Apartment Above Needful Things; Monday Afternoon

[totalwildcard]

Soooooo... Harley no longer had a headache? And okay, maybe talking to Atton the day before had helped, a little, something. But come Monday, she was still in something of a blanket goblin mode, huddled in her apartment with comfort snacks and Bruce and bad reality TV reruns.

She'd pick herself up by her bootstraps tomorrow, okay? It was coming, cross her heart! Soon!

Just... maybe not yet.

So far, for Monday, having made it to the couch instead of the bed seemed like enough progress.

(for a guy that knows who he is, and lotsa slow play)

Comments

[totalwildcard]

"I know," Harley murmured, rubbing faint circles into his side with her fingertips.

[hasaknightjob]

"Sorry you're having a shit time," Marc said.

Present tense very much on purpose.

[totalwildcard]

It was... accurate.

But Harley didn't want to say that. Or much of anything in direct response. So she made a little noise, which in itself kind of sounded like she was trying to downplay and minimize the whole thing.

Probably a little too late to do that and have him buy it, though.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc rubbed her back where his hand could reach, letting her make whatever noise she wanted.

[totalwildcard]

Harley was quiet for a moment, just breathing. His chest rising and falling under her head, too.

But... She was Harley, so. It didn't last. As she spoke, she sounded glum, and her voice was quiet. "D'ya really think it was that pathetically obvious I was gonna try an' sleep with her?"

[hasaknightjob]

"I didn't think it was pathetic," Marc replied. "You're figuring shit out. You're still getting over an ex who did a hell of a number on you. Somebody shows up looking like another ex? You're gonna try to get a handle on that shit. Makes sense."

[totalwildcard]

"Does it?"

It was another quiet murmur.

[hasaknightjob]

"You're still figuring out who you are," Marc said. "She knows a version of you. Natural to think maybe she's got answers you don't."

[totalwildcard]

"I didn't think I was lookin' for answers," Harley replied, now more of a muted mutter than anything. Her fingers would have been fidgeting with his shirt now if she'd let him keep it, but since she hadn't... They just sort of twitched against his side, instead. "Was hopin' she'd be a friend."

Well, that was the surface level of her thoughts, anyway. Deeper than that...

Who knew.

She couldn't exactly deny having a previous connection to a Pam was a part of the appeal, after all.

"And don't start on the friends don't get naked thing again," she muttered. "'Friends with benefits' is a phrase for a reason."

[hasaknightjob]

"Yeah," Marc said. "Friends with benefits. Not just friends. If friends normally did it you wouldn't need a new name for it."

[totalwildcard]

"Get the wax outta your ears, sweetie," Harley replied, on a sigh, "I asked ya not to start."

[hasaknightjob]

Marc rolled his eyes but otherwise let it go.

"She still could be. You're assuming saying no to sex was saying no to everything."

[totalwildcard]

"You're assuming I want anything now that she kicked me in the chest," Harley muttered, petty and glum.

[hasaknightjob]

This time it wasn't an eyeroll so much as a look heavenward. Which was ironic on a multitude of levels.

"Whatever."

[totalwildcard]

Harley exhaled a little huff, in response. It didn't sound steady. "I used to do that a lot, you know, like all the time," she said, soft, quiet. Wry. "Take the hurt and just keep coming back anyway, thinking it was gonna be different and better if I just kept tryin'. I did with Mr. J, and I did it with lots of my exes, and I even did it with m--"

Oh, no, maybe she shouldn't go there, not with Marc and all his own shit.

"Anyway," she murmured. "'Whatever', like ya said." She started to push herself a little more upright. "I'm annoying you. Maybe you should go home."

[hasaknightjob]

The out was incredibly tempting. As was keeping his mouth shut. But he still asked. "You want me too?"

[totalwildcard]

"I dunno," Harley admitted.

She was starting to feel all kinds of tired. And tired meant more sad seeping back in.

[hasaknightjob]

"Sure you're not trying to make me go away like everyone else?" Marc asked.

[totalwildcard]

Hey now, rude of him to just go there!

Harley looked surprised. And then uncertain.

"... I dunno."

[hasaknightjob]

"Let's give it a little longer," Marc said. "We don't have to talk."

[totalwildcard]

"Okay?"

Harley was still sort of... hovering awkwardly on one elbow.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc motioned that she could lie back down if she wanted.

[totalwildcard]

Clearly the invitation was something Harley needed, because as soon as she had it... Yes, she was flopping back down the same way she'd started out.

Maybe a touch more clingy with how her arm ended up on/around him, though.

[hasaknightjob]

Marc held her tighter than before. Not clingy because he didn't need that, but otherwise mirroring her hold on him.

[totalwildcard]

Harley responded with a little noise - and don't you dare call it 'needy', even though that was probably exactly what it was - and shifted until a little more of her was on top of him.

So maybe the tighter hold was a good instinct.