new york city } { there is life outside your apartment
Xander: [is wandering around her place, looking for her...] Bela?
Bela: [is on the couch, with a book, one knee pulled to her chest] Hmmm?
Xander: [Well, that was easy.] Do you have any plans today?
Bela: [takes a breath as she looks up at him] Aside from finishing this book? Not really.
Xander: Do you have comfortable shoes? I mean, the heels... they're nice, but I'm thinking more ... walking less me trying to not stare at your ass.
Bela: [there's an eyebrow raise at the last part, before shrugging] I probably have something. Why?
Xander: Because, as much as I like your place, I think we should get outside. Just for today. The weather isn't too warm and I think it'll be good.
Bela: [and then there are wide eyes and a nervous look, and ... that's about it]
Xander: [smiles softly at that, moving to sit near her on the couch] There is this thing called a door and sometimes people go through them to get outside.
Bela: [shakes her head] I can't.
Xander: [rests his hand on her foot] Yes. You can.
Bela: [looks away, tucking her hair behind her ear] It's not safe.
Xander: [frowns] Not even with me to protect you?
Bela: [takes a breath, as she leans back] It's not that simple.
Xander: [looks at her, being very earnest] Is that because you make it not that simple?
Bela: [she hates it when he's earnest, she doesn't know what to do with it] Possibly. But that doesn't mean it isn't the truth. [too much in her life has gone wrong as it was]
Xander: [he gives her foot a squeeze] Bela, I've seen plenty of danger. Close-up. Personal. Right.. I mean, right in my face. I can promise you that if there's danger - we will run right away from it, but today, today I'm on a no danger quest of getting you outside this place.
Bela: [she's watching him and she knows he means it, but there's panic there. She hasn't left her place since she's been back, and she's not sure she wants to see what the world is like]
Xander: [he can understand the panic, but not when she hasn't even tried to be outside] I know it's a big step, but I'm right here. We'll go a few steps at a time. Danger-free. I promise.
Bela: [the world's a scary place. but she also trusts him, so she'll take a breath and nod. She can't promise she won't freak out, though]
Xander: [gives her ankle a gentle squeeze] Big open spaces. I promise.
Bela: [nods, and she still doesn't like it] I should get my shoes.
Xander: [he gives her a smile though] Good. I'll be here.
Bela: [and she'll have a very quiet panic attack as she goes to get her shoes, and eventually she'll come back -- in flats, as requested, her arms wrapped around herself]
Xander: [he'll put his arm around her shoulder] I'm not going to abandon you.
Bela: [leans into him, just a little] I know.
Xander: [he rubs her shoulder lightly] We'll start with just down the street. If you want to go further, we'll keep walking.
Bela: Okay. [she listens to the words and tries not to think about exactly what it IS they're doing.]
Xander: [aaand he'll take her to the door and outside the door and then stop] Doing alright? [He's teasing, but he really does want to make sure she's okay]
Bela: [the nails of one arm are digging in to the other, a little tense, but she's not running -- not yet. but she nods as she looks back at him and fakes a small smile]
Xander: [well, this is the hard part as they go downstairs and to the outside of the building, but he won't let go of her. He also hopes the crisp spring air will be nice and let her breathe a bit]
Bela: [she hesitates at the front door, nails digging into her arm more, staring to shake her head and back away]
Xander: [okay. she shouldn't do that to her own arm. In fact, he'll move his hand to take hers.] Here. Squeeze my hand.
Bela: [glances down, before doing as she's told and taking his hand]
Xander: [much better. Well, at least until it starts to hurt. Either way, they're heading down the street, which is peaceful and mostly empty. Not at all crowded] Doing alright?
Bela: [the not being crowded helps. she slowly walks with him, and glances over and nods when she speaks] Relatively speaking.
Xander: [he smiles at her] I'm proud of you.
Bela: [a bit of an eyeroll] This is hardly something to be proud of.
Xander: Hey, I have low expectations most of the time. This is amazing.
Bela: [there's a small smile, before she shakes her head] I'm afraid I don't share your low expectations.
Xander: [he takes a breath] Eh, these days I think the small victories merit ice cream. There are far too many giant ones up ahead and I know I don't have the stomach for that sort of ice cream marathon.
Bela: I find it hard to believe that you don't have a strong constitution when it comes to all things sweet.
Xander: [he shrugs, smirking at her] I have a tiny stomach.
Bela: [smirks back, just a little] Mmm-hmmm.
Xander: Honestly. It matches my tiny mouth.
Bela: Right.
Xander: [looks at her and BARELY opens his mouth] See?
Bela: [there's a look on her face. it could be the beginning of a laugh, but she swallows it down and it turns into just a mischievous smirk instead] I never doubted it for a second.
Xander: [he exhales with over-dramatic relief] Good. I mean, I didn't want to have to prove it by eating all of the ice cream in your freezer only to have my stomach burst.
Bela: [there's a smile. It's a real smile. she can't help it] That would be messy and absolutely unnecessary.
Xander: [he smiles back] Then it's a good thing I won't be doing that.
Bela: [nods. she's still clinging to his hand, but she's relaxing a little bit]
Xander: [their walk will continue down toward the small park that's just across the street. Ducks are always a good safe animal.]
Bela: [glances around the park, looking at the ducks and the people] I didn't even know this was here.
Xander: I Google'Mapped it.
Bela: [nods, still watching]
Xander: [continues to lead her toward a fountain where a mama duck is trying to get all her baby ducks to get inside of it. SWIMMING LESSON TIME.]
Bela: [follows his lead, not letting herself get too far from him, as her eyes took in all the other people]
Xander: [he'll stop near the fountain and rub her shoulder a bit with his free hand] Want to feed the ducks?
Bela: [raises an eyebrow] With what?
Xander: [oh. right. glances around and spots the little vending machine with duck-food!!] With that! I have... a quarter. Or a button. [digs into his pocket]
Bela: [smiles a bit and waits for him to fish out the quarter]
Xander: [victorious! He hands her the quarter. And removes the bit of lint.] There.
Bela: [takes the quarter from him and goes to put it into the machine]
Xander: [dusts off his hands, because .. lint and sand? why is there always sand in his pockets? Then waits for her by the fountain]
Bela: [gets the duck food before making her way back to him, holding it on her hands] Now what? I just ... throw it at them? [guess who's never fed the ducks before?]
Xander: [he laughs a bit, but then composes himself, because it's not nice to laugh] Well, throwing it at them will most likely hit them. You want to toss it into the water in front of them. It'll float and they'll eat it.
Bela: [nods as she turns to do that, tossing the crumbs into the water, and watching as the ducks went after them]
Xander: [watches the ducks do that weird eating the water and quacking thing]
Bela: [watches as well, just letting them swim for a while.]
Xander: You're a pro at duck feeding. Wait til I tell Jo.
Bela: You think she'll be impressed with that?
Xander: [shrugs] I'm supposed to give updates. They're usually me telling her what I ate. She's... not impressed by that. This might be good.
Bela: [nods a bit as she considers that] So they're keeping tabs on me, then.
Xander: [he glances to her] Technically, I'm not actually okay with that. Hence me giving them updates about me. I figure, I'm their man in the field. They should be concerned with me.
Bela: [shrugs a bit, not quite looking at him] They have every right to be concerned. I didn't exactly have the best reputation when we knew each other.
Xander: [shrugs] I don't think that should count. You haven't really moved from the apartment except for today and if they were really concerned they would've sent someone that wasn't me.
Bela: You obviously haven't know the Winchesters and their ability to hold a grudge long.
Xander: [he chuckles, shaking his head] Actually, I showed up to the hotel and was pretty much turned right back around. I haven't even met them.
Bela: [laughs a bit as she nods] They don't ... let go easily.
Xander: [nods] If the things I've heard are true, at least the extent of how much has happened to them - I can't exactly blame them for wanting to remember burned bridges.
Bela: Neither do I. And I did more damage than most. I ... cost them a lot of opportunities.
Xander: Well, I think you shouldn't worry about that right now.
Bela: [tosses more of the crumbs out onto the water] And what should I be worrying about?
Xander: What we're going to do for dinner.
Bela: [a bit of a laugh] Well, I could cook. Unless you're sick of my cooking in which case ... New York does have quite a few restaurants.
Xander: Are you actually suggesting we get out of the apartment?
Bela: We're already out. Might as well milk it for all it's worth? Or we could always order in.
Xander: [he smiles] I think going out for dinner sounds good.
Bela: [smiles back] Alright.
Xander: [glances to the ducks] Think they're going to be okay? I feel slightly responsible for their survival.
Bela: [smirks] I think they'll be fine. They're resourceful, if they're living in a city like this.
Xander: That's true. They grow up so quick.
Bela: They do.
Xander: [gives her shoulder a squeeze] So, what do you feel like eating?
Bela: [sucks in a breath as she thinks that over] I haven't had French food in a long time. Or Thai.
Xander: Do you speak French?
Bela: Oui.
Xander: That's incredibly attractive. I know that song from Moulin Rouge.
Bela: I've never seen Moulin Rouge.
Xander: I haven't either. Well, I think it was on at the time but I just pretended to pay attention.
Bela: So I take it it's not worth seeing?
Xander: I feel like answering will still not be an informed response.
Bela: [hums as she nods, letting it go for now] So. French food for dinner?
Xander: That sounds per- wait. Oui. [yes. He's a huge nerd.]
Bela: [smiles. she can appreciate the nerd] Alright. I think I know a place, but I'm not sure if it's still open.
Xander: Well, there's only one way to find out. [he'll offer his elbow]
Bela: [and she'll take it, before following his lead]