Night 2: Red-Handed

(-cough- I've decided to make this more in Desmonds POV. It'd be better like that, I feel like. >>' )

It bothered me for the rest of that first night, trying to figure out things now that I'd  heard and felt things I never thought I would. I mean... This man berates me every day that I'm here, and yet, I heard him groaning my name. Then after that, he came into my room and gave me a kiss before going on his merry way. You would be confused too.

How often did Shaun come in here? I mean, I'm up a good amount of the night, so I'd notice if he just came and wandered inside. Was I also really that loud at night when I slept, that the other's could hear me? That's a bit embarrassing.

The next few days went by and I tried to act like I hadn't been around the other night and had been asleep when Shaun came into the room, but every time I looked at him, I had to look away relatively quickly. I just couldn't watch him comfortably without hearing the sounds he had made through his door the other night. I have to admit, he makes a good sound, truthfully. It's something I wouldn't mind having to hear now and then.

Wait, this... This is going to far. But I've been like this for a while, and the other night doesn't really tell me I should keep quiet and mind myself. Yeah, it's weird to be attracted to a guy, but Shaun's different from other's. That's a good enough reason, right?

We just ate dinner and Lucy left Shaun and I in charge of cleaning up. You know, doing the dishes, wiping up the kitchen, that sort of stuff. He was currently elbow-deep in suds, lips quirked into a light frown. I held a mop in my hands, slowly shifting the soapy liquid across the floor with a low sigh. I'd rather be doing something like running around, down in the warehouse than this. I hated to clean, really. But this was better than touching the pans that were used for cooking.

I unintentionally trailed back to the other night, looking at Shaun's back, trailing over him. He really did have a good form beneath the clothes that fit him just right. He had to be physically fit after all, in order to be part of this whole organization. Strength and fitness were key in this whole operation, in case they were met by the Templars somewhere along the road.

"Can I help you, Desmond?" Shaun asked without looking back, moving a plate onto the drying rack before returning to the water. How did he know I was looking at him? Maybe because I'd stopped moving the mop when I thought more. I lowered my eyes down to the floor again and returned to my chore, though shrugged my shoulders after a minute even if he couldn't see me.

"Yeah, actually. I was wondering... Do I talk in my sleep?" I asked, curious of what he would say. I stopped again, but only for a moment, able to catch the sight of him tensing a little before relaxing his shoulders. "Like hell you do. You scream at night. We can all hear it. It's irritating." He spat, shaking his head a little as he began to scrub at the bottom of a pan that previously had red sauce on it.

Gee, thanks. Not like I can help it...

I frowned and turned to look down at the floor again, moving the mop back in forth. Hadn't I already washed this spot? Whatever, it didn't matter. "The only way to get you to shut up is to go in there and wake you up." Shaun added after a moment, using a matter-of-fact tone. It was this statement that caught my attention, raising a brow to look up at him again. Should I really ask about this, though?

"... Did you come in the other night? I think on Tuesday? I was half-awake and thought I heard the door open." I said, watching as the Englishman tensed again. Hell, his hands even stopped moving with the dishes. Had I hit a nerve or something? Or was it because I knew that he was in my room during the night, when I knew that I wasn't making any noise since I was awake.

"Yeah, I did. I didn't hear anything and thought you died or something." Shaun finally murmured, returning to the dishes he'd neglected for a minute. "You usually make noise by that time, but you hadn't." He added as I listened. It was almost exciting to hear him admit to really being in there, as well as come up with a reason to come into the room. For all I knew, he could have been telling the truth. But he could've left without coming in and speaking. And the kiss..

"Well, I didn't. I'm just fine. I was only just falling to sleep. I-" I said, getting a grand idea, but was almost afraid of how it would turn out. But still, I wanted to see what Shaun would do. I watched as he raised a glass to inspect that it'd been properly cleaned, his eyes trailing over it with the help of his glasses.

"-I heard this weird noise for a good amount of time. It kept me from nodding off. Only when it stopped, was I able to nod off. Then I guess that's when you came in. It made me think that someone had hurt themselves, but I didn't think that until the morning when I realized that. But it also sounded like someone was talking too, so..."

His next reaction was priceless.

The glass slipped from his fingers and hit the floor, and when he bent down to pick it up, he turned a little towards me. I could see an almost anxious look on his face, though it was easier to see the flush of red that grazed his cheeks. I'd never seen him like that before. It was almost rewarding to me, and it was what egged me on. "I thought I heard my name too. It was weird." I mused, putting aside the mop for now.

I stepped over to him and crouched down, moving to help with the shattered pieces of glass, though he merely shook his head. "B-Bloody odd." Shaun said to me in a quick tone, though I noticed his expression falter a little to a 'Why the hell did I just say that?' expression. This was just too much fun. Who knew I would ever get to see him like this? I never took Shaun as the blushing type.

I'd look like that too if I were in his shoes, though.

"Yeah. Did you hear it, or was it just me? I mean, you were up if you came in just after it stopped. It didn't sound like Lucy or Rebecca. It was a deeper voice. Kind of... Like yours." I finally said, watching his fingers stop as he reached to grab a piece of glass.

But the hand that was holding bits and pieces clenched shut and he let out a hiss as he opened it again and let the glass fall from his fingers, some blood bubbling around a few places he'd been cut, though there were also a few small pieces embedded there. I watched him do this. That triumphant feeling fizzled slightly as I watched, looking to Shaun's face before back to his hand.

"Ah, damn." He said, moving to hold the wrist of the injured hand. It seemed that this really wasn't his day. What, with me tormenting him about the other night and now, he'd gone and hurt himself.

"You alright? Here, let me see." I said as I reached out and grabbed his wrist, ignoring the fact that he was trying to pull it back. I moved to my feet and pulled him up with me, pushing his hand under the water that was still running. He cringed as the water rinsed away the first bits of blood, as well as to remove some of the glass that wasn't too harshly stuck in his hand. But still, there was a piece or two.

He complained about wanting his hand back, but I did something that I don't think he would've expected. While holding his fingers with both hands, I leaned down and used my teeth to pull out the glass. Sure, I could have just grabbed a set of tweezers, but this was faster, and much more amusing.

Shaun seemed almost as if he'd swallowed nervously when my mouth touched his hand and when I raised up, I spat the glass out. "Tadah." I said with a light grin though still held onto Shaun's hand. He seemed so conflicted right now, as if he were still trying to be stubborn and rude, but the blush on his cheeks made him much less intimidating. And that meant that there were other feelings in him, right?

"... Thanks." he said almost reluctantly, fingers twitching faintly in my hands, as if that would mean I'd let go. I did after a minute and returned to picking up the pieces of the cup instead, feeling his eyes on me as I finished and stood up again, turning to the garbage and throwing out the glass pieces.

"Huh, I guess we've just got a funny ghost." I said, shrugging my shoulders a little. "Sorry about the noise at night. I can't help it, since I'm not awake to do it." I added before returning to my use of the mop, wanting to finish now. He just shook his head and waited a minute before turning to the dishes again, being careful with his injured hand.

"You should go lay down, Shaun. You look sick or something. I'll finish in here." I said after a moment, the Brit turning to look at me with an arched eyebrow. I merely shrugged my shoulders, watching him after stopping the mop again. "I didn't stutter. Go." I urged him lightly. He gave me a scowl though shook his head. "If you want to do the work, then fine. Have at it." He grumbled turning off the running water and starting for the way out.

"Oh, and Shaun-" I started, "- You should really knock before you come in my room. What if I was really awake? I mean... I half-think you were really close to me. I felt something against my head." I added, unable to help myself. "Whatever it was, it was nice. But then again, I might just be imagining it." I said, shrugging my shoulders as I mopped again, looking down. His feet stopped when I talked, the male listening though walking out without another sound.

I'd said I like it after all, right? Maybe he'd come in again tonight...