[ 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.
[ Crowley hums. What he'd really like is for them to get that sword so they can stop worrying for a little while and then he won't have to let Blake up as quickly next time. For now, though, he should really let him get up. They've got to solve this riddle.
He kisses Blake's hair and then starts to sit up. ]
[ He lies back in Blake's bed and watches him. Right now he doesn't feel he has the luxury to argue more than this. After this is over, he'll see that Blake catches up on sleep... or at least spends a lot of time in a bed. ]
Kevin and I were thinking that the answer might involve the ocean.
[ As he settles back at his desk, John contemplates the suggestion as he turns on the light. The ocean? He hadn't seem much that suggested that, but he'll look again. ]
Was thinkin' chess pieces myself. Rooks, maybe.
[ Grabbing up a pen, he digs out his notes and begins transcribing them. A moment later, he glances at Crowley.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action;
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?
action;
It's been a few hours. You could probably do with a little more rest.
action;
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. ]
action;
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. ]
action;
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. ]
action;
[ 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.
action;
[ 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.
action;
[ Crowley wonders how easy that would be, but he supposes it would depend on how like Blake he is. ]
action;
[ Not that he should be condoning murder in any way... ]
action;
[ Not that he's averse to it, but he'd like to know why he's doing it, at least. ]
action;
[ He tucks his arm under his head to prop it up. ]
You'd know the diff'rence, right?
action;
action;
[ 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. ]
action;
[ 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. ]
action;
[ 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.
action;
Don't be a brat. You know I'm right.
action;
[ Just sayin'. And then he sighs. ]
Don't think I can go back to sleep. Maybe I'll get back up.
action;
Maybe you'll show me your notes.
action;
[ But considering they're suddenly cuddling again, he's not sure how serious Crowley is in that moment. ]
But you're gonna have to let me up.
action;
He kisses Blake's hair and then starts to sit up. ]
If you're not going back to sleep.
action;
[ Not that Blake's complaining. He sits up and rubs at his face, tired but too worked up to sleep. ]
I'll make you a copy? You can take it with you when you go. There's not much there.
action;
[ He lies back in Blake's bed and watches him. Right now he doesn't feel he has the luxury to argue more than this. After this is over, he'll see that Blake catches up on sleep... or at least spends a lot of time in a bed. ]
Kevin and I were thinking that the answer might involve the ocean.
action;
Was thinkin' chess pieces myself. Rooks, maybe.
[ Grabbing up a pen, he digs out his notes and begins transcribing them. A moment later, he glances at Crowley.
You're workin' well with Kevin?
action;
[ He leans up on his elbows. ]
I went to the checkerboard hills earlier. Chess isn't a bad direction to look in around here.
[ Maybe he should mention the tape, but he doesn't want to have to tell Blake what it had said to him. ]
action;
Did you find anything there? Or anyone?
[ That's the logical next question, anyway. ]
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;
action;