[ at least he can be thankful for her patience and her cooperation, for turning when he guides her, for easing her head back when he tips her chin up, for letting herself stand against him as he washes her to his satisfaction. he doesn’t stop until her hair’s been rinsed through multiple times and he’s sure every speck of dirt and blood that doesn’t belong is gone, washed down the drain, erased from its existence on her body.
sometimes, he wishes everything could be as easily mediated. he’s lifting up the soft sheets and duvet when her fingers on his wrist gives him pause for just a beat, his mouth pressing flat before he rises, a corner of the bedspread folded back for her. he guides her to it, hands holding on to hers, wanting her to sit.
her words barely drift along the dark, tired and foggy. sour guilt rises in him as he thinks about leaving, washes over him as he thinks about staying.
hydra knows his weaknesses. they’ve managed to wrench him away from his team, they’ve managed to find the one person who’d gotten so close to him and used her to weaken their fight. sure, the titans are stronger together when they each slot into a piece of a whole, but if he’s being truthful, he hasn’t been whole for a long time now. ever since he tried to protect her from them. and that he can’t blame on anyone else.
the moment he stepped away from the burning city centre, he had already made his choice. he thinks about conner, who reassured him, about gar, who’s so capable now, and rachel, who reminded him of what’s truly important. it’s one night, and one night his team can handle without him.
he nods, before an inhale attempts to loosen the constriction around his chest. ] Yeah, [ he answers lowly, as a hand finds her jaw, thumb soothing along the soft slant of it. ] Yeah, I’ll stay. At least until tomorrow.
no subject
sometimes, he wishes everything could be as easily mediated. he’s lifting up the soft sheets and duvet when her fingers on his wrist gives him pause for just a beat, his mouth pressing flat before he rises, a corner of the bedspread folded back for her. he guides her to it, hands holding on to hers, wanting her to sit.
her words barely drift along the dark, tired and foggy. sour guilt rises in him as he thinks about leaving, washes over him as he thinks about staying.
hydra knows his weaknesses. they’ve managed to wrench him away from his team, they’ve managed to find the one person who’d gotten so close to him and used her to weaken their fight. sure, the titans are stronger together when they each slot into a piece of a whole, but if he’s being truthful, he hasn’t been whole for a long time now. ever since he tried to protect her from them. and that he can’t blame on anyone else.
the moment he stepped away from the burning city centre, he had already made his choice. he thinks about conner, who reassured him, about gar, who’s so capable now, and rachel, who reminded him of what’s truly important. it’s one night, and one night his team can handle without him.
he nods, before an inhale attempts to loosen the constriction around his chest. ] Yeah, [ he answers lowly, as a hand finds her jaw, thumb soothing along the soft slant of it. ] Yeah, I’ll stay. At least until tomorrow.