#countessrivers

Sorry this took so long! The prompt is ‘cuddling in public’. 

Oswald reaches out, grabs Jim’s hand, and pulls him close without warning. The gangster bites his lips, tries hiding a triumphant smirk, and fails miserably. His movement is a bit too forceful to be considered polite, but to anyone standing far away enough, they’d look exactly like two old friends embracing each other.  

Jim’s eyes go wide as he loses his balance. He has to hold on tightly to the mobster least he’d trip. Strong fingers clench around Oswald’s hand, squeezing delicate digits together until it’s almost painful. 

But it’s worth it. It if means watching James Gordon fall, if only for a moment, it’s all worth it. And a victory remains a victory, even the pettiest one. 

Jim huffs, clearly miffed, and straightens his jacket once he’s able to stand again without support.

When they bid their goodbyes for this night, Oswald already expects Jim’s revenge. It’s a practiced dance by now, their very own little ritual. A fine play as much as for the public as for themselves. 

So this time, Jim nods quickly,  reaches out, and pulls him close. The cop’s tongue is caught between his teeth as he focuses on the gangster, his other hand ready to catch him should he trip. Of course, Oswald never does. Instead, he lets himself fall forward, for a second only, soaking up the warmth and the cologne of the other man, before bouncing back. 

It’s all a very calculated movement, a ballet trained to perfection, with a hug lasting exactly as long as the momentum propelling him forward. 

Except, this time, something goes wrong. The very second Jim pulls, Oswald feels the ground crumbling beneath his feet, and the pain rocketing through his entire body. Except, it’s not exactly the ground, but the remnants of his shattered knee bucking beneath his weight. 

He falls, with nothing to hold onto but another body, comforting and solid. Oswald gasps, faintly, when in fact he wants to scream, and hides his face against the other’s jacket. 

Jim stiffens, but his arms stay where they belong, wrapped securely around his waist. Oswald’s fingers tighten in the jacket as he slowly counts down from on to ten. 

He takes another moment, just to blink away the tears, and then, Jim releases him. When looking up, the blonde’s eyes are wrinkled, but his jaw is set tight like always. 

Chapters: 5/? Fandom: Slow Horses (TV), Slough House - Mick Herron Rating: Mature Relationships: River Cartwright/James “Spider” Webb, James “Spider Webb & Louisa Guy, River Cartwright & Patrice Harkness, River Cartwright and Bertrand Harkness Additional Tags: Assassin AU, Killing Eve AU, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Murder, Spider’s in Slough House, they’re both freaks, POV Alternating, Assassination Summary:

Fandom: Alex Rider (TV 2020), Alex Rider - Anthony Horowitz Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships:  Yassen Gregorovich/Alex Rider  Additional Tags: Anal Fingering, Intercrural Sex, Dirty Talk, On Display, Traces of exhibitionism sort of, Bargaining with Sex, Point Blanc, Season 1, Yassen is a bit of a bastard, Praise, Identity Issues Series: Part 2 of Point Blanc and Mr Gregorovich Summary:

“I need your help,” he says.

“Do you now?”

Alex takes a deep breath. “Yes, please. And I’ll give you want ever you want in return.”

Gregorovich stares at him for a long moment, looking him over, and it makes Alex feel transparent. Too seen, too examined.

*

Alex, alone with Mr Gregorovich once again. Alone and looking for a way out of Point Blanc.

Sequel to 'Spare the Rod'