The explanation gives Reinhardt hope. He knows it's a silly thing. But he does understand that the little ones are indeed Zerg. Alexei is also, for as human as Reinhardt insists he still is. He knows that once, when he had been much younger, he had been one of those people at war with them. He had killed more than his fair share as a marine.
But that was 30 years ago and this was now. This was now and he couldn't imagine hurting these zerg. They all meant far too much to him and so he's glad that even if the little ones can't say it, can't really express it yet, they know he loves them with his whole heart. He might not have been directly involved with the three, but he sees then as his children all the same. His and Alexei's. They are precious and he adores them just as much as he does their father.
It's also why he's so glad that Alexei agreed to come and do something so very domestic with him. He knows how hard it is for the man to be social and every time he tries, Reinhardt feels himself growing even more proud of the man in the tub.
Proud of him and so very in love with him. Even seeing a piece of his face come off doesn't sway his emotions away from that truth. Instead, he just focuses on the softness of Alexei's new skin under the old. At how beautiful and luminous it is. "Is it? Good. Then I'm glad. We'll do this as many times as you need until it's all done with. I'll help you bandage and stay clean until it's all gone. And whatever else you need. I'll even cook for you. You don't have to worry about anything this week. I'll take care of you."
He means that too. There's nothing he would love more than to take care of Alexei. He's never considered retirement, but now Reinhardt knows what it is he wants when it's finally time for him to lay down his hammer. When he can no longer lift it. He wants to live out the rest of his days with this man and their children and their children's children if such a thing were to ever happen.
The fact that Alexei speaks in German to him just clenches that fact. If he hadn't promised, he knows he surely would have ended in the tub with the man right then and there. As it is, he just smiles so brightly that he's certain he's glowing.
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But that was 30 years ago and this was now. This was now and he couldn't imagine hurting these zerg. They all meant far too much to him and so he's glad that even if the little ones can't say it, can't really express it yet, they know he loves them with his whole heart. He might not have been directly involved with the three, but he sees then as his children all the same. His and Alexei's. They are precious and he adores them just as much as he does their father.
It's also why he's so glad that Alexei agreed to come and do something so very domestic with him. He knows how hard it is for the man to be social and every time he tries, Reinhardt feels himself growing even more proud of the man in the tub.
Proud of him and so very in love with him. Even seeing a piece of his face come off doesn't sway his emotions away from that truth. Instead, he just focuses on the softness of Alexei's new skin under the old. At how beautiful and luminous it is. "Is it? Good. Then I'm glad. We'll do this as many times as you need until it's all done with. I'll help you bandage and stay clean until it's all gone. And whatever else you need. I'll even cook for you. You don't have to worry about anything this week. I'll take care of you."
He means that too. There's nothing he would love more than to take care of Alexei. He's never considered retirement, but now Reinhardt knows what it is he wants when it's finally time for him to lay down his hammer. When he can no longer lift it. He wants to live out the rest of his days with this man and their children and their children's children if such a thing were to ever happen.
The fact that Alexei speaks in German to him just clenches that fact. If he hadn't promised, he knows he surely would have ended in the tub with the man right then and there. As it is, he just smiles so brightly that he's certain he's glowing.