capeandcowl2020 | Open Post 001

[ Jake was utterly frozen for a moment, as if unable to process what was happening, before his body simply broke against her. He slumped his weight into her embrace, his hands clinging with no sense of shame left. ]

Nh, Namora... please...

[ she doesn't let go, holding him tight against her and letting him cling to her to his heart's content. it doesn't do much to reassure her but at least it's something. ]

I should not have left. I could have helped you and -- helped Marc. [ her tone sounds a little unsure there ]

[ Jake doesn't feel humiliated even by the extent of his own helplessness. He buries the fingers of one hand into her hair, finding almost childish comfort in the gesture. ]

Marc doesn't want anyone's help. [ His tone is clipped then, half because Marc bubbles up in offense, and half being Jake himself is bitter about it. ] He just-- takes from people. He destroys. He kills.

He would have hurt you too...

He would not. Nothing dares harm Namora.

[ she's angry then, but prideful, and she just brings him closer to her (if that's even possible), brushing her claws along his shoulder like she knows he likes. trying to be reassuring, comforting. ]

He is -- [ she hesitates ] -- he is also you though. [ again, that unsureness. she hates it. ] You do not... you do not do this. [ the contradiction. ]

He'd do it -- it's all he knows. Even when he doesn't want it, he can't help it. Everyone leaves. [ Marc always wants Marlene, but every time she goes; it didn't make a difference if he's chasing her off or begging her to stay because it ends up the same. No matter what.

He can't bear for that to be Namora too. He shivers when he feels her claws, so familiar and so strangely comforting. He wants that to stay, and he doesn't think he'll be allowed it. ]

I-I don't. [ Hearing her confirm this too makes his resolve a little stronger and he pushes himself against her, his face tucked against her shoulder. ] But he's here, and he's stronger-- [ a pause as he corrects himself ] --I'm weaker than before, so he's coming through... can't stop it.

[ she hesitates. Marc didn't seem like a bad person, in the end, just -- just angry. desperate. but she couldn't wrap her mind around this whole situation -- no matter what, it was so strange and foreign to her.

Marc had said that he was the original - the real one. wondering back on it now, she wasn't sure what to think of that.

finally, she speaks again, brushing her fingers in circles along his back, comforting. ]

Then you must defeat him.

[ Jake almost scoffs, but not really. The sound is too defeated and weak for that; it's closer to a sob in the end. He lifts his head from Namora's shoulder, but by no means does he draw back any further. He takes a comfort in the feel of her fingers on his back, and his breathing noticeably steadies. ] I wish it was that easy. He's died before, and he still came back. He always here.

I just need to be stronger.

I want to help.

[ she says this immediately, without a second though. he's under her protection -- even after all of these years. she had promised him, and she always upheld her promises. even if she didn't know what had happened to him, or what had gone down with the humans, she wanted to at least be able to do something for him. ]

I will do whatever is necessary.

[ Jake practically melts into her at the response, his fingers curling tight in her hair, and he breaths out shakily. ]

Just -- stay for a little while? [ It feels like such a childish request, but he's too worn down to even care about pride. ] Missed you.

[ she's stroking her other hand through his hair, petting him ]

I will stay for as long as you need me. [ it's dangerous, looking the way she does and being on the surface world during times like this, but he needs her and that's what matters. she exhales a little, gill slits flaring ]

I have -- I missed you as well. I am... [ and she hesitates for a long moment, the word foreign on her tongue ] ... sorry for leaving you.

[ Jake is shivering, uncertain to blame that on his soaked clothes or his broken state of mind -- it is probably both -- and he clutches her tighter. ]

Namora... [ He can't exactly bear the apology, so he moves through it. ] Shouldn't stay here...

Come.

[ she shifts her arms, looping them under him and picking him up bridal-style, standing in the process. she doesn't care if anyone notices or sees them or anything. she will deal with anyone who goes against them. ]

I will take you somewhere. Where?

[ Jake remembers this and it's enough to make him smile. He bends his head, resting it against her chin as he grasps her tight in wet hands. ]

Anywhere. I don't have any place left now.

[ she doesn't say a word, just lifts off the ground, flying high above the pier and holding him close. she flies in silence, scouting for a place before arriving in the more rundown area of what remains of the City, at an apartment building.

she kicks open a window before slipping inside the apartment, landing and walking over to what seemed to be an unused bed, setting him down gently. ]

Will this suffice?

[ Jake still trembled, soaked clothing cold and clinging to his skin, but he focused on Namora, and that somehow made it bearable. He grins, though his shivering puts it off a bit. ]

Better than perfect.

[ Jake gazes up at her as he is set down, and he stubbornly reaches up, slowly flexing his fingers, watching her hair curl around the digits. It might just be the cold and his fragile mental state, but he can't contain himself. ]

Namora -- still so beautiful...

[ she's ready to turn and get up when he curls his fingers into her hair, momentarily stunned at the comment. her eyes widen ever so slightly and she hesitates, running the tips of her fingers along his cheek, still registering what he had said.

she finds herself murmuring: ]

There is no reason to flatter Namora...

Not flatterin'. [ Jake's accent comes in stronger as he feels embarrassed, aware of how he's being foolish, and he mumbles a little too.

He tilts his head into her touch, almost too needy for more of it. ] S'true. Beautiful.

[ Namora watches him, silent for a moment. she's not all that great with expressing herself, feelings, words, and thoughts. both her hands go to his face now, cupping her palms against his cheeks and she doesn't give herself a second thought, instead, leaning into press her lips against his, kissing him. ]

[ A part of him should have seen it coming, but he's frozen for the first few seconds of the kiss. It takes a moment to process, his eyes going wide before fluttering shut. He makes a small, soft sound in the back of his throat, his hands unsteadily grasping at her wrists. ]

Namora. [ He murmurs it quietly against her mouth before parting his lips beneath hers. ]

[ she holds the kiss for as long as she can, her thoughts going wild at the situation. she knows she's rather impulsive, especially when it comes to moments like this, but it still doesn't stop her from riling her up emotionally. when he parts, she pulls back a little, staring down at him with wide eyes. the most flustered she'd ever look. ]

I -- My apologies, Jake...

[ Jake feels incredibly stupid all at once. He keeps hold on her wrists, squeezing down, and he wants to tell her not to stop, but he's been foolish enough already. ]

Don't apologize, I... [ like it, a lot.

Jake bends his head, thumbs rubbing lightly on the underside of her wrists. ]

[ her gaze moves to his hands, where his thumbs are rubbing her wrists. she watches the movement for a moment before glancing back up at his face, hesitating. finally: ]

I have... wanted to do that for a long time. [ too long. her hands press against his cheeks tighter. ]

[ Jake smiles then, very faintly, and his hands slide down her arms and then up to her shoulders. ]

Glad y'did... [ and he tentatively (her hands are holding pretty firm there) leans in to gently touch his lips to hers again. ]

[ this time, her eyes grow large when he kisses her, but only for a moment. she's returning the kiss, deeper and a bit more needfully, her hands moving from his face to loop around his shoulders, hugging him close to her.

it's stupid and foolish, but she hadn't been lying. ]

[ Jake clutched at Namora tightly, making a soft sound against her lips. How long had it been since he was this close to someone? Jake couldn't even recall.

It was almost too much at once, and the others were too close to the surface to take it quietly.

(-- Marlene -- murderer -- maggot --)

Jake jerked back and he buried his face against Namora's neck, panting softly against her skin. ]

Hn... m'sorry.

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