Just me and my shadow... (RP for brave-soldier)

[little_leaf]

Chicken Little has flown the coop.

"Great." Jane sighed, hiking up her reading glasses to better see the text message she was reading. All of the triplets had condos in the same building, each of them on a different floor. It let them stay close, have privacy...and watch John.

Who didn't go out alone often, at least not outside of work. As a rule, he could be trusted on his own during cases he was deep into, otherwise he stayed home or at the office by choice. Now that he had a girlfriend, that would probably change...but John out alone and sans a case still felt like trouble.

Jane texted Jock back after a moment's thought.

Your problem tonight, not mine. I have a broken heart to nurse, bugger off.

Jane tossed her phone on the coffee table right after, vowing not to answer another text message for the rest of the night. She knew Jock would at least pretend she was still wounded by Bob's treachery, but she was pretty sure John had told him everything. After all: twins usually did. They all knew what she was really brooding about...at least Jock would preserve the gentle fiction, and her last scrap of dignity.

Men sucked.

That was her story, and she was sticking to it as she burrowed deeper into the cushions of her ratty old sofa with its threadbare maroon cushions, trying to make herself read the deposition for an eviction case she was taking to court in two weeks. She found herself scanning the same paragraph repeatedly, though, remembering the feel of stiff whiskers against her cheek, the sinewy back under her hand, the bright and adorable smile that made her forget everything and feel like she was something rare and amazing...

Why the hell did John have to be...John? She wouldn't blame Paul if he'd deleted her number the second she was out of sight. Bloke like that could have his pick, war hero with an irresistible accent and that lethal grin...

"I do not care." she muttered to herself, trying to make herself believe it and failing. "I don't care...didn't fancy him that much anyway. I can do much...oh, bollocking shitbags, someone just beat me unconscious and leave me to my fate..."

Comments

[little_leaf]

Jane nodded in understanding, picking at the remnants of her food.

"I get it...it's kinda the reason I went to law school. When I was a kid, I was a drama nerd, and someone turned me onto mock trial. I'm impossible to argue with, so once I had the rules down I was really good at it. I'd score verdicts and wins at competition even if the original verdict was against me. That never seemed right or possible...justice is justice, right? I got so curious that I made a career out of it...or would have if John hadn't needed me."

She paused, finishing the last of her fish as she flashed Paul a smile. "Better this way, I guess. You'd have fucking hated me when I was a public defender. I'm a rotten loser."

[brave_soldier]

Paul gave a soft smile then. She was a good woman, willing to give up her life because of her twin. "And here you are, making a big deal about me. You're just as willing to help and seek out justice as well." His grim broadening, he continued. "And I don't think I could ever hate you. I think that was part of my problem earlier, actually. Felt like you were using my crush on you against me," he admitted, feeling sheepish as he did, running a hand through his short cropped hair. "I can't hate you. You're trying to do right by yourself and your brother. In the brief time I met him, I can tell it's a delicate balance. I'm surprised Randy hasn't shaped him up more though. Unless that's something new?"

[little_leaf]

Jane grinned and blushed at the remark about a crush, refusing to comment on it. Yes, they were kind of out on a technical date, and yes there was...well, interest on her part, but she still wasn't sure why Paul was all over her in the first place, she just knew she loved it. But crush? Seriously?...

"The, uh...the Randy thing is beyond new. It's completely impossible." she laughed, happy to be tipping the spotlight even a little away from her and the rest of her boring, uninteresting existence. "To be honest, Jock and I kind of thought John might not be capable of it. Meeting someone, falling in love...he's been sick his whole life. Diagnosed sociopath, even if we don't totally agree with it, but he's always been very disconnected. Then Randy showed up and it was...it's like a miracle. Not exactly normalcy, but I have way more hope for him than I probably should have."

[brave_soldier]

"Well, a lot of that has to do with Randy, really. She's a good girl. Cares too much for her own good. I left the Navy before she did, so I wasn't around when that situation happened, but... It didn't make me any less mad. Of all people, she didn't deserve it." He realized then that he was gushing a bit too much about her brother's girl. "Before you get too concerned, we were never an item. She was a good friend of my wife's." It was hard to mention her like that, and he found himself pursing his lips briefly before continuing. "And before you think me an adulterer, I'm not. Mary died in Afghanistan. It's... well, the main reason I left England." There was nothing left for him there anymore. A drunk sister who hated him and a father who he'd lost track of years ago. What reason did he have to stay?

[little_leaf]

She waved off his explanation about Randy...she hadn't worried, she did the same thing when it came to her brother. When he went on, though, her expression gentled as he tried to explain about his wife, compelling her to reach across the table again to take his hand in hers, giving it a comforting little squeeze.

"I know you were married." She assured him. "I thought she might be dead, too...it's one of the reasons I was kinda surprised you tried to chat me up. I'm sorry, though, I can't even imagine what it's like to lose someone you love like that."

[brave_soldier]

His smile wasn't joyous anymore, and for a brief moment, Jane saw the lonely man that resided behind the persona he put forth. "It's not easy. I figured a fresh start was in my cards as a result." He shrugged a bit, taking a drink from his beer once more before continuing. "But I also know she wouldn't want me lingering on her memory for the rest of my life. We both would have wanted that: it's part of the life of a soldier, really." What always got him was that it was the only life he'd known with Mary: the military life. Their civilian life never existed, since they'd met and married while still soldiers. Perhaps that was why it was simpler for him to move on, once he was in the States. He never knew what he was missing out on.

He cleared his throat then. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a downer. Curious though, how'd you know?"

[little_leaf]

"Being related to John Riley, you learn a few things." she admitted with a sheepish grin and another little wrinkle of her nose as she nodded to him. "You clearly have had a woman's touch in your personal grooming, it's not all military. You have a little bit of shaving foam behind your ear, though, no one told you it was there, but I don't see any evidence of previous instances. You know to look for it, you just don't always get it...means you remember her presence, you haven't let those remembered touches go. And given your dedication to your career, it's pretty clear that you're lonely."

She paused, giving his fingers another comforting squeeze as her other hand moved to grab her beer for another sip. "No one, not even Dudley Do-Right, loves their job that much unless they have to."

[brave_soldier]

Paul let out a soft laugh at her analysis. She was spot on, really. Mary used to tease him about his shoddy shaving job. She once refused to kiss him until he allowed her to 'shave him properly'. He'd always been more careful after that day, even now. Jane was right: he couldn't quite let that part of her go.

"Or their siblings," he added, pointing out her own problem. He cleared his throat slightly, reaching out to stroke her fingers gently with his thumb. "A lot of girls that I've dated since then, they have a problem with her. With Mary. It's been awhile since I've been able to talk about her so openly." He gave her a more cheerful smile, an earnest one that he hoped relayed his sentiment. "Thank you. For being so understanding."

[little_leaf]

She smiled at him warmly, reaching towards her food and plucking out an extra long chip, handing it to him only a little playfully.

"Shut up and eat this so I can kiss you later, Sonic." she replied softly, and with no small amount of affection.

[brave_soldier]

"Only if you eat the other side and meet me halfway. We can have a 'Lady and the Tramp' moment," he teased, leaning forward to bite the chip from her fingertips. He lingered there, leaned over the table, waiting to see if she'd take the bait.

[little_leaf]

Jane just stared at him for a second, silent and gaping...and melted into a giggling pile right on the table, a pool of one arm and hair just barely muffling her peal of high-pitched giggling, the other still holding the french fry aloft.

Finally, she lifted her head, face red from laughing, and rose to catch the other end of the fry between her teeth, nibbling her way towards him.

[brave_soldier]

She had the best laugh in the world. Bar none. She practically was beaming, so all-encompassing was her laughter. He adored it. It suited her so well.

What he didn't expect was for her to take the bait. So his nibbled his way closer, only to accidentally bite too far, breaking the fry. They finished chewing, grinning at each other despite the failed attempt at recreating a Disney moment. He wasn't about to let her get off that easy though. Closing the short distance between them, he pressed his lips against hers in a soft, tender kiss. He didn't dare press his luck, and he drew away with a faintly bashful look. "Best dessert I've ever had," he informed her softly.

[little_leaf]

She was almost a little disappointed when the fry broke, but when he leaned in to finish the job she was far happier...well, mostly. He had a nice mouth, warm and soft. At least she thought so, because he pulled away too fast for her to be sure.

She just watched him for a second, grinning and shaking her head.

"Cheapskate." she accused fondly. Rising from her seat, she walked around the table, curled a hand around the back of his neck, and leaned over to press her mouth securely against his, dark curls spilling over her shoulders to nearly hide the kiss from view.

[brave_soldier]

When she got up, his eyes followed her. Hell, his entire upper body followed her, really, keeping himself facing her as she moved around the table. Thus, when she leaned over with an extended hand, it was only natural to tilt his head up towards her, meeting her lips as she leaned over him. Her long hair was like a curtain, cutting them off from the world.

He shifted in his seat, pulling her down so she sat beside him. Much better. His hand came up to her jawline, cradling it gently as the kiss began to linger. This time, when he drew away, he shifted to rest his forehead against hers, meeting her eyes dead on. A soft chuckle escaped him. "Hmm. Seconds was much, much better, I must say."

[little_leaf]

It was almost...beautiful, the way they came together, flowing into each other like water as their lips met, as he drew her down to him and cupped her cheek. She found herself meeting his gaze with a smile, fear and elation combining in her features. It was just so...natural.

Reaching up, she combed a hand back through his hair...thick, warm, soft against her fingers. The other slid away from his neck and over his shoulder, down to rest against his chest...yep. Solid as she imagined, leaner with age and just soft enough to be touchable.

"There's more on the dessert cart if you have a sweet tooth." she replied with an inviting smile, leaning in to tease her lips over his.

[brave_soldier]

The smile spread across his lips (and hers) before he could much think about it. "I don't know. I might get a cavity," he teased, his fingers gently stroking her cheek. She really was absolutely gorgeous, wasn't she? How on earth did he get so lucky as to wind up with a girl like her? Because as of that moment, it certainly seemed to him like he'd managed to land her.

He kissed her once again before withdrawing his lips. "Joking aside, Jane, this is lovely, but I'm almost terrified to move too quickly. I want to go at whatever pace you'd like to go at. It's just..." He laughed a bit, motioning to the two of them sharing a chair somewhat awkwardly. "Well, I'm not entirely sure what to make of this, to be honest."

[little_leaf]

Jane was briefly torn between wanting to climb in his lap and wanting to kill him for stopping. He made it better by kissing her again, and she followed with another kiss of her own, harder and hungrier before she rested her forehead against his again with a sigh.

"What we ought to do and what I'd like to do are totally different." she half complained, then with a wicked smile she leaned in and whispered in his ear just what she wanted to do with him, a little privacy, and a little chocolate sauce.

After all...it was dessert.

[brave_soldier]

Dear Mother of God. How could he possibly restrain himself when she whispered something like that in his ear? Whatever doubts he might have had about this were beginning to peel away with her kisses, but this whisper was like a nuclear bomb went off in his mind.

After all, for all the proper British demeanor that Paul had, he still very much was a male. A male that hadn't had company like hers in far too long a time. As if testing the waters, he turned his head towards her ear and whispered what he would do with some whipped cream and a lot of privacy. He withdrew only to see her reaction, convinced the line would earn him a smack and a shove as she pushed herself away from him.

[little_leaf]

His breath was warm against her ear and neck, and the things he was saying...

A low ache started in her body as he finished and drew back. He was rewarded with wide eyes dark with desire, pupils blown wide and a slow, warm smile spreading across her face.

Reaching up to curl her hand around the back of his neck, she drew him down to kiss him hard again, teeth taking lightly over his lower lip.

"Take me home." she whispered against his mouth. "Right now...or I'll make sure you can't stand up for an hour.

And to make her threat real, she deliberately rested one hand on his knee, just letting it start to creep up his leg with a grin.

[brave_soldier]

His movement was instant, his hand reaching out to curl around her fingers and draw her hand away from anything dangerous and forced it onto his knee. "Tsk, tsk. And here I thought you wanted a little privacy." He forced himself to look away then, nodding at the waiter. The man was either psychic, or too much experience in situations such as this, because he arrived with the check instantly.

Paul took out his wallet and put in a couple of twenties. It was more than enough to cover it and leave a generous tip. Right then, he would freely admit he was hardly concerned about proper change. Withdrawing from her, he rose to his feet and offered her his elbow with a slight bow. "My lady? Shall we?"

[little_leaf]

Jane watched him barely look at the money he dropped on the table, feeling more than a little smug about having him so properly distracted. It was a powerful feeling, one she didn't get to experience often...it wasn't like guys were beating down her door or anything.

Sliding her arm through his, she pressed herself against his side and rested her chin on his shoulder with a smirk.

"Just so you know? The more British and cordial you are, the dirtier I want to be with you when we're alone." she informed him slyly. "You're one opened car door and 'blimey' away from pretty much doing whatever you want to me."

[brave_soldier]

He laughed warmly at that, reaching out to brush a loose curl out of her face. "My lady, I am nothing if not a gentleman. However, opening a door for you only tells me that you did not drive here. If that's the case, I'm right over there, and I will be more than happy to take you wherever you wish to go. So long as it's one of two destinations, of course." At her look, his grin broadened. "Your place, or mine?"

[little_leaf]

Grinning and giggling, she pressed her face to his shoulder for a second...and he smelled really good, like warm cotton and some kind of sweet, musky cologne, not too heavy or too light.

Lifting her head, she wagged her eyebrows at him. "Well, that depends: do you have whipped cream at your place? Because I definitely have a bottle of chocolate sauce in my fridge."

[brave_soldier]

Once they were safely at his car, he drew close to her, pinning her against the car with only his hips. Leaning in, he kissed her lingeringly, nipping at her bottom lip teasingly. "I don't need whipped cream for what I'm going to do with you," he whispered, just before drawing away and moving to the driver's seat. He only hoped he made it home without an accident. He definitely wanted to keep his word.

[little_leaf]

There was something deliciously thrilling about the way he pinned her against the side of the car with that low mock threat in her ear, all gentle heat and hunger. She suddenly couldn't wait long enough to get him alone, to be at the mercy of those lips and hands, to strip him naked and touch him, make him beg for more.

Nearly pouring herself into the car, as soon as he was inside she was sliding close to kiss him hard again.

"Your place." she managed between kisses. "S' closer...drive fast."