A Wet Change of Heart (Bastian)

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

Aly sulked her way to the car and got in, walking crooked from the wetness. It would be a long uncomfortable drive, and she knew she had overreacted to the whole thing. She had asked for him to tease her in a way, but she had hoped he would be kinder. But how could she expect that from him? He was an ass and she knew that. She just wanted to get her damn pants off, and now.

Aly decided she would suck it up and just go back in, change in his room, and see where the night took her. Maybe she would borrow his clothes and leave. Maybe he would tell her to fuck off. She never knew with him, but she did know she needed out of these clothes and pronto.

She went back inside and up the elevator to his room. She still had his key, after all, and let herself in half expecting him to be there. When she saw he wasn't she assumed he was finishing his supper downstairs so she took the liberty of going through his belongings and finding some decent clothes to wear.

Aly sorted through his clothes, deciding she would change completely. The bottom of her shirt was damp anyway, and if she was going to wear his stuff, she might as well do it right. She slipped on a gray undershirt over her bra and put on a pair of his boxers, sliding some black slacks on over those and putting the suspenders on that he teased he had. His pants were just a little too big for her, and she didn't want him to think he could just pull them down. When she was finished she laid her clothes out on the air conditioner to dry and made herself comfortable on his bed, finding the television remote and searching for a show once more.

She didn't have to wait terribly long for Sebastian. When she heard the door open her eyes moved towards it, watching him come in and staring at him with uncertainty. How would he react? "Surprise." She said coolly, turning back to the television, a hint of a smirk toying with the corners of her lips. "I changed my mind. I like your new suspenders, by the way. Nice and elasticy." She tried to conceal the smile, but she wasn't sure if it was working or not. She was going to make it hard for him to want to kick her out, that was for sure.

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

The night wasn't about to be spoiled because some bratty little human girl decided she wanted to throw a tantrum over spilling water all over herself. It was her own fault and Sebastian wasn't going to feel bad. But even though he kept telling himself that over and over in his head as he finished off his dinner and paid the bill, the fact that she just left him there left him seething. The longer he stayed down at the restaurant the more his temper was going to rise, so he knew the only way to feel better would be to blow off some steam. Leaving a hefty tip of cash on the table he got up and left the restaurant and went straight for the elevators.

Maybe he'd just go out to the Silent Stone for the night, spend the night meshing with his own kind in the dark lounge. Or he could go and pester Prestine until she decided to go out with him, maybe torture her pet until she finally caved. Then there was Eponine.. he could pay her a visit and see what was going on with her cowardice cousin, August. Had he gone to the council as Sebastian suspected he had? He scoffed and rolled his eyes in the metal cart that moved up the floors. Of course he had! He didn't need to go see Eponine to figure that out.

In the end he was just going to go to his room and be left alone for the rest of the night. His subconscious had already decided that before he even started thinking about what he wanted to do, especially since he was strolling out of the elevator and walking down to his door. Sliding the key card in the slot and watching the light turn green he turned the handle and opened the door to his room. What he expected to find was a quiet, empty room where he'd be left to his own boring thoughts. What he ended up finding was Alyson, in his clothes, watching television.

Sebastian froze in the doorway and stared at her there as if he was expecting her to just disappear like she had been an illusion that his mind tricked him into seeing. "Surprise." Nope. She was really there. He came inside and shut the door behind him but didn't move any further into the room. His eyes stayed on her and watched, waiting to see what her motive was. Why did she come back? Didn't she just leave? "I changed my mind. I like your new suspenders, by the way. Nice and elasticy." Well that answered that question.

He finally stepped away from the door and tossed his key card onto the bedside table while he walked by to shrug his jacket off and set it on the back of a chair. Sebastian didn't know whether to tell Alyson to get out and go home or if he should just lay down beside her on the bed and watch television with the girl. The right side of his mouth twitched as he mulled it over in his mind and then finally just decided to plop himself down on the edge of the bed and looked at her. It pleased him to find her in his clothing. Women in men's clothing was always sexy if they knew how to wear it properly, and Alyson clearly did.

"What, did you realize that your life has more meaning when you're with me and decided to come back?" He quirked a brow at her as his familiar smirk was back. He knew he could be an asshole. It was just so much easier to be a jerk than it was to be nice. Could Sebastian just come out and say I'm glad you came back, thank you? Not a chance in hell.

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

He must have been truly surprised, because he stood there for a long moment. Aly could sense it and see it in the corner of her eye, though she didn't turn form the television to look at him. Finally he came further into the room, still not saying anything and she knew she had thrown him for a loop. He pulled his jacket off and slid on the bed near her and she allowed her hazel eyes to grace him for a moment before turning back to the TV.

"What, did you realize that your life has more meaning when you're with me and decided to come back?" She snorted and without skipping a beat, commented back. "Aren't we just the optimist." She said rolling her eyes and sucking in a deep breath which she slowly let out, placing the remote down on the bed and folding her arms low on her torso and she looked at him again, this time letting her gaze stay fixed on him for a moment.

"My life has plenty of meaning, thank you." She said curtly and unraveled her arms, sticking her thumbs under the suspenders and giving them a little tug so they pulled off her body a little. Who, other than old men, even wore suspenders anymore? And hipsters. Hipsters wore suspenders, but Sebastian was no hipster. "I just didn't care to drive home all wet, and contrary to popular belief," He said, her eyes narrowing a little at him, "I knew I would get dry quicker up here. And likely stay dry." She could play his coy little game, too. He thought his little comment downstairs was so clever, but it wasn't. It was immature, but nothing she didn't expect out of him. The sexual tension had been ringing for days, and his comment was just one more to add to the ever growing list.

"I thought I should stay so you knew why my clothes were here and yours weren't." She let go of the suspenders and they snapped back to her body gently, though they made a light noise in the room. "But now that you're here I could just go and you can bring me my clothes whenever we have our little study session.." She offered, bending her legs a little and leaning forward to rest her elbows on them. "Or we could do something and wait for them to dry now. Interview With A Vampire is on." Why were men's clothes always so comfortable? Her eyes moved to the TV, watching Tom Cruise sucking on Brad Pitts neck. It had just started!

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"Aren't we just the optimist." She rolled over looking at him and his gaze was fixed on her just the same, waiting for the next phrase to roll out of Alyson's mouth. Without fail she started talking again and Sebastian couldn't keep the smirk off his face knowing that she was going to do that, "My life has plenty of meaning, thank you." When she pulled on the suspenders he tensed up his jaw a bit. Sebastian didn't know why he always had suspenders. Maybe if the occasion ever came up and he would ever need them for whatever reason then he would have them. But he hardly ever wore them. "I'm glad you're enjoying them," he said just before he saw her lips moving again to say something else. This time, it was an explanation.

"I just didn't care to drive home all wet, and contrary to popular belief, I knew I would get dry quicker up here. And likely stay dry." He knew that she was referring to his little 'wet' comment that he'd made in the restaurant. "You told me to go ahead and say it, so I did just that." He wasn't upset or even moody. In fact, Sebastian was probably in a better mood than he had been in days. Sure just moments ago he was being sour and angry, but when he saw Alyson in his room it turned it all around. "And it's not my fault you took it the wrong way. I was implying that I have a perfectly good shower up here," he motioned with his hand towards the bathroom. He had told her she could shower with him earlier and she had declined. Sure, his little joke could have been construed any way you wanted to hear it, and that was the real reason he'd said it.

"I thought I should stay so you knew why my clothes were here and yours weren't." "Well it's a good thing you stayed. Otherwise I would have suspected you jumped out the window naked. And if that were the case then you might have been escorted to the nut house." He was only teasing her, knowing she wasn't crazy or stupid enough to leave her clothes and run off in the buff, although that was a sight he'd love to see.

"But now that you're here I could just go and you can bring me my clothes whenever we have our little study session.. Or we could do something and wait for them to dry now. Interview With A Vampire is on." It was like she was trying to be sarcastic and tease him, saying that she could leave.. but then she also offered to watch a movie. Sometimes he didn't understand that girl but it was enough to keep him interested he supposed. His eyes turned to the television to see Tom Cruise floating up into the air with Brad Pitt in tow and then latch onto his throat like a leech. "Vampires," he scoffed out the word and shook his head.

Although he wasn't a vampire fan because he was conceited enough to think that their folklore came from gargoyles, he wouldn't mind lounging around and watching a movie with her. He scooted towards the middle of the bed and then slid his back up against the pillows, pressing them between him and the headboard. "Come here," he gestured with arms wide open for her to come and lay on him. "We'll watch the movie. You don't have to rush out of here, and.. I'm glad you came back."

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

"Vampires," He scoffed softly and she grinned a little, peering over at him. This was a classic, be it about vampires or monkeys or whatever! "Hey, this is a classic, buddy. Don't mock Lestat." She teased, her eyes moving back to watch a weary Brad Pitt wash up on the shores.

She felt him scooting back and saw it out of the corner of her eye. He was obviously getting comfortable, which was good because she certainly was. Comfortable or not, she was suddenly very aware of his presence so near her and she half expected him to start his teasing again, or to reach up and tug one of her curls. There was a part of her that really liked the way he gave them a little tug, probably admiring it as it straightened and bounced back. she herself liked watching it and had found it odd when her hair was straight, but she did get less looks that way.

"Come here," She looked at him, surprised. Come...here? Come where? His arms were open and it was clear exactly where he wanted her to scoot. He wanted to snuggle with her? She felt her cheeks flush, waiting for him to taunt her or something, say anything that would make mock her in some way. Only...he didn't. "We'll watch the movie. You don't have to rush out of here, and.. I'm glad you came back."

He said it so sincerely that she was certain there were no cruel undertones. He was genuinely glad she was there which did nothing short of confuse her. Was he really so glad she had a change of heart? She looked at him for a long moment before scooting closer, her movements slightly hesitant and unsure. She nestled herself into his arms, her back leaning against his chest as her head relaxed into the crook of his shoulder. His body was firm and she was more aware of him than the movie playing in front of them. She gulped and tried to relax, but it was difficult. She had just willingly climbed into Sebastian's lap at his request.

"Didn't take you for the curl-up-and-watch-a-movie type." She said, trying to play cool like usual, though her heart was raising. He wasn't human and she was between his legs! He'd kidnapped her, abused her... what the fuck was wrong with her!? Her eyes slid shut as she tried to force the ever annoying words to leave her head. Why did she always resort back to those thoughts? Maybe that was his appeal. She had always liked going against the grain and being rebellious. Was that what made this so delicious to her? It was that taboo? Dressing in her captors clothing and willingly coming to him when every logical thought told her it was wrong? Who was she even rebelling against?

"This is one of my favorites." She offered softly, letting her guard down just a little, deciding she wouldn't try to think about the logical side and enjoy herself. He was being nice; it was a rare moment.

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"Didn't take you for the curl-up-and-watch-a-movie type." He could feel her trying to make herself relax as she was tense and stiff, but slowly it melted away. Except she didn't seem to fully relax and he reached his hand up to stroke her hair away from her face but most of her curls just bounced right back to where they were. "Yeah. Well I'm not that type." He said but kept his voice quieter than usual in case she actually was trying to listen to the movie. He rested his head on top of hers and let his grey eyes turn to the television. He didn't usually sit around watching television. Movies and shows didn't capture his attention the way other things did. He'd much rather go out partying or listen to music than to watch a movie.

"This is one of my favorites." His eyes turned to the top of her head almost as if he expected her to look up at him, but he didn't watch her long. The sound of music escalating grabbed his attention as he watched this Louis character walk up out of the water towards his estate as if he were the loch ness monster. He'd seen bits and pieces of the movie but he knew the story through the book. He'd read a few Anne Rice books over the years along with other authors. "I'm partial to the book myself," he whispered and did an attempt to move her hair again before he settled on just resting his hand near her side.

He'd never agree to sit around and watch a movie with just anyone. Hell, he couldn't even sit there and watch one with his own sister. But he knew that if he did it would keep Alyson there a little longer. Was he so starved for company that he would do something he didn't enjoy? Apparently so. But sitting there with her it didn't matter what they were doing. They could have been watching Blues Clues and he would have been perfectly content. Might have even sung along! He was just glad to have her so close to him.

"What else? What other favorites do you have?" He asked her still keep his voice low so that the conversation would remain as relaxing as the mood seemed to become. After learning about what she was going to college for it became clear he didn't know as much about this girl as he would have liked. He'd kept her hostage in his home for several weeks and knew almost nothing about her before he'd taken her. He knew she had parents in Texas and that she could be rebellious and a bitch when she wanted to be. But her goals and ambitions? Hell, he didn't know her favorite color or her birthday!

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

She tensed a little every time he stroked her hair, not used to this side of him. She kept expecting him to do something, tease her or poke at her or try something funny. She wouldn't be completely opposed to it, but she would act like she would. She had no idea why she would need to do that, but it was an instinct of sorts. She was so used to seeing him as the bad guy, the rebellious force in her life that it was difficult to see him as anything else.

"I'm partial to the book myself," he whispered and a chill ran down her spine, making the little hairs at the nape of her neck stand on end. "So am I." She practically whispered back, gulping afterwards. It wasn't so bad nuzzling close to him, and the longer she did it, the more comfortable she had become with it. "This isn't as good as the book, but it's neat to see them." She offered, her head tilting more into the crook of his neck as she got more comfortable.

"What else?" He asked after a while. "What other favorites do you have?" His voice was surprisingly low, as if he wasn't sure if she would care for the interruption or not. What other favorites? Did she have other favorites?

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens." She said softly, grinning and trying to stifle the laugh that threatened to come out at her corny joke. "What kind of question is that? I don't know, Sebastian." There was an air of humor in her voice, giving away how comfortable she had grown in the late hour curled up in his arms, watching one of her favorite movies. She was still highly aware of him, but she had focused on the movie enough to relax with him. "I like pineapple upside down cake and blacked eyed peas with skillet cornbread. I think pigs are cute. I like moody music and converse sneakers and as much as I don't want to admit it I think big belt buckles are kind of sexy." She told him, pulling her head away from its resting spot and turning to look up into his face. "Is there a specific favorite you're searching for?" She asked, her tone still borderline playful. He was so handsome.. and he smelled nice. She chewed on the inside of her bottom lip, forbidding those thoughts to come to the surface. I will not think he is sexy, I will not think he is sexy...

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

The only reaction he could give to her little Sound of Music response was an eye roll which she couldn't even see. He could feel the tension in her body beginning to fade away and it was definitely more comfortable holding someone when they weren't stiff like a corpse.

"I like pineapple upside down cake and blacked eyed peas with skillet cornbread. I think pigs are cute. I like moody music and converse sneakers and as much as I don't want to admit it I think big belt buckles are kind of sexy."

Ugh.

She liked things that he had absolutely no interest in. Big belt buckles were sexy? What the hell was so sexy about a gaudy piece of metal latched to a belt? No. Those were definitely not sexy. Pigs smelled and were dirty creatures. Her food interests were disgusting and her mention of moody music and converse.. well.. they were the only exception. They suited her. Then again all the other things must have suited her as well but he just didn't know that side of her.

"Is there a specific favorite you're searching for?" He smirked, "I was expecting you to mention me in that list," he told her but his voice made it clear he was only teasing. "I've come to the realization last night that I don't really know you. I know the you from the last few weeks but I know nothing of who you were before that. Who you are during the day when you're at home. And for some weird reason I'm interested." He didn't like to admit that he was interested in who Aly was, but he said it before he could really stop himself. He glared at the wall, a little pissed at himself for saying it but he wasn't going to let her know that either.

He settled down and wrapped his arms around her just under her chest and gave her a gentle squeeze as he kissed the top of her head. What the hell was wrong with him? "I like you and despise you at the same time. I despise you for being likable when you're being difficult. It's like a twisted little mind fuck of feelings."

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

"I was expecting you to mention me in that list," She raised a brow. He did? What the hell for? What would he be her favorite of? Captors? "Fine, you're my favorite captor." She taunted, her tone teasing. She knew he had been joking so she would joke along with him, since it was what he wanted. Or maybe it wasn't... he was difficult to read. "I've come to the realization last night that I don't really know you. I know the you from the last few weeks but I know nothing of who you were before that. Who you are during the day when you're at home. And for some weird reason I'm interested." Interested? In getting to know her? What had changed things? Maybe he had gotten used to her being there and when she no longer was he was reminded he wanted her in his life? It was weird. Aly couldn't recall anyone wanting her in their lives like that. It was sweet in a psychotic sort of way.

She didn't know how to respond to him though, so she kept quiet, suddenly very aware of his presence again, though she didn't tense up not until she felt his arms wrap around her. She felt his face nuzzling into her hair, the gentle touch of his lips to her scalp and she shut her eyes, her breath hitching slightly at the delightful surprise of it. It felt nice and she wondered deep down if he was trying to manipulate her or if his intentions were good. "I like you and despise you at the same time. I despise you for being likable when you're being difficult. It's like a twisted little mind fuck of feelings."

She grinned, her arms coming up to wrap over his, keeping them tight around her as she shifted to the side a little, resting her head more on his chest so she could nuzzle her head under his neck. He'd be comfier if he wasn't so damn hard! She was just glad the hardness was his body and not...other things that could get hard. "If it's any consolation I love to hate you, too." She teased, her eyes still on the TV though she wasn't really watching anymore, her entire being focused entirely on the strange moment she was having with the man she was certain was going to end her life. "But I kind of like that I'm fucking with your mind." A low giggle of a laugh rumbled in her throat and she grinned as her cheek pressed to his chest. "Call it payback for fucking with me the last five weeks. We're even." She let out a long breath, feeling strangely content with all of this.

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"If it's any consolation I love to hate you, too." Her comment about him being her favorite captor made him smile. And then her loving to hate him left him chuckling softly. "I better be your only captor," he told her but he kept the mood light still and his voice down. Not that he was watching the movie to begin with but it was still on and the volume was low. He had a feeling if he talked too loud it might startle her.

Aly had shifted and he was going to pull his arms away to give her more room but she kept them right where they were which was a nice little surprise. She had started to warm up to him that last week before everything went bad on that final night, and he was glad to see that she was willing to do it once again. In fact she seemed more comfortable and open with him and he assumed it was because she felt she had the power to leave whenever she wanted to. Sure, maybe she had. But Sebastian knew he had a power to keep her there as well and he didn't have to use violence in order to achieve it.

"But I kind of like that I'm fucking with your mind." He cocked a brow and looked down his nose at the top of her curly head of hair. She enjoyed to have some control over the situation he realized, and that was something that he hadn't much allowed while she was with him. But now that he was being a little more lenient and relinquishing some of the control she was there, cuddled up against him and watching a movie about two metrosexual vampires. "Call it payback for fucking with me the last five weeks. We're even."

His lips curled into a smile. This girl was seriously disturbed to be there in his hotel room. He'd held her against her will and after she escaped she came back when he asked her to. She even stormed out of the restaurant intended to go home yet there she was with him instead. She could have been home in a set of her own dry clothes and curled up in her own bud but she chose to curl up in his clothes on his bed. Even he knew it was twisted what he'd done to her.

"So you're doing it intentionally?" He asked her and leaned a little to the right so that he could crane his neck forward and try to get a look at her face. Did Aly intentionally try to screw with him, to make him like and hate her at the same time? He didn't think that she did. She had despised him and he found it to be amusing. When she rolled her eyes with disgust he would try to find more reasons to annoy her just to see her do it again. He loved to piss her off because it was easy and she looked cute when she tried to act tough. But it was trying to make her happy that was the real challenge. Every time he'd try he'd get a little success just to have it all burn to the ground. "You know you are a very hostile person. Your cruel ways make me seem like a cute little puppy dog." He puckered out his bottom lip at her playfully. Had he lost his goddamn mind?

Apparently so.

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

"So you're doing it intentionally?" Was she? She hadn't thought she was, but maybe a deep part of her was intentionally mind fucking him. Her eyes moved up to meet his as his head moved down, her own tilting up in response. She gave a little shrug, not really knowing what to say in response to the accusation. She decided to leave it in the air; maybe she was, maybe she wasn't. Not even she knew the answer.

"You know you are a very hostile person. Your cruel ways make me seem like a cute little puppy dog." He puckered out his bottom lip at her and she couldn't help but raise a brow at him. She was the hostile one? He looked funny being boyishly playful. It didn't suit him, mostly because she was used to him taunting her with playfulness. "I would hardly call you a cute little puppy. A rabid rottweiler maybe.." She teased, a little smirk dancing over her lips. "Besides, I don't think I'm hostile." Her eyes moved back to the television. "I didn't take an innocent girl from a clothing store and try to put her in a cage in my bedroom." Her voice was a little cold, and she realized how strange it was to be snuggling with the man who had done that exact thing to her. All the horrible things he'd done... but he had also been very kind at times.

"Besides, you're, like, the king of mind fucks, so quit you're complaining about me." she snapped but her tone wasn't angry. She pushed herself away from his body, sitting more upright, though she was still close and her hands were still over his arms, thought a little more loosely. She turned her head to look at him more directly, her face stoic and not giving anything away. "It is a little fucked up that I'm here though, isn't it." She said seriously, her wide hazel eyes sweeping over each individual part of his face, admiring it slightly. "Maybe I'm just a masochist." She said softly, her gaze dropping as she sighed and looked back at the TV, her head coming back down to rest on his chest feeling shook up by her own strange self discovery.

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"I would hardly call you a cute little puppy. A rabid rottweiler maybe.." He laughed at what she said and knew that trying to act that way just didn't work for him. He was too hard and his eyes were cold that when he tried to attempt making silly faces they didn't come out silly at all but more wrong than anything. "Besides, I don't think I'm hostile." He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Of course you don't. I don't think I'm that bad of a guy but it doesn't mean it's true. We don't see ourselves the way others see us." He knew it were true, although he could be a good guy on occasions if he saw fit. But never truly good. Even his good intentions were a little fucked up.

"Besides, you're, like, the king of mind fucks, so quit your complaining about me." She had a little bark in there but it didn't sound like she was truly mad. "Hostile," he teased just above a whisper. When she sat up he didn't object and let her do so but he kept his arms on her.

"It is a little fucked up that I'm here though, isn't it." His brows furrowed and his jaw muscles tensed up with what she said. He couldn't disagree with her but he also didn't want to tell her that yes, it was fucked up. Because he liked that she was fucked up enough to come back to him, to lay there against him and watch a movie. He swallowed, making his adam's apple bob up and down with the movement. "Maybe I'm just a masochist." Deep down a part of him felt bad when she laid back down against his chest.

"I think you're just confused," he said and he lifted one hand up and ran his fingers through her blonde curls, watching them bounce back into place. "I might not know everything about you, or what you're like when you're not with me, but from what I know I think you like to try and see the good in a person. That's why I think you stick around. Is it a little fucked up? To put it bluntly, yes. It's fucked up. But that's my fault, not yours. I'm the one who screwed you up."

He hated admitting something was his fault, he hated expressing his feelings and trying to console someone. But dammit he didn't want to sit there and watch her be upset! Maybe there was some good in him that she brought out. Who the fuck knew.

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

"I think you're just confused," She grimaced at that. Confused? Yeah, but she certainly didn't like for him to say that. She wanted to scoff and say she wasn't, but they both knew she would be lying. Of course she was confused. With the way she flip flopped constantly on her stand point? Yeah, she had no idea what to think or feel. She adored and loathed him and she adored to loathe him. It was a sick cycle, and she thought maybe she should just check into the loony bin now.

"...I think you like to try and see the good in a person. That's why I think you stick around. Is it a little fucked up? To put it bluntly, yes. It's fucked up. But that's my fault, not yours. I'm the one who screwed you up."

He hadn't been the one to "screw her up". That was simple genetics, but he certainly hadn't helped any with the crap he pulled over the last month or so. "Mind fuck." She teased in the same whispered voice he had called her hostile with, grinning despite herself. His fingers in her hair felt nice. Nicer than she wanted to admit. "So I'm a good person but I'm hostile? Make up your mind about me already, jeez." She said in an attempt to lighten the mood some. She didn't like this depressing turn of events. She didn't like thinking she was fucked up completely because of this charismatic asshole who she was a little afraid of and attracted to.

She was suddenly very aware of him once more. Was it his skin that was so hard or was it muscles? A mixture? He turned to rock everyday, surely that had some affect on him. Her hand slipped over his, caressing it lightly and trying to figure it out, watching her fingers dance across his skin instead of the movie which played lightly in the background. "Does it hurt? Turning to stone?" She threaded her fingers through his, playing with his hand lightly with her own, moving them back and forth and simply admiring the way it looked. She shouldn't feel as comfortable as she did with him, she knew that much, but he was being so nice to her it was hard not to want to be around him. She had grown accustomed to his presence and had missed it the last week without him. She had finally come to terms with his absence when he reappeared, telling her all the things she had dreamed he would, but knew he never would. Only he had.

She looked up at him, grinning wickedly as she brought his hand up to her lips, taking a finger between her teeth and nipping him. "Does that hurt?" She asked after, curious about his pain tolerance. He had been shot, after all, and was completely fine afterwards!

[SEBASTIAN DAVENPORT]

"So I'm a good person but I'm hostile? Make up your mind about me already, jeez." He smirked at what she said knowing she was just trying to shift the mood away from being so serious. He thought she was a good person but hostile to him. How could she be good to him with everything he'd done to her?

When her hand touched his skin his hand twitched in response to the gentle feel of her fingers. "Does it hurt? Turning to stone?" He took a deep breath and let it out trying to think of the right way to explain what it was like, going from a body to a stone statue. He'd never explained it before and didn't know if there was a right way to describe it. He was sure it felt different for everyone. But then she was lifting his hand and gave his finger a little nibble and his brow raised quizzically to her. "Does that hurt?" Was she serious?

"It feels claustrophobic at first. Like the walls are closing in on you while your body shifts and moves. It's like contorting your limbs in uncomfortable ways but without the discomfort. Then it's a state of unconsciousness." That was the best he could do for a description. "I'm sure each one of us feels differently about it, and no, that doesn't hurt. Does this?" Since his hand was already by her face he cupped her mouth, jaw and chin in his hand and with a little turn of his wrist he tilted her head to the side and leaned forward, giving her neck a little playful gnaw. It wasn't enough to hurt her but hopefully it would get some kind of rise out of her whether playful or otherwise.

"Bite harder if you have to and it will hurt eventually. We're very thick skinned and it takes a lot to hurt us. Sharp objects and pierce through, even something blunt with enough force behind it. Like a bullet." He gave her a little nudge when he said bullet, knowing she would remember that night. He did that was for sure. "That night.." he furrowed his brows just thinking about it. The pain of getting the bullet out was more than the actual bullet entering. "We heal quickly. But our body tries to reject anything abnormal and if it can't then it makes us sick.." The very thought made him feel sick and he had to give her a little push so he could get out from behind her and stand up, his face going pale at the thought. He'd been hurt plenty of times. He'd been stabbed, been shot, but it didn't feel any better each time it happened.

He moved over towards the window and drew the blinds back so he could peer out at the city. His window was facing the opposite of the restaurant so he had a totally different view. There was no water, no pier and the docks weren't visible. But it was a nice enough view of the city. Then a thought came to him and he glanced over his shoulder in Alyson's direction but quickly looked away again almost like he didn't want her to see what he was thinking. "What's it like during the day?" He asked quietly almost as if he was hoping she didn't hear. He'd only asked that question once, to his father and he'd been ridiculed for asking such a stupid thing. But what was wrong with wanting something you couldn't have?

[ALYSON MONTGOMERY]

His explanation was interesting. She had no idea what it would be like. Maybe an uncomfortable sleep? She wondered if it was like that but she didn't think he would have an answer since, well, he didn't go to sleep like she did every night. "..and no, that doesn't hurt. Does this?" She didn't have time to move, but her eyes widened as he grabbed her face and dug into her neck. She let out a squeal of objection and laughter as he nipped at her. "Don't!" She bellowed, but he had already done it, a smile on her face at his playfulness, surprising herself at her own sudden reaction. She kind of liked that side of him, as much as she didn't want to admit it, and she wondered if she could bring that playful side out more.

"Bite harder if you have to and it will hurt eventually. We're very thick skinned and it takes a lot to hurt us. Sharp objects and pierce through, even something blunt with enough force behind it. Like a bullet." He nudged her, her smile faltering from his playfulness a little. She knew what he was talking about and when he confirmed, she nodded her eyes still on him. It was all starting to make sense. It was so strange.. it was like he was human, but clearly he wasn't. She bit her lip as he got up, wondering why he had to become serious so suddenly. It was all interesting, but she liked when it was lighthearted. Still, there was something nice about his calm demeanor, his kind streak that rarely showed.

She moved to sit at the edge of the bed, gazing at him as he looked out the window. What came over him? What was he thinking? He was still such a mystery to her, which was certainly part of his appeal. Alyson bit her lip and sat on her fingers, the movie completely lost to her now as she studied the man before her.

He turned briefly and their eyes met, a softness in hers as she watched him turn back away. "What's it like during the day?"

It was a question she never though she would be asked. What was it like during the day? What a question. She slowly got up and moved to the window, looking out at the night. It was different, that was for sure. "Everything is just... brighter. It's beautiful." She said slowly looking out to the city below. She knew he would have seen plenty of pictures and knew what it was like through movies, but it was different. "The sun makes everything warmer, and you have to be careful not to get burned. The birds chirp more.. people are out more, especially kids." She bit her lip and looked up at him, liking the softer side of him. "What would you do?" She asked, her tone soft. "What would you do if you could have a day?"