[ There is a weight to it, a mutual vulnerability. One that they both instinctively understand. Wash is calm, here, just matching her gaze, and he sees that question in her eyes. The answer's probably obvious to her, too, but that isn't the point here, is it? Just like how they traded secrets, before. Trading pieces of themselves.
What was the first thing he'd imagined doing to Byerly, after all, when he had him in that alleyway, when he had him pressed up against his chest? It wasn't just killing him, wasn't just knocking him out, wasn't just fucking him, no. It was pushing him against the wall with his arm locked over his throat, and he likes it that way sometimes instead of with his fingers just because he likes the way it looks when they grab at his arm when they struggle for air, and he'd wondered how much pressure it would take, how much air he would have to force from his lungs before he would finally stop fucking talking.
Maybe a bare hand would've been better. He does always like those bruises.
The corner of his mouth quirks upward, ever so slightly, though his expression is a little quieter than hers, with that same intensity, that same edge of something wicked and raw. He tips his head back ever so slightly, brushes his thumb over the back of her wrist. ]
I would've liked it, too.
[ And then he's pulling his hand away. A moment, that's enough. He looks back at her, and then breaks her gaze, back to the task on hand. ]
He'll use this, Natashka. You know he will -- you gave him too much. [ Falling that half-a-step back he'd taken forward a moment before, leaning back against the edge of the table behind him. ] He'll use me, too.
Don't let him. [ And he's sure she already knows this, but this is still his job, isn't it? To look out for her, that makes this an order, something she actually has to follow, but of course he's a -- a friend, too, he supposes. That's what this is, right? He would call her a friend. ] And if he does press too much, well. I guess we've a couple ideas on what to do with him now, huh?
[ A laugh, there. Just the slightest edge to it. ]
But as much as it pains me to say -- you'll need to play nice, with him. He is a spy for Barrayar, and that means it'll be more useful for both of you to be pointed elsewhere rather than at each other. He has his talents, and you have yours, and we'll find some way to split tasks between you to keep you both safe. I doubt he has the same access to the gene labs that you have. Maybe we'll set him on Diya and Sei, leave your to focus on other work, find another link to wear away at.
We'll have to see. [ A bit of a sigh, his arms folded across his chest. It's back to business, now, well and truly. ] I do have other people I need you to watch, if you know of them already. Symmetra, and Kurt.
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What was the first thing he'd imagined doing to Byerly, after all, when he had him in that alleyway, when he had him pressed up against his chest? It wasn't just killing him, wasn't just knocking him out, wasn't just fucking him, no. It was pushing him against the wall with his arm locked over his throat, and he likes it that way sometimes instead of with his fingers just because he likes the way it looks when they grab at his arm when they struggle for air, and he'd wondered how much pressure it would take, how much air he would have to force from his lungs before he would finally stop fucking talking.
Maybe a bare hand would've been better. He does always like those bruises.
The corner of his mouth quirks upward, ever so slightly, though his expression is a little quieter than hers, with that same intensity, that same edge of something wicked and raw. He tips his head back ever so slightly, brushes his thumb over the back of her wrist. ]
I would've liked it, too.
[ And then he's pulling his hand away. A moment, that's enough. He looks back at her, and then breaks her gaze, back to the task on hand. ]
He'll use this, Natashka. You know he will -- you gave him too much. [ Falling that half-a-step back he'd taken forward a moment before, leaning back against the edge of the table behind him. ] He'll use me, too.
Don't let him. [ And he's sure she already knows this, but this is still his job, isn't it? To look out for her, that makes this an order, something she actually has to follow, but of course he's a -- a friend, too, he supposes. That's what this is, right? He would call her a friend. ] And if he does press too much, well. I guess we've a couple ideas on what to do with him now, huh?
[ A laugh, there. Just the slightest edge to it. ]
But as much as it pains me to say -- you'll need to play nice, with him. He is a spy for Barrayar, and that means it'll be more useful for both of you to be pointed elsewhere rather than at each other. He has his talents, and you have yours, and we'll find some way to split tasks between you to keep you both safe. I doubt he has the same access to the gene labs that you have. Maybe we'll set him on Diya and Sei, leave your to focus on other work, find another link to wear away at.
We'll have to see. [ A bit of a sigh, his arms folded across his chest. It's back to business, now, well and truly. ] I do have other people I need you to watch, if you know of them already. Symmetra, and Kurt.