tfln overflow 2

[clichecodename]

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[batoutofhell]

Adam sighs a little bit, with a half-smile. "I am...getting used to crazy things in the world, let's say that." He looks up, then. "And you'll have to coordinate that with Ben, who's been pushing for the exact same thing for months now...but...sure, sometime." Annnnnd, okay, so 'sure, sometime' is the exact same thing he's been telling Ben, but...he really means it this time?

He looks down, then. Honestly? He's been trying not to think about it, which he knows isn't healthy, but...he doesn't want to think about it. So he's been pushing himself and distracting himself and...is probably pushing himself a lot closer to the edge than he realizes or even shows. He rubs the back of his neck, leaving his hand there for a long time after he stops rubbing, and stares at the floor. "That's a hard question," he says eventually. "Nothing is totally good, or bad, and I have a lot of things now that I didn't have then, and a lot of...well, people that I had then but I don't have now...and...I don't know, exactly. I mean...that's a hard thing to put on somebody, isn't it? Could I look Ben in the eyes and tell him 'I'd rather have my mom back than you?' I know for a fact he'd understand, but...god damn, if I don't want to retch at the thought. Or tell my mom that I'd rather go meet my boyfriend than have her in my life? Hell no, I couldn't do that." Hell, sometimes it feels wrong to move without her there. They were that close. He...shrugs again, one shouldered, and looks off. Almost like he's searching the place for a window to look through. "I...once was promised. In exchange for doing something else. That they'd resurrect my mom alongside of me." Guilt and admission, there, although what he's guilty for, he couldn't say. "That...never happened, obviously. I did the thing. But it never happened."

[clichecodename]

"The crazy that you know seems a lot crazier than the crazy I know." Leo stands from his seat and moves to follow Adam further into the library. "All you have to do is come here and I can show you."

Leo leans against the bookshelf and listens to Adam as he speaks. He can't imagine any of the things the younger man has been through and the more Adam confesses, the more Leo feels an incredible anger directed at the people who have caused the man suffering. Only, there isn't anyone for Leo to hit in retaliation and anger won't solve anything. "I'm sorry Adam."

[batoutofhell]

Adam grins at him a little funny. "Uh...show me how crazy life is? I don't think I wanna know the entirety of it."

He...looks down at Leo's apology. "You didn't do anything. Thanks. I'm...taking it one day at a time, is all." He gives a short, tight shrug, still looking away. Feelings, man. Not fun.

[clichecodename]

"Ha ha." Leo actually snorts a laugh. "I meant self-defence tactics."

Stepping closer, Leo drops a scarred hand onto Adam's shoulder and lowers his own head. "Doesn't mean I'm not sorry you had to go through all of that. One day at a time is all you can do. It's all anyone can ask."

[batoutofhell]

Adam hesitates a little. "Okay." He swallows. "I have NO idea how this is gonna go. Cue the training montage, I guess?"

He looks at that hand, briefly wondering where all those scars came from. "I am...thanks. Thanks." Even he doesn't know what he started to say, there.

[clichecodename]

Leo arches a brow. "It'll go fine. Fighting is what I do. It's what I've done for a very long time. I promise I can teach you."

If Leo knew what Adam's boundaries were, he'd consider offering a hug, but he isn't sure that it'd be okay. So he squeezes his shoulder and then steps away, turning towards the bookshelves. There's one particular set of shelves containing books that look extra worn out and he stops at those ones. "What kind of thing do you like to read?"

[batoutofhell]

"Well...we'll see." Adam laughs a little. Not at Leo, mind you, but...well. Let's just put it this way: his half brother tried to teach him a little bit of how to use a gun when he got back. It may have involved the phrase 'Okay, now let's try that with your eyes open...' Several times. In increasingly manic tones of voice. So...we'll see is probably a good answer, there.

And...even Adam doesn't know how he'd react to a hug, honestly. But he'd definitely be surprised! He drifts over after a minute, and studies the books with him. "I'm not really that much of a reader..." he says, apologetically, "Maybe more classics than anything." He offers a companionable grin over to Leo. "I really liked Jules Verne as a kid. He was a lot of fun. Return to Mysterious Island was my favorite."

[clichecodename]

It may not be a yes, but it's also not a no and Leo let's it go with a huff of laughter and a shake of his head. He isn't letting the issue go though. Punching shit may not help against ghosts and monsters, but it may offer a sense of security and Leo would feel better knowing Adam could defend himself if need be.

"I'm sure I've read some of his at some point. I don't remember a lot of it and there's plenty that mix together. I've been known to have more than one book on the go at a time." Tracing his fingers over the spines, Leo stops at one and pulls it down. "Here." It's an old, worn, battered copy of The Hobbit. "For when you need a study break. It's better than the movies."


ooc: I would like to clarify that I am terrible at sitting down and reading, so I actually have no idea if it's actually better or not lol

[batoutofhell]

Maybe it would, indeed. Maybe it would. But unfortunately, Adam's already not thinking about it. Sorry. He takes the book curiously. "I don't think I've read it," he says as he looks it over, front and back. He looks up at Leo, then. "One of your favorites?"

((ooc: As someone who's read the LotR books about 15 times, yes, yes it is. XD))

[clichecodename]

"You should. Take it with you. I have another copy. Somewhere." Nodding, Leo continues his trek through the library, taking in worn covers and various titles; some known, some incredibly obscure.



ooc: I've been told that. Isn't that always the way with books-movies?

[batoutofhell]

"Thank you. I mean...thank you. I will." Adam follows after; taking in everything around them as they go. He's...maybe not done as much reading in his life as his teachers have thought he should, but either way, he's equally impressed by everything there.

[clichecodename]

"If you see anything else that catches your information -or that you think your boyfriend might like- let me know. I have duplicates of most. And I can't read them all at once anyway." He flashes Adam a grin.

[batoutofhell]

Adam grins at him with a nod. "Oh, wow, thanks!" He gestures with the book. "But...this is pretty great of you and will probably last me a little while. Thank you. So...you're kind of a reader, huh?" With a LOT of understatement as he looks around the library.

[clichecodename]

"It's no problem." Leo watches him with a smile on his face. He glances around the room and takes it all in. "What makes you think that?"

[batoutofhell]

He just laughs, surprising himself with it, and looks around pointedly at all the books. He runs a hand through his hair and gives an--unusual for him--unfettered grin, totally free from pain and wariness. "Oh, I don't know. Just a feeling."

[clichecodename]

"I think you should trust that. You might be on to something." Leo smirks and moves back to his chair, flopping down into it and sprawling out. "You should look like that more often. It suits you."

[batoutofhell]

Adam's eyebrow slowly inches up and he doesn't have words for a long second. "Uh...if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were flirting with me or something.." He trails off, half joking. Mostlyjoking. He's not used to receiving compliments any more, is all. There's a lot of social interaction he's kind of rusty on, these days.

[clichecodename]

"A little bit." He waves a hand at the other chair, indicating that Adam should come sit. "The harmless kind. And the honest kind. You really should smile more." But there's something in his tone that indicates he knows why Adam can't.

[batoutofhell]

"Yeah, well, my boyfriend gets kind of possessive, so..." Juuuust putting that out there. Sits when he's nonverbally asked. And totally breaks eye contact with Leo when the tone in his voice hits him. Doing the closing-up inside thing instead of the smiling thing for a minute before looking back up. And smiling a little, but it's his usual close-mouthed, slightly wary, million things going on in his head one. The other one's been coming more and more lately, don't worry.

[clichecodename]

"I can understand that." Leo himself tended to be quite possessive when Travis was involved but he preferred to think of it as protective. He knew that wasn't the complete truth, because they both knew that Travis could protect himself.

Leo offers a smile back but he doesn't push, doesn't pry any further.

[batoutofhell]

Adam honestly doesn't know what to say for a moment there. So he smiles, and then, lightly, trying to break the silence a little, "So...can I have my cigarettes back if I promise not to smoke them in here?"

[clichecodename]

There's a brief moment where Leo's silent and then he laughs, ducking his head and shaking it. "Yeah, you can have your cigarettes back."

[batoutofhell]

Adam laughs, too, just a little. And then he leans his head back against the chair and breathes out his nose. The muscles in his neck visibly relaxing. Not that they were unusually tense to begin with, it's more like he's...making an effort to come off guard. Which he doesn't usually. But it seems to be working.

"Thanks," he says, after a little while.

[clichecodename]

"No problem." Leo watches as Adam's body slowly loses the tension. It isn't hard to tell that the man has suffered and while he got some of the story earlier, he knows there's a lot more to it than he may ever truly understand.

Leo has to wonder if Adam realises just how strong he is.

[batoutofhell]

Possibly he doesn't realize, no. He lets them sit in companionable silence for a few minutes before looking over again. "So...what is it you do when you're not fighting or reading?" He flicks a quick ghost of a smile at him. "or getting random dick pics on Snapchat, apparently?"