who sat down. "By all means, join the party," he threw his hands out, which Greed was quick to shake one of his hands and take his seat again. "Chance, nice to meet you." He sounded like the nice kid that mothers would adore. Greed turned to Zoe wrapping his arm around her shoulders when she shoved it off. He leaned down for a quick kiss on those pouty lips of hers. It was the only thing keeping her mouth from running away from her.

Greed looked down at his watch. "It's two o'clock remember?" He turned to Theseus, "we were supposed to meet for a late lunch but I got hung up at the office. And you? Who are you?" he asked in a soft voice, not a hint of possessiveness. But it was there, oh it was there in the grip that tightened against Zoe's shoulder.

"An old family friend," Theseus said tapping his fingers on the table.

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Zoe leaned as far away from Greed's lips as she could get, holding up a finger and saying in a harsh whisper, "Don't you dare--" but as always, he did what he wanted and gave her a peck on the lips. She looked like she was going to lose it. She didn't know who to blow up at first, Greed or Theseus.

When Theseus stayed so calm about everything, he won out. But Zoe kept her cool, because despite Greed being there, and she elbowed him as hard as she could when he squeezed her closer, there was something that she wanted to ask Theseus and had been thinking about. He'd mentioned her grandmother but.. "You didn't ask about my mother." she said looking right at him. She didn't care as much about the immortal stuff at the moment. If he was her grandfather it meant that her mother had been his daughter. But in all this time, he didn't once mention her. Life was hard enough already to bring Greed to her and take the illusion of something with him away.. would Life really be so cruel as to bring her family, the one thing she wanted, and have it be uncaring?

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Theseus watched the interlude between the two. Somewhere between uncomfortable and young passionate hate and love all mixed into one. He rolled his eyes, still comfortable in his seat without a chance of budging. It was a silent immortal stand-off because he could feel that this kid wasn't just some ordinary nice guy. Greed was also picking up all the selfish flavor off of Theseus.

"Your mother? She was about four when I left. Or three, I can't really remember." It hadn't even been anyone that particularly pulled Theseus away, he just got uncomfortable when things became so settled.

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Zoe just looked at Theseus in disbelief, she didn't give a damn if he was a demi-god, immortal, or an alien. "She was three." she kept looking at him, even Greed's invasion of space not an issue at the moment, "You don't want to ask about your own daughter?" what kind of father wouldn't even mention his own child? What was wrong with this guy? She narrowed her eyes a little, "Do you.. even remember her name?"

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"Oh was it three? I lost track of time." He shrugged. He wasn't even lying which was perhaps what made it so harsh. Zoe had already knocked Greed's arm off her shoulders a second time, jabbing and poking him with her elbow, so he grabbed her hand under the table. It wasn't as simple as telling him to leave or that it was over because he flat out didn't understand things in that way. He grew defensive, moreso when Theseus continued to talk. So, Greed sat back, delighted inside because he tugged on that selfishness that was threading itself in the air between the three of them. From Theseus it came off in waves, so he pulled a little harder seeing just how far the Greek would jump over his words.

"By the tone in your voice she must be dead too." Theseus sighed. This afternoon was just getting depressing. "The same as every other girl I've had. Thea."

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Zoe didn't even register Greed holding her hand, hers was limp in his as she just stared at Theseus. She looked like he socked her in the gut by his callous way of guessing her mother was dead and then to rub salt in the wound, she wasn't even special. She didn't even get her own name, just the generic one so he never had to remember something new. There was no way she was related to this... monster sitting across from her. Why did he get to have immortal life but her mother and grandmother and father all were dead? Her entire family had been wiped out and he remained? "Well.." she finally said, "I think it's probably for the best if we just both pretend this conversation never happened." he didn't seem he wanted to be burdened with new family and she really rather be alone in the world than be related to him.

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"I didn't say that to be mean." He hardly remembered her mother, let alone his own. "Don't take it personal. I liked your grandmother a lot. But things get complicated with us." He looked right at Greed when he said it. "Don't think I don't know you're the same as me."

Greed snorted. This guy was fun. This wasn't a threat, this was pure gold. It might not fix things but it certainly leveled some of that bumpy ground.

Zoe on the other hand looked as if at any second her face would drown in her own tears.

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Zoe raised her brows, "Of course not, why would you be mean. It was only a woman's life. Who thought she found love only to discover the man was a total asshole. Falling for the wrong moron seems to run in the family." since she couldn't help but see a correlation between Sophia/Theseus and herself and Greed. Greed liked her a lot too. It just wasn't enough to really commit. She was cute but so were other girls. She scoffed a bitter laugh when he said Greed was the same as him, "Oh you have NO idea." and she stood up, yanking her hand (which was trembling now) out of Greed's. "Theseus, right? It was horrific meeting you. New York is a really big city, I'm pretty sure we can keep from running into each other again." it wasn't a hope, it was a please stay away from me forever statement.
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Zoe raised her brows, "Of course not, why would you be mean. It was only a woman's life. Who thought she found love only to discover the man was a total asshole. Falling for the wrong moron seems to run in the family." since she couldn't help but see a correlation between Sophia/Theseus and herself and Greed. Greed liked her a lot too. It just wasn't enough to really commit. She was cute but so were other girls. She scoffed a bitter laugh when he said Greed was the same as him, "Oh you have NO idea." and she stood up, yanking her hand (which was trembling now) out of Greed's. "Theseus, right? It was horrific meeting you. New York is a really big city, I'm pretty sure we can keep from running into each other again." it wasn't a hope, it was a please stay away from me forever statement.
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Greed's face soured. That was not what he'd gunned for. Then the magic happened when Theseus honed in for her locket. It had belonged to him in the first place. Greed wasn't making him do this. No, this was all on his own. He stood "Zoe. Stop.." there it was Greed saw him eyeing it. "I'm not a bad guy. Your grandmother was great. I adored her. You remind me of her obviously." He reached out and Greed could have gnawed his arm off.

"I do need what belongs to me." He still couldn't see what it was was within it. Be would eventually.
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Zoe gave Theseus a look, did he really just tell her to stop? It was almost like a dad speaking to a child but she was sure he had no idea how to be a father. She looked sickened by what he was saying, it was like he was reading cue cards and there was no sincerity there. She frowned at first not knowing what he was asking for but then it clicked and she physically stepped back, her body turning a little as if to shield her. Her hand curled around the locket and she was surprised, "My locket?" she shook her head vehemently, "No." she said it in a firm voice. Of all people Greed knew how much that locket meant to her, Zoe was not going to willingly part with it.

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"I didn't ask." He flashed her a bright white smile. "If not," he stood, brushing off his clothes, "I guess I'm stuck at being more than a name." Grandfather duties was not on his list. He waved a finger at her, finishing off the hot cocoa she left and pooped a marsh mellow in his mouth. "I like you." She had spirit. She reminded him of Sophia. "I'm not a bad guy, I'm not here for the hate." He had enough of that. She could be useful.

Greed's eyes flinched in the light. He wanted to stick his hand out and shake it with Theseus, this guy was just overflowing with greed. He did shake it, but firmly as if to say back off because others hurting his toy? Fuck no.

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Zoe frowned. He didn't ask? He was threatening her? And he drank her cocoa. "Well, I don't like you and I'd prefer if you'd stay just a name though I'd love to forget that too." She moved away from her chair, her hand still wrapped protectively around her locket, "Can I tell you something, Mr. Moreau? If you have to repeat you're not a bad guy... you're probably a bad guy."

She narrowed her eyes at Greed when he shook hands with Theseus.. traitor. These two could be best friends. She ugh'd and made her move to leave the cafe, not wanting to see either of the men again.

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"Seriously, people carry far too much baggage. See you soon, Zoe." Theseus took the cup, tipping it in the air as she retreated. When Greed jolted out his hand it was a bit abrupt. Theseus shook it, wiggling his fingers and wiping it off on his coat when his hand was free. Before he could try to remember the kid's name or ask who he really was---

"We'll do lunch," Greed promised motioning between him and back at Theseus. When Zoe walked off, Greed followed. Even just a few steps away he cut his eyes over his shoulder with a glare. He wasn't sure what to think of Theseus. He was a useful piece of the puzzle.

"So!" Greed slapped his hands together, rubbing them back and forth. "That makes you what---a quarter immortal?" This was exciting news.

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Zoe was half way down the street by the time Greed caught up to her and his words made her stop dead in her tracks. She covered her face with her hands for a moment and then reached out to grab on to anything.. only place to sit were some dirty steps but she didn't even care. She sank down on the stoop. She was barely dealing with the fact she had living family and then he was an immortal she hadn't even thought of the fact that it made her part immortal as well. "I will give you a million dollars to go away." came her muffled voice through her hands.

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"Maybe it's more like one tenth." He counted in his head then on his fingers. Greed dropped down on the steps right beside her (a tight squeeze really) wiggling for his comfortable spot.

"You don't have a million dollars. Not unless you win the lottery."

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Zoe ugh'd when he squeezed in next to her, just feeling him next to her made her skin crawl. This was not the boy she'd fallen for. This was someone else. And it just made it hurt more. "I'll steal it, I'll rob a bank, I'll get it if that's what it takes!" she dropped her hands and shoved at him a few times, "Will that get you to leave me alone? I just want you to go away!" she couldn't handle this. She wanted to curl into a ball and cry. She couldn't have a grandfather that didn't give a rat's ass about her grandmother and mother and give even less of a damn about her and have an ex-boyfriend that just loved to remind her oh hey guess what, remember me, I don't give a crap either.

That icon *swoon*

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"Mmmmm want me to drive the get away car?" He watched her in wonderment. She was in a very broken state that his nearly full Sin state couldn't recognize. The boy she'd fallen in love with had been softer than this. He'd talked to her, he'd taken time to ensure her safety even if for his own selfish reasons. The boy now wasn't giving her room to even breathe. He wanted something from her.

Greed poked her cheek just under her large, brown eyes that were crumbling with every second. "Are you gonna cry?" he leaned in to inspect her face.

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Zoe flinched when he poked her cheek. She was miserable and she hated this. She looked at him with tears filling her eyes. It was like she couldn't recognize him anymore. When they broke up it was because it was his 'real' side did something to hurt her. But this? This just hurt worse. She looked in his eyes as if she was searching, "You're the boy who stole my locket." she shook her head as tears spilled down her cheeks, "Where's the boy who gave it back?" she asked almost desperately. Greed had devastated her... but now it was like the boy she loved wasn't even here anymore.

T_T

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Chance would have wanted to cuddle her until she squeaked. What Zoe failed to realize was that the more she pushed him away the worse she made it on herself. She was only contributing to the boy that she saw now, Greed. She let him be himself. This was made the bridge between them keep crumbling. Sin in it's natural form destroying everything it came in contact with.

"Satan tortured him." Truthfully, those two weeks of brain trauma had done a number on him. He'd cracked. He'd had fears, but instead Lust had revived him bringing back the person Zoe never saw when she used to look at him.

For a moment he came out, but it was in a flash. "You don't look at me anymore..." She saw what she wanted and it was reflected back.

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More tears fell from her eyes because it was too much and all she wanted was to curl up in his arms but.. "Because I'm not even sure you're there anymore.." she said barely above a whisper.

She shook her head, "I.. can't do this. It hurts so much, Chance. And you don't care. And I'm not asking you to but.. were you pretending that whole time? For months? Was this a game? If it was, then you win. So please, I'm begging you. Leave me alone. Just please leave me alone.." she wasn't angry even, she was breaking down.

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He huffed with an agitated snort. "That's because you won't let him out." He snubbed his nose in the air looking away from her. He couldn't look at her anymore with those teary, doe eyes. He didn't like her seeing Greed. More than that, he didn't like who he was around her now.

Without turning his head he shifted his eyes to glance at her across his shoulder. "If you believe I was then that's all you're going to see whether or not I was or wasn't." Her reactions to him were only a reflection in him.

He knew he wanted her still even if the nature of that want was misunderstood. He wanted something from her, or so he thought. "How about you let Satan incubate in your brain for weeks and you tell me how you come out of it." He was pointing fingers now because who's fault was it other than hers? She wasn't bending to him.

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Zoe looked hurt and confused. This was her fault? There was physical pain in her chest and she put a hand to it, curling the fingers in against the fabric of her dress. She didn't look at him, she didn't like hearing that it might have been a game. "Stop it.." she whispered. If she was seeing what she wanted to see now... did that mean she was seeing what she wanted to see back then? Was that why she was in this mess to begin with?

She shook her head as he kept turning it around on her, placing the blame on her, everywhere but himself. She finally exploded at him, "STOP IT!" she shouted with her hands open in front of her. She took a moment running her shaking hands through her hair as she then grabbed him and made him look at her, "I loved you!" she said as if the words might penetrate his brain, it was the first time she'd said the actual word of 'love' even though a blind man or even a Sin would have known that's what she felt for him when they were together. Whenever she thought he couldn't possibly make her feel worse, he always did. "I would have given anything.." she abruptly stopped as her face crumpled and she shook her head as more tears came, "I gave everything.." she said quietly more to herself. It wasn't enough. It never had been.

She didn't want to hear another word from him, she didn't want to say anything else. She felt like all he did was beat her up and hit her again before she could get up from the next punch. And honestly, she didn't want to know how little he cared about her admission of how deeply she felt for him. So she used the only weapon she had. She quickly pulled him to her for a salty kiss so she could knock him out and escape.

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It stung when she couldn't get past what she saw right now. She didn't give him anything to bat at when all she did was see his side from a glass window looking in from the outside. It was Josie crumbling in front of him all over again, and that was a slap in the face.

Gave. Past tense. When her lips burned his, the ten percent of himself that was buried under fifty other personalities grasped for her. His hands cupped her face, greedily sucking in that kiss with a response of his own.

She wasn't making this easy. It's why he kept coming back.

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The saddest thing was that even though her admission of love was also in past tense, that wasn't the truth. Even when he was hurting her so much like right now, she still loved him. She felt a pull in her stomach when he cupped her face and kissed her. But it was a brief moment where maybe he was back but it was an illusion. She was so confused now because he was suggesting maybe he'd never been. Then what or who did she love?

The kiss was wet because it was stained with tears and she didn't want to kiss him like this. She kept doing it though, part of her surprised he didn't fall right away but she refused to believe that it could mean anything. The shattered pieces of her heart were being crumbled into dust as finally she felt his hold on her go slack. She quickly pulled away, the back of her hand going to her mouth as fresh tears choked her. She scrambled to her feet and by the time his head started to clear, she was gone.