Duplicity IC Contact

[bothbarrels]

 I suppose if you've reached this message I'm not around to accept your contact.
So, you can just leave it here, and I'll be sure to contact you back as soon as I can.

Comments

[infailtration]

[ ...of course the bed is in order. York doesn't quite smile at that, but eases up a bit and nods, sliding under the covers North's holding up for him and scooting over to the far side so there's room. ]

[bothbarrels]

[ North slides in beside him, places the covers back in place, and turns on his side to face York. ]

I'm glad you're here, now that you are. It's nice having some company.

[infailtration]

[ York rolls onto his side, too, still tense but actively trying to uncoil a little. He can see what North is doing, acting like everything's normal. It's just out of reach for him. ]

Even the Project had better beds than this, though.

[bothbarrels]

[ He gives a half-shrug. ]

Every bed is too short for me.

[ Hard or soft. ]

[infailtration]

[ Are they just making small talk about furniture now? York feels untethered in this conversation. Like he's still half stuck in the dream and can't get out. ]

Find a rich Dom who'll get you something custom.

[ He breathes out slow, trying to steady himself. ]

[bothbarrels]

[ North blinks at him. That steadying breath, the shakiness as it came out...

He puts his hand on York's shoulder. ]

You don't have to act like you're okay. Not with me.

[infailtration]

...of course I'm not okay.

[ His hand comes up over North's, holding it there for a moment. Looking at his friend's face, the light in his eyes even in the dim room. He's fine. He's fine.

York shudders anyway, remembering how the blood splattered across the Meta's armor. ]

I don't know how you can be.

[ He supposes he's accepted his own death, for the most part. Coming to terms with North's is a lot harder for some reason. ]

[bothbarrels]

It's not fresh for me.

[ He says it quietly. It's been almost four months since he woke up not dead under the Dome. The novelty of being alive has started to wear off, just a tad.

With York's hand on the back of his, he lifts and separates his fingers, inviting York to interlace his fingers with his own. ]

Honestly, seriously. Hold me as much as you need to.

[infailtration]

...right.

[ But he still hasn't forgiven his sister.

York doesn't interlace their fingers. He lets go, only to scoot in close and wrap that arm around North. ]

[bothbarrels]

Right.

[ North wraps his arm around York in return. He gives a short, small sigh and rests his head against the pillow. ]

Just as long as you like. Don't you worry about keeping me up.

[infailtration]

[ York can feel his shoulders uncoiling a little again, as North's warmth seeps into him. And if North doesn't care about being kept awake, well. ]

Can we talk about something else?

[bothbarrels]

[ It's funny, the physical disparities of the two men, how they seem to fit together. North's taller, but York's boarder, and his muscles bunch up a bit more when he moves. So as York begins to relax more, North can feel some of the tension going out of his back and arms.

When York asks his question, he gives a thoughtful hum. ]

How's your job going?

[infailtration]

It's boring. But that's better than the alternatives, and actually-- my boss offered me a contract.

[bothbarrels]

Oh? How'd that come about?

[infailtration]

He saw on the finder that I was uncontracted. Wants to keep me out of jail. It was nice of him.

[bothbarrels]

Sounds like a thoughtful person.

[ He rubs his hand lightly in circles on York's back. He ponders a moment, and then says: ]

How would you have dealt with it, if you'd ended up in the Up?

[infailtration]

Dealt with... what, exactly? Contracts?

[ He sighs softly at North's touch, eyes closing. ]

Easy. I'd've signed with you and Carolina and called it a day.

[bothbarrels]

[ North watches York's face for a moment, the circles becoming loops and trails. Then there's a long silence. ]

...Josh?

[infailtration]

[ He doesn't think anything of the silence at first, but opens his eyes at the sound of his name, still kind of foreign to hear coming from North's lips. ]

Yeah?

[bothbarrels]

I don't know, I—

[ There's a frown puckering his forehead. This impulse is all wrapped up in his memories of another York, another situation, and it's easy to wonder if that's the reason for it. On the other hand, York had talked about them going to each other to make quota, so it wasn't like it would be unwelcome. He just doesn't want it to seem like he's doing it for the wrong reasons.

All that is flashing through his mind as he slowly moves his hand from York's back, round to the front to cup his chin. Just from that it should be obvious what he's thinking about, but he doesn't move further, just searching York's eyes with his in the gloom. ]

[infailtration]

[ It's obvious, yes, but North doesn't move in so neither does York. It's like there's something the other man needs to puzzle through first, and when York speaks again his voice is gentler than it has been this whole time. ]

You what?

[bothbarrels]

[ He hesitates. ]

P...please.

[ Please close the gap for me so I know this is okay with you. His lips press together. ]

[infailtration]

[ Oh, North. Usually he's the one to fill in the gaps when York doesn't have the right words, but this time York knows exactly what he means. He's overthinking it, unnecessarily. They've talked about this.

And in the end there's no better way to feel alive, is there?

York presses in and closes the gap, eyes fluttering shut at the last moment. ]

[bothbarrels]

[ There's a harsh exhale through his nose and his lips part to greet York, and he moves his arm to wrap around York again. He's glad for this outcome, and yet, could it really have turned out any other way? ]

[infailtration]

[ Are you saying he's easy, North? Because he sort of is, but not when it matters. This isn't something he does lightly, after what they discussed. He may well be committing to more than just a kiss here.

...it's a good kiss, though. And despite thinking (fleetingly) that he should keep it brief and check in if they're okay, York finds himself deepening it instead. Leaning his weight on North and clutching at the back of his shirt as years of curiosity turn into exploration. When they do break apart he stays close, bumping their foreheads together. ]