justgo | IC CONTACT.

[ There's a sensation slowly filling him that he hasn't felt in a while, not since almost a year ago, as her fingers brush over his scalp, sift through his hair. He's missed this, and the realization of it leaves a dull ache in his chest.

His hands reach out to brace on the edge of the table at either side of her, his head tilting slightly to give her more hair to work her fingers through if she so chooses to. Joel glances at her, his words quiet: ]

Thought you liked it that way.

[She keeps her words short, tone even just in case she needs to back off for his sake or her own. When he's braced against the table though, she relaxes a little, head tilting to the side as she moves her free hand over one of his, fingers playing against the knuckles.]

Me, you sure bout that? [It's a tease as she plays with the ends a little more, tugging light to see how long it's gotten.] You must be thinkin' about something else.

[ His knuckles might feel rough beneath her fingers, scarred from various fights in the past, from harsh weather and poor choice of protective gear against it. But Joel can feel the way her callused finger pads brush over them, eyes darting down to watch.

It's the teasing in her voice and words, the tug on his hair that gets him to lift his gaze again. ]

Maybe I'm thinkin' about someone else, not something else.

[ He can tease her back. ]

[It hasn't changed much. Maybe he's feeling a little rougher than she remembers, with some more cuts and marks she doesn't know about because she wasn't there, but her touches slow, stop as Tess taps twice against the back of his hand, looking up for the comment.

Maybe he's expecting a snort or another noise of disbelief but the best she does is take in a short breath, raise a brow.] That so.

You seein' anyone?

[ Well that response wasn't what he was expecting. Joel takes a moment to look down at her, trying to read the expression she's wearing, trying to match it to what she replied with and the way she had asked that question.

There's some tension at the back of his neck and he shifts his weight, fingers unconsciously pressing into the hard top of the table behind her. ]

What kind of question is that?

[ Who is there for him to see here in this place? He just got here at the beginning of the month. Hardly enough time for him to find himself attracted to anyone, especially not with the feelings he still carries for her, that have lingered for months and months since her death. ]

An honest one. [She lifts her eyes barely, just enough so she can meet his own, be sure of the answer herself. Fingers curling in his hair, her movements stop completely and Tess drops her gaze, tries to make herself preoccupied with the next set of words she shoots off.

Absently, quietly:] Kinda hoped we could see each other.

[ Again Joel's fallen quiet. He's thought about that scenario over and over throughout the past year, what they'd had together before everything had gone to shit with what had been a simple cargo drop. What she had meant to him, what she meant now. They had been on and off for years, not only as partners but as friends and as lovers. ]

Tess...

[ There's hesitation, but it's not because he doesn't agree with what she's saying. It's the hesitation of what could go wrong here in a place they don't know anything about. Infected and the fucking authorities back home had been what had taken her from him to begin with, who was to say that the fucked up government running this place wouldn't do the same and gun her down for whatever reason?

And now he's got Ellie to think about, to worry himself over.

But to be able to hold this woman again in his arms, kiss her, listen to the quiet but steady way she breathed at night next to him- what Joel would give to have it all again. That normalcy that had once been. Which is why his head lowers until the hair at his crown brushes the top of hers. ]

[Tess closes her eyes when he moves, waits for him to stop before she reaches out again, teases with his hair to distract herself from thinking every possible scenario. There's a handful of reasons why this is a bad idea, and why it'll be bad either way, but it doesn't stop her from asking.

On the bright side, she's a big girl. She can handle a no. There's a smile on her face as she lets out a breath.] It's a stupid idea, I know.

[When's that stopped them, though?]

No, it's not. I never said it was.

[ One hand lifts off of the table and his fingers brush along the side of her arm, trailing up and up until they touch against stray strands of hair. He takes them between his fingers, feels the texture. ]

... what's brought this up?

[ It has him curious, as much as he wants to tell her how much he's missed her. ]

You worried I might find someone here?

Edited 2013-09-01 03:34 (UTC)

No, it ain't that. [Anything that's gotta do with caring's been considered stupid -it's what she picked up back in Boston and a few weeks won't break nearly twenty years of that experience. Back then, when she figured they were damn near invincible with their luck, she could afford to keep guarded. After dying, seeing Joel again and know how far he's gone because she asked first?

She doesn't think on it instead, slips her hand down to his shoulder and picks at the fabric of his shirt instead.] Worried I won't get the chance again.

At this. [And God damn, does she not like fretting about this.] At you and me.

[ While she picks at his shirt, his fingers busy themselves with gingerly tracing a fading scar at the line of her jaw. ]

Nothing's changed, darlin'. [ They're alone, uttering the term of endearment comes easily to him, full of meaning. Full of affection. Anywhere else where there are people and he would just use her name.

Up now to the beauty mark at the corner of her left eye, a rough finger pad strokes over it. Joel watches her, searches her expression. He's vulnerable right now; she's one of the very few he's allowed past heavily guarded walls to see that, as his normally gruff visage is softened by what she's confessing to him. ]

There will always be a you and me. Until you tell me you don't want anything to do with me anymore.

[She's tense at that, but it's only for a moment. Moving her hand back, she trails it against his arm, up to where his hand is, against her face. The pads of her fingers dragging over the side of his hand, she turns her eyes up.] You really mean that, don't you?

Christ. [Swallowing the lump in her throat, she shifts a little, leans up just to nose against his jaw. For a moment she doesn't mind the beard, then she's turning her head away, letting out a little breath.] Don't think I could ever not want a thing with you, Tex.

You fine with that?

Of course I'm fine with that.

[ But it pleases him to hear that, that she wants him, wants to keep things going. Doesn't help the hurt any less, however. It's going to take him some time to forget what had happened back home. Even now it's coming back to him and a small knit begins to form between his brows.

They finally have something good going for them again.

To distract himself from such thoughts and memories, Joel leans his head down, his beard teasing over her cheek as his lips find the shell of her ear. A kiss is pressed there, her name a low murmur against the sensitive skin as his thumb passes along her jaw line. ]

I'll always be fine with it.

[She took those feelings, used them as a motivation for him - if there was anything left between them, he would take Ellie and go. Tess doesn't regret that call, doesn't feel bad for using it because she knew it would work and right now she doesn't focus on it, thinks on how she's got Joel back, how there is something, more than that.

A soft gasp for the affections and she tilts her head slightly, looks over to his face when he speaks again.]

Sure do have a way with words. [It's good.] Still think you could do with a trim, though.

We got any scissors kickin' around?

[ Since she was always the one giving him his trims before, why should that change now? Tess is the only one he trusts enough to hold a pair of sharp scissors around his head. Probably best that she keeps up the tradition.

Joel brushes his nose against her ear once before leaning back, both hands on the edge of the table again. ]

Picked up a nice pair the other day when I went lookin' for basics, actually.

[There's a wry smile as he leans back - she follows after, tugs him in for brief kiss. It's a little proper for their situation and she can't help it, moves back and lets both hands slide down his arms, all the way to the wrists.] You up for it?

Tess- [ It's a quiet, gruff little murmur just after she's pulled back from that teasing kiss. He hates it when she does that, yet loves it just as much.

Joel says nothing as he looks down at her, watching her, wanting to imprint this moment to his memory, his pulse kicking lightly in his wrists beneath her fingers. It feels like nothing's changed, and Joel doesn't know whether he should feel happy or guarded. ]

I'm up for anything right about now.

[Lower back pressed against the edge of the table, Tess tilts her head at the suggestion, can't help but raise a brow. The kiss was nice, she'll admit to it but it's the way Joel acts after it that has his attention more than that.

She drums fingers against his skin, waits to see if he'll move.] Anything, huh? Maybe that trim can wait, then.

I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, Tess, and I reckon neither are you.

[ The trim can definitely wait. Because Joel's not moving back, not unless she nudges him to. He's just fine where he is with her close, with her fingers drumming on his wrists, her warmth and familiar scent right where she is.

The nail of his thumb quietly drags down the outside seam of her jeans, a soft scratching along the ridges in the taut fabric. ]

Unless...

I figure I would've been gone by now if I had plans. [There's a hum as she crosses her ankles, eyes sparing a glance down to where his thumb is, has been. It's nice enough, plenty intimate but there's still room for space if either of them need it.]

You got something in mind?

Do you?

[ He'll counter her response with one of his own mostly because it's been some time since they were this close, since they playfully snarked with one another, simply had a moment alone. His lips skim the crown of her head, his legs spreading to better balance his weight.

Joel moves a hand from the table, the one he had teased her jeans with. His fingers follow the bottom hem of her shirt.

Baby steps. ]

Always asking me for a plan. [Her head shakes, slow and short as she closes her eyes. Letting out a small breath at the touches, Tess settles her fingers around the edge of the table, waits as he moves.

Lifting her gaze in the quiet, the corners of her lips draw back in a smile, slight.] You know, we got a proper bed for this sort of thing.

Thought you might wanna make use of it.

Never needed it much before now did we?

[ And a pair of strong hands have moved down to grip her behind the thighs, pulling her up off the ground, away from the table. Pulling her up flush against him. Good thing he had been 'healed' by someone capable or else he wouldn't be able to lift her or do much of anything with the internal damage he had suffered weeks ago.

Counter tops, the wall, couch-- yeah, who needed a bed when they had so many other options available? ]

[Like a one-two motion, Tess is letting go of the table, bringing her arms up so she can lace fingers against the back of his neck. Teasing the ends of his hair, she lets out a slow breath when he gets her close, head shaking.]

You got me where you want me, Tex. [Now the question of if she'll be behave is in the mix, not that she's promising much. Legs wrapping around his waist, Tess leans up to bite at his chin.]

Sure you can handle it?

I sure as hell hope I can. [ He has a hand splayed over the small of her back, his other grasping the side of her thigh. Slowly Joel begins to move them to where their room is. ]

If not- [ A muffled sound of dry humor is breathed out against her jaw. ] -reckon it might be about time for me to retire.

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