goddamngrenades | RP Open Post

He'd wanted that. Not like South, with the burning need to be better than everyone. He's just wanted a companion. A friend who would understand him without words. Someone who would always have his back. In the worst moments, he wishes that Epsilon had taken him down too.

He gives York his time to adjust, remarkably quickly considering. Before he puts his gauntlets back on, he reaches down, smooths his thumb beneath York's good eye to get rid of the tears. "Come on. Got you a lovely room all set up."

The sense memory attached to Wash's hand flares up in Delta like- well. His filters are down, he's out of practice, and pulling apart right now isn't exactly an option. Too deeply twined at the moment to flinch away and swear- but being seen as a crier in front of the other mercs? Not good for his reputation. Maybe. It's not what keeps him from pulling away- if anything there's a sharp, bird like tilt to his head that doesn't belong to York, eyes narrowing on Washington's face.

You actually-

I was lonely and he was there, okay? Okay. Good talk.

We can use that.

Maybe. Quit staring it's creeping him out.

York's eyes drop from Wash's to his jaw, his lips, his throat, and- well. It's hard not to remember how he'd tasted, the sounds he'd made. He steps in that much closer and honestly he's not sure if it's him or Delta that has them closing the distance in a kiss that's more chaste than anything.

"...Thank you."

That stare, that look, it isn't York, and the sense of unease crawls along Wash's spine. Delta. He remembers looks like that from easy on when York had him implanted, when they were still trying to work things out. Before they'd figured where to draw the lines. It makes him uncomfortable and he pulls his hand away like he's burnt.

His eyes are wide when York steps close, one hand going for the gun at his side before York's lips brush against his. It's too much. Makes him think and feel too much and it's awful.

"I'm just following orders."

"You gave him back." Whether it's D talking about York or York talking about D- there's no real way to say. There's an equal amount of both in how they tip their head forward to rest against David's. How they breathe. Warm and real and whole and while York had to bargain and beg Wash didn't have to.

It's a kindness they won't forget.

He doesn't think that he's been so terrified as he is when York and Delta lean against him. He's a fucking mess, bloodied where York had smashed his nose and he'd barely had chance to clean up, and he's tired. Hadn't slept last night. Too caught up in watching York, savouring the last moments. He can feel York's breath and his warmth, the lines around his eyes. He lets it continue for a moment until he can drag himself away sharply.

"I said I was just following orders. Don't think it means anything else."

"Of course not." And that? That is Delta before he sinks back under York's skin enough for the usual half smile to peek on through. Sure he's cuffed. Sure he's probably fighting a losing battle- but he's got Delta.

With that? he can make this work. He's certain of it. And he might still have a thread on Wash- enough that he doesn't think much at all of licking what blood he'd picked up from the kiss off slow and easy.

After all. Wash is only human. "Lead on, Agent Washington."

He eyes him warily for a moment, unsure of how to take the bits of Delta peeking through. Orders are great, but he's not sure he likes this. His gaze remains fixed on York when he licks away the flecks of Wash's blood from his lips, pink tongue flicking out. And yeah, he knows exactly what that tongue can do, how good it can make him feel.

He heads out of the room, waiting for York to leave before he closes the door. The other guards have weapons trained on him and he knows that Carolina is there, watching. Probably following while cloaked.

York follows. Head up, shoulders straight, and starts counting the steps. If he can find his way back here he can find his way to the terminal. Even without a HUD and only one good eye- with Delta? he can keep track of who's around. What they're wearing. Armor, body language, temperament. Cataloging. So they can plan.

The cell when they reach it is not quite what one would have expected. For an army base, it's positively luxurious. A large bed, bathroom, desk and chair. Bolted down of course, and there was no computer terminal anywhere for him to get access to. But in place of that, there's a few books, a pack of cards.

"In here," Wash says, nudging him inside. "I wouldn't try to get out by the way. There's an EMP charge on the door. It'll go off if it's opened wrongly."

This is- nice. Very nice. One way in, one way out, door's probably trapped against tampering. No terminal that he can see but-

THey'll figure something out. They always do.

He's already peering at the desk and considering his options when Wash tells him that last bit and both he and Delta lock up cold. Well. That's why he let him take D, right there. Not gonna fuck with that door. Noted. "So do I get to be uncuffed now or do I have to live with my hands behind my back forever? Also: Clothes. I know you like my ass but come on- will it kill you to give me some jeans or something?"

Wash stands in the doorway, watching as York explores the room. He's not sure what Carolina and Control have planned, but they're definitely keeping him in luxury for now. Kill him with kindness? He'll have to speak to her later.

Turn around and I'll get rid of the cuffs for now," he says. No promising that he won't still end up cuffed later if he's an asshole about things. It's kind of inevitable. "I'll see what I can find. Might have noticed I don't exactly own a lot of clothes. Not sure anyone has many with them."

Turn around he does, fingers still laced together. Keeps him still. Keeps him focused. "Someone's bound to have something- unless you're keeping me here mostly naked as some kinda sex slave which- kinky but no."

He very much so does not consent.

Still, something in what Delta said earlier, something in what Delta's murmuring now has him rolling his shoulders and canting his hips slightly- lazy, idle postures that have the side effect of making him look particuarly sexy- or so he'd been told.

"Always an option," Wash says coldly. "Sure we can get a shipment of really good drugs delivered if we want that."

He unfastens the cuffs and takes them away, not giving York anything to work with, although he lingers a little longer than he should. The bodysuits are called that for a reason, skintight and hiding absolutely nothing at all. "You'll deal directly with me and Carolina. Everyone else has orders not to interact for any reason."

"You could just ask nicely." And he's close. Close enough for York to turn his head over his shoulder and give a little twist to his spine. Sure he's in a suit instead of in a shower but not twenty four hours ago Wash fucked him hard against a wall. Invoking that image shouldn't take much effort. "You're my personal warden? That's hot."

There's a catch in his breath when he looks at York and he knows he didn't stifle it nearly well enough for York to miss. Fuck. He has to be better. He can't afford to be this off balance just because they fucked a couple of times.

Fine. Play it that way. He steps up close, presses hard against York's back, hands sliding down over York's hips and thighs. "Is that what you want? Starting to think you'd enjoy it, being locked up here just waiting for me or Carolina to pay you some attention."

Roll with it. This is- well it's not the worst idea Delta's had but seriously, him playing a honey pot with his bum eye and crooked smile? Would not work unless he'd already fucked Wash and had some sort of weird lingering UST with Carolina. So. Work with what you got.

Wash presses in close and York arches just a bit, tipping his head back against his shoulder to take a slow breath. Let his hands run along Wash's gauntlets while he tries to remember what tiny little storage pockets kept 'nonessential' tech. Won't do anything NOW but, next time? He might try to lift something. "And if I behave I'll get that attention, is that it?"

He breathes in when York leans against him, can remember all too clearly touching him in more intimate places, fucking him in the bed and in the shower. He turns his head enough to press his lips against York's cheek. Almost a kiss.

"No. If you behave then we don't drag you back to Control and hand you over to the boss's science team while they figure out what to add to his Freelancer collection."

Hand to wrist, wrist to elbow and up- York reaches behind his head to curl his fingers in Wash's hair- not to pull. Just to feel. It's how he broke the wall last time they fought, combing his fingers through Wash's hair. Maybe it'll work again. "Then what do I do to get this positive attention? Ask nicely?"

The fact that both he and Carolina probably have the threat of experimentation hanging over them isn't missed. It's something to consider.

Delta files it away.

He wants to lean into that touch. It feels good. Reminds him of the stupid date the kids had set up for them, and kissing York. He stays absolutely still instead, impassive. He's not going to let York get to him like this.

"Wait for Carolina to decide you deserve it."

"We both know that's not gonna happen." Not with how the fight went in the MOI. Not with how he's been adamant she's not who she used to be. Carolina's an angle he can't work yet- he doesn't know it well enough. Wash? Wash he can work. Tries to, tilting his face enough to close the distance, sweet and slow.

He freezes for a long moment, mind racing as York leans in to kiss him. Before he can though, Wash pulls away, putting himself out of easy reach of York. "There's no way you want to get that cosy with me when you probably still want to kill me for this."

Fine, play it that way. He sighs and turns around, leaning back against the desk, arms crossed. "Dude you know what 'victim of circumstance' means, right? You got fucked over by the project. I'm pretty sure you're both getting fucked over by hargrove in new and exciting ways. So I'm still pissed."

Wash face him, every line of his body tense and wary. "I'm not a victim," he says. "I'm never going to be a victim again." He won't let that happen. "You don't know anything about the agreement we have with Control." They'd been saved by Charon, taken at their lowest points and given a new purpose.

He gives York a disbelieving look. "You were mad enough when you just thought I was a merc. You don't go from that to being angry on my behalf."

"What happens if you don't do what control says? If you wanna retire or think a job doesn't suit? What if you get tired of being Hargrove's personal monster, mm?" Tired of being a gun to point and fire at someone else's beck and call.

"I don't know the particulars but I do know you were pretty damn desperate for some kind of forgiveness this morning. When we were in bed. Together."

"That won't happen. I know where I belong, where my loyalties lie." And that was here, with Carolina, with Charon. He couldn't exist anywhere else. Thinking otherwise is... painful.

He swallows around a lump in his throat when York brings that up, looks away. "That was a- a lapse. I was stupid. Overly emotional. And I don't need forgiveness. There's nothing anyone could give anyway."

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)

Re: York gets Captured thread split (point of divergance)