You're dancing while I'm dying, laughing while I'm crying

[gabriel_gray]

Who: Sylar (gabriel_gray ) and Jack Harkness (jackedthename )
When: April 3rd
Where: Underground mall
Summary: Sylar's favourite shirt was ruined a couple of days ago and so naturally this means a shopping trip while Peter is at work.
Warnings: Only mentions of violence and smut this time.

[ There was just something about browsing the men's wear department that was incredibly theraputic.  Sylar found it peaceful, where time could pass without even thinking about it for once. He could lose himself in the feel of fabric, in something that was incredibly normal, in something which other people did as a matter of course, like eating and breathing--shopping was a fact of life.

More importantly, it had never been something he'd enjoyed before, years ago. Gabriel had been content to wear his v-neck sweaters until the end of time itself, but the moment he'd been free to become something else, found freedom to choose how he looked, he had gone to it with passion. He could be more, work out who he was--choose, just like everyone else. And he had chosen black, cosmopolitan and sharp, functional and fashionable.

But clothing didn't survive the extremes that Sylar put it through for long. Electricity, radioactivity, ice and regeneration and blood and battle, it all took its toll, and sometimes even wanted men needed to get out of their apartment and buy new shirts. Just so long as it was anything in black. ]

Comments

[jackedthename]

Oh, darling, I already know that.

[And now that he's moved, Jack will be browsing through a few of the shirts, frowning some.]

[gabriel_gray]

[ The answer puzzles him, but Sylar leaves him be, moves around to the rack of clothes behind Jack so that he can pretend to be interested in denim that is decidedly not black enough for any of his outings while in fact watching him doggedly.

He knows he's special, or he knows that Sylar hasn't figured him out? Either way, it's a deliberate challenge, a puzzle that promised that the answer was well worth finding out. Worth the effort of investigating further. But for now he just watches and pretends not to. ]

[jackedthename]

[Well, he knows both of those things, but he'll readily admit to the first one with a cheeky grin. He is, however, quite aware of Sylar's eyes on him, and eventually turns to the other man with a dark gray shirt in his hands.]

Alright, fair's fair. What do you think of this one?

[gabriel_gray]

[ Sylar has actually found a pair of jeans, though in Peter's size not his own, and he's considering whether or not to buy them just to see Peter in them. But his attention returns to Jack quickly enough, head tilting to one side. ]

It brings out the blue in your eyes.

[jackedthename]

[That merely gets another charming smile out of Jack, and a grateful nod.]

Cheers. One shirt for me, then.

[gabriel_gray]

[ Sylar steps forward, pulling something else from the racks and offering it over. ]

Try this one.

[jackedthename]

[He takes it with an amused look.]

Do you want me to try it on, or do you just want to see me with my shirt off?

[gabriel_gray]

[ He just raises an eyebrow of his own. ]

And risk my boyfriend getting jealous? I don't think the Port's ready for that.

[ He's said it before he even realises the word he chose, and gives a baffled shake of his head, turning back toward the racks. ]

[jackedthename]

Oh, a boyfriend, huh? [A charming smile.] I'm not opposed to sharing.

[gabriel_gray]

[ He cocked his head away, going back to sifting through the shirts. ]

Maybe not, but he's the jealous type. I'm taking a risk even inviting you for coffee.

[jackedthename]

Oh, so I'm invited for coffee now? As long as it's not Starbucks or anything.

[gabriel_gray]

I thought everyone knew that Starbucks isn't real coffee.

[ He cast a look toward Jack. ]

I still don't know your name.

[jackedthename]

Well, yeah, but sometimes it's the only thing you feel like getting.

[And a smile.]

Jack Harkness. What's yours?

[gabriel_gray]

Davis. Brian Davis.

[ It'd make it more difficult to hunt if Jack knew his name, but since he didn't know who he was from his face or his voice, it was too much to risk it. Brian was his first victim; he made a safe cover. ]

[jackedthename]

Pleased to meet you, handsome.

[And cue the charming smile.]

So what's this about coffee?

[gabriel_gray]

I know just the place. [ He raises his armful of shopping. ] Shall we?

[ And he actually intended to pay for it. Amazing. ]

[jackedthename]

Sure, just let me get these. [...Okay, so his shopping hadn't come to too much. At least he had some shirts.]

[gabriel_gray]

[ Sylar follows, his own shopping folded over his arm. He takes the opposite counter, and puts a new tub of black shoe polish on top of the pile from the display beside the door. The woman is a little slow, but it gives him a moment to study the back of Jack's head again, as though it could provide answers. ]

[jackedthename]

[And shall we skip ahead to where they're heading off for coffee, perhaps?]

[gabriel_gray]

[ Sylar holds open the door to the coffee shop; a cute little thing tucked into a dark corner of the mall. He drinks here because when you're a wanted man you find places like this. ]

[jackedthename]

[Jack quirks an eyebrow and heads in, looking around. It certainly smells good. Ianto might approve, depending on how good the coffee is. It's a good mental note to make if he ever shows up.]

[gabriel_gray]

[ Sylar lead the way to a quiet table. There was one waitress and the owner working, which meant that everything was peaceful and intimate, and there was less to distract a busy mind when he was trying to focus on something in particular. ]

So what's your deal? Alternate world, past, future, alien planet, comic book superhero?

[jackedthename]

Any of those could be applicable, really, except maybe the last. Alternate world is right, anyway.

[gabriel_gray]

[ He shakes his head slightly, giving the slightest telekinetic flick to the menu to send it toward Jack. ]

More interesting every second. And more cryptic.

[jackedthename]

[A thin smile.]

Force of habit. Comes with the job.