TMA!Jacobi and Jon

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Are you sure this is the place?" he asks the driver, who was already speeding off, leaving Jacobi in front of the old building.

"Thanks for your help!" he calls out with false cheer, rolling his eyes before trudging his way up to what he had been told was the Magnus Institute. He doesn't even flinch at the screech of tires that comes from blocks behind him. He doesn't have to see the car erupt into flames as a very confused driver crawls out and phones for help. That's chaos for someone else.

Instead, he takes the steps up, backpack on his shoulder. He had flown all the way out here, so it's not as if he's going to be missing any leads. Besides. He has an appointment.

The closer to the door he gets, the more uncomfortable he feels about this. It's like a whisper of wind against his skin, a suggestion of something dangerous, but Jacobi's never let something like that bother him. He walks through, hands in his pockets.

Comments

[mrballisticsdummy]

He glances back, though they're quite a ways from the building now.

"I admittedly wasn't looking for info. But he does cook. And he's cute."

Said mostly to push a few buttons.

[questionsonly]

That's a snort. And a shake of his head. But there's a low level growl still rumbling in his chest.

"Don't. Not when he'd be... interesting to hunt."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Off limits for so many reasons. The top of which is that I like him and I'm telling you not to. And if you do, I'll break all your shit."

He sits forward and lets go of his hand as the traffic seems to ease and they get closer. "Try and be nice. I will have to go back and check on him."

[questionsonly]

The growl maintains.

"I... won't."

Because he doesn't want to aggravate things with Jacobi. And because it's not part of his plans. It's also more trouble than he's worth. He's got enough reports on that Archivist. He's not meddling with that.

"Made a new friend?"

It's rare, but he knows what it means for Jacobi.

[mrballisticsdummy]

He doesn't even hesitate. "Yeah, I did. He saved what fucking life I have left." The allure of the knife is completely gone, but that doesn't erase the influence its potential effects had on him.

"Also, I just - like him." Which says more than he can actually put into words. He will do what he can to defend him, just as he would Maxwell and Kepler, and the last thing he wants is to come between the few people he cares about.

[questionsonly]

"Then we'll have his back," he says quietly as they pull into the parking garage. He glances over at Jacobi as he turns off the car.

"Especially since I owe him. I need that heart in your chest, sunshine. I intend to use it."

[mrballisticsdummy]

"Good. He needs all the help he can get."

He doesn't immediately get out of the car, just using that moment to orient himself, hands on his knees as he takes a deep breath.

"And my heart is yours, so do with it what you want," he adds quietly. There's no point in mincing words. No point in letting out all the anger and the guilt and the sorries just yet. That can come later. Right now is for raw emotion.

Moment taken, he finally gets out, preparing to follow.

[questionsonly]

"You've got mine in return so... don't think you're let off that easy," he says as he slings an arm around his shoulders.

Then he's leading him into the apartment building.

[mrballisticsdummy]

It doesn't take long for Jacobi to settle back into a routine, back at work with the two people he can never break.

He goes to see Jon when he can, refusing to leave London for that very reason, but everything there is - tense. He stays clear of anyone who isn't Jon (and Daisy when she's around), and does his best to at least be useful. And yell at Jon for not taking care of himself properly.

After giving Maxwell an earful about another forty-eight hour coding marathon, mostly because it makes him happy to fuss at her, he finds car keys and announces that he's leaving, whistling on his way out.

The Institute seems distinctly more - ominous as of late, but that just might be Jacobi projecting his own feelings onto it. He tries not to dwell.

He opens the door, hands in his pockets, waiting for Jon to find him as he usually does.