(no subject)

[last_adam]

*Adam glares at the door as Mrs. Hoffmeyer leaves, and he waits until he hears the door click before he goes back to the book he was working on in the back room.*

Comments

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

The door doesn't click this time, the bell doesn't jingle. She doesn't use the door.

She's wearing a white sun hat with a red rim and a white sundress with red polka dots and red strappy heels.

She's in the historical non-fiction section, looking at the spines.

[last_adam]

*Adam doesn't see her, not right away. But that doesn't mean he doesn't know she's there.*



Go away.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"It's not nice to speak to customers like that," she says, bored, not looking at him. She pulls down a book on Iwo Jima.

[last_adam]

You're not a customer, and I'll speak to you any way that I like. Go. Away.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She puts the book back (in the wrong place) and continues on, ignoring him.

"Do you have anything by Sun Tzu?"

[last_adam]

*Adam follows her, placing the book back in its rightful position.*

Not for you.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

Still ignoring him: "Machiavelli?"

[last_adam]

Not that, either.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"Rather a terrible bookshop, I must say." She walks past him as if he's not even there, examining another wall of books.

[last_adam]

It wasn't meant for you, and it's only for Aziraphael's sake that I'm asking you politely to leave.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"And how exactly is he paying you?" She raises an eyebrow lewdly at him.

[last_adam]

Fuck off.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

Over her shoulder, "I don't think your girlfriend would like that."

[last_adam]

My girlfriend has nothing to do with it, and you can stay the fuck away from her from now on.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"I don't think I will," she says coolly and, in the same breath, "How much is this first edition Dante?" She holds it out.

[last_adam]

It's not for sale. Would you rather I forcibly removed you?

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

Over her shoulder again, her eye burning, her voice dangerously sharp, "You don't want to go there with me."

[last_adam]

Oh? Or is it the other way around?

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"How old are you, Adam?"

[last_adam]

Why?

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"Curiosity."

[last_adam]

Older than I was and not quite so old as I will be.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"See, that's the thing right there. You age. I don't. I have been here since the very first act of violence in Heaven and will be here until the very last. So you may be powerful, but I am forever." It's not a threat, it's a statement of fact.

[last_adam]

Not if I don't want you to be.

*Perhaps not in actuality. But in purpose, that would do well enough.*

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"We've already been down that road." She walks over and pinches his cheek and winks before walking over to another section.

"So where is the angel?"

[last_adam]

None of your god damned business.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She turns at him and smiles coyly. "He's off sinning with the demon huh. Hypocritical bastard," she says with a smile.

[last_adam]

*Adam bites back the grimace.*

I did say it was none of your business.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that's right. I, uh, didn't care." She smiles.

[last_adam]

Yes, well, continuing down that path isn't going to get anything else from me.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"Who said I wanted anything from you?"

[last_adam]

You're the one who showed up here. You certainly weren't invited.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"It's a public bookshop."

[last_adam]

It's a privately held bookshop, and we're closed now. Thank you, don't come again.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She looks at the clock. "It's only half one. Sign says you're open 'til four."

[last_adam]

No it doesn't.

*And, in fact, the sign no longer says that.*

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She rolls her eyes at him.

"How very childish."

[last_adam]

You expected something else?

*He crowds her, trying to force her towards the door.*

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

It takes a lot more than Adam to crowd her. Like a tank. No, she likes tanks, but you get what I'm saying.

She places a hand delicately on his chest and traces patterns in the fabric. "Are you going to be there?"

[last_adam]

What do you think?

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"I figured you would. I mean, girlfriend and all."

Even though she's tracing over the fabric, he can feel her skin against his. It burns.

[last_adam]

*Adam pushes her away, burning or no.*

You're awfully bright, there, Red.

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

"Sharp as a knife," she says with a wink.

[last_adam]

*Adam looks very carefully at the eye she just winked.


and then punches it.*

[redhorserider.livejournal.com]

She laughs, deep and riotous, it's rather disconcerting, actually.

There is a flash of movement and a spray of blood across the white of her dress as her nails rip the flesh from Adam's left cheek. Her other hand comes up and grips him by the chin, the nails of her left hand digging into his right cheek, blood running down both cheeks now.

The laughter is gone and her eyes are burning, her mouth against his bleeding face, her teeth appearing very sharp now. "You might want to think about your actions from now on. Especially if there are people you care about out there." She pushes him back hard, causing him to stumble and fall to the floor.

And she's gone.