Disharmony

Wynn had never really initiated the physical contact, she knew he would have been surprised with the kiss and she mirrored his smirk with her own as he leaned in to press another kiss to her lips and pull her close. She let him, wrapping an arm around his neck slowly. She tried to push down her feelings of worry - war was on the horizon, except it had been much closer than that. The things she saw - she’d been asked to scout, a soft white cloud near undetectable in the sky. The things she saw made her skin crawl. She’d been sworn to secrecy until they could figure out a plan of action, up the training and plans, secure the weak points in the camp. The whole thing made Wynn feel dizzy, she was a lover not a fighter. “so is that a yes?” 

.

     “It’s an absolutely” he assured her with a wide grin, leaning in to press a quick and gentle kiss to her forehead before he untangled himself from her small frame and offered her his hand instead. “Care to lead the way?” he asked, gently teasing. He knew exactly where they were headed, after all. To the one place in this sorry camp that had ever managed to bring Jasper any peace. There was something about the gentle crashing of the waves as they hit the sand and the otherwise absence of sound that soothed something in his bones. Too much quiet allowed his mind to wander to darker thoughts, however, and so it was really just a game of balance. “So this boy that you like, tell me. Is he charming? devilishly good looking? Utterly dreamy?” he grinned even wider, a light of playful mischief in his ocean eyes as he fell into step beside her. 

-

Tony waved his hand as the younger man spoke. “Yeah, have at it,” he said. A smile touched his lips as Atticus spoke. Although he may not admit it out-loud, at least not in the most touching way, but the kid tugged on his heartstrings. “I would look pretty good in one of those long tan robes,” he said. “I’m about that guy’s height, too.” For some reason people always expected him to be tall when they met him. Maybe it was the suit. Or the money. Or some combination thereof. He grinned. “No, you don’t have to start doing that until you get your W-9 form in,” he teased. Tony raised his eyebrows as the younger man spoke. He really wasn’t sure what topic to start with. “Girlfriend, huh?” he said, choosing the more fun one. “I don’t know how easily impressed she is, but feel free to name drop as much as you want. Any of the Avengers, too. Not Natasha, though, she’ll find out.” He pointed at his own eyes with two fingers and made a gesture around them. “You never know where she is. She could be listening right now.” A grin flashed across his face to underline the point that he was joking. Mostly. Probably. You could never really tell with Nat. Or Barton, for that matter.

.

     Pen already pressed to paper, Atticus gave a fervent nod as if he hadn’t been about to make the notes regardless. “Well, you know, there are actually studies that suggest that the way one carries themself has a lot of influence into how they are perceived. For example, you carrying yourself with a lot of self-confidence and so...You’d totally hire a therapist if you wanted to hear why you’re the way that you are, huh? I’ll shut up” he loosened a heavy sigh, an embarrassed grin spreading over his lips as Atticus caught himself mid-ramble. The only person that seemed to enjoy when he would run off on a tangent like that was Stephanie, and even then he was a little convinced that she was only humouring him sometimes. Atticus blinked, at least ninety percent certain that the older man had been joking. That didn’t stop the gentle furrow in his brow as he reached for his notebook, however, mouthing the words as he scrawled them in black ink. W-9 Form. “Well...It’s not technically something official just yet...” he admitted, a warm blush settling across his high cheekbones as Atticus fidgeted with the pen in his hand with a quiet but off-putting click, click, click. Bruce had grown used to Atticus’ anxious tendencies, and had even bought him a stress ball for his desk - something to occupy his hands that was quiet. “Oh - I’m not so sure that she would care so much about all of that...” he informed him, blinking as he realised what he had inferred unintentionally. “But I think that it’s very cool! The coolest” Atticus felt as if it was hard to breathe suddenly. If he lost his job at Stark Industries within the same fifteen minutes that he had started it he would have no choice but to move to a different city and change his name out of sheer humiliation. “Does she sneak up on you a lot?” he found himself asking, anxious for a change in subject. 

Wynn let a lazy smile spread across her lips once more as his hands found their way to the small of her back bringing her closer to him, keeping her against his chest. Jasper had been true to his word, she hadn’t heard anything about him hooking up with other girls much to the annoyance of the Aphrodite cabin. He’d been sweet and thoughtful and slowly but surely Wynn had been ready to let her guard down and risk her heart. She closed her eyes at the feeling of his lips pressed gently at her cheek, his words, his lips at her ear gave her shivers. She opened her mouth to tell him her secret but instead leaned forward and pressed her lips gently against his. “I know a really private spot on the beach, where a boy I know likes to draw.” she whispered. “if you can keep a secret - maybe we can go…” 

.

     There had been an unintentional change in Jasper over the last few weeks. He was unable to pinpoint exactly when it had happened but at some point, he had stopped running. From his growing feelings for Wynn. From the expectations that sat heavy and merciless upon his shoulders. From himself. He had no idea what the future would bring but suddenly, with her by his side, Jasper found himself wanting to know. Something in his bones told him that everything would be okay so long as he followed her. And he would. Ocean blue eyes closed as she kissed him gently, drawing a lazy smile onto his lips that mirrored her own. “Is that so?” he whispered back, smirking softly. “I’m very good at keeping secrets, you know...But first...” He leaned in, pressing another kiss to her lips as he pulled her close. 

𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 - 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐬

       “She’s holding up.” Nellie’s response was simple and to the point as she most often was, finding that speaking anything but the truth ended with most people in hot water if they were lucky, and a noose around their neck if they weren’t. Bounty had been in rough shape when Silas finally brought her to the ranch: a ripped off horseshoe, leaving a chipped hoof and a fair case of the common cold. Luckily with a little bit of help and time to relax his beloved horse was in better shape than before. She still had a week or so to go before she was in the clear, though. “I don’t know what you did to that horse,” she gestured to the brindle coated Missouri Fox Trotter that grazed on sweet grass in the pen behind her, “but she needs some more time before she’s right as rain again.” His smile was enough to reflect one onto her lips, eyes flickering to the bag in his hand. “You know you didn’t have to bring me anything. I would have done it for free. But since you did.” She pulled the bag open, reaching inside it for the clear bottle. “Do you have time to stay or was this just a drop by?”

.

     Silas nodded gently, the simple words all of the reassurance that he’d been needing that his horse was going to be alright. The thought of having to tame a new horse- No. He refused to even think about it, the tightening of Silas’ jaw the only tell of just how heart wrenching a thought it was. He followed her gaze to where Bounty grazed, loosening a sigh as he nodded once more. “Let’s just say that the last batch of supplies I needed were locally sourced and Bounty...It was pretty rough getting back with everything” he explained, the guilt clear in his expression as he turned to face Nellie again. Silas had a very keen eye when it came to shooting, but he shouldn’t have underestimated his competition who were certainly more prepared than he had been. Bounty was the one paying the price for it, however, and it felt like a knife to his chest. “I know. But you know how I feel about debts” he gave a weak shrug. Silas planned to leave this Earth not owing a thing to anybody, free as a bird. “...I could stay” he agreed after a moment’s thought. It wasn’t like Silas had anywhere better to be anyways and besides, Bounty wasn’t the only reason he’d swung by. 

.

     Dark brows drew together as a figure stepped into view, casting a shadow over Silas’  tanned face as he blinked a few times, adjusting to the shade before he was able to recognise the stranger that stood before him. While they’d never met, he knew more than he felt he needed to about Lily Sinclair. Born from more money than most of his friends would ever touch in their lives, as far as Silas was concerned, she wasn’t to be trusted or entertained. That being said, Walker had abundantly clear in his instruction to stay out of trouble and it was that warning alone that had him sitting up straighter. “Can I help you?” Silas asked, chin raised so that he could peer at her without his hat’s obstruction. Either she was lost, or she was genuinely looking for the work of a metalsmith. Both seemed equally unlikely, but Silas definitely knew which he’d prefer it to be. Even if he was going to have to assist her either way. 

.

     “How’s she holding up?” Silas asked, arms crossed over his chest from where he leaned his shoulder against a nearby post. He always grew restless whenever he was away from Bounty for two long; the companion an extension of his very self at this point. Nellie was the only person in Silver Creek that Silas trusted to look after her, however, and she happened to be the only reason that he hadn’t called in sooner. All of this business about Morgan Harrington eyeing up their town had most of it’s homesteaders keeping Silas busy with no end of work; if something were to go down, they all wanted to be ready and he couldn’t blame them. He too, would fight if it was necessary. “I brought you something” the corner of his lips turned up into a lopsided grin, a tanned hand raised as he presented a brown paper bag that Silas didn’t hesitate to hand over to his oldest friend. “For your trouble” Not that he thought Nellie minded having Bandit’s twin around to keep him company, of course, but more so because he knew that Bounty could be a handful at best. Still, he wouldn’t trade her for the world. “The best moonshine in town”

𝐌𝐚𝐥 - 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚

         Maybe Alina’s words were true; that there was no way he could know they would find a way out from under the Apparat’s forceful palm, but every bone in his body, every fiber of his being hummed with faith. They had simply been through too much for it to end in the depths of the earth surrounded by false hope and inaction, cowering while they waited for the Darkling to bury them under miles of stone and soil. Under the mask of calm that covered Mal’s features, he strategically kept Alina at arms length, his thoughts twisted and ground together as gears trying to distinguish between the parts he could tell her and the ones he knew he couldn’t for her own sake. The uncertainty of lying to Alina was like a knotted rope around his neck, uncomfortable in all the ways that threatened to snatch the things he considered most precious away from him. “Do you think if you had actual light it might come back?” He words were a mere whisper, an attempt to keep them from echoing off the walls. The suggestion was enough for the rest of their group to ring his neck, rightfully so, as they had all agreed not to mention any part of the plan in progress to Alina. What was he supposed to do, though? When she looked at him with such hope?

.

     She had forgotten. The longer her veins had thrummed with such overwhelming power, the harder it grew to recall just how drained Alina had been before she had discovered she was Grisha. She had never felt well rested and even the smallest efforts had tired her but this was a different level of exhaustion altogether. Back then the power had been there, Alina simply hadn’t known how to harness it but she could feel the absence now; a hollow so deep that it threatened to consume her entirely if she wasn’t swallowed by the darkness surrounding them first. “Maybe...I’m not really sure” she admitted in the same hushed whisper, leaning in close to him as she spoke. Even just standing beside him she could feel his warmth and it took what little resolve Alina had intact not to lean in further and give into the comfort she sought. “There were no books at the Little Palace about a Grisha losing their powers. Or recovering them, either” she began to frown, concerned that she wasn’t giving him the hopeful answer Mal might have been hoping for. “Maybe”

.

James knew the look on her face all too well, the upturned lip an especially vital sign that she was definitely cross with him. To say the least. “I just had this sudden urge to tell you that I've always had this, like, massive crush on you?” he offered with a lopsided grin despite the fact that it wasn’t new information and they were married. He’d just been hoping to make her laugh, or at the very least smile. Getting himself off of the hook was typically far easier once either of those was accomplished, he’d discovered. “What did I do?” Or, what didn’t he do? He didn’t dare ask. “Talk to me”

❛ sometimes, i look like february. ❜

.

     Dark brows drew together into an incredulous scowl as Damian regarded the taller male, waiting for the redhead to laugh or offer up any kind of explanation and only huffing a deep sigh when neither occurred. “How does a person look like February?” he asked pointedly, impatience and exasperation filling his tone. Jerome, despite the youngest Wayne’s best efforts, had somehow become his problem. His sadistic and unbearably loud problem with far too many pyromaniac tendencies for his comfort, or anybody else’s, for that matter. He was a trained assassin. One with the shadows, and yet, Jerome never failed to find him. Damian might have been impressed if he wasn’t so irritated. “You know what? I’m not even entertaining this”

❛ you want a sprite? you look kinda green. ❜

.

     “I’m fine” Jake shook his head. “You just said so many things in such quick succession that it feels like my brain is rattling trying to keep up” he admitted with a roll of his eyes. He should have been used to it by now, really. He could have sworn that pestering him was Irey’s favourite past time, the speedster always choosing the worst moments to appear with far too much energy. His relationship with Lian was similar to that of the former, but would also never quite be the same. “Okay, okay, fine - You lost me in the middle there somewhere...Mind telling me again?” he asked, raising a brow. “Slowly this time” 

❛ i know that you're trying. i see that you're trying. ❜

.

     Jake stuttered, the statement expected but certainly not anticipated. Benji, for whatever reason, hadn’t been deterred by the youngest Grayson’s usual bitter snark. A wall of steel that he built up around himself to ward off anybody that attempted to come too close. Whether he had endured it out of kindness or determination for the challenge of cracking the mysterious and stoic Jacob Grayson, he could not be sure. Thinking over it too much implied that he cared, even if it was becoming increasingly difficult to deny that he cared for the other. That in a time that talk of his feelings didn’t scrape like brambles inside of his throat, he may have even gathered the courage to call Benji his friend. “Thank you” he uttered, never a man of many words. And although it wasn’t much on the surface, it was quiet acceptance somewhere deep below. A resistance of the temptation to brush off such patience and kindness. “I am. I’m...glad you can see that”

❛ how’d you get good at this? ❜

.

     Nate smirked, as if he’d been waiting for a chance to gloat. Perhaps he always was. “It’s a shoot or be shot world that we live in, baby” he grinned, snorting at how ridiculous the statement sounded - even if he was right. That wasn’t the only reason he had practiced so mercifully, however. Being scooped under Harvey Dent’s wing did not mean warmth or comfort. No. His father’s - or the closest thing he’d ever had to one, anyways - impatience and pride was it’s very own storm to weather indeed. This. Impressing the man that had deemed him worth the effort for whatever reason; It was all Nate had, not that he ever let it show. He owed his very livelihood to Harvey, though. And so he had endured every insult - every scrap of tough love - because he could never be that street rat again. Not now that he knew he was capable of so much more. 

❛ did you just throw a fork at me? 

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     “Yep” he answered without missing a beat. The look in Nate’s eyes suggested that the knife beside his plate would soon follow suit if Martin didn’t change his tune. And quickly. “I came here because you said that you wanted to talk. If I had known that by talk, you had meant that you intended to sit there and insult me all evening I wouldn’t have wasted such a nice shirt” Or attended at all, but that was beside the point. Martin, much like his father, the infamous Penguin, was prone to beating around the bush at the best of the times. As if he fed off of the dramatics of it all. Nate, however, had no patience for it. And he wasn’t against leaving him there altogether if he didn’t start talking. They butted heads at the best of times, after all. This meeting would likely be no different.

❛ can i ask you something and you can tell me to fuck off if you want? 

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     Alecto blinked. “Because that’s not worrying at all” she loosened a sigh, dark eyes fixed on the blonde. Assessing. It was hard sometimes in the world to know who to trust, but Narcissa had been one of her closest friends since the day they’d first bumped elbows at the Slytherin table following their sorting ceremony. She may have even been her best friend. Alecto couldn’t determine if they would make bring more ease or difficulty to hearing whatever question left the other next; On one hand, Alecto expected honesty from her friend - respected it. On the other, she wasn’t sure what the turmoil of Narcissa thinking less of her might do to her because despite acting otherwise, her opinion meant a great deal to her. “But I can’t not hear whatever it is now” she almost smiled. The curiosity grating on her. “What is it?”

❛ we just don't say hello anymore? ❜

.

     Alecto lifted her gaze from the heavy book in her hands, smirking softly despite the fact that he stood behind her. “I’d assumed that you were lurking in the shadows of your own home for a reason, Lucius” she said, onyx hair falling off of her shoulder and revealing her pale complexion as Alecto turned to face the male. “If there’s something that you wish to say to me, I’d much rather that you came out with it already - But no. We do not just say hello anymore” Alecto explained with a careful shrug.  She had been at that meeting - albeit, practically tied to her brother’s hip for the entirety of it but, still - They had much more pressing things to discuss with one another these days. Hellos suddenly felt frivolous and unnecessary. A waste of precious time that could be better spent and Alecto had never enjoyed being treated as though she were some delicate thing that needed to be kept away from incoming danger. Incoming war. Regulus’ blatant refusal to give her anything more than sidelong glances in crowded rooms may have stung, but at least he recognised her for what she was - everything that he didn’t want. 

Wynn let out a low chuckle letting her finger drag down his lip, down his chin before trailing along his jawline. She looked up at him with her doe eyes. “so i can assume you’re on board with skipping the assembly….meeting….whatever it is….” she asked keeping contact. She couldn’t hear about this war anymore, didn’t want to know what the next stages were, what the next attack would be - who they might lose - she couldn’t bear to lose Jasper. He’d likely survive, he was powerful, he was strong and he could fight, but still she worried. Titling her head to the side Wynn smiled. “Can I tell you a secret?” she whispered bitting the bottom of her lip trying to get his full attention, she knew she had it - she liked being the only one he looked at. 

.

     Warmth spread, following the trail marked by her finger as Jasper moved finally, his hands coming to rest at the small of her back, keeping her close. Inches away from him now, he found himself struggling to look away - not that he wanted to. Wynn was beautiful, that much was obvious, but there was something about getting the opportunity to admire her like this that fed his ego. Not that Jasper needed it. For whatever reason, he fascinated her, but he wasn’t about to challenge it after he had worked so hard to earn her trust. “The what now?” he grinned, mostly joking, although, it was rather hard to think with how fuzzy his head was beginning to feel. Up in the clouds. “You can tell me anything” he promised, whispering as he leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. “Anything”