Innocent || James/Fiona
James let out a breath, picking up on the fact that she was feeling confused and a little scared. How could she not be? Living a life like that had to be bizarre and disorienting, especially when offered a chance at normality. He ran a hand through his hair and looked over her features.
“Well… Does she know who you went home with tonight?” He asked, raising a brow before his expression softened, “I mean. If she doesn’t… you could just not go home. You could stay here for a while. I’m not exactly poor. I have more money and shit than I’ll ever need for just myself.” He spoke, watching her face, “It doesn’t have to be permanent, either. If things don’t… go well between us or whatever, I can just help you get back on your feet, then you can go do you, but…”
He took her hands, running his thumb over her knuckles as he looked at her hopefully, “Don’t go back to her. Don’t go back to all of that. Just. Stay here and try your hand at the kind of life the rest of us are living. Where sex isn’t a pre-cursor to theft, and you’re allowed to feel things like guilt, or… romantic attraction or whatever this is.” He let out a tiny chuckle, “Just stick around long enough to know what it’s like, then decide if the life you’re currently living is the kind you want to continue living. And if at any point you want out, then that’s your choice.”
He teasingly smirked then, tacking on a quick, “But don’t be offended if I keep my really expensive shit in the safe for a few days until I know I can trust you.” He winked.
Fiona shook her head for a moment. Sometimes, her mother gave her targets; others, she chose them herself. Tonight had been her choice alone. She considered him for a moment, her brow furrowing. She already relied on someone else, but she knew - hoped? - that he would actually help her. He didn’t have a reason to tell her otherwise, right? Inside, she sighed a little. She was niave in more ways than she cared to admit, and he could easily use her the way her mother had. But she didn’t think he would.
“Is it that easy?” She asked, her voice soft and uncertain. Her fingers curled into his, feeling hope and comfort in his touch. “Walk away and never look back?” she couldn’t help a soft little laugh. It sounded ridiculous, but she wanted it. “She’ll be in town for a few more days, unless she takes my absence to mean I’ve been arrested or something. If I run into her, it might be risky; I don’t know what she can do without outing herself, too. I don’t want to put you in the line of fire if things get messy...” Her grip tightened on his hands just a little. “But I want to stay. I want to at least try for something...normal.”
His teasing earned a smile and a surprised little laugh. “I think I’ve earned that.” She smiled, on impulse leaning in to kiss him - surprisingly shy in the action. “I want to earn your trust. To make sure you can trust me.”
