Reaper's Touch

Hex: Same

"Love is, above all, the gift of oneself."
-Jean Anouilh

Hex was starting to spend more and more nights at Jeff's house now that he was back at the ranch. It was the one place, except the bridge, where she and Gus could be truly alone. She didn't know if Gus had told Jeff, and she didn't want to know out of fear of him saying that she couldn't anymore. It felt too good to wake up beside Gus.

She had always imagined that dating Gus would make her feel like a babysitter, but it didn't. Instead it was like his only mission in the relationship was to make her feel cherished and held, and she reveled in it. There had never been another time in her life when she had been so taken care of by anyone.

Gus was always thinking of her, trying to anticipate what she might need or want, and his selflessness took some time for her to get used to. She had always taken care of herself. Her earliest memories had taught her that no one could be trusted, that people were selfish and unpredictable creatures at best. But Gus wasn't like most people.

Gus looked nervous tonight, like there was something he wanted to say but was holding back. An hour ago he had texted Hex asking her to come over, and now they were sitting cross-legged on Gus's bedroom floor, their knees and foreheads touching. Moon slept peacefully on Gus's lap.

Sometimes Hex just wanted to spend time in the silence looking into Gus's eyes like this. Whatever feelings it stirred in her were heightened and intensified a thousand fold when she did this, and it was like a drug. She had done it with Adam when he was alive too, and in those long silences they'd had some of their best unspoken conversations.

"I have something for you," Gus said softly.

"You do?" Hex asked, trying not to be annoyed that the silence was broken.

"Uh huh. I've been saving for it for awhile."

Gus reached into his pocket and pulled out a small jewelry box. Hex was feeling the beginnings of panic, thinking maybe he was going to propose to her. And what could she say? She never wanted to marry anyone. It just wasn't for her.

Before she could worry more, Gus had already opened the box, and relief flooded her when she saw that it contained a necklace instead of a ring. The silver chain had a small butterfly pendant with little diamonds on the wings.

Hex had never worn jewelry before, even now that life was normal, and she didn't know what to say. The necklace wasn't her. It was way too girly and sweet. But when she looked away from it back into Gus's eyes, all she could see was the love for her that had inspired the purchase, and she thought about how long he had spent saving the money. For that alone, she would wear it forever.

"Oh Gus," she whispered. "I love you so much."

He smiled. "Do you like it though?" he asked nervously.

"I love it, because I love you," she answered truthfully.

"I know when we were homeless, there was no way you could have somethin' like this, and even though I never see you wear jewelry, I didn't want it to be because you don't have any," Gus said.

He took the necklace out of the box and Hex leaned forward so he could clasp the chain around her neck. Her fingers automatically went to the butterfly pendant, and she quickly moved it back and forth on the chain, creating what she could already tell would become a new habit.

"Thank you," she said softly. "You're so sweet to me."

Gus laughed nervously. "Oh... um... I just love you. That's all."

Still touching the butterfly pendant, Hex leaned in to kiss him. That kiss turned into another and another and another until it became a full and passionate make out session. Moon was irritated at being trapped between the two lovers and squeezed her way out under Gus's arm.