[ he says it immediately, looking and sounding serious as he schools his expression and wipes the smile from his face. ] They try to sleep on me. [ which may or may not be the truth, but considering how they're always on his bed — it's the only thing that makes sense. ]
[ his thumb moves against the back of her hand. ]
Imagine that sound being so close to your ear. Maybe you'll stop liking it then.
Terrible. [Trying to sleep on him, imagine that. The wretched things. She smiles, the expression happening as soon as he strokes her hand.]
I don't know, at least you've got a warm bed. [From her experience, sleeping in the same bed as someone is great. The companionship, the comfort. She misses that.]
[ he's quick to look at her and respond with a laugh, ] That's full of fur.
[ and sometimes dirt, sometimes their toys, sometimes them. it's not a bother for him, though. he remembers waking up with some of octavia's toys poking into his back. maybe his sister had prepared him for much more than simply having someone to live for. ]
If Gruff tried to sleep on me, I think I'd die. [Probably end up crushed, no doubt. She laughs, and shakes her head. No, as much as she loves the dragon, they both have their own beds for a reason.]
[ dragons breathe fire, so, he isn't so surprised to hear that gruff would be warm to the touch. people with ice powers are cold, so a dragon should be as warm as the one that she'd introduced him to many moons ago. ]
[ he shifts his legs on the bed, feeling warm himself. ]
I'm glad he doesn't sleep on you. [ bellamy does his best to try and stifle his smile, but his voice still sounds amused, ] I'd be crushed if he did.
[ just a little — he doesn't want to give her an inch to run a mile, not when she can run circles around him now. but he finds he wants to, anyway. he thinks to take her words and throw them back at her, even though this is a hypothetical that could possibly come true if she's careless or gruff chooses to be disobedient. ]
[ he doesn't know how dragons behave, or if they're even close to dogs, but he figures that they have to be, in some way. toothless had been loyal to hiccup, listening to him, being in tune with him in a really strange way. maybe gruff will be the same. ]
[ with a smile, ] It'd suck ass if he crushed you.
[So far, Gruff and her are navigating each other, but she can tell the dragon appreciates his new digs, and her, because he's been yellow the entire time. She has that color coded warning sign to know, and though Hiccup said red meant run, she's never seen Gruff red. So that's good.
But him throwing her words back at her again stands out. She's amused.] You must think you're so cute.
[ bellamy purses his lips together, taking a moment to pretend he has to mull it over. lasting for only a second, his expression turns into one that's agreeable. it isn't like him to accept this sort of talk, let alone agree with it, but bellamy's not in a war zone. he's not on edge and he's not on the ground, hungry, annoyed, hurting. he finds he's more like the boy he'd been on the ark before everything had shattered around him. ]
[ nodding his head, despite it being awkward with his cheek pressed against the linens, he agrees with her. ] Yeah, pretty much. [ glancing to the dog, ] He'd agree if he was paying attention.
[Yeah, he thinks he's so cute. She rolls her eyes and moves her hand from under her head to reach out and ruffle up his hair, maybe a little too roughly. Like a tug back down to the ground.]
Maybe if you'll find someone who doesn't depend on you for food to confirm that.
[ sometimes he wonders if he'll ever get used to having shorter hair. it's when she ruffles his hair he remembers how it doesn't seem to feel so heavy on him anymore, doesn't block his vision as it'd threatened to do so before he'd gotten it roughly cut back home. it's a big change, one that isn't quite so significant as living in an apartment that feels bigger than the unit they'd lived in on the ark. having dogs is a bigger change than his hair ever will be, but it still sometimes makes him pause to remember he doesn't look like the same guy who had scaled down the side of a cliff and infiltrated a mountain to make good on his promise to kill them all. ]
[ bellamy smiles and shifts his head, pulling himself away from her in case she gets any other ideas. despite liking his hair played with, finding it relaxing, he pulls away to be playful. but he returns back to where he'd been resting on his pillow as he turns to look at her. ]
I'll phone a friend. [ his smile widens as his expression turns cheeky. ] One who doesn't depend on me for food. How's that?
[She gets distracted, because that's the part she doesn't go for often. The only other time she remembers going for his hair, he'd had it longer, curled on top of his head and soft to the touch, in spite of their stay on the much dirtier ground.]
It's weird, this short. [Her hand hovers stretched out in the air, and then finally she gives up and pulls it away, tucks it back safely under her head where she won't feel the need to touch him in search of familiar curls.]
[ feeling slightly self-conscious, bellamy lifts his hand to run it through his hair. it's still short. he doesn't know why he had expected it to be as thick as it'd been when he'd entered eudio. having cut some of it himself so it wasn't in his eyes so much, he had wanted a change on a whim when he'd cut it. as impulsive as the decision had been, bellamy doesn't want to analyse it. his hair is cut. it's weird and lighter, and sometimes doesn't look like him, but it feels different. ]
[ his brows crease as he feels his hair, noticing how it's all still there. dropping his hand onto his chest, he scratches at his collarbone through his shirt. ] I'm still getting used to it. [ having a mirror to look into and see himself without any cracks and shattered portions of glass is new in itself, despite being here for so long already. ]
[ he turns his head to look at her, eyebrow arched slightly as his lips quirk upward. ] Is it that bad?
[As if there's a lot he can do to make himself look unattractive, come on. She gives him that look, and then looks up at the ceiling, exhaling.] Nah. It's not.
[ he looks up at the plain ceiling. ] It'll grow back.
[ he'd been getting used to it, too. but a change is a change, even if it's one he isn't so sure if it's good yet. at the end of the day, it's still a part of him trying to run. ]
[ he shifts on his back, the movement enough to cause a wave in the sea if he was poseidon. his hand grips hers momentarily before he settles. tilting his head, he presses his cheek against his pillow to look at her with a good-humoured smile. ]
I guess you can get used to seeing more of my face.
[She tries for very dry here:] Lucky me. [Like she hasn't been looking, all this time. His position almost asks for a gentle touch, and she moves her free hand again, nearly drawing her fingertips down his nose like she's done to Zelo and Nike countless times.
Nearly, because she realizes it's ridiculous, and drops her hand on the bed between them instead.]
[ bellamy twists himself around to look out the window, waking zelo between them with how he drops onto his stomach. his foot bumps into hers before it swings away, throwing them over the bed as he looks up at the dark sky. without curtains there, he can see it clearly, the tiny dots of the stars peeking through the glass panel. ]
It's getting late. [ he glances toward zelo who stretches, uncertain if he wants to pick himself up with how he pushes himself to sit on his hind legs. his dogs can last for hours into the early morning, and while bellamy can, sometimes he can't. he doesn't know what raven's schedule has become like, either. considering she seems to function on something close to normal — and unusual — for bellamy, he figures one of them should at least stick to their routine. ]
[ resting his weight on his elbows, bellamy pokes at zelo's elbow. ]
[ glancing over at her, ] I can walk you home if you want.
[She could run back. She could run, if there were trouble, and she can more than handle herself out there alone, so she doesn't need him to take her anywhere. But she understands, her time is up, she's no longer welcomed, she should bail.
Dryly,] What, so only you get to couch crash? I get it. [With a roll of her eyes, she stretches obnoxiously, and gets up and out of his bed, rubbing the back of her neck for kinks.] I can go.
[ pulling himself to sit, he rests his weight against his hands. looking at her, he arches his brow slightly. with a shrug of his shoulders, ] I just didn't want you to be alone.
[ walking through the streets is great and all, but sometimes it's better with company. eudio may be safe, but bellamy's grown up believing even the supposed safe places aren't all they're cracked up to be. ]
You can stay if you want.
[ he just figured she had no interest in lingering. ]
[What she should say: no, it's fine, I was leaving anyway. What she shouldn't do: look back at him like she really does want to take him up on the offer, drop those imaginary hands from thumping her chest all bravely and acting nonchalant.
The thing is, all the open ends left open tonight are going to be messy to untangle later, but she is always going to be starved for this sort of company, it seems.]
[ bellamy's not keen on making her feel obligated to stick around because he wants her to. nor is he keen to make her feel like she's not welcome to linger. even though he's said what's on his mind, done as his instincts and impulses have dictated, he's well-aware he's treading along a thin line right now. ]
[ he doesn't like it. but it is what it is. ]
[ looking at her legs without seeing them, he lifts his gaze to hers after a moment. ]
[Yes. I've stayed this long already, yes, of course I do. I want to stay. She lets out a soft little breath, then holds it for a couple of very long seconds.
She fiddles with her fingers together, and glances away.] I should probably head back.
[ even though it isn't an answer to her, it is for him. a soft kind of no in its own way. ]
[ watching her, he thinks he can read she's uncomfortable, bellamy isn't keen to cause her anymore discomfort than he already has. ]
[ bellamy shifts, leaning backward to pick zelo up from around the stomach and drop him gently onto the floor by his feet. with his head disappearing beneath his bed, bellamy stands up and makes sure to keep his feet far away from zelo. ]
I'll walk you.
[ he begins to move over toward his couch so he can sit and pull the boots left to the side of the arm onto his feet. ]
Yeah, okay. [She's very quiet when she says that. Something doesn't sit right with her, but she's made her choice and he's accepted it, so now she goes. Even if his bed was comfortable.
It's for the best, either way. It's always for the best.
Raven Reyes doesn't wait in the wings for a man. Right? That was the idea.
She waits for him to get his shoes on, after she gets hers on in half the time.]
[ finishing with his shoes, bellamy stands up. he looks over to his dogs, notices zelo's watching him, ears perking up once he realises he's being acknowledged, but he doesn't stand, either. he knows he's not doing this dog owning business right. he's not meant to leave them alone in apartment for a short period of time, or at all. but bellamy finds that they don't seem to mind. either sleeping or chewing on a shoe or the corner of the rug in the bathroom, they seem content to simply embody the blake way. ]
[ where his dogs seem to be undisturbed by his movement, he has a feeling raven isn't. sensing something's off, he doesn't move as easily as he once would. he looks at her, takes a step or two away from the couch. carding a hand through his hair, he lets his arm drop, then moves over toward his counter to slide his single key into his hand to pocket it in the back of his jeans. ]
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[ he says it immediately, looking and sounding serious as he schools his expression and wipes the smile from his face. ] They try to sleep on me. [ which may or may not be the truth, but considering how they're always on his bed — it's the only thing that makes sense. ]
[ his thumb moves against the back of her hand. ]
Imagine that sound being so close to your ear. Maybe you'll stop liking it then.
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I don't know, at least you've got a warm bed. [From her experience, sleeping in the same bed as someone is great. The companionship, the comfort. She misses that.]
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[ and sometimes dirt, sometimes their toys, sometimes them. it's not a bother for him, though. he remembers waking up with some of octavia's toys poking into his back. maybe his sister had prepared him for much more than simply having someone to live for. ]
I guess yours would be scales.
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But he is really warm.
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[ dragons breathe fire, so, he isn't so surprised to hear that gruff would be warm to the touch. people with ice powers are cold, so a dragon should be as warm as the one that she'd introduced him to many moons ago. ]
[ he shifts his legs on the bed, feeling warm himself. ]
I'm glad he doesn't sleep on you. [ bellamy does his best to try and stifle his smile, but his voice still sounds amused, ] I'd be crushed if he did.
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[And then she laughs quietly, so as to not wake up the dog.]
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[ just a little — he doesn't want to give her an inch to run a mile, not when she can run circles around him now. but he finds he wants to, anyway. he thinks to take her words and throw them back at her, even though this is a hypothetical that could possibly come true if she's careless or gruff chooses to be disobedient. ]
[ he doesn't know how dragons behave, or if they're even close to dogs, but he figures that they have to be, in some way. toothless had been loyal to hiccup, listening to him, being in tune with him in a really strange way. maybe gruff will be the same. ]
[ with a smile, ] It'd suck ass if he crushed you.
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But him throwing her words back at her again stands out. She's amused.] You must think you're so cute.
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[ nodding his head, despite it being awkward with his cheek pressed against the linens, he agrees with her. ] Yeah, pretty much. [ glancing to the dog, ] He'd agree if he was paying attention.
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Maybe if you'll find someone who doesn't depend on you for food to confirm that.
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[ bellamy smiles and shifts his head, pulling himself away from her in case she gets any other ideas. despite liking his hair played with, finding it relaxing, he pulls away to be playful. but he returns back to where he'd been resting on his pillow as he turns to look at her. ]
I'll phone a friend. [ his smile widens as his expression turns cheeky. ] One who doesn't depend on me for food. How's that?
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It's weird, this short. [Her hand hovers stretched out in the air, and then finally she gives up and pulls it away, tucks it back safely under her head where she won't feel the need to touch him in search of familiar curls.]
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[ his brows crease as he feels his hair, noticing how it's all still there. dropping his hand onto his chest, he scratches at his collarbone through his shirt. ] I'm still getting used to it. [ having a mirror to look into and see himself without any cracks and shattered portions of glass is new in itself, despite being here for so long already. ]
[ he turns his head to look at her, eyebrow arched slightly as his lips quirk upward. ] Is it that bad?
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[A pause.] I'd gotten used to the mop.
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[ he'd been getting used to it, too. but a change is a change, even if it's one he isn't so sure if it's good yet. at the end of the day, it's still a part of him trying to run. ]
[ he shifts on his back, the movement enough to cause a wave in the sea if he was poseidon. his hand grips hers momentarily before he settles. tilting his head, he presses his cheek against his pillow to look at her with a good-humoured smile. ]
I guess you can get used to seeing more of my face.
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Nearly, because she realizes it's ridiculous, and drops her hand on the bed between them instead.]
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It's getting late. [ he glances toward zelo who stretches, uncertain if he wants to pick himself up with how he pushes himself to sit on his hind legs. his dogs can last for hours into the early morning, and while bellamy can, sometimes he can't. he doesn't know what raven's schedule has become like, either. considering she seems to function on something close to normal — and unusual — for bellamy, he figures one of them should at least stick to their routine. ]
[ resting his weight on his elbows, bellamy pokes at zelo's elbow. ]
[ glancing over at her, ] I can walk you home if you want.
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Dryly,] What, so only you get to couch crash? I get it. [With a roll of her eyes, she stretches obnoxiously, and gets up and out of his bed, rubbing the back of her neck for kinks.] I can go.
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[ walking through the streets is great and all, but sometimes it's better with company. eudio may be safe, but bellamy's grown up believing even the supposed safe places aren't all they're cracked up to be. ]
You can stay if you want.
[ he just figured she had no interest in lingering. ]
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The thing is, all the open ends left open tonight are going to be messy to untangle later, but she is always going to be starved for this sort of company, it seems.]
Do you want me to stay?
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[ he doesn't like it. but it is what it is. ]
[ looking at her legs without seeing them, he lifts his gaze to hers after a moment. ]
Did you want to stay?
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She fiddles with her fingers together, and glances away.] I should probably head back.
[Which isn't a 'no', but isn't a 'yes' either.]
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[ watching her, he thinks he can read she's uncomfortable, bellamy isn't keen to cause her anymore discomfort than he already has. ]
[ bellamy shifts, leaning backward to pick zelo up from around the stomach and drop him gently onto the floor by his feet. with his head disappearing beneath his bed, bellamy stands up and makes sure to keep his feet far away from zelo. ]
I'll walk you.
[ he begins to move over toward his couch so he can sit and pull the boots left to the side of the arm onto his feet. ]
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It's for the best, either way. It's always for the best.
Raven Reyes doesn't wait in the wings for a man. Right? That was the idea.
She waits for him to get his shoes on, after she gets hers on in half the time.]
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[ where his dogs seem to be undisturbed by his movement, he has a feeling raven isn't. sensing something's off, he doesn't move as easily as he once would. he looks at her, takes a step or two away from the couch. carding a hand through his hair, he lets his arm drop, then moves over toward his counter to slide his single key into his hand to pocket it in the back of his jeans. ]
You okay?
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