[ A nagging, logical part of his brain says that this was a mistake. He'd reassured Elizabeth that this wasn't personal, this was business. That's still true in a sense, but in another, denying something is personal when you're being lavished in compliments and doling out kisses in return is pretty stupid. He knows that, but the problem is, Jack is stupid when it comes to his ego.
In Jack's mind, this whole encounter has a completely different context. Everything about how this has played out fits into Jack's perfect little narrative that's his ideal of how this whole... Complex thing was going to play out. Granted, she was bullshitting him, but Elizabeth had said she wanted him to be the hero. So this fit with that, didn't it? He had his partner, found out his partner's ass was on the line, tried to talk him out of it, and here he was, being rewarded for his efforts. That's exactly how this kind of thing goes, and so Jack is relaxed too.
He feels that he's won, as if this were something to win, because even if he can't save Rhys tomorrow... Well, whatever. It was unfortunate, but that's what the guy wants, right? Anyone this obsessed with him would want him to live, obviously. He wasn't going to throw Rhys under the bus, but he had to know that it was his own fault to end up in this mess in the first place. So everything was going to be fine. It would work out.
At least, it would for Jack.
Of course, knowing what he does of Rhys, or at least how that encounter in the bathroom had lingered in his head, he knows he really shouldn't push his luck with the physical gestures. Touching is okay, kissing is... probably not, but, look, it's not like he's going to date the guy, so it's just casual. Totally. This is how Jack justifies it to himself, but of course, his actions don't quite follow his own mental gymnastics. He'd thought about pulling away, since he's feeling content with this much, but Rhys does return the kiss, and in a way where Jack finds it very, very difficult to even entertain the thought of stepping away from this attention. ]
Shit—
[ He breathes out the curse with a laugh in his voice, because he's absolutely delighted by the phrasing and the implication far more than the action. Because it's true, right? If it wasn't, he wouldn't have had both Elizabeth and Rhys throwing sensuality his way. That thought is thrilling enough that he glosses over the possessive implication in what Rhys says completely, because Jack has already set things in his head where he's brokered some weird kind of peace or whatever between those these two petty idiots. His hands tighten on Rhys's hips, and he moves with the motion of letting Rhys pull his head back and expose his throat. This is nice, he thinks. A guy, a hero, could really get used to this. ]
I never said it was Liz, did I?
[ Though he also never said it wasn't, even now. He's got loyalty to both of them, and he doesn't fully realize just how much that conflicts. He has more on his mind there, and he knows that he should give Rhys the same plea that he gave Elizabeth, but that'll have to be later. He sucks in a breath when Rhys's mouth goes over his throat, and his hands come up to grip Rhys's shoulders tightly instead. It's not to push him off, not at all, because slightly upsettingly? It's hot. This kind of focus on him, even the possessiveness, is something deeply intoxicating because of how it sends Jack's ego soaring, and he closes his eyes as if to really savor this feeling. ]
Okay- Okay, that? That is nice. [ His grip on Rhys's shoulders relaxes, but it's so he can move a hand to settle against Rhys's neck more comfortably. ] At least I'm, well, I'm hearing it loud and clear.
fucking same i hate this
In Jack's mind, this whole encounter has a completely different context. Everything about how this has played out fits into Jack's perfect little narrative that's his ideal of how this whole... Complex thing was going to play out. Granted, she was bullshitting him, but Elizabeth had said she wanted him to be the hero. So this fit with that, didn't it? He had his partner, found out his partner's ass was on the line, tried to talk him out of it, and here he was, being rewarded for his efforts. That's exactly how this kind of thing goes, and so Jack is relaxed too.
He feels that he's won, as if this were something to win, because even if he can't save Rhys tomorrow... Well, whatever. It was unfortunate, but that's what the guy wants, right? Anyone this obsessed with him would want him to live, obviously. He wasn't going to throw Rhys under the bus, but he had to know that it was his own fault to end up in this mess in the first place. So everything was going to be fine. It would work out.
At least, it would for Jack.
Of course, knowing what he does of Rhys, or at least how that encounter in the bathroom had lingered in his head, he knows he really shouldn't push his luck with the physical gestures. Touching is okay, kissing is... probably not, but, look, it's not like he's going to date the guy, so it's just casual. Totally. This is how Jack justifies it to himself, but of course, his actions don't quite follow his own mental gymnastics. He'd thought about pulling away, since he's feeling content with this much, but Rhys does return the kiss, and in a way where Jack finds it very, very difficult to even entertain the thought of stepping away from this attention. ]
Shit—
[ He breathes out the curse with a laugh in his voice, because he's absolutely delighted by the phrasing and the implication far more than the action. Because it's true, right? If it wasn't, he wouldn't have had both Elizabeth and Rhys throwing sensuality his way. That thought is thrilling enough that he glosses over the possessive implication in what Rhys says completely, because Jack has already set things in his head where he's brokered some weird kind of peace or whatever between those these two petty idiots. His hands tighten on Rhys's hips, and he moves with the motion of letting Rhys pull his head back and expose his throat. This is nice, he thinks. A guy, a hero, could really get used to this. ]
I never said it was Liz, did I?
[ Though he also never said it wasn't, even now. He's got loyalty to both of them, and he doesn't fully realize just how much that conflicts. He has more on his mind there, and he knows that he should give Rhys the same plea that he gave Elizabeth, but that'll have to be later. He sucks in a breath when Rhys's mouth goes over his throat, and his hands come up to grip Rhys's shoulders tightly instead. It's not to push him off, not at all, because slightly upsettingly? It's hot. This kind of focus on him, even the possessiveness, is something deeply intoxicating because of how it sends Jack's ego soaring, and he closes his eyes as if to really savor this feeling. ]
Okay- Okay, that? That is nice. [ His grip on Rhys's shoulders relaxes, but it's so he can move a hand to settle against Rhys's neck more comfortably. ] At least I'm, well, I'm hearing it loud and clear.