@hardlydead

[outerfringe]

[One day David simply stops appearing by the fire with the rest of them, and Jeff does his very best to be relieved for him. There are only two real possible reasons for that, right? Either he'd actually died for real, or he'd managed to find a way back home- and either way, it meant that he was out of this place. Jeff tries to be happy for him, and for the most part, he is.

He doesn't think about David at all the first day after he wakes up on the cold floor of the Ormond resort, back stiff and jacket crusted with frost. Instead he's too busy finding his way back to town, organizing arrangements to make it home. His apartment key no longer works, he recognizes none of his neighbors, but his bank account was still somehow in alright standing.

Jeff finds a new place. He does not find a new dog.

He feels weird about creating a Facebook account just to check for David, but he does it anyway. When that comes up fruitless, he thinks a lot about the conversations the two of them had while tucked close together in the dark. Wonders if David would even want to be found by someone like him, to be faced with a reminder of the time they'd spent doing everything they could to simply survive.

Jeff tries to paint but can't seem to pull himself out of severe blacks and reds. Tries to catch up on the music he'd missed from the bands he'd loved but it fails to soothe him the way it had before. He considers a therapist, and then decides that he'd be locked away the second he was candid enough for someone to actually help him.

So he packs some things, books a flight. Finds himself at his fifth seedy pub in three days without much hope - except this time when he says he's looking for David King, the big guy by the bar makes a point of sizing him up. Jeff sets his shoulders, frowns and promises that he's an old friend, but it doesn't seem to affect much the scowl on the guy's face. He says something (that Jeff completely misses, he can barely understand a goddamn thing when people here are drunk and loud), but seems to indicate for him to wait.

Which he does. He parks on a stool with a drink, assumes his most unapproachable aura, and waits. He doesn't know who he's expecting to appear, but it's not David.

There's not a chance it would actually be that simple.]

Comments

[outerfringe]

[He

doesn't get it.

He's a little distracted! Mostly by kissing David again, just pressing close enough to seek physical contact. His brow is slightly furrowed when the kiss ends, but he doesn't go far.]

-- we're hitting the gym?

[hardlydead]

Because-- [ david lets out a small, slightly surprised laugh. ] For sex.

[ ... ]

That is why we're in here, right?

[outerfringe]

[His own laugh in turn is equally surprised.]

I mean, yeah. I just don't - do you usually do situps?

[No, he gets it, he's just trying to dismiss the awkwardness his own confusion has introduced. Another kiss, and he's nudging him toward the bed.]

[hardlydead]

I usually save them for after.

[ david meets that kiss with a smile and backs up toward the bed, suddenly a little... apprehensive isn't the right word, but something about the reality of the situation comes slamming into him. not in a bad way, but it's overwhelming for a second. he licks his lips when he looks down at the bed, hesitating before he actually gets on the bed. desperately hoping jeff hasn't noticed. ]

[outerfringe]

Yeah.

[Jeff is watching David so intently there's no way to miss it. He keeps close, reaching up to hold the back of his neck, expression quietly intent.]

Hey. It's been - a really long time. It's probably - it's gonna be short. Bad.

[He's just trying to break some tension.]

[hardlydead]

[ he appreciates the contact, and the words. it's not just the nervousness on its own, but it's caught him by surprise too. it's been a long time since he was nervous about this, but then again it's also been a long time since he was with anyone he was actually attracted to or cared about. or, you know. a man. ]

[ david sits on the bed, looking up at jeff, and reaches for his hand to gently pull him down with. ]

I guess you can have a do over. If you want.

[outerfringe]

[Jeff eases himself down onto the bed. He's a little surprised by how much trust he has in David - not that he thinks it's undeserved, but just because few things are rarely this easy for him. This certain.

God, he's got it bad.

Every motion of his is gentle, even as he shifts to kiss David again, to bully him down so he can pin him affectionately to the sheets.]

Yeah? I don't deserve you.

[hardlydead]

[ david lifts a hand to jeff's face, resting there through the kiss and as jeff gets him to lay back. he's never been great about leaving himself in somebody else's hands, not really in any capacity, and there's an urge to push back a little that he has to fight. ]

[ this is fine. safe. he can trust jeff. ]

Maybe. [ david smirks up at him ] But you've got me anyway.

[outerfringe]

Yeah.

[There's no smirk on his own face, just quiet, intense thought as he watches him.]

You've got me, too.

[hardlydead]

I know.

[ the smirk falls away under that gaze, and david's own turns a little uncertain. he swallows, trying to guess what's going through jeff's head and coming up with nothing. ]

[outerfringe]

[It has occurred to Jeff, and quite abruptly, that - if he's not careful - he's going to fall in love with the patience and warmth in David that he still finds himself surprised to see. He's not sure yet how he feels about it.

So instead he just tries to kiss that uncertain look away, and promptly decides he's fine with no more talking. It's been a long time since Jeff has been intimate with anyone, sure, but he's gentle, carefully attentive, and better than he thinks at giving head. :')

David may end up with the impression that it's more about the emotional closeness for him than anything physical, the notion likely reinforced by the way he declines to go far when their breathing finally begins to settle, his fingertips splayed lightly against David's elbow.]

[hardlydead]

[ david is similarly an attentive partner. enthusiastic too, especially once he can do something other than just think, and it pushes away the nerves. there's always been a little bit of ego to the way he is in bed, and it might be the last thing on his mind, but it's not not on his mind either. makes him maybe a bit more eager to please than one might expect. ]

[ it shouldn't be a surprise but it is a little, that he feels this good. warm in a way that's not just physical, and that's only bolstered by the way jeff maintains that contact. smile small but deeply fond when david looks at jeff and puts a hand over the one at his elbow. ]

[outerfringe]

[Jeff laughs at that little smile. Not mocking, just relieved and grateful, and he turns enough to sort of just throw his bare leg across the top of David's in turn.]

Money's on the dresser.

[It's the most idiotic joke he can think of in this exact moment.]

[hardlydead]

[ that catches david off guard and he lets out a short little laugh as he turns on his side so he can look properly at jeff, moving his hand to drape his arm across the other man instead. ]

Don't forget to tip.

[outerfringe]

[There's a slightly stunned silence, and then Jeff's laugh has more to do with the lewd joke he's not making than anything else. He reaches up to stroke what he can reach of the bare arm draped across him.]

You okay?

[They should clean up, but.]

[hardlydead]

Course. [ he offers over an easy smile. ] More than.

[outerfringe]

[He meets that smile with one of his own.] Sorry. I'm - still an awkward guy.

[hardlydead]

S'okay.

[ he thinks about sidling a little closer, then thinks maybe he should shower first and decides against it, settles for idly brushing his fingers up and down jeff's back. ]

Part of your charm, innit? Big, scary looking bloke who's actually all sweet and awkward.

[outerfringe]

Kind of describing yourself, too, you know.

[Though realistically he knows David is more of a hardass than he is. It does little to diminish the sweetness of moments like this one.]

[hardlydead]

Nah.

[ he knows he can't protest... any of that. maybe the awkward bit. maybe. but it's not going to stop him from doing so with an annoying little smirk. ]

[outerfringe]

Yeah. Sorry. Nothing to be done about it.

[Jeff gives him a look that's more comfortable than tired, considering.]

You still wanna come home with me?

[hardlydead]

Yeah.

[ his expression turns a little more serious, but still warm. ]

I wanna give this a real shot, y'know? Feels like that's the best way.

[outerfringe]

Maybe the entity was just trying to matchmake the whole time. Who knows.

[God, he can't handle how weird this situation is. Not bad, just weird.]

Might go wash up?

[hardlydead]

[ he snorts and takes that as a cue to start gently shoving jeff out of the bed. ]

Oh my god, go on. Go.

[outerfringe]

[He's laughing even as he rolls out of the bed, apparently unshy about his own nudity as anxious as he can be in other situations.]

What, you don't think so?