Yes, I still work here, Peter. (Robert)

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence took the day after her incident with Robert off. He had not officially fired her. He'd slapped her. Hard. He'd told her off and threatened her if she tried to cross him again. He'd told her he knew of her plot and that he knew she was Jude's sister. He'd told her he was responsible for her brothers death, but not in the way she had thought. He'd given her a great deal to think about, but what he hadn't done was terminate her. As far as she was concerned that meant she could return to her position as his personal secretary, and since she had no intention of quitting her scheming, she knew she needed to return to her post.

She had done a bit of soul searching since her confrontation with the leader of the Gargoyles. She didn't want him dead anymore. No.. she had no reason to see him placed in a grave, however she still wanted to hurt him severely. She wanted to watch him suffer, watch him go down in flames. She also wanted to know more about her brother and the only way to get an unbiased view on him was to find out from Snow who seemed to be the only person who knew him, really knew him, other than her parents.

In a way Cadence owed Robert her life. If Jude had lived she would have never been conceived. She had been conceived out of sadness and desperation for a child, something her parents wouldn't have felt if they'd had their golden child since. It didn't deter her from wanting to hurt Robert, just to keep his life intact.

The evening she decided to return to work she dressed as she normally would; how Robert liked. Professional and just slightly reveling. It was though nothing had changed, only something was different. Her cheek was slightly swollen from where he'd struck her, and there was a deep purple bag under her eye. It would have healed by now normally but with not being able to turn, she seemed to be healing much slower these days. It was a battle wound of sorts, though she suspected Robert might view it as a trophy. A physical reminder he had put her in her place.

She received many funny looks when she arrived, and when Peter approached her she explained she hadn't been terminated so she saw no reason not to come in. He was obviously displeased and after seeing him leave Robert's office and not saying anything she assumed everything was fine. She went about her business as always, filing, taking messaged, making copies and sending things out. It was unfortunate that she wouldn't be able to ignore her boss forever. She was dreading having to go into his office to fetch some things, but it was inevitable. She put it off until near break time, and then made her way to his office, knocking and waiting for his permission to enter. When she did she looked at him briefly, shut his door, and went about her business. The silence was deafening, as it always was. She knew what she needed to do, and she didn't know what sort of answer she would get. She always fetched food for him around this time, so straightening up she turned to him, eyes locked on the man she detested, yet didn't at the same time. "Is there anything you need me to fetch for you, sir?" She asked as if today was no different than any other day. Her hands folded lightly in front of her, watching him with obedient eyes. He thought he'd won, but this was only just the beginning.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert didn’t think twice when Cadence didn’t come in the night after their meltdown. She needed time, and that’s what he gave her. The filing and such was placed on her desk for when she returned and he went about his business quietly, although it was a short day for him. When Cadence left, he’d lain out on the couch in his office and actually managed to fall asleep for a full eight hours. There was no one coming into his office, no one knocking and bothering him, so he slept right through. When he woke, he was still groggy, but much more refreshed than when he’d passed out. He went home and showered and changed before starting another night at the office. Daniel didn’t even ask why he had been there for eight hours, just appeared when he required him. Back in his office, he was certain Cadence would take another day, but was surprised when she appeared at her desk, which he could see from his own desk. His surprise didn’t register on his face, and he couldn’t say whether he was glad to see her or not. He was glad he hadn’t lost a good assistant, but apprehensive after what had passed between them.

Other than the purple mark on her face, however, there was no sign of what happened between them. She acted no differently, though she seemed to avoid his office like the plague. At one point Peter came to meet with Robert and did a double take when he saw Cadence at her desk. He was livid, especially when Cadence told him she hadn’t been terminated. The man had come storming into his office and shut the door behind him to demand what she was doing there. Robert calmed him, reminding him first of all who was in charge, and assuring him that things were straightened out. He gave Peter a vague explanation of what had happened, though he hardly went into the detail he had gone into with Cadence on the events surrounding her brother’s death. He simply said all her life, Cadence had thought he was the one responsible for her brother’s death, but in fact Robert had tried to save her brother. He had crushed her dream of destroying him, made her feel a fool, and that was punishment enough for betraying him. Peter seemed to understand his explanation, but he knew the older Gargoyle would never trust Cadence again. There was nothing Robert could do to amend that, but it might prove beneficial in the future. At lease Peter wouldn’t let anything slip to Cadence that would be best kept between Robert and himself.

The night went on as usual and he was reviewing reports he received from those under him when there was a light knock on the door. “Come in,” he said loud enough to be heard through the thick doors. He looked up from his papers as she walked in and he nodded, seeing that she needed to do some filing. She went about her business and he his, as usually happened. The door was closed and he stood staring at the reports he received from the council. There had been several complaints this week and demands to know what could be done about the darkness, what could Gargoyles do to sleep, etc. Robert would have to come out with a statement soon, one which he might begin once he ate something later. He wasn’t hungry just yet and he still had to go through the reports. “Is there anything you need me to fetch for you, sir?” Robert looked up again, locking on his pretty little assistant. She looked as pretty as ever, even with that bruise on her face, a reminder that he had set her straight for her dalliance with Davenport. His hand moved over his tired eyes briefly. “Some coffee would be appreciated,” he replied, taking his hand from his eyes. He watched her go, knowing she knew he liked his coffee black. His eyes went back to his papers until he heard her coming back, closing the door behind her. He reached his hand out to take the coffee from her, his fingers brushing over hers. “Thank you.” He studied her for a moment, sipping the hot liquid as he looked at her. “Have you slept yet, Cadence?” he inquired. All of the reports of Gargoyles unable to sleep and therefore unable to perform their duties made him wonder if she had even managed sleep. The last thing he needed would be her to collapse from exhaustion while on the job.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

“Some coffee would be appreciated,” It was as if nothing had changed and she gave a brief nod before doing as he asked. The looks had, for the most part, stopped coming her way. Everyone seemed to move past the fact that she was there, though she still felt a chill from Peter. Not that she cared. She'd stick it to him too if necessary.

She returned to Robert's office with his coffee, fresh, hot and black like he liked it. “Thank you.” She stood there, waiting for him to dismiss her. Last thing she wanted was to move away and continue about her day if he wasn't satisfied yet.

“Have you slept yet, Cadence?” His eyes were still on hers, and she watched him practically unblinking as he sipped the coffee. She had slept here and there but not much. It had been difficult to do so, but she had managed some time sleeping yesterday. It was such a new thing for all of them. No one was used to it yet, herself included. She was strong, both physically and mentally, and stubborn as hell. She wasn't about to let her weariness hold her back form anything and she was nearly as sharp as she ever was. Or so she thought.

"I've managed to get a little here and there." she offered truthfully. Her hands clasped lightly in front of her, hanging low over her short pencil skirt, the top two buttons on her silk blouse open showing off just a little of her chest. "I trust you've had no difficulties?" She asked out of politeness. It was as if nothing had gone on between them and she didn't know if this would last or not. She assumed it would if he hadn't given her a reason to think otherwise. "Any word yet on this period ending?" She asked, knowing their hadn't been. If there had then everyone would have heard of it now, but she was making light chit chat to allow him to think she had changed her ways.

[ROBERT SNOW]

“I’ve managed to get a little here and there.” Robert nodded in response, sincerely a little glad that Cadence was managing. Hopefully all of the Gargoyles would get used to sleeping for longer periods as time went on and they would be able to adjust to this new, strangely human behavior of theirs. He hated that they had become virtually human in one night. They were still older, still wiser and still more powerful, but not as powerful as they had been, and even less so when they slept. Some people would take this as a lesson in humility, but Robert didn’t know the meaning of that word and never would. “I trust you’ve had no difficulties?” He gave a small upward turn of his lips. “We’ve all had difficulties, but as it happens, last night I did manage to get some good sleep,” he replied cordially. It was like nothing had changed; he hoped her internal attitude had, even if her external one didn’t show it. If she was still out to get him, it would be incredibly selfish of her.

“Any word yet on this period ending?” Robert sighed and sat back in his chair, shaking his head. “I wish I had. The best we can do is wait and see if it resolves itself for now. If it continues for two long, we’ll have to start really digging for answers, but we do have a team working on the investigation,” he assured her. It was like a little mini press conference, but he would find it hard to trust her with his personal opinions for a while. He still hadn’t gauged whether she was loyal or not. Not yet, anyway. He noticed the way she held her hands in front of her as he spoke, and thus noticed what she was wearing. It showed just enough for him to remember perfectly what she looked like beneath those clothes. He felt a familiar interest peaking in him.

He was hesitant to broach that with her again, though. After what happened recently, he didn’t need her pushing him away from her or spitting in his face again. It would only make him angry once more, and he really would be out of a good assistant. They were acting as though nothing had happened, though, and he had a burgeoning curiosity. How far would she let him go now? He couldn’t deny she knew how to please him and he certainly wanted that pleasure. He remained seated as his eyes came to her jade colored ones, his interest showing, but only slightly. “Perhaps what you need to help you sleep is some tension relief. Maybe that’s what all the Gargoyles need,” he suggested, waiting to see how she would respond. Would she refuse him?

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

“I wish I had." She stood still and quiet as he continued his explanation, telling her there were people investigating it. She knew that already. In fact, there was little she didn't know about the investigation, aside from anything new that had sprung up in the last forty eight hours or so. She felt his eyes on her in that familiar way and she wondered if he would try anything even after the other day. Would he want things to go back to that? She made no gesture to show either way. Surely he would pass today. It would take some time to fall into those sorts of old habits.

“Perhaps what you need to help you sleep is some tension relief." Nothing on her face indicated she was or wasn't okay with this. Cadence had been working alongside Robert long enough to know when he was hinting at something and when he wasn't. "Maybe that’s what all the Gargoyles need,” he suggested, and her head tilted slightly to the side, elongating her neck a little and showing off the pearl necklace she wore.

"It's true, we're all very tense, sir." She agreed gently, the fingers on her left hand moving up to clasp her left wrist lightly as her hands laid in front of her still. There was a part of her that wanted to veer off the subject and not get into it with him. She could control this situation, but at the same time she didn't want things to necessarily change. She wanted him to keep her close still, and there was a deep part of her that craved his hard hand. "What do you suggest?" She asked, her tone borderline naive though even she knew he knew better. She was anything but. The hand at her wrist moved up and down her arm, teetering on suggestive as she watched him.

"I'm open to suggestions."

[ROBERT SNOW]

Cadence looked almost confused by Robert’s words the way she tilted her head to the side, but he knew she was playing coy. He did notice the pearls she was wearing and thought about how they might get in the way… “It’s true, we’re all very tense, sir.” If she had wanted what he knew she understood he was proposing, then she would have made a comment that was much more subtly provocative. Well, he could always force her to have sex with him, but that would only rile her up again. He couldn’t deal with that a second time, and as he had observed several times over the last few days, she was a good assistant—it would be a shame to lose her. Robert was about to give up on the idea when she spoke up again.

“What do you suggest?” His eyes caught hers, took in her body language, and saw the way her hand moved up and down her arm. It made him stifle the smirk pulling at his lips. “I’m open to suggestions.” She would be open, alright; that much she could be certain of. His palms pressed to the wood of his desk, helping to push him to his feet. When he was standing, he was able to look down at her, which he preferred; he liked the way she felt small compared to him. “Well, I would suggest physical exhaustion. There’s something very relaxing in working your body to the bone,” he said conversationally, walking around to the other side of his desk so he was standing directly in front of her. “Wouldn’t you agree?” His eyes bore down into hers, his deep voice softening just slightly. He brought a hand up, his index finger tilting her chin up to look at him. There were those eyes again…they were lovely, even though they brought back unpleasant memories. She didn’t refuse him; she never did. It was something that pleased Robert to no end. He slowly lowered his face down toward hers, holding her gaze the entire time. Yes, he would finally get his fix. His lips pressed to hers as his eyes slid shut, and though the kiss was slow, it was hardly gentle. His hand came to her hair, tangling in the dirty blonde strands to pull her face harder against his.

He turned her so her back was to the desk and placed her on the wood as he had so many times before. Eventually they might move to the couch, but not yet; he liked her wear she was. His hands moved to her thighs, his fingers dragging down the material of her skirt before they crept beneath it. Those fingers drove into her skin as they moved toward her panties, teasing the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. His hands pulled her closer roughly, so he was nestled close to her hips and between her thighs. He kissed and nipped his way along her jaw until he reached her ear, his lips whispering against it, “Would you like to try it out?”

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

The look in his eyes gave him away before anything else, and as always Cadence had that mixed feeling of hatred and lust swirling in her stomach. She always asked for it without really asking for it, and he always gave it with so little provocation. “Well, I would suggest physical exhaustion. There’s something very relaxing in working your body to the bone,” Her eyes never left him as he pushed up from his desk and walking around towards her. She moved her head slightly to follow his movements, her head tilting up as he came close. He really had a way of making people feel small, but Cadence just couldn't fear him. What was the worst he would do, beat her to death? The thought didn't sit well with her and she certainly didn't want that. Fear wasn't the right word to use though to describe it. If it was what he ever chose to do she would deal with it, but that wasn't what he would do now. Not with the hungry look in his eyes. He'd gone nearly a week without having her.

“Wouldn’t you agree?” His eyes bore down into hers, his deep voice softening just slightly. "Yes, sir." She said submissively, finding it so easy to fall into her role with him once more. His finger pushed her chin up and she continued to stare directly in his eyes. She hated him, but at the same time didn't. She wanted to destroy him and also have him fuck her senseless. Her feelings with him had always been so conflicting.

She welcoming his kiss as always, his lips firm but slow. Her eyes stayed open for a moment, watching him before shutting her eyes as his hand tangled in her hair. Before she knew it she felt him turning and lifting her onto his desk. Cadence had deep down always liked being taken on her bosses desk. It was so dirty and carnal, like they couldn't be bothered to fuck someplace appropriate so any damn surface would suffice. He made her feel used when he started there, like some piece of office equipment, like a stapler or tape dispenser. Strangely it turned her on more, mostly because despite her lack of fear, even she knew how much power this man held and he liked to show it, even with his sexual prowess.

His hands moved to her thighs, his fingers digging and dragging down the length of her skirt before they crept below the soft material, moving north. She felt the sensation of his fingers inside from her stomach down to the point between her legs. Not even Cadence could deny the sort of power he demanded in everything he did, including his touch. He roughly pulled her close, feeling him nestled between her legs and she looked up at him with hooded eyes. Absolutely nothing had changed. She was still going to let him have her despite everything. It was her way of letting him know nothing he did could ever get to her and she had a feeling he was pulling the same card; it didn't matter what Cadence did, he would always dominate her.

“Would you like to try it out?”

Her hands which had been nestled on either side of her on the desk moved back so she could lean her body away from him and look better up at him while still offering a sort of show. He would be able to see between her legs this way, how his torso nestle against hers.

"Right here, sir?" She asked innocently as if she had no idea what he intended to do to her right there on the desk. "I would hate for it to work. What if I fell asleep right here in your office? I would have no choice but to shirk the rest of my responsibilities for the day." One hand moved up to her shirt, unbuttoning another button and showing just a little of her cleavage. "It's very warm with you standing so close." She apologized softly before leaning back more, her legs spreading further. "I'm already behind on my work, Robert. It would be very irresponsible of us to put me to sleep now, not with so much to do."

[ROBERT SNOW]

Cadence leaned away from him and Robert watched as her panties came into view between her thighs. His eyes showed his hunger, his carnal need to have her, and she wouldn’t deny him. Robert always liked that about Cadence; she gave him free reign with his power and he would take full advantage of it. “Right here, sir?” Her coy question made him smirk. “I would hate for it to work. What if I fell asleep right here in your office? I would have no choice but to shirk the rest of my responsibilities for the day.” He watched her hand come up to her shirt and undo another button, revealing her cleavage and drawing his eyes downward before they came back to her face, starving. His hands curled around the tops of her panties. “It’s very warm with you standing so close.” He gave a soft, short chuckle, devouring her with his eyes. “I’m already behind on my work, Robert. It would be very irresponsible of us to put me to sleep now, with so much to do.” Robert pulled her panties down slowly until they were mid-thigh on her. “I’m your boss, Cadence, and I have a new project for you to work on.”
_________________________________________________

[ROBERT SNOW]

____________________________________________________


“Would you like for me to stay here and rest?” Robert considered her question. He’d never actually slept with Cadence before. In fact, he’d never actually slept with any woman. Napped, on occasion after a particularly demanding session, but never slept. He was feeling exhausted, though, and completely willing to overlook the strangely affectionate action of sleeping with her curled up to him on the couch in his office. The door was locked, sound proof, and no one but he and Cadence had a key to his office, not even Peter. Anyone knocking would no doubt think he left, as well as Cadence. No one would know but he and Cadence what happened in this room. “If you would like,” he replied after a pause. He shifted to toss the cushions off the back of the couch to give them more room. When all three were on the floor, he rolled to the couch beside her, pulling the pillow under his own head while he laid his arm out for her to curl into him.

Laying there with Cadence’s head on his chest, he had to note how strange it was to be like this with her. He wasn’t so uncomfortable that he wouldn’t be able to rest, but it was a new feeling to have her warm body resting against his, the weight of her head on his chest. It was odd, but he couldn’t say it was unpleasant. He looked down at her head, noting how tousled her hair was now. With a small smirk he swept the hand of the arm semi-supporting her head through her hair to tame it. He caught himself, knowing his action might be interpreted as tenderness and he cleared his throat lightly afterward. “Your hair was a mess. I thought I’d help you out,” he explained matter-of-factly. He closed his eyes, letting himself relax like he had the night before, trying to slip back into sleep. Her warmth was certainly helping with that.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

“If you would like,” he replied to her question regarding sleeping there. She wasn't sure what she wanted. She was still disgusted with him as she always was, but even she couldn't deny the overwhelming calm that had come over her with her heavy release. As it was her heart was still pumping faster than normal. She ached everywhere, in places she had never ached before and she knew it was because she was weakened from what was going on. He had worked her hard and though everything was sore, it felt good at the same time though she wished her shoulders didn't burn so much.

Robert was pulling the cushions off and she wondered if he was planning on laying with her while she slept. That was....that was just not like him. They didn't have that sort of relationship, but if it was what he wanted then she would go along with it as she did with everything he wanted.

Cadence rolled onto her shoulder, which made it sting for a moment until she got used to the weight shift on it. Her head nestled onto his chest as she cradled herself in his arm, wishing she had been able to clean herself up first. She was covered in a layer of sweat and bodily liquids. She slid her free hand onto his chest, letting her head rest on it as her bare palm laid on his chest.

Cadence took a deep breath and couldn't help that overwhelming feeling of exhaustion she felt making her drowsy and she was glad he was willing to sleep at that moment. It meant she could just let this feeling of exhaustion take her. She felt his hand in her hair which made her stiffen a little and frown slightly. What was he doing? He was quick to answer her silent question. “Your hair was a mess. I thought I’d help you out,” he explained matter-of-factly. Cadence turned her head up a little and looked at his face as he closed his eyes.

"When you look at me, do you see him?" She asked softly, her voice soft but not as tender as would be expected for such a question. She had given him what he wanted; sex and an excuse to abuse her. Now it was her turn to collect her tiny scraps of information.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert was still trying to get used to having Cadence lying beside him, her hand and head rested on his chest. He was tired enough that he didn’t really care, but he was certain he would regret this later. She didn’t seem entirely comfortable either, but he had a feeling her reason for staying was similar to his; they were both exhausted. His eyes were closed and he was beginning to relax when her voice drew his eyes open again. “When you look at me, do you see him?” The question made him freeze as he looked down at her. He didn’t want to talk about her brother right after fucking. The thought of her brother wasn’t something that made him relax. She was looking at him with those eyes, though, and he swallowed, snapping him out of his reluctance to speak about Jude. When he looked at her, did he see him? That was a question with a more complicated answer than she knew.

“Yes and no,” he replied, looking her straight in the eyes as he said it. “You have the same eyes as him and your hair is the same color. And you’re skinny like him; he was tall and lanky. But his personality was different. He was quiet when he first met a person, but he got talkative when he was comfortable. He was much more volatile than you; he had a temper. Jude was brilliant, but he flaunted his brilliance to a certain extent. I suspect you’re quite as brilliant as he was, but you don’t let on to it as much; you’re much more secretive than he was. Your eyes remind me of him and the way you carry yourself with authority, but you’re very different from him at the same time.” Robert had glanced away from her as he remembered her brother, but his eyes came back to her with his last sentence. At first glance she had reminded him very much of her brother, but as he came to know her, it became evident they were two very different people.

He looked at the ceiling now, wondering if he wanted to keep talking about Jude. He was certainly tired enough to pass out, but he knew she was probably very curious about her brother. As relaxed as he was now, his skin cooling from the sweat drying there, he was feeling reluctantly generous. His voice softened somewhat, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at Cadence. “What do you want to know about Jude?”

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Her question had been meant almost as an insult in her mind. If she did remind him of her brother, it was no wonder he didn't mind fucking her. Hadn't he fucked her brother in a different sense of the word? She wondered if he sensed this as he froze, looking down at her.

“Yes and no,” he said after a beat, and then went on to explain what he meant. She looked like him, but personality wise they were different. Cadence sucked it all in finding she was more moved than she expected to be. She had grown up feeling like a second best option, which she technically was. She always felt compared to Jude even if her parent's hadn't outwardly done so. Them simply missing him and speaking so highly of him always made it clear that he was simply better at life than she was. Not that she was a disappointment, but she wasn't Jude. She would never be Jude.

"Jude was brilliant, but he flaunted his brilliance to a certain extent. I suspect you’re quite as brilliant as he was, but you don’t let on to it as much; you’re much more secretive than he was." Her brother sounded like a prick. She wasn't surprised, most men of her species were. Hell, most women were too, herself included, but what got her was his compliment. She hadn't been fishing for it, but she was glad Robert noted her intelligence. It only verified she would have gotten this position had she been related to Jude or not. Though there was a strong possibility if Snow wasn't in office, she wouldn't be there.

It was also clear that Robert was aware that she was secretive and not simply quiet. She didn't like that about him. She didn't like him knowing her personal affairs and trying to figure her out. He'd done so once already and there was probably no stopping him from doing so again. "Your eyes remind me of him and the way you carry yourself with authority, but you’re very different from him at the same time.”

His words made her warm to him slightly. Robert actually saw Cadence for what she was and not what she portrayed herself to be, which was odd to her. It was slowly becoming clear she couldn't fool him. He probably knew she was still plotting against him. He'd known the first time around and he would certainly know now. It didn't sit well with her, but she was too tired to really think of what to do about it now.

“What do you want to know about Jude?”

She pursed her lips, not having expected the question. Everything. It was something he had over her, something he could use if he knew she wanted to know all there was to know about her brother. It was like holding up her flag of surrender and she wasn't entirely sure she was ready to do that. Hell, she wasn't entirely sure she believed him yet. She didn't want to be played a fool, especially by him. Cadence was very protective of herself. She pulled her eyes away and rested her cheek to his chest once more, her hand draping up to his shoulder in an awkward cuddling position. Despite the intimate way he held her, they were both uncomfortable with this level of intimacy and she couldn't relax completely despite being so tired. "Nothing more now." She finally spoke, her voice soft and firm, making it clear that despite her being curled up on him like the proper slut she was, she wasn't going to have a nice, sentimental conversation with him. She was too closed for that, even if the conversation was something she was desperate to have, she didn't want it with him. She wasn't ready to. Not yet. "I'm very tired, Robert." Her voice softened and she let out a long deep breath, letting her eyes shut, wondering if sleep would actually come, especially now.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert waited for Cadence to speak, looking down at her as she looked up at him. She was hesitating to answer and he wondered why. He was feeling generous, so why couldn’t she just ask what was on her mind? Instead, she looked away and laid her head on his chest. “Nothing more now.” Now. That meant she was going to find a better time to ask. There was no better time than now when he was feeling well fucked and comfortable, but apparently it wasn’t a good time for her. So be it. If she asked him some other time, he didn’t have to be as accommodating. So there they were, boss and employee curled up naked on a couch, both uncomfortable with the idea of sleeping beside the other, and yet too tired to remedy the situation. Her arm was draped over him, her hand rested on his shoulder, but he didn’t hold her there. If she was comfortable, he wouldn’t complain, but he wasn’t the cuddling type. “I’m very tired, Robert.” He sighed and closed his eyes again. “Then go to sleep. It would be wise for both of us to get some rest,” he replied, paying more attention to her warmth than the fact that he shouldn’t be doing this. He was too tired to question it now.

Lying there with a warm body beside him, he decided it wasn’t all that bad. It was almost like having a blanket to keep him comfortable, and Cadence smelled nice, even freshly fucked. He wouldn’t say he enjoyed her being there, but he didn’t mind it after a few minutes of getting used to the sensation. One hand rested on his stomach, the other on her back and he started to relax into a light slumber. He hoped it would be a good sleep like he had the night before as he let his mind wander. For a moment he wondered what Jude would have to say about Robert sleeping with his sister…sleeping generally meaning fucking, though it was literal on this night. Considering it, Jude probably wouldn’t have a sister had he lived. Instead of Peter as his second-in-command, it would be Jude and Robert may have been a very different man than he was. He might have been softer…the thought wasn’t appealing to him, though it was mildly intriguing.

Mulling these thoughts around in his head, he managed to fall asleep, his chest rising and falling more slowly than before, his breathing deeper. He still had reports to go through, but he didn’t care. All of the Gargoyles had issues with sleep right now, so shirking work due to exhaustion would be acceptable. He would deal with everything when he woke. For now, he was content to drift off, even with his assistant nestled against him.