The way that Reinhardt positively glows at Alexei's butchering of his mother tongue makes the infested Terran's own glow brighter...and that rustle is back in his extra limbs. His heart is full. He could not ask for more. He had no idea he could be this happy anymore.
His feelings had started as a whisper...a general inclination. A feeling of relief and comfort whenever Reinahardt was near him...which, fortunately, had been often. The Crudsader had made himself into a kind of liasion for the former Vice Admiral, though Stukov was fairly sure Balderich had a hand in it to put the other Terrans' minds at ease. It was difficult to pinpoint when exactly that fondness had blossomed into...something else.
He'd kept his mouth shut, of course, content to marvel that he could indeed feel what he did. Stukov had long thought feelings of romance and...attraction had been long gone...removed from the lexicon of things he could feel. It turns out...there was just no one to feel them for.
He'd still kept silent. Even if he could feel things...that did not mean Reinhardt felt them in return. He wasn't even sure if the Crusader was into men...let alone...infested ones.
In the end, they had both felt the same way towards each other...but Alexei had still needed convincing. He had still needed reassurance...still did...now and again...that this was real and not some escapist fantasy his drug addled brain had conjured up back on Skygeirr platform in the secret depths of the Moebius Foundation's labs.
But the touch of the Crusader's hands grounds him. He feels their weight and their texture...and his knight's musky, touch of fine cologne smell. It is real and here and his and he wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his days with this man...however many he has left.
He reaches up for Reinhardt's collar to pull him down for soft, grateful kisses before pressing their foreheads together and shutting his eyes.
What Reinhardt proposes sounds like heaven. Not just taking care of him...but everything after...building a sauna...a hot tub...picking out the fixtures together. It is an actual future together. A future he wants...and that is staring him in the face letting him know he can have it...that it is possible.
For the first time in years...he is happy to be alive...to be here...now.
In a few days, his new carapace will be hardened...that's well within Reinahrdt's week of leave.
"I know you will. I know it."
He says it a lot breathier than he means to, which probably isn't helpful to either of them in this situation.
"Let me do the same...whenever...if ever it happens."
Because he's in this for the long haul. He'll be there to help when Reinhardt can no longer lift his hammer. No matter what the Crusader needs, he'll be there.
no subject
His feelings had started as a whisper...a general inclination. A feeling of relief and comfort whenever Reinahardt was near him...which, fortunately, had been often. The Crudsader had made himself into a kind of liasion for the former Vice Admiral, though Stukov was fairly sure Balderich had a hand in it to put the other Terrans' minds at ease. It was difficult to pinpoint when exactly that fondness had blossomed into...something else.
He'd kept his mouth shut, of course, content to marvel that he could indeed feel what he did. Stukov had long thought feelings of romance and...attraction had been long gone...removed from the lexicon of things he could feel. It turns out...there was just no one to feel them for.
He'd still kept silent. Even if he could feel things...that did not mean Reinhardt felt them in return. He wasn't even sure if the Crusader was into men...let alone...infested ones.
In the end, they had both felt the same way towards each other...but Alexei had still needed convincing. He had still needed reassurance...still did...now and again...that this was real and not some escapist fantasy his drug addled brain had conjured up back on Skygeirr platform in the secret depths of the Moebius Foundation's labs.
But the touch of the Crusader's hands grounds him. He feels their weight and their texture...and his knight's musky, touch of fine cologne smell. It is real and here and his and he wants nothing more than to spend the rest of his days with this man...however many he has left.
He reaches up for Reinhardt's collar to pull him down for soft, grateful kisses before pressing their foreheads together and shutting his eyes.
What Reinhardt proposes sounds like heaven. Not just taking care of him...but everything after...building a sauna...a hot tub...picking out the fixtures together. It is an actual future together. A future he wants...and that is staring him in the face letting him know he can have it...that it is possible.
For the first time in years...he is happy to be alive...to be here...now.
In a few days, his new carapace will be hardened...that's well within Reinahrdt's week of leave.
"I know you will. I know it."
He says it a lot breathier than he means to, which probably isn't helpful to either of them in this situation.
"Let me do the same...whenever...if ever it happens."
Because he's in this for the long haul. He'll be there to help when Reinhardt can no longer lift his hammer. No matter what the Crusader needs, he'll be there.
"I...we'll work together...always."