"I don't know how you keep getting yourself into these situations," Shadow Man chides Jake while working on the ties that hold his feet in place, and Jakes tries hard – so hard – to focus on important things like a witty comeback or how to defeat the as-of-yet unnamed villain who captured him, but it's not easy when all his attention is soaked up by how long and clever the other man's fingers are, what quick work they make of the bonds.

"Do you and whatshisname have some kind of turf war going on?" Jake wants to know, too curious for his own good, "like... don't get me wrong, Declan, it's not that I'm not grateful for the rescue and all, but helping the hero escape isn't exactly in the villain handbook?"

"The only person who is allowed to defeat you and tie you up is me," Declan says with an uncharacteristic hint of petulance in his tone, a possessiveness that should by no means be endearing (but totally is), but before Jake has a chance to power through the inappropriate rush of fondness and come up with a suitable response, they're being shot at and running for their lives.