fandomtownies | The Arms and the Demon

It's late when Phoebe shows up at the Hotel. She had spent a great deal of the evening after classes just walking around the island, trying to come to terms with the fact that she and her soulmate had broken up.

She enters the hotel and goes up to the registration desk. "Phoebe Halliwell," she says softly. "I think I have a reservation...or I may need to talk to Mr. Crowley."

Stepping out of his office at the scent of her, he grins. "Phoebe, my dear. You look a fright. Come to take advantage of being mine?"

Phoebe tries to smile at him, she really does. "I...I need a place to stay for a little while, Crowley. I can't stay in the dorms right now."

"Why not, pet? I took care of those whelps. Are you full of fear and sadness?" he might be mocking her a little. Maybe. He looks genuine, though.

Phoebe doesn't even put on her cheerful face. "Yes," she says.

"Oh, Phoebe." In an attempt to sound caring, he just comes off as patronizing. He snatches up a keycard and disregards the paperwork.

Coming out from behind the desk, he gently places his hand on her back, guiding her to the elevator, "Let's get you into your room and you can tell me all your troubles. No one frightens my witches...it's just not done."

It's a testament to the mental and emotional condition that Phoebe is in when she doesn't even bristle at Crowley's patronizing tone. Right now, she's concentrating on making her body move and nods at Crowley. She's silent as they take the elevator up.

[[OOC but IC: *kssss* Mine! *bristle*]]

[OOC but IC: *flails*]

[[OOC but IC: *growls* *flexes*]]

"Poppet, I must say I don't enjoy you nearly as much when you're unhappy. How may I cheer you?"

The doors open on the penthouse suite, and he leads her to the door on the right. Passing her the keycard, he opens the door with the wave of a hand.

"You'll stay in the angel's suite. No arguements, my dear."

Phoebe takes the card and tries not to start crying again. She didn't like crying in front of Crowley.

"Thanks, Crowley...I'll pay for it, I promise." She swallows. "Belthazor and I have hit a bit of a bad patch, I'm afraid."

Damn it, she said she wasn't going to confide in Crowley about this.

"A bad patch? Dearest, if you're reduced to tears I fear it's more than a bad patch." gentle fingers under her chin are warm and nothing more as her brings her eyes to his. Soft and comforting, he smiles. "Shall I destroy him for you, pet? I could swallow him whole if you like."

That does bring a slight smile to her face.

"If it were anyone but him, Crowley, I'd probably take you up on that offer."

Phoebe tries to resist the urge to ask Crowley just to hold her for a moment, but that would probably be very not demon-like.

"Tut tut, pet. Nothing can be all that bad, what? You're young, you're beautiful, and you're mine. I'll take care of you." His wings unfurl behind him and in one fluid movement he wraps an arm around her shoulders and the other sneaks to the side of her hips. without warning he picks her up, cradled in his arms and crries her to the bed.

Laying her down gently, he kneels beside the bed.

"Now, isn't that better? A soft bed where an angel has slept and a demon not being an utter bastard? I'd wager you're slightly glad you signed the contract, yes?" He smiles softly at her, trying to get her to return it.

Phoebe nods at him. "Yes, this is better...and right now? Yes I am glad that I sugned the contract." Phoebe gives him a smile, and it's almost like her usual smiles, just a bit sadder.

"quite." he says quietly, almost disturbed by her lack of protest.

"First things first. Tea." A cap manifests with the wave of a hand, "Drink up now, and pour your heart out if you like."

Phoebe starts slowly sipping the tea and sighs.

"We...we broke up...in a pretty major way," she finally says as tears start slipping down her cheeks again.

What happened to the not confiding in Crowley, Phoebe?

He gently wipes her tears away with his thumb, only warmth in the wake.

"What does that mean, pet? 'pretty major way'...he didn't hurt you did he? Harm you other than breaking your heart?"

Phoebe looks surprised at the question. "No, no, he would never do anything like that...even now." She swallows. "Just a great deal with the breaking of my heart and the betrayal."

"Betrayal I understand, my dear."

Without asking, he slides onto the bed beside her and wraps an arm around her shoulder and holding her close.

"I've seen so much pain, sweet. Men like to think I'm so terrible, but in truth it's those with souls who are the ones capable of so much more horrid destruction. I don't think I could have ever torn you down this much...not even if I wanted to."

Phoebe leans against Crowley, the irony of being comforted by him is not lost on her.

"How can someone hurt this much and still be alive," she asks him. "Of all of the people I expected to betray me...it was never him."

"Sweetness, the most favored is never suspect. HE loved Lucifer most, and look what happened there."

He strokes his fingers across her hair and looks up at the ceiling.

"I don't know how you can hurt this much and remain alive, pet. Some people don't. Some kill themselves over lesser misery. But you? You're strong. You'll only grow from it and it will make you wise...and more than likely more gentle to others, if that's possible."

"Grams always said that Lucifer got a bad rap," she says softly, closing her eyes and taking comfort in Crowley's presence. "Would you believe that one of the reasons I first thought to come to you was because I know you wouldn't let me do anything stupid in a moment of weakness?"

She is serious. When she was first leaving the Attic, Crowley had been the first person she thought of to come to. It was only later that she realized he wouldn't let her do anything extremely stupid...like jumping off a cliff or something.

"Of course not, little one. What good are you to me smashed upon the rocks? No..I like you alive. I think I'll keep you that way." His fingers begin to warm against her head, as he dishes out just a little bit of sloth to help her sleep.

"Begin alive is a good thing, I think," Phoebe mumbles as she starts to get drowsy. It must be from the shock and all of the crying she's done today.

"Of course, sweet. Alive is good." soft strokes arc down her hair to her shoulder before returning to her crown as he pets her to sleep.

Phoebe sighs softly, finally giving in to sleep. It's been a very bad day, after all.

Once she's entirely out, he slides off the bed and with a wave of his hand she's between the sheets. He saunters over to the wingback chairs in front of the fireplace and holds a vigil...just as he did when she lay in the clinic.

The Arms and the Demon

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