phaselocknroll | Shenanigans!

Are we?

[ He means for it to sound doubtful, accusatory, but he can't help it, can't help how stupidly hopeful he sounds, and gods above, he thinks it'd be nice if they let him have this one little win, just this once. ]

[ There are a whole lot of emotions in those two little words, and suddenly she's wondering if this whole situation isn't as black and white as she thought it to be. Have they each misinterpreted the other?

She moves, then, trying to get into his line of sight. ]

Maybe this started out as just a contract, but not anymore. With you, I don't feel lonely, I don't feel like a servant just going through the motions. You've set me free in more ways than one, and I-- I don't want to lose this.

I need you.

[ Something in him cracks at her words, relief warring with nervousness at odds with happiness combating his annoyance at himself for being such an idiot.

He likes Maya.

He really, really, really fucking likes her.

... Oh.

And suddenly he's lost control of his muscles, and he's surging forward, and he doesn't know what he's doing until he has a hand at the nape of her neck and his lips meet hers. ]

[ There is a moment where she doesn't do anything aside from stand frozen and wide-eyed with surprise.

Despite her lack of knowledge about humans and their customs, she is well-aware of what this means, and it's a dangerous line for a Siren to walk. And she might care about the danger if something warm and wonderful wasn't singing through her veins, right alongside relief and sheer joy.

The moment passes, and she threads her fingers through his hair and kisses him back. ]

[ Thoughts like "complicated" and "dangerous" don't really occur to him at that moment--

(Actually, that's a lie. The millisecond directly after he kisses her, he has this thought: She's going to immolate me.)

--because this feels strangely right, and good, and oh thank goodness, she's kissing back and I'm not on fire.

It's a shame he's still recovering, though, because his legs suddenly buckle beneath him; the hand at her neck slips down to grip her shoulder as his other flies out to catch himself on the cave's wall.

For a few breathless moments, he just stares at the floor and he thinks, Fuck, what did I do? ]

[ She's right there, arm around his waist to steady him. ]

... You really should be resting.

[ He nods slowly, trying to ignore the way his cheeks are burning and the feeling of mortification growing in his gut. Convalescence seems like a good enough topic change from him making a fool of himself just then. Still, he's stubborn and doesn't let her take his weight when they move; he just keeps his hand hesitantly on her shoulder as he walks.

He also adamantly does not look at her. Or speak. Clearly it's because he's so focused on putting one foot in front of the other. ]

Peter?

[ it's hard to miss the way he avoids looking at her, and she frowns. ]

Are you all right?

[ He swallows, and he starts to nod. ] Yeah, I'm...

[ But he trails off, and after thinking for a moment, he shakes his head and risks a sideways glance at her. ]

What I did just then. Bad idea, right?

[ She should say yes. She should end this- whatever it is- before it begins.

It's in both of their best interests that she does.

Funny how when she tells herself that, she never quite believes it. ]

I... I wouldn't have let you kiss me if I didn't want you to.

[ He smiles a little. ]

I definitely believe that. You could probably get me on breach of contract at me and light me on fire.

[ She clears her throat ]

At this point, we're both in breach of contract.

... Are we? What'd you do?

I kissed you back.

More than that, I wanted to.

[ He starts nodding again, mostly for his own benefit than her own, and then he takes a deep, rallying breath. ]

So where does that leave us?

That is the question, isn't it?

We could probably let this one incident slide and proceed as normal. Or we could... not.

[ The words come out before he realizes he's speaking them, tinged with a touch of wariness and a dash of resentment: ] You would lose out on your payment.

[ That tone of voice stings, and she wonders if this is wise. Even now he doesn't trust her. ] What if I don't care about the payment?

[ He knows as soon as he's said it that it was a mistake, but a small, petty side of him thinks, She started it.

He immediately stomps on that petty voice. Bad enough he's got the shitty, paranoid Ravager part of his conscious to contend with.

Quietly, he says, ] That was a low blow. I'm sorry.

[ As for the strange state of their-- relationship, he doesn't have a comment. If he's honest with himself, he doesn't know what to think, except that it was just his luck that he would have feelings for a Siren, when for the longest time he didn't have an interest in anything except living long enough to see out his revenge.

And so, he's honest, though reluctantly so. ] I don't know what we should do.

I deserved it.

[ She goes quiet, and focuses for a bit on guiding him back to his makeshift bed, and lowering him gently down. ]

... I don't know, either.

[ He doesn't lie back when she helps him into ground, opts instead to lean his back against the rough wall of the cave. Less vulnerable that way.

Now that the moment is over, his good sense comes rushing back, and thoughts like mortal and demon and burden come with it. He focuses on a spot above her shoulder and plucks nervously at the material of his trousers. ]

I-- I made this complicated. [ He bites the inside of his cheek, tamping down on the urge to laugh at himself. Complicated, he thinks, is an understatement, but it suits for now. Complicated.

Not that it had been easy before, anyway, with his compulsion to trust no one, least of all anything steeped in magic; too unpredictable, the Ravagers had said, but useful in extremely small doses. A ward spell here, an alarm spell there, an arrow imbued with arcane power--

He shoves away the thought quickly.

Partners with a Siren, that was easy. And really, it was more fair to him than her, considering who had all the firepower out of the pair. Friends, had been a little different, but it seemed they were skipping that stage to go straight into-- something more. And it's this stage that's agitated it all, made everything murky and clouded.

Complicated, indeed. ]

... This is a bad idea, isn't it. [ And he's shaking his head, his voice quiet and hesitant with reluctance. ] Really bad.

[ She takes a seat next to him, drawing her knees up to her chest. "Complicated" and "bad idea" were ways to go about it, but she knows he doesn't even know the scope of it.

The most dangerous thing a Siren can do is give anyone her heart, because when she does, she's bound to them forever. No payment. No contract. It's a fine line to walk, the line between love and attraction, and she'll admit that she's barely gotten to know Peter, but she wasn't lying when she'd said she needed him.

She doesn't want to go back to the loneliness, and he's her lifeline. She's never felt for anyone what she feels for Peter, but she has no idea what that feeling is. ]

I think we're both to blame.

Maybe... but this isn't the smartest idea, is it? Me 'n'-- me and you?

[ He doesn't turn completely to her, preferring instead to continue casting her sidelong glances -- not of distrust, not anymore, but something shy and tentative. He manages, at least, a small smile. ]

Stupid's kinda what I do, though.

[ She lets out a little laugh at that. ] So I noticed.

But... for the sake of argument, what would "me and you" entail, exactly?

[ He can't help a quiet chuckle. ]

Are we forming another contract? Do I need to read another incantation to court a Siren?

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