#efingart

So, to get to the specifics, it's a small, subtle action. Simply, when either of them notices the other might need a little grounding, a reminder that they're not alone, or that they need to calm down, they will use their fingertips/knuckles of their fingers to either brush or tap lightly on the other person's hand/wrist.

The reason I've been thinking about it is because I knew that Jodie would be the kind of character that, when in turmoil, wouldn't want to be touched. If she's angry, upset, crying, she will not want to be touched (unless you asked and she invited it).

But I was also thinking that, especially given that Jodie has been brainwashed and Frank now has two people in his life that have gone through similar things, Frank would probably have a better idea of how to manage the moments where Jodie is 'not present'.

I've also seen it knocking around that Frank will also do something similar with Alex, those friendly pushes in cutscenes are a tactic Frank uses to make sure Alex is still grounded. Although I saw that after I'd already been thinking about this with Jodie and Frank, but it was nice to see that my understanding of Frank's character seemed to line up! Like, of course Frank would do something like that.

BUT Jodie does this for Frank, too.

I just thought having something so subtly intimate as a way for these two to interact in time of needing comfort (but maybe not wanting to be overwhelmed) is what will give me life right now.

BONUS: I had been speaking with @alypink regarding a face claim post I reblogged where Jodie's face claim, Kate Beckinsale, was wearing glasses. I do have a little headcanon that Jodie wears reading glasses to ensure she doesn't get eye strain.

POINT BEING, when they're in the workplace, maybe Jodie is reading some intel, combing through Birdseye view pictures of terrain - whatever it is. She's intently focused, enough that she wouldn't see Frank walking by. Just a little torment, maybe to break her attention for a split second (because this man knows Jodie will work herself into a hole and not take a break) he gently knocks the side of her glasses and sends them slightly skewed on the bridge of her nose.

Frank gives me an air of being able to be mischievously charming XD she'd look up at him, pouting with the glasses not corrected and he probably gets a little laugh out of it, whilst also achieving making sure that Jodie gets a small break (even if she doesn't realise that's his goal).

Sure he could straight up say, "take a break" but Jodie would also just be like "one more thing and then I will" but... respond that every damn time. Frank gets creative in making her break eye contact with the pages.

Bell struggles to get her mind back together. She was lost in the sensations, mind so far gone, and it was all because of Adler. She’s vaguely aware that he said something, but it doesn’t register until she comes crashing down into herself - gasping just to get air in her lungs again, not realizing how she was howling just moments prior with how hoarse her throat feels.

“What..? What? Why did you stop?” She whines, arching her back and thrashing a bit under him. It only made him laugh because of course he loved to watch her squirm and struggle, especially when he had her pinned under him like this while he was deep inside her, his strong hands gripping her wrists at her sides. A firm grip. Not enough to bruise, as much as she wants them to. As much as she wants him to leave marks all over her no matter what the others may say. She’d wear them like a badge of honor, to show that he was wholly his and nothing else.

He bucks into her once to make her stop moving and it almost makes her eyes roll into the back of her head as she cries out. She sucks on her bottom lip and looks up at him pleadingly, stares into those blue eyes she loves and could get lost into, and tries to hypnotize and mesmerize him with her own green eyes.

She’s never sure if that actually works on him, especially since he always just tilts his head and gives her a slight amused smirk whenever she tries.

“Whaaaaaaat?” She whines again.

He doesn’t answer right away. Because of course he doesn’t. He always loves to draw things out and make her suffer. Testing her patience. No, he just wanted to see how bad she really had it for him.

Her chest heaves as she tries to even her breathing and she can tell he’s watching the rise and fall of her chest. It always made her embarrassed to have him look at her this way even though he was already inside her.

“Have you come back down to Earth?” He muses.

She huffs and wrinkles her nose at him, straining against his grip to get more comfortable underneath him. “... yes.”

“Good,” he hums, leaning over her again and pressing her wrists further into the mattress. “I said you could kiss me.”

She stares at him, eyes wide in disbelief, incredulous. She’d laugh at his ego if she didn’t want to kiss him so badly right now. He laughs as if he’s just read her mind because she’s like an open book for him and only him.

Bell knows it’s more than just permission now. If he took the time to stop, then it means that he had told her so in the heat of the moment earlier when she was crying from ecstasy and no doubt whining and staring at his lips longingly, and now he was just teasing her because he was downright mean.

Well, it’s not like she doesn’t like it when he teases her like this.

“... Really?” She asks after a moment.

“Mhm.”

She stares at him for another minute and he doesn’t twitch, staying perfectly still between her legs. She could never hope to get the upper hand with him. Any waiting game always backfired for her.

“Go ahead,” he encourages.

She glances down to where he has his hands on her wrists pinned to the bed.

Ah.

His smirk widens and makes the scars on his face grow. It makes her want to kiss him even more, press her lips along the lines and feel every dip and groove.

“What’s wrong, Bell?”

“I can’t kiss you like this.”

“You haven’t even tried.”

She whines, but heat pools in the pit of her stomach, wanting him even more now. She strains to lean up to kiss him and lets out a disappointed shout when he leans back, away from her, and laughs at her.

“Come on, Bell,” he teases, “kiss me.”

She’s breathing heavily now, getting worked up by the second, feeling herself go crazy for him. Wanting him and nothing but him. I’d do anything for you, her eyes say, I’d let you do anything to me. 

He hums and watches impassively as her eyes grow dark, waiting for her to snap. He tightens his grip on her wrists and it’s enough to make her finally move. With a growl, she gets enough strength to lift her arms off the bed, but he doesn’t make it easy for her as he tries to wrestle them down still. She fights him, not to make him let go, no, she’d never want him to let go, but to grab at him. Like wrestling a dog down that wanted to lick inside your mouth. Which is exactly what she wanted to do.

She’d never be stronger than him. Her close quarters combat skills were exceptional, but she relied on the element of surprise and her agility to win fights. The longer it went on, the chances increased in which she’d lose. And well, she was always going to lose when it came to Adler. 

He doesn’t expect her legs, though. The ones that were resting along his thighs just moments ago and bucking up against him as they wrestled. Then suddenly they were wrapped around his waist and he found himself below her with his hands above his head. There’s a brief flash of surprise on his face before amusement comes through again, raising an eyebrow at her as the corner of his lips quirk into a small smile. She gives him a self-satisfied grin before leaning down to claim his lips.

He laughs and lets her slip her tongue into his mouth. His fingers run through her hair when she let go of his hands to cup his cheeks. She’s practically mewling just from kissing him.

“Good girl,” he praises and feels her tremble above him. His hands roam down her sides to grab her hips, squeezing them.