skin and bones

             Legs are soon wrapped around his waist as her back makes contact with the bed, and she can hear the sound of her glass falling onto the ground, but it’s a clang and not a shatter, so she lets it slide.  Jo’s not sure what’s effecting her body more, the whiskey in her system or Raf’s lips against hers, but she revels in the feeling either way.  It feels good to be so close to somebody she cares about  ( even if it’s not LIKE THAT ) ,  and after the week she had, she’s DESPERATE for a distraction. The hands trailing down his back bunch up the fabric of his shirt, giving a tug small enough to let him know what she wants, but not wanting to cross a line.  He did just tell her he was a virgin, after all.

rafael had made a mistake. he had made a huge mistake, and it kept growing and growing inside him with every moment that passed. part of him kept thinking how the drink and his dick had gotten him into this mess, that kept to seem forming and forming in his stomach, but then he remembered, no, this isn’t your dicks fault, this is your fault. and there was no person rafael would less like to see right now than jude park, the source of at least half of his guilt. he couldn’t even muster up a smile when he saw her enter the library, only a nod of acknowledgement. “miss park,” he greeted, “how are finals treating you so far?” 

                     “ like i get if your teeth are fucked , my guy but you look like you want to punch —- idk , who’s the nicest person here ? its like you wanna punch any of the sutton sisters.  “ he knew where the other was coming from , but would it really be him if he didn’t tease him — he had grown to care about the other , it was why he didn’t tell him he almost ran off a couple of weeks ago.  “ i don’t know man , have you even asked her out on a date ?  i think you have to definitely start there. “ francis knew the steps , he just hadn’t executed them on that one person because he knew they’d either get mad or it’d be too awkward.  “ has she shown interest ? have you been nice to her ? we’re not in elementary school where pulling girl’s hair shows them we like them. “ he pauses , “ outside of the bedroom of course. “

                She invited him to do it – DARED it, even – but still, when he begins to lean in Jo feels a quick surge of panic, wondering if she made the right choice… But then his lips find hers and for once her mind is quiet, and her earlier stresses about family and the holidays and other guys are put to rest and she lets herself enjoy the kiss, warm and comforting.  Her arm slowly moves to loop around his neck, nudging him a little closer, not wanting to pull away just yet.  If she could keep this feeling for a little while longer, she’d be content. 

                “ It’s why we get along so well, “   she pointed out, smiling rather fondly.  She hadn’t known Rafael very long, admittedly, only a few months at most – but she’d surprisingly become comfortable in her presence, close to how she felt with Lou and Rowan, her friends of years.  But not COMPLETELY the same.  “ I dare you to kiss me. “   It’s almost as if she didn’t realize what she said, but as soon as they’re out, all Jo can do is flash him a coy smirk, wondering if he’d go along with it or not.  Part of her hopes he doesn’t – she doesn’t want to ruin a friendship – but a part of her hopes he does, too.

TASK 002 : WHO ARE YOU ?

@gallaghermissions

            “  I   SAID  get  the  fuck  out  of  my  way  ,  not  to  fucking  play  nurse  or  something  ,  shit  for  brains  ,  “  and  he’s  never  been  the  best  at  letting  others  help  ,  shown  by  struggle  with  balled  fists  and  elbows  ,  always  been  the  kind  to  reject  this  kind  of  softness  from  anyone  but  his  MOTHER  and  best  friends  .  “  i’ll  break  your  fucking  fingers  if  you  keep  this  shit   —  !  “  but  a  sharp  pain  runs  up  his  leg  ,  effectively  stunting  his  words  as  he  inhales  sharply  .

             Jo could finally tell then that the alcohol had hit her because of how freely she was speaking. She turned her body on the bed so she was completely facing him now, nearly knocking over her glass in the process.  Some part of her felt like she was finally SEEING him for the first time – not the fucker she found herself getting along with, but a lonely  ( and admittedly very good looking )  soul.  Maybe that’s why they got along so well.  “ I wouldn’t say that, “   she laughed, coming out more like a huff.   “ I mean, have you MET me ? “   Jo suddenly felt the need to comfort him somehow ;  her hand rested on his knee, but somehow that didn’t feel right.   “ Hey, “   she offered him a smile, this time sly.  “ Truth or dare ? “

              “ Well SORRY.  Did my answer offend you ? “   Jo would have taken more offense to his tone, but his admittance did make her feel a little better.   “ Really ? “   It’s hard to mask the disbelief in her voice, but his body language says he’s not kidding – still, she eyes him up and down.  “ No offense, but why ?   I find it hard to believe the opportunity never presented it. Haven’t you ever dated ? “ 

              “  no  ,  i  totally  just  …  busted  my  shit  on  the  stairwell  ,  “  but  his  bottom  lip  is  trembling  ,  cut  and  busted  from  earlier  ,  eyes  averting  ,  hands  shaky  in  his  pockets  .  he  just  needs  to  get  out  .  OUT  .  back  to  his  room  to  patch  himself  up  .  “  i  know  it’s  like  totally  badass  and  shit  ,  but  i  really  need  to  ,  “  he  takes  a  step  forward  ,  only  to  hiss  .  his  ankle  .  he  just  wishes  the  instructor  had  pulled  the  fucking  kid  off  of  him  who  went  ape  -  shit  during  training  instead  of  letting  him  get  beat  to  a  pulp  for  the  sake  of  TRAINING  .  “  i  just  need  to  dip  ,  so  unless  you’re  going  to  help  me  ,  get  the  fuck  outta  my  way  .  “

@gallagherstart·  !

            Jo wasn’t sure what was funnier – the fact that he thought that was a HAPPY question, or the face he made as soon as the question hung between them.   “ You’re fine, “   she shook her head, not finding anything intrusive about the question.  While her recent sex life wasn’t one she cared to talk about, high school Jo came from simpler times.  “ It was junior year of high school, with my boyfriend at the time.  Pretty much how you’d picture a first time to go, “   she commented, taking a swig of her drink.  “ Why, what about you ? “

                            francis’ eyes couldn’t help but narrow at the other’s comments , but finds out slightly endearing —- unfortunately.  head leaned against the wall that was against his bed as he looked at the other , “ you mean the story of my fucking life ? “ he let out an audible sigh.  “ i happen to think you’ll make a lovely partner , raf.  you don’t have as many outbursts , you smile at least once a week —- i think that’s progress.  someone once told me that relationships happen so people can grow and if she likes you back then she’ll understand. “ a fucking hypocrite , but the other didn’t need to know that.

                “ I mean assassins and spies are in the same world, to be fair, “   she shrugged, though quickly backs off when she realizes the conversation is very clearly not helping.  Jo takes a swig of her drink, even if it’s not the rules of the game.   “ HAPPY truth or dare ?   We’ll see if we can swing it, “  Jo offered him a smile, trying her best to kick him out of his mood.  “ Truth. “

            Jo scoffed a bit at the game, but really she had no better ideas, so what the hell_ ? _  She smirked a bit at the world TRUTH, finding it somewhat ironic – was it going to take a game of truth or dare to find out more about someone who had become one of her closest friends on campus ?   “ Alright, “  she began, taking a seat beside him once more on the bed.   “_ How long have you been in the spy world **? “  _** Start with something easy, she supposed.

         THANKFULLY a bus had arrived right as they were rolling up to the shuttle stop, and within forty-five minutes they were camped out in Jo’s dorm room, already draining their first glasses.   " Know any two-person drinking games ? “   she asked him with a laugh, getting up from her bed to grab the bottle and refilling both their cups.   “ Without games this is just one sad excuse of a pity party. “   She wasn’t sure where Raf’s head space was exactly, but Jo had a feeling he wasn’t all there.  It was the holidays – it brought out the worst and weird in everyone.