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[ it's not like kovacs would consider himself the friend-making type, and even now, about three months into his stay on this station, he wouldn't necessarily classify any of his relationships with the people on this station as "friends". though, if anyone were to perceive the way he spends his time, they'd probably think differently.
would he consider himself friends with the doctor? maybe. maybe not. it's definitely high tolerance. ]
You called me.
[ of course when clara snaps at him, he's going to point out the obvious, his own lips pursing out knowingly as she starts to walk away. he watches her, not even moving himself as she all too quickly turns back, his raised brow indicting he was already expecting it.
with her question, his lips quirk up into a helpless smile, sly as it is.
without a word, his eyes still on her, he takes slow steps to walk around to her side with the unbroken arm, his own hanging loose before almost subtly reaching out with splayed fingers, like a silent offer for her to take his hand. ]
I'll make sure you don't trip on the way.
would he consider himself friends with the doctor? maybe. maybe not. it's definitely high tolerance. ]
You called me.
[ of course when clara snaps at him, he's going to point out the obvious, his own lips pursing out knowingly as she starts to walk away. he watches her, not even moving himself as she all too quickly turns back, his raised brow indicting he was already expecting it.
with her question, his lips quirk up into a helpless smile, sly as it is.
without a word, his eyes still on her, he takes slow steps to walk around to her side with the unbroken arm, his own hanging loose before almost subtly reaching out with splayed fingers, like a silent offer for her to take his hand. ]
I'll make sure you don't trip on the way.
[She's seen him smile so many different ways, and right in that moment, she realizes that it'd be nice to get to hear him laugh too. This isn't the right time to be tossing around attempts at jokes or humor, so she files away the desire to pull up sometime later when they're in private.
He probably wouldn't want anyone else here to know he's capable of things like laughter.
Her smile is as tired as the look that's in her eyes, the exhaustion from the mission finally catching up to her. But there's warmth in her gaze as she looks up to him, her eyes meeting his. The fondness in her smile is evident as well, though if he can't see the affection there he's likely to feel it as she gingerly slips her good hand over to hold his.]
And I'll be sure to make it up to you later.
[In the event she does trip and he catches her, that is. Or maybe she's referring to making up for the fact she was just nonsensically cross. Who knows?]
He probably wouldn't want anyone else here to know he's capable of things like laughter.
Her smile is as tired as the look that's in her eyes, the exhaustion from the mission finally catching up to her. But there's warmth in her gaze as she looks up to him, her eyes meeting his. The fondness in her smile is evident as well, though if he can't see the affection there he's likely to feel it as she gingerly slips her good hand over to hold his.]
And I'll be sure to make it up to you later.
[In the event she does trip and he catches her, that is. Or maybe she's referring to making up for the fact she was just nonsensically cross. Who knows?]
[ it's typically hard to feel any real sense of relief in coming back; the station isn't home, and really, it's been a long time since kovacs had any place that he could refer to with that word. but there's something here in the way of reassured ease, when she accepts the offer of his hand to wrap her fingers around his like it's one last way of promising that she's here, that she's safe.
even if she still has that injury of hers to take care of. he can see that even more than that, she's exhausted, probably even more so than he is. despite all the sleeping done in that castle, there'd clearly been no chance for actual rest, considering the exertion that came from those dreams.
but the relief of his smile is there, huffing a faint hint of a chuckle to her promise, and he briefly brushes his thumb against her knuckles before coaxing her into a walk towards the infirmary. ]
All your other limbs intact? No damage to report elsewhere?
even if she still has that injury of hers to take care of. he can see that even more than that, she's exhausted, probably even more so than he is. despite all the sleeping done in that castle, there'd clearly been no chance for actual rest, considering the exertion that came from those dreams.
but the relief of his smile is there, huffing a faint hint of a chuckle to her promise, and he briefly brushes his thumb against her knuckles before coaxing her into a walk towards the infirmary. ]
All your other limbs intact? No damage to report elsewhere?
Takeshi, I'm fine.
[She insists, holding in a chuckle through her slight exasperation. It's almost amusing how he went from trying so hard to seem like a bad boy asshole to holding hands and showing her concern in public. It's always funny how these things work. Going from zero to completely consuming in no time flat. She wonders where the switch happened, whether it was the sex or something that fell into place sometime after.
There's also a realization that she's just said his name out loud. And while they're not exactly surrounded by people, the walls have ears here. And he definitely doesn't introduce himself by his first name to most people.]
You don't mind me calling you that, do you? Where someone else might hear, I mean. Is it a problem?
[She insists, holding in a chuckle through her slight exasperation. It's almost amusing how he went from trying so hard to seem like a bad boy asshole to holding hands and showing her concern in public. It's always funny how these things work. Going from zero to completely consuming in no time flat. She wonders where the switch happened, whether it was the sex or something that fell into place sometime after.
There's also a realization that she's just said his name out loud. And while they're not exactly surrounded by people, the walls have ears here. And he definitely doesn't introduce himself by his first name to most people.]
You don't mind me calling you that, do you? Where someone else might hear, I mean. Is it a problem?
[ he's hardly the type to make a scene with these smaller displays of affection, but he won't necessarily go out of his way to try to hide it either. at this point, he thinks he's made it fairly clear that he's not going to get too chummy with just anyone, still wearing a face that tends to snarl or look disinterested, so even if he's caught with his hand in clara's, he wouldn't necessarily expect someone to take that as a suggestion that he's all around friendly either.
then again, with how much time he's already spent with the group aboard this station, he knows he's not necessarily completely closed off to them either. it's obvious by now just how necessary it is for all of them to work together, and if he wants to make sure his deal come through, he knows he needs to play nice.
but then there's clara's question, which he has to take a moment to think about what she's asking. turning to her, he raises a brow, considering it for a moment before his lips purse, letting off a shrug from one shoulder as he looks ahead. ]
Don't see why it would be. It's my name. [ but technically more personal than kovacs is. he gets what she's asking. ] Where I come from, everything's ... gotten impersonal. Surnames just tend to run easier. It's clean. Formal. People don't call me Kovacs cause I make them. It's cause they're not interested in anything else and I usually don't care if are.
[ he looks back to her, shrugging again, though almost a little more modestly. ] Rei was the first to start using Tak. [ clara had seen her, in the dream. ] Later, when the Envoys became our family, they used it too. Just these days — not really a lot of people around to use it anymore.
[ considering he doesn't have any family anymore. he sighs, giving a soft squeeze to her fingers. ]
But you can use whatever name you want. Anytime, anywhere.
then again, with how much time he's already spent with the group aboard this station, he knows he's not necessarily completely closed off to them either. it's obvious by now just how necessary it is for all of them to work together, and if he wants to make sure his deal come through, he knows he needs to play nice.
but then there's clara's question, which he has to take a moment to think about what she's asking. turning to her, he raises a brow, considering it for a moment before his lips purse, letting off a shrug from one shoulder as he looks ahead. ]
Don't see why it would be. It's my name. [ but technically more personal than kovacs is. he gets what she's asking. ] Where I come from, everything's ... gotten impersonal. Surnames just tend to run easier. It's clean. Formal. People don't call me Kovacs cause I make them. It's cause they're not interested in anything else and I usually don't care if are.
[ he looks back to her, shrugging again, though almost a little more modestly. ] Rei was the first to start using Tak. [ clara had seen her, in the dream. ] Later, when the Envoys became our family, they used it too. Just these days — not really a lot of people around to use it anymore.
[ considering he doesn't have any family anymore. he sighs, giving a soft squeeze to her fingers. ]
But you can use whatever name you want. Anytime, anywhere.
[There's a give and a take when it comes to navigating figuring him out. Most times she thinks she has him pegged completely. Others, he surprises her. This is one of the times he gives her a bit of a surprise. Her eyebrow arches at the realization that basically everyone where he's from sucks.
More and more she understands exactly why he's as abrasive and rough around the edges as he can be. With her, he tries. Or maybe the softness he shows her just comes naturally. Her hand shifts in his, turning just enough that she can squeeze in return.
This conversation is good. It's keeping her mind off the pain she's feeling, and helps keep her grounded.]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
[She says in a way that sounds like trouble for him later, accompanied by a mischievous little glint in her eye that shines through the exhaustion. What sort of ridiculous names could she call him, she wonders?]
But just so we're in agreement, I'm laying claim to calling you Tak while we're here.
[Is she playing at being possessive to tease him? Or is she being serious? It's not likely she's going to let him know. The smile she's trying to turn her head away to hide is answer enough.]
More and more she understands exactly why he's as abrasive and rough around the edges as he can be. With her, he tries. Or maybe the softness he shows her just comes naturally. Her hand shifts in his, turning just enough that she can squeeze in return.
This conversation is good. It's keeping her mind off the pain she's feeling, and helps keep her grounded.]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind.
[She says in a way that sounds like trouble for him later, accompanied by a mischievous little glint in her eye that shines through the exhaustion. What sort of ridiculous names could she call him, she wonders?]
But just so we're in agreement, I'm laying claim to calling you Tak while we're here.
[Is she playing at being possessive to tease him? Or is she being serious? It's not likely she's going to let him know. The smile she's trying to turn her head away to hide is answer enough.]
[ talking about the elements of his past has never come easy to him; when it comes to explaining his world, about stacks and sleeves, about how he ended up in this body after an extended period in prison, that's all surface detail, easy to skim through, but when it comes to all that really mattered to him, it'd taken those dreams to really peel back the layers, putting a focus through a lens he'd been hesitant to peek through again.
and yet, clara had seen a portion of it, and with the way she'd held him through it, it makes it all just a little less terrifying to revisit, even if the pain continues to throb when he talks of it, of the envoys, of rei.
but when the pain strikes, she squeezes his fingers and she's warm, the feel of her hand easing him to breathe easier.
his eyes find hers with her tease, the weight lightening to where the smirk appears in his expression again. no one's been calling him tak while he's been here, even if some have already picked up on takeshi, but then, she's the only one he's even given the name too. ]
There's that bossy authoritative thing I like again. [ which there's definitely no way he'd come to regret admitting to it. ]
and yet, clara had seen a portion of it, and with the way she'd held him through it, it makes it all just a little less terrifying to revisit, even if the pain continues to throb when he talks of it, of the envoys, of rei.
but when the pain strikes, she squeezes his fingers and she's warm, the feel of her hand easing him to breathe easier.
his eyes find hers with her tease, the weight lightening to where the smirk appears in his expression again. no one's been calling him tak while he's been here, even if some have already picked up on takeshi, but then, she's the only one he's even given the name too. ]
There's that bossy authoritative thing I like again. [ which there's definitely no way he'd come to regret admitting to it. ]
In that case - [She pauses just long enough to use her hold on his hand to pull herself in closer to try and steal a kiss. It's harder now, since she can't use her other hand to tug him in to her. But she figures he'll realize what she's aiming for and bend down to make it easier on her.]
I insist you meet me in the shower later. No arguing, do as you're told.
[It's whispered as she pulls away, and she's proud of the fact she managed to get every single word out without blushing or laughing at herself.
They're just about at the infirmary now, which is exactly why she's just kissed him. Another quick peck to the lips has her reluctantly pulling away, backing up until she's closer to the infirmary's door than to him. She flips her good hand up in a little wave, fingers already missing the feel of his against hers. But she knows he'll be there for her later, and she's independent enough to not need to ask him to come with her inside. She can take care of this herself. ]
I insist you meet me in the shower later. No arguing, do as you're told.
[It's whispered as she pulls away, and she's proud of the fact she managed to get every single word out without blushing or laughing at herself.
They're just about at the infirmary now, which is exactly why she's just kissed him. Another quick peck to the lips has her reluctantly pulling away, backing up until she's closer to the infirmary's door than to him. She flips her good hand up in a little wave, fingers already missing the feel of his against hers. But she knows he'll be there for her later, and she's independent enough to not need to ask him to come with her inside. She can take care of this herself. ]
[ ........ ah. yeah, he'd definitely said that in the spur of the moment as a way to fend off daisy's suspicions, but he should have realized that clara would catch on to it. ]
She was getting on my case about it. Ears were everywhere. Figured it was better not to make a scene.
[ they may not be hiding it, but it's not like he wants to draw attention to it, either. ]
No, I don't think you have a scorecard.
She was getting on my case about it. Ears were everywhere. Figured it was better not to make a scene.
[ they may not be hiding it, but it's not like he wants to draw attention to it, either. ]
No, I don't think you have a scorecard.
[There's an audible sigh of relief. She had worried that he thought she really did think of him like that. And part of her knew that couldn't be the case, that he was just keeping things between them quiet. She appreciates that.]
Even if I did, it's not like I'd let you know about it now.
[Ha ha. That's her weak attempt at dry humor.]
I'm sorry for bringing attention to things.
Even if I did, it's not like I'd let you know about it now.
[Ha ha. That's her weak attempt at dry humor.]
I'm sorry for bringing attention to things.
As long as I'm winning.
[ as always, he can always play along with her humor. besides, maybe he does feel a little guilty in saying what he did even if he doesn't actually believe it to be true. ]
I'm ... sorry I said that about you. [ see? he's well capable at apologies. ] It doesn't actually bother me. If people know.
[ as always, he can always play along with her humor. besides, maybe he does feel a little guilty in saying what he did even if he doesn't actually believe it to be true. ]
I'm ... sorry I said that about you. [ see? he's well capable at apologies. ] It doesn't actually bother me. If people know.
[Oh no, she's doing the smiling thing again. This time though, she doesn't have to worry about hiding it.]
It wouldn't bother me either. If people knew. We just have to be careful about how the Doctor finds out.
[It hadn't gone well the last relationship she got into. Not that she's even sure that's what this is. Even though it 100% is.]
It wouldn't bother me either. If people knew. We just have to be careful about how the Doctor finds out.
[It hadn't gone well the last relationship she got into. Not that she's even sure that's what this is. Even though it 100% is.]
[ that's really the worrisome one, isn't it? and honestly the only one that's given him much thought. because as much as he knows the doctor cares about clara, he's not entirely sure what their take would be about someone who's sleeping with her.
though, considering all he's been through with them, he'd hope it wouldn't be instant disapproval. ]
Think they'd have a bad reaction?
though, considering all he's been through with them, he'd hope it wouldn't be instant disapproval. ]
Think they'd have a bad reaction?
[she takes a moment to replay through her mind the advice she had gotten from the Doctor back when Porridge had proposed to her. Then comes the Doctor's reaction to Danny.
Her smile grows tight and thin. This is fine.]
I'm not sure what to expect from either of them. But I know that their opinion wouldn't change what I want.
[She pauses, blurting out this next part before she can think better of it.]
Does that mean we're putting a label on things now?
Her smile grows tight and thin. This is fine.]
I'm not sure what to expect from either of them. But I know that their opinion wouldn't change what I want.
[She pauses, blurting out this next part before she can think better of it.]
Does that mean we're putting a label on things now?
[ that's the thing with the doctor. both of them. their unpredictable nature is so much so that even with his own envoy intuition, something that makes him a little more aware on how to predict reflexes and reactions based on detail, he's not really sure he could get a read on them.
but his attention defers from the doctor when she suddenly poses that other question, catching him off guard. ]
You ... want to put a label on it?
[ because the truth is, he doesn't know. he's never put a label on anything. and even here, he's ... well, considering the shakiness of the future, he's not sure what it means to even do that here. ]
but his attention defers from the doctor when she suddenly poses that other question, catching him off guard. ]
You ... want to put a label on it?
[ because the truth is, he doesn't know. he's never put a label on anything. and even here, he's ... well, considering the shakiness of the future, he's not sure what it means to even do that here. ]
[Maybe this is a conversation better had face to face. It feels like something better discussed close together. She's just...going to be trying to hunt his ass down now.]
Not everything needs a label.
[She points out her opinion on that, heading into the kitchen to see if he's in there raiding the booze. Nope. She keeps right on going.]
But when it comes to us, and what we feel? A label could feel nice.
[She can't bring herself to outright say yes, in case he rejects that idea. She's not sure she could take it, so she's being cautiously optimistic right now.]
Not everything needs a label.
[She points out her opinion on that, heading into the kitchen to see if he's in there raiding the booze. Nope. She keeps right on going.]
But when it comes to us, and what we feel? A label could feel nice.
[She can't bring herself to outright say yes, in case he rejects that idea. She's not sure she could take it, so she's being cautiously optimistic right now.]
[ he can suddenly see her seemingly on the move, his own self having just been sitting on his own in the sunlight room — or rather, the snow room, as of right now — settling quietly on one of the benches to enjoy a peaceful cigarette.
the ash burns at the tip of the stick though, his mind more occupied on what she's saying. ]
I just ... [ he doesn't want to say no, because it's not that he's outright refusing. but it's not exactly the kind of thing he's done before.
labels aren't just really a thing for him. particularly with the kind of relationships he's had. ]
Never really done it before.
the ash burns at the tip of the stick though, his mind more occupied on what she's saying. ]
I just ... [ he doesn't want to say no, because it's not that he's outright refusing. but it's not exactly the kind of thing he's done before.
labels aren't just really a thing for him. particularly with the kind of relationships he's had. ]
Never really done it before.
I figured that was the case. Which is why I don't have to have a label.
[She heads through the common area before making her way to the sunlight room to look around. It's not that hard to find him here, the cloud of cigarette smoke leading her right to him.
She's in one of her little dresses, not exactly meant for the artificial chill in the air. When she sits on the bench beside him, it's close enough she can feel some of his body heat to help keep her warm.
It's quiet here. Pretty romantic of a setting, too. Almost perfect for this conversation.]
What is it you want? You say you've never done this before. Do you even want to?
[She heads through the common area before making her way to the sunlight room to look around. It's not that hard to find him here, the cloud of cigarette smoke leading her right to him.
She's in one of her little dresses, not exactly meant for the artificial chill in the air. When she sits on the bench beside him, it's close enough she can feel some of his body heat to help keep her warm.
It's quiet here. Pretty romantic of a setting, too. Almost perfect for this conversation.]
What is it you want? You say you've never done this before. Do you even want to?
[ he sees her appear in the room, petite but standing out against the stark white of the snow. it isn't quite as cold as it could be, the lighter chill not quite matching the appearance of the weather, but seeing her in that dress almost makes him tempted to pull himself around her just to make sure she doesn't freeze to death anyway.
but he just watches her as she sits beside him, lowering his cigarette now to focus his attention to her at his side. ]
I want .... to be around you. [ for a man keen on bluntness, it comes out a bit more bashful than intended, lips pressing together almost awkwardly. it's things like this where his confidence tends to shake, mostly when the circumstances are complicated and he's not sure whether to push beyond the surface of what seems like what's allowed.
he thinks of making a deal for her sake, how trying to make sure she stays alive might ultimately mean not being with her. because that's inevitable, isn't it? he always has to let go eventually. he's always had to. how can he label something that he knows he'll need to give up sometime? ]
Right now, I don't ... need anything or anyone more than that. [ just you. ]
but he just watches her as she sits beside him, lowering his cigarette now to focus his attention to her at his side. ]
I want .... to be around you. [ for a man keen on bluntness, it comes out a bit more bashful than intended, lips pressing together almost awkwardly. it's things like this where his confidence tends to shake, mostly when the circumstances are complicated and he's not sure whether to push beyond the surface of what seems like what's allowed.
he thinks of making a deal for her sake, how trying to make sure she stays alive might ultimately mean not being with her. because that's inevitable, isn't it? he always has to let go eventually. he's always had to. how can he label something that he knows he'll need to give up sometime? ]
Right now, I don't ... need anything or anyone more than that. [ just you. ]
[She catches that anyone else, and it puts one of those ridiculously smitten smiles on her face. One that she tries to hide by ducking her head for a moment.
Rather than saying anything at first, she simply reaches over to rest her hand atop his.
She's come to accept the fact that she's going to leave this place and go back to face her death. She can do it on her own time, leaving her with a bittersweet sense of near-panic. She wants to protect the Doctor from having to experience her loss. She can keep him from having to completely betray his moral code because of her. It's selfish to want something like a lover or a relationship, cruel to even consider putting a label on something that has a set expiration date.
She's resigned herself to the fact that maybe she isn't meant to live. Maybe she doesn't deserve to.
But she can help him learn how to live again in her time here. Her thumb traces along the edge of his hand.]
And here I was starting to worry you were sick of being around me.
[Her head turns as she quietly chuckles at her awful attempt at humor. Dark eyes take in the look of him out here in the chilly snow, and she commits the sight to memory.]
Rather than saying anything at first, she simply reaches over to rest her hand atop his.
She's come to accept the fact that she's going to leave this place and go back to face her death. She can do it on her own time, leaving her with a bittersweet sense of near-panic. She wants to protect the Doctor from having to experience her loss. She can keep him from having to completely betray his moral code because of her. It's selfish to want something like a lover or a relationship, cruel to even consider putting a label on something that has a set expiration date.
She's resigned herself to the fact that maybe she isn't meant to live. Maybe she doesn't deserve to.
But she can help him learn how to live again in her time here. Her thumb traces along the edge of his hand.]
And here I was starting to worry you were sick of being around me.
[Her head turns as she quietly chuckles at her awful attempt at humor. Dark eyes take in the look of him out here in the chilly snow, and she commits the sight to memory.]
[ it's the most of a confession that he could give, for all the little that he understands what to do about any of this, with what they're doing, with what he's feeling for her, with how it's all ties in together with what they're doing in this place and what it's supposed to be mean outside of it. everything about this is shaky and uncertain, and the outcome of it all is too much of a mystery considering what they're all trying to bargain for.
but one thing he knows for sure is what he has now, in the soft slide of her fingers over his skin, in the way she ducks her head to hide a bigger smile that he knows is there.
a part of him wants to kiss her, to just kiss her without stopping, taste her lips until he can no longer breathe, but another part of him just wants to look at her like this, to memorize every piece of her, every twist of her smile, every soft glint of her eyes, store it all in his dhf so it never leaves his memory, even when he leaves this place. ]
Trust me. If I got sick of someone, you'd know.
[ it's not like he's one to hide it if someone were to really bother him, most of what he puts up with in terms of the station's company making it evident that he doesn't actually mind them as much as his responses might typically suggest.
with her hand on his, he uses that contact to carefully raise her hand up to hide face, lips gentle to a knuckle. ] I'm just ... glad you've stuck around me.
but one thing he knows for sure is what he has now, in the soft slide of her fingers over his skin, in the way she ducks her head to hide a bigger smile that he knows is there.
a part of him wants to kiss her, to just kiss her without stopping, taste her lips until he can no longer breathe, but another part of him just wants to look at her like this, to memorize every piece of her, every twist of her smile, every soft glint of her eyes, store it all in his dhf so it never leaves his memory, even when he leaves this place. ]
Trust me. If I got sick of someone, you'd know.
[ it's not like he's one to hide it if someone were to really bother him, most of what he puts up with in terms of the station's company making it evident that he doesn't actually mind them as much as his responses might typically suggest.
with her hand on his, he uses that contact to carefully raise her hand up to hide face, lips gentle to a knuckle. ] I'm just ... glad you've stuck around me.
[His words make her frown just a little. He's been nothing but good to her. Never been cruel, never been the asshole he claims to be. She knows this is new territory for him, and figures he just doesn't think he deserves to be happy.]
You've been nothing but good to me.
[She points out, eyebrow arching as she makes eye contact with him.]
Good for me, too. I can't say that about any of my other relationships.
[Maybe they haven't known each other for long. But he's managed to give her a tether, provide her with a touchstone to stay grounded with. Beyond that, he's given her hope. Despite their differences, they just fit. Everything feels simple and like it comes naturally with him. It almost feels too good to be true, particularly when she often thinks she doesn't deserve something like this.
But she doesn't want him to feel uncomfortable talking about this. It's with a fond smile that she looks back out to the scenery around him. There's a slight edge of urgency that wants her to lean in to kiss him, but she refrains for now. There's something about the simplicity of sitting here, holding hands and talking quietly that feels intimate in a new way. She does, however, keep their hands joined as she leans over to rest her head against his shoulder.]
You've been nothing but good to me.
[She points out, eyebrow arching as she makes eye contact with him.]
Good for me, too. I can't say that about any of my other relationships.
[Maybe they haven't known each other for long. But he's managed to give her a tether, provide her with a touchstone to stay grounded with. Beyond that, he's given her hope. Despite their differences, they just fit. Everything feels simple and like it comes naturally with him. It almost feels too good to be true, particularly when she often thinks she doesn't deserve something like this.
But she doesn't want him to feel uncomfortable talking about this. It's with a fond smile that she looks back out to the scenery around him. There's a slight edge of urgency that wants her to lean in to kiss him, but she refrains for now. There's something about the simplicity of sitting here, holding hands and talking quietly that feels intimate in a new way. She does, however, keep their hands joined as she leans over to rest her head against his shoulder.]
[ he wouldn't imagine himself as good for anybody, not in any way that's healthy, since most things with him tend to come with a brand of trouble attached, like a magnet for danger no matter what body he finds himself in. but despite his acknowledgement that she should stay away from him, he also feels inclined to want her close, to hope she finds reason to stick around him, and she does.
she gives him something to keep his thoughts on, someone to give him genuine reasons to smile especially with as little as he does it, and despite how different they are, he feels like there's more that connects them than doesn't, like for all that he's missing, she fills up the gaps.
with the lean of her head on his shoulder, he turns his head to look at her resting there, quiet for the moment that he simply watches her, a slight smile in the corner of his lips before he tilts his own head gently against hers, eyes turning to peer out to the snow in front of their as their hands entwine together in a warm laced hold. ]
Not what most people say about me. [ but he's not going to correct her, if only because he really wants it to be true. wants to believe he can be good for somebody. and if he could somehow keep her safe, then maybe that gives him a chance to be just that.
so finally, he adds, ] But I'll stick around, as long as you want me to.
she gives him something to keep his thoughts on, someone to give him genuine reasons to smile especially with as little as he does it, and despite how different they are, he feels like there's more that connects them than doesn't, like for all that he's missing, she fills up the gaps.
with the lean of her head on his shoulder, he turns his head to look at her resting there, quiet for the moment that he simply watches her, a slight smile in the corner of his lips before he tilts his own head gently against hers, eyes turning to peer out to the snow in front of their as their hands entwine together in a warm laced hold. ]
Not what most people say about me. [ but he's not going to correct her, if only because he really wants it to be true. wants to believe he can be good for somebody. and if he could somehow keep her safe, then maybe that gives him a chance to be just that.
so finally, he adds, ] But I'll stick around, as long as you want me to.
[She picks up on the fact that he doesn't correct her. And she isn't sure if it's because he desperately wants to believe it, or if he doesn't want to discount the way she feels. Saying something right after that feels like it cheapens the sentiment he's just put out in the open, so she allows things to slip into a comfortable silence for a while.
She watches the snow and tries to imagine a normal life together where they could go to the park and do something mundane like this. It wouldn't suit either of them, she quickly decides. They both deserve a happy life, but neither of them would be content just being idle. Even if that's exactly what's so nice about being here with him now.
They don't have to do anything. No words are needed. It's companionship at its most basic form. ]
Daisy's coming over for a bit tonight.
[She eventually speaks up, lifting her head off his shoulder. As warm as he is and as close as they're sitting, she's starting to get a bit of a chill just being still.]
Want me to come find you after we're done drinking and gossiping?
She watches the snow and tries to imagine a normal life together where they could go to the park and do something mundane like this. It wouldn't suit either of them, she quickly decides. They both deserve a happy life, but neither of them would be content just being idle. Even if that's exactly what's so nice about being here with him now.
They don't have to do anything. No words are needed. It's companionship at its most basic form. ]
Daisy's coming over for a bit tonight.
[She eventually speaks up, lifting her head off his shoulder. As warm as he is and as close as they're sitting, she's starting to get a bit of a chill just being still.]
Want me to come find you after we're done drinking and gossiping?
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