[ emboldened by the positive note david hums against his mouth, jeff exhales through his nose and deliberately puts his hands the rest of the way underneath david's shirt, fingers splaying wide against his back. there's something about david that makes jeff want to memorize him - the shape of him, the warmth of his skin, the subtle shift of muscle and bone, the way he moves. david makes jeff want to know him so well that he could recreate him in any medium from memory alone.
slow, like he's painting out a mental map, jeff glides his hands up the length of david's back, shirt gathering up around his wrists as he kisses him. he catches his bottom lip between his own, swipes his tongue almost tentatively against it, and when he drags his hands back down, he pulls them forward a bit, following the shape of david's rib cage around to the front until he's holding his sides, thumbs stroking short, soft lines alone the ridges of his bottom ribs.
something about sneaking away to go and make out makes jeff feel— not young, but younger. takes him back to when life felt a little easier. never easy, but anything before the fog seems like a walk in the park in comparison. getting distracted like this is dangerous and maybe a little reckless, especially considering where they've sneaked off to, but jeff hasn't forgotten the risk. he's just - weighed it against the reward, and found that the reward is worth whatever might happen to him if they get caught. maybe not so much if david gets caught up in michael's bullshit too, but jeff doesn't intend to let him.
that's nothing he wants to think about though, when there are much nicer things to occupy his mind with. like the way david's chest expands under his hands with every breath, and how the weight of him in his lap isn't heavy, but solid and real. grounding, in a way jeff can't really properly describe. like the way his fingers ghost against the nape of jeff's neck, sending a small shiver racing down the length of his spine. the way their mouths fit together. a million things he wants to immortalize in rough lines and bold, thick stripes of color.
jeff pulls away somewhat suddenly, just a fraction. just enough so he can tilt his chin down and take a deep breath, just a bit overwhelmed for a moment by how much he likes david. he wets his lips, forehead lightly bumping against david's brow just briefly, but he only needs a second. he exhales slow and easy, turns his head slightly so he can kiss the high point of david's cheek, then the soft bit of skin by his ear. the edge of his jaw, then just beneath at the slope of his throat. ]
[ david's own thoughts aren't nearly so poetic, even if they lean in the same direction, all he knows is an overwhelming feeling that he needs to touch this man. that he needs to be as close to him as possible to soak up every moment they have here. the threat of michael might be a distant thought in the back of his mind at this point — not forgotten, merely unimportant in comparison — but the awareness that their time is limited is loud and clear. ]
[ muffled though, by the sensation of jeff's hands travelling up his back, around his sides. david's no stranger to having his body appreciated, to hands on him that border on worship in their touch, but this feels different. or maybe he's just biased. maybe it's just that something about the slow, thoughtful way jeff touches him makes him want to feel less like an object-- a prize for somebody else's consumption. not... that he necessarily objects to that, but he feels those hands broad and warm on his sides, thumbs along his ribs, and his breathing stops completely for a moment because the word that flits through his mind is adored and that might be more terrifying than anything he's encountered in the fog. ]
[ the thought of chasing that feeling scares him shitless for a million different reasons, and he feels a little like he's going insane. fuck that, a lot like he's going insane. who gets like this after kissing someone a few times? ]
[ when jeff pulls away, david's breath comes out shakily, simultaneously relieved and already missing the slot of their mouths together. he closes his eyes and takes a breath like that'll help, but before he's even finished he feels lips on his cheek, his jaw. already tiling his head to encourage jeff when he's at his throat and pushing his hand up into his hair, holding the back of his head, a quiet gasp slipping out of him that he can't even find it in himself to be embarrassed by. ]
[ it's probably not very much of a secret by now that jeff... likes it when david puts his hands in his hair. he hasn't made much of an effort to hide it, and he doesn't bother now either, his hands flexing against david's sides when he slides his fingers into his hair, his breath hot against david's pulse. that soft little gasp, though - that hits him kind of unexpectedly, in a good way. jeff files that away with all the other little sounds david's made, however few, over the course of - well, whatever this is.
there's a tiny voice in the back of jeff's head telling him that he's already in too deep with this man, that he shouldn't be thinking about david in terms of art or committing the shape of him underneath his hands to memory. the way he smirks when he's teasing, the tension in his jaw when he's determined or angry or both, the way his voice gets a little rougher at the edges when he's had enough for one day. they've only kissed a handful of times, but it already feels like there aren't enough canvases in the world to capture all of the things jeff likes about him. all of the things he'd want to remember, if the entity chose to show them a little mercy when they finally found a way out of this place.
but maybe it's not too much - maybe it just feels that way because he doesn't have to hide his adoration away in the pages of an old sketchbook, or in the gentle application of bandages and medical tape, wishing he could do more, or in subtle, silent glances when david's pushing his limits and they both know it, but they also know he's the only thing holding everyone together when the odds seem slim to none. maybe it just feels like a lot because it's all at the forefront instead of pushed away and buried somewhere in the back of his mind.
he can't let himself get too far into his own head. if he does, he's bound to fuck this up. make it weird or awkward or uncomfortable, and while that's kind of par for the course for him on a good day, he's not interested in ruining things so quickly.
swallowing quietly, jeff wets his lips and noses at david's throat where his pulse is, fingers flexing again against his sides. he exhales slowly through his mouth, brushes a kiss against the same spot he nosed at. presses another one an inch below that, beard bristling against thin skin. his hands cradling david's rib cage move idly, almost of their own accord, drifting lower to his waist again before they push back and meet in the middle at the bottom of david's spine, fingers linking together and holding him close.
when the lazy peppering of kisses dips low enough to david's shirt collar, jeff doesn't go any further than that - but he does shift, ghosting another kiss over the hollow of his throat before starting another path up the other side of david's neck. ]
[ david arches just a little against jeff, fingertips scraping lightly over his scalp as he tilts his head however he needs to to keep jeff on his neck. when he focuses on that sensation, on jeff's lips and the tickle of his beard and the exploration of his hands, he can dull the roar of panic in his mind to a dull whisper. focus instead on the way he adores the way his hair feels between his fingers or how feels like he's steadily getting warmer and warmer-- ]
Hold-- [ he clears his throat ] hold on.
[ he pulls back enough to pull off his shirt and drop it next to them on the bed. now they may resume. ]
[ david's voice doesn't necessarily startle jeff, but it does make his heart skip a beat for a moment. immediately, he assumes something's wrong, his fingers at david's back unlinking slightly so there's room for david to get away, get some space if that's what he needs. when david sits back, jeff pointedly ignores the dull, guilty twist in his stomach, focused entirely on david instead.
for whatever reason, david's next move is not one jeff expects - but not one he can he's not very into, either. his eyebrows lift slightly when david starts pulling off his shirt, hands moving off of him to get out of the way and make it that much easier. it's not the first time jeff's seen him without a shirt, and even if they weren't tangled up in whatever this new thing is, it probably wouldn't be the last, either, with how often he turns up in trial without one.
but it feels different. it feels deliberate, significant. jeff wouldn't go so far as to say it's for him, but there's a difference between turning up in a trial without a shirt in front of four other people, and taking it off on purpose in front of just one. there's a difference between wandering off into the woods to go blow off some steam by working out, keeping cool without a shirt - and this.
jeff smiles faintly at david, and the first thing he looks at is not david's newly bared torso, but his eyes. partly checking in to make sure he's all right, and partly just because jeff likes them. when his hands settle back on david again, he puts one of them back over the dip of david's spine and brings the other one up to gently cup the side of his neck, thumb tucked beside the hinge of his jaw. jeff leans in to kiss him softly, light and brief, and when he pulls away again, he skims his hand down from david's neck. ghosts his fingertips along a collar bone, thumbs at the hollow of his throat. spreads his fingers and pulls his palm down to the center of david's chest where he just... stops.
it's too much to say that he's fascinated with the proof of life under his palm - the rise and fall of david's chest as he breathes, the dull but present heartbeat, maybe a little quicker than david expects - but it's easy for him to get distracted by it. comforted by it, even.
jeff looks up again, takes a breath of his own, because he hadn't realized he'd stopped for a moment. he offers another one of those ghosts of a smile and tilts his chin up for a kiss. ]
[ it would be impossible for him to stop the little smirk that slides onto his face when he sees how jeff pauses when he takes off his shirt, but he looks — just for a blink and you'll miss it moment — surprised when jeff's instinct is to look up instead of down. david smiles back, rests his hands either side of jeff's neck as he leans down for that brief kiss. ]
[ he smooths his hands out over jeff's collarbones, lets out another of those shaky breaths at the those touches and the hand on his chest, and he presses their foreheads together just for a moment. thoughtful almost when he puts his hand over jeff's to press it firmer against his chest as he tilts his head into that kiss. ]
[ it's hard not to lean into it, difficult not to chase after the taste of david's mouth, and by now, jeff doesn't really feel like he has much incentive not to - so he doesn't. when he kisses david again, it's not aggressive, but there's intent, a quiet sort of hunger in the way he pushes forward, the hand not caught by david's still splayed over his lower back, acting as a support.
the way david closes his hand over jeff's makes something soft in his stomach flutter for a moment, and jeff doesn't really think about it when he turns his hand over underneath david's, slotting their fingers together but keeping their hands right where they are, pinned against his chest. if he focused hard enough, jeff could probably feel the beat of david's heart against his knuckles, but he's too caught up in catching david's lower lip with his teeth, a subtle low note pushing against his mouth.
like david, jeff's also starting to get a little warm, the both of them close enough to each other that their shared body heat doesn't really have anywhere to go. unlike david though, jeff's first instinct isn't to peel himself out of his own shirt; he's not self conscious, not really, but he's also aware that he's... a bit softer than david is, and while he's fairly sure david wouldn't have anything to say about it, it's easier to just - not even consider it at all. ]
[ for the record, if jeff took his shirt off, david would be thrilled. it's not something he'll push for though, he doesn't want to make jeff uncomfortable. maybe when they're more familiar, he'll be a little more pushy, more insistent. right now it's hard to think about much other than the way jeff taking his hand makes his breathing stop and his stomach flutter like he's some teenager having their first kiss. ]
[ the thought makes an amused rush of breath come out of his nose, his hand moving to the back of jeff's neck to hold him firm so he can lean properly into the kiss with more of his weight, a quiet groan slipping out of him at the same time. ]
[ it might not be a full on laugh, but jeff can sense the amusement in david's quick exhale, can feel the subtle shift of his mouth against his lips betraying him. he gets a little sidetracked though when david leans again him, hums a low note into his mouth. jeff exhales through his nose, his fingers curling a little reflexively against david's back, blunt nails scraping lightly. he sits back a little leans some of his own weight a bit more against the headboard behind him, keeps david close with him.
it takes him a second, but he eventually circles back to that little ghost of a laugh, and he breaks away from david. he presses a kiss to his chin, dips his head down a little so he can brush another one against the back of david's hand where his own is still tangled with it against his chest. lifts his head back up again, asks about midway back to david's mouth. ]
What's so funny? Mm?
[ it's just a low murmur, but there's some mild amusement in his tone too. ]
[ he chases jeff's lips when he breaks away, immediately dismayed that he's no longer being kissed. though the sweetness of his little kisses, the way jeff kisses the back of his hand, it makes something in his stomach flutter again and he shakes his head. at once both amused and just slightly embarrassed. ]
Just suddenly struck me, s'all. Sneaking off to go do this in some dingy bedroom. [ david looks down, watching jeff, a quiet smile on his face. combs his fingers through the front of jeff's hair and lets his hand rest at the back of his head. he'd been to preoccupied with the actual doing of getting here and now this to actually think about it at any point. ] Like a pair of kids.
[ before david can push his fingers through his hair, jeff steals another quick kiss from him, mirroring david's small, amused exhale from just a moment ago. david doesn't even have to finish that sentence, and jeff already knows where he's going with it, but he lets him finish anyway, his eyes sliding closed for a moment as david sifts his hand through his hair. he really, really likes when david does that.
humming a thoughtful note in acknowledgement, jeff opens his eyes and looks up at david with a soft, lopsided smile, chuckling quietly under his breath. idly, he relaxes his hand against david's back again, rubs his thumb over david's where their hands are linked together between them. ]
Mm. I was never this lucky.
[ jeff says this mostly as a joke, but it's not untrue. to be fair, though, jeff had very little interest in romantic relationships when he was a teenager, the notion of dating or being romantically involved with someone heavily soured by his parents' constant fighting and eventual divorce. even if it hadn't been, though, jeff doesn't think his younger self would be as confident or as comfortable as he is now.
plus, david was probably just as attractive when he was younger as he is now. teenage jeff probably wouldn't have even known how to speak to him without making an absolute fool of himself.
jeff slides his hand up the column of david's spine, ghosts it back down. he shrugs one of his shoulders kind of lazily. ]
[ the smile on his face is slight, but regardless it's warm and bright, a slight wrinkling by his eyes giving away his amusement too. he tries to imagine what they would've even been like at that age, but most of his thoughts about being a teenager and any kind of relationship inevitably drift toward tristan and that's not what he wants to be thinking about right now. ]
[ in a fucked up kind of way, this is better. and that's something he's not going to lend to much mental real estate to either. ]
[ his teenage self certainly wouldn't have been comfortable sitting in somebody's lap like this, even someone who feels as warm and safe as jeff, much too occupied with macho asshole bullshit. subconsciously he wriggles his hips a little at the thought like he's just remembered that's where he is and has to get comfortable again. ]
[ jeff's response is immediate, and clearly a joke judging by the way the corner of his mouth quirks a little in his attempt to suppress a smile. ]
For once.
[ david doesn't complain at lot in jeff's honest opinion. he's loud sometimes, opinionated and stubborn and unafraid to call someone out for fucking up, but he's not one to whine without reason. it's fun to tease him a little bit though.
when david wiggles in his lap to get settled again, jeff makes a very quiet sound, like he held his breath for just a second and then released it. he curls his hand into a loose fist at david's back and lazily drugs his knuckles up and down the first couple notches in his spine. he looks up at david, squeezes his hand lightly. ]
How long's too long do you think?
[ to be out here fucking around before someone thinks something happened to them and maybe comes looking. not that he's in any rush to go back to camp when he's so content here like this. ]
[ david laughs, rolling his eyes with an immediate 'alright' because he could hear it coming the second he saw that little quirk of jeff's lip. ]
[ he's also much too keyed in to jeff right now not to notice that little sound he makes, and it takes david a second to even realise why, but then he can't stop himself giving jeff a sly little smirk, but he doesn't say anything or pursue it. he glances back over his shoulder instead at the little alarm clock on the nightstand. but it doesn't work so. what's the point even. ]
[ if jeff could easily reach his flashlight, he'd click it in david's face again just for that look he gives him, that stupid little knowing smirk. because it's conveniently out of reach, tucked away in his back pocket (and actually starting to get uncomfortable at this point), he settles for lightly thumping the back of his hand against david's chest as if telling him to cut it out, all without letting go of david's hand.
when david asks how long it's been, jeff takes his other hand off of david's back and leans back a little so he can look down at his own wrist - where there is, unsurprisingly, not a watch. just a bunch of black ink. jeff narrows his eyes anyway for a moment, then looks up at david with a casual shrug. ]
No idea. [ :). ] Hour, maybe?
[ which isn't a terribly long time for anyone to be gone looking for supplies or checking out whatever new bullshit's happened to crop up, but still. ]
[ what a goddamn comedian. david lips pull in an attempt not to laugh, but he can't help that he finds jeff's stupid jokes ridiculously charming. so his thoughts on the time are a small shake of his head as he brings his hand to jeff's cheek and uses it to guide him back in for another kiss. ]
[ so it hasn't been too long then, is the message jeff's getting when david pulls him back in for a kiss. jeff smiles against his mouth, a low chuckle vibrating in his chest as he winds his arm back around him, perfectly content to stay here for however long. whether that's until they're found, by michael or otherwise, or until they get tired of fooling around, who can say.
but that's a concern for later. for now, jeff sighs through his nose, using his arm around david to pull him close, their clasped hands between them keeping them from being completely flush, but it doesn't even cross jeff's mind to let go of his hand just so they can be that much closer.
gently, jeff catches david's lower lip with his teeth, licks tentatively at the seam of his mouth. ]
[ he's definitely been gone for hours and come back with shit all before, so david's not too worried. some survivors take off for suspiciously longer too (zarina), so david's more worried about getting caught, either by michael or someone who got it in their head to come snooping around haddonfield too. ]
[ though worried is a strong word for how little david is thinking about any of that, not with the way he presses himself up close all over again when jeff pulls his arm around him, not even giving a passing thought to their hands clasped between them. far more interested in reminding himself how jeff tastes like it's been longer than a couple of minutes. ]
[ eventually it's gotta stop though. david can feel them both slowing down, no idea how long they've been here but he doesn't care about it too much. slowly, like he's reticent (because he is,) david pulls away. but he sticks close enough to leave a kiss at the corner of jeff's mouth, another on the apple of his cheek, leaves his forehead pressed to jeff's temple when he speaks; low and rough. ]
We should probably head back.
[ he is in no way making even the slightest move to make that happen. ]
[ jeff can sense it too, that it's getting to be time for them to head back before their luck runs out. it feels like a goddamn miracle that they've gone this long uninterrupted, so while jeff also isn't all that thrilled to get out of here, he knows david's right.
but he also doesn't move right away, quietly pleased by david's gentle affections. he exhales, closes his eyes for a second and lingers in the moment. it's been... a really fucking long time since jeff's had a couple of enjoyable hours, and he's reluctant let it come to an end. when david suggests they should start making their way back to camp, jeff answers with a low note. he turns his head slightly so he can kiss david one more time, and murmurs, ]
[ david hums, a low, thoughtful noise. they really should go, he knows it, he knows they're pushing their luck the longer they stay here, but this is also just... nice. in a way that he hadn't even realised he's been missing since long before the fog. ]
You think they'd notice if we just didn't come back for a while? [ his eyes are closed, voice low, arm draped lazily over jeff's shoulder. ] Be nice to sleep in a real bed.
[ it probably says something about jeff that he actually pauses to consider the question. what is says about him is anyone's guess, but it's probably nothing good. absently, he runs his hand up david's back, loosely cups the back of his neck and then squeezes gently as he thinks about it.
it would be really nice to sleep in a real bed. really fucking nice. between the both of them, david's more likely to be noted as missing before jeff is, but the people who're close enough to david to notice his absence are also probably the people who know not to worry about him too quickly. jeff can't say if anyone would notice, isn't sure if anyone even saw them leave.
and what's the worst that could happen, honestly? they get some actually decent sleep for once for a couple hours before michael finds them? they die in their sleep? admittedly, jeff can't say being murdered in his sleep sounds... terrible. he likely wouldn't even know. and who knows, maybe they'll keep riding this wave of luck and nothing will happen to them at all. either way, the odds seem... not not in their favor.
how fucked up is it that he's willing to risk a knife in the gut to sleep in an actual bed? probably less fucked up than being trapped in an endless cycle of being hunted and slaughtered. jeff absently kneads the back of david's neck, wets his lips. he offers a half shrug. ]
People are gone from camp all the time. [ granted, it's usually because they've been summoned to a trial, but still. the pros of staying here are really starting to outweigh the cons the longer jeff thinks about it. ] Christ knows my back could use a break...
[ david lets out a soft little sigh at the hand up his back, the way jeff squeezes his neck that he's quickly becoming addicted to, tilts his head a little more towards jeff's while he waits for the result of whatever deliberation is going on in his head. ]
[ for his part, once the thought occurred david knew he'd be down if jeff was. any kind of comfort is fleeting here, it feels more than worth it to him to grab hold of this once the opportunity presents. lord knows he's done riskier shit for less, even when the threat of death was far more than a terrifying inconvenience. like if stubbing your toe came with a wash of existential dread. ]
[ when jeff finally speaks, david gives it a couple of moment's thought and then carefully slips off his lap onto the bed next to him, still holding his hand, which makes finding a way to lay down a little awkward but he'll manage. ]
C'mere then. [ he grins up at jeff. ] Been told I make a good pillow.
[ when david moves to slide out of his lap, jeff lets his hand skim from his neck to about halfway down his spine before david's out of his reach. he watches him curiously for a beat, still unsure about whether or not they've decided to stay. ultimately, it's up to david, in jeff's opinion - whatever he decides he wants to do, jeff's in, so long as it means he gets to commandeer a little more of his time.
david summons him, though. looks up at him and smiles and tells him to come here and something in jeff's chest vibrates a little. he can't help the quiet huff of a laugh that escapes him, nor can help the lopsided smile that tugs at one side of his mouth or the sad attempt to hide it. jeff shakes his head, lightly squeezing david's hand that's still tangled with his.
this is a stupid idea. jeff can admit that much, but it's probably not the stupidest idea either one of them has had by far. as far as jeff is concerned, the risk is worth the reward no matter how you spin it, at least this once. he raises his eyebrows slightly at david. ]
Mm? [ he's not questioning david's claim of being a good pillow, but merely acknowledging it. jeff starts to shift, working on getting more comfortable, all without letting go of david's hand. it's hard to tell if he even realizes he's still holding it. ] Not as impressive as a great pillow.
[ jeff says this nonchalantly, settles, glances at david again. ]
[ there's a beat before david actually reacts, a moment of internal panic that that's some kind of hint for him to get or something, but when it passes it's washed away with a scoff and a roll of his eyes that do nothing to hide the slight smile creeping in at the edges that give away how charming he finds jeff, dumb jokes or not. ]
[ he evidently hasn't forgotten they're holding hands either, not with the way david tugs on jeff's a little pointedly and raises his eyebrows. ]
Can't sleep on yourself though, can you?
[ he would like to have this man in his arms asap, and if anything he thinks he deserves it. ]
[ jeff tilts his head slightly, his mouth pulling downward at the corners a bit like he's really, genuinely considering the logistics of being able to sleep on himself, though its really just for david's entertainment. in the end, he sighs like he's conceding to the point, absently squeezing david's hand when he tugs on jeff's.
and then he loosens his grip, carefully eases his his hand out of david's, and only pauses for a moment before sitting up a bit. then, with only a little bit of uncertainty, he reaches back over his shoulders and grabs two handfuls of his shirt, pulling it off over his head and reaching slightly to drop it with david's.
if they're going to hang out here and try to get some - normal sleep in a normal(ish) bed, he might as well make the most of it, right? it only makes sense try and be as comfortable as possible, and if he were back home, for real, in his own bed, he wouldn't be sleeping (or attempting to sleep) in a shirt.
jeff clears his throat quietly, then attempts to settle again. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hardlydead) wrote2021-11-01 05:44 am
no subject
slow, like he's painting out a mental map, jeff glides his hands up the length of david's back, shirt gathering up around his wrists as he kisses him. he catches his bottom lip between his own, swipes his tongue almost tentatively against it, and when he drags his hands back down, he pulls them forward a bit, following the shape of david's rib cage around to the front until he's holding his sides, thumbs stroking short, soft lines alone the ridges of his bottom ribs.
something about sneaking away to go and make out makes jeff feel— not young, but younger. takes him back to when life felt a little easier. never easy, but anything before the fog seems like a walk in the park in comparison. getting distracted like this is dangerous and maybe a little reckless, especially considering where they've sneaked off to, but jeff hasn't forgotten the risk. he's just - weighed it against the reward, and found that the reward is worth whatever might happen to him if they get caught. maybe not so much if david gets caught up in michael's bullshit too, but jeff doesn't intend to let him.
that's nothing he wants to think about though, when there are much nicer things to occupy his mind with. like the way david's chest expands under his hands with every breath, and how the weight of him in his lap isn't heavy, but solid and real. grounding, in a way jeff can't really properly describe. like the way his fingers ghost against the nape of jeff's neck, sending a small shiver racing down the length of his spine. the way their mouths fit together. a million things he wants to immortalize in rough lines and bold, thick stripes of color.
jeff pulls away somewhat suddenly, just a fraction. just enough so he can tilt his chin down and take a deep breath, just a bit overwhelmed for a moment by how much he likes david. he wets his lips, forehead lightly bumping against david's brow just briefly, but he only needs a second. he exhales slow and easy, turns his head slightly so he can kiss the high point of david's cheek, then the soft bit of skin by his ear. the edge of his jaw, then just beneath at the slope of his throat. ]
no subject
[ muffled though, by the sensation of jeff's hands travelling up his back, around his sides. david's no stranger to having his body appreciated, to hands on him that border on worship in their touch, but this feels different. or maybe he's just biased. maybe it's just that something about the slow, thoughtful way jeff touches him makes him want to feel less like an object-- a prize for somebody else's consumption. not... that he necessarily objects to that, but he feels those hands broad and warm on his sides, thumbs along his ribs, and his breathing stops completely for a moment because the word that flits through his mind is adored and that might be more terrifying than anything he's encountered in the fog. ]
[ the thought of chasing that feeling scares him shitless for a million different reasons, and he feels a little like he's going insane. fuck that, a lot like he's going insane. who gets like this after kissing someone a few times? ]
[ when jeff pulls away, david's breath comes out shakily, simultaneously relieved and already missing the slot of their mouths together. he closes his eyes and takes a breath like that'll help, but before he's even finished he feels lips on his cheek, his jaw. already tiling his head to encourage jeff when he's at his throat and pushing his hand up into his hair, holding the back of his head, a quiet gasp slipping out of him that he can't even find it in himself to be embarrassed by. ]
no subject
there's a tiny voice in the back of jeff's head telling him that he's already in too deep with this man, that he shouldn't be thinking about david in terms of art or committing the shape of him underneath his hands to memory. the way he smirks when he's teasing, the tension in his jaw when he's determined or angry or both, the way his voice gets a little rougher at the edges when he's had enough for one day. they've only kissed a handful of times, but it already feels like there aren't enough canvases in the world to capture all of the things jeff likes about him. all of the things he'd want to remember, if the entity chose to show them a little mercy when they finally found a way out of this place.
but maybe it's not too much - maybe it just feels that way because he doesn't have to hide his adoration away in the pages of an old sketchbook, or in the gentle application of bandages and medical tape, wishing he could do more, or in subtle, silent glances when david's pushing his limits and they both know it, but they also know he's the only thing holding everyone together when the odds seem slim to none. maybe it just feels like a lot because it's all at the forefront instead of pushed away and buried somewhere in the back of his mind.
he can't let himself get too far into his own head. if he does, he's bound to fuck this up. make it weird or awkward or uncomfortable, and while that's kind of par for the course for him on a good day, he's not interested in ruining things so quickly.
swallowing quietly, jeff wets his lips and noses at david's throat where his pulse is, fingers flexing again against his sides. he exhales slowly through his mouth, brushes a kiss against the same spot he nosed at. presses another one an inch below that, beard bristling against thin skin. his hands cradling david's rib cage move idly, almost of their own accord, drifting lower to his waist again before they push back and meet in the middle at the bottom of david's spine, fingers linking together and holding him close.
when the lazy peppering of kisses dips low enough to david's shirt collar, jeff doesn't go any further than that - but he does shift, ghosting another kiss over the hollow of his throat before starting another path up the other side of david's neck. ]
no subject
Hold-- [ he clears his throat ] hold on.
[ he pulls back enough to pull off his shirt and drop it next to them on the bed. now they may resume. ]
no subject
for whatever reason, david's next move is not one jeff expects - but not one he can he's not very into, either. his eyebrows lift slightly when david starts pulling off his shirt, hands moving off of him to get out of the way and make it that much easier. it's not the first time jeff's seen him without a shirt, and even if they weren't tangled up in whatever this new thing is, it probably wouldn't be the last, either, with how often he turns up in trial without one.
but it feels different. it feels deliberate, significant. jeff wouldn't go so far as to say it's for him, but there's a difference between turning up in a trial without a shirt in front of four other people, and taking it off on purpose in front of just one. there's a difference between wandering off into the woods to go blow off some steam by working out, keeping cool without a shirt - and this.
jeff smiles faintly at david, and the first thing he looks at is not david's newly bared torso, but his eyes. partly checking in to make sure he's all right, and partly just because jeff likes them. when his hands settle back on david again, he puts one of them back over the dip of david's spine and brings the other one up to gently cup the side of his neck, thumb tucked beside the hinge of his jaw. jeff leans in to kiss him softly, light and brief, and when he pulls away again, he skims his hand down from david's neck. ghosts his fingertips along a collar bone, thumbs at the hollow of his throat. spreads his fingers and pulls his palm down to the center of david's chest where he just... stops.
it's too much to say that he's fascinated with the proof of life under his palm - the rise and fall of david's chest as he breathes, the dull but present heartbeat, maybe a little quicker than david expects - but it's easy for him to get distracted by it. comforted by it, even.
jeff looks up again, takes a breath of his own, because he hadn't realized he'd stopped for a moment. he offers another one of those ghosts of a smile and tilts his chin up for a kiss. ]
no subject
[ he smooths his hands out over jeff's collarbones, lets out another of those shaky breaths at the those touches and the hand on his chest, and he presses their foreheads together just for a moment. thoughtful almost when he puts his hand over jeff's to press it firmer against his chest as he tilts his head into that kiss. ]
no subject
the way david closes his hand over jeff's makes something soft in his stomach flutter for a moment, and jeff doesn't really think about it when he turns his hand over underneath david's, slotting their fingers together but keeping their hands right where they are, pinned against his chest. if he focused hard enough, jeff could probably feel the beat of david's heart against his knuckles, but he's too caught up in catching david's lower lip with his teeth, a subtle low note pushing against his mouth.
like david, jeff's also starting to get a little warm, the both of them close enough to each other that their shared body heat doesn't really have anywhere to go. unlike david though, jeff's first instinct isn't to peel himself out of his own shirt; he's not self conscious, not really, but he's also aware that he's... a bit softer than david is, and while he's fairly sure david wouldn't have anything to say about it, it's easier to just - not even consider it at all. ]
no subject
[ the thought makes an amused rush of breath come out of his nose, his hand moving to the back of jeff's neck to hold him firm so he can lean properly into the kiss with more of his weight, a quiet groan slipping out of him at the same time. ]
no subject
it takes him a second, but he eventually circles back to that little ghost of a laugh, and he breaks away from david. he presses a kiss to his chin, dips his head down a little so he can brush another one against the back of david's hand where his own is still tangled with it against his chest. lifts his head back up again, asks about midway back to david's mouth. ]
What's so funny? Mm?
[ it's just a low murmur, but there's some mild amusement in his tone too. ]
no subject
Just suddenly struck me, s'all. Sneaking off to go do this in some dingy bedroom. [ david looks down, watching jeff, a quiet smile on his face. combs his fingers through the front of jeff's hair and lets his hand rest at the back of his head. he'd been to preoccupied with the actual doing of getting here and now this to actually think about it at any point. ] Like a pair of kids.
no subject
humming a thoughtful note in acknowledgement, jeff opens his eyes and looks up at david with a soft, lopsided smile, chuckling quietly under his breath. idly, he relaxes his hand against david's back again, rubs his thumb over david's where their hands are linked together between them. ]
Mm. I was never this lucky.
[ jeff says this mostly as a joke, but it's not untrue. to be fair, though, jeff had very little interest in romantic relationships when he was a teenager, the notion of dating or being romantically involved with someone heavily soured by his parents' constant fighting and eventual divorce. even if it hadn't been, though, jeff doesn't think his younger self would be as confident or as comfortable as he is now.
plus, david was probably just as attractive when he was younger as he is now. teenage jeff probably wouldn't have even known how to speak to him without making an absolute fool of himself.
jeff slides his hand up the column of david's spine, ghosts it back down. he shrugs one of his shoulders kind of lazily. ]
Kinda nice, though.
no subject
[ the smile on his face is slight, but regardless it's warm and bright, a slight wrinkling by his eyes giving away his amusement too. he tries to imagine what they would've even been like at that age, but most of his thoughts about being a teenager and any kind of relationship inevitably drift toward tristan and that's not what he wants to be thinking about right now. ]
[ in a fucked up kind of way, this is better. and that's something he's not going to lend to much mental real estate to either. ]
[ his teenage self certainly wouldn't have been comfortable sitting in somebody's lap like this, even someone who feels as warm and safe as jeff, much too occupied with macho asshole bullshit. subconsciously he wriggles his hips a little at the thought like he's just remembered that's where he is and has to get comfortable again. ]
no subject
For once.
[ david doesn't complain at lot in jeff's honest opinion. he's loud sometimes, opinionated and stubborn and unafraid to call someone out for fucking up, but he's not one to whine without reason. it's fun to tease him a little bit though.
when david wiggles in his lap to get settled again, jeff makes a very quiet sound, like he held his breath for just a second and then released it. he curls his hand into a loose fist at david's back and lazily drugs his knuckles up and down the first couple notches in his spine. he looks up at david, squeezes his hand lightly. ]
How long's too long do you think?
[ to be out here fucking around before someone thinks something happened to them and maybe comes looking. not that he's in any rush to go back to camp when he's so content here like this. ]
no subject
[ he's also much too keyed in to jeff right now not to notice that little sound he makes, and it takes david a second to even realise why, but then he can't stop himself giving jeff a sly little smirk, but he doesn't say anything or pursue it. he glances back over his shoulder instead at the little alarm clock on the nightstand. but it doesn't work so. what's the point even. ]
How long have we even been here?
no subject
when david asks how long it's been, jeff takes his other hand off of david's back and leans back a little so he can look down at his own wrist - where there is, unsurprisingly, not a watch. just a bunch of black ink. jeff narrows his eyes anyway for a moment, then looks up at david with a casual shrug. ]
No idea. [ :). ] Hour, maybe?
[ which isn't a terribly long time for anyone to be gone looking for supplies or checking out whatever new bullshit's happened to crop up, but still. ]
no subject
no subject
but that's a concern for later. for now, jeff sighs through his nose, using his arm around david to pull him close, their clasped hands between them keeping them from being completely flush, but it doesn't even cross jeff's mind to let go of his hand just so they can be that much closer.
gently, jeff catches david's lower lip with his teeth, licks tentatively at the seam of his mouth. ]
no subject
[ though worried is a strong word for how little david is thinking about any of that, not with the way he presses himself up close all over again when jeff pulls his arm around him, not even giving a passing thought to their hands clasped between them. far more interested in reminding himself how jeff tastes like it's been longer than a couple of minutes. ]
[ eventually it's gotta stop though. david can feel them both slowing down, no idea how long they've been here but he doesn't care about it too much. slowly, like he's reticent (because he is,) david pulls away. but he sticks close enough to leave a kiss at the corner of jeff's mouth, another on the apple of his cheek, leaves his forehead pressed to jeff's temple when he speaks; low and rough. ]
We should probably head back.
[ he is in no way making even the slightest move to make that happen. ]
no subject
but he also doesn't move right away, quietly pleased by david's gentle affections. he exhales, closes his eyes for a second and lingers in the moment. it's been... a really fucking long time since jeff's had a couple of enjoyable hours, and he's reluctant let it come to an end. when david suggests they should start making their way back to camp, jeff answers with a low note. he turns his head slightly so he can kiss david one more time, and murmurs, ]
Can't go anywhere until you do.
no subject
You think they'd notice if we just didn't come back for a while? [ his eyes are closed, voice low, arm draped lazily over jeff's shoulder. ] Be nice to sleep in a real bed.
[ hahaha j/k... unless..... ]
no subject
it would be really nice to sleep in a real bed. really fucking nice. between the both of them, david's more likely to be noted as missing before jeff is, but the people who're close enough to david to notice his absence are also probably the people who know not to worry about him too quickly. jeff can't say if anyone would notice, isn't sure if anyone even saw them leave.
and what's the worst that could happen, honestly? they get some actually decent sleep for once for a couple hours before michael finds them? they die in their sleep? admittedly, jeff can't say being murdered in his sleep sounds... terrible. he likely wouldn't even know. and who knows, maybe they'll keep riding this wave of luck and nothing will happen to them at all. either way, the odds seem... not not in their favor.
how fucked up is it that he's willing to risk a knife in the gut to sleep in an actual bed? probably less fucked up than being trapped in an endless cycle of being hunted and slaughtered. jeff absently kneads the back of david's neck, wets his lips. he offers a half shrug. ]
People are gone from camp all the time. [ granted, it's usually because they've been summoned to a trial, but still. the pros of staying here are really starting to outweigh the cons the longer jeff thinks about it. ] Christ knows my back could use a break...
[ ha ha. jk. un. less. ]
no subject
[ for his part, once the thought occurred david knew he'd be down if jeff was. any kind of comfort is fleeting here, it feels more than worth it to him to grab hold of this once the opportunity presents. lord knows he's done riskier shit for less, even when the threat of death was far more than a terrifying inconvenience. like if stubbing your toe came with a wash of existential dread. ]
[ when jeff finally speaks, david gives it a couple of moment's thought and then carefully slips off his lap onto the bed next to him, still holding his hand, which makes finding a way to lay down a little awkward but he'll manage. ]
C'mere then. [ he grins up at jeff. ] Been told I make a good pillow.
no subject
david summons him, though. looks up at him and smiles and tells him to come here and something in jeff's chest vibrates a little. he can't help the quiet huff of a laugh that escapes him, nor can help the lopsided smile that tugs at one side of his mouth or the sad attempt to hide it. jeff shakes his head, lightly squeezing david's hand that's still tangled with his.
this is a stupid idea. jeff can admit that much, but it's probably not the stupidest idea either one of them has had by far. as far as jeff is concerned, the risk is worth the reward no matter how you spin it, at least this once. he raises his eyebrows slightly at david. ]
Mm? [ he's not questioning david's claim of being a good pillow, but merely acknowledging it. jeff starts to shift, working on getting more comfortable, all without letting go of david's hand. it's hard to tell if he even realizes he's still holding it. ] Not as impressive as a great pillow.
[ jeff says this nonchalantly, settles, glances at david again. ]
That's me. By the way.
no subject
[ he evidently hasn't forgotten they're holding hands either, not with the way david tugs on jeff's a little pointedly and raises his eyebrows. ]
Can't sleep on yourself though, can you?
[ he would like to have this man in his arms asap, and if anything he thinks he deserves it. ]
no subject
and then he loosens his grip, carefully eases his his hand out of david's, and only pauses for a moment before sitting up a bit. then, with only a little bit of uncertainty, he reaches back over his shoulders and grabs two handfuls of his shirt, pulling it off over his head and reaching slightly to drop it with david's.
if they're going to hang out here and try to get some - normal sleep in a normal(ish) bed, he might as well make the most of it, right? it only makes sense try and be as comfortable as possible, and if he were back home, for real, in his own bed, he wouldn't be sleeping (or attempting to sleep) in a shirt.
jeff clears his throat quietly, then attempts to settle again. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
i hate these idiots
leave them alone they're doing their best
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)