[ it is an impeccable impression, and kate would devote a little more time to being suitably impressed were it not for the sober turn of their conversation. not that she's complaining; she was the one to ask, after all. ]
They say time heals everything, [ she offers around a shrug of her shoulders. she's not entirely sure how much of that she personally believes. she hasn't yet taken the leap to test it out herself, after all, if all those unopened voicemails from her father are of any indication.
of course, kate isn't so egotistical as to believe that her presence has made much of a difference this time around, but she does hope she's been something of a buffer, if nothing else. she turns back on her seat, leaning forward so that when her legs swing out, her feet come to rest right as the tips of his shoes where they've come to cross at his ankles. ]
I know the big party is happening tomorrow night. Are we expected for anything else before that?
[ Benedict isn't exactly a closed book, mysterious and standoffish, but he's also not really in the habit of divulging his personal problems to all and sundry. Most of the time, he's sure the people around him would considering him laid-back and affable, the kind of person who doesn't really have all that many problems in his life, helped along by his good looks and his family money.
Funny, how even those with all those barriers smoothed out of the way, he can still have existential difficulties that he doesn't talk about much.
At least he knows Kate will understand. ]
I suppose we'll see about that. [ Maybe there will be a time that he comes home and he doesn't spare even a passing thought to how he will be welcomed. It's a nice dream.
Kate's presence has made a difference this time around, even after just one day. For one thing, he's distracted much of the time from his own worries by making sure she's comfortable and looked-after, and for another, she's a bit more of a novelty for those around him and it takes some of the attention off him. He's very grateful for her being here, which is why he smiles at her and tips his foot against hers when she turns around and faces him. ]
There'll be breakfast served at eight, but that's very come-if-you're-awake, and a light lunch served around noon, neither of which are mandatory as far as attendance. We could go explore the grounds, or I could probably borrow one of the cars if you wanted to go a bit further afield, see the surrounding countryside or go into town.
[ if there's one thing kate understands, it's a complicated relationship with one's family. having lost her mother when she was still quite young, kate only had her father and older sister to lean on. but since deciding to take up the bow and arrow, doing what she does, she has found herself at odds with both. susan, because she doesn't understand why kate doesn't think simply donating annually to a handful of charities feels like enough. and derek... well. derek is one of the kinds of people kate works hard to fight against, the kind that care only for themselves, their wealth, and their status, no matter who they have to step on along the way.
she hasn't spoken to him for a very long time. ]
A drive sounds nice. When was the last time you were back here and got to really appreciate the area, hm?
[ of course, her intentions aren't entirely altruistic. there's a mischievous glint in her eye as she leans forward, the wide collar of her sleepshirt slipping down one shoulder, showing a flash of a plum-colored strap. almost as if on purpose. ]
[ In the grand scheme of things, Benedict knows he's very lucky, which is one of the reasons he doesn't like to dwell on his misfortune. Others have it much worse than he does. He should count his blessings.
Blessings like having access to a fleet of cars whenever he likes so he can take his fake-girlfriend out on a drive so they can escape his family for a little while. ]
Can you even drive a manual transmission? [ He arches his eyebrow skeptically at her. He's driven in America, alright. He knows how ubiquitous automatics are over there. ] I'm not sure I'll survive letting you mangle the gear box of the Aston Martin.
[ Both because he'll probably absolutely hate the sound of the gears grinding, and also because the mechanics will murder him in his sleep for ruining their pride and joy. ]
[ wow??? and here kate was basically offering all kinds of (illicit?) favors in exchange for taking one of those cars out for a spin around the estate but he's gone and triggered the annie get your gun sequence in her dna. he only has himself to blame now.
her brow cocks, and her feet shift, forcing his own to uncross at the ankles and spread. ]
So not only are you going to let me drive, you're going to compliment me thoroughly when I drive your fancy car better than you could ever imagine.
[ Belatedly, he notices the way her shirt slips down her shoulder, the flash of shadowed lace, the smirk that curls her lips as she talks to him, but by then it's too late and he's already opened his big mouth and put his foot square in it.
Of course, he likes Kate best when she's being belligerent and contradictory, which is handy, because he seems to bring it out in her rather often.
Laughing, he lets her kick his feet wider, setting his hands on his knees and spreading his fingers wide. ]
Oh, is that what I'm going to do? [ he asks, his eyebrows arching higher, well aware he's only digging his own grave further and yet being entirely incapable of stopping himself. ] And what if I refuse?
[ it's funny, really. were anyone to walk in on them now, when both their guards are lowered and they aren't preoccupied with keeping up their ruse, still no one would be the wiser. if anything, they only look that much more convincing.
kate's smile in turn is sweet, but sharp enough around the edges that it would be a foolish man to think she's at all acquiescing. especially not when she leans forward further, steadying herself from fully tipping over by placing a hand on the backs of each of benedict's. ]
You won't. You don't know how to refuse me.
[ a bold declaration, for sure. but not an unfounded one. ]
[ He's not nearly stupid enough to think Kate's doing anything more than biding her time, meeting him square in the ridiculously competitive middle just for the fun of it.
Especially when she tips forward and plants her hands on his, the surprising calluses nobody expects on her fingers pressing firmly into the base of his wrists.
He makes absolutely no move to shift away, even as she encroaches further and further into his personal space. ]
[ he doesn't back away, but nor does he lean forward to further close that gap. this, of course, means kate wins. just one more point in their unspoken, neverending competition. which kate is, of course, leading. she doesn't make the rules. ]
Name the last time.
[ her tone is both dry and taunting because they both know the truth here. but it's not as if kate's taken advantage of him or anything. she likes to think she's made her appreciation of him pretty clear, even if most of the time she gives him a hard time like so. ]
[ He's just delaying the inevitable. Letting her emerge the victor in these little spats doesn't bother him, though.
Once upon a time, he read a study that described how male puppies will allow female puppies to win a disproportionate amount of play fights in an effort to endear themselves to the other members of the pack. He's not entirely sure he likes how well that applies to this current situation, but he's not thinking about it. ]
You offered me coffee at the airport and I said no.
[ If she were the type to try and take advantage of him, he'd be far less accommodating of her. In fact, he'd probably simply pull away from her, piece by slow little piece, until he was no longer in danger of being taken advantage of. He's done it before with other friends. ]
[ kate's expression colors in confusion for a moment as she attempts to recall that time at the airport — it was early morning, she was dead on her feet and eyeing the starbucks by the terminal like it might have well been her last lifeline and asked him if he wanted what she was having out of reflex. they're together so frequently these days that it's just second nature now to always consider him in such decisions.
she rolls her eyes as the memory resurfaces. ]
That doesn't count and you know it. Especially when you follow it up with "thank you."
[ trust benedict to be polite even in his refusals.
she leans forward another couple of inches, her angle practically precarious by now but she hardly seems to notice, let alone care. the hold she's got on his wrist shifts slightly, thumbs coming to rub along the pulse point there. ]
You should quit now before I ask for two pretty things.
[ Watching the confusion drift across her face has him smirking a little to himself; Kate is very clearly not a morning person, at least not while also factoring in transatlantic travel, and he's secure enough to admit that the sleepy way she allowed him to herd her through the airport was very cute. Almost as cute as the little frown that creases between her eyebrows as she tries to pull up the memory while he waits patiently for her to catch up.
His smirk widens when she rolls her eyes at him. ]
It certainly counts. I said no.
[ Mostly because he knew he could get real espresso on the plane and he wasn't about to brave the line for Starbucks. Though he was, apparently, just fine with waiting with their things while she stood in line.
It's different.
He watches her tip herself even closer, bracing his stance to accept her weight as the seat she's ostensibly sitting on is only making contact with the smallest sliver of her thighs, and tries not to focus too much on the feel of her slipping her hands around his wrists so that her thumbs can rub at the thin skin there. ]
I never agreed to the first pretty thing. [ Which he probably will buy her anyway, because she's put the idea in his head and she's doing him a great big favor by being here. Shh. ]
[ there are still many, many things about being a warriorborn that kate doesn't fully understand or even know about. much of what she does know had been information offered up to her by benedict himself, kate ignoring her usual incessant curiosity in favor of being sensitive to a topic a good friend clearly finds complicated. that's why she likes little moments like these, where she gets to watch and observe unabashedly without worry of making him feel like he's being put under a microscope. right now she's fascinated by the subtle changes in his eyes, the way those cat-like slits grow steadily wider and wider. ]
You didn't have to. It was already a given.
[ she aches to know the cause for the change, but she knows better than to ask just yet. she isn't even sure he's aware he's doing it. ]
[ He isn't really aware he's doing it, no. He can control the constriction of his pupils up to a point, but he doesn't think about it very much in any given moment, and unless he's emerging from a dark room into bright sunlight, the movement is so subtle that he doesn't notice it at all.
Kate's scrutiny is met with a mild little smile, Benedict happy to play along while also slightly bemused by the turn things have taken. ]
I'm not sure I care for this smugness on you, Kit-Kate. It's most unbecoming.
[ That's a lie. There's very little that doesn't look good on Kate, and smug is a very fetching look. There's a reason he hasn't moved out of her way, even as she presses in closer and closer. ]
[ being kate bishop is half-parts pure guts and half-parts faking it till you make it. if she believes she's a badass, then she's a badass. if she believes she looks good like this — rumpled and cozy and ready for sleep, no make up on — then she looks good like this.
it helps, of course, that he continues to smile at her. the kind that reaches those eyes of his, pupils nearly blown out by now. this close, it's all too easy to keep playing that role, to close the final few inches of distance between them and press a light kiss to his cheek. she's done it plenty of times before, sweet and innocent. but this time it lingers, this time it hits him square at the corner of his mouth. ]
You should get ready for bed, dear. We wouldn't want you sleeping in. It'd be most unbecoming.
[ If Benedict were prone to introspection and overthinking, which he thankfully is not, he'd probably consider the fact that the reason he likes the way Kate looks right now has less to do with socially accepted markers of attractiveness — which Kate reaches, obviously — and more to do with the quiet intimacy of seeing her like this: her makeup wiped away, her hair twisted up in a messy knot, her clothes soft and comfortable as she gets herself ready for bed. This is Kate without an audience, Kate at home, Kate comfortable and relaxed as she gives him a hard time.
The lack of audience leaves him equally comfortable and relaxed, which is probably why he doesn't think to shift his head far enough to miss her lips landing mostly-on his when she leans in to kiss his cheek.
Blinking at her in surprise when she pulls back, he wastes a second or two searching her face — why did she do that? — before visibly rallying and flexing his wrists in her grip. ]
[ why did she do that? she's not sure, not even now after the fact. she supposes she was curious — to see how he'd take it, to see if he'd let it slide — but she can't say for sure yet if that curiosity has been sated at all. the way he watches her, she can tell he's confused. but benny's always been too polite to properly rebuff someone anyway. ]
Said no man, ever.
[ haha they have fun here.
but she does finally give him back his space, sliding off the vanity stool to slip back into the bathroom to brush her teeth and finally finish getting ready for bed.
when she finishes, she pads back over to the bed, looking it over. ]
[ It should come as a surprise to nobody that Benedict has never been to any sort of gentleman's club where the ladies in attendance lose their clothes for tips, so he's unable to come up with a suitably snappy response to her little quip quickly enough for it to be anything but awkward, so he just quirks his eyebrow at her and lets it slide.
She knows. It's fine.
Idly flexing his wrists again when she finally lets him go and slips off into the bathroom, he wastes another few seconds going over that not-quite-kiss — was it an accident? did she do it on purpose? — before putting it out of his mind and focusing on getting undressed.
Even having grown up with a fleet of staff who comes in and tidies up after him, Benedict is the type of person to carefully hang his dirty clothes so they don't wrinkle, which is why when Kate emerges from the bathroom, Benedict is still getting dressed in his pajamas, having just shrugged into his shirt but not yet having tackled its buttons.
Glancing over his shoulder at her, he considers the bed before shrugging. ]
Right. [ If she's not going to press the issue, neither will he. The chaise is comfortable enough for a nap, but that doesn't mean he wants to spend the whole night on it. ]
[ if anyone were to take that chaise, it would be the one of them that isn't over 6 feet. that's just being practical. but seeing as how there's no way in hell benedict would ever allow that (unless he somehow took the floor in turn), it's just safe to assume they'll be sharing the bed. like totally platonic friends do.
it's fine. it's king size, she's tiny, there'll be plenty of room. they both deserve the comfort of the bed after a long day like they've had, and kate is sure their friendship can survive something so banal.
what's not banal, though, is walking in on benedict's bare chest, flanked by the softest looking pajama top imaginable. it's almost infuriating how good-looking he is, but probably not as infuriating as the apparent fact he doesn't even realize.
she purses her lips together after realizing she'd been staring, and demurely looks away back towards the bed. ]
Cool, left works for me.
[ a-hem. but that requires her to walk over to the other side where benedict currently is. and if she happens to brush against him in the process? mind your business. ]
[ It would sound egotistical in the extreme to say that Benedict is used to being stared at like that by pretty girls, but it's not exactly uncommon. Most of the time he attributes it to being warriorborn, though, not to anything else. Kate doesn't seem to care about his genetics, thankfully, which leaves no real explanation for the way her eyes catch on him as he's getting dressed, at least, no explanation he can readily come up with.
Doing up the buttons from them hem up, he frowns a little bit at her, but doesn't say anything even when she looks away. It's probably nothing. ]
There should be a cord for your phone in the bedside drawer. Everything was updated relatively recently to include all the newest modcons, but if you need something else just let me know. I'll talk to Mrs Goodman about sourcing it for you.
[ Fighting down the urge to shiver when she brushes past him takes real effort, but the moment passes so quickly he tries to just put it out of his mind instead of commenting on it. It seems safer, in the long run.
Nipping into the bathroom to take care of his nightly ablutions, he tries very hard not to think about the fact that, in just a few minutes, he's going to be sharing a bed with the girl he's tricking his family into thinking he's dating. It's a weird situation for anybody to be in. What's weirder, though, is how it doesn't really feel that weird at all.
Running his tongue over his teeth to make sure he didn't miss any spots while brushing, he shrugs at himself in the mirror. No point obsessing over it.
Turning off all the lights, he returns to the bedroom and does the same there, before padding over to the bed and slipping beneath the covers beside her. ]
[ after the customary goodnights are shared, it isn't long at all before kate finds herself drifting to sleep. that's how it always goes, doesn't it? after a long day, all the day's adrenaline fades the instant one's head hits the pillow. it would have been such a good, long sleep too...
were it not for kate suddenly stirring in the middle of the night. the room is still shrouded in shadows, nearly pitch black were it not for the sliver of a blue moon filtering in through the curtains. kate rolls over to her other side, crosses the non-existent distance between herself and the other body in the bed— ]
Benny. Ben. Did you hear that?
[ she's gripping his shoulder, impossibly close to him. of course, of course a house as old as this was haunted. oh my god. ]
[ Unused to sleeping next to another person after all this time living alone — not that Benedict ever slept in the same bed as anyone since he was a very small child, but his time at the Temple and his military service had included barracks-style living, which meant sleeping a stone's throw away from others — it takes Benedict a while to fall asleep, but he forces himself to stop focusing on the girl only a few feet away from him with some determined meditation, and it doesn't take that much longer for him to drift off as well.
Only to be woken not by whatever noise spooked Kate, but by Kate herself, scooting closer across the sheets and grabbing at his shoulder.
With his instincts and combat training both ingrained deep into him, one would think Benedict would react to being shaken awake with violence. Instead, all he does is rumble sleepily, letting Kate tug at his shoulder until he's flat on his back, peering at her through half-lidded eyes. ]
[ a ghost, she almost says, but fortunately stops herself before it actually slips out. how embarrassing. he's half-awake right now but she's pretty sure he'd jolt right out of it just to laugh at her.
she grits her teeth, unconsciously curling her hand into a little fist around the fabric at his shoulder. ]
—not sure... But I definitely heard something outside.
[ she's close enough he'd be able to see it (though not like he needs the help, given his nightvision), how big and imploring her eyes get. they say, without saying anything, aren't you going to go check it out? ]
[ He might not have woken up fully just to laugh at her, but he equally might have just woken up fully so he could raise his eyebrows incredulously at her, so which is worse?
The way she's yanking at his pajamas makes him reach out and clumsily pat at her, his hand landing on her bare thigh, warm from being cocooned beneath the covers. ]
'S probably just the foxes, [ he assures her, like listening to foxes do anything isn't absolutely blood-curdling.
Still, the longer he stays awake trying to comfort her, the more awake he feels, and he'd probably be able to tell how spooked she is even without his superior senses. Suppressing a sigh, not wanting to make her feel bad even though he's pretty sure she's being totally ridiculous, he shifts enough so he can roll onto his other side to face her, letting go of her leg so he can wrap both hands around hers. ]
Do you want me to go make sure? [ Gods, he's a sucker. ]
[ at his touch, she shifts closer still, as if it were some unspoken permission. she's got both hands gripping his shirt now, body tense underneath the thick covers resting over them. benedict has always run a little hotter than most; turns out sharing a blanket with him is like having your own little space heater. even still, she shivers from the touch. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-10-18 11:29 pm (UTC)They say time heals everything, [ she offers around a shrug of her shoulders. she's not entirely sure how much of that she personally believes. she hasn't yet taken the leap to test it out herself, after all, if all those unopened voicemails from her father are of any indication.
of course, kate isn't so egotistical as to believe that her presence has made much of a difference this time around, but she does hope she's been something of a buffer, if nothing else. she turns back on her seat, leaning forward so that when her legs swing out, her feet come to rest right as the tips of his shoes where they've come to cross at his ankles. ]
I know the big party is happening tomorrow night. Are we expected for anything else before that?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 02:00 am (UTC)Funny, how even those with all those barriers smoothed out of the way, he can still have existential difficulties that he doesn't talk about much.
At least he knows Kate will understand. ]
I suppose we'll see about that. [ Maybe there will be a time that he comes home and he doesn't spare even a passing thought to how he will be welcomed. It's a nice dream.
Kate's presence has made a difference this time around, even after just one day. For one thing, he's distracted much of the time from his own worries by making sure she's comfortable and looked-after, and for another, she's a bit more of a novelty for those around him and it takes some of the attention off him. He's very grateful for her being here, which is why he smiles at her and tips his foot against hers when she turns around and faces him. ]
There'll be breakfast served at eight, but that's very come-if-you're-awake, and a light lunch served around noon, neither of which are mandatory as far as attendance. We could go explore the grounds, or I could probably borrow one of the cars if you wanted to go a bit further afield, see the surrounding countryside or go into town.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 03:32 pm (UTC)she hasn't spoken to him for a very long time. ]
A drive sounds nice. When was the last time you were back here and got to really appreciate the area, hm?
[ of course, her intentions aren't entirely altruistic. there's a mischievous glint in her eye as she leans forward, the wide collar of her sleepshirt slipping down one shoulder, showing a flash of a plum-colored strap. almost as if on purpose. ]
Now what's it gonna take for you to let me drive?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 05:53 pm (UTC)Blessings like having access to a fleet of cars whenever he likes so he can take his fake-girlfriend out on a drive so they can escape his family for a little while. ]
Can you even drive a manual transmission? [ He arches his eyebrow skeptically at her. He's driven in America, alright. He knows how ubiquitous automatics are over there. ] I'm not sure I'll survive letting you mangle the gear box of the Aston Martin.
[ Both because he'll probably absolutely hate the sound of the gears grinding, and also because the mechanics will murder him in his sleep for ruining their pride and joy. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 06:27 pm (UTC)her brow cocks, and her feet shift, forcing his own to uncross at the ankles and spread. ]
So not only are you going to let me drive, you're going to compliment me thoroughly when I drive your fancy car better than you could ever imagine.
And then buy me something pretty.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 07:11 pm (UTC)Of course, he likes Kate best when she's being belligerent and contradictory, which is handy, because he seems to bring it out in her rather often.
Laughing, he lets her kick his feet wider, setting his hands on his knees and spreading his fingers wide. ]
Oh, is that what I'm going to do? [ he asks, his eyebrows arching higher, well aware he's only digging his own grave further and yet being entirely incapable of stopping himself. ] And what if I refuse?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 07:24 pm (UTC)kate's smile in turn is sweet, but sharp enough around the edges that it would be a foolish man to think she's at all acquiescing. especially not when she leans forward further, steadying herself from fully tipping over by placing a hand on the backs of each of benedict's. ]
You won't. You don't know how to refuse me.
[ a bold declaration, for sure. but not an unfounded one. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 07:33 pm (UTC)Especially when she tips forward and plants her hands on his, the surprising calluses nobody expects on her fingers pressing firmly into the base of his wrists.
He makes absolutely no move to shift away, even as she encroaches further and further into his personal space. ]
I refuse you all the time.
[ No, he really doesn't. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 09:54 pm (UTC)Name the last time.
[ her tone is both dry and taunting because they both know the truth here. but it's not as if kate's taken advantage of him or anything. she likes to think she's made her appreciation of him pretty clear, even if most of the time she gives him a hard time like so. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-19 10:23 pm (UTC)Once upon a time, he read a study that described how male puppies will allow female puppies to win a disproportionate amount of play fights in an effort to endear themselves to the other members of the pack. He's not entirely sure he likes how well that applies to this current situation, but he's not thinking about it. ]
You offered me coffee at the airport and I said no.
[ If she were the type to try and take advantage of him, he'd be far less accommodating of her. In fact, he'd probably simply pull away from her, piece by slow little piece, until he was no longer in danger of being taken advantage of. He's done it before with other friends. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-20 03:42 pm (UTC)she rolls her eyes as the memory resurfaces. ]
That doesn't count and you know it. Especially when you follow it up with "thank you."
[ trust benedict to be polite even in his refusals.
she leans forward another couple of inches, her angle practically precarious by now but she hardly seems to notice, let alone care. the hold she's got on his wrist shifts slightly, thumbs coming to rub along the pulse point there. ]
You should quit now before I ask for two pretty things.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-20 03:53 pm (UTC)His smirk widens when she rolls her eyes at him. ]
It certainly counts. I said no.
[ Mostly because he knew he could get real espresso on the plane and he wasn't about to brave the line for Starbucks. Though he was, apparently, just fine with waiting with their things while she stood in line.
It's different.
He watches her tip herself even closer, bracing his stance to accept her weight as the seat she's ostensibly sitting on is only making contact with the smallest sliver of her thighs, and tries not to focus too much on the feel of her slipping her hands around his wrists so that her thumbs can rub at the thin skin there. ]
I never agreed to the first pretty thing. [ Which he probably will buy her anyway, because she's put the idea in his head and she's doing him a great big favor by being here. Shh. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-20 07:08 pm (UTC)You didn't have to. It was already a given.
[ she aches to know the cause for the change, but she knows better than to ask just yet. she isn't even sure he's aware he's doing it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 01:34 am (UTC)Kate's scrutiny is met with a mild little smile, Benedict happy to play along while also slightly bemused by the turn things have taken. ]
I'm not sure I care for this smugness on you, Kit-Kate. It's most unbecoming.
[ That's a lie. There's very little that doesn't look good on Kate, and smug is a very fetching look. There's a reason he hasn't moved out of her way, even as she presses in closer and closer. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 10:36 am (UTC)Bullshit. I make anything look good.
[ being kate bishop is half-parts pure guts and half-parts faking it till you make it. if she believes she's a badass, then she's a badass. if she believes she looks good like this — rumpled and cozy and ready for sleep, no make up on — then she looks good like this.
it helps, of course, that he continues to smile at her. the kind that reaches those eyes of his, pupils nearly blown out by now. this close, it's all too easy to keep playing that role, to close the final few inches of distance between them and press a light kiss to his cheek. she's done it plenty of times before, sweet and innocent. but this time it lingers, this time it hits him square at the corner of his mouth. ]
You should get ready for bed, dear. We wouldn't want you sleeping in. It'd be most unbecoming.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 05:13 pm (UTC)The lack of audience leaves him equally comfortable and relaxed, which is probably why he doesn't think to shift his head far enough to miss her lips landing mostly-on his when she leans in to kiss his cheek.
Blinking at her in surprise when she pulls back, he wastes a second or two searching her face — why did she do that? — before visibly rallying and flexing his wrists in her grip. ]
You'll have to get off me then, sweetheart.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 05:24 pm (UTC)Said no man, ever.
[ haha they have fun here.
but she does finally give him back his space, sliding off the vanity stool to slip back into the bathroom to brush her teeth and finally finish getting ready for bed.
when she finishes, she pads back over to the bed, looking it over. ]
Do you have a preference for a side?
[ because obviously they're sharing. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 05:37 pm (UTC)She knows. It's fine.
Idly flexing his wrists again when she finally lets him go and slips off into the bathroom, he wastes another few seconds going over that not-quite-kiss — was it an accident? did she do it on purpose? — before putting it out of his mind and focusing on getting undressed.
Even having grown up with a fleet of staff who comes in and tidies up after him, Benedict is the type of person to carefully hang his dirty clothes so they don't wrinkle, which is why when Kate emerges from the bathroom, Benedict is still getting dressed in his pajamas, having just shrugged into his shirt but not yet having tackled its buttons.
Glancing over his shoulder at her, he considers the bed before shrugging. ]
Right. [ If she's not going to press the issue, neither will he. The chaise is comfortable enough for a nap, but that doesn't mean he wants to spend the whole night on it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 06:51 pm (UTC)it's fine. it's king size, she's tiny, there'll be plenty of room. they both deserve the comfort of the bed after a long day like they've had, and kate is sure their friendship can survive something so banal.
what's not banal, though, is walking in on benedict's bare chest, flanked by the softest looking pajama top imaginable. it's almost infuriating how good-looking he is, but probably not as infuriating as the apparent fact he doesn't even realize.
she purses her lips together after realizing she'd been staring, and demurely looks away back towards the bed. ]
Cool, left works for me.
[ a-hem. but that requires her to walk over to the other side where benedict currently is. and if she happens to brush against him in the process? mind your business. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-21 07:05 pm (UTC)Doing up the buttons from them hem up, he frowns a little bit at her, but doesn't say anything even when she looks away. It's probably nothing. ]
There should be a cord for your phone in the bedside drawer. Everything was updated relatively recently to include all the newest modcons, but if you need something else just let me know. I'll talk to Mrs Goodman about sourcing it for you.
[ Fighting down the urge to shiver when she brushes past him takes real effort, but the moment passes so quickly he tries to just put it out of his mind instead of commenting on it. It seems safer, in the long run.
Nipping into the bathroom to take care of his nightly ablutions, he tries very hard not to think about the fact that, in just a few minutes, he's going to be sharing a bed with the girl he's tricking his family into thinking he's dating. It's a weird situation for anybody to be in. What's weirder, though, is how it doesn't really feel that weird at all.
Running his tongue over his teeth to make sure he didn't miss any spots while brushing, he shrugs at himself in the mirror. No point obsessing over it.
Turning off all the lights, he returns to the bedroom and does the same there, before padding over to the bed and slipping beneath the covers beside her. ]
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Date: 2021-10-21 08:21 pm (UTC)were it not for kate suddenly stirring in the middle of the night. the room is still shrouded in shadows, nearly pitch black were it not for the sliver of a blue moon filtering in through the curtains. kate rolls over to her other side, crosses the non-existent distance between herself and the other body in the bed— ]
Benny. Ben. Did you hear that?
[ she's gripping his shoulder, impossibly close to him. of course, of course a house as old as this was haunted. oh my god. ]
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Date: 2021-10-21 08:35 pm (UTC)Only to be woken not by whatever noise spooked Kate, but by Kate herself, scooting closer across the sheets and grabbing at his shoulder.
With his instincts and combat training both ingrained deep into him, one would think Benedict would react to being shaken awake with violence. Instead, all he does is rumble sleepily, letting Kate tug at his shoulder until he's flat on his back, peering at her through half-lidded eyes. ]
Was'sit?
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Date: 2021-10-23 08:41 pm (UTC)[ a ghost, she almost says, but fortunately stops herself before it actually slips out. how embarrassing. he's half-awake right now but she's pretty sure he'd jolt right out of it just to laugh at her.
she grits her teeth, unconsciously curling her hand into a little fist around the fabric at his shoulder. ]
—not sure... But I definitely heard something outside.
[ she's close enough he'd be able to see it (though not like he needs the help, given his nightvision), how big and imploring her eyes get. they say, without saying anything, aren't you going to go check it out? ]
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Date: 2021-10-24 01:30 am (UTC)The way she's yanking at his pajamas makes him reach out and clumsily pat at her, his hand landing on her bare thigh, warm from being cocooned beneath the covers. ]
'S probably just the foxes, [ he assures her, like listening to foxes do anything isn't absolutely blood-curdling.
Still, the longer he stays awake trying to comfort her, the more awake he feels, and he'd probably be able to tell how spooked she is even without his superior senses. Suppressing a sigh, not wanting to make her feel bad even though he's pretty sure she's being totally ridiculous, he shifts enough so he can roll onto his other side to face her, letting go of her leg so he can wrap both hands around hers. ]
Do you want me to go make sure? [ Gods, he's a sucker. ]
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Date: 2021-10-24 04:44 am (UTC)If you want. [ yes, please. ]
I'll come with you. [ let's do it now. ]
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