It had been easier than she thought. Though she was a little sore, and there had been a little blood, the euphoric feeling that kept her floating was worth it. Lightly she caressed Edward's bicep, while he remained asleep next to her. He had performed beautifully, leaving her in awe at his tenderness.

A sudden thought left her both grinning and blushing intensely. I have a lover now! She had never imagined that she could say that, nor have the satisfaction that it had been her carnival barker. This sent her giggling into her pillow. Next to her, Eddie sighed in his sleep, and turned onto his stomach. Her giggling stopped when she saw the damage she had inflicted.

"My poor Edward," she whispered, softly kissing his injuries. Upon closer inspection, the scratches weren't as bad as they looked. Sighing with relief, she put an arm and leg over him, resting her head on his back. The beat of his heart soon sent her back to sleep.

~ ~ ~

Dee took only a short nap. As soon as she woke once more, she ran a hand through Eddie's hair, kissing the back of his neck, and hurrying out of bed. Knowing that he would be hungry when he finally woke, she fixed him a peanut butter sandwich and filled a thermal carafe with coffee. Placing those next to the bed, she ate her own sandwich and went to her room for a bath so she didn't disturb him.

As for Edward, he was plagued by his dreams. What had started as a pleasant replay of last night, quickly turned into nightmares. Dee lay underneath him as they began slowly. When he blinked, he found himself looking up at a woman he had worked with in the past. She took pleasure from him, and then, as soon as he had come, she hopped off and grabbed up his wallet, taking all of his money. He was left feeling empty and unsatisfied, knowing she had sex with him simply to lull him. It wasn't done because she cared for him; it was a job. And no matter how many times he told himself otherwise, those experiences always ended the same way.

Sex had never been what it had been with her last night. Usually he was told what to do and when. The women had been insistent that he not touch them unless they allowed him to. It had always been like servant and slave. He hated that. But Dee... Dee encouraged touching, encouraged his partaking of the act. She had gone as far as asking him to do certain things; yet at the same time, asking him what he wanted from her and what he liked. Participatory sex was quite satisfying, he had decided.

Twice he awoke, expecting to find Dee gone. Each time he found her next to him, snuggled quite close. Both times he pinched himself, hard, to make certain he wasn't just dreaming still. While he had enjoyed himself in the end, and had felt satisfied for once, he did not enjoy finding her blood on himself and the sheets. She had assured him that she was fine, cuddling into his arms and thanking him for making her first a pleasant experience.

She had to be lying. That couldn't have been good for her. You heard her gasping and felt her tensing up. You've got the easy part, Ed. No physical pain on your end your first time. He thought this as he began to wake for the third time. Face in the pillow, he felt next to him for Dee. Gone. Probably... Eddie paused as he turned and saw the sandwich and carafe on his nightstand. "Dee?"

There was no answer. Frowning, he got up, and stumbled into the bathroom. He looked a mess. His thick black hair stood out at all angles. There were deep creases in his face from the pillowcase, and he had red streaks down his chest from last night's starting kiss. Just where the tendon of his neck stood out, there was a mark left from Dee and her sucking kisses.

"Blah," he grimaced at the mirror, running a hand over the stubble on his chin. "Very attractive, Edward. Now you know why she left the bed."

"Actually, I wanted to soak in my tub so I didn't disturb you and tie up your bathroom."

Had she not shocked him still, he would've jumped when she wrapped her arms around him, kissing his shoulder as she hugged him. Turning around, he found himself blushing, as he stood naked before her. Dee simply smiled at him as she rose on her toes and kissed him. Running a hand through his hair, she trailed it down to his chin, his stubble ticklishly scratching her palm.

"I think you look good. I've never seen you this mussed without being bruised and beaten." She paused putting her hands on his chest. "You didn't eat your sandwich."

"I only just got up," he replied, feeling more comfortable as she leaned against him. He put his arms lightly around her. "I'm sorry about last night."

"Why? I'm not."

"You can stop being nice about it. I know you didn't enjoy it, and I know how it hurt you."

"Then you don't know much," Dee hissed softly as she stepped back. Her eyes glowed with irritation as she looked at him. "It hurt, yes. But not as much as I thought once we really started. The pain started to go away after a moment or two..." Her voice grew softer, as did her eyes. "Then it was wonderful. I've never felt like I did last night. I never knew I could feel like that. You made me feel beautiful for the first time in my life, Tiger. Thank you." She once more kissed him, this time slowly, tasting him, her kiss repeating her thanks.

Edward stood dumbfounded as she kissed him. She's too good for you! You know that now, don't you? Though she might be a killer, her heart is too pure for someone like you. She's as close to the embodiment of innocence you'll ever see in this business. You've been almost as emotionally crippled as the Bat. Your only true emotions up till her have been jealousy, anger, hatred, and spite. You don't have the capacity to love someone like her the way she deserves. The sandwich and coffee? You would never have considered leaving her a snack. She knows how you like your coffee. You don't even know how she likes her tea. It's those little things that make her so much better than you.

"Eddie? Eddie, don't go all silent like that. It troubles me." Dee cupped his face in her hands, looking up at him with wide, green, worry filled eyes. "What's going through your mind, Tiger? What has you in such a daze?"

"This isn't going to work."

She tilted her head and looked at him quizzically. "What isn't?"

"Us. You and me. It can't work," he said, surprised at the bitterness in his words. He took her hands off his face and pushed them to her sides. It was cold, pure, comprehension that flooded through him as he spoke.

It was as if she had been slapped in the face. Once more she stepped back and looked at him, this time with astonishment and disbelief.

"I can't be with you anymore, Dee." It was hard for him to say, but he said it.

Dee took a hold of his arm, finding her voice. "Y-you're leaving me? Why? What did I do wrong?! Tell me and I'll fix it! I'm sorry for whatever I've done! Give me a second chance! Please! Please, Eddie!" Begging. She had been reduced to begging a man. But he wasn't just any man! She was going to be sick. The panic made her feel like she had been punched in the stomach.

Don't look at her. Turning his head, he stared at the shower curtain. "I..." Deep breath. "It isn't about you. It's about me."

Brick wall. Baseball bat across the ribs. Kick to the small of the back. Plunge into black, icy waters. Her voice had no emotion when she spoke. "There's someone else then." Of course. Congratulations, Dee. He played you like a finely tuned piano, and you fell for it. He got what he wanted from you last night. Fighting back tears, she bit her lower lip until she could taste blood. "I was just another notch in your bedpost then. I understand. Special prize for getting me, huh? Conquer the virgin." Clearing her throat, she looked up at him, smiling through her tears. "She's lucky, whoever she is. Despite this, you really are a good guy. I know you are. I'll get my things and be out of here as soon as I can."

Before he could say a word, she walked out of the bathroom. He started to chase her, noticing only then that he was still naked. Snagging his robe, he pulled it on. "Dee! Wait! There is no one else! I just can't be with you anymore and I hope that one day you can forgive me."

Pausing at the door to his room, she now let her tears flow freely. "Then why, Eddie? Why are you ending this?"

Giving a shrug, he scrubbed a hand through his hair. "I thought it was obvious. I really wish I had seen it earlier... No. I wish I had admitted it to myself earlier."

"What, Eddie? Tell me the answer to this damn riddle!" she sobbed.

"You, Dee! You! I have to end this because you are too good for me! You cook for me, you're nice to me, give me a massage because you want to, you're affectionate to me without demanding any material thing in return... And damnit! I can take all the crimes I do in life, but to ruin someone like you is one injustice even I can't handle!"

The words settled into silence. For a moment Dee stood where, fists balled at her side, trembling with her building rage. She fought the urge to half shift and shred his robe, followed by shredding most of his skin off. Slowly, of course, as she laughed madly at the absurdity of his words.

"You. Selfish. Bastard!" Her first words barely sounded formed from a human mouth. "Who are you to decide something like that? Up until now, it's you who has been too good! You're far smarter than me - I sometimes feel that I can't string two words together when I'm around you. You've been an almost perfect gentleman to me. You're funny, witty, brilliant... And me? I'm just some backwater thug you happened to pick up one night. I'm a dime a dozen to your crowd." Pausing only long enough to draw a breath and wipe her hands across her eyes, she shot him a final glare. "You're right. I should have known earlier. You, Edward Nigma, are too good for me. I'm sorry I've wasted your time and mine. I'll go pack and be out of your way so you can find someone worthy of you."

And that was it. Faster than he could move, she spun and ran, slamming the door behind her as she went. Eddie collapsed to the floor, flopping onto his back. He stared at the ceiling above, uncertain if it was the floor, ceiling, or himself that was spinning from her verbal slap upside the head.

"Edward Nigma, you idiot. What have you done?"
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