solibusvirus:

     Cy had told herself at least a hundred times that she definitely wasn’t avoiding him. They were just— Two very busy people with very important things to do and the complete lack of hanging out in the past few weeks was pure coincidence.

     But, if that was true, why did she nearly have a damn heart attack when she saw him on the street? —-Okay, maybe she was avoiding him, but not without good cause! He, he— Well, he did something to make her uncomfortable, probably. She just felt weird. Maybe it had been how they’d laugh together, before slowly quieting and smiling to themselves for days after. Maybe it was the looks when one was absolutely sure the other wouldn’t notice.

     Okay, she had to say something. They were walking towards each other and approaching fast, he had to have seen her by now. Don’t fuck it up. Then they were close, close enough for her to grab his arm and stop him.

     ”Where the fuck have you been?”

“Where the fuck have I been? Where the fuck have you been? At least I tried to get in touch with you.” He texted. Once. “I haven’t seen you in almost a month.” —-And then he transitions into phase two, where instead of faking anger, he fakes concern and self-doubt. It’s a decent cover. “Did I do something wrong?”

In all honesty, Llewyn’s been avoiding Cy like the plague. He’s managed to make believe that it’s all been unintentional, but feelings got in the way. He removed himself from the equation in order to protect Cy himself. The last time he let this happen, he fucked it up beyond repair (no, really: the suicide of his partner made it pretty final). And that was over half a century ago. Not… so strong… on the relationship front.

Her hand is still on his arm. He knows it won’t be much longer, but he wishes she wouldn’t let go. Llewyn deserves to be held in place; and he deserves the bruises that will come with trying to run away.

“I’ve been here.”