It is not that kind of complicated. Not in any way. [It's close, honestly, but John will deny it until he's blue in the face. It's not getting that kind of complicated, so that's all that matters to him.] And don't believe him if he says it is, he's fucking delusional.
[That distracts him too much for him to realize that he's basically left himself open to "the first thing that popped into Harry's head."]
Existing here gets me in trouble, Harry. When you're already guilty, you might as well make the best of it.
[ harry is not complicated with a lot of things. this is one of them. incredibly upfront. hey. john left it open. harry's not going to shy away from it. he has issues and he's so ridiculously energized.
the next part has a mischievous edge slipping into that smile that hasn't gone away yet. a little look in his eye that obviously likes trouble ]
The cool, arrogant certainty that's marked his features since Harry became so enraptured with his fire starts to slip. He's attracted to Harry, yes. He's come far enough to admit that. But even after his clarifying talk with Ryan, he's still not totally comfortable with this kind of attraction, and his experience amounts to a few semi-frantic kisses while he he was being thoroughly manipulated by Petre. And yes, as Harry pointed out:]
We - literally just met. Not a dealbreaker, but you move really fucking fast, don't you?
[He's stalling. The agony of being at the stage in this whole process where he's never certain about anything, but what he has to do to find certainty makes him even more uncertain.]
[ harry's eyebrows go up and he stops moving for a split second. too fast? that's what he's used to. quick. meaningless. a pick-me-up. nobody's ever complained. nobody's tried to hold on (unless they wanted money). nobody's been a friend. party. sex. next.
he could probably get a friend right now. possibly. first one in however many years. and his first thought is to take their clothes off and fuck on a teacher's desk.
[It's a lot closer to what he was used to as well, before he came to Xavier's. The big, problematic difference is that since he arrived at Xavier's, it's been all guys who have come at him with such offers. And there's so much processing still going on about that.
But in a way, he feels like he's backed down from a challenge now. Like Harry is making allowances for his fear, and that's fucking condescending. Nothing scares him - certainly not some guy with Petre's face making advances at him. It's not Petre. Harry is nothing like Petre aside from the interest. And jesus, it really has been himself and his hand for a long time now, so why not?]
I didn't say no. [He moves in closer now, still too apprehensive to be truly alluring - unless that kind of thing turns Harry on.]
[ it's not alluring. it doesn't really turn him on. john seems apprehensive. far too nervous. and like he's taking it like some sort of challenge. the energy is off in a funny way he can't place. not quite right.
he tilts his head, finally letting that smile fade out. all that's left is a corner of his lip curved in a smirk - a curious sort of one. his eyes analyzing. well.
fuck it. ]
Hm. [ first thought. he grabs the front of john's shirt and pulls him in forcefully, stronger than he looks. moving forward to press their lips together. energetic. fiery. too quick to give permission to breathe but nothing bruising. it's him taking over john's mouth greedily. ]
[He lets out a thoroughly embarrassing noise of surprise when their mouths collide, but the fierce energy behind it makes him shiver, open his mouth to Harry without even pausing to think about it; he feels claimed, which is precisely the opposite of what he wants to feel, but it elicits a strange sort of excitement.
Still, everything about his reaction reeks of indecision: his hands don't move to touch Harry at all, arms hanging limply at his sides; he follows the kiss rather than ever making a move to lead it, which goes against every part of his nature that he's shown so far; every now and then he pulls back just a little, as though wondering if it should be over, and that makes it obvious that he's not fully into it. Excited, yes, and very curious, but not fully out of his own head.]
harry lets go of his shirt - pulls back. and then quietly runs his hands down john's front to smooth out the shirt where his grip wrinkled it. his mind thinking over it, eyes noting everything about how john's reading. the kiss was all give and hardly any take back from him. going with the motions, really. the pull back was enough to give him a hint on how it was. he just wanted to see - get a read on him. he gets it.
he takes a step back, not wanting to further suck anything out of the guy for no good reason. a hand moves up and he delicately runs a finger over his own lips in thought. there wasn't any ...spark. it's complicated. he doesn't do complicated. he pauses then looks off, talking in that oh-so-casual tone again ]
Changed my mind. We're not doing that. Let's do something else.
All the anger drains out of him, leaving behind a sullen sort of irritation. None of this is a personal strike against Harry, but John suddenly wants to be out of his company, because the balance of power has shifted sharply and he doesn't like it. Even with Harry being totally reasonable about it, he still feels condescended to. All in his own mind, but his mind has been a busy and deeply complicated place lately.]
[ super obvious to harry, at least. the way people kiss says a lot about them, he thinks. that was not one that was completely into what was happening.
that's fine. he'll go back to making friends then - not fuck buddies. he's got plenty of those. (everyone is a potential fuck buddy.)
he goes back to rubbing his hands together, still fidgety. still a ball of energy. ]
Plan B is we go steal one of the cars in the garage and go get some burgers and maybe race it. And I get drunk.
[He sputters, then breaks into clear, delighted laughter. Okay, holy shit. This guy knows how to have fun.
And then, just as quickly, his face darkens. He can't. He can't get into a single lick of trouble this week, because he needs to be able to get an off-grounds pass to sneak out to the city. Is he really turning down an opportunity like this for goddamn Petre?
It's complicated.]
I - wanna take a raincheck on that. Definitely. Not chickening out, just bad timing.
[ blunt. flat. head tilted. his arms fold. that's boring. he's being denied fun - right after being encouraged to have it. it doesn't make sense. john was up for trouble ...then put a raincheck on it. harry looks less than thrilled about it, clearly.
how complicated. he doesn't like it. ]
Fine. [ now what is he supposed to do with all this energy? ]
Look. [There's an edge to him now, almost nervous. He's losing Harry fast and he knows it. There's no way he can let it get around that he's all talk and no action after the reputation he's made for himself these past two years.] After this weekend, I'll be up for anything. We can steal the jet. I just - have a longer-term focus right now, and it's a pain in the ass, but I need it.
[Love-hate, he'd told Ryan when talking about NYC. Right now he needs the complete getaway, not just a joyride into Salem, so he's swung hard to the "love" side. He'll probably be as disillusioned as ever when he gets back, but despite taking a long-term view about making the trip, his thinking about the trip itself is very, very immediate.]
[ needs it. sure. john's denying himself a really good time in favor of... something. something he won't even tell him what it is from the phrasing. harry won't ask either. he's just taking that fast-running charged head and coming up with a million of his own ideas. most of them think john's doing something with petre.
that's why he's unsure of a kiss. not he's unsure of trouble. it reminded him ...despite prior agreement.
he rolls his eyes but he's nodding after. he's not going to say anything about it ]
[His smirk returns at that. Harry's still annoyed, but he's coming back.
It's fucking galling to have to prove himself to someone this way, but Harry is a goldmine of good times waiting to happen. There's never been an opportunity like this in the school before. He'll do what needs to be done.]
[ the fact that john's even making an effort to make it very clear he still wants to hang out with him is enough for harry. actual friend. harry's rather addicted to john right now. it would be foolish to walk off or something now.
harry's waving a hand and making a sound with his lips. pfft ]
Sure, I do. [ no. no, he doesn't. ] How hard can it be?
I'm the one who can clear a path through the fire and keep shit from exploding, pal. If I'm out, you're fucked.
[Like a strange mirror-image of his banter with Petre, too, which it comes effortlessly and is fun and ridiculous rather than constantly scrabbling for power. This is the weirdest goddamn day.]
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he claps his hands together ]
I just met you and you have that complicated Petre thing going so I'm assuming the first thing that popped into my head is out. [ SEX HE MEANS SEX ]
How much trouble are you willing to get in right now?
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It is not that kind of complicated. Not in any way. [It's close, honestly, but John will deny it until he's blue in the face. It's not getting that kind of complicated, so that's all that matters to him.] And don't believe him if he says it is, he's fucking delusional.
[That distracts him too much for him to realize that he's basically left himself open to "the first thing that popped into Harry's head."]
Existing here gets me in trouble, Harry. When you're already guilty, you might as well make the best of it.
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[ harry is not complicated with a lot of things. this is one of them. incredibly upfront. hey. john left it open. harry's not going to shy away from it. he has issues and he's so ridiculously energized.
the next part has a mischievous edge slipping into that smile that hasn't gone away yet. a little look in his eye that obviously likes trouble ]
Let me think one second.
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The cool, arrogant certainty that's marked his features since Harry became so enraptured with his fire starts to slip. He's attracted to Harry, yes. He's come far enough to admit that. But even after his clarifying talk with Ryan, he's still not totally comfortable with this kind of attraction, and his experience amounts to a few semi-frantic kisses while he he was being thoroughly manipulated by Petre. And yes, as Harry pointed out:]
We - literally just met. Not a dealbreaker, but you move really fucking fast, don't you?
[He's stalling. The agony of being at the stage in this whole process where he's never certain about anything, but what he has to do to find certainty makes him even more uncertain.]
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he could probably get a friend right now. possibly. first one in however many years. and his first thought is to take their clothes off and fuck on a teacher's desk.
he lifts his arms. shruuuuug ]
We could do something else.
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But in a way, he feels like he's backed down from a challenge now. Like Harry is making allowances for his fear, and that's fucking condescending. Nothing scares him - certainly not some guy with Petre's face making advances at him. It's not Petre. Harry is nothing like Petre aside from the interest. And jesus, it really has been himself and his hand for a long time now, so why not?]
I didn't say no. [He moves in closer now, still too apprehensive to be truly alluring - unless that kind of thing turns Harry on.]
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he tilts his head, finally letting that smile fade out. all that's left is a corner of his lip curved in a smirk - a curious sort of one. his eyes analyzing. well.
fuck it. ]
Hm. [ first thought. he grabs the front of john's shirt and pulls him in forcefully, stronger than he looks. moving forward to press their lips together. energetic. fiery. too quick to give permission to breathe but nothing bruising. it's him taking over john's mouth greedily. ]
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Still, everything about his reaction reeks of indecision: his hands don't move to touch Harry at all, arms hanging limply at his sides; he follows the kiss rather than ever making a move to lead it, which goes against every part of his nature that he's shown so far; every now and then he pulls back just a little, as though wondering if it should be over, and that makes it obvious that he's not fully into it. Excited, yes, and very curious, but not fully out of his own head.]
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harry lets go of his shirt - pulls back. and then quietly runs his hands down john's front to smooth out the shirt where his grip wrinkled it. his mind thinking over it, eyes noting everything about how john's reading. the kiss was all give and hardly any take back from him. going with the motions, really. the pull back was enough to give him a hint on how it was. he just wanted to see - get a read on him. he gets it.
he takes a step back, not wanting to further suck anything out of the guy for no good reason. a hand moves up and he delicately runs a finger over his own lips in thought. there wasn't any ...spark. it's complicated. he doesn't do complicated. he pauses then looks off, talking in that oh-so-casual tone again ]
Changed my mind. We're not doing that. Let's do something else.
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What? Did I do something wrong? [Not even making it past the kissing stage is mortifying. He had Petre whimpering, goddamnit, so what's the problem?]
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[ drumming his hands on his sides, lifting his shoulders in another drug ]
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All the anger drains out of him, leaving behind a sullen sort of irritation. None of this is a personal strike against Harry, but John suddenly wants to be out of his company, because the balance of power has shifted sharply and he doesn't like it. Even with Harry being totally reasonable about it, he still feels condescended to. All in his own mind, but his mind has been a busy and deeply complicated place lately.]
So? What's Plan B?
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that's fine. he'll go back to making friends then - not fuck buddies. he's got plenty of those. (everyone is a potential fuck buddy.)
he goes back to rubbing his hands together, still fidgety. still a ball of energy. ]
Plan B is we go steal one of the cars in the garage and go get some burgers and maybe race it. And I get drunk.
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And then, just as quickly, his face darkens. He can't. He can't get into a single lick of trouble this week, because he needs to be able to get an off-grounds pass to sneak out to the city. Is he really turning down an opportunity like this for goddamn Petre?
It's complicated.]
I - wanna take a raincheck on that. Definitely. Not chickening out, just bad timing.
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[ blunt. flat. head tilted. his arms fold. that's boring. he's being denied fun - right after being encouraged to have it. it doesn't make sense. john was up for trouble ...then put a raincheck on it. harry looks less than thrilled about it, clearly.
how complicated.
he doesn't like it. ]
Fine. [ now what is he supposed to do with all this energy? ]
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[Love-hate, he'd told Ryan when talking about NYC. Right now he needs the complete getaway, not just a joyride into Salem, so he's swung hard to the "love" side. He'll probably be as disillusioned as ever when he gets back, but despite taking a long-term view about making the trip, his thinking about the trip itself is very, very immediate.]
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that's why he's unsure of a kiss.
not he's unsure of trouble. it reminded him ...despite prior agreement.
he rolls his eyes but he's nodding after. he's not going to say anything about it ]
I'm holding you to the jet thing.
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It's fucking galling to have to prove himself to someone this way, but Harry is a goldmine of good times waiting to happen. There's never been an opportunity like this in the school before. He'll do what needs to be done.]
Do you even know how to fly a jet?
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harry's waving a hand and making a sound with his lips. pfft ]
Sure, I do. [ no. no, he doesn't. ] How hard can it be?
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[ what priorities ]
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Yeah, right. [Beaming just as carelessly.] I'll be dragging your ass out of the wreckage. Probably carrying it.
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[ simple shaking of the head, smiling enough for his eyes to squint ]
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[Like a strange mirror-image of his banter with Petre, too, which it comes effortlessly and is fun and ridiculous rather than constantly scrabbling for power. This is the weirdest goddamn day.]
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[ he's shrugging lightly ]
I think we'd be fine. Most likely to survive a plane crash unless our necks break on impact. That's us.
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did you mean: mutants?
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