heartlands | limelight inbox

—Oh.

[PREDICTABLY GOES RED but doesn't laugh]

Then - I mean, obviously you can stay here whenever. No question.

[ sorry, that he's never giving up this pillow because he can't look at him again. ]

- And you're always welcome over, too, you know that right?

Yeah. Of course I do.

Okay.

[ a breath and he relinquishes the pillow and turns back to him ]

I think until you said it - I didn't think about it before. Maybe I had a sibling I shared a room with before? So you get used to sleeping near someone then, right?

[ he's not thinking of tommy, but he's also thinking of tommy ]

And there were a few days before we were found that Dove and I slept pretty closely for comfort and maybe with her - [ missing, he shakes it off. ] Just never thought of it like that.

Mm... I'm like 95% sure my vision self was an only child, and I am too, but - I can at least get that it feels nice to have someone there.

...The offer was for you, but - maybe it's a little selfish. That is, I'd be glad if you stayed, too. It's been a long day for both of us, seems like.

Weird, though, right? You'd think I'd want to be alone but it feels like... being around someone safe and comfortable feels better.

[ yes, he chose those words deliberately. especially when gingham continues and he sits up and moves for his hand. ]

I'll stay. I'll always stay and you can be as selfish as you want anytime you want.

[takes his hand easily, then laughs a little]

You think I could do another task for a door that comes directly into my room so you don't have to worry about running into any of the others whenever you head out in the morning?

[ okay. that earns a laugh ]

I think she'd ask for a lot more than a couple of orders if she could. Are you worried about them?

In terms of, like - how they'll act around us? Nah, not really. I mean, Satin's definitely more supportive than he is teasing. Brocade might joke about it, but Cash told me if I ever needed advice I could go to him and he wouldn't make it embarrassing, and he seemed really sincere about it.

I mean - not that I've needed advice. I think things have been going pretty good so far? This boat being insane aside.

[ nods, a little ]

Then we're fine as long as I don't avoid eye-contact. [ joking, ] And if it helps it's about the same? Flamingo and Forte have definitely teased me a little already so they would. Uh, Duran doesn't know about us at all but he was my therapist? So it feels weird. He's probably guessed he knew how I felt before -

[ oop ] Anyway. I agree? I mean if we didn't have boat drama we could be like the perfect couple. But also in a weird way we have the boat to thank for even being together at all. So.

I don't think I've met Duran yet, so it makes sense he doesn't know...

Ha. I like to think I would've asked you out eventually, even back home. But - I get what you mean.

Oh yeah? We need new sheets and pillows for your new bed so -

[ He definitely looks amused and teasing now, maybe to get rid of his own embarassment: ]

Prove it. How would you have asked me out?

Ohhhh. Putting me on the spot, huh?

[amused even if a little embarrassed before he starts thinking about it]

Like I haven't been on the spot a bunch?

[ joking and #waits ]

Well. Things were more normal back then... It was just, like, school and book club and other average kid stuff. So it would've been more chill. Maybe just, like, hey do you want to get lunch sometime?

[...]

I probably would've made it more awkward somehow but that would at least be the intention.

It would have been perfect if it was you.

[ sincerely, and then without pause: ]

"Normal back then," really makes you feel like we've become old men already.

And here I thought you wanted me to be the most embarrassing one for a second.

[teasing, and then he flops back onto the bed]

I'm aginggggg...

[ fuCK ]

- I'm accepting that my brain to mouth filter means I'll be perpetually soft.

[ laughs a little and flops back with him ]

I mean that's not a bad thing.

I like that about you.

[shifting to plant a kiss on his forehead]

[ oh no. in spite of himself he colors some and shakes his head. ]

Only because it's you.

Or because it's you!

[ rolls his eyes good-naturedly ]

Oh, no. According to Flamingo you're corrupting my worse nature and are like the softest person ever. Supposedly I'm the second softest.

I mean. I don't know if I agree with that, but I also don't know if I'd call it corrupting even if that was true.

It's definitely corrupting my very bad boy goth energy that some people thing I have is fading...

slowly, inevitably fading.

Well - do you want it to be?

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