#Billy:Tatum

[loomingdread]

@cquity For: Tatum Riley.

Billy couldn't help but notice Tatum as she sat opposite him in the Hibiscus Room cafe. Almost immediately he'd felt a burning on the back of his neck and a quickening of his heartbeat. It had to be her. It didn't make any sense, but, that was starting to become somewhat of a theme around here. Almost without giving it any thought, he found himself approaching her, pausing awkwardly as he reached her table, trying his hardest not to be completely, obviously gawking in his disbelief. "Do you mind if I...?" His words trailed off, but, were replaced by a finger pointing gingerly at the seat facing her. "Sun's in my eyes over there."

[springbandit]

"What? I can't- Just wait a minute." Billy called out, sticking the knuckle of his index finger into his ear and wriggling it around for a second to try and stop the ringing that was drowning out the other's voice. "It's fine. It was nothing. Me and that kid, we just..." He turned round to address what he'd assumed was a concerned onlooker, but, he forgot all about the scrap he'd just come out of when his eyes met with Tatum's. "Tatum?" His eyes widened, though only in shock. He wasn't happy to see her, but, she didn't exactly pose much of a problem either. "What are...What are you doing here? You look..." he trailed off, trying to summon any kind of compliment. "Better."

@daydrcamings

[springbandit]

❝ nobody is bullet proof. ❞ (Billy & Tatum)

Billy's expression hardened as he absorbed Tatum's words, the usual guarded facade he clung so desperately to slipping just a fraction. "Bulletproof?" he repeated, a hint of a crack creeping into his voice at the very end. "You think I care about that? It's not about being bulletproof. It's about not letting anyone or anything get to you." He lost eye contact, his tone low but heavy. "Maybe you're right, but, don't mistake it for weakness." His gaze eventually shifted back to her, trying to force out a smile to push past his feeling of unease. "Everyone's got their limits."

@daydrcamings