Jamie Dornan - ENDINGS BEGINNINGS

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tw: nsfw, smoking includes: Shailene Woodley, Sebastian Stan 

Jamie Dornan - A PRIVATE WAR

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tw: smoking, war 

" so we're on the same page; go to bed. " he says just as simply, knowing she's far less likely to now he's said it, too. he would have preferred this interaction once he was finished, no witness to his throbbing thumb or lack of expertise with this kind of thing (or any kind of thing) but he figures it's also his fault for being louder than he expected to be. eva's initial conclusion to why jae has gone and found a bookshelf makes the comfy excuse for him to not own the fact he's done it for her, not the books nor the mess... which he certainly has noticed but he'd rather know she's comfortable enough to make it than a tidy and bare apartment with no eva at all. " well, you do make a mess. " neither confirming nor denying that's why but allowing her to take it as however she wants. if the mess was an issue, or more if it was anyone but her, jae would have no hesitations in stating so.

" if it's a copy then i've just been scammed. " jae states, humourless and quick at the sudden realisation that may be the case, that he's just funded that bastard old man's vacation on a fake. it's hard to be annoyed at the possibility when eva's gaze wanders over it so carefully, so interested in every inch of it like it's some kind of marvel. he'll look at her the very same. it's only at her reminder does he scoff. " this has nothing to do with you, " he lies, a shake of his head to dismiss it as his gaze returns to the stupid bookshelf, as if that'll help hide his secret from the woman he tells far too much to. " — other than you insulting my apartment anyway. " jae adds on as if that's why, like she'd convinced him to spruce up the décor a bit for his own sake rather than hers. but he knows as soon as she leaves that this bookshelf will have to go too. he watches in the corner of his vision as she comes closer to him, only returning his gaze to her fully as she reaches out. suddenly lost in two minds whether to allow his hand for inspection just for the feel of hers or to brush it off, refuse to present himself in such a way. " it's nothing, " the latter ultimately winning after his initial hesitation. " doesn't even hurt. " he lies again.

" so we're on the same page; go to bed. " he says just as simply, knowing she's far less likely to now he's said it, too. he would have preferred this interaction once he was finished, no witness to his throbbing thumb or lack of expertise with this kind of thing (or any kind of thing) but he figures it's also his fault for being louder than he expected to be. eva's initial conclusion to why jae has gone and found a bookshelf makes the comfy excuse for him to not own the fact he's done it for her, not the books nor the mess... which he certainly has noticed but he'd rather know she's comfortable enough to make it than a tidy and bare apartment with no eva at all. " well, you do make a mess. " neither confirming nor denying that's why but allowing her to take it as however she wants. if the mess was an issue, or more if it was anyone but her, jae would have no hesitations in stating so.

" if it's a copy then i've just been scammed. " jae states, humourless and quick at the sudden realisation that may be the case, that he's just funded that bastard old man's vacation on a fake. it's hard to be annoyed at the possibility when eva's gaze wanders over it so carefully, so interested in every inch of it like it's some kind of marvel. he'll look at her the very same. it's only at her reminder does he scoff. " this has nothing to do with you, " he lies, a shake of his head to dismiss it as his gaze returns to the stupid bookshelf, as if that'll help hide his secret from the woman he tells far too much to. " — other than you insulting my apartment anyway. " jae adds on as if that's why, like she'd convinced him to spruce up the décor a bit for his own sake rather than hers. but he knows as soon as she leaves that this bookshelf will have to go too. he watches in the corner of his vision as she comes closer to him, only returning his gaze to her fully as she reaches out. suddenly lost in two minds whether to allow his hand for inspection just for the feel of hers or to brush it off, refuse to present himself in such a way. " it's nothing, " the latter ultimately winning after his initial hesitation. " doesn't even hurt. " he lies again.

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ABBOTT ELEMENTARY

Fire (2x15)

@fallingwatcr​

eva called his apartment impersonal and stale— he didn't take it personally when this apartment was purely bought for function and not to impress cynical women with very specific taste. so he'd tried to find an actual antique, something old with life and character that is sure to look ridiculous against the minimalist aesthetic of everything else. he gets an early start most mornings, often awake before the sun has properly settled and today is no different, especially when the guy he's getting this bookcase from said this was the only time to pick it up... unless he wanted to wait three weeks for him to get back from his vacation. he paid for some guys to bring it up to the apartment as early as possible, but he's assembling it himself so eva won't know any better.

he's been trying to do it quietly for the worst part of forty minutes now, hoping to have it done and perfected by the time eva wakes up, but it’s not going to plan when there’s no ikea instruction book or any way to contact the guy who’s probably flying across the ocean.  " fuck, " he curses, hand throbbing in pain as he hammered against his skin instead of the wood. he grunts, biting at his hand to put some pressure on it to have a different kind of pain and distract from the stinging. he shakes out his hand once more when he notices eva’s presence in the living room. it startles him slightly, not expecting her. " what are you doing up ? " jae wonders, pretty sure she was still wandering about awake when he left for his morning run at four or whenever.  " have you even been to bed yet ? ” he’s not even acknowledging the fact he’s sat in the middle of the floor trying to assemble this stupid old bookcase, the thing that probably woke her if she was sleeping. 

fallingwatcr​:

– JAE INTRIGUES HER SO MUCH. the way that he can be guarded and clever one second, but walls so easily lowered by a pretty face – or at least lowered by hers, she thinks. maybe he just thinks too much of his own cleverness, but eva thinks there’s more to it than that. ” but, see, that was where you went wrong, “ she circles him, oxfords clicking on the wooden floors until she’s craning her neck a little to look up at him, ” you should never trust a hot, mysterious transfer student. you should’ve seen that coming. “ eva can’t help the slight smirk that tugs at the corners of her lips, just a little too happy to be settling into their back and forth again. ” but i guess i’ll pat myself on the back for having you fooled. i’d prefer to think that i tricked someone with intelligence. “ fingers play lightly with the lapel on his jacket, as if the action is idle, but as always, the tension between them is palatable and she’s more than happy to continue walking that line – even, occasionally, at her own expense. she has no idea if she’s putting herself in danger with this little song and dance with him, but he continues to be too inviting, too familiar to resist.

jae looks at her like he wants to know her, which is all that she’s ever really wanted in her life. it’s become increasingly harder to run from that.

eyebrows arch upward as he doubles back quickly, immediately giving way that he was trying to make her jealous more than anything else. he should know better – she’s not stupid enough to fall for that. maybe he’s played games like this with other conquests, but it’d take more than that to get her to fall into bed with him again. ” don’t take it personal, jae, i don’t trust anyone, “ she rolls her eyes, ” i think you have some idea what my life has been like at this point. “ the smallest inkling, at least, from whatever caledonia briefs gallagher academy sent out to its students – about the school that took in kids that desperately needed a home, offered them dreams in exchange for their loyalty and used them. eva’s aware how her desires were taken advantage of now, how her hunger for ambition was exploited and the home that she’d thought she’d found had never really wanted to house her at all. that has little to do with jae, of course, but it’s why that every second she’s in his apartment, she’ll have her guard up. even if the minimalist space is affectionately his, even if he’s looking over at her with a measure of vulnerability and adoration, offering her yet another home when she continues to desperately want one. can she even trust that again ? can she ever be comfortable anywhere ? not likely. ” but i do appreciate you. i’m sorry. i just have to be careful, i don’t … i have no idea who could be coming for me. “

fire dances in her eyes, a reflection of the past that she just left behind, the old home with the creaky floors, bookcases full of memories, stories that she could get lost in. jae’s place is like a clean slate, minimalist and clean, not a single cobweb in sight. she can almost see a flash of recognition in his eyes, the idea that he knows her, what she’d like. it occurs to her that maybe he does, to some extent, and she’s not sure whether to be touched or scared that he would pay attention to her. ” maybe someday, “ she offers, ” i’d love … “ to go to seoul, ” to see more of the world. everything i’ve known … it’s not enough. “ the admission is soft, voice slightly faraway. she wonders if he can feel it, her hunger for more, for more of everything, to be even more entrenched in all there is.

breath hitches slightly at his words, and god, that smirk of his again. she wishes that she didn’t know what his lips felt like, or his hands. crossing the line in their relationship at gallagher was never intentional, she was always flirting to hold his interest, but now that she has … it’s hard to wipe something like that from her mind, especially when he holds her gaze with such serious intention. she cannot compartmentalize it like she wants to, familiar desire racing through her veins, permeating her bloodstream. he’s so stupid for letting her come here, but she’s just as stupid for arriving. ” do what you want, “ eva rolls her eyes, turning away from him. tongue swipes across her teeth, amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips, ” don’t worry about me, i don’t get jealous. “

she’s lying, of course. eva is nothing if not jealous, she always has been, and she wants his obsession in the same way he has hers. but it’s not like she’s going to talk about that.

there must be something wrong with him to enjoy how she’ll call out his mistakes, flaunt how wrong and stupid he is to his face and he’s just smiling back at her. " maybe, but i'd like to think it was worth it. we had a good time. learnt a lot. " jae tilts his head down at her, smirk soft as his eyes fall across her features, meaning every word he says. jae thinks about eva with such fondness, reminisces with adoration every time he remembers their time at gallagher. he trusts himself to do it all again if he could, even the worst bits. overall, eva’s impact in his life has been a positive one. and he’d sleep with her again at any opportunity, so doing it all again would definitely be worth it.  “ well, in that case i'm basically illiterate, can't even tell the time. i'm the most easily fooled person there is. "  better than admitting to her getting the best of him even if she already know the truth. he’d never say it, would never admit with the correct words how much he likes her; how easily he fell for her tricks and her lies or her lips and her eyes. 

“ i know, and i get it... you don’t need to apologise.” and he’d never really ever get it completely but he gets it’s complicated and why it’s all a lot for her. “ but i'm with you, eva. okay ? if i can help then i will, no questions asked. well, possibly some but you don’t have to tell me. ” he explains with a little bit of a groan, ‘cause he’d rather know, he can’t promise he won’t be annoying and bug her in hope she’ll tell him something, but he hopes she’d tell him anything he needed to know so he’s fine with silence; fine with the knowledge that eva will always put herself first. and while he believes her, he also thinks she's already trusted him to some degree. even if it's not a constant honour that she's tied to him and instead as fleeting as it is rare. to even be here with him now, to have allowed him those kisses and the touches of that night, there has to be at least some part of eva that knows she can trust him. " are you scared ? " such words often leave his lips exclusively to tease, their only intent to mock and ridicule. for eva they’re soft. he wants to help her. jae would rather die than admit to most that he could fear anything, but eva has seen him terrified. she's watched him confused and lost, defeated and afraid; she knows him and he's trying to know her. properly this time with no fronts or hesitations. of course he still expects some, knows her walls are never as dropped as his, even when it’s just the two of them. 

jae’s always struggled with that want for more, the need for everything. eva says it so simply, so softly. he doesn’t want to let her down by ticking off the places he’s been to, how it never feels enough and that feeling never really goes away. then again, he’s not been everywhere, “ moving around a bit could be good. we’ll have a stint in south ameria, one in east asia... no one will ever find you. ” jae points out, and he’s sure they could do it quietly. he’s just finding excuses to keep her in his company, even if it’s not here. even if she’s not telling him anything, he’d know she was fine if she was still right there. 

 jae laughs softly, eyes not leaving her frame despite her back to him now. " okay. i'll just do what i want then. " he shrugs, holding his gaze on her for a moment to spot if she'll shift. the only one he wants to do is eva but clearly getting a second serving is going to be just as difficult as the first... maybe even more so. " that sounds like a lie. you’re definitely the jealous type. ” jae adds, mostly to get some kind of rise out of her, see how she’ll defend herself if she does. the idea of making eva jealous excites him, a grin on his lips as he wonders what it’d take, what he’d do, and what she’d do in admitting such a fact. he doubts she’d admit it at all, that he could have that kind of power.  

??? ???? ? cori & maire but idk what else w/@olivexwrites​

they’ve only just arrived that evening, got changed and came down to the casino. they’re gonna bump into whoever they need to when they do, so she’s not off the clock but she’s bored of the waiting game so cori’s trying to enjoy herself. she’s so excited to be in las vegas of all places for a job —everything is going on the company card OR handed to her willingly after falling for her gorgeous face. she’s in a subtle black slit-dress that droops loose across her frame; not leaving much to the imagination despite the unassuming knife strapped to her thigh. she wants people close, close enough she can stab them in the heart if the opportunity arose. or in the back. that’s just as fun. pulling the little handle that slot machines have i think, her eyes gleam with the glow of the game— she’s almost doubled her money already. “ there’s two guys over there, starring at us. ” it has nothing to do with the assignment but no one can say she’s not observant.  “ i bet we could get another round from them. ”   she grins, not yet looking at maire or the guys, still focussed on the game.

fallingwatcr​:

dailygodmod​.

whatever comfort steve hoped to find by returning to london is promptly crushed in the presence of someone he’d been prepared to leave in the past. the way the lilt of her voice makes him uneasy makes him wonder whether he’d really let it go at all. even the aspects of his life he’d thoroughly buried didn’t rise to his throat so easily. it burns and lingers like bile but this isn’t something he can swallow. 

“ i think we’re past the point of courtesy. ” his words leave him carefully and it takes him strenuous effort to hold her gaze. the lesson she had taught him only seems to come around after heartbreak. there are sides to a person where the light doesn’t reach, and those are the parts that make up a being. he’d been trained all his life to pay attention to the shadows, so how had she slipped past him? how had he let it get to a point where a torch had lit up all her sides, it had revealed his too? that, at the end of the day, no matter how much he tries to run from it, he would always choose his family. maybe that’s why he was trying to get to a place where his name wouldn’t reach him.

some as young as children, the words ring in his ears in the sound of president sutton’s voice. his first thought had been if the same applied to eva. if her extensive training had allowed her to assess that silence had been her best weapon. he wonders how much of her smile is a performance, a product of her training, or if taunts come naturally to her. 

it isn’t too late to turn around. a part of him considers it – to let her find solace in jae’s company. he thinks she might need it more than he does. for some reason, it doesn’t come easily to him. steve isn’t a man of pride, but it must be something of a similar nature to it that’s making him care about how that might look. the tension stored in his jaw is relieved momentarily as he lets out a soft exhale before he closes the door behind him. every step he takes entering the apartment feels inappropriate. 

the loaf of bread and coffee is placed on the table in front of the couch. “ help yourself, ” he says, picking up one of the coffees and picking off a piece of bread before taking a seat in the arm chair. ideally, he wouldn’t eat in front of her but he can feel his stomach rumbling. pretty sure she can hear it too.

– “AH,” A MATTER-OF-FACT SIGH SLIPS FROM HER LIPS, but she’s still visibly satisfied at his frustration. if she hadn’t known him any longer, she might have believed that was just the way his face looked – but she knows differently. she can remember clearly the peaceful expression when he’s lost in a piece of music, the gentle smile on his lips when people he cares about come up in conversation. she knows that steve has emotions, joyful ones, despite how his stoic demeanor might suggest otherwise. “ fine. no hellos then. ” though she has respect for the way his eyes remain on hers, that he doesn’t back down or look away with certain shame.

eva knows he doesn’t have any regrets – that much she can relate to.

it does hurt a little, the way he looks at her. eva doesn’t form bonds with people easily, it’s not often she meets someone that she takes a real and genuine liking to so quickly. with jae, it took months of interactions for her to warm to him, to reveal any genuine part of herself. with steve it had happened almost immediately, inadvertently revealing her passions and interests, opening up windows and doors to further conversations. for someone who spent her whole life unable to connect with people around her, having such an instant affinity for someone felt like magic. how was she supposed to treat the fact that it didn’t mean anything at all ?

maybe for steve, what he’d done had felt like loyalty. for eva, it had felt like a twisting knife.

she feels like it would be a sign of weakness to not take the offering, so she takes a piece of bread as well. if he’s going to eat, she is too, taking a seat across the room from him, sitting improperly, legs curled underneath her. always admonished for her manners as a child, she is full of acts of quiet rebellion as an adult. she pushes a curtain of dark hair away from her face and studies steve for a beat. she’s desperate to know the reason behind all of this – had jae known steve was coming and forgotten to mention it ? or was this visit more improptu ? was it normal for steve to show up casually without warning ? the fact that she’s caught steve by surprise likely means that jae hasn’t told anyone about her presence there, that her secret visit has genuinely been safe with him, and she feels a rush of warm affection at that.

“ so, how long do i have before you excuse yourself to make a phone call informing the government of my whereabouts ? shall i start packing my bags now ? ” she’s technically never unpacked, but whatever. she’s being dramatic. 

he’s not really one to sleep in, and he hasn’t, but he’s not really moved since he woke up either — instead reading up on the family group chat drama he ignored last night and wishing he’d participated. it’s only when he thinks he can smell fresh bread and coffee that he even considers moving; his gaze drifting over toward the door...  maybe eva stepped out earlier ? he’s told her time and time again not to, that he’d go out and get whatever she needs but... well, he’s not exactly trying to make her feel like a caged bird or anything; he wants her to want to stay. 

he’s gotten used to eva’s company and presence,  which wasn’t difficult to do considering he missed it, but he’s pretty sure she’s... comfortable, too. maybe even feels safe. happy, maybe. at least a bit content, he thinks. so of course he doesn’t bother putting a shirt on, shuffling out of his room with his far-too-expensive slippers, hands hidden in his silk pyjama pockets. “ did you order somethin’ ? ” he calls out,  a sniff as he exits. he’ll be a bit annoyed if so for not being consulted... he obviously knows where all the best places are. he wanders toward the kitchen before he realises she’s not there... his eyes follow toward the open door now closing, the statue of someone he’ll never not recognise immediately. 

“ steve ? ” suddenly he feels a bit bare. not because his chest is fully on display, but more because he really didn’t expect to see steve. he didn’t expect to have to explain yet another little secret he’d been harbouring, nor have to do it with eva front and center. “are you okay ? ” because, really, that’s the important thing to ask first. he feels a bit guilty if steve needs him and eva’s... well, here, but he’ll do whatever he needs to. 

NEW PLOTS OLD PLOTS COME GET UR PLOTS !!!!

HI I AM TRYIN TO GET MY SHIT TOGETHER + I MISS WRITING WITH EVERYONE <3

pls reply to dis if u wud like to plot absolutely anything with me and if u dnt i’ll assume u hate me 

ok bye !!

dailygodmod​:

the mention of poison has his eyes widening. the only traces of laughter that can be seen are nervous ones. it felt like it was too early to joke about that – landon and zane were still in prison, cyrus was still dead, obviously. but it worked. he’s momentarily stunned to silence until cori speaks again, and he comes to a halt, bending at the knees so he can swivel around to meet cori at her eye-level. “ whaaaaaaaaat? damn, cori, i’m sorry. ” he slips his arm out of hers and wraps it around her frame and pulls her closer into him. “ do you know why? ”

she thinks scott is better than most people. someone she trusts with everything because he would never hurt her, his moral compass is way better than hers, and he’s super good-looking. he’s just good, overall. “ i THINK — though i’m 99.9 percent certain — that vivian is having an affair. ” cori says with an all too unamused look to scott. “ either that or they’re in some kind of swingers thing. ” which she would accept, and prefer, but something doesn’t seem right. she feels like that’s something she’d just KNOW. “ maybe they’ll un-adopt me. i’ll be an orphan, scott. an O R P H A N ! ” she emphasises. she hasn’t been one of those for a while now, she’s not sure if it’s a vibe. “ — but maybe i’d be a cool one,  you know ? like, um... like that one from the movie orphan ? ”

fallingwatcr​:

– A SCOFF OF LAUGHTER ESCAPES EVA’S LIPS, there’s amusement in her eyes but not in her expression. she’s overcome with something unfamiliar, doesn’t know what to call the feeling and would have trouble describing it except for the way it washes over her like a gentle wave – she’s missed him, missed this. she’d been moving so fast up to this point that she hadn’t given herself a moment to feel such a thing, or, really, to feel anything at all – but god, she missed him. she’d never tell him that, though. “ oh, that can’t be true, ” she says, “ if you were always careful, you wouldn’t know me in the first place. ” though, privately, of course, she’s glad that he’s not careful when it counts, that he throws caution to the wind at certain impulses, softens at moments that she’d close herself off to. it’s not something she could ever admire about him, but she can be grateful for it, or even somewhat fond. “ i guess we’ll see how it goes now, but … i’ll warn you, i don’t plan on staying for that long. so, you know, don’t get used to having me around. ”

it sounds coy, but staying around could put him in danger as much as it puts her. she’s comforted by the knowledge that jae is capable, his past proves that as much as his prowess at gallagher, but she also knows what his ego is. she wouldn’t want to be around if it ever cost him. 

eva’s not fond of the narrative that she needs him, needs anyone, or needs saving of any kind. this shows on her face, sour expression giving the opposite effect of whatever he was aiming for with that diatribe. “ well, next time i’ll go somewhere else. i was under the impression that you offered if i ever wanted it, any time, but next time something sudden comes up, i’ll find someone who doesn’t need such advance notice, ” she retorts, tone dry and dripping with a measure of sarcasm. “ besides, i don’t trust the decisions you’d make if informed. ” or maybe she doesn’t want to know – after all, would he still choose her ? teeth sink into her lower lip a beat as he promises her safety – it’s not something she’s often offered, and it’s something she finds hard to believe he could guarantee. still, he looks so earnest in saying it. “ i’m here, aren’t i ? ” she finally says, giving in to the genuine smile working its way onto her lips in spite of her.

eyes widen in shock at his question, jaw going slack. she can’t believe that he just asked that. “ you’re joking, ” she says. “ it’s so impersonal, no turning of pages, no feeling of progress, it’s so … stale. you might as well buy all your furniture new instead of looking at antiques ! ” eva pauses to glance around the room, realizing that’s precisely what he’s done. she clears her throat, “ – well, i guess that make sense. ” lips press together a beat, never having to describe this aspect of her own preferences before to anyone. it’s not that it’s a secret, it’s just a conversation that isn’t layered with calculation. “ i just … i like things that have character. that have been places and had lives. ” it makes her feel like the world is something to be part of rather than to just watch. “ i don’t have a problem. i have a solution. ”

she reaches out to push his shoulder at his remark, eyes still on his room rather than his face, “ god, you’ve got a line for everything, don’t you ? ” she retorts. it is honestly impressive, in a sad sort of way. but again, it’s not the relentless pick-up lines that drew her to him, sure, he’s alluring, but it has nothing to do with the flirting or showboating. it’s what’s beyond the perception she first wrote off, the way that he looks at her that nearly betrays the words on his lips. he looks at her like he’s inviting, like he wants to show her more. and yes, she’s still curious. she tilts her head when she looks up at him, “ stop smirking at me like that and maybe we will, ” eva says, tugging lightly at his shirt, almost playful. “ but i told you, this visit is strictly business, so, if you need to have someone over to keep you, you know, amused … do that, i’ll stay out of your way. ” it’s not even that she doesn’t want him, just that someone has to attempt to exercise some self control – besides, she never wants to make things between them a given, something he could take for granted or even cast aside. 

" in my defence, you were supposed to be a hot, mysterious transfer student. “ he’ll pause. ”  i mean, you still were, but it wasn’t my fault you were a liar. " he’ll tut thrice, shaking his head like he has reason to shun her. of course it’s more the opposite. jae would let eva consume him, wants her to, wants to find out every little detail he can about her. every little quirk or tick, habits and hobbies. she’s never the girl he thinks she is. and even now, while he thinks he knows everything, thinks he’s managed to make his way into her mind like she has for him, the fact she’s still a mystery is all too inviting — a book you can’t put down, even if the pages are never ending. " mi casa e su casa, as long as you want, or need. " a small shrug briefly raises his shoulders, not entirely certain the two go in tandem. his want for her evolved into a need; between sharing secrets and sheets, stealing final kisses in the dark... the only dissatisfaction he knows is when she leaves him. it’s the only time he feels regret or starts to overthink the difference between want and need. 

" no— no, no, no. i didn't mean it like that, " palms will raise in a quick cease fire. of course he did, just now he's aware it didn't get him what he wanted so he'll fall back instead, assume no fault in his intentions at all, the quick shake of his head as if to confirm it. " i did offer, and i meant it. i'm just being nosy.  " and that's all he'll say, or admit to anyways. if curiosity killed the cat then jae is next in line. but it’s not just that. he wants to know because it’s her, because he feels as though he should. he has no right to be insulted by the fact that she doesn't trust him. it just reminds him how stupid he is for trusting her, even while knowing he shouldn’t. still… " you don't trust me ? " he scoffs, dramatic and playing it up like he's not bothered by the reality of it as his hand will reach for his chest. he doesn’t know why he’s surprised, really. he’s notoriously untrustworthy, irresponsible, and loud. she’s smart to keep herself to herself. it doesn’t keep him from wanting to find out more, though. “

there's a twist of his lips that soon forms a smirk from her reaction. he’s fond of her word choice; stale and impersonal — definitely not the vibe jae is ever going for. still, there's no change in his gaze as she'll look around, no falter of his smile while he watches her. " sorry to disappoint, you could've made some requests, but hey, you didn't even tell me you were coming.  " a small shrug of his shoulders again, because clearly he’s not bothered that his point that he needs to know everything proven once again. " i respect that, " jae nods. and he knows which of the family homes would be more her style, knows which rooms he’d want to drag her to see first."  i'd take you home to seoul, but… probably better you don't. safety and everything  " he's says, dismissing it as quickly as he brings it up. it would be safer for her, maybe, and definitely more up to her apparent taste, but jae isn't prepared to go home with someone; especially not a girl, and especially not one he actually likes. “ i’m sure your solution is do-able. ” he adds, moving on from himself. “ i always come prepared. ” jae retorts, clearly finding the positive in anything she’ll throw at him. the tug at his shirt is just foul play, his lip between his teeth briefly as he conceals his amusement. “ you want me to pretend like i don’t enjoy your company ? ” because that’s all this is. that’s how he’s here with her now. this inexplicable energy she lights in him, the way he’s quite literally paused everything in his life to ensure he’d be here. his brows furrow at her suggestion. jae’s not even considered having someone over, even if he expects eva to play hard to get. “ the place is yours, so... don’t worry about it. ” he’d rather she feel comfortable, and he’s sure if it came to it, he has places he could go instead, girls in his phone that answer every time and a million other people in the city to meet, even if he knows they won’t come close. “ besides, i wouldn’t want you getting jealous. ” jae says knowingly, a glint in his gaze as he looks to her, hoping she’ll take the bait. 

gallagherisms​:

IT’S OBVIOUS THIS IS LESS THAN IDEAL FOR BOTH OF THEM. caden’s probably startled her over the fact that he knows where she lives to begin with, having not been given a real address from her since gallagher days. but with working in the spy field came a plethora of information at the tips of his fingers, and there were some people he tended to keep up with, whether they knew it or not. him and imogen have been on good terms since she left gallagher, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they were on friendship terms. sure, she knew that she could call him if she ever needed anything, but when the time came, would she actually pick up the phone ?   caden liked to be sure that things with her were okay, even if that meant checking once and awhile to see if there was an updated address or a new job filed under her name. anything that didn’t involve direct communication, because if caden knew anything, it was that she was better off without him in her life.

which really, just proves how fucking screwed he was tonight, if his last resort was dragging her into this mess. he knows she’s being polite—it’s NOT okay, and she’s right to say that she can’t exactly turn him away—but he’ll figure out a way to make it up to her, one of these days. if he can just make it through today. at least in imogen’s presence, caden is already feeling somewhat better, his rapid heartbeat steadying with every breath he takes through his nose and out his mouth. her offer makes him chuckle, even if it just ends in him wincing in pain.   “ hopefully that day doesn’t come, ”   he comments, trying not to think about the likelihood of her needing to use a gun, and the chance it’s because of his visit. the guys who were after him weren’t afraid of civilian casualties. caden can feel himself starting to sweat, but he can’t tell if it’s from his overthinking or his injury. maybe he needs to put his mind on something else.

what she’s doing DOES sting a bit, but there’s no way in hell he’d ever tell her that. breathing through the pain, caden nods.   “ not dying is good, ”   he says,   “ i’ll take it. i promise when i’m fully healed, then you can kill me. ”   eyes raise to the sky, starting to count ceiling tiles. ANYTHING to distract him.   “ so… how long have you been in this apartment ? ”   he asks her, hoping that some idle chatter won’t distract her. if anything, it might just annoy her, but right now caden needs it.   “ are you seeing anyone ? ”

at least blood isn’t going everywhere. he’s done well to keep the pressure on it... it makes her wonder how he got here and where he came from, how long he’d been looking for a place to go. whoever shot him has to be close, right ? her fingers wobble to wipe the remaining blood. maybe the other guy’s worse but that doesn’t make her feel better. her fingertips gently glide along his skin, trying to feel for any shards of bullet. it’s not something she’s done A LOT but it’s better to get it out now than later so she just wants to make sure. she’s thankful for the lack of remnants since that would have definitely been painful. her hand reaches back to wipe away any new blood. 

she isn’t expecting the small talk, her head is elsewhere, but she is glad for it. “ just gone three years. ” her parents way of kicking her out kindly. telling her to move on with her life and learn how to be independent again, to learn that the world isn’t out to get her and things will be fine. she avoids the possibility by not leaving her house. she’s not ungrateful, she just hates living alone and she doesn’t like the idea of having to share with someone else. eyes fix to his, the tiniest smile threatening to show as it curls the corner of her lips at the cheek of it. “ no. ” she’ll answer, focusing back on his wound. “ not really, anyway. ” not at all, but somehow admitting that to caden seems a little strange, like she needs to hide the fact she’s completely undesirable because who the fuck would want to date the absolute mess that she is ? she’s not let anyone even get close since caden. sure, there’s flirty gazes or smiles any time she does get dragged out with friends but mostly she just feels guilty. “ i think i just have bad luck with all that. ” something tugs at her stomach as she waits to see if he’ll try to deny it, a fleeting glance toward him before she retreats, barely letting herself wish for it before she’s speaking again. “ you know, like you do with getting shot apparently. ”

fallingwatcr​:

– “THAT’S NOT EVEN TRUE. i ate lunch with jerome yesterday, you didn’t get anything, ” she argues, finally giving up and the magazine charade and closing it, dropping it on the table. she eyes him skeptically – it’s not that she really wants to smoke, but she doesn’t want him to go. that’s the part she doesn’t want told. however, there’s also no pressure to be good or to tell him to be good when they’re not together. “ promise ? ” she eyes him, holding out her pinky for him to shake. “ i can’t have a lot. you know how i get, ” she adds, as if seb needed the reminder that she’s a lightweight. then a small smile, “ you’re a terrible influence, you know. ” 

“ that’s only ‘cause he thinks your friends suck and he wanted to do something nice.  he told me. ” he nods despite it being false  –  but hopefully it’ll never get back to jerome for anyone to ever find out. though part of him hopes it does just so she’ll have a reason to come back and yell at him.  “ mhm, mouth shut. ” he motions zipping up his lips before meeting his pinky with hers. “ i know, i got you. ” because she really doesn’t need to mention it when he knows all too well how she gets. “  oh, thanks. ” seb laughs genuinely, a soft hum in chest as he does. “ years of practice. ” and that’s maybe truer than she needs to know but he knows that she’s not as innocent as she pretends to be. “ besides, i’m pretty sure you like that about me. ”

fallingwatcr​:

– EVA NARROWS HER EYES SLIGHTLY, though her expression borders on playful. she can’t help but find him amusing in this moment. “ you can’t have been that suspicious – either that, or you couldn’t have cared, ” eva suggests, “ because it wasn’t all that difficult to get information from you. ” maybe she’s poking a sore spot by saying so, after all, he’d been less than pleased to learn the truth about her once it had come out … and she hadn’t expected to care what he thought of her, hadn’t given it a second thought until he came rushing down to the sublevels with every emotion shown on his face. there was a certain bravery, or stupidity, in that which caught her off-guard. the realization that she’d never wanted to hurt him cut deeper than she’d thought was possible. despite how hard she tries to guard herself, sometimes the desperation to connect with someone else wins out. privately, she’d liked feeling close to him. “ will you be more careful this time ? ” she asks. it’s a question that doesn’t expect an honest answer, just curious to know how he’ll choose to respond. she can’t help but wonder how he really regards her now, underneath the cool, flirty veneer, seemingly unbothered. she knows from the way he last kissed her before she left that the unbothered part can’t be true.

“ you know that when i’m thinking of heading somewhere else, i’ll make up my mind then. i don’t have to tell you, just like you didn’t have to let me stay here, ” she adds. eva doesn’t want him to think any information is a given, “ honestly, the less you know … is probably safer for you. ” genuinely, eva isn’t even sure what sort of danger she’s brought to his doorstep now. she’s a vigilante, on the run, and after assisting in the assassination of her mentor, she doesn’t even know the caliber of enemies that she’s made. he’d have to be an idiot to want to follow her down that road, wouldn’t he ? “ listen, i do appreciate this, however long it lasts. but i have to believe that you’re too smart to really want me around for too long, ” a soft sigh escapes her lips, genuine and exhausted. “ i don’t even know the level of danger that i could be in – which, given the world we associate ourselves with, makes me believe that it’s probably pretty bad. ” she doesn’t know how much of what she’s saying that he’ll believe – lies come easier to her lips most of the time, often times sounding more honest than the truth. vulnerability makes her voice shake, her palms sweaty. when eva’s honest, she often looks more like a liar. still, the way she looks at him is earnest.

you shouldn’t trust him, the smallest voice in her head says, he could give you up as easily as anyone else. everyone has a price. her heart feels heavy, knowing she can’t stay long.

“ your kindle ? ” her nose wrinkles, reacting viscerally like he’s just said a dirty word. “ you’re joking, right ? how could you possibly read like that ? ” it feels like a personal affront to think of someone reading without the feeling of turning the pages, feeling the texture of the printed font between fingertips, knowing the distinct smell of a book, whether it’s that freshly-printed feeling or the old, well-worn and well-loved crinkle of the pages. she’s pretentious. “ that’s just sad, jae. ” she says this so earnestly, like this is just as serious to her as being on the run from caledonia. “ is that you’re way of saying that i’m allowed to spend all of your money on books ? ” she does brighten considerably at this notion, thinking of the ways she could stuff empty shelves. he could probably afford the editions that she’d grown up learning to steal.

eva turns the corner to jae’s room, taking it in – looking at differently than she has the rest of the house. it’s still fairly barren, the mark of a place where he doesn’t stay often, but it has a different energy, smells like him and his detergent, and she smiles softly. “ it’s so neat, ” is all she says at first, quietly, fingertips run across a dustless shelf. if he wanted a reaction, he gets it, and she doesn’t bother to hide that she’s rolling her eyes at him. the idea, of course, is terrifying. not having sex with him, she’s done that, but sleeping with him, side by side in their most vulnerable state. to eva, that’s a thousand times more intimate than sex – you become accostomed to the pattern of someone’s breathing, see them in the softness of morning light. she’s pretty sure there’s an innate human instinct to want to protect someone once you’ve been near them while they sleep, and she doesn’t need yet another reason to form an attachment that already grows with each passing minute, every moment that he looks at her with warm eyes. “ don’t be delusional, ” she finally dismisses, once she’s pushed the picture out of her mind. “ i don’t always sleep at normal hours anyway, it’d probably start to annoy you. ” sometimes, she barely sleeps at all.

she doubts she’d get more than a few hours with the feelings of paranoia that haunt her lately, maybe even more likely to fall asleep during daylight than during the hours of the night where she feels most in danger. still, the idea that she could sleep a little easier with someone else, with him, around does occur to her, and it makes her want to both kiss him and kill him all at once.  

" ah, but you see ... that was all part of my plan actually. " he lies like it’s second nature, shaking his head with a cocky grin like it was predetermined all along, every moment of it. "  i knew, in the grand scheme of things, it’d benefit me, so... ” a palm lifts as it tilts in a barely-there shrug to accompany his just-made-up response. the truth, the situation as she already knows it, is far from the words he just uttered. still, he feigns offence. “ i’m always careful. " but eva knows better than he'd ever admit to, even if she’s already aware she does. " most of the time... eh, you know what ? it’s a situational thing, really. ” he brushes off, knowing he might not win that debate since, realistically, he’d do it all again. maybe save himself some embarrassment every now and then, but otherwise... if it ends up with her crawling back to him ( because that’s obviously what this is ) then he wouldn’t mind. 

“ no, but i mean... it’d be nice to be party to some of those plans, just like it’s nice i’m literally saving your life and giving you food and shelter. ” yes he’ll try to manipulate his way into getting a head’s up or a second longer to either realise she’s going or convince her otherwise. “ see, in my experience, knowing everything is safer. how am i meant to make informed decisions if i’m not informed ? i could be making things worse not knowing. ” he presents quickly as his reasonings, though it’s just to veil his simple want to know. he wonders if he is too smart to be volunteering himself into this situation with her, but jae rarely does things to be smart and more focuses on the things he wants to do... it’s just a mere coincidence that those two tend to align sometimes. “ oh, sounds scary. you know i can handle myself and you, right ? ” jae points out, believing he could deal with anyone wanting to deal with him. “ you are safe here. so you can stay as long as you want to... and if i’m wrong, which never happens, then we’ll figure it out. ”  he proposes with ease, a nonchalance in his shrug before he’s fully thought everything through. but how hard could lying low be in a city as big as london ? she’s overthinking it. “ — but you’d have to be stupid to not know how much better off you’d be with me than on your own.  ” jae states, knowing she must have taken that into consideration.  

now he’s genuinely offended, mostly confused, as his brows scrunch together. “ wait. what’s wrong with kindles ? ” he looks at her as if she were joking, and of course he knows why she’s rejecting the idea but...  “ they’re an efficient and light way to carry lots of books. why would you be against that ? ” and maybe he’s just arguing for the sake of it or maybe he thinks she’s just pretentious. he gets it, in some ways... after all, he’s incredibly materialistic, loves an impressive collection, having things to admire or show off but half the time he’s somewhere else as often as he can be. besides, he just wants to hear her rant about it.  “ are you admitting you have a problem ? ” he answers with a question of his own, mainly to avoid the fact he’d let her spend an unspeakable amount of his money on books. 

eva doesn't ever seem to care when he shows off. he's sure she likes his expensive taste just as much as he does, appreciates it like he does. but it's not something he's ever been able to dangle in front of her and have her clawing for it, doing whatever he wanted or doing anything just to get it. it should be a good thing. perhaps she's just as wealthy and materialistic — though he knows she's not — or maybe she's just not a taker — and again, he's not sure that’s not the case — but the only reality he’ll conclude is that eva isn't half as interested in jae as he is in her. he doesn’t get it, he thinks he’s great... but holding her attention is a game for him. it takes effort to try and win her focus so she’ll lower her guard just for a second. unlike jae who is undeniably intrigued by her, so curious to find out every little thing about her to find every and any reason as to WHY he's so interested. he wants to know her favourite fucking book just to see if it explains her pretentiousness, why reading a physical book and turning all its pages is so important to her. 

it’s why when they’re in his bedroom that he starts to feel a little naked, but not in the way he likes. compared to eva, he’s been something of an open book, so he's not exactly sure what he expects her reaction to be, expecting criticism at the least and not much else. her words are just an observation, one obvious since there's not a single thing out of place, and he might have felt the need to defend his plain, neat room had he not watched the smile grace her lips. and he can’t quite lose his gaze anywhere else, a smirk rising at the rolling of her eyes. he finds it funny how she’ll call him delusional, shaking his head whilst he attempts to figure out how anyone wouldn’t want to share a bed with her. of course he’s barely touched a thought to do with actually sleeping in it and more on what else they could be doing instead. still, there’s no surprise in her shut down, just as there’s no hesitation for his response. “ hey, if we’re up all night, you’ll hear no complaints from me. ” jae smirks, and he’s never going to play hard to get like eva does, no real façade when they’re together. he’s not exactly telling her all of his secrets and every inner thought, but if she asked he just might. not because she controls him, though it's yet to be proven otherwise, but because in the plight of wanting to know her, he wants her to know him. he wants her to find him just as intriguing and just exciting as he does her. so even if she dismisses him at all hours of the day, jae's gonna keep trying to find that crack of an opening and, since he knows it exists, he won’t stop until he does. “ i guess we’ll find out tonight. ”