( the water from the shower flattens his hair, presses stray, almost-curls into his eyes, irritating, and he pushes them back with one hand, the other extended towards her, towards her arm.
his gaze dances over her scars, not calculating, not exactly curious. somewhere in between, something that understands the sort of life led to get not just one, nor two, nor a handful, but a bodyful. he doesn't ask anyone why they do what they do — not his business, first of all, and two, the answers tend to be personal, even for those that posit 'it's just a job'. it's never just a job, there's always something else there. another reason, whether it's acknowledged or not. )
Sure, tough girl. ( he remarks, lips quirking momentarily as amusement threatens briefly to break free, as his expression smoothes into a there-and-it's-gone smile. )
Just because you've had worse, doesn't mean you have to let this one become worse, ( he adds, ignoring the way she reaches for the shampoo. instead, he curls a hand around her arm, below the cut. his fingers are rough, calloused, but his touch isn't. she's right, it's not that bad, not really, not in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn't mean much given everything.
he knows he doesn't look a whole lot better than her, if at all. his back is lined with scars, some not too dissimilar from the one above his eye (knives), the rest — like her — most likely the result of bullets. knees (both) that have clearly experienced a sharp drop and sudden, unpleasant stop at some point (a fire escape, an open parentheses before a myriad of awful, terrible, shitty fucking decisions bookended by the idea to fake his own death and hide out in mexico). the more recent — a variety of bruises a rich assortment of colours from black and blue to ugly yellow, an overt reminder that marc tends to treat the idea of defense as a vague suggestion, something that's only occasionally useful.
(he'd argue that there's something to be said for the psychological effect it has and whilst it's true — tony (taskmaster, not the other tony) certainly wasn't a fan of the approach — that's not the only reason for it.
he hasn't dwelled too much on the alternatives.) )
no subject
his gaze dances over her scars, not calculating, not exactly curious. somewhere in between, something that understands the sort of life led to get not just one, nor two, nor a handful, but a bodyful. he doesn't ask anyone why they do what they do — not his business, first of all, and two, the answers tend to be personal, even for those that posit 'it's just a job'. it's never just a job, there's always something else there. another reason, whether it's acknowledged or not. )
Sure, tough girl. ( he remarks, lips quirking momentarily as amusement threatens briefly to break free, as his expression smoothes into a there-and-it's-gone smile. )
Just because you've had worse, doesn't mean you have to let this one become worse, ( he adds, ignoring the way she reaches for the shampoo. instead, he curls a hand around her arm, below the cut. his fingers are rough, calloused, but his touch isn't. she's right, it's not that bad, not really, not in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn't mean much given everything.
he knows he doesn't look a whole lot better than her, if at all. his back is lined with scars, some not too dissimilar from the one above his eye (knives), the rest — like her — most likely the result of bullets. knees (both) that have clearly experienced a sharp drop and sudden, unpleasant stop at some point (a fire escape, an open parentheses before a myriad of awful, terrible, shitty fucking decisions bookended by the idea to fake his own death and hide out in mexico). the more recent — a variety of bruises a rich assortment of colours from black and blue to ugly yellow, an overt reminder that marc tends to treat the idea of defense as a vague suggestion, something that's only occasionally useful.
(he'd argue that there's something to be said for the psychological effect it has and whilst it's true — tony (taskmaster, not the other tony) certainly wasn't a fan of the approach — that's not the only reason for it.
he hasn't dwelled too much on the alternatives.) )
—But if you want to get soap in it, be my guest.