[Skov and Elijah fighting isn't surprising; it happens all the time. But it plays out a bit different this time- because usually Eli backs off, pulls away before it was too obvious how blurred the line was between this and foreplay. But tonight he just peels off his tee-shirt, damp with sweat, tossing it on the floor as he asks Skov if he's tapping out. It's trust, and also a quiet renegotiation of where the lines used to be. Because Elijah isn't scared anymore, scared that the boys knowing who he is, what he is, will mean losing it all.
Turns out Skov isn't done, either-- or at least isn't willing to back off from the challenge. Or maybe just knows that Eli needs something tonight, and doesn't know how to say it.
Eventually, of course, the boys are spent one way or another, and K's other puppy disappears with Swan, leaving Eli all flushed and starry-eyed. He joins K on the couch, drawn in like something magnetic. Usually he wouldn't be so obvious about it, but he's high on endorphins, and the idea of being alone somehow feels like the worst thing in the world. So Eli just nuzzles in against his shoulder, half a kiss, and he'll climb into his lap if he'll let him- too punchdrunk to think better of it.
He's still, quiet in a way that he usually isn't. Which would be scary, if he didn't trust all of them. But he does. So instead he just leans into Kavinsky, feels like his feet are scarcely on the ground.]
Can I just--?
[It's not quite a question, but his words are a little slurred, like he's drunk just off the feelings. K might be able to tell that he isn't used to it, either. This is new- if he had more awareness, he might be a little embarrassed about being like this over a fistfight. But maybe pretending that was why they did it was a little dishonest, anyway. He did it for the bruises, the split lip, the way that their fingers sometimes pressed too tight against each others' throat.]
after the skov thread
Turns out Skov isn't done, either-- or at least isn't willing to back off from the challenge. Or maybe just knows that Eli needs something tonight, and doesn't know how to say it.
Eventually, of course, the boys are spent one way or another, and K's other puppy disappears with Swan, leaving Eli all flushed and starry-eyed. He joins K on the couch, drawn in like something magnetic. Usually he wouldn't be so obvious about it, but he's high on endorphins, and the idea of being alone somehow feels like the worst thing in the world. So Eli just nuzzles in against his shoulder, half a kiss, and he'll climb into his lap if he'll let him- too punchdrunk to think better of it.
He's still, quiet in a way that he usually isn't. Which would be scary, if he didn't trust all of them. But he does. So instead he just leans into Kavinsky, feels like his feet are scarcely on the ground.]
Can I just--?
[It's not quite a question, but his words are a little slurred, like he's drunk just off the feelings. K might be able to tell that he isn't used to it, either. This is new- if he had more awareness, he might be a little embarrassed about being like this over a fistfight. But maybe pretending that was why they did it was a little dishonest, anyway. He did it for the bruises, the split lip, the way that their fingers sometimes pressed too tight against each others' throat.]