JACKAL.

Teeth clamped on coat-clad arm and silence followed. For a moment at least before Jackal seized up and her free hand came to bash against fiend’s head - right between elongated horns that she’d been tasked with dealing with. Should’ve figured that draining blood from the Blood Fiend would be a troublesome task!

“Agh! Get off me right now!” Quick to anger, she whacked Power on the head a few times, trying to wrench her arm free. “Believe me, this is the last place I want to be as well!” Well. In this situation, she should say. 

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋 .

                           ↳ ❛ Speak. ❜    

    Devil KNOWS of the hold on this woman already, their sense of smell & hearing is unlike any others. One’s heart beat pulsated in ringing ears, taste of sweetness dipped on the tongue. Thus spoke toward its PET in such vigorous tones, the she-devil herself would inch closer. Crouched. Staring. Gaze remain locked on one another’s & appendage came to lift the Jackal’s mask. Only slightly. Enough to see trembling lips beneath.

                          ↳ ❛ DOGS get fed when they’ve listened to their masters.

                               And you? Didn’t speak when asked.

                               Don’t you know what happens to pets who misbehave? ❜  

It was the gentle shift of her mask being lifted from her face that brought her out of her little stupor and her body yanked back before she was fully aware of it. Blink, blink. She was leaning back on her hands now, slightly dazed before those sickeningly sweet words met her ears and she scowled. 

“.... Yes.” It sounded like she was trying to hold back her annoyance, funny considering that she was still sitting there. Wait. Was she shaking? She just noticed. If she could will herself to stop, she would but no luck. 

Her pride was hurt, that much was certain but with the weight of Makima’s shoe against her shoulder, pressing her back down to the floor, well.... At this moment, she could deal with it. Begrudgingly. Of course.

Face beet red under her mask, her one saving grace was that it hid it.

     Figures  Jackal  failed  to  hold  that  stare  longer  than  she  :  it  always  seemed  to  turn  out  that  way  ,  but  it  usually  didn’t  happen  this  quickly  .  

     It  doesn’t  click  until  Jackal  paints  the  picture  .  Irritation  gives  way  to  a  smug  grin         fun  as  it  may  be  to  bicker  back  &  forth  like  this  ,  it’s  far  more  entertaining  watching  Jackal  fluster  .  Hand  may  reach  out  once  more  ,  but  it  cups  skin  rather  than  mask  this  time  .  Far  more  intimate  .

     ‘  That’s  what  this  is  about  .  You  ,  getting  distracted  from  your  work  ?  It’s  surprising  ,  but  …  a  little  predictable  .  I  mean  ,  I’m  sure  you  don’t  take  care  of  yourself  when  the  mood  strikes  …  Sounds  like  it  has  .  

     Grip  is  released  ,  hands  falling  to  rest  on  hips  .  ‘  Do  I  get  under  your  skin  that  easily  ,  Leila  ?  ‘  

This was not how it was supposed to be going. Jackal’s body temperature was already warmer than most (a perfect space heater) but underneath Raven’s hold, she became absolutely scorching. A low grumble rose up from throat, never one for being touched unless it was very specific circumstances... with very specific individuals. 

She’s only grateful it doesn’t last that long (would she be able to bear longer?) before hands slide to her hips. Leila? It throws her for a loop for a moment, but Jackal is quick to adapt and tosses arms around merc’s shoulders, letting the tip of her own long nails drag against back of neck.

“I couldn’t possibly know what you’re implying, Natasha.” Words are filled with venom, but there’s a little singsong in her tone, like she’s having fun with this back-and-forth. Like she was certain she was going to win. “I never said I was distracted, just that I was admiring. But now... Up close, the smell of your workout is really revolting.” 

Once Raven had gone out of sight of the training area’s cameras, Jackal had taken a moment to wonder where she’d gone before realization clicked in and.... She was a little too late in getting to the door, silently cursing herself for hesitating. 

Well. Not that it was all bad, the look on her cohort’s face a welcome sight in its own. 

Until she was fumbling for mask so rudely plucked off, hands clasping around it almost protectively. Glare matches Raven’s off before she’s whipping her gaze away, pointedly backing away out of reach as she tries to put dog mask back on while still keeping a watchful eye over the other.

Oh, this was a dangerous game they played. Neither would get out completely unscathed and it seemed Raven would draw first blood, having been met with stubborn resistance, piercing skin as a droplet of blood forming on tip of claw. A soft hiss of pain left Jackal’s lips, finally allowing chin to be pushed up though amber eyes still glared at Raven from beneath mask.