[ No one can ask for any more or less than that, dammit. Everyone and everything has the right to some kind of defense. Damning Perdita in this scenario would be like damning Toothless. ]
Adam's so convinced you're playin' the long game, that I'm bein' blind. No one listens. It's like— [ He shifts until he can tuck his arm under his head and look up at Crowley. ] —like they don't trust me to know what I'm doin' here.
I wouldn't take it personally. It's more about how they feel about me than about you, sweetheart.
[ But he is playing the long game, isn't he? He's always been playing the long game, always doing what is best for him, whether that's saving the masses or damning them. He saved the world because he needs the world for Hell to thrive and he looks after Blake because he wants Blake.
He's good here because that's in his best interest. At least, that's how it had started. ]
[ This is a nice reprieve from the storm outside. He's going to read this book anyway and Blake's gentle breath not far away is a welcome source of calm. ]
[ Blake falls asleep quick enough after that, but it's fitful at best. He shifts and moves for upwards of an hour, and even when he does settle after that, it's hardly restful sleep.
At some point Crowley shifts and John starts, half-alert in a moment and propped up on an elbow to look around the room. ]
—you hear that? Gunshots, or— or— What was that?
[ There's nothing to hear, of course. Whatever it had been was only in Blake's fitful dreams. ]
[ Crowley agrees. He does worry too much and his worrying worries him because he shouldn't care this much. It shouldn't even be in his realm of capabilities. ]
I'm pretty sure you didn't get bitten by a radioactive bat, extraordinary as you are.
[ He's really not sure if knowing that Blake is Batman makes him worry more or less. Probably less. Blake's more than just a fit cop and that adds a lot to what Crowley sees in his capabilities, but even Batman can be overpowered or fuck up and much as Crowley had watched countless angels and demons underestimate the Winchesters, he worries that Blake will underestimate something here. ]
[ As it stands, Blake does decent enough with his estimations, but there's no denying that some day he'll fall short. Bruce, being much better equipped and more skilled, ran afoul of Bane, and some day John Blake will run afoul of something equally awful. Or worse. Knowing Wonderland, much worse.
But that day is not today, and if there's anything John's underestimating, it's the lengths Crowley will go to in his name.
A light laugh escapes the former cop and he presses his lips to Crowley's chest. ]
If only I could live my life hangin' up-side-down. How charmed I'd be then.
[ He wonders if Blake realizes just how much those little gestures have started affecting him. Somewhere in there, he knows that Abaddon is right and the blood has changed him for good. Surely, Blake must see that, too, even if he doesn't want to. ]
Sort of glad my copy hasn't tried to switch with me. Yours, too.
[ Blake shifts and lays back, thoughtfully staring up at the ceiling. It's not nearly dark enough, so he's able to trace all the details instead of sleeping like he probably should be. ]
If he tries comin' here, maybe you should kill 'im.
[ There's something impossibly fond in Crowley's face as he says that and maybe he does let Blake see more than he should, but he knows that Blake doesn't have ulterior motives. He's had enough time to find them if they were there. ]
[ Oh, well, Crowley thinks he's have enough time to find them, but remember that Blake is a clever little shit and he's often surprising even to Crowley who arguably knows him best. But no, no ulterior motives this time around. ]
[ Blake groans in a good-natured way and rolls away from the demon to curl up on his side and pull his pillow in close. ] You keep tellin' yourself that, dear.
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[ He smiles down at Blake. ]
Or if she thinks one of us is in danger.
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[ No one can ask for any more or less than that, dammit. Everyone and everything has the right to some kind of defense. Damning Perdita in this scenario would be like damning Toothless. ]
Adam's so convinced you're playin' the long game, that I'm bein' blind. No one listens. It's like— [ He shifts until he can tuck his arm under his head and look up at Crowley. ] —like they don't trust me to know what I'm doin' here.
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[ But he is playing the long game, isn't he? He's always been playing the long game, always doing what is best for him, whether that's saving the masses or damning them. He saved the world because he needs the world for Hell to thrive and he looks after Blake because he wants Blake.
He's good here because that's in his best interest.
At least, that's how it had started. ]You're clever. They'll realize they're wrong eventually.
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[ That's what the future had suggested for them, right? Blake settles back in and gives Crowley's thigh a squeeze. ]
Thanks for stayin'.
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[ This is a nice reprieve from the storm outside. He's going to read this book anyway and Blake's gentle breath not far away is a welcome source of calm. ]
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At some point Crowley shifts and John starts, half-alert in a moment and propped up on an elbow to look around the room. ]
—you hear that? Gunshots, or— or— What was that?
[ There's nothing to hear, of course. Whatever it had been was only in Blake's fitful dreams. ]
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You must have been dreaming.
[ He shifts down until he's almost lying down with Blake. ]
We're going to find the sword. Don't worry.
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Yeah... [ A stiff nod and John droops back into a position next to the demon, his arm thrown over the other man. ] Yeah, we'll find it.
[ He takes a deep breath. ] Is it mornin' yet? How long was I asleep?
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It's been a few hours. You could probably do with a little more rest.
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You'd say that if I had an hour's sleep or ten. Think you worry too much.
[ He mutters it in a sleepy sort of way now that he knows things are okay for the moment. ]
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I'm pretty sure you didn't get bitten by a radioactive bat, extraordinary as you are.
[ He's really not sure if knowing that Blake is Batman makes him worry more or less. Probably less. Blake's more than just a fit cop and that adds a lot to what Crowley sees in his capabilities, but even Batman can be overpowered or fuck up and much as Crowley had watched countless angels and demons underestimate the Winchesters, he worries that Blake will underestimate something here. ]
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But that day is not today, and if there's anything John's underestimating, it's the lengths Crowley will go to in his name.
A light laugh escapes the former cop and he presses his lips to Crowley's chest. ]
If only I could live my life hangin' up-side-down. How charmed I'd be then.
[ Oh so rueful. ]
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[ He wonders if Blake realizes just how much those little gestures have started affecting him. Somewhere in there, he knows that Abaddon is right and the blood has changed him for good. Surely, Blake must see that, too, even if he doesn't want to. ]
Sort of glad my copy hasn't tried to switch with me. Yours, too.
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[ Blake shifts and lays back, thoughtfully staring up at the ceiling. It's not nearly dark enough, so he's able to trace all the details instead of sleeping like he probably should be. ]
If he tries comin' here, maybe you should kill 'im.
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[ Crowley wonders how easy that would be, but he supposes it would depend on how like Blake he is. ]
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[ Not that he should be condoning murder in any way... ]
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[ Not that he's averse to it, but he'd like to know why he's doing it, at least. ]
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[ He tucks his arm under his head to prop it up. ]
You'd know the diff'rence, right?
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[ Which is something of a lie, but John thinks Crowley knows as much so he just waits for a response instead of taking it back immediately. ]
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[ There's something impossibly fond in Crowley's face as he says that and maybe he does let Blake see more than he should, but he knows that Blake doesn't have ulterior motives. He's had enough time to find them if they were there. ]
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[ Blake groans in a good-natured way and rolls away from the demon to curl up on his side and pull his pillow in close. ] You keep tellin' yourself that, dear.
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Don't be a brat. You know I'm right.
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[ Just sayin'. And then he sighs. ]
Don't think I can go back to sleep. Maybe I'll get back up.
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Maybe you'll show me your notes.
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