Chapter Text
“Jacob! This isn’t funny, I need that!” you exclaimed, standing as tall as you could on your tiptoes, reaching for a book that was just out of your reach.
The young assassin had a massive grin on his face as he held the weathered and dusty book above his head, his other hand on your shoulder effectively keeping you from leaping up to grab it. The steady swaying motion of the train only made it more difficult for you to balance as you shoved your hands against his chest.
Jacob stumbled a few steps back, but successfully kept the book out of your reach, catching you as you lunged. “You’ve had your nose buried in this old thing all day.”
“Well, yes, I promised Evie I would help her with the Shroud,” you grit out, clenching your teeth as you jumped again.
A scoff passed Jacob’s lips roughly as he hid the book behind his back, moving swiftly out of your way. If the scowl on your face was anything to go by, he was in a lot of trouble when you managed to get a hold of him. It didn’t matter how many charming smiles he threw your way, he could be down right infuriating – and right now was one of those times. He didn’t take the Pieces of Eden seriously; he was a brawler, hands on with his approach to dealing with the Templars.
It drove you crazy.
“You need to get off this train. Let’s go to the pub,” he suggested, his hazel eyes gleaming.
“No, I have to finish this, Jacob,” you huffed, taking a step back.
“Oh, come on! Evie’s out with Greenie. We can go have a pint and be back before they even know we’re gone,” Jacob persisted.
You considered the thought, thinking of how lovely it would be to relax with the dashing young assassin. For the last several days you had been pouring over book after book, cramming as much information as you could into your head in hopes that it would click and you would be able to help Evie in her quest for the Shroud. It had gotten you absolutely nowhere, and you didn’t feel any closer to the answer.
No, you had to keep going. She had helped you, now you needed to help her. You sighed softly before shaking your head. “I can’t, Jacob. I promised.”
“You’re going to have to work for it then, love.”
Narrowing your eyes, you sized him up, watching every movement as he did the same for you. That stupid little mischievous grin was still plastered on his face; at any other point you might have melted, but you really had work to do.
After a few tense moments, you let your arms drop to your sides, turning away to walk back to the desk that was littered with papers. The sudden retreat seemed to pique Jacob’s interest, a frown quickly replacing the cocky smirk that had been there moments before. It wasn’t like you to just give up and walk away from him, even when you were at your angriest.
You felt Jacob approach you cautiously, his mouth opening to say something as the train car gave a sudden jolt. It was the opportunity you had been waiting for, wheeling around to lunge at the book that was now at a more reachable level. Jacob had barely any time to react, catching you as you both toppled onto the couch. The small grunt of surprise that sprang from his lips was extremely satisfying as you wrestled with him. You were never able to get the jump on him, even during your sparring matches. Despite his shoot-first-ask-questions-later mentality, he had an eye for detail and was incredibly good at predicting what you were going to do.
Now that the element of surprise was lost, you were left fighting to gain control using the angle you had fallen at. Jacob immediately dropped the book, one arm coming around your waist and the other coming up to grab a hold of your wrist. The momentum of your struggle sent the both of you onto the floor of the car, grappling now with each other as you desperately tried to get up.
His hot breath ghosted against your cheek as he used the bulk of his body to block you from reaching the book. In one swift motion he snatched it up, rolling onto his back victoriously as you cursed underneath your breath.
Your pride was on the line as much as the precious time you could have been using to continue your research. Everything with the Frye twins was difficult, and this was certainly no exception. Jacob didn’t seem to mind as he lay on his back in the middle of the car, the book back in his hands. His arm lay stretched above his head, his chest heaving as he regained his breath from your little tussle.
Your breath came in similarly ragged pants as you attempted to crawl over him, straining your reach until Jacob grabbed onto your jacket.
“Oh, you’re going to have to do better than that, love,” Jacob teased, that familiar grin slipping back across his lips.
Defeated, you stared at him for a brief moment before you let your forehead rest against his chest. He looked particularly proud of himself, though whether it was because he had won or because you were on top of him you weren’t sure. It was more than likely a combination of the two the way his eyes shone. If he had been any other man this might have been awkward position to be in, but your relationship had grown so rapidly in the little time you had known each other it didn’t matter.
So instead you opted to enjoy it as you listened to his heart beat even out underneath you. He didn’t seem terribly bothered by the closeness anyways.
“Fine, I give up,” you breathed, rolling off of him to stare at the ceiling of the car. “Let’s go to the pub.”
“Wonderful! I knew it was only a matter of time before you saw things my way,” he gloated, fixing his hat back on his head as he gave you a wink.
In one swift motion he jumped to his feet, pulling you up with him. Before you could even blink he dragged you to the back of the car and out onto the hitch connecting it to the next car. London was nothing but a blur as you steadied yourself against the movement of the train, the sun bleeding into the horizon. Soon enough the night would come alive with drunks, obnoxious songs, and bar scuffles, and you were going to be in the middle of it.
“Ladies first,” Jacob said, bringing you out of your thoughts with a nudge.
“Oh, please, by all means. I didn’t mean to be in your way,” you shot back, holding your hand out in front of you.
“How rude,” the young assassin replied with a touch of mock offense as he put his hand against his chest. “Does this mean you’ll buy me a drink?”
“I only buy drinks for pretty ladies,” you mocked back as you leaped off of the train, stumbling forward as your boots hit the tracks.
Jacob couldn’t help but stare for a moment, caught between admiration and disbelief. He had not meant to let himself become so fond of you. You were a comrade, a part of an Order he begrudgingly followed. Every little roll of your eyes, every argument, and every verbal jab only drew him in closer, and it made him anxious.
He cursed softly under his breath as he followed you. As he drew up alongside of you he made a mental note to take the blame for tonight’s little outing. No doubt Evie would be irritated if she came back and the both of you were gone, but for you he would take it - even if you would fight with him about it afterward.