HARPER
Of the options he's expecting considering Libbs' nervous demeanor, seeing her light up and smile isn't the one he'd put his money on. A confidence he didn't expect from her as her lips turn up into a small smirk, pinning him in place with her warm gaze as heat suffuses his cheeks stubbornly. As she speaks he only turns further pink, smiling at her in a distinctly overwhelmed, flattered and shy cocktail. Nobody has ever spoken to him in such a way, much less so sincerely. Part of Harper insists he should reclaim his suaveness and flirt back - if that's what she's doing, he's still hesitant to declare it in his mind - but all other parts of him are simply melting away like sugar beneath warm water. His smile only grows as she points it out, and his heart is doing little backflips and he wants to grab her and hug her tight and coo over her for the rest of the night.
"You're doing a lot better than I've ever done," he comforts, chuckling shyly, fingers tapping restlessly on the counter for lack of something to do. Finding a proper response within the maelstrom of fluster inside him is difficult at best. Especially when she spits the word 'cute' at him like a bullet and immediately loses her nerve. Harper is too stunned to do or say anything, staring starstruck at her as she slams his drink back and scuttles away with a mumbled excuse. Oh gods his heart is not strong enough for this. Belatedly he finds himself proud of her for being so bold and brave without the fake nature of flirting he's used to.
At least her departure gives him time to get his head on straight, so that when she returns he's ready to respond. Leaning his forearms on the bar to get a little closer and keep their conversation a tad bit more private, he bites his lip and smiles up at her. "I...I think you're very cute too, Libbs. And very brave, I could never have told you that so quickly," he admits, running a hand through his hair and gaze darting back down to the table. Lord it's so much easier to just put on some bravado and get shot down than it is to be honest. "I really enjoy spending time with you." That's the basis of it all isn't it? And she at least deserves to hear that, no matter how it makes his insides squirm.
"You're doing a lot better than I've ever done," he comforts, chuckling shyly, fingers tapping restlessly on the counter for lack of something to do. Finding a proper response within the maelstrom of fluster inside him is difficult at best. Especially when she spits the word 'cute' at him like a bullet and immediately loses her nerve. Harper is too stunned to do or say anything, staring starstruck at her as she slams his drink back and scuttles away with a mumbled excuse. Oh gods his heart is not strong enough for this. Belatedly he finds himself proud of her for being so bold and brave without the fake nature of flirting he's used to.
At least her departure gives him time to get his head on straight, so that when she returns he's ready to respond. Leaning his forearms on the bar to get a little closer and keep their conversation a tad bit more private, he bites his lip and smiles up at her. "I...I think you're very cute too, Libbs. And very brave, I could never have told you that so quickly," he admits, running a hand through his hair and gaze darting back down to the table. Lord it's so much easier to just put on some bravado and get shot down than it is to be honest. "I really enjoy spending time with you." That's the basis of it all isn't it? And she at least deserves to hear that, no matter how it makes his insides squirm.
in the night you come to me because I'm the one who knows who you are
