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[history-repeats.insanejournal.com]

WHO: Greed & Zoe
WHEN: December 28th [Backdated]
WHERE: Kansas then New York
WHAT: Going home
WARNING: Sigh


They couldn't stay in Kansas any longer. It was a short trip but they only stayed another day so Greed could recover from his human body wounds and aches and so could Zoe. They'd decided to be friends and if they stayed longer they might end up doing something they'd regret. Probably not right away but they would regret it eventually. So after a night spent tangled in each others arms because it'd be the last, they finally packed up and after a a goodbye to Robert, they headed out.

Zoe's ankle was mostly better and she got in the car. They had a bit of a ride before they got to the airport. She looked at Greed, "Um.. are you.. going to be okay once we leave..? You're not.. you're not going to.." she pointed at her temple and twirled her finger around making the universal signal for 'crazy', "..are you?" since last time they were in New York, he had almost gotten her killed and been a general jerkface.

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It was to be another day filled with driving, at least one where she wasn't making friends with the window. He had an aversion to that window and its pretty, frosty gaze. He'd made a promise already that he wanted to break but under entirely different circumstances from before.

Greed motioned to himself. "I promise this time I'll just use chloroform and rope." He grinned a bright white smile before getting in the car. Hopefully once they were far enough away from this spec of dirt on a map he'd actually not feel like a science lab rat. There were still too many things floating and polluting his system to feel natural.

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Zoe gave him a withering look but she had a slight smile, "Hilarious. I should get a guard dog." Though actually.. there really now was no reason to come back to Kansas.

She had no idea that Greed was having regrets about his promise already while still in Lebanon. It had been surprisingly.. logical of him to propose it in the first place. Sure, it wouldn't result in exuberant happiness, but maybe it'd stop the tears.

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More time spent with her only hardened the blow. He didn't know if he really could just be a friend. True, it was what was best, what he proposed, even why he wanted her; but while he could still feel like a normal boy it just plain hurt. This was incredibly exhausting, his mind going back and forth with conflicting thoughts, and desire that was nowhere near the amped up on steroids intensity he was so used to.

"You and puppies don't get along remember?" He teased about the hell hound who had her curled up under a table, snapping at her heels. Once they were all settled in the car he sighed.

"I'm a little disappointed."

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Zoe fiddled with the heater in the car, it was a lot warmer in here than it had been in their shoebox room. "Well... you didn't get to have sex." since that had been the main reason they came all the way out to the middle of nowhere. So a little disappoint was probably an understatement for him.

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"There is that...but I meant Oz. Kansas is a fucking bore. We didn't even get a tornado." He pointed out the window that the frost had started to peel down. "I didn't even see a single little person." He was either trying to make her laugh or he was serious. It was hard to tell.

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Zoe smiled a little, "Well I'm glad. I've had enough excitement this week to last me for the year. And if you're that upset about it, you could go see 'Wicked' when we get back to New York. All the comforts of the city with the excitement of made up Kansas in your head." then he could bang his christmas gift and probably would but Zoe didn't want to think about that yet. Yes, they were friends but it didn't mean she was ready to hear about his sex life.

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"Will you go?" He flapped his hands excitedly over the steering wheel. It seemed a little ridiculous that he go by himself. She had already set up that non-date date for him. He was already looking forward to getting home.

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"Me?" she blinked, she hadn't said it to set up the outing for them. It was really just the only connection to Oz she had thought of at the moment. "I.. guess." she knew she promised him they'd hang out but.. "Can I bring someone?"

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"Bring someone?" He felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle. "Who?" If it was her tree of a roommate he was going bring a slingshot to take Goliath down.

He picked up the speed when they hit an open strip of solid road. He was pretty sure there wasn't another car even in sight.

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Zoe actually didn't have someone in mind, just the thought of sitting next to Greed for hours in a darkened theatre with scary things popping out (okay she knew it was a play and wasn't that scary but she jumped easily) just probably wasn't wise. "I.. don't know. I'm guessing you'd hate it if Gabe came. And he kinda hates you and I don't want to get thrown out.." she sighed and gave a brief smile which wasn't even a smile, she was being ridiculous, "Yeah no, okay, I'd love to go."

The burst of speed made her hand shoot out and grip the side of his shirt on instinct but she quickly let it go. She coughed, "Sorry.." she was suddenly very self conscious. She needed to change the subject. "Oh.. I.. uh.. I've been meaning to ask you. You remember that guy we met? Theseus? Do you know if there's any way to tell if he's actually immortal and my grandfather or just crazy?"

[better-than.insanejournal.com]

"The tree? Yes you're right I would. I'd have to have a wringling match outside. Think anyone would pay to see that?" The more they drove further out, bits of his usual self started to slip in. He had been a perfectly decent boy when handeling money. He hadn't stole a single thing. Not even a toothpick from the bar. "Wonder how much I could make..." He mouthed under his breath in thought.

He still held in the majority of those feelings he'd aquired, they sat in his stomach like a rock.

"I'm not in the business of calling someone crazy when they say they're immortal." He rolled his hand around as he spoke. "Immortals usually pick up on each other, but they're usually a lot more powerful feeling than a mortal. But its not like I keep a record of who I've run into before..." Which he did. Just like he did of mortals who he'd used throughtout history that made a bang. Kings, princes, philosophers, the list went on. It was like newspaper clippings or scrapbooking for a Sin.

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Zoe watched the scenery go by and smiled with a shrug, "I'd pay at least twenty bucks to watch Gabe kick your ass."

She frowned, "So was he telling the truth? Did he feel immortal?" she sighed and looked down at her locket. She didn't know why she was asking, she knew that there was no way in hell he would know her grandmother's name and her mother's name unless he was who he said he was. She shook her head, "Forget it.." what did it matter, he was a jerk who didn't seem to care about his wife or daughter, there was no way in hell he was going to give a damn about a granddaughter.

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"Ah, no I'd be beating his ass." Greed countered. "David and Goliath, remember that story?" That tree would be cut down.

"He was. He was definitely Greek, and he smelled like fish." To him all Greeks had some odd oder about them. The same way the Virtues smelled foul and made his skin itch.

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"I'm not gonna argue because you're gonna show up and try to prove me wrong. And Gabe already is gunning for your blood." She gave him a look.

"Do you not like Greeks?" she raised a brow, "Cause ya know if he's my grandfather that makes me a quarter greek. It also made her part immortal but she didn't want to think about it..

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"What? Did you say bad things about me? Rude." He snorted a laugh, fully believing he could take Gabe down, even though the man's arm was the side of his head.

"I didn't say I didn't like Greeks, but they are a little nosey. Think they run the show." His head started to go a little dizzy. "You don't smell like fish." He leaned over for a whiff. "Nope, no fish."

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Zoe grinned, "I only told the truth. Which was enough for him to want to punch you. He still might so don't show up unexpectedly." she made a winced face.

She eyed him when he smelled her, "Don't smell me." she looked back out the window idly, "Chance.. what do you think of Theseus? I mean.." she looked back at Greed, "He's.. an asshole. But if he really is my grandfather then he's all I have in the world. Your family is full of.. less than nice people. You said you all hurt each other a lot but you wouldn't trade any of them, right?" she really wanted to know Greed's opinion on the matter. One meeting with Theseus was enough to gut punch her. He had no interest in her but she couldn't deny the fact that the idea of family, living breathing real family, even a totally shitty one, was very appealing.

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"I can't promise that--" he stopped mid sentence, sweat beading against his forehead. He waved it off to the heat, quickly turning the dial back down. "It's hot in here."

"He's a selfish prick, I like him." It didn't mean he liked how he treated Zoe. Making his toaster cry? So not nice. "I don't like how he is to you." He wiped a hand against the back of his neck with another hot flash. Funny this didn't happen when he got into Kansas. However, his body had been harboring a wild gamut of feels for days, including something as pure as love. Now with his powers slinking their way back in, it was creating a jerk reaction.

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"Friends call first." she watched him with a slightly worried look.

She didn't look pleased that Greed liked him but at least he didn't like Theseus being mean to her. "Awesome, you and him can be best friends then. But do you think I should give him a-- are you okay?" she frowned watching him sweat, it was not that hot in the car, "Do you wanna pull over?"

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He grumbled to that retort because it wasn't fair at all. "What kind of friend doesn't like surprises?"

"If he upsets you too much I can make him miserable. He's fun to toy with---" his fingers were coated in sweat as he pulled his hand back rubbing them together. "Just a little warm." His cheeks flushed as well. His stomach had also taken to the bad kind of somersaults . After a few minutes he pulled over. "I need some air," he said quickly throwing back the seat belt to get out if the car.

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Zoe didn't answer his surprises question, it wouldn't matter what she said, Greed would still surprise her. But she frowned quizzically, "What do you mean he's fun to toy with..? When did you toy with him?"

But then he was bolting out of the car and she quickly undid her seatbelt as well. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern as she walked around to his side of the car and reached out to touch his arm.

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"Just a little when you met him---" he couldn't really think anymore, his head was pounding like a sledge hammer. Each time she asked him a question it was nails on a chalkboard. He used the side of the car as leverage, the cold air smacking him right in the face. By the time he made it over to the passenger side where Zoe had hopped out, his shirt was drenched around the neck.

He crawled down the side of the car, mayhem that would cool his bouncing stomach. "I don't feel so good." His appetite wasn't even enough to blame it on food.

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"Chance! You what!?" she couldn't believe it. Greed had messed with Theseus? Ugh.. did that mean he wasn't such an asshole and Greed brought it out of him or.. he was an asshole and-- she had to put the thought aside as Greed didn't seem to be doing so well.

She crouched down next to him, at a loss for what to do. "Hang on, I think there's some soda in the car. Why don't we just sit here for a minute, okay?" she would have offered to drive but she didn't know how. She grabbed a ginger ale from one of the bags in the backseat and unscrewed the top. She had a seat next to him on the ground, not caring about her clothes and handed the bottle to him, "Drink." she rubbed his back gently.

[better-than.insanejournal.com]

"He had a lot to toy with, it didn't take much from what was already there." He stopped talking once she rummaged in the car. He shook his head as she handed it to him. That wasn't going to help. His insides were twisting around themselves in knots. His body didn't like all that he'd stuffed inside.

He flopped on the ground, his back hitting the cold dirt. Even the cool air didn't subside. Eventually he was on his knees, feeling bile hit his throat. He turned away from her, but there was no escaping his own body's rejection.

It took a few minutes of heaving and emptying his stomach a few times to have the energy to walk. It wasn't the first stop they would make before reaching the airport. At least then he'd gained some of his coloring.

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Zoe handed him the soda again, "Please drink it. If anything it'll take the taste out of your mouth." she was worried about Greed but her mind was thinking of Theseus. She knew Greed's influence could be powerful and actually she was glad to hear he'd toyed with the man. Maybe it meant that Theseus wasn't as cruel as he seemed. Maybe he was an okay guy and the sudden influence brought out his bad side. Maybe he was the good man that her grandmother had always made him out to be. Maybe she should give him another chance. Maybe she'd get family after all and wouldn't be so alone..

After they got to the airport, and Zoe lost Greed for ten minutes or so and then found him again, they finally boarded the plane. It was gonna be several hours so she took her shoes off and curled her legs under her in the massive seat. It was weird flying in luxury but she knew Greed loved the finer things. She looked at him with those big brown eyes full of concern, "You feeling any better?"

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By the time they boarded he had a bag full of snacks. His appetite had come back despite dumping his stomach at least three or four times in between. He was digging through the plastic bag when Zoe asked him how he was feeling. "A little better." He was still lightheaded, but holding down his stomach now.

Excitedly he pulled out a package of chocolate candy. He'd already had enough crackers to blow up a whale. But there was something else peeking out of his bag that wasn't food.

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Zoe nodded, she was looking at him, not his bag. She was wondering if he was going to suddenly decide he wanted to pilot the plane and then they'd crash. As sad as it was, she didn't have blind trust in him anymore. She hoped he was going to be at levels she could handle but after the past month.. well, she was bracing herself for the worst. "Maybe pace yourself.." cause knowing him he could inhale that entire bag in an hour.

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He shoved a piece of candy towards her. "It's chocolate." He was still sharing, which meant his body was fighting hack and forth between the human side and Sin side. The little yellow silk flower poked into view as he shuffled around that bag some more looking for a drink. He picked it up now waving it in front of her face. The color yellow signified friendship, but Greed knew better. It was his color, so it meant more than that. It was also the first thing he'd actually given her that wasn't completely for his own gain.

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Zoe looked surprised but took the candy, "Thanks.." she was going to miss this slightly less crazy Greed. It meant she got chocolate. Greed had never given her a true gift so when he waved the flower in front of her face, she didn't connect it that it was for her. She made no move towards it, just saw the yellow, figured he liked it and wanted to have it. "Oh that's pretty." she commented on the flower.

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Greed frowned. That wasn't what she was supposed to do with it. He took her hand, curling her fingers around its paper stem and shoved it towards her. "It's yours."

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Zoe looked downright shocked as he curled her hand around it, "What.. what for?" her mouth dropped open and she looked at the flower and then smiled a little, clearly pleased (still shocked though). She quickly shook her head and pointed the flower at him for him to take back, "Chance, I can't accept this.. we're friends now." she said the words softly and she hated to give it up but she didn't want him to get the wrong idea if she took the flower. When they were actually dating he'd never gotten her flowers.

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Zoe gave him a helpless look and then looked at the flower again before looking at him, "Alright.. but as a friend." her eyes drifted back to the silk flower and the smile she was trying to hide wouldn't be held back anymore. She twirled the stem and then looked at him, her eyes shining, obviously very touched by the simple gift. "It's beautiful. Thank you." before she could stop herself she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

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Greed waved her off. Whatever she wanted to believe. It was hers now. Part of him and all that jazz. She'd accepted it. That meant more than a simple gift being handed over. She accepted him. It would be interesting to see how long they could keep---

She kissed his cheek and instead of looking on he leaned his head over for another kiss. This one far more intimate for their new relationship.

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Zoe leaned as far back as she could when he came in for another kiss, a hand on his chest in a motion to stop him. She blinked, her eyes wide and hurt, "Chance...!" she said harshly and in disbelief. She frowned, "Did what we talk about mean nothing to you?" especially the part about how he didn't want to hurt or disappoint her anymore and she didn't do casual kissing with friends, because their current position made it seem like he didn't care about any of that. Oh God.. is that why he got her a flower? Because he thought it meant she'd kiss him? So much for not being disappointed.

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In his defense they made out quite a few times when in the friends zone. So Greed saw no difference. It was a simple kiss right? He just needed it.

He growled under his breath. "Just one?" He asked in a squeaky voice and pointer finger.

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Zoe gave him a look, "No! Not even one. Kansas was.. we were trying to figure things out and now we have and we're friends. And we're not going to be like friends like we were before." and he knew what she meant, no kisses, no cuddles, no sleepovers.

She sighed as she looked at his eager face, still holding him off. She knew to him it didn't mean anything but 'meaningless' kisses were what caused her to end up in a mess of feels. She just couldn't kiss him without it meaning something to her. "Maybe we should just be friends over the phone..."

[better-than.insanejournal.com]

Regardless of her reprimand Greed kissed her cheek. He flew back in his seat, hoarding the chocolate to stuff in his mouth. At least it wouldn't back talk him about the lines he shouldn't cross. He knew what he promised, he wasn't going to warm up to the idea easily.

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Zoe blushed a little with a smile and touched her cheek. "Thank you." though she didn't know what she was thanking him for.. not kissing her on the lips? God, her life had become so ridiculous ever since he came into it. She took one of the chocolates and looked at him, saying half jokingly because of his huffy and horny state, "It's a long flight. Do you want me to sit somewhere else..?"

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"No!" He insisted through a full mouth of chocolate. Of course it was right about the time the flight attendant strolled by to ask what they wanted to drink. Greed looked at the cart, at the strawberry blonde who asked the question, then to Zoe with a whine.

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Zoe just looked at Greed and then turned her attention to the other woman, "I'll have a coke and he'll have whatever comes in a bottle. Preferably something that has a sedative slipped into it." The flight attendant giggled, "Your boyfriend a talker?" Zoe said flatly, "He's not my boyfriend."

The attendant perked up as she poured the drink, "Really now?" her bright smile all for Greed.

Zoe rolled her eyes and pressed the tips of her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "Can you make mine a rum and coke?" this was going to be a long flight..

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After a few hearty chews Greed swallowed down the lump of chocolate. He quirked his lips into a goofy smile as the attendant shook one of the bottles. "Will this do?" Greed nodded quickly with a wave of his hand. "More?" The pretty girl asked. She handed Zoe her drink then a few bottles to Greed, who quickly washed down the sweet taste in his mouth.

Sliding one more bottle onto his tray, the girl slipped a piece of paper underneath with a wink before moving on. Instead of looking at it Greed took his bottles and stuffed them into the seat net, folded up his tray and snuggled his head on Zoe's shoulder.

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Zoe took a few sips of her drink as she watched the attendant shamelessly flirt with Greed. Okay, so she'd have to get used to this and she knew Greed would be sleeping with everything that walked under the sun that had boobs and a pretty face but she really didn't want it to be right in front of her.

Zoe snatched the paper before it could get locked up with the tray or float to the ground and looked at it with a quirked brow. She put two fingers against Greed's head on her shoulder and pushed it off. She handed him the slip of paper without looking at him, "You have an invitation to join the mile high club." she sipped her drink again.

[better-than.insanejournal.com]

Greed stuffed the paper in his empty bottle, finishing off the drink to the first round and nestled it in the net. His head went right back to her shoulder, shuffling in his seat with a bouncy, pouty grin. "Stop moving." She was more comfortable still. Eventually his head would flop forward to her chest (it made a great pillow!) until he was jolted back awake. He would fight her again to get comfortable in his seat, finally settling in a pose with his head laid back on his headrest with a blanket stuffed underneath his neck for support.

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Zoe looked surprised by what he did but just raised her brows. She laughed a little when he kept trying to snuggle into her shoulder and she trying to push him off. "Hey, hey, hey!" she said when his head went on her chest and she 'helped' move him back to his seat while shaking her head.

Zoe fell asleep soon, the rum and coke acting like a nice lullaby in her system as she was curled up in her seat. Her head was against the headrest but there was turbulence that kept jostling her. She didn't wake but shifted in her sleep closer to Greed, snuggling into his side as the blanket slid down some. It was just.. second nature.

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The turbulence might not have woken her, but it jostled Greed's semi-settled stomach. He flagged down the attendant for a glass of water quietly as Zoe curled up against him. He'd missed that warmth. With his one arm branched around her, he tugged on the blanket to pull it over her. Plane rides were always a little chilly, he was perfectly content being her little heater for the duration of the flight. That is if his arm didn't fall off asleep smushed between her and the seat. Each time the plane hit a rough patch, she snuggled in closer. By the end of the flight he'd moved the armrest and nestled her head on a pillow in his lap. Very compromising positions for a couple that was supposed to be practicing non-couple rituals.

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Zoe never slept more peacefully than she did with Greed. Well she used to and then they hit their own rough patch but the last few nights in his arms had soothed her enough that she was out like a light curled up in his lap. It was only when people were lining up to get off the plane did she jerk awake and was surprised to find she was in his lap and they were in New York. She looked a little embarrassed as she quickly sat up and didn't look at him, "Sorry. You should have woken me up." she doubted it was a comfortable ride for him with her like that on him.

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"Because you were drooling on my lap," he gave her a lopsided smile. "Besides, the lady across from us so left her purse...." he had been eying it since she'd exited the plane. He helped push her up off his lap, throwing the blanket off so he could stand up. Everything felt stiff until he stretched wide (and loudly) in the middle of the aisle. They were practically the last ones off save the other sleepy head in the back. The overhead compartment was stuffed with their luggage which he dragged down slowly, stumbling back into the seat just across from them. All so he could snatch that lonely, lost purse. He was probably supposed to leave the blanket in the seat, but it was his pouch to hide stuff in. He never left a plane empty handed.

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Zoe laughed and swatted his chest, "I was not drooling.." she picked up her bag, the silk rose in her hand as she watched Greed pilfer some lady's purse. Well they were in first class so hopefully the woman could afford to lose it. Zoe never spoke out against Greed's thefts, she knew it was what he was and to lecture him on that would be stupid and not accepting a big part of him. Besides, sin was there to create a balance in the world, he had a job to do. She just hoped she wouldn't be nabbed as an accomplice one day. She grinned, "Are you finished?" she took his hand to get him to his feet so they could go to baggage claim.

It was only while they were waiting for the yet to arrive luggage that Zoe blinked and realized.. "Wait, I don't have any luggage." it was all Greed's stuff and things he bought her which she was not going to accept. She twisted her lips and looked at the glass doors leading to the exit, "Um.. I guess I should get a cab."

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Had Kansas taught them nothing? He'd wrangled her all the way there now she was practically skipping to leave. No dinner, no goodbye---

Greed puckered his lips out as far as he could to grab a quick kiss on the lips, but she turned her cheek before he could steal it. It was easy wasn't it? To fall into old habits no matter how much they threw around this whole friends vibe. It was a hamster wheel that he was running around and around in until he decided it just wasn't going to work. He knew he needed to try for her sake....because having her was still having her. She was still his, and the way she twirled that pretty silk rose between her fingers proved it.

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Zoe sighed and managed to dodge his lips again, getting the kiss on the cheek. She gave him a pleading look and while holding the silk rose in her hand, she pulled on the fronts of his jacket, "Chance, please.. please.. try for me? Please? Because if you can't do this then I'm not going to get to see you." She pulled him down to her so she could put her arms around his neck and give him a big hug, "I'll see you after New Years, okay?" she seemed reluctant to let him go and kissed the frog tattoo on his ear the way she used to and hadn't in a long time.

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Well, she complained about actions he did that made her uncomfortable in the friend zone, but then she went and did that. Hugs, kisses to his ear, what was she playing at really? He suffocated her in the embrace, holding his chin right against her shoulder.

"You don't make it easy on me," he breathed into her ear. Pink blush wss sure to follow.

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Zoe's cheeks did indeed turn slightly pink partly due to his breath on her ear and partly because of what he said. "You'll change your mind once you go play in the city." she was pretty certain that all it would take would be one hot girl to make Greed's attention go elsewhere. She loosened her grip on him because they were acting like they were seeing each other for the last time or something, "I'll see you soon."

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He was practically pried off her, his heart sinking immediately. It was still there, beating against the walls of his chest tightly. What happened in Kansas hadnt been lost, even with his usual bravado up in the air. He hadn't even pocketed the strawberry blonde's number but Zoe was shoving him out into the world without his invisible leash. He wasn't letting go of hers no matter what she said.

"Soon," he repeated. He would not be spending New Years alone.