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Awkwardness was not something that usually followed the sort of activity they'd just partaken in. Usually they slept, still high from the rush of endorphins and drifting off easily, quickly, in the post coital lassitude. That easiness had been disrupted when Ever had started to behave differently. Subtle at first, and then undeniably obvious after he'd returned from Antarctica. It had left a bad taste in Zeke's mouth, and though he'd been more than happy to take Ever up when he'd started messaging him tonight, that annoyance had lingered at the back of his mind.

It was there now as he tipped his head back against the wall, trying to decide what to do next. If he should just get up and get dressed, giving Ever the space he seemed to want, or stay, pretend everything was normal and sink down beside the blonde, or actually say something about the elephant in the room.

He still hadn't decided by the time Ever had turned and draped across his lap to grope at the floor, and he blinked down at him, startled out of his own mind, meeting dark eyes as they turned up to meet his.

The easiest thing in that moment was to unfold a leg from beneath the other man, dropping it out from the sheet to snag the worn jeans with his foot so he could drag them back, grabbing the cigs and lighter from the pocket and offering them over.

Rumbled words got a rumbled reply, non committal and light as he watched the struggle with the lighter. If it had lasted any longer than it did Zeke would have drawn it out of fumbling hands, but he got the thing lite. That first pull of nicotine had a noticeable effect. Not exactly calming, but something, Ever settling against him as he blow smoke out into the room.

When he looked up at him, uncertain, the mist raised brows in return. looking for some que, some unsaid hint at what he actually wanted. Even the most rewarding guessing games could grow tiresome.

The answer came as the pack was offered up to him. Apparently he was staying, at least for now, and he shifted, slouching down a little more comfortable against the bar digging into his back, Ever a warm weight across his lap.

Cigarette lit, he pulled in his on lungful, holding it for a long moment before letting it out in a slow trickle. Finally, tone even and undemanding, he'd break the silence. "So what's the plan?"

That hesitation was telling. Zeke looked down at him for a quiet handful of seconds before he tipped his head back against the wall again, taking another drag and blowing it up towards the ceiling. Ever didn't like talking. Zeke didn't understand why. Things always seemed so much easier when people were up front about what they did or didn't want.

"Am I sticking around after this smoke, or-?" A vague gesture indicated the clothing on the floor, the door. Not the question he meant to ask, but it'd work.

His head tipped, tired eyes rolling down to Ever.

Tired eyes slid into focus. The annoyance was back, creeping forward from the depths they'd been banished to while they'd been busy. Long breath in, long breath out, and the hand still holding the cigarette lifted higher to press knuckles and thumb into his brow ridge. "No." The comfortable haze was fading.

"I'm trying to figure out what it is you want." There, that was honest. He sounded tired and mildly irritated, but his voice was still low and conversational. "Because you're signals lately have been all over the map, and I'd rather just know where we stand."

The hand lowered, tucking his cig between lips before dropping to his lap. "If its business as usual, or just ********' around."

Zeke snorted, half amusement and half exasperation. "Business as usual does not include the mixed bag of '******** me ******** you' you dropped on me in the hall when you got back from that mission." He sucked on the end of the cigarette, smoke trickling past it as he moved his head to look down at Ever again.

"And who says I don't?" He certainly didn't go out of his way to sleep around with anyone and everyone, but if an opportunity presented itself. "I like interesting."

He blinked down at him, momentarily confused before realizing he'd misinterpreted Ever's original question. "Thought you were asking something else," he amended, one hand lifting in a dismissive waffling motion.

"I do meet interesting people. I just don't make it a habit of announcing it. Lacks a certain amount of tact."

"If I recall correctly." And he did. "You were the one that originally asked me if I was staying, and haven't said s**t to the contrary." Hazel eyes traced the movements of Ever's cherry as he tapped ash from his own cigarette off the edge of the bed.

"And it hasn't come up in that context, but I have slept in beds with other people besides you." Like Paige.