(no subject)

[nottheboss]

It's late at night. The corridors aren't quiet; they're full of men and women restlessly trying to sleep in their quarters. Bossie should be one of them. But instead he slips barefoot down the hallway to Carver's room, where he knocks.

"Hey, man, you up?"

Comments

[minuteofangle]

Oh, hello there. Gabe grins, swaying a little. Playing it up just because he can. "I dunno. It's real sexy, though. Got it tailored and everything."

He leans in a little closer.

"It's black. Red silk shirt. Fits me real good."

[graveyardboots]

He sets his mug down to have both hands free to hold Gabe, hands roaming unabashedly over his stomach and sides and chest. "Is that right? You look very good in red.... I can picture it."

[minuteofangle]

That feels nice. Gabe smiles, resting his hands on Mancea's hips and squeezing fondly. They'll be good dancing together, he thinks. He'll teach Mancea how to waltz. "Mhmm-hmm. It's cut just right. I can move real good in it, too."

Perfect for dancing.

[graveyardboots]

"We'll have to make a habit of going out where you can wear it," he decides, pulling Gabe in closer. "Dancing won't be a one time event for us. We'll go to Greece one weekend... Germany then. Paris after that."

[minuteofangle]

"Yeah?"

He likes that idea, Gabe realizes. They can go wherever they like, do whatever they want. And what Mancea wants to do is go dancing with him. Pick beautiful places around the world. Mancea can describe them, Gabe thinks. And they'll eat good food and fuck in interesting places, and it'll just be for the two of them.

He sighs and lays his head against Mancea's chest.

"I'ld like that. I'd like that a lot. What're you gonna wear?"

[graveyardboots]

"A black suit," he muses. "With a purple shirt." His favorite color. He reaches up, stroking Gabe's hair, rubbing his head.

"I'll get it tailored, too. So you can feel how it fits me when we're dancing."

[minuteofangle]

"It'll look good on you," Gabe murmurs, pressing into Mancea's hand. "Get soft fabrics? I like touching them."

Running his fingers over them, feeling the lines out. Color's lost on him these days, but he likes certain textures.

[graveyardboots]

He certainly likes Gabe touching him. "I'll bring you with me to get it made. You can pick the fabrics you like best," he decides then, it'll be fun, a little day out in preparation for a weekend together.

[minuteofangle]

Gabe hums at that, resting his hand against Mancea's chest. Unable to hide the grin. It's a date, he realizes. They're going on a date. Even in the midst of all this awful, abject shit, they're still here. Living their lives. Making choices.

Not even the devil can take that away.

"Good," he murmurs. "We're gonna look real smart, you and me. Make everybody jealous."

[graveyardboots]

"Oh we will. You're going to teach me to dance and we'll make such a pair on the ballroom floor..." Somewhere it's safe to be two men dancing close together. It'll be a rare treat for them.

He chuckles softly, kisses Gabe's neck. "I do want you to sleep tonight. But maybe...after you've showed me the first few steps of a waltz."

[minuteofangle]

"Yeah?"

Gabe tilts his head back, reaching up to cup Mancea's cheek and feel for his expression. The curve of his mouth.

"Maybe just for a few minutes," he murmurs, softening. "I'd like that a lot."

[graveyardboots]

He likes this, he realizes. When Gabe touches him to get a sense of his expression; that little touch there. He likes it.

"Well, we both have to come home safe then," he says, and this is as good as a promise, isn't it?

[minuteofangle]

Gabe hums in agreement, pressing his thumb against Mancea's lip for a moment. Then he goes up on his toes and just kisses the man.

"I gotta go wrangle Pope now," he murmurs. "Can you put Cosita with the others?"

[graveyardboots]

"I will." He kisses Gabe again, a little quicker. "Good luck with Pope. He's in a mood."

[minuteofangle]

"Oof," Gabe groans, but he goes up on his toes to snag another kiss. "Fuck me, okay. Here we go."

Time to go to work. And convince Pope not to go screaming at their youngest member.

[graveyardboots]

"Later," Mancea teases, and sends him off.

Pope is in the situation room, reviewing things Mancea has shared, discussing with Wash.

[minuteofangle]

And it's on again. Just like that. Gabe sighs, rolling his shoulders, and heads out. He raps his knuckles against the doorframe, sauntering in. "Hey, bossman. We gotta talk."

[graveyardboots]

"Rodriguez," Pope says, turning to look at him. "Bringing me good news?"

[minuteofangle]

"Yessir." For once. Gabe grins, flicking his hand out. "It's a goddamn miracle: Mancea's contacts paid out. We got a line on a demon killing blade. Me and him are gonna go snag it tonight."

[aut_nihil]

"Well," Pope strides toward him, and his pleasure at this news is almost tangible. "That is good news. Because I've got a lead on a demon we could trap and interrogate."

[minuteofangle]

"Damn, things are just lining up for us left and right, huh?"

There's a chance the blade's a fake, of course. That the demon trapping adventure goes sideways. That another brother or sister has a bad fucking dream tonight. There's always a chance of that. But they have to push forward, so they do. Simple as that.

Gabe tilts his head. "We should secure the blade first. Where're we gonna trap that fucker?"

[aut_nihil]

"In a warehouse out east. Mancea got the wards put up there; all we have to do is get the damned thing to step inside." Which shouldn't be too hard. They have plenty of bait.

"Get the sword. Then we'll spring the trap."

[minuteofangle]

Good. Better than bringing the enemy back here, where they've got their people and a goddamn child. Gabe nods slowly, already planning out the logistics he'll need. Shaw will take point, but he'll assist. It feels natural now, like he's been doing this his whole goddamn life.

"Gotta talk about some other stuff, though," he adds. Pope won't be nearly as happy about this part.

[aut_nihil]

Pope had been ready to dismiss him to the mission, but he turns again, slower this time.

"And what else do we need to talk about?"

[minuteofangle]

Here comes the not fun part. Gabe puffs out a breath. "So, Riley knows about the demons. I had to show him the teleport trick, he was getting ready to walk down the mountain himself."