ᶤ'ᵐ ᵍᵒᶰᶰᵃ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᶠᵃˡˡ

For a second Felicity felt like there was a sort of forced expression on her friend’s face when he smiled up at her. It was only for a second and she felt like she caught it because she knew him so well but she also hadn’t seen him in a while so maybe she was just assuming? Or maybe something was going on she didn’t know about?

“It’s… going. I’m surprised to see you actually– I haven’t seen anyone in a long time. How is everyone here? How are you?”

        he takes a moment to really look her over, a glance he hopes she won’t NOTICE. there’s no reason this should be too difficult, not with a bit of charm and manipulation. malcolm tilts his head and sighs, angling his body towards her in as relaxed a movement as he can manage. WEARY and heroic, isn’t that barry allen’s most self-pitying state ? 

        the way he sees it, this could go one of two ways: either it works or it doesn’t. there is NO reason why this little chat should be high-risk, as confidence has carried him well so far. so, swallowing his DIGNITY, malcolm forces a puppy dog grin. 

        THIS is where the con gets tricky. . .  see, barry knows what wells might know, the SCIENCE and the SPEEDFORCE. things malcolm hasn’t found the chance to educate himself on yet. in spite of it, he remains relaxed. he has to. watching the man oh so carefully, he puts on the most disgustingly barry allen demeanor he can manage. a soft exhaustion, casual conversation between acquaintances  ( friends ? ),  with a gentle expression.   

soft sheets brush against her nose, lips twitching into an absent smile. this bed is as familiar to her as her own. malcolm’s room is where she spends most of her nights — sleeping and otherwise. he’s in the bathroom now, showering off the sweat they’ve spent the past few hours building up. she’s thought about joining him, but even SLAYERS need rest. ( really, she just likes lazing about in his bed. ) lyss still isn’t sure WHEN malcolm became a second home to her, when rough touches and fingers yanking hair hard enough to make her eyes sting became soft caresses and tangling together to just exist together. when doesn’t matter — by the time she’d realized she’s in love with him, it was too late to stop it anyway. ( not that she wants to, despite his frequent warnings that she should. ) they aren’t the type of people to fall in love, and yet.

the bathroom door opens and she’s pulled from her reverie, expression warming when their eyes meet. holding the sheet to her body with one hand, she reaches out, teeth capturing her lip prisoner momentarily. “ — that was fast.”

         he chooses to IGNORE the irony in her remark, glancing instead at her figure with another hint of temptation. lyss takes up so MUCH of his time, but it hasn’t bothered him yet. the thought about how unsatisfied he’d be if she HAD left the bed while he was in the shower barely has the chance to cross his mind before he’s moving to the dresser for some clothes. THIS is his own act of defiance against the PULL that constantly brings them closer together. 

         ❛ was it ? ❜  he finally asks, like he doesn’t damn well KNOW he hadn’t wasted any time. as strangely blissful as this morning had been, OBLIGATIONS call to him. less time in the shower meant more time lingering with her. it had taken so long to accept, not that he’s ever going to talk about it. SOMEHOW, lyss has become a part of his life and somehow, malcolm isn’t RESISTING. 

           ❛ hey there—- ❜  a DEVIOUS smirk should say enough, not like jem could very easily get out of this. malcolm knows that his little boyfriend spencer is at lacrosse practice with his brother. eric’s off to debate. it’s JUST them.  ❛ so, i have a little predicament you might be interested in. an annoying one. help a guy out ?  it’s something i’m SURE you’ll be interested in helping me solve. ❜

and he doesn’t wait for acceptance. he’s becoming significantly less relaxed now, assuming more of that natural AGGRESSION he embodies so well. at least he’s trying, right?

“ — i’m not saying that you’re being UNREASONABLE, malcolm, i’m just saying that the spider doesn’t deserve to die because it was lurking in my shower. just put it outside, alright ??”