Thread: Robbery of the Heart (MrBurke x Risi)

MrBurke It was mid-afternoon the next day when the deliveryman arrived. He buzzed up, initially, and gave a friendly if fleeting smile with his greeting when he got to her door. The man was dark-skinned, roughly five-seven, clean-shaven with a baldhead. His hands were rough, and his boring brown uniform was damp in spots from sweat. It must have been hot out. Package for you. He said, holding out a sealed envelope, fearlessly stating the obvious. Sign? He was in a hurry, and vanished the moment she gave written consent. Thanks kindly, Ma'm. Have a nice day. Inside she would find a small bracelet, simple white gold engraved surface surrounded by a chain that locked into place. The shining surface of the sweet adornment read the word courage in loopy cursive. He'd also, apparently, sent a small dark blue cell phone, straight out of the box, with a single phone number programmed into it. The contact name read Robert. That's it. No letter, no card, just the bracelet and the phone. In truth, he was at the bus stop, again, watching the delivery truck rumble away, sipping his take-out coffee and flipping through useless information in today's paper, pretending to care about the sports section. Risi Tara opened the small envelope slowly, cautiously, but when she found what was inside she gasped. Grinning like a mad woman as she inspected the bracelet, she couldn't help but notice it was beautiful. She shook her head and giggled gently. The next item confused her though, A phone? she wondered as she put it in her lap and put the bracelet on her dainty wrist. Once her curiosity got the best of her, not but a few moments later, she combed through the phone, looking for some sort of reasoning. Then, she found the contact. Her lips pursed as she weighed her options. To call or not to call right away? He had bought her the bracelet, but after yesterday, she didn't need to seem more clingy. Tara heaved a sigh and decided that she would make herself something to eat, and then call him. Once she had finished making herself a 30-second microwave chocolate muffin, she snatched up the phone and hit the small green send button. Her heart fluttered slightly, hoping he would answer. MrBurke Hey. He said, glad to hear the ringing. When the deliveryman left and he didn't receive the call right away, his heart had sunk. Robert had not anticipated a lengthy wait, and if there's anything worse than sitting outside somebody's apartment waiting for a peek at them, it's knowing they have a phone with your number in it and waiting for a call. He literally breathed a sigh of relief when she called shortly after. Hey. He smiled wide, thinking himself quite the clever boy. So you got it. He smiled even wider, stretching in his seat. After reading to you, ah... Last night, there... I dunno. I wanted to stay topical - I heard that's important - and you didn't seem like you needed a brain. Plenty of heart, too, so I thought I'd save you a trip to the wizard. He wet his lips. Don't get me wrong, you have, ah, I mean, you're courageous... You're ruining this, Robert. I just wanted to show you I was thinking about you. Was this weird? Well, yes. Yes, it was extremely weird that he was effectively stalking her - no, literally stalking her, the hostage, and integrating himself into her personal life. But did he come off as weird? Whatever. Robert never knew what to do with women... He understood that they liked to believe he thought about them, he understood their affection for shiny things, and he understood that they detested evidence of his interest in adjacent women, but beyond that, he wasn't sure what to do. Buying things had become a bit of a reflex, something he promised himself he'd fall back on less but inevitably raced back to in times of stress. He wanted... He just wanted her to like him. Not since junior high had, he attempted to woo a female ignorant of his reputation. If she rejected him, it would be like every fear of inadequacy he had confirmed in an instant. Yes, these women only like your name, money and proximity to drugs and criminality. You are not as attractive as you think you are. People laugh at your name when you're not around. The same voice everybody had squawking at them day in and day out existed in his head too, regardless of size or standing in the community. So yes, there was tension, and he was eager, and hoped neither attribute showed in his voice or action. His mouth opened to add to what he'd said, but Robert, wisely, closed it again before anything slipped out. Risi She smiled, folding herself into the couch. Hi there. Listening to him stutter though his thoughts made her giggle. Well, thank you. I'm glad to know you're thinking about me. She paused, did that sound like when he thought about her she needed a piece of jewelry and technology. So where did you go last night? she asked, twirling her hair around her finger, watching the bracelet jingle around her wrist. Her cheeks were pink, blushing at his attention. Why am I so addicted to his attention? she wondered. He's tall, dark, and handsome. And, a complete sweetheart. Why wouldn't I be? she answered herself, rolling her eyes. She unfolded herself from the couch, pacing around her living room. Though she winced with each step, but it was a habit of hers when she was on the phone, especially when she was nervous. Her nightgown fluttered around her thighs, as she leaned against the cool window, pressing her forehead to the glass, smile still on her face. MrBurke Just home. He admitted. Robert could smell her conditioner, just then. The sound of her voice brought back the weight of her sad little head on his chest, put her silky hair between his fingers. He could hear the rain. Tara was such an incredibly sweet girl, and he felt the thrill of her approval and attention run down his long body. People shuffled off the bench he sat at, shaking his head distractedly at the bus driver, signaling him away. The huge truck of a vehicle swung its heavy metal doors closed and rumbled past. New people were approaching his seat. One of them was familiar. Charlie smiled, gave him a nod, hands stuffed in his pockets. His chest was broad, shoulders quite wide, and all of it was thick with muscle. Robert's huge body was tightly knit and had developed what his friends used to call farm strength, borne out of fully body activity, lifting and moving and carrying at his uncle's warehouse. It made him barrel-like, the way that gorillas just look impenetrable. Not Charlie. His was all gym workout, and it made for definition, tone, amateur body-building cut. Big in the chest and arms, small in the legs. Today he wore a grey tee with a faded Boston Celtics image ironed onto the front tucked into his tight-fitting designer jeans and new-looking brown work boots, a thin gold chain dancing around his neck to top it all off, roughly the same color as the dyed tips he gelled up over his natural dark color. His teeth were white, and his smile was broad. Predatory green eyes sparkled at Robert overtop of the wolfish expression... Charlie had taught Robert at a very young age that sometimes smiling is just another way of baring teeth. Hey. Said the smaller man, sitting down in a heap. Fucking dedicated motherfucker. Shaking his head, Charlie chuckled patronizingly. They both knew there was a reason why Robert got these assignments, and it was the same reason Charlie didn't. I can't believe you're still sitting out here. Robert held out his finger. So what are the chances of me seeing you later? His mouth curved into a knowing smile, exchanging a look with Charlie. Risi Tara heard the sounds of outside as she paused, trying to decide what to say. She thought she heard one talking to Robert, so she held her tongue until he spoke to her. His question made her giddy, jumping up and down clearly visible for him to see though her window, but she didn't make a sound on the phone. Rather, when she stopped jumping, wanting to kick herself for her feet hurting more now she answered with a vague, Hmmm, well. My schedule is pretty packed ya' know... A laugh, I guess I'll fit you in between Jeopardy and the new movie on TNT. Her cheeks were on fire to say the least, she felt excited. But then she wondered what they could do, even though her feet were feeling better, she wondered how long they would last. And if he had to carry her home, Tara would be so embarrassed. Generous. He grunted, and she could hear the smile on his face. So that gives me what, half an hour? Hour? His tongue clacked against the roof of his mouth. Sounds like dinner. Maybe if you like the food I can sit in on the movie. It wasn't a question, and Robert wasn't asking. This isn't to say that he was informing her the two of them would be sleeping together tonight more relaying his understanding of the situation, which reflected him in a positive light. Women enjoyed confidence that was his understanding, at least, and somebody as strong as Tara would not enjoy leading or teaching a man, particularly not at this stage in her recovery. They can't both be vulnerable. It had been Robert's experience throughout his manhood that while wilting or searching hopefully for signals, getting past second base was contra-indicated. You know, people like theaters it's nice to get out of the house, but then you're just sitting there. It doesn't make sense to me. I go to the movies with guys. I don't care what they have to say. We could rent something, if you like. Second dates mean romantic comedy, right? I'm fine giving you one or two of those, just until I get the hooks in. Charlie shook his head, grinning. Atta boy. The round muscles topping his biceps coiled when his arms raised, hands tucking behind his head, leaning back and stretching out his legs. Forgive me for cryin', Bobby. You're making me damn proud. A passerby looked up from his paper as Charlie called out to him, pointing a thumb at Robert. Taught him everything he knows! Sending a charming smile to the confused passerby, the walking man not missing a step. Charlie was one of those assholes that gets a kick out of yelling bizarre shit at strangers for the benefit of people he knows. MrBurke Will you can it? Robert covered the receiver, shaking his head, unable to wipe the cocky smirk off his face. It's hard not to feel that goofy rush of pleasure from hitting the nail on the head with a woman.