Hot and Cold

Apologize

Madeline stayed with Abel in the little coffee shop until he closed. He tried to keep a healthy conservation going with her, but she didn't seem in the best mood for it. After locking the door to the shop, he looked to Madeline, who was sitting on the wooden porch rail and looking absently at the overcast sky. "Do you need a ride? You can come back to my place, if you want." Abel offered, walking up to her and placing a hand on her shoulder to gently get her attention. She started a little at his voice and touch, but looked over her shoulder at him with a small smile, which he couldn't help but to return. "Sure.. and if you wouldn't mind, I would like to come with you.. I mean, if it's not too much trouble, of course.. !" She stumbled through her words, looking abashedly at the ground. "Of course not, I offered. Don't worry about it, I'd love to have you. -- Ah, at my house, I meant.." Abel replied, thinking he would honestly be fine either way. She giggled a little bit and hopped down from the railing that fenced the porch in with all the tables spotted here and there where coffee drinkers would come outside to sit and enjoy the day. Abel put an arm around her shoulder and walked out to his car with her. She decided that he was a good comforter, and felt.. Well, safe, secure, and even happy around him; she was certainly in a better mood. Madeline gently leaned her head on his shoulder once again as they headed across the small, gravel parking lot. This simple gesture of hers made him smile, and he was reluctant to end it when she went around to the passenger side to get in. He opened his door and sat in the driver's seat, fishing his keys from his pocket, then started out up and backed out of the parking lot.

The ride to Abel's house went smoothly and only lasted ten or so minutes. Madeline realized that he only lived a few houses down from hers. She'd always been too shy to go out and say hello to the neighbours when her and Francis had moved here from Paris. Abel glanced over to the Canadian after pulling to a stop and cutting the engine. He ached to kiss her again. Her lips were so soft and sweet, just like her. Madeline caught him looking at her out of the corner of his eye, and smiled a little bit. "Um.. so about earlier.." Abel reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck, dark green gaze drifting to the side. "I've just kind of always wanted to do that. I guess I wasn't enough of a man to ever talk to you in school, and to sort of take advantage of you while you were crying.. I didn't know if there would ever be another chance. Especially with you hanging around with Ivan all the time." The words all tumbled from his mouth like he had been planning this apology in his head. He glanced over with surprise as he felt Madeline's soft, slender hand brush over his, and stayed on top his more rougher, calloused one. Her gaze traveled over to his, and she smiled in attempts to assure him that he was fine. "It's alright, really it is.. I should have taken that time to get to know you better.. you're a really good person, Abel," She said softly, slipping her hand back into her lap where her other one was, but was stopped by Abel's hand grabbing onto her wrist. He took her hand and pressed the palm of it to his cheek, closing his eyes with a sigh. Was every part of her this incredibly soft and gentle.. ? Abel blinked and his face heated up in a moderate blush because his thoughts had drifted places where they probably shouldn't have. Quickly, he let her hand down and exhaled heavily, proceeding to open the car door and slide out. Madeline did so as well but paused as she felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her hoodie. She shut the door of Abel's car and leaned against it to read it. When she saw who it was from, a shadow of reluctance crossed her cheerful expression but she opened the text.

'I can't tell you how sorry I am.. Please come back to my house, I really want to talk to you. -- Vanya Braginsky'

Abel looked over with a slight eyebrow raise. She let out a quiet sigh and slipped her phone back into her pocket, glancing at him with a faint frown. "Um.. listen, I'm going back to Ivan's house.." Abel's brow creased and his eyes narrowed a little. "Are you sure.. ? You're completely welcome to stay over at my house if he gives you a hard time. I'm here for you if you need anything.. anything at all, Madeline." He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her in a short but tight hug, also pressing his lips to her smooth, soft, and rosy cheek. She blushed a little bit and hugged him back. "Thank you so much, Abel.." The Canadian murmured into his shoulder, her blush deepening when he started to gently stroke her long, wavy hair. She pulled away after a moment of this, and headed down the street, leaving a crestfallen Abel behind.

Once Madeline had made her way down the street and back to Ivan's house, a pit of anxiety started to form in her stomach. She walked onto the porch and knocked on the door. Less than thirty seconds later, the door was practically flung open and she was wrapped in a very tight embrace. "Thank you for coming back.. I'm sorry about what I did, I'm so, so sorry.. I.. I lost control, I lost my temper.." His voice was husky and cracked as if he'd been crying; and he was now. Ivan's warm tears were soaking into her shoulder and he had stopped trying to speak since he was cut off by his own quiet sobs. Madeline blinked, sliding her arms around him and guiding him inside. "It's fine.. I'm okay.. don't beat yourself up over it, eh.." She started gently rubbing his back as he continued to cling to her, still crying. His sobs quieted, and in a few minutes they had stopped completely. Ivan pulled up and let Madeline go, drying his eyes with his sleeve. "Spasibo.. I'm sorry that you saw me like this.. I'm just.. so sorry.. for everything.." He muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets and training his eyes on the floor. "Vanya.. You don't have to be.. Abel's over it, and I'm fine." She said, reaching her slender and delicate hand up to brush away a stray tear rolling down his cheek. Ivan gently grabbed her hand and pressed it to his hot cheek, a weak smile pulling at his lips. She walked closer and rested her head against his chest in attempts to make him feel better; and it seemed to noticeably work. He buried his face into her shoulder, each warm breath down her neck making her shiver. " Я люблю тебя, Madeline.." Ivan murmured with his still husky voice, giving her goosebumps. "E-eh.. What does that mean.. ?" She stuttered out. A grin now tugged at his lips instead of a faint smile. "Why don't I show you, da..?" Another sudden shudder involuntary made its way down her spine. "U-um.. m-m-maybe you ah.. shouldn't.." Madeline stuttered, becoming slightly uneasy at his sudden change in his mood. Ivan chuckled, and she let out a soft squeak as she felt a pinching sensation on her neck, which must have been him biting a little bit. "V-Vanya.. !" She protested, trying to wiggle out from his grip, but it only tightened. He was acting.. incontinent -- which confused her because he was just crying onto her shoulder. "Don't worry, мой подсолнечника.. I won't hurt you, or.. take you until you allow me. I'm not that kind of man.. at least, I don't think so." He murmured, hot breath tickling her neck again and making her whimper almost unnoticeably, but Ivan's grin only grew as he heard it. "You're so submissive, I wonder if you would be difficult to take at all." He pulled back and released her from his unbreakable grip, leaving a shaking and flustered Canadian in his wake. "A-a-ah.. uhm.. ! I th-think I'm g-going to go, now.. !" She stumbled backwards, only to trip and fall on her backside with an 'uff!'. Ivan advanced on her, but simply scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs and into his room; ignoring her statement from moments ago.