004: New Feathers

[captain_in_you]

So, this is a usual thing, then? New people... "New Feathers" I've heard you all say, arriving every month. Well, I guess it was me last time, so if any of you new arrivals need anything, just ask. I'm Captain Jack Harkness, and it'll be great to meet all of you.

[Private to the Doctor]
I've got a surprise for you.

Comments

[Voice - Private]

[im_brilliant]

[Color him intrigued.]

Do you, now?

[Private] // [Action]

[im_brilliant]

[Breath hitching in his throat, the Doctor's deep brown eyes widen in surprise. His hearts race, his cooler body temperature warms slightly, if only for a moment. He has to use a large amount of willpower to keep his face from tinging pink.]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by that... [Looks at him skeptically.] Since this whole mess I've done nothing but cause you grief and pain. And well... I'm surprised you still- ah, well - you still... treat me the way you do after all that. I don't like it. And only further adding to this debt I owe you will only make it necessary that I don't make light of my promise.

[He steps closer, bringing his free hand up to Jack's neck, brushing his fingers against his jaw. His gaze doesn't stray and he leans in, looking at him even more intently.] I don't even know what you want. Not in the slightest, as weird as that may be. So I want you to be perfectly honest, and tell me, what do you want, Jack?

[Private] // [Action]

[captain_in_you]

[The last thing Jack expected was an open invitation. He draws in a short breath, leaning closer to the Doctor. On the one hand, he could take advantage of this... it was everything he'd wanted, and the Doctor was offering freely.]

I want...

[His lips are only a breath away from the Doctor's now, and his hands come to rest lightly on the man's waist. He could tell him everything he wants to do with him, every dirty thought in his head, and perhaps something might even come of it this time. But what would that accomplish? Would the Doctor then feel that he'd satisfied his "debt," and fulfilled his promise to Jack? Would it be over and done with then?]

What I want...

[Jack doesn't want that. What he feels for the Doctor is more than just a fleeting lust, and he doesn't want this to just be some obligation. He forces himself to pull back, away from the Doctor's touch, stepping off the porch into the rain.]

What I want is for you to stop thinking you owe me a debt.

[Private] // [Action]

[im_brilliant]

[Hearts pounding so quickly, so loudly, he could practically feel the vibrations reverberating across his ribcage. He realizes then, that he hadn't taken a breath in several minutes. A short, quick, yet surprisingly warmed breath escapes his lips when he's drawn in so close. His eyes remain wide, desperate and searching. Nerves wracked, he lets his thumb brush lightly against his jaw.]

Jack...

[It escapes him like a sigh as Jack pulls away. The Doctor stands there a moment, more confused then ever. The confusion turns to petulance as steps out after him. He was always the one to run, to hold back, himself, and despite not knowing his exact thoughts, he had a pretty good idea what was going on at that instant. There was no way he was going to just let the tables turn like this. Jack was such an enigma to him, he was almost terrifying at times. Alien species could be figured out, humans could be read, but the Captain was on a completely different level. He was unreadable, unpredictable and spontaneous. The kinds of things that could

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack doesn't know what to do. On the one hand, he has the Doctor here, willing and offering whatever Jack wants. On the other, he doesn't want anything that happens between them to be just based on what the Doctor thinks he owes him.]

There was a time I'd have given anything to hear that from you.

[His body seems to be making the decision for him, arms wrapping around the Doctor's waist, pulling him closer. He can feel the rain dripping down the back of his collar, chilling him.]

I need you too, Doctor. But... I don't want anything from you that you think is an obligation. I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything.

[He's leaning closer, seemingly without thought.] Anything that happens with us... I want it to happen because you want it too.

[Action]

[im_brilliant]

[Eyes darting around, searching his expression, trying so desperately hard to read him. But it seems even his Time Lord gifts are useless here. He is so incredibly lost. And in so many ways, as well. ]

Now, don't you try to negate the ah-necessity of what I feel towards you, Jack...

[The Doctor flinches a moment, then holds still until the flight reaction passes. He lets Jack pull him in, and returns the favor in a way by shifting to allow closer contact. His hands find themselves against Jack's shoulders, but not so much defensively as just needing a proper and appropriate place to put them. He strums his fingers there a moment, chewing his bottom lip as his gaze goes astray. A low, thoughtful click of the tongue indicates that he's working so very hard to process all that is flooding his mind at that particular second. His eyes then finally meet Jack's again.]

This...thing business, though I'm not sure we should even call it that, as I'm not really much of a 'thing' person, and can't allow myself to get to attached, as I'm sure

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack feels the Doctor's body tense as he pulls closer, and oh, the Doctor just had to remind him of how wrong he is...]

You might say you're over it, but... [He sighs and rests his forehead against the Doctor's, shaking his head. The Doctor is here, with him, offering whatever Jack wants, and all Jack can think is how much it's going to hurt when the Doctor does leave him.]

But didn't he just say that he wouldn't?

I don't think you know what you're offering me, Doctor. [Forcing a smile, he tries not to shiver at the feeling of the Doctor's lips against his jaw, though his wings flutter slightly. He doesn't think the Doctor realizes that Jack's resisting the urge to drag him back into the house, into the bedroom, to show him exactly what he wants to do with him.] And you say you won't leave me again, but then you said it was just this moment, and you still say I'm wrong and this is wrong and... I don't know what you're doing to me.

[Despite his best efforts, he's been holding the Doctor close as he talks, his lips only a breath

[Action]

[im_brilliant]

[He kisses him back, almost absently and thoughtlessly for a moment. His hands stroke his back, his neck, his hair. For several reasons, namely the nagging feeling of apprehension, he's still holding back. Despite clearly knowing he shouldn't be at this point. But even still, he doesn't want to lose himself or let his guard down. As much as he may trust Jack, he doesn't trust most of the people who could be lurking around.]

[The Doctor pulls away just a little, one hand bracing his neck, the other cupping his face. He looks into his eyes, his own haunted by the ghosts of his past. He's finally processed all of what was just said to him. A low murmur escapes his lips then, his breaths warm compared to the chilled air of the rain.] Just... Trust me, Jack.

[He kisses him, then, and is far more aggressive about it. Fierce determination combined with rehashed adrenaline and sublimating his flight reflex into, well, this, has brought out his slightly more imposing nature. However, a fierce kiss from him, may still seem chaste from Jack's

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Trust... such a small word, but something so difficult for Jack. In his long life, there were very few people whom he could say he truly could trust, but... this man is one of them, despite everything that had happened.]

[He kisses him hard, passionately, barely flicking the tip of his tongue over the Doctor's lower lip. One hand slides higher on the Doctor's back, brushing the base of his wings, pressing their bodies closer together. He's panting softly by the time the Doctor pulls away, and he can't suppress the shiver this time when the other nibbles on his earlobe.]

Probably a good idea. We really should... get out of these wet clothes. [A smirk... oh, there's dirty thoughts playing in the Captain's mind right now.] Back inside, then? [He takes a step back, running his hand down the Doctor's arm to grasp his hand.]

[Action]

[im_brilliant]

Inside we go, yes. [Nods, taking his hand loosely.] Sur notre chemin~!

[Leads him back into the house and pats himself down, figuring out what's wet and what isn't. The coat's definitely the worst off, so that gets hung up to dry. Good thing it's of good quality as that took most of the water. His suit jacket is also a little wet so he removes and hangs that as well. Shirt and pants, however, aren't so bad that a few minutes inside and they would become comfortable again. The squishy feeling of wet shoes is also something that would go away soon. Now with a burst of energy, the Doctor shuffles around idly, looking at Jack.]

So! [He glances between the sofa in the living room and the direction of the bedrooms.] Where to, Captain?

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack slips out of his coat as well, and kicks off his boots by the door. His top shirt is a bit damp as well, so he shrugs off his bracers and unbuttons it quickly, dropping it absently in a heap, leaving himself in only his trousers and white t-shirt. The hems of his trousers were wet too, but he decides not to strip out of those... yet.]

Come on. [Reaching out, he takes the Doctor's hand and leads him toward his bedroom. This is a bad idea, a really, phenomenally, cosmically bad idea, but he's wanted it for so long, and he can't keep saying no.]

[Action]

[im_brilliant]

[The Doctor quirks a brow at that but decides to say nothing for the moment, merely following him to his room instead. He knew Jack was relatively shameless, but the extent of that was something still a mystery to him. Upon entering the room, he leans back against the wall, hands folded loosely behind him, rocking on his heels slowly. He continues to look at Jack with a cross between an inquisitive and generally amused expression.]

I suppose this is a rather interesting choice on your part. [Smirk.] Any particular ideas you've got, there?

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

Hey, you suggested it. Sort of. [Jack idly wonders if he should have chosen the couch, but he's not second-guessing himself now. Stepping forward, he runs his hands down the Doctor's arms to grip his elbows, pulling him close again.] And I've got lots of ideas. Whatever I want, yeah?

[He leans down to kiss the Doctor again, though he keeps his eyes open till the last moment, watching for signs of hesitation or uncertainty.]

[Action]

[im_brilliant]

[Quickly, with both brows raised curiously:] Yes, of course.

[The Doctor doesn't suppose there is anything wrong with kissing. Though he realizes this is the first time he's been doing a lot of that particular activity in a long while. Not since... Well, it's best if he doesn't think about that too much, especially not at this particular moment. The last thing he wants to do is get too wrapped up in bad memories and feeling anguished for everything that had happened up until this point. No, he has to keep thinking about the present and look to the future. He has to stay positive. As without the TARDIS if he were to lose himself to thinking about all that is wrong with the current situation and all the mistakes he made before, there is no telling what he might do. Certainly the flight instinct would start kicking in, more so than it already has. He can only sublimate it so much before.... Well, it's best not to think about that, now, is it?]

[He kisses Jack back slowly, loosely gripping at his sides. A soft, contented sound almost

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack can tell the Doctor's mind is elsewhere, even as the kiss continues. He pulls him closer, twining their fingers together, determined not to let the Doctor get distracted from his affections. He's a bit surprised by the tongue, but smiles into the kiss, returning the gesture, his tongue darting out to meet the Doctor's.]

Mmm...

[After a short time, he decides that they might want to move on to more than just kissing... or at least he wants more, anyway. Releasing the Doctor's hands, he smooths his hands over the Doctor's chest before starting on the buttons of his shirt, unfastening them quickly and efficiently.]

[Action]

[im_brilliant]

[...And the blender is going to go next to the toaster, which he will also use the screwdriver to help create in some peculiar not-quite-electrical sort of way. As you never know, you may want something toasted to go along with your smoothie or fruity alcoholic concoction. There will be so many things he can do once he has the screwdriver: he can put up cabinets, and unlock things, and- whoa! Hold up! Wait a tick! Alarm bells going off! Screwdriver plans will have to wait as he is starting to feel the beginning stages of being de-clothed and now the flight reflex would like a say in this. The flight reflex, while perfectly okay with the kissing business helping with the sublimation, is not so inclined to want to get naked. At least not yet. He was so busy thinking about his beloved Sonic Screwdriver that the sudden sensation of his shirt coming undone startled him.]

Oi-Jack, hold on just a...

[The Doctor grabs his hands and attempts to keep them pinned at his sides. Though he doesn't exactly start buttoning up his shirt. Instead, he