[ Okay, so, the low and pleasant voice speaking in his ear is a lot more distracting than Nate anticipated it being, for reasons he doesn't presently want to go into. They're warm and wedged and tensions are already a little high, and maybe blood is a little higher than that. Very suddenly, getting out of the supply closet in the Tibetan temple is a more pressing engagement than he thought.
He can't even appreciate the dig at his pecs again, the apparent go-to target in Ian's repertoire of backhanded compliments, because he's trying not to sound overly defensive when crammed into a small space with someone he likes enough to not want to embarrass himself. ]
I wasn't thinking dad bod, I just also wasn't thinking washboard abs that a Cajun band could play riffs on during Mardi Gras.
[ A wry and somewhat surprised compliment for the metaphor, but unfortunately not vivid enough to keep him distracted for long.
There's a kind of hyper-awareness that comes during situations like this, at least for him. It keeps him stuck in the present, thinking too much about his posture and his body language, the places they touch and the places they don't. Scanning for signals whether he wants to or not.
They really gotta get the fuck out of here — not the least because he's dressed for cold ass Tibet and they're in a hot ass closet with breath and body heat slowly bumping up the thermostat. It would be an absolutely terrible idea to try and shrug off a sweater right now. Damn it.
And, you know what, this is stupid--]
Listen, man, do me a favor— if you're gonna compliment my body do it in like... an old scottish granny accent, or like, redneck farmer. Something really unappealing.
[ Because since when has he ever pretended like Nate isn't super attractive? Who the hell is he trying to fool here? ]
[ Shifting again, Nate manages to eke a little closer to the door until he's well and truly crammed against it, temple resting on wood that's somehow lasted a fourth world war. The hall outside has been silent for a good few minutes now, and presumably the people chasing them have decided they left through a window.
He's only half-paying attention when the request meets him, and the face Nate pulls in the dark should be audible. ]
What? Why?
[ Fingers on the handle he turns it slowly as the tumbler rolls, and cracks the door open. ]
no subject
He can't even appreciate the dig at his pecs again, the apparent go-to target in Ian's repertoire of backhanded compliments, because he's trying not to sound overly defensive when crammed into a small space with someone he likes enough to not want to embarrass himself. ]
I wasn't thinking dad bod, I just also wasn't thinking washboard abs that a Cajun band could play riffs on during Mardi Gras.
[ So much for truth in advertisement. ]
no subject
[ A wry and somewhat surprised compliment for the metaphor, but unfortunately not vivid enough to keep him distracted for long.
There's a kind of hyper-awareness that comes during situations like this, at least for him. It keeps him stuck in the present, thinking too much about his posture and his body language, the places they touch and the places they don't. Scanning for signals whether he wants to or not.
They really gotta get the fuck out of here — not the least because he's dressed for cold ass Tibet and they're in a hot ass closet with breath and body heat slowly bumping up the thermostat. It would be an absolutely terrible idea to try and shrug off a sweater right now. Damn it.
And, you know what, this is stupid--]
Listen, man, do me a favor— if you're gonna compliment my body do it in like... an old scottish granny accent, or like, redneck farmer. Something really unappealing.
[ Because since when has he ever pretended like Nate isn't super attractive? Who the hell is he trying to fool here? ]
no subject
He's only half-paying attention when the request meets him, and the face Nate pulls in the dark should be audible. ]
What? Why?
[ Fingers on the handle he turns it slowly as the tumbler rolls, and cracks the door open. ]
...coast is clear.
no subject
He nods his head quickly, not toward the left or right but the wall straight ahead of them. )
Okay, come on, let's go--
( So he can matter-bend a nice big gaping hole for them to slip through, and they can make a break for it through the courtyard. )