Singing the Body Electric

Fandom 50 #19

Untitled Modern Spy AU by Irene
Fandom: Our Flag Means Death
Relationship: Izzy Hands/Roach
Medium: Art
Length: 1 piece
Rating: NSFW? (two characters sharing a bathtub, waist-up nudity and bare knees)
My Bookmark Tags: slice of life, action/adventure, happy ending, established relationship, au: modern, au: spies, close call, h/c (injury), bathing/grooming, domesticity, intimacy, smoking
Artist's Summary: The aftermath of a successful mission. (Spy AU)

Description:

Izzy and Roach sit across from each other in a bathtub, unwinding after a spy mission. Izzy is bruised and bandaged, smoking a cigarette. Roach is relaxing, his hands resting on the edge of the tub. Between them is a tray with two cans of beer.

There is so much story in this one picture. There's the physical scrape and near miss that Izzy's obviously been through with either a stab wound or a bullet graze. There's the winding-down exhaustion written across both of them. There's the bath tray and beers that speak to this being a regular ritual, along with the lack of urgency that says this is just another Tuesday for them. Then, as my favourite part, there's the obvious ease and intimacy between two men who are in a field that's all about danger and secrecy. This feels like a partnership that's worn its way into a place of comfort and trust.

I also just love Irene's ability with bodies. The poses, musculature, tattoos, body hair, injuries—everything here has a very real and lived-in feeling.