b a b a y a g a

❛ you don’t. ❜ he’d repeat, softer. almost as if to drive the point home: that john could trust him. that if he truly needed help, he could ask. anytime. even if he could fend for himself — and frank knew he could — he didn’t want to see him like this. or … worse. he doesn’t know what he’d do if … if that “worse” were to come. he just wanted to make sure that no matter what, john was okay. whatever that meant to either of them. he says this now, not truly knowing if he’d even follow what he’s saying. like he’d call john to help with his own problems. but it was … nice to know that he’d help. it was nice to know if john accepted his help. frank’s hand squeezes a bit around john’s as he swallows the lump in his throat. there’s a soft scoff after, his head shaking. ❛ i don’t … i don’t know why i’m worried. ❜ but maybe he does. maybe … there’s some part of him that knows exactly why. ❛ i’m just ——- i’m scared shitless. i can’t — i don’t want to lose you. ❜

      “ Next time... I’ll call you.  You call me. “

      The idea of losing Frank to some sort of mess he’d gotten himself into was abhorrent, but continuing to leave him out, dealing with everything on his own would drive a wedge between them that would kill him all the same.  Moving drives the air out of his lunges but it doesn’t stop him form moving, so with a low, pained wheeze John forces himself into a sitting position, using the hand on his to balance himself as he leans forward slow.  He was going to need to stand up and get cleaned off, something he wasn’t really looking forward to, but for now he rests against the other man gently, pressing temple to temple.

❛ you don’t know that. ❜ he’d immediately argue in a harsh whisper. john didn’t know if he could have been killed. but frank knew if he had helped — then maybe, just maybe, john wouldn’t be as injured as he is now. he knows they shouldn’t be having this argument. not now. it’s straining to the other man, frank can clearly see that, but he couldn’t help it. he stares at the other, hand going to put itself on john’s when he feels the fingers ghost over his arm. ❛ goddammit. ❜ he’d hiss, eyes glancing down at their hands. it wasn’t often that he was so clearly … worried. so scared. all for john. ❛ what if you hadn’t? ❜

      “ No.  I don’t. “  A soft admission, something intended to simply agree but not interrupt.  It takes just as much effort as the other statements he’d made but it’s still worth it.  After another second of silence he closes his eyes and focuses instead on simply breathing and letting his body relax to try and ease the ache of tensed muscles.  It had been a rough night, well, the day before had been awful too, but it didn’t much matter now that he was alive and the offenders were not.

      The question captures his attention, and with a little bit of an odd sound he turns his head to look directly at the other man and flash a small smile.

      “ Calling you in could have gotten you killed.  Not willing to do that, Francis. “  It’s a simple statement sure enough, but it seems to take a good deal of effort given his current physical state.  It takes shallow slow breaths and gritted teeth, but he manages to speak despite knowing he really shouldn’t.  Having Frank upset with him like this was upsetting on it’s own, and it has him reaching out to brush just the tips of his fingers against the other mans arm.

@babaayaaga    /    starter call .

        ❝ — John. ❞ There’s a note of seriousness in that awestruck tone; Eggsy’s staring at him with big, pleading eyes, and the puppy he holds close to his chest in a sheltering embrace yips as if on cue. That sound practically makes his heart crack in his chest. ❝ We have to keep him. We ain’t just gonna leave him here. ❞

      The serious tone is what earns his concern immediately, but when he turns to see the other man clutching a pup to his chest for dear life the concern is replaced with something else, something softer.  John turns his gaze up to Eggsy, back to the pup and then around them a few times before he finally takes a few steps forward to rest his free hand on the little beasts head.