All of him

"You…are naked," she spluttered.

He hadn't worked out quite how true those words were going to be yet. He was pleased to see the effect he was having though. She wasn't completely immune then; stubborn but not immune.

He gave her a slow turn as a last attempt to try and sway her.

"Now you can't argue with that. Can you?"

He was expecting a look of lust not the look of horror on her face.

"Wha…?" she gestured falteringly at her back and he felt an unpleasantness somewhere in his chest. Of course, she would ask. They so rarely did he had almost forgotten. She was different though.

"What…happened…to…? My God."

How did she get under his defences like this?

"Well, yes, I suppose it is his fault."

"Who?"

"My father."

He had needed the pain to purge him. As each cut had severed the ties to his Father and Brothers, he had embraced it. He had made himself different from them, apart from them, so he could never – go – back. So that he couldn't even try.

"Your Dad did that to you?"

"No, no, no, that's where I cut my wings off." He could still remember what it felt like to be whole. Some nights he still dreamed of flying. The absence was still present. He could feel his veneer slipping the longer they talked.

"What?"

"Well, I didn't, Maze did. I told her to." He had tried to say it calmly, coolly…but missed. Even Maze had been silent while she sawed through his wings.

"No, seriously," Chloe reached out a hand to the scar, her fingers almost brushing it, running through feathers that had once been there, and it was suddenly vitally important that her skin did not touch him there.

He caught her wrist and held it away.

"Don't. Please." There was a tremor in his voice. How could she undo him like this? She made him remember everything that he missed; everything that he was not, and could never be again.

Her eyes were soft and sad for him, concerned, tender. He did not deserve it…this compassion.

"Okay," she barely whispered.

Something moved then, a frisson between them that connected them, bound them. So significant and intense that it scared him. Him. Scared. She was tilting towards him, captivated, and he was scared.

"I should get dressed otherwise we'll miss the party." He deflected, backed away…no, ran away. She seemed startled too, off balance, and all too willing to oblige as he hid in his room, quickly covering his nakedness, physical and otherwise, with his clothes and his persona.

Linda had spoken about him needing to see all of Chloe, weaknesses and all, to get over her. He hadn't considered what might happen if Chloe ever saw a glimpse of all of him.