At the moment? Probably not. It might seem like it, but it's not actually worth the hassle. Ask me again in a couple of years, though, when jail's not still so fresh in my mind.
I never asked you to promise me anything. [ She points out with a rather unimpressed expression.] I'm not looking for some epic love. [ Yes, she is.] I'm just trying to figure out... everything, same as most people here.
[ and when he asks her to keep it between them, she hesitates.] Because...? I'm not saying no, I just want to know why.
Because you're a student, and I'm a teacher. You might not care, but I do. I don't want to be the talk of the school. I'm trying to build a reputation, and I can't have students think they can just flirt with me and get what they want.
[ He bites his bottom lip, giving her a copy of her unimpressed look. ]
Sorry to break it to you, Mr. Z, but students are going to flirt with you whether or not they know about... whatever this is. [ She waves her hand between them, smirking.]
That's how this place works. [ However when he calls her special, she flushes and laughs a little,]
If you want me to be your dirty little secret, then that's fine with me. [ She laughs a little.] It's hot. [ For a little while at least. And by now, she's used to it.]
Okay, [ she holds up her hands.] But don't say I didn't warn you.
[ His smile falls into a frown, and he shakes his head, finally easing off the pedestal and stepping close to her once more. ]
There's nothing dirty about it. It's not about - it's not shameful, okay? I've just got some hangups, and I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to shoulder them. But I can't - I'm going to need time.
[ She shrugs that off because yeah, it's his hangups and she can act like it doesn't bother her on some level.] It's fine, Mr. Z. I get it but as long as we're keeping whatever this on the down-low... I have my own request.
[ She pushes the Cool Girl forward for this one.] Two things. [ She holds up one finger.] One, I need it to be open ended. I have a social life here so I can't be ditching the people I hang out with all of a sudden. [ 'Hang out with' should probably sound like it's more than hanging out.
She laughs a little.] We haven't even done anything and we're already negotiating terms. Anyways, two-- [ she sobers a little more, holding up a second finger.]
If you do turn out to... [ Her mouth twists as she tries to think of the proper words.] If my instincts are wrong about you... don't come after my brother. I mean it, leave him out of any drama, if it happens. He's everything to me and I will kick your ass if this affects him in any way.
[ He would be amused if she wasn't so serious about it, but as she is, he keeps his features schooled into a neutral expression, crossing his arms over his chest. They are negotiating terms before even knowing if they have any kind of chemistry - in a biological way, his scientific mind supplies - but it's good. It's better to have things in order.
While he's not a massive fan of the first request, he gets it. And that will definitely help them keeping things quiet. The second is a given. ]
Okay. On both these things.
[ He doesn't even try to say he would never go after her or her family, for any reason - that's not what he does nor who he wants to be. But there's no point in having this conversation now. ]
I don't really do drama. [ She just cuts herself off before drama can happen. And when drama comes at her, she just avoids it. At least when it comes to relationships with other people.]
[ It feels like they've said everything they had to say, at this point, no more words coming to him. He repeats the move from earlier, tilting her chin up with a single finger once he's close enough, thumb brushing her cheek. ]
Right? [ His voice is huskies than he expected it to be. ]
[ A weird tingly sort of feeling washes over her as he touches her, tilting her face up towards his. Her eyes stay on his as she nods, just enough to get the motion across but not enough to dislodge his fingers because suddenly her mouth is very dry and words feel like a stumbling block.
Usually, she's the one who makes people feel this way.] We are.
[ He may be cheating a tiny, tiny bit, the smallest amount of current in his fingers when he touches her at first, and he cuts it off quickly - he's not here to hurt her. He's never been one to use his powers to get reactions, and he's not going to start now. She looks up at him and he looks down at her, and nods when she answers, her lips staying parted. ]
Yeah. [ And then he's leaning in, kissing her, fitting his mouth against her gently - softly, a moment of discovery more than anything. ]
[ An understanding sealed with a kiss. Seems fitting considering what they are attempting to do here. It's different than any other thing she's had with a person. Usually it just happens but this doesn't feel any less organic to her.
His mouth fits to hers and she sort of... melts into it. She forgets her fingers are covered in charcoal when her hands move to rest on his chest, lightly.]
[ It's easy to fold her into his arms, to finally get to touch, hands sliding around her waist, into her hair as the kiss deepens. He's acutely aware that they're in a public place, but the art studios all tend to echo, and he's - he can't quite stop, now that he's here. ]
[ She's letting him call the shots, mostly because they are in a space where his rule/condition may not be kept intact. She's not the only person to use the studio, maybe she's there on an off-hour but that doesn't mean someone won't walk in on them.
That doesn't stop her hands from sliding up his chest to hold his face, leaving charcoal smudges along his skin. It all feels different, a bit more intense because well, it hardly feels casual like it did with Arel or with Knox or even Jay. Like maybe she knows that his kisses mean something to him. ]
[ And do they mean something - Z is not exactly the most trusting, open person ever, and he doesn't really do casual very often, or very well. It's not something he's enjoyed much in the past, and he doubts he's going to start now.
It's part of why it bothered him when she said dirty little secret, because it's so far from how he sees things.
He cups the back of her head with a hand, strands of hair between his fingers, swiping his tongue against her bottom lip one last time before he pulls back, feeling a flush on his cheeks. He feels electrified, and not because of his inherent power. ]
[ When he pulls back, after that little tongue swipe? Yeah, he gets a soft, distracted sound of protest from her. Her eyes flutter open, her lips still pursed for a moment because he's managed to daze her a bit. She looks up at him, perhaps a little bewildered and a lot a bit hungry for more.
Her fingers touch her lips for a moment.] Holy crap.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Did you learn anything from it?
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[ To not trust easily. ]
I wasn't happy doing what I did. That's why I got into becoming a teacher. Get a second chance.
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Because my first boyfriend ever went to jail for beating a man and what you did isn't even close to dangerous. At least not for me.
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I just. I just can't promise you anything, you know? And we can't - this, whatever it is, it would have to stay between us. Right?
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[ and when he asks her to keep it between them, she hesitates.] Because...? I'm not saying no, I just want to know why.
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[ He bites his bottom lip, giving her a copy of her unimpressed look. ]
You - you're and exception. You're special.
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That's how this place works. [ However when he calls her special, she flushes and laughs a little,]
I'm really not though, you'll figure that out.
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[ Because it's definitely one for him. He smirks. ]
And let me form my own opinions, thank you. [ And he winks. ]
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Okay, [ she holds up her hands.] But don't say I didn't warn you.
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There's nothing dirty about it. It's not about - it's not shameful, okay? I've just got some hangups, and I'm sorry, you shouldn't have to shoulder them. But I can't - I'm going to need time.
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[ He can't afford not to listen, at least. ]
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She laughs a little.] We haven't even done anything and we're already negotiating terms. Anyways, two-- [ she sobers a little more, holding up a second finger.]
If you do turn out to... [ Her mouth twists as she tries to think of the proper words.] If my instincts are wrong about you... don't come after my brother. I mean it, leave him out of any drama, if it happens. He's everything to me and I will kick your ass if this affects him in any way.
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While he's not a massive fan of the first request, he gets it. And that will definitely help them keeping things quiet. The second is a given. ]
Okay. On both these things.
[ He doesn't even try to say he would never go after her or her family, for any reason - that's not what he does nor who he wants to be. But there's no point in having this conversation now. ]
I'd rather avoid any drama, anyway.
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And thank you for agreeing.
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[ It feels like they've said everything they had to say, at this point, no more words coming to him. He repeats the move from earlier, tilting her chin up with a single finger once he's close enough, thumb brushing her cheek. ]
Right? [ His voice is huskies than he expected it to be. ]
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Usually, she's the one who makes people feel this way.] We are.
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Yeah. [ And then he's leaning in, kissing her, fitting his mouth against her gently - softly, a moment of discovery more than anything. ]
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His mouth fits to hers and she sort of... melts into it. She forgets her fingers are covered in charcoal when her hands move to rest on his chest, lightly.]
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That doesn't stop her hands from sliding up his chest to hold his face, leaving charcoal smudges along his skin. It all feels different, a bit more intense because well, it hardly feels casual like it did with Arel or with Knox or even Jay. Like maybe she knows that his kisses mean something to him. ]
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It's part of why it bothered him when she said dirty little secret, because it's so far from how he sees things.
He cups the back of her head with a hand, strands of hair between his fingers, swiping his tongue against her bottom lip one last time before he pulls back, feeling a flush on his cheeks. He feels electrified, and not because of his inherent power. ]
Um.
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Her fingers touch her lips for a moment.] Holy crap.
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