overprotective [dmitri <3]

[JACINTO RAFAEL del RIO]

I CAN'T WIN I CAN'T REIGN I WILL NEVER WIN THIS GAME WITHOUT YOU I AM LOST I AM VAIN
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU I CAN'T REST I CAN'T

They did this once in a while - not enough, really. With everything that Jace had going on - what he described as "work" to Dmitri, but never went into it, because going into it would mean lying, and Jace didn't want to lie - and everything Dmitri had going on - he ran a flower shop in the Bronx, but also had a teenage sister and a monkey he called a best friend that more seemed like a four year old child than an adult, along with an entire apartment building of which he was the landlord of, to look after - they never seemed to have the time to get away. So when they could, they grabbed it with both hands and did something. Some nights were spent at Dmitri's, watching bad television with a bowl of popcorn between them. Those were the nights that Callen, Dmitri's best friend, spent in his own apartment - which he didn't seem to do often, according to Jace's observations and Dmitri's short, vague explanations. They went out to lunch once or twice, but mostly if they did something around lunch it was Jace bringing Dmitri something to eat because the man had surely skipped a meal. Dinner almost never happened, as did breakfast. He was the one that came to Dmitri, more often than not, because he just had a lot less things to do in the day than the other man, and he had to force Dmitri to slow down at some point, as his sister and best friend seemed to try and fail at times.

It was a Saturday, and Bay was the one that had been handling the shop today. Yesterday, Callen had been the one to force Dmitri to sleep, and so Jace figured that it was his time to step in and tell his boyfriend that it was time for fresh air and a change in scenery. Jace had planned that they would take a train ride into the city, get some coffee, maybe stop in Times Square and sit at one of those tiny red table/chair sets that always seemed to move in the area that they were placed in, making new formations every time he saw them. And so that's what they'd done. He'd noticed Dmitri looking up quite a bit, but it hadn't been done obviously, more like he'd been trying to hide it. So Jace said nothing. He didn't know what it was about, but obviously Dmitri didn't want to talk about it if he was trying to be sneaky, and he respected that. If the younger man wanted to talk about it, then he'd bring it up. They'd stopped at Starbucks, Jace getting a vanilla bean - something without coffee in it whatsoever, since he'd never been fond of coffee - and a scone, while Dmitri had gotten something simple and probably caffeine filled in a tall cup. Jace had forked forward his credit card and quickly silenced him.

Now, here they were, sitting in Times Square and talking and part-time people watching. He sipped on his cold drink and took the time to appreciate the sight of Dmitri folded into a small red chair. Maybe this hadn't been his best 'well-thought-out' plan, but he sure thought it was cute, the way that Dmitri tried to get comfortable even though it was a tiny bit obvious that he'd be more comfortable if the chair was a bit bigger. The table itself was small too, in comparison. Then again, what wasn't, in comparison to Dmitri's six'four frame? Even Jace, who was five'eleven, felt a bit short next to him, and he was taller than almost everyone he knew. He wondered how Bay - Dmitri's little sister who was exactly five'five according to her - felt. He shook his head slightly and looked back to Dmitri. "Enjoying your drink?" He asked, not knowing if what the other man had gotten was hot or cold. He couldn't have gotten anything warm, however - not with the weather in the nineties.

T A G G E D ? ! dmitri~
W O R D C O U N T ? ! six ninety four
M U S E ? ! when it comes to talking about dmitri, lol, 'course he's here
N O T E S ? ! effyestracethread >D
C R E D I T ? ! graphic credit goes to `MRS. BARNEY STINSON of caution two point oh. lyric credit goes to usher with the song without you.

[AZRAEL DMITRI GREY]

FIGHT, ALL I NEED IS YOU AND I, WITHOUT YOU
CAN'T ERASE SO I'LL TAKE BLAME, BUT I CAN'T ACCEPT

It wasn't that he didn't want to ever see him, Dmitri just found himself way too busy, too often, to fit in personal outings. It had taken him a bit to convince Jace of this too. Then he figured out all he really had to do was invite Jace over to the shop for a day, and let him watch how busy he got. Whenever he thought he might actually be done, another list of things that needed to be done seemed to float down on him. Which was why Dmitri just stopped trying to take breaks, and rest. There was just too much to do, and not enough time in the day. There was the shop which he tended to during the day when Baylee was in school. Partially to make sure that Callen didn't end up burning the place down, and also because it was his shop, and he took care of the flowers in a very specific way. Then once Baylee was home and done her homework, there was the issues that needed to be taken care of with his 'tenants.' Rather, the members of his organization. If whatever they needed could wait, it was taken care of after Dmitri was done his shift in the shop. The few times it just couldn't wait, he got Callen or another employee of his to cover him for a bit while he ran out. It would range from picking up groceries – yes he offered to get groceries for some people – to making sure the guy they saw hanging around some place wasn't from their past come back to murder them in their sleep.

The things Dmitri is capable of doing had quite the range. In between his special errands for the Ex's, he also cooked dinner and helped Baylee with whatever she needed help with. Or he was busy threatening Callen to behave, and not be a total idiot all the time. It was amazing to him when he actually did manage to find free time to spend with Jace, and he soaked up every second of it. Though it was also amazing when it was Callen making sure he slept, or assuring him that he could take care of things for a couple hours. It still shocked Dmitri when he would come back, and Callen had kept his word – nothing had gone wrong. Today was one of those days; Baylee was minding the shop, and Callen promised he would see to whatever the Ex's might need. Which ended him with a completely free afternoon, and plans with none other but his lovely flower. Jace had made the plans, and Dmitri didn't question him. All he did was follow along, actually glad to have some time to relax and spend with him. Though when they stopped at Starbucks to grab drinks and such, he noticed a familiar face in the crowd. This guy seemed to be looking straight at him almost in disbelief, but then with an expression of determination. That was when Dmitri started getting distracted; slipping into his training. As they got their drinks and he continued to follow Jace around, he kept watch. Every so often he would see the face pop up again, but he could just be imaging things.

Now that they were sitting down, he couldn't help but be antsy; partially because of the small chair too. If that man was who Dmitri thought he was, he didn't want to run into him. Though it seemed that he stopped following them, or at least wasn't showing up yet, so he let himself relax again. His brain then recalled that Jace had paid for their drinks without much resistance from Dmitri, and he nearly sighed. Whenever Jace insisted on paying for something small like coffee, it was either because he really missed him that badly, or because there was something serious they needed to talk about. Or a combination, which was probably worse. He sipped his coffee – the drink he depended on most days – when Jace asked his question. Dmitri smiled behind his cup, and set it down on the table to answer. “Yes, my dependency on caffeine is quite happy with it.” He replied, jokingly. He almost asked for the real reason why they were out and about, but he didn't feel like spoiling this. Jace was trustworthy, he knew that, he just couldn't shake the underlying reason. As he glanced around, people watching for a bit, he saw the man once more, further down the street. Dmitri turned his head back to Jace, and moved a bit in his seat so he couldn't see him anymore. All he could do was hope that he wasn't really there, and he wouldn't be causing trouble. Though things didn't usually go smoothly for him.


T A G G E D ? ! flower <3
W O R D C O U N T ? ! eight-one-six (816)
C R E D I T ? ! lyric credit goes to usher with the song without you.

[JACINTO RAFAEL del RIO]

I CAN'T WIN I CAN'T REIGN I WILL NEVER WIN THIS GAME WITHOUT YOU I AM LOST I AM VAIN
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU I CAN'T REST I CAN'T

Jace didn't really know what it felt like to be responsible for as much as Dmitri was. All his life, he'd really only taken care of himself, and arguably, he could've done a better job. He didn't really know what it felt like to have a younger sibling, or a best friend that he looked at like a sibling. He didn't know what it felt like to be responsible for an entire building full of people. The only person that he came even remotely close to being responsible for was James, and he couldn't even call it that. It was more like he had a worry for the only person he could call a friend in Fordham, but that worry was completely ignored, and he didn't say it out loud, ever. If anything, little actions like asking the man if he was alright, and telling him that maybe he should put the bottle away, were the extent of his shown worry. Anything else would have him massacred by the older man, so Jace didn't bother. He thought of it more as self preservation than backing down from trying to help. At least, that's what helped him sleep at night.

Jace felt a bit nervous at the way that Dmitri was acting. He seemed more fidgety than usual, which was something, since he wasn't fidgety in the first place. He'd managed not to look in the direction that Dmitri had for the past bit, and he'd managed not to ask about it. He figured that if Dmitri mentioned in, then they could talk about it. He didn't want to push his boyfriend into talking about something he didn't want to, since he would never do that to Jace. However, he felt like he sort-of needed to. He hadn't fought back at Starbucks, not as he usually would've, and he was now officially more than a little bit distracted. Jace wasn't offended in the slightest, he was just a bit worried, and a feeling had settled in the pit of his stomach because of it. He knew that Dmitri was trying to act as if he was people watching, but Jace was one to pick up on things, especially behaviors. The way that Dmitri's eyes squinted just a bit more than they would've meant that he was looking for something - someone? - rather than just people watching. He also wasn't at ease in the slightest, and Jace doubted it had to majorly do with the small chair he was sitting in, though that probably didn't help any. He raised his eyebrow when Dmitri replied jokingly, sounding like everything was fine. Maybe he was over-analyzing things. James told him he had a really bad habit of doing that, and maybe Jace was just looking for a reason to tell Dmitri that he needed more time off, more time relaxing or sleeping, or ... spending time with him wasn't something he could really say, could he?

"Is everything alright?" Jace couldn't help but blurt out. There went him thinking that it was just him, and pushing it to the back of his mind. He really needed to work on controlling his mouth when around Dmitri. He didn't want to add to the other man's stress, and he knew that Dmiri didn't like to be worried about, but he couldn't help it. "If something is going on, you know you can tell me, right? Because you're acting a bit off, and I'm a bit worried." He probably shouldn't have admitted to being worried about him, but maybe that would get Dmitri to explain, or say that he had no idea what Jace meant. Hopefully, it would be the latter, and Jace was just searching, over-analyzing. He wanted them to have one lazy, relaxed, nice day together. They were so rare, and Jace knew that Dmitri needed it almost as badly as he did. He took another sip of his drink, and waited for Dmitri to respond.

T A G G E D ? ! dmitri~
W O R D C O U N T ? ! six ninety two
M U S E ? ! jace conked out on me halfway through, rude.
N O T E S ? ! it got shortish and stuff, but i hope it's good enough xD
C R E D I T ? ! graphic credit goes to `MRS. BARNEY STINSON of caution two point oh. lyric credit goes to usher with the song without you.

[AZRAEL DMITRI GREY]

FIGHT, ALL I NEED IS YOU AND I, WITHOUT YOU
CAN'T ERASE SO I'LL TAKE BLAME, BUT I CAN'T ACCEPT

He had tried to get his mind off of their follower. Really, he did. Dmitri tried to make a mental to-do list of the things he needed to check up on or do once he got home later on. Normally this was all he needed to keep track of everything, but today was different. The list got too long, and it made him nervous. Who would do all of this if something happened to him today? It wasn't even his issues with snipers, and being around tall buildings. It was because he knew who the man was. A man from his past he'd rather not face today. He was from Dmitri's high school years, and had been the main source of the trouble he got. It didn't worry him at all, of course, the things that were said the last time he saw this guy. The CIA had picked Dmitri up before the man could follow through with his promise.

Making Jace worry about him wasn't something Dmitri had wanted to do either. He hates worrying anyone, which is why he's solidified his 'nothing is wrong' act. This he hadn't been prepared for. That's saying something too, since Dmitri usually planned for just about anything in his mind. When he looked at Jace, his smile was only slightly reassuring. “Everything's fine, I don't mean to make you worried.” He glanced behind him quickly, before sighing. “At Starbucks I noticed a face in the crowd, and at first I didn't want to believe it, but... It's a guy I know from high school, not in the good way either. He noticed me, too, and I think he's been following us.” Dmitri was about to go on to explain further, when a passerby slammed into his shoulder.

It was done on purpose, that much Dmitri could tell. He didn't say anything, however, because it was the man he hadn't planned on seeing. The man, on the other hand, turned around to face the two, grinning. He put his hand on Dmitri's shoulder – the one he bumped into – and it took a high amount of his resolve not to flinch. “Oh hey there, gay-Grey. I almost didn't recognize you.” The man spoke, with eagerness in every word that left his mouth. “Jack.” The one word was all Dmitri said before he took a sip of his coffee, muttering 'ass' into his drink. Jack laughed, obviously so glad that Dmitri still remembered him. Then he turned to Jace, explaining how they went way back, and had just the best of times. Dmitri stayed silent the whole time, even when Jack would shake his shoulder gently while asking him things. Stuff like 'weren't they just the most fun you've had?' and other things about high school.

Though when Jack brought up the last time they spoke, and he asked Dmitri if he still remembered what Jack had promised him, Dmitri tensed. Of course he remembered. It was hard to forget when someone threatened to beat you within inches of death, and had the tone of pure hatred. After everything else Jack and his crew had done, Dmitri hadn't doubted it. Though he hadn't gone to school the next day, or ever again, so he never faced Jack. Until today. When Jack realized that Dmitri wasn't going to say anything, and just shrug his hand off his shoulder, he laughed. “I think he might be a little scared.” This made Dmitri arch an eyebrow and slowly look at Jack. As much as he wanted to ask what on Earth made this man think that Dmitri had something to be scared of, he knew to keep quiet. Stay quiet, don't get riled up, don't give in to the teasing. Don't give them what they want. He just wished Jack hadn't shown up to ruin this nice day out.


T A G G E D ? ! flower <3
W O R D C O U N T ? ! six-six-nine (669)
M U S E ? ! there but not there?
N O T E S ? ! this is way over due, but now the fun starts?
C R E D I T ? ! lyric credit goes to usher with the song without you.

[JACINTO RAFAEL del RIO]

I CAN'T WIN I CAN'T REIGN I WILL NEVER WIN THIS GAME WITHOUT YOU I AM LOST I AM VAIN
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU I CAN'T REST I CAN'T

Jace, when allowed to be, was a total mother hen. He didn't exactly have the people around that allowed him to worry over them, so he kept it all bottled up. With Dmitri, he wished he could pry him away from work half the time. He wished he could get him to sleep regularly, get him to eat regularly, get him to take care of himself, and if he couldn't, then Jace would, gladly. With James, the person he called a best friend, he was half out of his mind about. He drank too much, he didn't sleep enough, and he went into these crazed, obsessive times when he was focused on one thing, but Jace had no idea what that one thing was. He wished he could pry him away from his beloved bottles, maybe get him to take care of himself too. However, that wasn't how their relationship worked, and with Dmitri, he only won occasionally. So, he compromised. He kept an eye on James and interfered when he thought his friend was going too far, and he brought Dmitri lunch, and dragged him outside when he knew that he hadn't seen the light of the sun in twenty four hours. It worked, at least, and that was as much as Jace would get away with. He did what he could.

Jace's expression turned pensive as he listened, taking another sip of his drink. Not in the good way? Dmitri didn't talk about his past, and he got small slips and references in their everyday conversation - like now. It had never been a problem before now. Jace didn't talk about his past, either, so they were really at a draw on that one. But this made him a bit nervous. He wondered exactly what Dmitri's high school experience had been, for him to be worried about someone that he hadn't spoken to in years. Maybe the man was a trouble maker. Before Dmitri could speak any further, however, someone bumped right into him, with a serious force. Jace almost hopped right up on instinct, but forced him to stay seated, though he was sitting ramrod straight. He couldn't help it. The man's hand on Dmitri's shoulder didn't make him any happier, and neither did the - comment? Had Dmitri been bullied, in high school? Obviously, the man was homophobic. Or a complete ass. Jace gave him a look over. Or both.

Dmitri's small comment had forced Jace to with-hold a snort, but he keep his mouth shut, not when this man seemed to think that it would be a good idea to keep talking. "Jack, right? Hi. Who are you, exactly? And how do you know Dmitri?" He wished he could do more, because obviously Dmitri was uncomfortable. He wondered why he didn't do more, say more, ask him to move or leave, but Jace was there, and he had perfectly functioning vocal cords. He tried not to sound too annoyed, however, his sugar coated tone couldn't hide malice for much longer. The minute he'd seen him, he didn't like him. However, his behavior had caused Jace's protectiveness of Dmitri to flare up way too quickly. Jace wasn't the confrontational type on even a bad day, but when it came to the people he cared about, that changed quite a bit. He wondered how many of these ignorant morons his boyfriend had had to deal with over the course of his life. Jace had never really had to deal with anyone homophobic because he'd always been around people from Fordham, and if they had their opinions, they weren't stupid enough to share them with someone that could potentially be dangerous. He'd always been out and open, and that was it. His being out had been abused for the sake of ops, but that was entirely different. He couldn't find it in him to be tolerant of people like Jack, however, and the only reason he wasn't doing anything rash was because Dmitri was there, and he didn't want to show off his temper in front of him.

T A G G E D ? ! dmitri~
W O R D C O U N T ? ! seven oh six
M U S E ? ! lol he's here alright
N O T E S ? ! jace was ready to rip into him right then and there and i was pretty much like 'jace, love, i think it's time to take a deep breath', like omg
C R E D I T ? ! graphic credit goes to `MRS. BARNEY STINSON of caution two point oh. lyric credit goes to usher with the song without you.