There's a Certain Loneliness in Your Company

"What the fuck are you doing?! How did you get in here?"

"I can explain. It's not as bad as it looks." Glitch thumbed the hem of her shirt, unable to look Ghoul in the eye. He looked more concerned than anything, but his stance said otherwise. He had one hand placed on the door frame and the other still holding the handle of the closet door, pinning her in the tight, dangerous space.

"Do you know what would have happened if someone else would have opened this door?"

Her eyes darted up to meet his and she scoffed.

"No, I don't actually. Care to enlighten me?" Toxic couldn't help but be a little annoyed by his reaction. It's almost like he was scolding a child.

"Look, you're just lucky it was me."

"Why?" She crossed her arms over her chest only justifying his scolding by acting like a child.

"Because you're hiding in our gun closet." Ghoul said it like it should have been obvious, pissing her off more.

"Yeah, so why didn't you do anything?"

"Why did you hide from us?"

"I asked you first."

They stared each other down until he finally broke and sighed, shaking his head. She would have given him a smug look but she remembered her current situation.

"Look can we discuss this outside of the closet?" She looked at the firearms on all sides of her. He lingered a moment longer before taking his hand off the door frame. She took a step out and sighed as he shut the door behind her. Her relief only lasted a second before she found herself being pushed back up against the now closed door. She yelped as his hand came back up to rest on the door frame next to her face.

"Now, you wanna tell me why you're hiding in our gun closet?" He raised an eyebrow up at her. She sighed in defeat when she realized he wouldn't cave. She went for a different approach and looked up at him through her lashes, trying to pull the innocent card. She didn't think he would fall for it, but she had to think of something, which was difficult considering the lack of space between them and the scent of stale cigarettes, gun powder, and desert trailing off his clothes and encasing her. It was oddly satisfying and made her dizzy.

"I ... thought I left my gun." She did her best not to make eye contact with him. He shook his head and chuckled. She furrowed her eyebrows in frustration.

"I told you once already. If there's one thing I know about you, it's that you are a terrible liar. Last chance." His voice was stern but his eyes seemed to wander over the features of her face, particularly to her lips. She instinctively ran her tongue over them as she chose her next excuse carefully.

"I was ... sort of hoping to talk to you. Apologize for the last time we spoke. I might have been a little harsh." She shrugged her shoulders and let her gaze wander away from his. The pink on her cheeks was apparent and it only grew darker as her eyes trailed to his toned arm resting on the wall next to her face. Her eyes quickly fell to the floor. She didn't have to look at him to know that a smirk had crept up on his face.

"Apologize? For turning me down?" He seemed a little unconvinced. Which was strange to her considering it wasn't exactly a lie, just not what she was really here for in the first place. She found it in herself to make eye contact with him. She couldn't help but watch as little specks of gold floated around in his hazel eyes, momentarily losing her concentration. She cleared her throat and went with it.

"Well, yeah. I mean, not really. I don't know. You're just so ... so forward. It's quiet daunting." She decided on the truth. He was intimidating. The way he loomed over her in this moment, his body becoming a human shield as he kept her against this wall was enough to make her weak in the knees. Honesty wasn't her strongest suit, but his personality was rubbing off on her, making her want to tell him the truth. He looked at her with interest now.

"Daunting, huh?" He tilted his head to the side, watching her with a more serious look. His eyes wandered downward and he took his hand off the wall, taking a step back. She had to fight the urge to reach out and pull him back to her.

"I'm sorry I make you feel that way."

"No, please. Don't apologize. It's not you, really."

"Spare me the 'it's not you, it's me' speech. I get it. I'll back off." For the second time in two days, he was flustered. Not mad, but almost embarrassed. He ran a hand through his messy hair and turned his back to her. She felt herself reach forward and place a hand on his forearm, surprising both of them. He turned back around and glanced at her hand on his arm before gazing at her once more.

"Please, that's not what I meant. I only meant that this is new to me. I just don't want to disappoint you."

"Disappoint me? How so?"

Glitch had his full attention once more. He was clear from the beginning how he felt about her, and she was almost sure she reciprocated those feelings; she just couldn't show it like he did. Her fingers moved up his arm slowly, her mind all the while racing with everything she wanted to say but couldn't.

"I don't know. You're so sure of yourself, and I'm ..."

"Not so sure?" He suggested, unable to hide the defeat in his voice. She groaned and shook her head.

"No. I know what I want." Her hand continued to wander before it rested on his chest. She watched it rising and falling with his rhythmic breathing. She felt his eyes on her as her thumb began to move in small circles over his thin shirt; the only thing separating her from direct contact. He made no attempt to make the first move, waiting for her to do what she wanted, though she could almost feel him pulsating with the urge to do so himself.

She opened her mouth in attempt to clear the tension and say what they both wanted to hear but couldn't get it out. She glanced up at him and could see the look in his eyes go from hopeful to disappointed, just like she feared. She shook her head and sighed. This wasn't right. Not yet. Her hand fell back to her side. It wasn't fair to do this to him twice, but there were more important things at hand right now.

"We're different. You're reserved and I'm outspoken. Believe me, I get that…" He took her hand in his and brought it up to his mouth, brushing his lips gently over her knuckles. She watched as his eyes closed, his lips lingering over her hand. She felt guiltier now than before. "I said I'd wait and I will, but you're going to be the death of me, sweetheart."

She could feel his mouth moving against her skin as he spoke and she felt a shiver run down her spine. He opened his eyes and put her hand back at her side. She bit at her lip, fighting every urge inside herself to kiss his lips, wrap her arms around him, do anything more than just stare at him. It was almost painful to stand this close and not be touching him.

Why did he do this? More like how did he do this? She was never like this. Despite the fact that it had just been her out in the zones, she had never felt a need for someone like she did for him. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was weak, and he was more than able to protect her. Maybe that's what attracted her to him. Maybe it was the brooding stare, or his loyalty to his friends. What she couldn't deny, though, is his natural ability to lead. He has it in him, but he never oversteps Poison. She also admired that about him. He seems fully aware of his confidence, but she didn't think he understood the hold he already had on her.

As the sound of a car engine started to approach the house, she suddenly remembered what was so important a moment ago. How could she forget? She was on high alert as her attention quickly went to the side door, waiting for it to open. Ghoul followed her gaze and, if at all possible, the tension grew around them.

"I overheard you guys while I was in there. What do you mean Skyla's missing?"

"I don't know..." He took a step away from her, rubbing the back of his head, also forgetting the exchange they were just having. She snapped her focus to him and began to feel her anger coming back.

"Ghoul, what happened to Skyla?"

"We don't know. She was supposed to meet us here then never showed. She said she was going on a run."

"Ghoul..." Her eyes were searing into him while his gaze never left the door. She knew he wasn't the one she should be mad at, but at this moment she just wanted answers. Just then the door flew open and Kobra walked past, going straight to the front room.

"Clear the table!" They heard him shout as the sound of things being pushed to the floor was heard. Ghoul and Glitch headed toward the end of the hall just as Poison came walking in. Glitch could see Skyla draped over his arms, her head bobbing side to side, arm dangling towards the ground. Poison laid her across the table and immediately began performing CPR. Glitch felt her stomach turn as she watched the scene play out in front of her.

"Is s-she alive?" Her voice was weak. Nobody answered her. She quickly walked up to the table and stared down at Skyla's limp body. The urge to vomit was growing and she shook her head. "Poison, is she alive?" She asked once more, her voice trembling.

"Please." Poison hissed as leaned down once more, trying to breathe life into her. Glitch wasn't sure if the plea was directed to her or Skyla. Her eyes began to well up and she took a step away from the table. Unable to watch his failed after failed attempt, she spun around only to find herself buried against Ghouls chest, his arms quick to hold her up.

"Ghoul, is she ok?" Her voice was muffled into his shirt. He didn't answer. His hands just rubbed up and down her back. "Ghoul? Please..."