#pravnov

For what it’s worth, he doesn’t interrupt her onslaught-- he even remains still ( statuesque ) when the sharp order arrives. Silent, immobile; from a distant view, it probably appears as though he’s taking the lecture with a level head. Closer observations, like the ones Casey is no doubt privy to, tell a different story, though. His shoulders are tense; fists balled at his sides; jaw clenched. 

For all intents and purposes, he looks like a man about to snap.

The breath he draws in is deep, but it does little to calm the fire burning in his head. He watches her walk away from him after she’s had her piece to say-- like anything he might have to say in response isn’t worth waiting around for-- and a muscle at the corner of his mouth twitches at her turned back. For the dangerous people she works around, she must have some balls to have a mouth like that. Hank finds it hard to believe it’s never gotten her in any trouble before, but evidently not enough to temper her tongue.

“You do whatever you need to.” And he’s approaching her, not quickly but most certainly suddenly. He stops only when her entire, smaller frame is swallowed by his shadow; he doesn’t get off on intimidating women or anyone he has an objective advantage over, but he does have a temper and a career that supports brutality as much as it does anything else. His rage is quiet and restrained, but it lights up in his eyes and in the way he almost leans in towards her with threads of restraint holding him back.

❝ SIT.  ❞

His men leave after they’ve escorted her in and he looks none to pleased to see her. In fact, it’s night and day compared to the grin he’d had after his trial. 

❝ Listen, Güerita. Y’got loyalties but I bought you out. So, tell me, why y’fuckin’ detectives are sniffin’ ‘round my streets?  ❞

It was always a sight to behold Casey in court. Watching he questions the ones on the stand, grill them for the truth and manage to win a case. She was passionate about her job, and thats something Declan liked about her, despite not being programmed to like. He also wasn’t designed to love but here he was completely enamored with Casey. The case was closed, Casey winning for her client and the court was dismissed. Declan took his usual spot right back to standing at her side.

“ I’m afraid perhaps you’re of a far stronger moral fiber than I, Casey.  Seeing the worst of the world day and in and day out wears on the psyche. “  It is not the same thing -- but he remembers those early days, his first true victims -- scum of the earth, barely worth the MEAT he took from them ... certainly not worth the life they took from him.  

“You know I’m not buyin’ that, right?” One of his hands strokes her hair gently as he speaks, concern worrying the edges of his expression. She’s typically so outspoken and straightforward; hiding behind a cheap excuse of ‘it’s nothing’ is about as far removed from her repertoire as it gets. Fingers gently press beneath her chin, urging her to remain close as his lips press lightly to her forehead.

“Is it somethin’ I did? You don’t have to be afraid to tell me.”