IC contact

[doubleoohbaby]

Bond. Leave a message.

( Texts. Phone calls. Pictures. Video. If you can think of a reason why you'd have Bond's number, go ahead. )

Comments

[hexappeal]

[He probably has had a crappy, stressful two weeks. She isn't offended by his departure.]

I brought her to my place after you seemed to have gone off... wherever. [She shuffles along to the kitchen and takes a piece of paper off the fridge and crumples it up with a smile before tossing it out. Just a cute note about how she's worried about him and wondering if he's avoiding her.] I wasn't sure if you were avoiding me or not. She hadn't seemed to have been fed, so...

[doubleoohbaby]

Oh. [That's a relief, he'll admit.] Thank you.

[His apartment feels odd. Unlived in and empty. It's a reminder of the times back home where he's left for weeks and months on end, but even then he usually has his housekeeper.]

[hexappeal]

Anytime.

[He's acting a little weird. His place is a lot more quite than hers, despite hers being much larger. It doesn't really feel lived-in, she supposes. Zatanna comes up behind him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.] Are you okay?

[doubleoohbaby]

[The touch has his shoulders tensing on instinct, although relaxing seconds later. He's too wired, too ready to be shot at, too ready to be found out. Now is the time to put the job (because that's what these last few weeks were to him) behind and focus on the time away from it.]

Fine. Just need a good nights sleep and some good company. [Twisting towards her, a hand lifting to take hers.] Now, about that bath...

[hexappeal]

[She recognizes his reaction. Something she's seen before, felt before. It bothers Zatanna far more than she will ever let on. She's been very gentle about it with James, in the past. But then they got pissy and stopped understanding one another by choice, stopped curling up in bed with one another and listening. All because of stupid feelings. She was glad that was all over and done with and she could offer her support again.]

I won't make you tell me everything, but I hope that you'll be honest with me. [Though his gesture seems to reassure her. She gives his hand a little squeeze.] I think you need to take a quick shower before I'd be willing to take a dunk with you, honey. [But if he really wanted her to, she would.]

[doubleoohbaby]

[He rolls his eyes in response to her, affectionate more than annoyed, carefully lowering her hand back down and stepping away. The bathroom seems to be his target, but he's already stripping off on the way there, jacket, pistol, holster, shirt, belt, shoes, all slid out of easily, all scattered on the floor. He'll clean up later. Whatever.]

You can at least start running it, then. [Called over his shoulder as he heads off to get naked and wet in the shower, aw yeah.]

LMAO

[hexappeal]

I might just do that. [She trails behind him, cleaning up his mess. Normally, she might yell at him for lazy, but he seems so very tired. This time, she'll let him get away with it. But if there are any comments even slightly misogynistic in tone, she's going to toss all of his junk into the shower with him. Until the, they'll be folded neatly.

And then she does, in fact, take his suggestion to heart and turns on the water, letting it fill up as the temperature rises; it's steaming a little, but that doesn't stop her from stripping and sliding into the tub with a soft hiss. He's probably hoping that she'll be lounging in it seductively or something, but he'll just have to be disappointed. She takes a washcloth and dips it in, getting it good and wet before covering her eyes and leaning back.]

sh'up

[doubleoohbaby]

[James barely acknowledges her clean-up, not out of any usual arrogance or disinterest, just... really not got the energy to register it. Part of his brain is already asleep, the other is only interested in people trying to kill or harm him. Seeing as neither is a viable option right now, he's just focused on climbing into the shower and staying unmoving under the hot spray.

He washes half heartedly, flicks the shower right down to cold and stands without reacting for a minute or two more before finally dragging himself back out, clean but dishevelled. It's only after a lengthy pause that he staggers over to the bath and drops himself in opposite Zee, managing to spill water over the sides with his unceremonious flop in.] Mmm...

neverrrr

[hexappeal]

[She kind of likes that -- when he's off. At least in this regard. The part where he's still in fight or flight mode, though, is a different story. She suspects that he's beyond tense right now and feels like they should be talking about a million things, but instead, just slides a foot on over to his hip, quietly acknowledging him before removing the cloth to peer at him and smile.]

If you want to sleep, I'll stay awake. [As in, she'll make sure that nothing happens. That he'll be safe.]

yiiiiis

[doubleoohbaby]

[He's already got his head tipped back and his eyes shut, bumping his leg against hers in return for the acknowledgement but, other than that, barely moving.

With an effort he lifts an arm off the side of the bath and waves it vaguely towards the door.] Left my gun out there. [Which is fucking stupid of him, he realises. Lot of good that'll do sitting in another room. But y'know, at least if Zee knows where it is, she can always like. get it or whatever should they get crazy hitmen after them.]

nooooooo

[hexappeal]

[She holds up her right hand and curls three of her fingers, holding her thumb upright and pointing her index finger toward him, mocking a gun.] Don't worry, I've got you covered. [If it were anyone else it would just be a cute (and not at all reassuring) gesture. But don't worry, she'll turn the crazy hitmen into toads or teleport them to the middle of nowhere in Papua New Guinea.

And. It probably isn't the time, but. Quietly:] Selina came back right after you left. [Zatanna fails to mention that she has forgotten everything, but those are just details.]

noooope

[doubleoohbaby]

[He misses most of that act, as adorable as it may have been. Zee can take care of them, he supposes, but he still feels naked without his pistol right now. Even when he is actually naked. Yeah.

Her words take a moment to sink in, the name reverberating around his head for a solid few seconds before he suddenly looks to her, eyes snapping open and brows furrowed in confusion.] Hnnwhat?

...yes?

[hexappeal]

[Insert joke about having a pistol attached to his body at all times, just not one that's useful for protecting them?

She means to suggest that, perhaps, for a brief moment she thought her arrival had something to do with his disappearance. But she doesn't say it. She peers evenly at him, though her gaze says more than she means for it to. Selina may not remember having been here, but Zee isn't sure if that is relieving at all.] I thought that you would want to know. [She's not accusing him of anything, but it's obvious that she still is uncomfortable. Man, for such a hot chick, she really can be pretty insecure...]

reverse psychology! /wins

[doubleoohbaby]

[He just stares at her blankly before tossing his head back again with a groan, slinging an arm over his eyes.] Couldn't you have waited until tomorrow? [Now is really not a time to be discussing ex girlfriends and stuff with him, because ugh he wants to shoot all the things.]

no!! you just confused me, it doesn't count :T

[hexappeal]

I don't know. [She seems genuine about that, at least. It doesn't sound accusatory or angry, but maybe just a little sad. Zatanna slides a hand over her head, slicking back her hair; only parts of it are wet. It mostly remains dry. Without realizing it, she crosses an arm over her breasts in a slightly defensive gesture.]

it does so

[doubleoohbaby]

[There's silence from him for a while, maybe for thinking time or possibly just because he's fallen asleep. It's hard to tell with the arm over his eyes and the usual deep, slow breathing. He does speak eventually, a few long minutes later, a lazy mutter that's meant more as jovial than anything else.] You just knew I wouldn't be moving anywhere in a hurry this evening.

uhhhhh no

[hexappeal]

[The deafening sort of silence that she hates happens, then. It feels like forever. She almost gets up and goes to leave, but she'd sat around doing nothing far longer than this in the past. She's waited longer than this. Often, for a man. Not usually one worth nearly as much as James, however. Though the silence was enough to drive her crazy, she still takes a moment before responding.] That hadn't occurred to me. If you really wanted to go somewhere, I doubt being exhausted or hurt would stop you.

uuh nope

[doubleoohbaby]

I'm not going anywhere, don't worry. [He's pretty sure she'll need to drag him out of the bath for a start, because yeah, his muscles ache and he has no energy.]

Please avoid any further paranoia when I ask; how is she?

:|a

[hexappeal]

I wouldn't hold it against you, if you wanted to. [She means it, too. She really just wants to see him happy.]

Well. She doesn't remember having been here. [Maybe that will make it less uncomfortable. Or, maybe it'll make it worse.] She doesn't want to kill me, so I'd say we're on good terms. Before Talia came along and manipulated us.

;D

[doubleoohbaby]

[If it hadn't been established, Bond is really too tired for all of this. Especially news of ex-girlfriends returning.] I'm sure I'll catch up with her eventually.

:/

[hexappeal]

I'm sure you will. [She still isn't being accusatory, at least. Companionable silence isn't bad, but right now... it's not so much that. It's awkward silence. The kind she'd usually break with conversation. She just isn't quite sure how... Forcing a smile, she tries it. Sort of.] I... I could leave, if you'd prefer.

[doubleoohbaby]

You better not.

[Grumbled, all gruff like as he tilts his head back once more for more shut eye. Awkward silences or not, Bond wants company and he plans on keeping it.]

[hexappeal]

[She hates when she acts so timid. If she wants something, she goes for it. Nothing should stop her, right? Sometimes, though, there were more important things than what she wanted. Admitting that was difficult. It meant opening up and dealing with all of that scary stuff that she'd tried so hard to avoid.]

You don't seem to be in any condition to chase me down, if I chose to. [A little more like herself.] So I suppose I'll stay. Out of the kindness of my heart.

[doubleoohbaby]

[On the plus side, James is far too lethargic to start pointing out all her faults and contradictions.]

You're too good to me, my dear. Now drag me out of the bath, give me a massage and sleep beside me, would you? [Mostly tongue in cheek. Mostly.]

[hexappeal]

[They can talk about their coping mechanisms, fear of loss and betrayal, and desire to drive anyone worthwhile to them away another time.]

You'll have to give me a moment. [She was going to do two of the three without being asked. Dragging him out of the tub might prove a little difficult, but she expects him not to go limp (heh) against her. Zatanna pulls her legs toward herself and presses her palm against the edge of the tub, getting to her feet. Barely a moment passes before she reaches for a robe (that she may have planted in his bathroom several weeks ago) and steps out without a drip; someone might have mostly dried herself off with magic just then. She shuffles around the tub and slides an arm around his, giving him a pull.] Come on, then.