☞ like nobody's won and we're safe at the end.

[stomped]

who jack + isaac
what now with 70% more fourth-walling
rating pg-13
warnings video game trauma.

[ It's a new thing every day, Isaac finds as he walks past the television. Gaming systems have come along way (at least what he's seen), but ultimately, it's all the same. He glances around the apartment briefly, a slight prickle of paranoia riding the rise of his spine. These definitely weren't there before, but then again--the television didn't plug in, the goddamn house ran off of embarrassment, and well. Just well. Leaning down, Isaac grabs the controller and sees the pair of cases that are laid out next to it on the low coffee table.

Haha. No.

You can't be. This is not serious. This isn't even real life right now.

Isaac picks up the top one and hums, popping in the disk. Oh hey. There's the remote (where the fuck were you when we needed you the most, asshole?) Slumping down on the couch with the controller in both hands, he passes through the introduction without much of a qualm aside from the fact that he ends up tilting his head a bit. Oh hey, Jack--Great things. Definitely great things. Except then the plane's going down and Isaac is cocked forward in his seat, clearly concerned that they just went down in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The game is pretty interesting (not every day you get to play as someone you know).

"Now, would you kindly find a crowbar or something?" the game says.

There are those words. ]

( BIOSHOCK | DEAD SPACE | THAT NIGHT )

Comments

[unkindly]

Yeah.

[Always bad dreams. Every night, even if he doesn't remember them exactly upon awakening. This one was worse, probably because of the games, the too-clear memory of everything he's been through, the vivid depiction of everything Isaac's seen.

He shifts and his hand moves and comes into contact with Isaac's and he stops, the sudden reminder that Isaac is real, solid, and there giving him pause.]

[stomped]

[ Isaac is slow, fingers moving one at a time from the littlest to his pointer finger. They enact careful movements, one by one lifting and falling over Jack's knuckles. A touch. ]

Same.

[unkindly]

[The contact is more comforting than Jack would have guessed. Jack breathes quietly, slowly, regaining calm.

He cautiously turns his hand to take Isaac's in his, trying not to imagine the chains on his wrists, a constant reminder of what he is.]

I'm not really surprised.

[stomped]

[ It's a soft laugh that comes from him as he closes his eyes a bit, lets his fingers just gently rub along the line of Jack's knuckles. ]

Can't say I am either. Nightmares. All of it. In the flesh.

[unkindly]

Yeah.

[He's so tired of it all.

But Isaac understands, like nobody else.

He shifts a little bit closer, closing the distance between their arms, intertwining just a little as Jack listens for Isaac's breath, feels the nearness of him, the truth of it.]

[stomped]

[ There's a catch in the breath. It's something unexpected, Jack moving closer, but there's comfort in it all the same and he shifts accordingly. Their shoulders press and he exhales, closing his eyes. ]

We'll be okay.

[ There it is again. Reassurance. Aloud. They have to be okay. It isn't fair if they won't ever be. His fingers shift a bit move to grab Jack's hand firmly, pressing into his warm palm, thumb still dragging over his knuckles. ]

[unkindly]

[Jack sighs, returning the grip.

They'll be okay.

They have to be.

Their lives have been so unfair up until this point, it has to even out eventually.

It has to.]

[stomped]

[ There's something that puts him at ease about this proximity--he swears in the dark he can hear his heart. It's in your head, he thinks, all in your head, but comfort is something he'll take--in his head or no.

Isaac is slow about the next move, lifting his other arm and placing the weight around Jack's waist just slightly. Another affirmation. I'm here, okay? Nothing too big, just... you're safe. ]

[unkindly]

[Jack senses Isaac's movement before he feels the arm across him. He turns his head to look at Isaac in the darkness and for a while just... looks at him.

He leans his head to meet Isaac's, foreheads touching gently. He takes in a very deep breath and lets it out very slowly.

He closes his eyes.

He does feel safe.

He opens his eyes again. Do you?]

[stomped]

[ It's a question spoken into the dark without lips, without a voice, and as their foreheads touch, he closes his eyes. A smile picks at the corners of lips slightly.

Yeah. I do.

All before he leans in and presses his lips to Jack's--lax and soft. ]

[unkindly]

[The kiss is accepted and returned without any demands or even requests. It's warmth and safety and acceptance without any strings attached, and that's all Jack needs right now.

That and some actual sleep.]

[stomped]

[ Isaac pulls back and it's definitely time to sleep, the feeling of warmth from another body odd, but not unwelcome as he adjusts his head on the pillow and finds himself slowly drifting out. ]

[unkindly]

[Jack sighs one last time, his eyes sliding shut as sleep takes him once more.

This time, mercifully, there are no nightmares.]