@ofgravediggcrs
There was something off about Tyler and whatever it was, it was so subtle and disconcerting that everyone around him seemed to notice but him. For the most part, the former Ranger seemed to act like his normal self but, again, there was something off about his demeanor that made him seem a little different than usual self. He seemed to be lagging just a second behind his normal tempo but the short delay spoke volumes about how there was something definitely wrong with Tyler Ward. As the day dragged on, his fierce and volatile temper didn’t flare as quickly or as brightly as it usually did and by the time he finally reported to Jeremiah’s suite at the end of the day, it was almost as if he had withdrawn completely into himself. Unusually compliant and obedient for the Executioner, Tyler seemed to become increasingly distracted and unfocused despite his one reassurance to the older man that he was fine. But Tyler wasn’t fine and it became very clear that he wasn’t after they had fallen asleep together.
It had taken a lot of time for Tyler to become comfortable around Jeremiah and even longer for him to even consider that a tiny part of him wanted the southern man. During his waking hours and out of stubbornness, the Asset refused to acknowledge the bond he had inadvertently created with the other man but when he was asleep, his unconsciousness had him shifting closer to Jeremiah to press an arm or a leg against him. However, tonight was different. Instead of moving closer to the older man as he always did when he was fast asleep, Tyler had stayed precariously close to the edge where he pressed his arms tightly against old war wounds.
Tyler woke up shortly after midnight and it was as if he hadn’t been asleep at all. He seemed more awake and focused than he had been all day but there was an eerie emptiness in his eyes as he stared at the ceiling of Jeremiah’s bedroom. For several minutes, the Asset just laid there before he slowly pushed himself up and crawled closer to the sleeping man beside him where he lingered by his side before carefully straddling the man’s lower chest. Trapping Jeremiah’s arms between his muscular thighs, Tyler paused for a moment to stare blankly at the other, no sign of consciousness in his eyes, before slowly reaching his hands out to touch the stubble growing on Jeremiah’s neck. Watching and feeling the way it seemed to rise and fall with every breath, he waited for the Associate to be at the peak of an exhale before he suddenly tightened his fingers around his neck and bearing full his weight down on his throat.
