Once the door of the apartment shut behind them, Angel peeled off the gloves that had been covering the bruises on his hand, and sat down on the bed to unlace his boots.  He didn’t say anything to the silent figure still standing near the entry, not yet.  Not until he’d discarded the boots, retreated to the bathroom, and returned with his hair down, the soot gone from about his eyes, and a wet washcloth.  Not until he’d gestured for Dallieh to sit in the chair by the window, and not until he’d begun to wipe away the stains on those ivory features.  When he did speak, his tone was light, as though he were speaking to a startled animal.

“I bet if I asked what you are, ya wouldn’t tell me yet, right?  S’ok, everybody’s got secrets.  Bet you ain’t from around here, neither...  Your accent gives ya away, though I don’t recognize it.”

He kept up the steady stream of chatter, in the comfortable, soothing tone, until he’d finished cleaning away the blood.  He didn’t leave Dallieh room to answer most of his questions, nor did he expect him to.  The rawness coming from him probably wouldn’t have let him.  That was fine with Angel.  He could feel the calm slowly replacing the vagueness, some sort of order returning, and that was the only purpose of his words; to comfort and bring focus.  When Dallieh looked up at him, finally, Angel let that little smirk return to his lips.  He lifted a hand slowly, reaching up to run his fingertips along the feather inked into fair skin.

“Am I supposed to be scared?”

When his touch made contact, Dallieh’s eyes closed, and he turned his face into Angel’s hand.  Involuntarily, Angel flinched in surprise, and then frowned when Dallieh instantly recoiled, as though expecting to be struck.

“Hey.  Relax.”  His voice came out as a soft purr, and Dallieh looked up once more, and went still.  Angel’s smirk flashed to a smile for a split second, then faded, and he stroked his fingers along the feather.  Brushed back chestnut-streaked hair to see it more clearly.  And then became lost in blue-green eyes when his guest made eye contact.

Angel wasn’t sure how long they remained frozen like that.  But finally, he forced himself to withdraw his hand, overwhelmed by the sudden disappointment that hit him like a brick.  He had to clench his hands to resist the urge to do it again.

“You can stay here tonight, if ya want...”

It was only as much as someone might take to speak, just the small inhalation of air that wasn’t necessary and the gentle parting of lips, but Dallieh’s mouth closed again before he uttered a single word. His eyes searched for something in Angel’s face. When his brow furrowed and his gaze fell to the floor, Angel was sure he was about to say no but he nodded his head yes instead. When he put his hand to his mouth to hide his expression, Angel grabbed his fingers and smiled up at him. The smile broadened when he received only a look of mild surprise.

“Wanna watch a movie?” He didn’t wait for a response. He simply got up and wandered over to the tapes that occupied a shelf, allowing Dallieh to steal his hand back. It was an easy decision, which one to watch, as his fingers traced over the worn covers and came to rest upon one of his favorites. He could feel Dallieh’s eyes on him, though he didn’t move from his spot at the table. Angel rose slowly, gracefully, with the slightest of grins that he was sure he couldn’t see, and began the tape in the VCR - maybe someday he’d be able to afford a DVD player - before turning and sitting on the bed. Dallieh still didn’t move. Angel could see him, still as a stone in his periphery.

When Angel finally turned to him, his eyes were unfocused, as though he were remembering something. Angel couldn’t get a good feel for where his head was. He needed him to be closer for that. Somewhere in there was the person who had taken care of him for two nights. The previews rolled past as he became lost in thoughts of what might have been going on in Dallieh’s mind. What was he thinking? Angel cocked his head, just a little.

“Yanno, ya can’t see the TV from there. Why don’tcha come over here...” The movement was not startlingly fast but Angel hadn’t expected him to listen so quickly. He stood and closed the space between them, sat beside him so that they were nearly close enough to touch without actually doing so. The music came up as the title swung into view upon the screen, illuminating the dim space around them in cold blue, like moonlight. Angel smirked and lazed back so he was reclined, laying and coiling the way he usually did, his fingers pushing his hair out of the way as he wriggled in around Dallieh and twined in it as he looked up at him.

Dallieh still wasn’t watching the TV. He had one of his hands on the chains that were on his pants and his eyes shifted slowly from the chain, to the curve of Angel’s leg. What was this all about now? Angel felt like this was somehow familiar. He scowled at first, but made the connection when the pale fingers tightened their grip on the chains, his eyes on his movements but then fell to the floor searching it for an answer to his dilemma. The chains were metal and larger. They could hurt. That’s why he’d taken his pants off before. Angel had suffered worse pain than having some stupid chain against his legs, sheesh.

“I’m not made of glass. Come here. Relax.” He reached and tugged on one of the chains himself which got Dallieh’s attention. He dropped it when he saw the look in his eyes, so close to pain, no longer trying to pull him so he was more than perched on the edge of the bed. What was he thinking?

Angel left his hand close and let his eyes wander back to the movie, though his attention remained on the man who sat on the bed beside him. The music rose and the atmosphere of the movie began to engulf the room. Angel’s eyes traced the bright line, the profile of the man in chains, so still, who now watched beside him. He stretched and shifted, just a little so that his arm and hand were against Dallieh’s leg. At first, Dallieh didn’t seem to notice, but then there was the gentlest shift and he closed his eyes. He had moved closer and now Angel’s brow furrowed again. He didn’t sense any of the usual things he did from a man who might want him... not the way that most men wanted him... but touch... that seemed to be a different story.

He used that thought as an excuse to move again so he was laying on his back and his hair flipped into Dallieh’s lap haphazardly. Perhaps that was too obvious. Dallieh’s eyes opened, but only to take in the decay of the city in the television. He didn’t look startled or like there was anything out of place. Angel was sure he’d seen the movie before. He had a tentative smile just before a part that he himself found humorous. Now pale fingers laced through his hair, smoothing it as though it were something so precious. Was he even aware that he was doing that? Angel stretched his fingers in his hair just a little so that now, Dallieh occasionally brushed him. Once again, Angel saw him close his eyes as though his touch were the sun and he canted his head ever so slightly toward him like he couldn’t help but return the attention he was being given, even if it wasn’t on purpose.

“This part... this next part... is my favorite.” Angel almost missed it. He had become so entranced, watching him enjoy a touch that was completely accidental and then a smile that seemed to shine so brightly before it fled. He looked at the screen and saw tears on a perfect ivory face, the face of a doll who had just discovered she was nothing more than an expensive toy...

Before he was even aware he had done it, he had risen and grabbed Dallieh’s arm, gently lowering them both, folding him so his head was resting, cool upon his chest. Though his body was not tense, Dallieh did not move and remained frozen, so still, with his eyes wide staring at the screen. It wasn’t until the rain came, the soft sound of it filtering in from outside the window that was shared by the heady water slicked streets of the movie on the TV, that he shifted. It was so subtle, just a little closer. Angel wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been looking down at him and saw his expression once more soften. Now, he very carefully kept his gaze upon the screen and watched as dolls began to break before him and the movie drowned them in the haze of rain and moonlight, echoing the downpour that had begun outside.

He felt Dallieh raise his head, study his features for a long moment, before sliding his arm across his chest to pull himself in tight. His leg came to rest across Angels hips and he curled himself in comfortably around him rubbing his chin against him as though he were a big cat. A smile crossed Angel’s lips when he glanced down, daring to look at him. A gentle grin played upon Dallieh’s lips and his eyes were closed. This was the man who had saved him. Angel looked back at the movie. It was almost over.

“This is my favorite part...” He hadn’t even realized he had said it but the arms that enfolded him squeezed just a little bit more as the fingers on the screen encircled a little silver unicorn... made from shining paper. Angel closed his eyes. What was he thinking? Angel felt himself drift as the credits rolled on the screen. He was so comfortable. He couldn’t bring himself to move and he just let the screen go black.