[Skyfall AU #2]

[oo_7]

He's been out of the apartment a handful of times since showing up - he'd needed to get access to some of his accounts as well as pick up a few things he wanted and needed, to quit having to borrow from Jack all the time.

It's been a few days since he arrived, and while Jack is out of the apartment, James decides that he's going to see just how damaged his arm really is - and if he was being honest, the fact that he hadn't worked out in days was starting to drive him slightly mad. Crunches were out of the question thanks to the damage to his ribcage.

But one-armed pushups were another story.

He's slower through the reps than he usually manages, which also irritates him, and he has to take more breaks than he'd like to collapse on the floor and curse beneath his breath - but when Jack enters the apartment, he'll find James mid-set, holding himself at a pause in the 'up' position, hair damp with sweat as well as the back of his t-shirt, breathing hard, and trying to force the muscles in his good arm to stop trembling.

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[trigger_man]

Jack walks into the apartment from a market run, and stops in the living room doorway when he sees James doing pushups. Somehow he's not surprised to see Bond pushing himself already.

"You're going to pull something if you keep doing that," he says, sounding almost bored.

[oo_7]

"I'm monitoring the situation," he replies, gritting his teeth before dropping his body into the 'down-up, down-up' combo to finish out the set of reps. "And stopping when it becomes an issue."

And then he carefully goes to his knees, before rolling onto his back, panting softly with his eyes closed.

"Like now. S'good enough for now."

[trigger_man]

"Sure looks like it," Jack says, taking the groceries into the kitchen. "Just how long were you working out?"

[oo_7]

"Only started a short while ago," he says. "I didn't even crack one hundred."

Truth be told, he only managed sixty-seven. He's pissed about that.

Pushing himself off the floor, he walks into the small kitchen, ready to offer help if needed - and also grab a glass of water from the sink.

[trigger_man]

"You look like you've been running a marathon," Jack says. "Smell like you've been running one too."

[oo_7]

"I fully intend on showering within the next ten minutes, I'll have you know."

He swallows several mouthfuls of water down and then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. He's a bit unsettled, given his expression.

"Gunshot wound or not, I should be able to manage a light workout," he grumbles to himself, poking in the bags to check and make sure that Jack found some form of tea that isn't that bastardized Lipton shit.

[trigger_man]

Lucky for James, Jack managed to find a box of imported stuff: PG Tips teabags. Jack's assuming from the packaging that it's nothing fancy, but is at least from England and which will hopefully stop James' whining. Or prevent him from having to go the route of making Russian tea.

"You know as well as I do that damage to the muscles in your chest doesn't just affect that specific area. Everything in your torso is connected."

[oo_7]

He comes up with the box of tea and makes an approving, happy sound when he spots the label. It certainly isn't anything fancy, but it will do just fine. "Thank the gods," he breathes, crossing the kitchen to plant a proper kiss on Jack's mouth to show his gratitude.

[trigger_man]

Jack gives him a wry smile once they break the kiss. "I go to three stores looking for British tea and that's all I get?"

[oo_7]

"If I could convince you to join me in the shower, I'm sure I could find other ways to show my appreciation for your efforts," he replies, cheeky grin on his face. "Or if you'd rather anticipate, it could wait until after I've enjoyed a cuppa after said shower."

[trigger_man]

Jack hesitates for a moment, then tosses the bag of rice he'd bought back in the shopping bag. "I've always been bad at delayed gratification."

[oo_7]

"You've put the milk away," he points out. "Everything will keep until later."

Inwardly, he's pleased by Jack's decision - though he knows that it's anything but an easy one for the man to make. He's proud of Jack for making it, and glad he feels comfortable enough to agree.

"Besides, this way, I won't have to hear you bitching that I've used all the hot water."

[trigger_man]

"You wouldn't have to hear me bitching if you didn't use all the hot water, either," Jack says, using snark and another kiss to cover the knot of anxiety coiling in his stomach.

[oo_7]

"It's not my fault that I have personal grooming needs," he retorts, allowing himself to be kissed for a moment, giving Jack the control - though he does offer a 'suggestion' or two along the way.

"Just because I'm British doesn't make me an antiquated heathen."

[trigger_man]

"No, it makes you a pampered brat. I sometimes wonder how you survived the Navy," Jack says, rubbing his stubbly cheek against James' for a second, as he nudged James toward the kitchen door.

He's not sure he's really going to be able to make it to the shower and everything that implies, but at the very least they can make it to the bed.

[oo_7]

"I did just that - survived." He quips. "Now I'm a grown man, who has standards."

It's not entirely a truth, because he really didn't mind the rigors of Royal Navy life; he actually rather enjoyed them, once he realized that he was damn good at what they wanted him to do, which meant he got to further his training and learn new techniques.

One of his hands slides to Jack's waist, his thumb brushing along the hipbone as they walk out of the kitchen and down the hall to the bedroom.

"Though there is one thing I think we can both agree on," James says seriously. "If anything is too much, the other quits, no questions and no hard feelings."

It's not a question and he's not demanding - just stating a simple fact he knows to be true.

[trigger_man]

Jack nods, opening the door to the bathroom. "Okay."

He wants this. He can do this. Only one of those thoughts is the one that he's trying to convince himself of.

He leans into James again, kissing him. Over the last few days, distraction has proven itself a winning tactic for chasing the butterflies away.

[oo_7]

Distraction is one of James' favorite and most often used tactics, so it's a winning situation for the both of them. He keeps kissing Jack the entire way into the bathroom, until he's backed himself up against the small vanity - both hands on Jack's hips, holding him lightly in place.

(That 'place' being close enough that their stomachs almost brush.)

He supposes they should turn the water on, but that can wait another moment or two.

[trigger_man]

Better to wait a moment or two as Jack wasn't kidding about how fast the hot water gets used up.

Jack leans his hips into James' for a moment, still kissing as he slips his fingers under James' shirt.

[oo_7]

"Glad to see you're still handsy as ever," he breathes in the short gap between kisses, tipping his head to push his mouth closer to Jack's. The muscles in his stomach jump when Jack's fingers skate over his abdomen - the scar low on his belly from when he had his appendix out what seems like a lifetime ago is a natural target for anyone touching his skin, and Jack is no exception.

[trigger_man]

Jack finds that scar and and a few others, though he's hardly noticing the change in texture under his fingers. Not with what James is doing to his mouth.

It's been a long time since he was this close to someone else. Since he was kissed, touched with slow, gentle touches that aroused instead of injured. Since he was able to touch someone else in the same way.

He hadn't realized how much he missed being able to get close to someone.

"Glad to see you still like it," Jack says.

[oo_7]

"Mm, I more than like it," he rumbles, a pleased sound rising from his throat when Jack hits a particularly sensitive spot along the bottom of his ribs - most of the bruising from the rifle round has faded, leaving his skin a little tender, but it's not unpleasant when touched. James is grateful for that, because he's rather fond of the feel of Jack's hands and rough fingertips against his skin.

James slowly slides his hands up Jack's chest - on top of the shirt he's wearing - to allow his fingers to rest just at Jack's collarbones. HIs touch is light (non-threatening) and his fingertips lightly caress the stubble at the base of Jack's neck, still kissing him on the mouth.

[trigger_man]

Jack tenses slightly at the feeling of James' hands so close to his throat. He feels vulnerable, and so much of the last couple years has been about regaining that control over his own body and protecting himself from that vulnerability.

He forces himself to take a deep breath, though, even though that means pulling away from the kiss for a moment. He's safe, he knows he can trust James. He doesn't want to stop, not yet; he just needs to get past this.

His fingers move a little higher, ghosting over the bruises on James's ribs, careful not to put too much pressure on still-healing injuries.

[oo_7]

James isn't going to coddle or baby Jack through pushing past the issues in his head, but he will offer reassurance in the form of continuing to stroke his fingertips along the neckline of Jack's t-shirt, eyes sliding closed when Jack slides his hands higher.

"You know, for as many women as I've been with...there is something about your hands that puts me in a state faster than is likely healthy," he mumbles, smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

[trigger_man]

Jack smirks in return. "Nice to know I'm a novelty."

He knows he's getting close to James' injuries, and he doesn't want his hands to stray over something that might be painful. Instead, he gives James' shirt a tug in a hint that it might be time to take it off.

[oo_7]

"Mmm, you're more than a novelty," he says, taking the hint and pulling his shirt off over his head - with only a minimal wince as the muscles in his chest stretch and a jolt of pain shoots through his shoulder. "You are...I'm not quite sure how I'd like to describe you, yet."

He repositions his hands lower, letting them lightly grip Jack's hips, thumbs pressing against the angular hipbones he can feel though the material that separates his fingers from Jack's bare skin. And while Jack is free to do what he wants with James' chest now exposed, he'll have to contend with the fact that James' mouth is pressed against the hollow of Jack's throat, tongue and teeth doing the exploring.

[trigger_man]

Jack's eyes drift closed and he lets out an involuntary whimper at the feeling of James' lips against his throat.

"You've had...a while to figure that out," he says, his breath catching in his throat.

For a moment his hands still on James' chest before slowly exploring again, following the curve of muscle and bone, careful to keep his touch light, gentle.

[oo_7]

"I made enough snap decisions in the field...with this..."

He nips lightly at Jack's collarbone, not enough to leave a mark or even really hurt - he's not interested in causing any form of pain - but with enough force to at least get Jack's attention.

"I plan on taking my time...do a very thorough analysis..."

His hands slide slowly around to come to rest against the small of Jack's back, fingertips trailing over the base of his spine at the waistline of his jeans.

[trigger_man]

"You do have great attention to detail," Jack says, shifting slightly as James puts his arms around him.

He's not sure how much of the nerves in his stomach are from having someone else in his personal space, how much are because he's out of practice when it comes to this kind of thing and how much are from anticipation.

He finds one of James' nipples--the one on his least-injured side--and slowly circles it with one finger.

[oo_7]

James grunts appreciatively, eyes sliding shut, when Jack touches his chest. He has to work his throat momentarily to remind himself that breathing is important, though his heart has quickened somewhat in his chest - and given his close proximity to the other man, it's not difficult to notice that his excitement and anticipation has led to other developments in the situation as well.

"Lots of training," he murmurs, shuddering as a chill slides down his spine.

[trigger_man]

"They trained you well," he says, tilting his head to kiss James' throat.

They're standing close enough that Jack doesn't fail to notice James' arousal, shifting his feet slightly so that his hip brushes against the front of James' pants.