Cobalt [you're stuck with me] Arkady

[Delerium]

Arkady was tempted to go along with it just to jab Cobalt, but he was a gentleman and he had heart; he couldn't do that to Dementia.
As humurous as the situation was, it was time to set things right.
"Actually, Xavier, the lady had swooned and was merely freshening up when you barged in here and started flinging accusations, you overgrown baboon," Arkady said, really laying it on; just as much to vent his own distaste as to come to Dementia's defense.

Arkady then came forward, placing one hand gently on Dementia's shoulder and the other not-so-gently on the arm Cobalt had wrapped around Dementia's waist. "Would you stop shaking her like that? You're gonna break her neck. And I do believe the lady demanded you let her go." Arkady's grip tightened further and fire smouldered dangerously in his sapphire gaze.
Not many men practiced chivalry these days, but by God, Arkady vowed that no man would insult or mistreat a woman on his watch.

[Deon]

"My name's Cobalt," he growled as Arkady told him what happened. "And I don't need some prissy boy like you interfering with my business. Even the way you talk is so... proper and effeminate. She swooned, huh? Yeah, right. That sure sounds like Dementia, fainting for no reason at all," he sarcastically replied, tightening his grip on her. He was incredulous; there was no doubt in his mind that Arkady was lying. What a little w.hore. How long had he been gone? What, fifteen, twenty minutes? And already she was getting with some other guy. Okay, so he didn't know who pushed up on whom, but he wasn't about to let Arkady get away with doing this when he knew that he was the one who wanted Dementia, and he wanted her now. There were a lot of things going on that had really made him angry, most recently getting kicked off the football team for being caught drinking at a local nightclub, and he needed a quick fix--at least for the night.

Cobalt didn't let his grip loosen any as Arkady approached him, and placed hand protectively on Dementia's shoulder. "So now you're trying to protect this little tramp? This little bitch is unbreakable. Perhaps that's why she likes to play rough." He could feel Arkady's hand closing on the arm he had wound around Dementia's waist squeezing him ever-tighter, and with a snarl he violently pushed Dementia away, sending her slamming into the wall. She didn't make a sound as she smashed her head, nor did her face show any sign of pain. It was almost painfully blank. Truly, the only thing she was aware of was that Arkady's burning hand had slid off of her bare shoulder as Cobalt shoved her into the wall.

"Fine. Do whatever you want with this this little skank. You could kill her for all I care. No one refuses me like that." His voice was more in a tone of stating a fact than of a threat. "I can see that you want her. It's so obvious. I don't want to be associated with her now that you've tainted her," Cobalt scoffed. He looked at Dementia like she was a disgusting piece of gum on his shoe and rolled his eyes, pushing past Arkady to get to his dresser. He violently pulled open the top drawer, picked something out, and threw it towards Arkady with much more force than necessary. It was a pair of fuzzy handcuffs.

"By the way, she likes bondage," he snarled, stomping out of the room. He slammed the door hard, rattling the frame with his sheer strength.

Dementia finally moved from the wall as he left, dusting off her crimson shirt with disgust where Cobalt dared to touch her. Her fingers stayed away from the skin on her shoulder upon which Arkady's hand had previously rested as if it was contaminated. She didn't acknowledge the real reason she was afraid to touch where he had, perhaps in the mindset that if it remained hidden inside her mind that it would not be real.

When she spoke, her voice was a hair softer than usual... more solemn, almost. "I suppose thanks are in order," she murmured. Her voice had a tinge of reluctance in saying what she did next. She smiled weakly. "Thank you. I'm sorry to burden you with seeing this and with... helping me. However, I can handle myself. Next time, please don't get yourself involved. I don't want to owe anything else to you, and I don't want to have you intertwine yourself in my affairs, especially for my sake." The way she said those last two words made herself seem worthless. What she asked of him sounded like a polite request. However, the words that she didn't say were embedded deep in the meaning of what she did, enough so that he probably didn't catch it. Her tone did not give it away. I don't want any more contact with you. I don't want to have an excuse to see you again. You make it so hard for me to stay faithful to the person that I'm trying so hard to love... Dariusz, I need to distance myself from you, from my past, from my old feelings... Besides, I don't deserve your help, or your caring, for that matter.

[Delerium]

"Hey!" Arkady cried, immediately rushing to Dementia's side when Cobalt slammed her against the wall. "Who the F**K do you think you are?!"
But he had already left.
Arkady cursed again and draped one of Dementia's arms over his shoulder then stood slowly, the muscles in his thighs bunching visibly through the material of his pants. "I don't care what the hell he says about me; words can't do anything. But his behavior towards women..." The young Russian broke off into another string of curses - in both english and russian.

He seated her on the bed and, remaining standing, gave her a sad smile. "It... was nothing. I know I'm a fool for it, but I can't stand to see men abusing women in any way, shape or form. Call me old fashioned, call me moronic... whatever. I'm involved, entwined, whatever you wanna call it, and I'm ok with that. No woman deserves to be treated like that, even if they are a wh0re, which I'm sure you're not..." He rubbed the arm that had been bleeding. "Are you ok? You took a quite a knock when that f**kin' beast hurled you like that..."
Arkady felt a flame of anger ignite in his chest and shot a murderous glare towards the door; no doubt if the door had been closed it would've disintegrated under the weight of Arkady's gaze. "Urka... Plain and simple. Lower than low... He' ll pay for what he did, I'll make sure of it..."

[Deon]

Dementia didn't protest as Arkady placed her arm around his shoulder's to support her, but in her mind she was screaming to get away. That's what she should be doing. She should be out of here by now! But no, she knew she wasn't going to get away that easily. At least, that's what she suspected when he gently put her down on the bed. It was strange to be touched so carefully, as if she was a porcelain doll. Even Seaheart had never been so gentle with her. It was a... different feeling. She didn't want to look at him smile and averted her eyes, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. Goosebumps had raised on her flesh, and she shivered slightly.

"I'm really fine. I'm not delicate, Arkady," she murmured, barely able to voice his name. It felt so strange. It should have been Dariusz. "That beast," she chuckled coldly. "is a womanizer, nothing else. He doesn't give a damn about me, you, or even himself." She shook her head, but not sadly. More as if she was reprimanding herself. She shut her lips tightly until they were a thin, red line, and then finally spoke.

"Why does this bother you so? Why are you so hell-bent on avenging me? Because I'm a woman? Please, I really can take care of myself. I really don't want to be the object of charity. I don't deserve anything that you do for me, especially if I'm too weak to handle things like this. Really." She looked up from the pattern of the bedspread and met Arkady's eyes with her own of an icy blue. They seemed to be trying to extract something from his mind through his stare, trying to figure out something, calculate something, assess something... She knew so well what she was after that it was as if she didn't even know it at all. What were his real motives? What was he really after? What was he feeling inside that she could only guess at? Why was this one so hard to figure out? Why did he inspire all these feelings inside her? She couldn't stop asking questions that would probably never be answered. They only added to her ongoing list.

[Delerium]

"You don't deserve anything I do for you?" Arkady echoed. "What's that supposed to mean? I help people out because I want to; I choose to, Dementia. There's too many creeps and assholes like Cobalt in this world, and the only thing I'm hellbent on is not being like them."
Arkady cleared his throat and turned away from Dementia's analytical glare. He'd never said that to anyone; what the hell was wrong with him today?
Well then, do something Arkasha! Don't just stand there with your bare face hanging out and prove to her that your a complete moron...
Uh, right.
Noticing her light shiver and the goosebumps forming on her smooth skin, Arkady had to resist sitting next to her and pulling her into his arms to warm her up. Both physically and spiritually. Dementia said she was strong, that no one should help her, but in Arkady's experience they were the kind of people who needed love and kindness more than anyone.
He would know.
Instead of giving into what his heart told him to do, Arkady grabbed a blanket that was folded up on the end of the bed and carefully wrapped it around Dementia's shoulders.
"This isn't charity," Arkady suddenly said. "People who give charity don't really care about what's going on and think throwing some money or good intentions at the issue will help. I hate charity; I view it as a form of pity." He smiled sadly again and shrugged helplessly. "I know nice guys are fools, but... I am what I am, I guess."

[Deon]

What's that supposed to mean? I help people out because I want to; I choose to, Dementia. There's too many creeps and assholes like Cobalt in this world, and the only thing I'm hellbent on is not being like them." Arkady's suddenness surprised her.

"It means what it sounds like, Arakady. I don't deserve your help, especially because I need it. Don't you get it though? That's precisely the reason. The world is based on what you've earned, not what you need. Happiness isn't mine by right. Help isn't mine by right. I can't get something for nothing. It would go against everything I've been taught... Everything I've believed in for so long." She shut her eyes wearily for the briefest moment, brushing a silvery strand of hair away from her eyes more carefully and slowly than the gesture needed.

"But you're right about not being someone like that... someone like Xavier. Those kinds of people are self-destructive. But then again, not many kinds of people aren't." Her voice had dropped to a low murmur as she spoke her last sentence. Arkady was looking away by the time she opened up her eyes. It was as if a veil had dropped over her eyes and thoughts during the pause between them, while he seemed to be debating something in his mind, something that she could only contemplate about, in torment. She recognized the look of being tortured by his kind of pent-up emotions and held-back urges. It may have not been written on his face, but in someone so used to the feeling it was easy to see.

Dementia's breath caught in her throat as Arkady placed the blanket around her, his hands seeming to linger on her shoulders, even if it was only just in her mind. And despite the warm touch that draped across her shoulders, around her body, she felt a sudden cold when his hands were taken away.

"Not charity, huh? So you're telling me you care?" she chuckled slightly and shook her head hopelessly, averting her eyes from Arkady.
Why? Why would you ever care about someone like me? Because you're a nice guy? Yeah. You are a fool, Arkady. You're getting yourself in much deeper than you should.

"I would almost like for you not to answer that, but no one survives in this world by living in any kind of delusion whatsoever. While I may have read that in a book, it has been proven time and time again in reality. I can sense that you and I may both need to remember that."

[Delerium]

Arkady didn't answer, at least not right away. First, he bent over and picked up the scandalous object Cobalt had thrown their way. "Who knows? Maybe I do, and maybe I don't. I don't even think I care about myself that much. At least not mentally or emotionally." He looked down at the object he held and juggled it in his hands. "People don't deserve help? You have an awfully nihilistic point of view, Dementia; that's your perogitive and I wouldn't dream of thinking I could correct it, but I just thought I'd make an observation, you know?"

He tossed the object on the bed beside her smiled conspiratorially. "And I don't think there's anything wrong with having fuzzy handcuffs... Sounds like fun, heh heh. Well, as long as things don't get TOO hardcore..."
He then tried to judge her reaction. Being comforting obviously wasn't getting through to her, so he'd tried taking a different route.

[Deon]

Dementia laughed softly at Arkady's response. "A maybe is the worst kind of an answer. A yes and a no at the same time, bearing the consequences of both. But you should at least care about yourself, if nothing else. You're the one you have to live with your whole life." She had learned that lesson the hard way, and was still unable to completely follow her own advice.

She watched as he bent over those damned handcuffs Cobalt had presented her on their second night, along with that stupid leopard print leash. She hadn't protested at all, nor voiced her opinion on anything. But for some reason she didn't want him touching it, didn't want him holding that piece of her recent past that she so abhorred.

"I wouldn't call myself nihilistic... at least, not in the way you're thinking. No, I don't believe existence is senseless. It has a purpose. It moves you to death. The things that are useless is what you do with your life, unless you find a way to outsmart the end." She pulled the blanket around herself tighter as Arkady examined the handcuffs. "Besides, only some kinds of people don't deserve help. It's the people who are the ones who put themselves in the position where they need that help and charity so desperately through their own stupid decisions."

She could hear the dull clank of the handcuffs tossed carelessly beside her and turned her head slightly to see. Arkady seemed to be trying to change the subject, for reasons she didn't know. Perhaps he was just feeling uncomfortable. She could relate to that feeling. Yet he smiled at her as if he was in on a private joke. She couldn't help her lips twitching into a similar motion just the slightest as he spoke, her eyes glimmering mischievously.

"Well, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the bedroom."

[Delerium]

"I agree," Arkady nodded. "'You made your bed, now sleep in it' sort of McDeal; I fully agree."

"Well, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the bedroom."

Arkady burst out laughing. "Yes! Too true!"
He sobered after a moment, then seemed a bit uncomfortable; he'd just met this girl and already they were talking about fetishes?
Yeah, that had to change. Dementia was a very good-looking, seemingly emotionally-fragile young woman, and Arkady didn't want to say anything that make him appear to be chauvinist pig in her eyes. Yeah, he'd already said that he strived to do the opposite, but actions and absent words speak volumes of an individual.

And why did she keep staring at him? Did he have something stuck on his face?
He automatically wiped a hand across his face a the thought; no, nothing. So then... what? Even girls who thought he was quote/unquote 'hot' didn't stare at him that way. It almost seemed as though she were trying to peer past his surface appearance and into his heart and soul.
Well, he wouldn't begrudge her that, and it was rather refreshing to meet a girl who wasn't all hung up on his looks.

"Listen, umm, if you're ok and stuff, I really need to get back to clearing all this shit out of here," Arkady said, shifting a bit uncomfortably. "I would like to be able to sleep in a clean bed tonight."

[Deon]

Dementia blinked slowly, but her eyes never left his face as he laughed, as he uncomfortably brushed a hand across his skin, as he spoke. It was a saddeningly refreshing sight... the sight of his laughter, of his gaiety in her presence. Of course, the subject wasn't really what she had commonly talked about back then, but still... That smile was one more thing that seemed to tie him back to the one whom she had lost.

She quit her fond lamenting gaze and glanced across Arkady at Salvador's old bed. She had forgotten how horrific a sight it was, though there was no surprise in her face. "Of course. I've bothered you too long, anyways." She stood up, shrugging the blanket off her shoulders, and carefully folded it together with the dexterity of a housewife. She placed it neatly at the foot of Cobalt's bed, right above where the fuzzy handcuffs had fallen.

"If you ever need any assistance with anything, I'd be glad to lend a hand," she told him almost absently, as a polite reflex, her eyes flickering across the junk that he had already cleared from the room, and how much he still had to go. "I'd say that you've earned it."

With a sly smile, she bent over and grabbed the handcuffs that still lay nearby on the covers of the bed, twirling them around her pointer finger. "I think that I'll take these back now, unless of course, you want them," she offered with a little laugh, catching the cuffs in her other hand. "But I didn't think so."

The smile faded again into a more serious look as she bunched the metal apparatus together into one hand. She stared at her fingertips for a moment and muttered something short and unintelligible under her breath. Finally she raised her eyes to meet his.

"Thank you." She said the words with more meaning than seemed possible for what he consciously did for her. Her eyes reluctantly left his face as she turned to go, as if trying to get the most possible out of every small glance at him. She opened the door Cobalt had slammed in his mad fury, her hand lingering on the doorknob as she hesitated to leave the room. One last glance. One last word. One last genuine smile before she finally left.

"It was... nice to meet you, Arkady."

Yeah, right. Nice didn't cover it.