baby why don't you just meet me in the middle (closed)

[potentialed]

who: stephen strange + jessica jones
what: two stubborn assholes being dumb about feelings. the usual.
when: backdated to mid-feb?
where: some bar, strange's apartment
warnings: language, drinking, emotional constipation, will add more if necessary



[ In approaching the one year mark of his arrival here, Stephen wonders if he shouldn't just put all his time and energy into finding a way back home. It's not the first time he's considered such a thing. Even with the good he's managed to do here, with the people he's met and grown to care about, he knows he's become too comfortable here. He can't stay here.

But when he's sitting at a bar for the first time since... his first year in college and swallowing down whiskey, it's not out of place for his thoughts to become a bit maudlin. He's stayed away from alcohol for the most part since his accident and decided it was a good idea to stick to after becoming a sorcerer.

So that leaves the question: what's led him here? what's led him to this state?

The answer is simple: Jessica fucking Jones.

When she walks in, he actually thinks he's hallucinating, at first. Until he knows he isn't and then he gives her the stink-eye and waves the bartender over before pointing at her and slurring loudly. ]

Of all gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine!

[ He has been waiting all his life to use that and he at least gets that small satisfaction as he orders a bottle of the stuff this time. The bartender just rolls his eyes and complies. ]

Comments

[hardedged]

[ it's a typical night for jessica jones. she ventures inside a local bar, prepared to drown her sorrows with hard liquor. however, in an unanticipated turn of events, she encounters the last person she expected to see — stephen goddamn strange.

her brow furrows, and she offers a dry scoff. ]

The hell's your problem, sunshine?

[potentialed]

[ He scoffs right back, taking the bottle he's given and using magic to flick it off -- sending it across the bar and bouncing off one of the walls. ]

Yeah because you actually give a shit.

[ Who's bitter? Not him. Nope. ]

[hardedged]

[ the abrupt display of magic startles her, and jess steps back before she wrinkles her nose in mild irritation. ]

Jesus. Are you drunk?

[ she's never seen him like this. even when stephen is intoxicated, though, he's still a little shit. go figure. ]

[potentialed]

[ As he's pouring himself another shot, ]

Using those P.I. skills, I see.

[ He turns to her, ]

Yes, I have been drinking because you're not the only one that can chug down whiskey.

[ And as if to prove a point: he knocks back his shot.

Only to start coughing after he swallows it, turning to lean back against the bartop as he does so. #nailedit ]

[hardedged]

[ shit, he's a sight to behold. a part of her wonders if she looks this pathetic whenever she's wasted.

stepping forward, jess can't quite conceal the concern on her expression. with one hand, she supports his back, in an attempt to keep him steady as he regains his breath. ]

Relax, lightweight. You're gonna kill yourself.

[potentialed]

[ He laughs his way through his coughing, already grabbing for the bottle again, ]

Been there, done that. Multiple times, actually.

I wouldn't recommend it.

[hardedged]

[ there he goes again. huffing an annoyed breath, jessica extends an arm, reaching out to take hold of the bottle. his response doesn't register fully with her; she only presumes that he's acting like a sarcastic prick, as usual. ]

Knock it off, dumbass.

[potentialed]

[ He moves the bottle away, out of her reach on the opposite of the bartop, arm extended out to where he's almost halfway laying on the wood. Good thing no one is sitting beside him. ]

I'm not a dumbass. It's solid advice from someone that has experience with that kind of thing.

Or do you really think you have all the answers, all the time?

[hardedged]

[ he's a bigger asshole than normal when he's drunk, if that's even possible. strange is going to drink himself into an early grave, unless she stops him. then again, why the hell should she care? rolling her eyes, jess gives up on her endeavor of fighting for control over the bottle. for now, at least. ]

You died. More than once.

[ she mumbles after a moment, processing his words, as the skepticism gradually fades. well, fuck. he's a goddamn wizard or whatever — technically, anything's possible. ]

Is that the reason you're wasted right now?

[potentialed]

[ It's true. He really is. One of the other reasons he had decided to not indulge anymore. ]

Yeah. And I can say with certainty that being impaled is the worst way to go. The other ways were at least... quicker.

[ Like being blown into space dust. He takes a swig from the bottle before answering the latter part, coughing again. ]

It's none of your damn business, Jones.

[ The jealousy and hurt curling in his stomach again after he had spotted the marks on her neck the other day. Marks he certainly hadn't put there. ]

[hardedged]

[ his sense of entitlement pisses her off more. out of anyone else here, stephen strange has witnessed jess at her very worst — he caught a literal glimpse of one of her darkest moments, just as she's observed one of his.

and now, he has the audacity to pretend that never happened? wasn't he the one who pushed back, who always insisted that they both gave a damn about each other, despite her reluctance? there's a long pause, as jessica chooses to suppress that realization. ]

You're right. It's not. [ that's fine by her. it's easier that way, for both of them. ] But you better slow down unless you're planning to kick the bucket. Again.

[potentialed]

[ If he had known that's what she was thinking, he would've felt a smug sense of satisfaction at it. Now she can know what it's like to be on the end of her bullshit. But it wouldn't last.

Just like when he's rounding on her and -- ]

I don't need your -

[ --but he stops himself, catching himself as he feels that sense of deja vu wash over him. Doesn't need her what? Pity? Fake caring? It would be so easy to spit such statements at her.

Just like he had at Christine.

He feels the air go out of him and he's turning back to the bartop, the anger and indignation drained out as he leans to rest his arms and head on the wood, closing his eyes. His voice sounds defeated as he thinks to him 'I haven't learned a goddamn thing.' He's failed the Ancient One. Again. And going down the same path his older self has already accepted. ]

Just leave me alone, Jessica.

[hardedged]

[ he's got some goddamn nerve. stephen strange can be as pushy and obstinate as he desires, whenever it suits him, but the minute she returns the favor, he suddenly has a problem.

she should just stand up and walk out. she doesn't owe him anything. however, as tempting as that option is, jess can't manage to pull the trigger. she can't leave him alone in this state. who knows what might happen if someone doesn't babysit his ass?

with a deep sigh, jessica leans back in her seat, shifting forward to grab his bottle — hopefully uninterrupted, this time. ]

The least you can do is share.

[potentialed]

[ It's true. He has all the nerve in the world and he's a bit of a hypocrite to boot. But both are just apart of who he is. Unfortunately, drinking doesn't bring out the best in him. Not this kind of drinking. Champagne was one thing, whiskey was too sharp, too hard.

Which is why he lets her have the bottle, doesn't make any move to grab it or stop her from taking it. His eyes still closed, ]

I shouldn't be drinking at all.

[hardedged]

[ jess clutches the alcohol within her fist, though she doesn't attempt to drink from it yet. it was mostly a diversion to gain control of the bottle. ]

Then why are you, Strange?

[potentialed]

I'm not good with rejection.

[ Said flatly and heavily. And with more self-awareness than most probably give Stephen credit for. He's known it for years. He's just rarely allowed himself to voice it so frankly. ]

[hardedged]

[ her expression evolves, transforming from vague worry to wry amusement. she still isn't getting the message, apparently. ]

Somebody dumped your ass?

[ jessica wasn't even aware that he was dating someone. the very idea doesn't bring her any peace of mind, but well, she's not about to admit it. ]

[potentialed]

We were never official.

[ He's slowly dying on the inside. 😩 ]

[hardedged]

[ never official, huh. sounds familiar. god, she knows she shouldn't feel surprised by the revelation that stephen is sleeping with other people, but for some inexplicable reason, she still is. her lips curve into a tight smile. ]

Shit. [ she's not jealous. nope, not at all. ] You get around.

[ clearly, jessica jones is great at this whole comfort thing. ]

[potentialed]

I used to.

[ And he probably could've here, as well. If he had tried more. But focusing on two jobs, his training, as well as trying this "maintaining social relationships" thing, he hasn't had as much time to try to pick people up. ]

Not so much here.

[hardedged]

[ awkward silence hangs in the air, as jess takes a moment to process his words. although she's oblivious at times when it comes to romance, she's still sharp enough to discern what's clearly in front of her.

furrowing her brow, she's caught between alarm and disbelief. ]

No fucking way.

[ is stephen strange referring to her, of all people? ]

[potentialed]

[ The silence may be awkward for Jess but for Stephen, he starts nodding off. It's only her voice that jerks him awake and he starts to lift his head, ]

Which part?

[ Wait-- ]

What?

[hardedged]

[ and now he's on the verge of passing out, great. fighting back the impulse to offer yet another smartass remark, jess stands up and abandons the bottle of booze. one arm wraps around stephen, as she encourages him to lean on her. ]

Come on.

[ it's time to go. ]

[potentialed]

[ Oh. That's...half a hug, right? Whatever, he'll take it.

When he remembers how to move. His arms wrap around her neck as he slides off the stool and he's not just leaning onto her heavily but also hugging her to him. ]

Why can't we just get along? It's almost been a year for fuck's sake...

[hardedged]

[ for a moment, jessica freezes — not because she's burdened by his weight, of course not, but because she doesn't know how to react to his question. she isn't even sure he realizes what he's saying. perhaps it's just the booze talking. that must be it. ]

God. [ jess shakes her head, brushing off his remark. there's a soft grunt as she leads the way towards the entrance of the bar. ] You really are wasted.

[potentialed]

[ A part of him is barely aware of what he's slurring. The other part keeps pressing when he should just stop. But then that's typical for him. ]

I mean it. Do you really hate me that much?

[ Which hurts when he already knows he had so few friends back home. ]

[hardedged]

[ it's another question jessica doesn't expect. she's helping his drunk ass home, for christ's sake. perhaps she's never been much of a people person, but how could he presume she hates him? it's too strong of a word for stephen. while he's a pain in her ass, she doesn't loathe him. ]

You're drunk. You should sleep this off.

[ if only he would shut up in the process. still, jess declines to offer a direct response, as she moves him past the threshold of the front door. ]

[potentialed]

[ He leans more on her, his head resting on her shoulder, ]

No, I'm not. I'm trying to not have a breakdown while being stuck on some alien moon.

[hardedged]

[ jess stiffens slightly once his head brushes against her shoulder, though she doesn't yield. ]

Yeah well, join the club.

[ with a gruff sigh, she pauses after they depart from the bar. as embarrassing as this is, strange is useless in his current state. he'll only weigh her down. shifting her stance, jessica bends over, slipping an arm beneath stephen's legs. it's almost effortless, how easily she sweeps him off of his feet. ]

[potentialed]

[ Stephen groans slightly at the shift in vertigo and the world spins for a little bit before he realizes... ]

Are you...are you carrying me?

[ He lifts his head to look around and shit. He's actually being carried by her bridal style. ]

Holy shit.

[hardedged]

[ she stifles a scoff, strengthening her grasp over him. as a result, jess encourages him to lean back further, to the point where she practically cradles his body within her embrace.

christ, she can't believe she's doing this. ]

Stop moving. You're heavier than you look.

[potentialed]

[ His head goes back onto her shoulder and he grins like an idiot. ]

You're like my prince carrying me home.

My boozy prince.

[hardedged]

[ kill her now. r.i.p. her dignity.

her expression twists into a frustrated scowl. despite her chagrin, jess continues walking. the sooner they reach his apartment, the better. ]

Don't make me drop you.

[potentialed]

[ She won't get an answer because the object of her affectionate scorn is passed out and gently snoring on her shoulder. ]