[ Her hands alight on his shoulders as he ducks his head in close to her. The kiss to her heart makes it ache sweetly, her fingertips digging into him for a moment. She's been tired in such a way that no amount of sleep can cure. It's in her bones, settled like silt. Just having him here with her gives stirs it, gives her the chance to move and breathe and rest.
When he looks up at her and tells her that, her expression is frail. But, crucially, free of pain. She's felt alone, unable to trust what Nick says or what he will do, and without Oliver's trust in turn. They're primary concern is each other, as perhaps it should be, but it makes them reckless, and it seems her every attempt to extricate them from the danger only further entangles them. She's wanted to walk away, knowing full well she can't. People would still get hurt. Jess just wouldn't have to see it.
Turning her back would mean walking through Hope's ghost, dispersing it with indignity. Spitting on her grave.
She touches her forehead to Marcos's, releasing a sigh that feels more like taking a breath. One she's needed for a while. ]
( that's something he can definitely do. it's not much but if she needs it, he'll do it without fail every time he sees her. he's quiet for a few moments, eyes closing while they sit there and lean against each other.
eventually, his eyes flutter open and his hands stroke again at her hips and waist. )
It's your burden to bear and I know it, I understand why, but while you're carrying that burden, I can carry you, when you need it.
( he's not going to try and stop her or talk her out of anything she needs to do. he's not going to go behind her back or try and usurp her.
no subject
When he looks up at her and tells her that, her expression is frail. But, crucially, free of pain. She's felt alone, unable to trust what Nick says or what he will do, and without Oliver's trust in turn. They're primary concern is each other, as perhaps it should be, but it makes them reckless, and it seems her every attempt to extricate them from the danger only further entangles them. She's wanted to walk away, knowing full well she can't. People would still get hurt. Jess just wouldn't have to see it.
Turning her back would mean walking through Hope's ghost, dispersing it with indignity. Spitting on her grave.
She touches her forehead to Marcos's, releasing a sigh that feels more like taking a breath. One she's needed for a while. ]
Keep telling me. [ It helps. ]
no subject
eventually, his eyes flutter open and his hands stroke again at her hips and waist. )
It's your burden to bear and I know it, I understand why, but while you're carrying that burden, I can carry you, when you need it.
( he's not going to try and stop her or talk her out of anything she needs to do. he's not going to go behind her back or try and usurp her.
but he can be there for her. always. )