@nyktelya: [eyes], sender notices receiver looking at them.
neil stumbles, his shoulder blades hitting the nearby wall with a dull sound. it hurts to breathe and there's blood running down his face, sloping across his temple to his cheek in an uncomfortably hot trail, but he still doesn't stop looking at bianca. part of him (the stupidest part) wants to reach her, to go to her and let her tease him about the mess he has just made, but he holds back, feet frozen a few inches from where one of ichirou's men lies dead.
she is not doing what she should. her fingers are not even remotely close to the gun he knows she must be carrying. neil shakes his head, checking his own weapon for rounds — not for her, no. but for the other men he knows will come after him. it's been two hours since neil ended his father for good, loaded gun in hand and no remorse to be found in his heart. it's been just a little less than that since his uncle told him he could get him out of the city; neil just had to stay alive until then.
he is not doing what he should, either. he is still not running, remaining an easy target for whoever might come looking. an even easier target for her. she is still not aiming her gun at him.
'' don't be stupid, '' he says this raggedly, the taste of blood sitting heavy in his mouth.
when neil finally makes a move, it's in the wrong direction. he is moving towards her, not away. his mother would have hated him for this — no, worse, she would have buried him herself for his weakness. but mary hatford is long dead and neil gets even closer, not stopping until there's barely an arm's lenght between them. maybe if they're lucky it will look like he's pleading for his life.
'' you have to shoot me. '' it's harsh, but it's also the inescapable and bitter truth between them: the whole nest is out for his blood. neil doesn't want to drag her down with him. '' you hate me, remember? ''