Oh lord.

Oh no! Nonono!

He'd caught her slip and this was where she truly scared him off for good?

What are you good at, Andrea? Oh, you know.. frightening away all the people I like by being too blasted forward!

She hazarded a peek out at being forgiven, eyes just a tiny bit wet and face still a tiny bit brown.

She frowned behind the cover of her blanket while one of the black snakes nudged her gently in the cheek.

"...Of course I mean it..."

The fact that he hadn't gotten up and run away yet made her a little bit braver. Her nose and mouth rose free of the comforter.

"I... I am perfectly sound right now." She blinked at him, brows creased and clearly still unhappy with the situation but finally actually looking at him.

"I would miss you terribly if you were to go."

She emerged from her fortress wet eyed and still blushing and he knew despite his usual density she mean she liked him alot.. the sort of a lot that meant alot alot. Now it was his turn to be a jumble of emotions. He knew he liked her.. had a crush on her a slong as he could ever remember. It made it easy to say to silly little charity events that really didn't need him as extra security. 

She confirmed it and red flushed across his again. It was amazing how hard the heart could beat without exploding or damaging itself. She didn't even seem the least bit drunk which was reassuring. His face was a flicker of confusion as he sorted through himself determining what to say, the right thing to say.

Finally he spoke without trying to think too hard. "I would like to think I would have watched over anyone, but for you I would have endured far worse than I was put through." A nervous little tremor ran through him again after he was done speaking. "Sorry, I am sure I am making you uncomfortable." He did a little delayed backwards roll that left him on his feet, standing with his pants fully on. 

"I will not leave unless I must because I don't think i could bear the thought of making you sad." He looked away from her. Rationalizing he did so to help her retain some modesty and work through her own emotions without him leering on even as he knew it was to keep his face hidden from her. 

She was struck mute for a moment, eyes wide and lips slightly parted. What had he just said?

Then he rolled and, well she was thankful for the pants being on, but how the heck--

Not important!

"You don-" She started softly, wanting to argue that he could never in a million years make her really uncomfortable.

Or, well.. the bad kind of uncomfortable at least.

And then he uttered words that hit her like a physical thing and she reeled back slightly.

After a moment of thought, she wobbled to her feet and turned to head towards her bathroom. The Greek closed the door for but a moment before coming back out dressed in an over sized sleep wear t-shirt with a cartoon snake on it, and a look fitting pair of shorts. She was barefoot, hair down and only combed with her fingers and she had wiped any traces of minimal makeup from her face.

With courage she had forced herself to muster up while changing, she headed directly too him and paused only a few feet away.

"I... would not want you to stay for fear of me being sad." She spotted and casually kicked her underwear on the floor under her dresser without comment. "I would want you to stay because it makes you happy."

She snuck peek up at him, physically holding Sloth back who was trying to reach out and snag him again.

It was only a moment she flitted away unsteadily, but it was a long one of worry. Was she sick? Reappearing he was noticeably relieved if a bit disappointed about the prospect of seeing any garters in the near future. Now with her all redressed he felt like he should throw a shirt on. The opportunity escaping him as he was gently confronted in the cutest way possible. His brain interjecting at the presence of panties she hadn't taken with her and barely suppressed a blush as he focused on her once again. 

He thought and chewed on her question with intense contemplation. Something was tripping him up but he couldn't be certain what until he uttered a deliberate. "To be perfectly clear your an amazing and outstandingly beautiful person I have had a crush on for forever if that is what you mean?" There were times for honesty and there were times for honesty. Of course all times were Erik o'clock in that regard. That nervous little shiver he had developed rippled through him  "I just meant today as in.. this morning. Cause I hate leaving you even on good days and I am a bit lightheaded from not having eaten anything in hours. So I apologize for the sudden stupidity." A hand reached up to scratch a cheek with a bit of a laugh and a smile in her direction the sudden seriousness had made him oddly uncomfortable. As if on some celestial cue the doorbell rang. 

"I recall asking if you'd like pizza last night.. I hope breakfast pizza is acceptable?" 

   

The words coming out of his mouth at such close rage were basically torture. A loving kind. She wanted to hide her face in her shirt. A crush. One that hadn't just occured.

She suddenly felt guilty for letting Carol convince her to hire him for all those events as "Security". She fidgeted, balling her hands in her shirt, and pondered what to say.

"I just meant today as in.. this morning..."

What.

She half listened to the rest, inwardly wondering how far up she was on this floor and if he would let her end here embarrassment by flinging herself from the balcony.

Torn from the sweet call of death, Andrea tuned back in at the notion of Pizza and someone at her door.

"I think... that I would enjoy that very much." A normal smile settled on her lips, with just a touch of a blush from her tripping over her own words. She turned and headed off toward the living room.

"Could you go grab it I already paid and included a tip. I would like to get dressed.." He asked of her as she moved off unable to help but watched her leave and waved to the snakes peering in his direction. The clothing on the balcony was redoned and he hurried to rejoin her in the kitchen. A little shakily he moved to sit at the counter with the stools 

"I wasn't sure how much to get but I am pretty sure I can eat one of those by myself. I did forget to order drinks though.." Looking just a bit sheepish. The wave of delicious breakfast foods baked onto a pizza wafted into his nose. At this his stomach rather loudly protested its extended lack of attention. If she didn't want the extra cluttering the place up he would certainly be glad to take it with him to wherever. 

He watched her move about with a little smile on his face he didn't realise he had and once able quickly devoured his first piece of egg cheese and bacon goodness in seconds as an emergency stopgap to stop the little tremor in his hand and did the same with the second before he slowed down. Blushing a bit at his inability to help himself and turned his face down more towards his claimed box of pizza.    

Answering her door brought a true laugh to the surface. He was starving apparently, and funnily enough so was she. She had neglected to eat anything the night before. When three boxes were handed to her she thanked the an man and shut her door.

It struck her as hilarious that they were to share them between themselves.

With a hum, she set the boxes on the counter and hustled off into her kitchen to round up some juice for them, as well as some... er... snacks for the side.

He joined her and a little bit of her shyness returned as she puttered about dragging out leftovers galore from the last few days.

Some traditional dishes were popped into the microwave and deposited on the counter, followed by dinner staples like spaghetti, lasagna, casseroles. It was a lot of food, and partly due to her making extra to feel Elliot when he was home for dinners.

She gently sat the last hot ceramic dish on the counter, setting her hot pads to her side, and plopped two plates and silverware down too.

Settling herself onto the stool next to him she grabbed herself a few slices of the pizza he had purchased. She didn't at all seem perturbed by his appetite. In fact she was looked pretty pleased.

"Thank you for order pizza... I did mean it when I said it had been a while." She didn't devour it in seconds, seeing as she wasn't actually starving, but she munched through it at the pace of a polite, but professional in an eating competition.

And when she was done with it she wiped the corners of her mouth, grabbed her plate, and started loading it up with leftovers.

"You should try some if you have room... I made it all myself." It was her turn to look sheepish.

"...Mutation requires a lot of calories..."

Erik should have known something was up when he heard her laugh as she answered the door. A joke only she knew and left both himself and the delivery guy puzzled. The gallon of juice on the counter should have been the second warning. 

If it was an anime Erik's eyes would have sparkled as she started bringing out food. They probably did anyway. A little satisfaction grew that the monster in his stomach trying to eat its way through his spine was going down for the day at least. The first few slices of the pizza had disappeared dizzyingly fast to ward off any more hunger to hopefully ward off any hunger induced stupidity.

She spoke and he finished what was in his mouth at least before responding. "Well not pizza pizza, but close enough." Grinning at her somewhat as it was delicious. It had taken him some time to find someone who even delivered in the morning. She got sheepish and he wanted to grab and hug her softly, not that the sensation was remotely new, just somehow more honest. 

At her seeming embarrassment he shrugged and smiled. "I know that pain all too well. You made it all yourself you say?" Making sure to grab a bit of everything until it could no longer fit on his plate he continued eating at a more sedate, but still determined pace. "I usually feel so... awkward about it myself. I eat with everyone at work but the day is usually filled with protein bars and 'breakfast' is usually a bunch of calorie and protein dense ingredients all blended together. I am.. not the greatest cook." Now it was his turn to be abashed and contented himself with sticking his face in his food to try and unsuccessfully hide it.

She smiled at him around a fork in her mouth, feeling a little more in her element even with him sitting right beside her.

"Yup! I tend to only home cook food, as most take home food or delivery is, well., lackluster?" She had only taken a few huge bites, but her plate was already steadily emptying.

"I feel much the same." She chuckled, sipping her cup of juice and making sure his was full as well. "Hospital food is a serious joke, and I tend to only nibble on things while out in public. People do tend to stare."

She paused while thinking of his admission of what he normally ate at work and blushed again. "If... you would like I could always make extra for you?" She was sitting stiff in her seat, glancing at him occasionally.

"I mean, I tend to make care packages for other events anyway, so it wouldn't be much more work and they would be much healthier for you in the long run."

Her fork went back into her mouth and she left it there to stop herself from rambling.

Lord, she was bad at this...

Judging from the look on his face he knew all to well the quality of food from either choice was either not the greatest or got really old. 

He beamed a smile of thanks as she refilled his juice in spite of the little flush that tainted his cheeks at the act of her doing so. "I have never been to a hospital so I wouldn't know though the staring is most certainly the least comfortable thing on this planet." It felt.. nice he reflected to speak on their shared experience. If he wanted to eat six hotdogs in one sitting he damned well should be able to without feeling guilty about it!

Man the food was gooood. A little sparkle in his eyes at his vast and thorough enjoyment. "Oh would you?" he breathed at the prospect of eating even more of the delicious everything he had. "I mean only if it isn't too much trouble.." Was a fast follow up reply so he didn't feel like he was taking advantage of her. It was also awkward to feel doted on like she seemed to want to do. Unable to maintain full control of his face it dipped almost low enough to eat the food without a fork. Though she could probably see side of his face tinged with rosy delight. 

Now that the whole 'I. Am. Starving.' Mode had initiated he savored every bite like it truly deserved. Little umms and ahhs slipping free around purposely bites of food.  

HE SAID YES.

She just about died where she sat. He was okay with with her making him dinners and lunches, which would be easy since this wasn't the first time he had been to her apartment.

She quietly worked on her plate while watching him enjoy his. The noises he was making were certainly distracting, especially since she was pretty sure there was a little blush on his cheeks.

She caught herself staring and forced her gaze away. "I am glad you like it... I don't get many chances to entertain nowdays between work and volunteering."

She smiled to herself s little fondly, reaching out to snag some more casserole.

"Cooking is one of the few things I enjoy doing personally, and especially for those I enjoy being around."

She glanced at him, "I will figure out some sort of schedule for it and run it past you on a later date."

She paused. "Day. Later day!"

My, what an interesting plate she had...

Liked it? He was pretty sure he was having a love affair with all the different foods separately. Nomming on some food he looked at her with chipmunk cheeks 'It's wonderful' came out a a garbled "ig gerfaful" Realizing what he'd done he swallowed hard as a blush overtook him and grasped for his juice as his eyes watered to sooth his sore throat.

His current round of food done he plopped on a round of italian and started on that. He was about to respond when she said date and he choked on some food and was blushing at her slip. His heart fluttered its ignorance of his wishes to remain calm and he sipped some more juice only to realise it was gone from his previous embarrassment. Quickly rectifying that and taking a drink he glanced over at her from the rim of his glass.

It was the perfect opportunity. Once in a million opportunity to just go for it right there. Seeing that lovely shade of brown on her cheeks made everything so much more difficult. talking, eating, breathing. Squirming a bit uncomfortably in his chair he mumbled a tiny. "Whichever." Oh my what a wonderful painting she had on that wall facing directly away from her. Yes quite lovely.   

After a bit, once the pile of food had dwindled and she was feeling more full, she thought about what to come after.

"Would you like to do anything for dessert?" The Greek slid from her stool st start collecting empty dishes and her plate included. She had a full pantry of ingredients and a whole library of recipes on hand.

"I could make something if you like? What is your favorite dessert option?"

She ended up over by her sink, pulling a cutesy frilly apron from under her sink and slipping it on over her frumpy t-shirt.

She peeled off her old gloves as disposed of them, not needing any on for regular dish washing anyway.

Once they had eaten their fill she started cleaning up and he jumped up to help. He may have not helped cook anything, but he was not going to make her clean everything herself. He insisted and it was clear he wasn't going to budge on the matter.

She started talking about dessert and he flushed. "Oh.. for once I think I am quite full. You really don't have too." No need to let her on what a sweet tooth he had just yet. There had to be some mystery in a... whatever the stars above this was turning out to be.

The apron made him chuckle softly and silently thought she looked good in anything.. mismatched as it was. He took up his station next to her and grabbed a clean towel so he could dry as she washed. "I can tell you really enjoy cooking it was all amazing." Conversation wasn't a strong point of his, but noone disliked a compliment right? Idly settling into a rhythm of drying as she washed and slowly learning where everything went.

Alright, so no dessert. Still, she was pleased she had at least been able to fill him up enough.

She was surprised and did attempt to argue over him helping since he was her guest and all, but relented yes when he wouldn't budge. They ended up side by side again, much to the detriment of her heart.

She moodily washed the dishes, before carefully handing them to him in a way that endured they couldn't touch.

She probably should have put new gloves on...

The Greek scrubbed a few more before caution won over simplicity, and she paused to dig under the sink for her rubber dish gloves.

"Thank you..." She smiled slightly and attempted to scratch an itch on her nose, leaving a little blob of bubbles behind on her skin.

"I haven't enjoyed a meal this much in a long time."