While You Were Sleeping (India and Imhotep)

India had woken up the morning after she had met Imhotep and expected it to be some sort of dream, half wanting it to be real so that she wouldn't have to seriously question her sanity as to why she had decided to dream up something like that. Seeing him laying there next to her on the bed made a small smile of proudness creep onto her lips.

He had stayed with her in the bed, not moved to the chair or the floor or something. That must mean that he either, has a bad back and didn't want to have it play up -unlikely- or that he wanted to stay close to her and hold her as they both slept.

Unfortunately she had an early morning lecture, and seeing him sleeping so soundly, like he hadn't had the chance for so long, India didn't have the heart to wake the poor guy up. Rooting through a box of her exes stuff, she picked out a tshirt that looked like it might fit, and a pair of jeans. Shoes were the problem, so she borrowed her roomates, and left them in a pile for him to put on, with a note.

Now that her lecture was over, India was walking with her headphones in, thinking about whether Imhotep was still going to be at her flat or if...if he would have left. For some reason that was a big deal to her.

Sighing, India turned down the road to her flat, wondering if she should stop at the Starbucks for a coffee.

Imhotep had been sleeping and that was an odd sensation for him. When he had been resurrected the first and second time he knew that he didn't need sleep. It was an instinctive knowledge... just like it had been instinctive knowledge that he needed to sleep now that he was powerless. It was annoying to begin with but then he welcomed the rest of sleep without the demons of the underworld attacking him.

Holding someone close had been something he missed as well but didn't realise it until he was in the bed and wrapping his arms around India.

He woke up when she did, very much refreshed. Watching her get dressed and leave through mostly closed eyes, he got out of bed and assessed the clothes that she had left him along with the strange almost-sandles. Deciding to give it a go, he dressed himself in the clothes. They were... tight. They fitted well but they just felt tight when compared to his briefs and flowing robes. Deciding that he would follow her, Imhotep rushed from the home and found the streets empty of her for several hours.

How did he know that she wasn't there for at least three hours? He sat on the edge of the street until he saw her wandering down the street, passing right by him without noticing him.

Following her, he paused when he noticed that small sounds were coming from white things attached to her ears. He tapped her on the shoulder,

"Why do noisy plants live in your ears?"

India paused by Starbucks and she thought she had seen someone who looked like Imhotep out of the corner of her eye, but she had convinced herself that he would have been gone by the time that she had returned. She didn't even know why she had convinced herself of this seeing as he had told her he would be staying with her but...

Things like this never happened to her, these cool amazing adventurous things never happened to the Media Students in this world. They only happened to the Scientists, or the Archaeologists as we could see through Alex's and the other O'Connell's example. So, she thoroughly expected him to go off in search of someone more, interesting.

Gasping when she felt the tapping on her shoulder as she neared the coffee house, India turned swiftly and was both surprised and overjoyed to see it was her very own Mummy man. He hadn't left! Unable to stop her grin she took out her earphones.

"Noisy plants?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow "Imhotep you listen to music through these. See?" India grinned, placing the bud next to his ear so that he could hear the music coming from the earphones.

A little frown crossed her features as she asked; "Imhotep you weren't sitting outside waiting for me were you? Honestly did you not read the note I left you, I said I would be a while because I had a seminar to go to. Tsk." she smirked "Uh, you want to come with me for a drink? I was going to get a coffee."

Imhotep had to admit that her reaction seemed a little bit over the top. Or maybe it wasn't? Maybe those noisy thin white things in her ears made more noise than he thought and it was merely contained by her ears? He also noted how lovely her little expression of surprise and happiness was when she realised it was him.

Even when he was alive the most that accompanied the surprise was anger or some kind of fear, especially during his first and second resurrection,

"Yes those white things that you seem to have pulled from your ears." he told her, pointing to them before recoiling from the sounds that were much, much louder than he had been expecting. He clamped his hands over his ears, "I thought you said music?! Where are the soft lullabies and gentle strings of harps and chords? It hurt my ear..."

When she asked if he had been sitting outside waiting for her the whole time he looked away, unknowingly looking rather sheepish. When she mentioned the note he blinked a few times,

"I cannot read your language, only speak it." he admitted to her before nodding vigourously, "Yes please! I enjoyed coffee often in my own time."

India thought that the way he reacted to the music, reacted to most things really was cute, or rather, simply because he didn't know what to expect, were comical when he found out exactly what a new device or something did. The headphones might have been a little bit too much to spring on him but she really couldn't help herself.

Giggling softly she turned off the music and slipped her iPod back into her pocket.

"There is a lot I have to teach you I think." she smirked softly "And yes, this is music you know. There's a lot of different styles now not just that...pansy weak stuff that you seem to like." India teased, of course, it could be very beautiful music if you liked that kind of stuff, she had just never really seen the appeal.

Trying very hard to resist the urge to kiss his ear better, India merely decided to open the door of the coffee shop and gestured for Imhotep to enter in front of her. Deciding that the least she could do for making him wait was to buy him some coffee, he was lucky it was quite a warm day otherwise he would have gotten very cold very quickly.

"Oh..." she blushed, very embarrassed "I'm very sorry I just sort of assumed...you know that you could read it as well as speak it."

With a shy smile she gestured to the empty window seats; "Alright, I'll get you it. I'll be back in a minute."

After queuing up for her order, she received it promptly and she returned to Imhotep not too long after she had left him sitting in the window seat. It was weird...having coffee with a Mummy, she didn't even know if he could drink, apparently and obviously he could after their vodka game last night. The very memory made her blush.

"Here you go!" she laughed, handing him a plain filter coffee and milk.

Imhotep had to admit that she was right, there was much he didn't know about this world now that it had changed and he needed to learn more. After all, he had no powers so he was going to have to learn how to live in this new world just like a regular person and not like a regular person who was immortal, thirsted for control over the world and had super-human powers gifted to him as a part of being immortal and undead,

"Yes it would appear that the world has changed even more than I had once thought if such audible torture is considered music." he told her with a smirk to let her know that he was joking around with her before scoffing, "That music was played at live executions and gladiatorial combat. It is anything but weak."

Rubbing his ear a little bit in an attempt to soothe it's inner pain, he followed her towards the shop she had been standing outside. He entered in front of her with a nod of thanks before smelling the air in the coffee shop happily,

"It is of no importance, do not concern yourself with it." he assured her simply before smirking a little bit, "I am afraid not... but I shall pick it up easily if your spoken language is any indication."

Sitting down at the table she had suggested, he nodded to her when she said she would be right back. The chairs were... soft and leathery. They were surprisingly comfortable too and Imhotep bounced in his chair a little, enjoying the way it adjusted for him. It was nice! Not something he had before. Accepting the coffee with a smile, he smelt the coffee before pausing and looking at it in confusion,

"It smells like coffee but... it is light cream!" he told her, confused, "I believed coffee was black wasn't it?"

Indie scoffed right back at Imhotep when he insulted her music, if that was the case then he would hear it played all night as a form of audible torture until he learnt to like it. Smirking a little bit though, and deciding to leave it there, India picked up her own vanilla latte and took a deep happy sniff of it before sipping the liquid very happily.

Pouting a little bit when she heard that he thought their language was simple, she had to admit next to Egyptian he was probably damn right. She couldn't learn to draw in pictures if her life depended on it! But she had always admired the way they wrote, it was beautiful.

"I could always help you if you want." she smiled softly "I suppose you would feel a little bad going to a proper teacher, considering that most people here learn English when they're like... 3 years old." India teased softly.

When she heard that he wanted his coffee black, India gasped a little bit, she had only put a small amount of milk in the filter coffee but she had thought that he would have had his coffee this way. After all they had milk and coffee in Ancient Egypt so why not put the two together?!

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know you wanted it black! I can get another one if you want..." she pouted "I just put milk in it for you, that's how most people have it after all, I got some sugar too, if you wanted to add it. I thought the simpler the better where your concerned, mines a vanilla latte, you can have some if you like."

Imhotep noticed the evil little glint in her eyes even though she didn't appear to be aware that she was actually doing it. Of course the main reason he caught onto it was because he was rather used to spotting such a look in someone's eyes. He had seen it in his own reflection whether by mirror or by water after all. He watched her sip her drink, apparently dropping her little evil plan, for which he was very grateful.

He smirked a little bit when she thought he was insulting her language when in reality he was just commenting on the fact that he had a knack for languages that had yet to reach any type of barrier or stumbling block. He grinned a little bit,

"I think I would enjoy your tutoring as opposed to that of others." he agreed before scowling a little bit, "Oh I will NOT be subjected to that torture I swear to Osiris now..."

Looking at the coffee once he had heard her explanation as to what it was, he hummed a little bit before taking a little sip of it. He paused before smiling wider and taking a bigger sip of it, sighing contentedly,

"Ah! This is a vast improvement on coffee from my time!" he told her with a grin, "In my time it was harsh and bitter but this is smooth and sweet... I thank you. Perhaps I shall experiment with your beverage another time though, I have a surprise in this as it is my dear."

India couldn't help but giggle when he swore that he wouldn't want to be taught by the normal teachers, and, flipping her nerd glasses out of her bag she slipped them on and placed a rather serious expression on her features;

"Well you are getting a serious teacher here, there shall be no messing around in my class." she stated with an arched eyebrow "But yeah, I would not recommend getting a teacher, they seem to specialise in demeaning you as far as they can. Did you have many students when you were a High Priest, or, was that not your thing?"

The smile on his lips made Indie's heart flutter softly and she looked away, taking a sip of her drink once more, the memories of the vodka and the...well the rather nakedness last night were making her blush at the faintest thing.

"You know I like it when you smile." she stated with a shy smile herself, deciding that she would test the water with an honest to God compliment.

Suddenly, she heard the most...dreadful thing she could have ever heard. The squeal of Sammy and Jade. Entering the coffee shop. Coming towards her. Sending a rather startled look to Imhotep she turned her head with a supremely fake smile when the duo appeared next to their table fanning themselves with their computing textbooks.

"Indie!" they squeaked which made her flinch a little "It's been such a long time we've missed you! Been hanging out with your boyfriend and neglecting your friends, bad girl! But...that's not Gerard! Oh no you guys didn't break up did you?!? You must tell us everything!" Sammy exclaimed

"Yes everything! You guys were so perfect!" Jade agreed nodding their heads.

Placing a hand on her forehead Indie turned to Imhotep and sighed; "Imhotep this is Sammy, and Jade, they were in my computing seminar last year. Sammy, Jade, this is Imhotep."

When she said that he was going to be getting a serious teacher he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in amusement. But at the end of the day he really did hope that he got a strict teacher, that was the only type of teacher who actually worked in his opinion. It had been the kind of teaching method he had adopted for his young followers in the temple that was for sure,

"I had many students in my time and I agree with you that teaching should be done in a strict manner as opposed to the soft handed approach that many others go with." he told her with a smirk, "I'm sure you'll be harsh but fair."

She liked it when he smiled?

She liked it when he smiled.

Smiling at her softly, he nodded to her gratefully, "Thank you... I like your smile too. Makes your eyes sparkle a little bit."

Imhotep had thought that the worst thing in the world would be either India's music or the O'Connells but here was something worse than either of them and almost as bad as the underworld itself! Who were these strangely ugly looking people and why did they insist on speaking loudly and in a squeaky voice? He groaned a little bit,

"You are both very loud... and Gerard is a weak name, the name of a barbarian." he told the newcomers and India before raising an eyebrow slightly, "What... what is computing and why would you ever need it in the real world?"

India couldn't help but feel her heart speed up and she blushed brightly, ducking her head down to stare at the coffee cup she was holding. It made her feel special to know that someone like Imhotep liked the way that she had smiled. It was sweet of him to mention it, she didn't think that he was a big person to compliment, he seemed more of a physical being when he showed his affections.

"Well...well thank you." she whispered with that same shy smile on her lips, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she bit her lip.

It would have continued to be a sweet moment if it wasn't for those two idiots currently attacking them with their presence. Hearing Imhotep groan however sent a little shiver through her, that groan could have been amazing if in another context, but no, unfortunately it was not in another context. It was a groan of annoyance and she was tempted to give one herself.

"Hey...Indie your new boyfriend talks a bit strange." Jade whispered, but still loud enough for him to hear "And he's so OLD. What ever are you doing with him? Oh is he rich? He looks like he could be rich, maybe one of those new foreigners moving in for business. You'll have to Skype me."

As soon as Indie heard Imhotep say computing was useless in every day life, she knew that he was done for. Tammy and Jade both glared at him so forcefully she was surprised the floor beneath his feet didn't crack open. Honestly Tammy looked like she was going to smack him with the computing text book.

"Where have you been living for the past like 25 years? Under a rock?!" Tammy hissed "God your boyfriend is handsome but he's so dumb Indie, Gerard was so much better for you, we'll organise something for the two of you."

"No no no!" Indie groaned "I don't want anything goddamn organised for me and Gerard. Like never. In the worlds future."

Imhotep thought that the two of them were having a rather sweet and emotional moment and he was enjoying it a lot. After all, not too many people even tried to sympathise with him or seemed to even consider that he had a side of the argument himself. But here India seemed to be more than willing to help him and to be his cute little guide for the road ahead.

Of course the moment was ruined by the addition of the two ugly people who kept going on about 'computing' and some barbarian named Gerard.

He twitched a little bit when one of them said, loud enough for him to hear, that he spoke strangely. Strangely? He was from over five thousand years ago, it was understandable if nothing else! He gritted his teeth before she spoke to India about him being here on business. He reached into a pocket and dropped a gold ring on the table top,

"I deal in ancient artefacts, jewellery from Egypt especially." he told all three of them simply before putting the ring away, "And I am not old; you are just young and foolish."

He glared right back at them when they both glared at him. Of course when they suggested that she get back to Gerard a green emotion reared it's ugly head. Grunting in anger, he stood up. Picking both people up by the collars of their shirts, he carried them to the door of the coffee shop before throwing them across half the street into a nearby pond.

Breathing a sigh of relief, he offered a hand to India as the coffee shop manager screamed at him angrily,

"Shall we take our leave before others come for us?"

Indie blinked when she heard Imhotep giving back as good as he was given, to be honest it was a little hot. Whenever Gerard had done it, she had always quite secretly agreed that he was the things the other people were saying. Although it hadn't been a very good relationship, it hadn't been very long either and she thanked God, or the Gods for that fact.

The golden ring landing on the coffee table made her jump a little bit and she gingerly picked it up to examine it, it was really quite beautiful although quite obviously a mans ring and so miles too big for her but, Indie could enjoy looking at it while she listened in on what Imhotep was saying to the two annoyances.

Opening her mouth in sheer shock, when Imhotep picked the girls up and threw them out of the door into the ornamental pond, India gasped and shot up from the chair to look at the pond. They were struggling to get up out of it, but at least they weren't harmed, no broken bones or such things. So, she found it completely acceptable to laugh her ass off.

"Oh my God Imhotep that, that was awesome." she giggled, wiping the tears from her eyes "Of course I must slap your wrist for using powers but...wow, I've been wanting to do something like that to them for months and months now."

Without hesitation she took his hand and they walked rather swiftly out of the coffee shop, and continued to walk past the fountain rather swiftly so that they wouldn't be accosted by the girls as they went past them. Although they were too busy mourning over their technology to notice them really.

"Thanks." she whispered softly, as they slowed down a few streets away from the coffee house "For helping me out with those two. I really appreciated it." Indie admitted with that shy smile she seemed to wear almost permanently around Imhotep when they were alone like this "Oh, here, the ring you left."

Gently she opened his palm with her fingers and left the ring there, closing his fingers around it tenderly, just enjoying the feel of his rough skin against hers. The contrast too was surprisingly...exciting.

Imhotep felt good about what he had just done.

Oh he was aware that no one would really believe that he was that strong naturally. And he was also very aware that he might just get a lecture on using powers in a responsible way. However... seeing the two ugly women splashing around in the pond was more than worth it. Apparently their vaunted 'computing' was destroyed by water in small and large amounts.

In fact it seemed to have actually hurt them more when it had broken with the application of the water and that amused him to no end. When India said that she agreed it was awesome, but would have top slap him on the wrist, he grinned a little bit,

"Admit it... if you had powers you would have done the same thing." he teased her with a little wink before laughing a little bit, "Come on then, let us away so you can administer your punishment before you continue to laugh."

As they made their way into a street a little bit further away from the coffee shop he smiled when she thanked him for helping her out with the two. He kissed the back of her hand gently when she gave him the ring back. Moving his hand so that it covered hers, he slipped the ring onto a finger. With some concentration the ring shrank to fit her perfectly and he removed his hand to show her,

"A gift my dear." he told her with a small smile, "It is my pleasure and my joy to help you when it comes to putting such ugly barbarians in their places."

Indie couldn't say that Imhotep was wrong. If you had powers you just would use them to escape morons like that who decided to attack you with their horrible conversation skills and shrill voices. Although perhaps not in such an obvious manner. Indie doubted that anything serious would come of it however, those two weren't going to do anything, just glare at them silently until their tech returned.

"I have to agree with you I would have done the same thing." she smirked softly "Although I shall very much enjoy slapping you on the wrist all the same, after all I don't think I'll have much occasion to do it when you get your powers back."

Gently, she flicked his wrist and tutted; "Bad Immy. No using powers in front of people."

Her heart constricted a little bit when he placed the ring on her finger, and made it so that it fitted her ring size. He was...giving it to her? Indie looked up at Imhotep with wide eyes, he couldn't possibly give this to her! It was worth thousands and thousands of pounds! It was an artefact for others to enjoy in museums.

"You can't give this to me Imhotep it's worth so much I just...I can't just take it." Indie bit her lip but stroked the ring gently, it was making her so happy that he would give her something like this "I guess though, I would like it to remind me of our time together. So, maybe I will keep it if...if that's okay?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat and the tears in her eyes blinked away India grinned and gestured down the street; "Come on, let's take you shopping for some new clothes, you can't wear that all the time and James needs his shoes back tomorrow."