flora
Flora’s gaze flickers upward to the Ark’s railings just as Jack’s words settle like embers on dry grass. She sees the way his crew abruptly pulls back, shadows scattering from the sun, and despite herself, a wicked smile curls across her lips. It’s brittle at the edges, sharp enough to draw blood, and gods does she wish it would. "Actually," she drawls lightly, eyes returning to Jack, "yeah. That sounds pretty tempting. Though maybe I’ll just skip straight to having one of my daddies sink the Ark instead." She tilts her head sweetly, baring her teeth in something that isn’t quite a smile. She'd always joked that him leaving her would have brutal consequences, after all.
Then his hand encircles her wrist, fingers firm and familiar in ways that ignite memories she’d rather drown. Her pulse jumps traitorously beneath his grip, but Flora forces her chin higher, her sneer deepening to mask the ache behind it. "Hurting you was a godsdamned accident, Jack," she snaps back at him, voice dripping venom, "a stupid, fucking mess I made while trying to protect Torchline from the Family. Your hurting me? That’s just you being an intentional asshole. As usual."
His hand releases her, and for a breathless second Flora thinks she might have won—that maybe she’d finally cut through his careless armour and left a mark behind. She swallows around the bitter taste that floods her mouth and gives a laugh brittle enough to break. "And here I thought you were made of stronger stuff than that." Her fingers close around the paper, crushing it tight. Raising her chin again, Flora holds out her other hand expectantly, unwavering despite the pulse still hammering in her throat.
Then his hand encircles her wrist, fingers firm and familiar in ways that ignite memories she’d rather drown. Her pulse jumps traitorously beneath his grip, but Flora forces her chin higher, her sneer deepening to mask the ache behind it. "Hurting you was a godsdamned accident, Jack," she snaps back at him, voice dripping venom, "a stupid, fucking mess I made while trying to protect Torchline from the Family. Your hurting me? That’s just you being an intentional asshole. As usual."
His hand releases her, and for a breathless second Flora thinks she might have won—that maybe she’d finally cut through his careless armour and left a mark behind. She swallows around the bitter taste that floods her mouth and gives a laugh brittle enough to break. "And here I thought you were made of stronger stuff than that." Her fingers close around the paper, crushing it tight. Raising her chin again, Flora holds out her other hand expectantly, unwavering despite the pulse still hammering in her throat.
The rumors are terrible and cruel
But honey, most of them are true
But honey, most of them are true
