(no subject)

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin has been trying not to hover. Liz had been through one hell of a thing, getting those pictures and that weird, creepy dude on the weird, creepy record player. He doesn't want to hover and freak her out, and he doesn't want to stay too distant and make her think that what he saw or heard actually scared him off. Because it hasn't. It really hasn't.

He and Liz share an apartment building. They're floors apart, and it's not like it's any hardship to go see her, but . . . He doesn't need to stay glued to her side, right? He can just . . . be available for her. That's what he keeps telling himself. With Spark to take care of, it's easier. Having something else to focus on takes his mind off of how worried Delsin is about her, but it may be telling that he's having an issue taking care if the dog after all. 

So, finally, he tells himself to man up and go check on her. If she doesn't want his company, he'll politely back off. But he just needs to make sure she's okay and maybe help her take her mind off things. He doesn't know. He just needs to do something.

Before he goes, he takes Spark down to the patch of grass just outside the building to encourage him to empty his bladder (and maybe more). It's not an easy visit, like normal, but he has treats, now, per Coraline's suggestion, so Spark is learning that when he does certain things, he's rewarded for them. Peeing on the grass is one of those things.

After he finally goes, Delsin brings him back into the building and tucks him into the bathroom. He's lined the floor with fresh newspaper and tossed in a few toys to keep Spark occupied and away from Delsin's things. Then, finally, he heads up the stairs to Liz's apartment. 

(He hopes Booker isn't home.)

Comments

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth had been keeping to herself a bit as of late. Not consciously, exactly, but it'd been easier to bury herself in her job and other obligations. And things with Delsin - she admittedly had felt very strange around him since the day he had been so kind to her. It was a new sort of feeling that felt like it was blossoming rapidly in her, and she wasn't sure what to do with it.

She was so bold, usually. This - this was different.

It'd been a quiet day when he showed up at her apartment door. Booker had gone out to do some things, and she was spending some of her free day relaxing. She was just about to make herself some tea when she heard someone knocking on the door. Heading over, she opened it, peeking out.

"Delsin," she said, a bit surprised to find him there. She opened the door wider when she realized who it was, offering him a smile. It was probably a miracle she didn't immediately blush - he did have that affect on her sometimes, as embarrassing as it was. "This is unexpected."

[infamousdelsin]

"Hey, Liz," he says with a gentle smile. He tries not to cringe at the surprise in her voice. "Is it a bad unexpected or a good unexpected?" he asks a little nervously. He doesn't want to suffocate her with his presence or anything, but he wants to be around her. Is that weird? Does that make him weird?

[cagedlamb]

"Good, of course," Elizabeth replied, opening the door now enough to allow him entrance. The question made her feel guilty, even - she knew she'd been acting a bit strange lately, with little explanation. She owed him one, but admittedly was still unsure what to say. Regardless, she was certainly not going to turn him away. "Please, come in. How are you?"

[infamousdelsin]

He can't help but grin, and he steps into the apartment with a slightly shy duck of his head. God, what's wrong with him?

"Me?" he asks. "Hey, I'm pretty okay. I've been kinda worried about you, though. How are you doing?"

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth closed the door behind him when he came in. Turning to face him, she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Better," she said, and she hoped he didn't think she was just saying so. "I guess I needed a little time to think. I'm glad you visited, actually."

Mostly because she wasn't sure if she could have been the one to do it. Some small part of her still was scared he was going to not want to be around her. Biting her lip, she debated whether or not she wanted to clarify. In the end, she mustered the courage to do so.

"I've missed your company," she explained, looking a bit shy as she did.

[infamousdelsin]

The way she says it, all gentle and shy, kind of makes Delsin's heart kick up a pace. It makes him feel a little more confident in himself. He feels his shoulders relax, and he steps forward.

"You did?" He smiles. "Good. I mean, cool! I, I mean, I missed you, too. I, um. I wasn't sure if I should be all—" He gestures vaguely at her, "—in your space, or, y'know. If you wanted that time for yourself after everything." And he's not surprised she needed it. It had seemed pretty heavy, all the stuff in that box, so it's not like he's mad at her. He's just been worried, in and amongst dealing with his stupid dog.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth smiled. She had called him kind that day, and it still run true. It was sweet he'd thought of her so much. Something she was barely used to, honestly.

"I appreciate that. And everything you did for me. Thank you, again, even though I know you not asking to be thanked," she said, before he had a chance to correct her that she didn't need to thank him. She wanted to. "I'm okay now. I mean, better. You were right, what you said to me. I guess I just needed to hear someone say it."

She didn't want to admit to herself how sad she would have been if things had gone badly. She still wasn't sure what to do with those particular feelings yet.

[infamousdelsin]

"You mean the part where I basically said you're awesome?" he tries with a grin. He'd never said the words, but he'd reassured her as well as he could that there's nothing wrong with her, and if that's gotten through to her, then he's happy.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth let out a laugh, ducking her head again. "Yes, that's right. It...meant a lot to me. It's not like I have had a lot of people to tell me or make me feel otherwise."

Booker had always supported her, but it was different when people who weren't involved in what happened.

"I'm using this place as a fresh start. I won't let anything change that," she added, wanting him to know that, too. Her fear had almost gotten the better of her, but she knew she couldn't let it all define her. That was exactly what that man wanted.

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin smiles, and he gently brushes his fingers down her jaw. "Well, I'm just glad I could help, y'know?" He shrugs with a lopsided grin. "A fresh start, huh? I like that." He nods. "That's a good idea."

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth could not stop the blush if she wanted to when she felt his fingers brush her skin. It was the sort of thing she didn't really know how to respond to. Perhaps it was a gesture that was normal that she just didn't come across?

"Y-Yes. I won't hide anymore, but I'm not letting it define me either," she explained, bringing herself to look him in the eye despite her blushing. "I won't let what happened to me ruin what I might be able to have here."

[infamousdelsin]

"That's really brave of you, Liz," he says gently. She might not know that, but it's true. She'd been forced to face something obviously rough and leagues more than uncomfortable, and she'd taken her time to process it, and now she's going to use it to become stronger, and Delsin . . . really admires that about her.

The kiss isn't planned, but he leans in anyway and gently presses his lips to the corner of hers, partly on her cheek and partly not.

[cagedlamb]

It took a moment for Elizabeth to realize what was happening. She stiffened at first, unsure of what to do, before she gently lifted a hand to rest against his arm, fingers curling in the cloth of his t-shirt.

She didn't pull away. It was only when he did that she looked up at him again. He had impressively managed to make her blush even more, but she couldn't begin to care.

"Delsin," she exhaled, the words coming out in a tone that was half surprised and half questioning. Her eyes searched his, hopeful it was all what she thought it meant. It was such new territory she felt like she was on uneven footing.

Her hand still clutched him without her even realizing it.

[infamousdelsin]

If it weren't for her hand on his sleeve, Delsin would pull away and apologize. But there's here hand, kind of gripping, keeping him close, so he smiles small, leans in, and kisses her again. This time, he makes sure their lips line up right, and he gently lifts his hand to cup her jaw.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth had read, of course, about this. She had seen it in movies in the ones she studied for Olive's parties. Yet none of them really came close to the swell of feelings she had when he did it again, even when she was ready for it this time around. Though she was almost uncharacteristically timid, she tilted her head up, leaning into the warm touch of his hand.

It was everything she thought it'd be and more, and she was more than suitably distracted to notice the sound of the opening door nearby.

[wipeawaythedebt]

Today's bounty was a fighter and all Booker wants is a tumbler of whiskey. Maybe the whole bottle. He's got a bruise on his jaw, scraped skin on his knuckles, and for the first time since arriving in this crazy place, someone actually shot at him. Hell, if it wasn't for that shield thing the Lutece's put on him, they might have hit him. All in all, this hasn't been the best of days and he's actually looking forward to letting Elizabeth fuss over his bruises and scrapes. He has to admit, having her study to be a nurse has been useful more than once.

What he doesn't want is to walk into his apartment and see sweet little Elizabeth in the arms of some man, which is what actually happens. He's too tired to corral his shock and anger and before he even has time to think the action through, he's grabbing for the guy to pull him off.

"Get away from her!"

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin yelps in a supremely manly fashion when suddenly hands are yanking him roughly away from Liz. He doesn't squeak. Really.

He lets go so he doesn't accidentally yank Liz along with him — he doesn't want to hurt her, and this guy isn't exactly gentle. A thousand different scenarios rush through his head in the first few seconds: burglar, murderer, rapist, thief (which is a burglar, but it bears repeating), roommate, possible abduction, maybe a roommate. All the same, Delsin reacts instinctively.

He bursts into smoke to escape the grasp, and reforms a few feet away. He has one hand up, but it's not innocently: he's keeping aim on the dude in case he makes a move for Liz.

"What the hell?" he demands as the smoke settles back against his skin and disappears.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth realized far too late. Booker was already shoving him away. There was a moment she just stared in horror before she realized she had to step in before it escalated.

"No, no, no! Booker, stop!" she exclaimed, immediately getting between the two of them the moment she saw Delsin's reaction, standing in front of Delsin. She had no idea if Booker had any stores left to use Vigors, but all she could see was him reacting to what Delsin could do, and she didn't want either of them hurt because they were both protective of her. "I know him, it's okay. It's okay, alright?"

She hoped that was enough to cool tempers down at least long enough to talk. She was going to introduce him to Booker eventually, but this was the worst possible way it could have happened.

[wipeawaythedebt]

He doesn't have much by way of vigors left, his last bottle of salts is almost completely gone, but he's got enough to make his hand spark with electricity. He's maybe got a blast or two, but right now, he's running a bluff. And then there's that gun tucked away in his shoulder holster under his jacket, that can come in pretty handy, too, if he needs it. In fact, he's all set to pull it when Elizabeth jumps between them and he has to take a step back to avoid knocking her over.

"Alright? Who the hell does he think he is, taking advantage of you like that?!" On some level that Booker's ignoring, he knows that he's overreacting. That things are different here and maybe he shouldn't be treating Elizabeth like she's a kid. But the anger and over-protectiveness that's held him together from Columbia to here won't go away and all he wants to do is haul off an punch the kid in the face for daring to kiss her without a proper courting.

[infamousdelsin]

"Taking advantage?" Delsin echoes incredulously. "It was a kiss! I didn't even use tongue!" It's probably not his best response ever, but Delsin's on edge: it looks like he's not the only person in the room with powers, so he's trying to figure out the best place to duck if this guy starts shooting.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth felt the blush rise up on her cheeks at his protest.

"Delsin, please," she winced. She knew it was the exact opposite of what Booker would ever want to hear, even if she knew he wasn't taking advantage of her no matter what he may or may not have done. Her attention solely on Booker afterwards, she gave him a look. "Booker, I am not a child. He wasn't taking advantage of me, I - I've wanted this to happen. For some time now."

It was likely the worst way of admitting as such, and she was a little happy she wasn't actually looking at him.

"Not that I should have to explain any of this to you. I can care for whoever I like without your permission and certainly without these outbursts out of you," she continued, her hard tone indicating her sharp flare of anger. It was rare she got this way, but this was absolutely out of line. He had honestly ruined what had been a nice moment. "So stop. Right now. We can talk like adults or Delsin and I are leaving."

It was no empty threat. As much as she wanted Booker to like him and cared about his opinion, she wouldn't have him speaking down to her in such a manner and certainly would not let him hurt Delsin. Even if he could protect himself, she didn't want a brawl to take place in the middle of the apartment.

[wipeawaythedebt]

Gritting his teeth with a growl, Booker stays where he is, glaring at the boy and breathing heavy as he tries to pull himself back from the brink. This whole situation is the last thing he ever wanted, and he's equal parts fury and embarrassment and he needs a drink. This whole thing is wrong, this whole world is wrong. Every time he thinks he's getting a hold on things, something like this happens to make him wish he's back home, where kids like Elizabeth, at least the good ones, just don't do things like this. She might be an adult in years, but she's just a kid in experience. Doesn't know what people do, what they're capable of and this... this...

"Who the hell is he? Why haven't I seen him around? When did you meet him, where?"

[infamousdelsin]

"Hey, relax," Delsin says, trying not to snap. "And ease up with the Spanish Inquisition, will you? I'm happy to tell you everything you want to know, but just fucking chill, Dude!" He doesn't want to get into a fight anymore than Elizabeth wants them to, but dammit, he's not going to stand here and be brow-beaten by some asshole, either.

[cagedlamb]

They were both angry. Elizabeth tried not to look as exasperated as she was about the whole thing. She understood why Delsin was angry, but she also knew that the situation needed to be diffused before anyone could actually talk.

"Delsin, this is the person who is the only reason I ever got away from the people who locked me away," she said, glancing behind her at him pointedly. She hoped it would explain why he was so protective, as much as she was angry at him for reacting in such an overblown manner. Looking back to Booker, because she knew what was coming from being open about that, she continued, "Yes, he knows about that. He's the one who helped me when those things from home showed up I told you about. I've known him for a few months when he showed up in the city, just like us. And with this reaction, do you really blame me for not introducing you immediately? This is exactly why I didn't know how to talk to you about this."

[wipeawaythedebt]

Booker knows exactly what she's talking about, he's seen it all and more. She's heard Comstock's plans, but she doesn't know exactly how far the bastard went, finding some kind somewhere to pass off as his own. No, she hasn't heard that part yet and he's still not sure he should be telling her about it. He hasn't. And he doesn't want to. Who does that to a kid?

"You open your mouth and talk about it, Elizabeth." Delsin might as well not be there anymore for all the attention Booker plays him. "Hey, I met someone today, Booker, maybe you ought to meet him. That easy. Hell, you've never been shy about telling me things before, why the hell start now?"

[infamousdelsin]

"Maybe because she thought you'd try to kill me," Delsin offers sarcastically. "Oh wait, you did!" He hadn't gotten far with it, granted: Liz had broken it up before either of them could shoot, so to speak. But the dude had definitely whipped up a fancy lightning attack that Delsin is pretty sure would have knocked him down for a minute, anyway.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth knew exactly why she had not spoken of him. Things had been different from very early on when she had been around him, and she hadn't truly known what to make of it all. She certainly hadn't been ready to talk to Booker about it, and it was a confession she did not want to make because she had to. Though the thought brought back the visible blush to her cheeks, her expression remained stern. Delsin voiced exactly what her problem was with all of this, why Booker would have never been the first one she was going to turn to to figure all of this out.

"You're acting as though you think I'm required to tell you who I spend my days with. I assure you I'm not. If I don't want to talk to you or if I'm waiting to speak to you, that's something you're going to have to accept," she responded, practically bristling at the fact he was acting as though she was at fault for not telling him something she was figuring out herself. She would not stand for it. "You know I am grateful for everything you've done for me, but if that's some sort of issue to you, if all this is what I am to expect any time you don't approve of something, then we are going to need to have a serious conversation about our living arrangement."

It felt a little too much like he was attempting to control her and she would not tolerate that. Never again, not from anyone.

[wipeawaythedebt]

"What I'm not allowed to care? About your safety? About who you're spending your time with? Dammit, Elizabeth, you're... you're all I've got and I'll be damned if I don't look out for you somehow." There he's said it. Whatever that therapy's done for him, he can at least admit that much. She's all he's got that's decent in this world or any and despite how he met her, he'll die to protect her, this strange girl from the tower.

[infamousdelsin]

Delsin can't even be mad at that. Because it's not very different from how he feels, and shit. Now he feels bad, for being an accidental secret. (He doesn't blame Liz, seriously, but he does kinda feel bad.) He presses his lips into a thin line.

"Hey, Man, that's all I wanna do, too," he says sincerely. (Maybe it's not all he wants to do. Kissing Liz was pretty nice.) "Not that you can't take care of yourself," he adds to her, "but . . . I don't mind sticking around and helping." He winks at her, smiling small.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth understood he worried. She understood, but she couldn't have this. There needed to be some boundaries, or else she was going to always fear this any time she did something he didn't particularly like.

"I know. I know you worry. There's just are things I am going to need to work out myself before I voice it - it's my right to. What doesn't help is you coming in here attacking people without a moment's pause to ask what's going on. That's not how you show you care, Booker, nor does it make me feel like I can come to you without fear of an overreaction," she explained, though her words did have the sharpness they had before. She understood, on some level, that he didn't really didn't understand how to express things. She hoped he'd understand where she was coming from now.

And she hoped he actually listened to Delsin, too, because she did not doubt for a moment he spoke the truth, and the brief smile she shot him was shy. She knew he was trying, too, and she appreciated it.

[wipeawaythedebt]

Frustrated, Booker turns on his heel and heads to the kitchen, pulling a bottle of whiskey from the cupboard and a glass from another. As angry as he is, he still has the wits to know that drinking from the bottle right now isn't the impression he wants to go for. He's got nothing tangible to hold onto except the glass in his hand and he can't understand why he can hear the Luteces' in his head, laughing smugly at some joke he just doesn't understand.

So he speaks without thinking, "You don't trust me, Elizabeth, don't want to know what I think, that's fine. You're not the first. And maybe you should get your own place, you've been on about it enough and I won't have to wonder who you're letting into my home." He knows this isn't the way to deal with things, but everything in him wants to shut down and his head's about to split wide-open.

[infamousdelsin]

"Whoa, whoa," Delsin says, hands going up. "You're seriously going there? Is that what's happening right now?" Delsin liked this a lot better when they were about to shoot each other, he decides. This business of possibly kicking Liz out over him is a little overkill, and he's not going to stand for that.

[cagedlamb]

Elizabeth had hoped he'd understand. That he certainly never told her anything himself, so the fact that it had come to this - that he couldn't understand why there were things she needed time to figure out herself - felt like an end to her. She wasn't going to argue if he refused to listen.

"Delsin, stop," she said as soon as he began to try to plead her case, though her eyes were on Booker then. Though she felt hurt that he wouldn't listen, she'd never let him see it. No, her voice was remarkably even despite the turmoil bubbling underneath. "If that's absolutely all you got out of what I just said to you, if you really think what I said means I have no faith in you, then fine. I will find someplace else to live and be moved out of your apartment as soon as I can."

If he could not even bring himself to admit this was a shared space, perhaps he never really considered her an equal - a friend - even as he spoke of caring about her. It hurt to know he saw all she had done, all she'd accomplished despite everything, and still treated her as though she could not stand on her own two feet. Perhaps this was for the best.

"Delsin and I are leaving," she added, because she knew the longer she stayed, the less likely she was going to hold herself together. "I'll be back for Oliver once I find someone to stay with until I can acquire my own apartment again."

She would not ask Delsin. Even she knew it was inappropriate and that she'd be uncomfortable herself in such a situation. Sybil, perhaps, or one of her other friends. She would figure it out, even if she had to sleep a floor for a little while.

[wipeawaythedebt]

Booker tells himself he doesn't really care. She goes storming out with her... her beau and he downs his whiskey like a man drowning and he tells himself it doesn't matter. There's been nothing but trouble in his life since he took that job, people trying to kill him, falling into this strange world, and he wants nothing more than his old life back where he only had to worry about which game to play to cover his debts from the last one. She's the reason he's been trying to straight and narrow, with her gone, why fight his inner demons?

He's lost her, not that he ever thinks he really had her and he tells himself he doesn't care while his head splits and he can here that bastard Lutece, Bring us the girl, and wipe away the debt.

"FUCK THE DEBT!"

And just before he passes out, his glass shatters on the wall where he throws it.