[ if he were collected; if his sight were clear, he would give her worth that is due. he hardly believes her incapable of protecting herself. she's as much confident in who and what she is as he: of course she's the furthest thing from shortsighted and despite the relative newness of their acquaintance, she has always known him.
but he is not collected. his sight is not fully clear. her words do not reflect the panic and paranoia he feels and perhaps none would. (she may know him, but she has not seen what he is capable of. not yet.) his fingers around hers curl further, tighter; they slip between their hearts. it's not a conscious gesture: it's not a gesture at all. it's fueled by the vigor and alarm in his voice. ] How do you think a man like me would seek to get under your skin? He wants you vulnerable. If he's dangerous, he wants to hurt you. [ his words waver; his lashes flutter because he is vulnerable in this. that is what frightens him most of all: that he would and he could not stop it. ]
no subject
but he is not collected. his sight is not fully clear. her words do not reflect the panic and paranoia he feels and perhaps none would. (she may know him, but she has not seen what he is capable of. not yet.) his fingers around hers curl further, tighter; they slip between their hearts. it's not a conscious gesture: it's not a gesture at all. it's fueled by the vigor and alarm in his voice. ] How do you think a man like me would seek to get under your skin? He wants you vulnerable. If he's dangerous, he wants to hurt you. [ his words waver; his lashes flutter because he is vulnerable in this. that is what frightens him most of all: that he would and he could not stop it. ]