Good Graces, Bad Influence //Azi//

[azrael murphy devlin]

Azi growled, rubbing her temples and staring at the floor, closing her eyes. She was so not going to stand here and argue about something like this. It was completely beyond her what to do or say and he was pretty much like a kicked puppy at the moment. She felt instantly guilty as she continued to rub at her temples, trying to think and be logical, move past the emotions and the headache as she stood there in the middle of the room. It wasn’t as if she could honestly go on about everything, there was a lot left unsaid. It made her laugh then, a bit dark.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Dean. You’d be better off with your housewife and happier too. I’m just not the kind of girl you want to be around, I’m not the person that your parents will like you to be around, nor am I someone that’s a good person. I’m just some fucked up kid trying to survive, alright? There is not a single damned quality about me that would make you happy in the long run. I’m sorry, but you’re just better off without someone like me in your life,” she said, finally looking at him quietly.

She was hard to read, but everything in her had just shut down, nothing that she wanted to say ever came out, instead it was this bullshit that kept everyone away. She sighed and started moving forward, intending to walk past him and leave, hoping that he’d forget about her and everything else.

[dean jackson starr]

And everything broke to chaos in Dean's mind. No, there was no way he was giving up. He took a step to the side, "So what?" He asked. "No, I don't know a lot about you, but I intend on learning. I do know that you're so not a housewife and I don't want a housewife anyways. We can have adventures together, just you and me. I don't need or want some that's perfect. And who are you to say you know what's best for me or what kind of person I need in my life? I don't know everything about you, but you sure as hell don't know everything about me!" The words tumbled out, but Dean fought back the tears.
The headache was really beginning to pound, but he last thing he wanted to do was break down like a pansy. He wondered if Piper could hear them from downstairs, but all he heard was silence. There wasn't the sound of coffee machines or stoves, but maybe that was just the headache or maybe it was too far away.
"Please Azi? Just give you and me a chance?"

[azrael murphy devlin]

It took her by surprise, the emotion behind the words and the single act of doing so. She stopped moving, settled down and just listened to him. She wasn’t angry, so there was no blinding sea of red clouding her or her judgment. She’d never been in a situation like she was now, never woken up next to someone who wanted her to stick around. The main reason she lived alone was simply because no one wanted to be around her. No one had ever wanted to get to know her, want to know her life story. In all actuality, no one really cared that much. They all assumed that she was a freak and a weirdo and part of her was. She liked her miserable little hovel, her lonely life. It was safe.

She simply turned to face him, to watch his actions. Words could only do so much, but she could tell he meant them, meant everything. Her head tilted back so she could actually look at him, despite the scant few inches separating their heights. She took a slight step forward, almost touching him, her clothed body against his. It was something she was testing, to see if he’d move or not. She remained quiet, thinking for once instead of opening her mouth and getting into trouble and creating an even deeper hole. She’d never once raised her voice, yelled, screamed, she kept it quiet and civil.

It was a moment before she looked away, tilting her face to the side and hiding behind the black ink of her hair, the strands sliding over her shoulder as they were free from restriction. She closed her eyes some and shoved her hands in her pockets. In all honesty, what was wrong with her? Why was she fighting so hard to remain separated? It wasn’t a fear, she couldn’t feel fear. It was physically impossible for her, but it was comfortable being able to live her life, do what she wanted when she wanted without someone looking over her shoulder. It wasn’t as if Dean would know her family, she’d do her best to keep everyone separate. Her family didn’t need to know and that was final. She finally opened her eyes, raising a hand up to push the hair out of her eyes, fingers running along the crown of her head as she paused there for a moment, strands moved out of her eyes.

“You get one chance,” she said, looking back up at him. Azrael had never before been with someone, she had very few close friends, all of which she could count on one hand. She nodded, looking up at him for a moment before she dropped her gaze and her hands, shoving them into her pockets again, quiet.

[dean jackson starr]

Dean stared at her for a moment, his blue eyes meeting her brown ones. It took a moment for her words to actually sink in, he wasn't used to being very convincing. Then again, the one other time he had begged someone to stay in his life, it was his sister who died on a hospital bed that night.

The moment passed and the only words he could choke out where "Thank you" before wrapping his arms around her.

Now to deal with the possible little issue at hand, the fact that his parents had decided to make an unexpected trip home. Why was that anyways? Mom and Dad's art tours usually had days off, but they usually only flew back home if there was something important, or if they sold a lot of artwork and needed more. Hopefully it was just that they needed more artwork from the studio that Mrs. Starr had downstairs. It was full to the brim with paintings, screen prints, and even the occasional sculpture. Or maybe someone heard that Piper was home. Piper wouldn't let anyone from Savannah visit her except for Dean, maybe an old friend, maybe.

[azrael murphy devlin]

The hug was startling and she wasn't quite sure how to respond to it. She stiffened at first before wrapping her arms loosely arouns his waist, leaning her forehead on his shoulder. She smiled faintly, chuckling a bit before shaking her head. "I think you need to get dressed. Y'know, for a redneck, you certaintly are emotional," she teased some, sighing. "Also your sister is probably downstairs and saw more of you than she ever wanted."

Azi sighed some, her lips barely brushing over his collarbone from where she'd spoken before pulling away from him, stepping back and looking past him, into the quiet and empty hallway, wondering where piper and the dogs were. The only people she came close to knowing were in the house and she was unaware of the impending doom that could he brought about by the return of the parents.

"Additionally, you probably have a killer hangover and should shower and eat something then take a painkiller. You look ready to cry," she teased, reaching up to run her fingers through his hairs.

[dean jackson starr]

"Trust me, you don't want to hear the stories of when she brought guys home..." Dean said with a face. He looked around the room; it was a little bit on the messy chaotic side of things. "Where'd she put the hangover pills anyways? My head hurts..."

A chorus of barking followed shortly by a doorbell brought his attention to what was going on downstairs. He froze for just a second "Don't worry, mom and dad don't have a car at the airport, Piper would have to go get them." Dean said after a moment.

"Hush guys!" Piper's voice floated from the first floor before the door was opened. Dean could only hear a few muffled words, but it started with "Hey Tom!" It was so not the time for this.

[azrael murphy devlin]

Azrael arched an eyebrow and gave him a flat look. She sighed and stepped away from him, carefully moving around him and grabbing the box of pills and a water bottle before handing both to him. One thing at a time, was all she thought before pausing at the doorbell and barking. She honestly didn’t think too much of it before she caught sight of Dean’s expression. That made her laugh a bit, shaking her head. “Tell me again what I’m supposed to be afraid of? I really can’t understand the concept of being afraid,” she muttered as she turned towards the now open door.

“Pants and then come on,” she said before disappearing out of the room, heading down the stairs, moving silently on her bare feet, forgoing her boots for the time being. She wasn’t concerned about Dean’s parents being home, that was something that she could avoid for the time being and she wasn’t overly fond of the ‘Tom’ from last night, especially if this was the same one. Her feet made no noise as she descended the stairs, silent as a cat and she made no noise or movement either. Dean would take care of that. Her feet hit the floor on the downstairs level as she stayed back, not yet seen.

[dean jackson starr]

Dean barely said "Thanks" before he downed a few pills and a gulp of water. The fact that Tom was around had his guard up, what would the guy be doing around the house anyways? He sighed and pulled on a pair of jeans before heading downstairs.

Tom was sitting at the island bar-style counter in the kitchen sipping from a cup of coffee while Piper was pouring water into a vase with a huge colorful bouquet of flowers sat on the table. "See Dean, it was all just a misunderstanding last night, Tom even brought flowers. Now you two boys kiss and make up already." She said without even turning around, she heard Dean's heavy footsteps.

Dean rolled his eyes, he was so not about to apologize. He glared at Tom for a second, but the headache was fogging up his mind a bit.

"You look like you have one hell of a hangover," Tom said with a smirk.
"Shut up." Dean muttered as he grabbed two cups out of the drawer and walked over to the coffee machine.

"Dean, be nice!" Piper was putting the flowers into the vase. "He's just over to say hi, it's been a while since..." Piper trailed off. Okay, maybe Tom tried to cheat on her before she left him( or as far as she knew it was a try), but he couldn't be all that bad could he? And he was being so nice too. But Piper was promising herself to not let anything crazy happen.

"And sorry about Chloe being a bit... dramatic... we're not actually together or anything..." Tom said.
"Yeah, as usual, you just need some pretty girl on your arm wherever you go right?" Dean said, back turned to Tom and towards the coffee machine. "And you'll do whatever it takes to get one too won't you?" he added under his breath.

[azrael murphy devlin]

Dark eyes watched the scene as she leaned casually on the doorframe. She hadn't uttered a word at all since appearing downstairs, silently observing. There was no way she trusted this guy, especially with that uneasy feeling in her gut. Azi hadn't readily shown how drunk she was when she pulled Dean away, and as a result she doubted she'd get away with anything.

Fingers toyed with an unlit cigarette as she watched the interactions, wondering exactly what had happened in the past, then deciding she didn't really need to know. In all honesty, how likely was is that she and Dean would last dating? He'd get rid of her as soon as he found out what she was really like.

Shrugging a shoulder again, she placed the unlit cigarette between her lips and began working her fingers through her hair, coaxing it into some semblance of order. It would be a while, that she knew, but it occupied her enough to not get involved.

[dean jackson starr]

Piper glared at Dean for a second, hoping Tom didn't hear it. She sighed, that's what she got for having an overprotective brother, but he was her best friend too. Tom was partially right though, Piper did run away from the upper class of Savannah, Georgia. All the aristocrats and rich families were something she wanted to get away from, either way most of it was all a facade.

"Want any sugar or cream in your coffee Azi?" Dean called from the kitchen as he dumped a few spoonfuls into his coffee. He figured she wouldn't want to hang around Tom too much, the last thing that needed to happen would be a fight in the kitchen; too much expensive glassware would end up broken to hide from his mother.

"Azi?" Tom asked, "Sorry, I didn't know you had company over, well then again, when do the Starrs not have company over? This place used to be party central before you ran out of town."
"Dean's girlfriend, well kinda... sorta... it's complicated I guess." Piper said as she pulled out some eggs, milk, bread, and strawberries to make french toast with.

[azrael murphy devlin]

For as tall as she was and as muscular as she was, when she didn't want to make a damned sound, she didnt. And in the few moments no one had paid attention,, she managed to slip behind Tom. It was a casual stance at first glance, her cigarette tucked behind an ear, arms loose and she leaned on the wall. She watched him, her gaze shifting once to give Piper a look that was far from friendly.

She finally spoke up, moving to stand behind Tom. "No. I don't use either. Creamer sometimes has animal by products and I'm vegetarian," she said, her voice neutral.

She smiled then, the kind of look that's something like what a shark has once its has zeroed in on prey. Tom was pushing all the wrong buttons and Azi wasn't one to hold her temper in check. Her family could attest to that, she learned it from her father. Running down the side of her scalp, hidden under her hair, she had a jagged scar that could be felt from where her father busted a bottle over her heard. In retaliation, Azi put him through the glass door. So Tom was nothing to her. "And you can call me Azrael," she said.

[dean jackson starr]

Tom jumped in surprise at the sudden sound and whirled around. He stared for just a second before remembering to breathe. "Nice to meet you, Azrael, I'm Tom." He offered, a little intimidated by the towering woman but determined to hold his ground. He offered his hand out to shake, not really knowing what else to do in a situation like that.

Piper gave the entire kitchen, dogs under the table included, a "let's all be civil shall we?" glare. Even Scotch could feel it and had stopped pawing at Tom's legs. Then she turned back to the mixing bowl and checked the bread soaking in the mixture. "Do you like stuffed french toast Azi? If you want something else, just help yourself to anything. Mom's lactose intolerant so there's a bunch of soy stuff around here." She said just as casually as she could've as if they were all a happy bunch of friends. Piper's favorite method of avoiding awkward tension was to simply ignore it.

"Black coffee it is then!" Dean said, trying to not look directly at Piper or Tom and moving towards Azi. He balanced both cups of coffee pretty well, even if it did look a little wobbly. Charlie batted at his hair from his little perch on top of the refrigerator as Dean walked past.

[azrael murphy devlin]

A hand wasn’t offered in return as Azrael crossed her arms over her chest. Dark eyes gave nothing away as she looked at him, an eyebrow arched. “I know. I’ve heard,” she said as she watched him. She shifted on her stance as she looked at Piper, nothing given away. She wasn’t exactly thrilled with Tom showing up and her hangover headache was killing her at the moment. She stepped back some, dismissing Tom and smiling thinly at Piper.

“I usually don’t eat in the morning, but thanks,” she said as she accepted the coffee and smiled a bit more warmly at Dean. It wasn’t much, but she wasn’t really thrilled with the situation. Charlie brought a light chuckle from her as she sipped the coffee, watching the group as she leaned against the wall, casual and not moving as she watched Tom, her hair draped over her shoulder. She didn’t move as she sipped the coffee, idly patting the dogs as they milled around the kitchen.

It wasn’t really something that Azrael didn’t want to do, nor had she ever planned on doing anything even remotely like this in her life. The dark haired Scotch-Irish woman was more than happy to simply drink her coffee and relax, nursing the hangover she had brewing at the back of her mind. She reached up, rubbing her temples and groaned softly, sipping the coffee and watching the Starrs interact in their home town and with someone on their own level.

[dean jackson starr]

Tom was a bit taken aback and lost his normal smoothness. He was a bit stiff now and keeping his manners. Piper would kill him if Dean or this lady didn't do it first. He awkwardly moved his hand back to where it was on the table. "Food smells great Pie" he commented to keep the awkward silence away. Really he just wanted to come by to do some digging on what Piper was up to. Everyone in their social circle wanted to know.

"Aspirin's in the top drawer next to the fridge you two." Piper said, holding back a laugh or some sort of comment. Dean usually wasn't one to be walking around the kitchen with a hangover. That was more of her department, and she used to be terrible to deal with when she was hungover. The french toast was sizzling, it was probably one of the few things she actually knew how to cook. Dean eyed the skillet wearily, ready to run for the fire extinguisher if he needed to.

"If that cat jumps on the top of my head he's going to be dog food..." Dean muttered under his breath as Charlie too another swipe at him.

[azrael murphy devlin]

Azrael looked at Dean, arching an eyebrow. "Common sense dictates that you move," she said dryly, royally ignoring Tom now. He reminded her too much of her father, and that was going to put things downhill faster than that roadrunner in the cartoon. She shrugged a shoulder, smiling a Piper a bit.

"I think your brother needs it more. I'll step outside for a moment," she said conversationally, as if nothing were wrong. She gently placed the cup down next to Tom, as if they were friends. Azi clucked her tongue before stepping by Dean, reaching up and scratching Charlie's ears before turning and heading outside.

Once out, she'd let some of the dogs out that had followed, she leaned against her truck, lighting up one of her coffin nails and taking note of Tom's car. If that ever showed up back home, the kid would be run out of town. Azrael grumbled some, running a hand down her face and exhaling the smoke as she watched the dogs run around.

She'd smoke a few then go back inside, her headache disappearing rapidly as the nicotine coursed through her body. Addictions sucked, but she dealt with it, and this was usually the first step she took in the morning.