South Attic, Monday Evening

[demonbelthazor]

After his conversation with Veronica in the stairwell, Bel eventually made his way up to the attic. He sank wearily down on the couch, his face in his hands. This day couldn't get worse, could it?

[ooc: locked to Phoebe, specific details of their conversation are nfb.]

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[demonbelthazor]

"I don't not trust you," Cole said. "That's not what it is, sweetheart."

[sensethevisions]

"Then what is it?"

She didn't look at him, just kept her eyes focused on the floor.

"You keep shutting me out... I know that things are going on with you because I can feel it. Yet, you shut me out while talking to others about it."

[demonbelthazor]

He struggled to find the right words. "I don't mean to shut you out," he said. "I just...I just don't want to hurt you. Or disappoint you."

[sensethevisions]

At this, Phoebe raised her eyes to look at him.

"It hurts when you shut me out," she said quietly. "And you don't need to worry about disappointing me. You can't."

[demonbelthazor]

"Yes, I can," Cole said. "Trust me."

[sensethevisions]

"I worry about letting you down and causing you to resent me," she confessed. "But shutting each other out won't help that. What makes you think I'll be disappointed in you?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Because I'm not the man you want me to be," Cole said.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe blinked.

"What?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm still a demon," he said quietly.

[sensethevisions]

"And?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I have certain needs and instincts that won't change," he admitted.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe just looked at him for a long moment.

"You think I want you to change who you are? I don't!"

[demonbelthazor]

"Yes, you do," he said, shaking his head. "You don't want me to be a killer, do you?"

[sensethevisions]

"You're not a killer, Cole. Demon yes, killer no."

[demonbelthazor]

"Yes, I am!" Cole exclaimed. "You don't know how many people I've killed."