Locked Out (Martzel/Reese)

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

Martzel Jimenez

"He is, actually! His name is Damien Michaud. He is such a sweetheart...I'm sure he'd love to get to know you. I honestly can't wait to hear what he says about your work!" Reese said and her optimism made him smile. Of course he would keep an open mind with her friend, of course he would be polite, but in his experience, artists meeting other artists was like putting two rabid jackals in the same cage—they were defensive, territorial, and it ended in blood. But if he met this Damien, Martzel would be sure to be nice for the sake of the adorable woman who lived across the hall from him.

"Maybe you and him could see about setting a field trip to Louvre for his students?!" Martzel nodded thoughtfully. It could happen. As the curator, he did get a say in that sort of thing. He would see what he could do. "I'm sorry...getting ahead of myself. I'll definitely have to invite you the next time we have lunch together, though!"

“I would like that very much, but I don’t want to impose on your friend. How about you bring him to the Louvre and he and I can set up a trip time for his students?” Reese’s phone bean to ring and Martzel motioned to it. “Could be the locksmith…” he offered, not wanting her to leave, but hoping she got into her apartment safely.

[blueeyeddevil]

Reese Cordova

The more she thought about the more she realized it was surprisingly rare to find a man who was as kind as Martzel. He had invited a tantrum throwing stranger into his new home and had been nothing but sweet to her from the moment they'd met. She genuinely liked him and truly hoped that even when this was over that she would see him around often. She might have to see about tagging along with Damien on the field trip she suggested. She offered to invite Martzel the next time she and Damien hung out together.

“I would like that very much, but I don’t want to impose on your friend. How about you bring him to the Louvre and he and I can set up a trip time for his students?” he offered and a beaming grin lit her her face.

"Really?! That would be so wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I don't want to take advantage of how kind you're being though. Only if you're sure it won't be any trouble..."

Her phone began to go off and she glanced down to see the number she'd called for the locksmith a little earlier. “Could be the locksmith…” Martzel said. She giggled lightly and nodded.

A moment later she hung up with the locksmith, turning back to Martzel. "They are actually waiting on me to let me in now," she explained. "You've been so wonderful to let me stay here! I truly appreciate it," she said, reluctant leave. "Ummm...maybe I could buy you a drink or something sometime to say thank you?" A light blush colored her cheeks. She wasn't really use to doing the asking.

[Lets_Eat_Paste]

Martzel Jimenez

"Really?! That would be so wonderful!" Reese exclaimed. "I don't want to take advantage of how kind you're being though. Only if you're sure it won't be any trouble..."

“No trouble at all!” Martzel insisted happily. He had an abstract art exhibit coming up and a field trip was the perfect opportunity to advertise it. Plus, maybe this Damien man would let Reese tag along so he could see her again. Not that he couldn’t just walk across the hall and knock on her door…

Reese answered her ringing phone, spoke professionally for a moment, hung up and looked at Martzel laughingly. "They are actually waiting on me to let me in now.” And Martzel laughed guiltily. "You've been so wonderful to let me stay here! I truly appreciate it. Ummm...maybe I could buy you a drink or something sometime to say thank you?"

“A drink sounds wonderful.” He walked her to the door and let her into the hallway, watching her sling her enormous bag over her shoulder before turning to leave. “It was good to meet you, Reese. I look forward to being your neighbor.” He watched her leave and then quietly closed the door, silently chastising himself for not asking for her phone number.