cackles to himself. He sends back a picture of a very disgruntled Gilbird.

squints at it, and sends her a text. 'maybe you should stick to that make-up stuff. It suits you better than this look'

pauses, staring at the staircase. 'You left a thing with teeth in my room?"

swallows. He might...he might crash on the couch tonight. Or get West to do a sweep of his room >>;; 'You're a mean mean person. I want my cake back'

.... 'aha! Reverse psychology! How do you know I didn't do something to the cake?'

did buy it at a store. He frowns at his screen for a moment. "Gilbird, what do you think?" He chirps back, and Gilbert sends back 'So you should definitely eat it, right?' more reverse psychology? Kinda?

...doesn't know what to do. He didn't actually do anything to it. Should he try and make her think he did? Or give up? "Uh...West doesn't like cake." aha!

...lets's his head drop down onto the table. "Ow...Gilbird, I think I lost this one. She's too crafty." he sends back. "Fine, but I'm only caring for one food poisoning patient."

makes a small noise in the back of his throat. He sends a 'you suck' to Eliza, and then one to West 'I need you to do something for me.'

trying not to pout, and sends back '</3!!'

huffs. He's even gotten her favourite BT

...kicks at nothing. "Good! Enjoy it!"

...'I sent you a cake, how am I a jerk??' he's always a jerk though, he knows that much.

... 'I sent you a cake to..." to make fun of her. "Congratulate you! Now West has picked us both up from the police station."

'Nah uh!' it was meant to be...teasing, not mean. "Fine! No more cakes for you, jerk!'

huffs. "You said if I wasn't being a jerk, and I'm always a jerk which you know. So that was a trap of an offer!'

....'I'll be over in an hour" he patiently tells the dogs where he's going -they give him angry looks if he doesn't- packs up his shit, and heads out through the door.

eventually lets himself in...through the window. It was easier than breaking in through the front door.

scampers up, poking around until he sees her. "We meet again!" He's been watching a lot of movies lately >>;;

perks up "Ja! Please~" He heads into the kitchen for plates and cutlery -and maybe a beer-.

comes back with his arms full. "Caaake~"

grins, setting everything down. "You love it."

sticks his tongue out at her, holding his piece of cake close. "You love that too." He shoves a rather large piece in his mouth, moaning obscenely. Oh yes, good pick.

nods, too busy stuffing his face to give a proper answer. Sooo good.

eventually -regrettably - has to slow down. He squints at her, tilting his head to see what she's reading.

scrunches his nose at that. 'The hell are you reading those for?" His mouth is still a little full, but his language is mostly understandable.

pokes the cover. It's very typical, the shirtless guy with West's physique -he teases him whenever they walk past a book store- and the swooning woman. "That. That book. That thing you're holding in your hand _

_right now."

opens his mouth, and then just...shoves a piece of cake into it. He can't really say she's had quite an eventful love life herself, now can he? He actually likes being here and spending time with her, and _

_would rather not get kicked out. So he shrugs.

hums. "Okay." He can't really argue with that logic. "Are you stressed?"

pauses a little at that. "Hey, uh...I know you talk to West often and stuff. Can you just..." Geez. "He stresses a lot, and I can't always get him to take a break, so..."

nods. "We need...like, a team effort...and an Italy-free zone. I'm going to start taking on more of his paperwork and meetings and shit. They don't like me as much, but too bad."

sighs. "Me too, Eliza. Seriously, it's just..." He wants to pull at his hair. "We need to fix this before it gets bad. You guys should just...go out and stuff. Together. Have fun."

had no clue they spent those days together. He's more out of the loop than he thought...but at least they're okay. "Well that's good. I'll handle the work side of it."

opens his mouth to say...something, anything, and can't manage to get any words out. He nods, trying to smile for them...he's happy. He is, he told West to go for it, and he did. This was better. "I..uh. I'm_

_happy..for you guys. Good. Great. You two are amazing for each other...awesome even. Congrats." He should stop talking. He needed to just...stop talking.

shakes his head. "No, West deserves you, and you deserve West. If this is what he wants, and what you do...then what the hell am I going to do, huh? He...you...you both deserve each other. It's better this_

_way."

hugs her back, probably a little tighter than he should be. But fuck, a very very large selfish part of him just...wants her all to himself, despite West. But a bigger part knows he doesn't deserve her, and_

_that West does. "Just help me take care of him, okay?"

sighs slightly. "Danke." He presses a quick kiss to her temple, more out of old habit than anything, before pulling back. "I just worry about him, and with reason."

nods. "Ja, ja...team effort and all." Hell, if Roderich was around, he'd even get him to help. Pop by and take West's mind off of work, anything.

hums. "That's true. I know that West is all grown up, and he can take care of himself...but I still worry."

sighs. "Yea. But he'll be okay."

smiles a little. "If it were up to West, he'd take care of all the worries in the world."

her an amused look. "I thought you didn't hold grudges."

nods. "Right. Hatred. Didn't think you still hated anyone."

hums. "Well...whatever. Didn't say you weren't allowed to hate anyone." He sure as hell still hated Ivan with every fibre of his bring. "

her a look, more playful than anything. "I know you do. Seeing me rendered speechless must be awesome for you."

bats at her. "Kinda? Not very? Clearly I haven't been doing my job."

grins. "There we go."

shrugs happily. "Whatever, you like me anyways."

nudges her. "Lovably obnoxious."

blows a raspberry against her cheek. "Awesome!"

cackles. "Awesome!"

hums at that. "What's 'not an idiot'?"

....grins at her.

her his best innocent look.

perks up, and accepts the cake happily, shoving it into his mouth.

happy to be preoccupied, so long as it's with cake.

saves the last piece for her, and holds out the plate.

smiles a little at that. "You're welcome. See? I can be nice."

sticks his tongue out at her.

blinks, and averts his eyes to uh... check for more cake. It's weird, he still gets these urges to kiss her, but more than ever now...he can't. "I'm gonna go get another beer." He stands, and tries to_

_leave the room without looking like he's fleeing.

comes back with a beer for each of them, and a can of whipped cream. Perfect for cake. Also an excuse to take a little longer and collect himself.

grins a little at that. "Depends."

shrugs. "What's the magic...phrase?"

cackles. "I was hoping for a declaration of my awesome. But I'm in the mood for your snark, so~" He holds out a bottle for her.

plops down beside her. 'You're very welcome. I brought whipped cream too." He shakes the can, spraying the cream inside of his mouth. "mmmm"

shrugs. "It's better that way! I mean if you want some on your cake, I guess I can be persuaded to share~"

grins, spraying more into his mouth. Sooo good. "You're the best."

sprays a dollop onto her cheek. Keseseses

splutters at that, and sprays the whipped cream into her hair, and smears it all over her face.

laughs loudly, trying to avoid her fists. He thinks this is better than doing good, this is the fun that he misses.

kinda used to her beating the crap out of him. He coughs when she knees him, and drags her down into a tight bear hug. Now she can't lash out, and he can take time to breathe.

yelps when she hits her target, but still holds on. "Jesus fuck, woman. Is your head made of granite?"

hesitates. He lets her go...but first licks the cream from her cheek, and bolts behind the couch >3

peeks up. "Why...aren't I so gross?"

ducks. "Hey!"

grins cheekily at her. "You love my ass."

flops onto the couch as she gets up. "You dooo~" He sing-songs to her.

grins. "You totally dooo, don't deny it."

gets comfy on the couch, splaying out. "Bring me soooome~"