redrighthanded | IC; Duplicity Inbox

[ He'll take it, take a swig, and then another.]

I got myself into the Houses of Parliament, avoiding all the fucking police, and stabbed a member of the peerage through the neck. I can handle this place.

[ Hellboy raises his eyebrows a little. Not disbelieving, but speculative. ]

You stabbed a Lord and got away with it?

[ A roll of the eyes. ]

I'd be bloody useless if I got caught. That's why we're assassins, we get in, we get out.

[ Hellboy holds up a hand. ] Hey, I'm not doubting your skills.

[ Jacob calms down a little, his hand going to the short hair at the back of his head, rubbing at it. ]

Sorry. Had to defend myself a lot. But yes, I killed Lord Cardigan before he could bore me to death with war stories.

Remind me to stay on your good side. [ He hopes it's clear that's a joke. ]

Maybe you can teach me a thing or two sometime.

I doubt that will be very hard for you.

Sure. And maybe you can return the favour? Last time we were in a ring, it didn't go the way most fights tend to.

[ That gets a fond sort of smile. ]

Yeah, this place has a habit of messing with expectations. [ He scratches his bristly cheek. ] You have fun?

Certainly turned everything I thought I knew on its head. But there's some things... that aren't that bad.

Aren't that bad?

[ Hellboy pushes himself up from his chair and wanders back over to the bed, hunting down the last slice of pizza. ]

Like what?

[ Jacob watches him move, shifting to the bottle of whiskey, taking another long swallow. ]

Well, for a start I blew you in public and wasn't torn apart by an angry mob, which is a relief.

[ Hellboy raises his eyebrows and swallows some cold pizza crust. ]

Yeah, I guess that worked out pretty well for the both of us.

Certainly for you.

[After all, Hellboy got to come. Not dying and getting off? Sounds like a great day.

Jacob watches him eat, watching him swallow, the movement of his Adam's Apple, the muscles between neck and shoulder, before he pulls his eyes away, beginning to move away empty plates to take down later on.]

If and when I go home, I go back to a place where that's only ever going to be taboo.

[ Hellboy notes the way the younger man's eyes linger. Being appreciated is an unfamiliar feeling, he's not sure what he's supposed to do besides watch Jacob as he moves around the room. He edges carefully out of the way, going to sit back down at the little wooden table. ]

Tell me about it. [ Sighing, he rubs a hand over his face. ] You have anyone back home?

[ There is a moment when Jacob isn't sure, when he hesitates between going back to sit on the new larger bed, and joining Hellboy at the table. He's not sure why the big guy hasn't sat down with him there, but rather than let the dance continue, he'll join him instead. ]

Nope. Young and free. As soon as my sister leaves for India, the whole of London's under my watch, so no more fun and no more love-affairs.

[ Hellboy raises his eyebrows a little. ]

Sounds like a lot of responsibility.

Yeah. It should be better now, but it's not going to be a walk in the park.

[He flashes a quick smile]

I should probably consider this a bit of a holiday, right?

[ He settles back in the chair a little, knees wide, and shrugs. ]

I guess, if this is your idea of a vacation.

[ Jacob's eyes flicker down, following the way Hellboy's legs spread and then moves back to his face, to those amber glowing eyes and his smile gets even wider. ]

I've never had one before, so I guess it can only get better?

Mmhm. [ Hellboy tilts his head slightly, then lets out a breath, a corner of his mouth hitching upward. ]

Come on. [ He waves his hand, beckoning to his lap. ] Come here if you're gonna look at me like that.

[Does Jacob get out of his chair a little too quickly, a little too eagerly? Maybe. He stops between Hellboy's legs, not sure if he should be slipping to his knees or sitting on his lap. So he doesn't do either, but lets his hand reach out to touch the tense muscles at the nape of Hellboy's neck, rubbing there to try and release some of the pressure.]

What about you? What are you going to do, when and if you get back?

[ Hellboy ducks his head a little to encourage the gentle touch to the back of his neck, making a soft thoughtful noise of pleasure, his left hand drifting to Jacob's side, rubbing gently up and down before settling on his hip. ]

Mm. I dunno. I wasn't.. in a good place before I came here. Washed up after a weird time. Sleeping on couches and trying to crawl down into every bottle I saw. [ He lifts his chin to look up at the younger man. ] No heroics here.

Having a hard time doesn't mean you aren't a hero. Everyone can be, it just means doing the right thing.

[Fuck, that sounded a bit profound. Maybe Henry was rubbing off on him.]

Anyway, you're not there now. Time to find a new direction?

[And as he speaks, he'll continue to rub over that tense spot, the soft smile that tugs on his lips nothing like the bright and cheeky ones that more readily appear, but that doesn't mean it isn't genuine.]

Maybe being able to stretch out when you sleep will do you some good.

[ They're good words, but to Hellboy that's all they can be. He's already had a taste of what lies ahead of him thanks to Hecate, and none of it is particularly heroic. He doesn't want to dim the light in those bright eyes though, so he keeps it to himself, making a noncommittal sound.

He looks more interested as the topic of sleep is raised, lifting his hand to wrap gently around Jacob's wrist. ]

Yeah? You looking to tire me out? [ He brings the younger man's hand around to his mouth, gaze still on Jacob's face. He brushes soft kisses over his fingertips, then his palm. ]

[ Jacob's hands are scarred, calloused. They've been burned when pistols misfired, sliced up broken window panes, frozen while he waited on rooftops overnight for targets to appear, and burned on red-hot bricks of factory chimneys. But they are still so sensitive to those soft kisses, the gesture making his heart melt and a shiver run down his spine. ]

I'm keen to try. Not sure I can, but that bed isn't going to christen itself.

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