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Alex grabbed a basket for himself as they walked the aisles grabbing items he was low on, needed or wanted following in Ash's paths. As he watched the other struggle more though he moved in slowly and gently took it from him with a word to say he'd carry it for him. "I'm .. fine."
It was almost nice being out there with someone else, not even having to worry about saying anything. Something he very much lacked was people to talk to, or to just go places with. Until now though he never realized he was upset about the fact and had been longing for a companionship of some sort. Looking at Ash he wondered if the other would wind up falling under that category for him, he was scared to approach anyone anyhow... how did one make friends when they're a twenty year old loner? Getting your second personality to find a lover wasn't the common answer but ... by the looks of it it might be his. |
Ashley was startled when the basket was taken from him, looking at Alex with faintly flushed cheeks. "Ah. Thanks." He murmured, smiling at him still. He fished out his wallet and looked around a moment to make sure he dind't need anything else, though he'd jsust come back next time he wanted something different to eat. "You about ready? Or do you need more things? I've kinda been in your way." He laughed.
"I hope you don't mind.. after this I need to go around the corner to work and drop this stuff off, the taxi will pick us up there." He said, watchign Alex curiously for a response. |
Alex looked into his basket, he hadn't a proper list to go by anyhow and had just grabbed as he remembered. He had the necessities and if he missed anything, he'd live without it until he had the guts to head back out for another shopping trip. He gave a small nod to Ashley with the briefest twitch of his lips that was to be his form of a smile. "I've got everything."
When Ash said they weren't heading straight back he fidgeted a bit, but nodded anyhow. After all the other man should be at work now anyhow, he had actually stopped the other man from heading in... but he had to learn to gain at least some comfort level with him.. and it had happened after all. Alex waited until they approached the cash line and set Ash's basket down as the man already had his wallet ready, he grabbed out his own wallet as Ash paid and was counting out the bills to pay for his own basket of groceries. "Okay.." Alex said finally knowing the other had still been waiting for an affirmation that he'd be fine. He just wasn't certain what to say until then. |
Hobbling to the counter, he paid for the items after they'd all been sorted and pout into a couple of bags, managing to take them easily with his crutches. He stepped aside for Alex to pay for his stuff as well, smiling a bit more at him when he finally reassured him that he'd be fine going over to his work. Hopefully Andrew wouldn't be in the building, he hated running into him.
"Well, are you ready? It's not a far walk, jsut around the corner then up an elevator. It's a pretty nice building." He chuckled, walking out of the store with a thanks to the clerk, who happened to know him by name. He was always running in for late night coffee when they ran out in the commons room. He lead Alex to the tall Imajinicks building, going through the automatic doors and going straight for the elevators to hit up, waiting for it to open and holding it for Alex when it did. They had to go up a few floors, though his room really had a nice view from it. There were a lot of people running around his floor, quite literally, and he was bombarded by people wondering where he'd been all day, with notes, propositions, papers, drawings and urgent calls from clients. He waved them all away and got Alex into his office, though they still weren't safe there. "Cht. I swear. I'm gone for one day and it's like the end of the world. " He muttered, shoving some things into the fridge next to the left over chinese. |
Alex followed Ash but the moment Ash was bombarded by others he squeaked a bit in surprise for a moment before Ash made them go away Alex had pressed closer to him eventually to the closeness of feeling Ash's body against his. It wasn't noticed by Alex, more than the fact that in this crowd he'd prefer to be nearer the one he had some semblance of trust.
A breath of relief came over Alex as they moved into the elevator and he stepped away from how close he'd been. He was still trembling from the experience and was staring at the floor blankly. In the office he continued to be rather detached, back to the one he was before he started to let Ash coax him out of his apartment. He merely fidgeted as the man did what he needed to do. He tried to forget the fact he might have glimpsed someone he recognized. It was just his fear getting the better of him... He hoped they wouldn't be bombarded by people again.. He glanced over at Ash hoping they'd leave soon. |
Ashley stocked the fridge, closed it, and then promptly picked up all his memos and threw them into one of the bags from the store so he could take them with him. "Alright, sorry about that, we can get out of here now." He said, moving to lead Alex on out of the office and he grunted as he noticed someone--someone he didn't want to see right now. He tugged on Alex to keep closer, trying to move as quickly as the crutches would allow before they were noticed again. Especially because he was sure he'd seen Andrew now--but had he seen them??
"The taxi should be outside now, Alex. Do you want me to go home with you?" He asked gently--he'd go to his own home if Alex wanted him to leave him alone now, but he had a feeling the man wouldn't mind him accompanying him back to sit around for a while, and he really didn't mind taking a break from work for once. |
Alex nodded dumbly, glad to be leaving. He was startled for a moment when the other pulled him closer his eyes widening slightly. Alex followed behind Ashley though closely as the man picked up a good pace, his eyes kept looking around trying to be alert as he followed the other man quickly not having a problem keeping close.
"Jacob?" Alex felt his skin cool and pale from head to toe at that name, his eyes glancing back only to widen in horror. He shook his head a bit and tried to keep going pretending to ignore as he heard the intrigued man come closer. He gave a small cry as a hand grabbed him to make him stop and he tried to pry his arm away stumbling backwards when he found the grasp wasn't as tight as he'd imagined. |
That cry had Ashley turning quickly, dropping a crutch as he reached to pull Alex back to him when he'd pulled himself free. "Alex.." His gaze flickered to the man who'd grabbed him frowning as he protected Alex, keeping him behind him a bit and standing between him and their harasser.
"Andrew... His name is Alex, I don't believe.. you know him." He stated, tense as he watched the other man. He didn't have time to back off when fingers touched his cheek and some of his hair idly and he inhaled sharply. "Keep touching me, and I swear to God, Andrew, I'll beat you to a bloody pulp with my crutch. Leave us alone." He started to turn, nudging his crutch towards Alex to grab for him if he would, in need of it before he could leave very well. |
A brief smile flickered across Andrew's face as he'd observed the two. Alex shifted behind Ash trembling as he stared at the other man frightened out of his wits. He was barely paying attention to what was said, it took all his will not to run however... Ashley didn't look all that much more confident with the other man he'd called Andrew.
"I dunno.. he looks to recognize me just fine." Andrew retorted to Ash memory returning to him. "He seemed to know me quite well last night as well when you were with him... I didn't think you were one to go out whoring.. never mind bring one to work." Andrew chuckled. Alex glanced down at what had bumped against his foot when Ashley was moving away from the man. Alex bent down to pick it up to pass to Ash his attention never removing itself from Andrew's actions. If he tried anything Alex knew he'd end up running for the hills.. but would the man do so here? It seemed not as the man backed off with a hungry look his way. |
"I'm not." He retorted sharply, glncing at Andrew wth a wary gaze. "I don't have to pay for my sex with Jacob." He spat at Andrew before turning away to walk, nudging for Alex to get moving ahead of him. "And perhaps the reason Alex recognizes you is because you've mad a habit of raping those who can't defend themselves?" He'd paused momentarily to eye Andrew with what could only be called anger and fear.
He despised the man, but he had to work with him from time to time, it scared him to stay after when he knew Andrew might still be in the building. He didn't want to let himself be alone with him again. Not ever. "Leave him alone and just see Jacob at night mm?" He started to walk towards the elevator, a bit frazzled by the encounter, he just wanted to give Andrew a few good hard hits to the head with his metal crutch, but he imagined that wouldn't go over well in their place of work at all. |
For a moment Andrew gave Ash the satisfaction of looking startled at the mention of not needing to pay. He made a face though a slow not so guilty grin appearing on his lips when Ash continued.
"So, you wouldn't care if I fucked your little whore of a boyfriend nightly then?" Andrew taunted with a laugh before turning away from Ash and 'Alex.' Alex had moved towards the elevators when motioned to. The sound of the man's voice making him sick to his stomach, all he wanted to do was return home and hide curled up in his bed. |
Ashley sneered a little as he stopped again, his head turning towards Andrew as the man finally turned away. "I would care. But there's not a hell of a lot I can do about what he does for work." He grunted, continuing on after Alex--he was done with this. If they argued much longer, they'd draw attention to themselves and he didn't want that.
He got to the elevators and pushed down, looking apologetically at Alex. "I'm sorry." He managed to say, his body obviously tense as he held in everything he felt right that moment. |
Alex stared at his toes as they rode the elevator down, he'd hardly heard the apology from the other as he waited to get to the ground floor and then hurried through to the safety of the taxi. All the while he tried not to abandon Ash to get there on his own and yet he just wanted to get out of there.
On the road finally back to his place he was staring out his window and hadn't said a word. He was lost within his own head only focusing on getting home and safe.. |
He was worried he might have done more damage than good, his hand reaching out in the cab, gently and very lightly touching Alex's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Alex... I didn't know.. he'd be there today." He swallowed thickly, nervous that he'd made the man hate him or at least lost what ever little tiny bit of trust he'd managed to gather up.
Damn that Andrew, he'd really have to give him a good hit next time he saw him! |
Alex flinched away from Ash's touch again, fearful blue eyes drawing away from the outdoors to look at Ash. He was still visibly trembling from the encounter, much more than when they had been bombarded by strangers to himself. His mind hardly focused on the other's words but his chin dipped down slightly giving a little nod.
No words would leave him in this state, not until they got into his apartment at least. His eyes turned back towards the window as they approached closer the buildings beginning to be recognizable to him and slowly the car pulled to a stop. Alex moved to get out once more stopping for a moment wondering if it should be considered his turn to pick up the tab. |
He let him go with the gentlest rub to his shoulder he could manage, sitting back quietly now as they approached Alex's home. He was already fishing out his wallet when they were slowing to a stop, looking through it and handing the man the payment and a good little tip, sliding out fo the car afterwards.
He was a little shaky, breathing out slowly as he calmed himself down, working on walking with Alex back up to his apartment. |
Alex only hesitated long enough at the stairs to make certain Ash got up them alright, but after that he was in his apartment leaving the door unlocked for Ash to enter through. He busied himself with putting the groceries away, everything had a place and the gaps of the missing items that he'd finished were filled once more with the items he'd bought. A rather OCD lifestyle for someone who didn't have anything but organization under his own control.
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Rubbing the back of his head once he was in the apartment, he passed Alex and went to the livingroom, after locking the door behind him. He sat down carefully, hands pushed up into his hair as Ashley leaned forward over his legs, giving a slightly disgrunted noise at himself. WHy'd he even bothered to stand up so much against Andrew that time? Because Alex was there? Usually he'd have just found a quick and painless way to escape, now what would happen? He was afraid he'd made it all worse now.
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Alex looked over as Ash entered and gave a nod of satisfaction as the door was locked. His eyes returned to the duty at hand but he looked again as the other man made a noise. Silently he took out two glasses and poured some juice in each. He walked into the living room slowly and held out one of the glasses to Ash.
He chewed on his lip nervously though and when he went to sit down it was on the farther side of the couch away from Ash. His knees drew up to his chest as his back rested in the corner between armrest and the back of the couch, silently watching Ash with what could look like concern within the nervous fear that was always apparent. |
Ashley looked up, eyes wet but he hadn't yet cried, blinking the emotion away quickly witha faintly flushed face. "Oh.. Thanks." He managed to choke out as he took the juice and drank some of it, trying to settle down. He looked to Alex with a furrowed brow after a moment, and suddenly he really wished Alex would let him close enough to hold or hug, finishing the juice before he set the glass down with a trembling hand, breathing out steadily if he could manage to. "I.. Rgh.." he leaned back into the couch, and were it not for his broken, casted leg, he might have curled up as well, wrapping his arm about himself with a frown.
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"He's... done things to you... hasn't he?" Alex said faintly into the silence as he remembered the comment Ash had made earlier that morning. Alex continued to chew his lip shifting in place as his eyes drifted to stare at the floor. Was it really his business to ask? It was so apparent though that Alex could help but ask. Perhaps the two of them had something in common after all..
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"...Yes" He choked out, his voice quiet and a little raspy from the tension he'd built up in his throat. "Back when I was... still and intern at Imajinicks. I never.. told anyone. Who would have believed me anyway?" He was trembling, tipping his head away from Alex. Usually he had better control over himself than this, but he supposed his anger and emotions built up, now he was just afraid Andrew would really come to Jacob's that night while he was there. What would happen if he saw him again?
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Alex shifted and set his barely touched drink on the table. His troubled blue eyes looked at Ash as the urge to do what he'd always wished he had someone to do came over him. Silently he moved closer, nervous and scared at the same time and yet... He wrapped his arms around the other man awkwardly at first, his body set to jump and run the other direction if Ash responded negatively. He remembered his wishes to have had someone there to hold and comfort him.. he didn't want to remove that right from the other man. It would probably be something Jacob would do... and perhaps that his body was Jacob's that'd calm the other man down.
"I believe you.." Alex murmured quietly, closing his eyes briefly. He knew it before he'd asked, but the words had already jumped out of his mouth before he thought about them. |
His eyes snapped open as he felt arms suddenly around him and he felt those tears finally slide down his cheeks. He hadn't ever been held by someone like this, in a time of need for comfort. "I-I.. Thank you." He choked out, shifting carefully to not startle Alex, but to wrap his arms about the man's body in a returned hug.
He was still trembling, turning his head to hide it agianst Alex's shirt, knowing this wasn't Jacob, as much as he wanted to pretend it was. He was slowly calming down again, breathing out in slow, ragged breaths now as he closed his eyes tight, finally quieting after a moment. |
Alex stayed there his body slowly relaxing against Ash's body, only shifting to get a bit more comfortable in the position. This was new to him as well, he had no real idea of what to do to comfort another, it was usually him who wanted comforting from friends he didn't have. His head tipped down a bit as Ash hid his face against his chest, his cheek brushed against the top of his head and he gently rested it there closing his eyes as he felt Ash's trembling begin to cease.
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