There's a flinch there, but it's brief, and only in those hazel eyes. It catches him off-guard for a moment, just enough for it to show, to catch his breath in his throat at the words. He hasn't really seen the sharper side of Declan when it wasn't aimed at Ronan, wasn't some sort of self-defense. He tries not to think about the fact that dangerous isn't a bad look on him; something about the way vulgarity sounds on his voice, he thinks, but he tries to ignore that thought.
Gansey doesn't pull away. He doesn't smile like he's untouchable and let his eyes shift to just this side of imperious as he says something infuriatingly polite. Escalation makes it worse; you can't answer hurt with hurt. So he leaves his walls down, his hazel eyes still soft as he looks over at him.
"That was not what I meant, Declan," he says, his voice soft and slightly conciliatory. He doesn't address the implication in what Declan said- he leaves the subject of Ronan alone. Plans to keep it that way unless he drags it up again, because he knows a minefield when he sees one. Most of the time, at least. And he has the experience to know that the older Lynch brothers are a fraught subject for eachother.
He still thinks of Declan as safer than strangers and casual acquaintances. He's sharp and he understands risk, probably grasps why Gansey has to play by family rules, why quirky adventures after ley lines were character building but this could be dangerous. So Gansey shifts away from the desk and slowly steps in closer. Trying to read him, to not push too fast, step in too close before he was allowed. Honestly most of his friends were a little bit feral, and he just tried not to mind when they bit his hands.
"My family means I have to be somewhat careful. I trust you more than most people, that even if you said no you wouldn't ruin me. And I meant it when I said you were attractive," he admitted. He tilts his head to the side, watching him, his gaze intent but warm. He's hoping this comes off better- means they can at least keep talking. This wasn't about Ronan or who was less breakable, but Gansey didn't feel quite equipped to try and say it in a way that didn't hurt. Not when he was already on edge, needed more than a distraction.
no subject
Gansey doesn't pull away. He doesn't smile like he's untouchable and let his eyes shift to just this side of imperious as he says something infuriatingly polite. Escalation makes it worse; you can't answer hurt with hurt. So he leaves his walls down, his hazel eyes still soft as he looks over at him.
"That was not what I meant, Declan," he says, his voice soft and slightly conciliatory. He doesn't address the implication in what Declan said- he leaves the subject of Ronan alone. Plans to keep it that way unless he drags it up again, because he knows a minefield when he sees one. Most of the time, at least. And he has the experience to know that the older Lynch brothers are a fraught subject for eachother.
He still thinks of Declan as safer than strangers and casual acquaintances. He's sharp and he understands risk, probably grasps why Gansey has to play by family rules, why quirky adventures after ley lines were character building but this could be dangerous. So Gansey shifts away from the desk and slowly steps in closer. Trying to read him, to not push too fast, step in too close before he was allowed. Honestly most of his friends were a little bit feral, and he just tried not to mind when they bit his hands.
"My family means I have to be somewhat careful. I trust you more than most people, that even if you said no you wouldn't ruin me. And I meant it when I said you were attractive," he admitted. He tilts his head to the side, watching him, his gaze intent but warm. He's hoping this comes off better- means they can at least keep talking. This wasn't about Ronan or who was less breakable, but Gansey didn't feel quite equipped to try and say it in a way that didn't hurt. Not when he was already on edge, needed more than a distraction.