shatterverse | (no subject)

Steve has talked to Satya, and he's had time to think. One of the things he's thought is that he can't run off hunting for lightsabre bits out in the world without sorting things out here first.

He was headed for the bunker to check his and Gabriel's room -- but apparently that isn't necessary.

He looks nervous.

Gabriel waves a hand.

The one with the pillow in.

He looks... depressed.

...Erk. And now Steve looks guilty as well.

He waves like he's forgotten how to, and then, after a pause, clears his throat and calls: "...you all right?"

"Sort of."

...see icon.

'Nervous' was a good word. Now let's use 'awkward'.

What the hell, Steve, is what he's telling himself. This shouldn't be difficult. Talk to him. What the hell.

But the argument blew up out of nowhere, and it's still raw in his head, and he's scared to find out what damage it's caused.

So.

Awkward.

Yeah.

Okay, Gabriel wants to apologize.

But he can't, because he doesn't think he was wrong.

So he just looks miserable, and... pats the bit of bunker roof beside him.

Maybe they can sit and be miserable together?

And Steve also wants to apologise, and he isn't certain whether he was right, but he doesn't want to have been wrong because that would open him up to more personal questions than he's comfortable with.

...he's said it before, and the narration will say it again. That's just fucking fantastic.

Steve trails towards the bunker, and sits there, not meeting Gabriel's eyes.

Slight sigh.

And then the pillow is set down on Gabriel's other side, and his arm slides around Steve's shoulders.

Steve leans into that semi-embrace, as relaxed as a violin string, apparently finding the ground a terribly interesting thing at which to look. He's tempted to just pretend that this is a normal hug on a normal (well, relatively so) day -- but pretending won't sort this out, will it?

But he seems to have forgotten how to speak.

He is, he decides, being ridiculous.

"I'm sorry I shouted."

It's something.

"Me too."

Steve hugs one arm around Gabriel's waist, even though he's still apparently speaking to a point on the grass some two feet away from his toes. The contact is reassuring.

"And--"

Swallow.

"If you don't want... It would be a big responsibility."

And if it causes this much tension between them, then the idea leaves a nasty taste in Steve's mouth.

Just please, no debates about the ethics of it?

"Yeah."

Hug. Sigh.

"It would."

"Thank you."

That feels a little better.

...'so are we all right?' would be the most trite and ridiculous thing to say, ever.

So Steve doesn't say it.

It leaves him a bit short of things to say, however.

That's okay.

Gabe can answer anyway, by way of leaning his head against Steve's for a moment and then kissing his temple.

Yeah.

Yeah, they're all right.

Thank God.

All right, now Steve can relax a little, turning his face into the kiss so that they're lips-to-lips. This feels better. This feels more like they should be.

It does.

Arms sliding around Steve, face leaned against his, and just... staying there, for a moment. Still and peaceful and quiet.

Then, with maybe the beginnings of a wry smile curving his mouth: "Want to go back to the room?"

Because they both know from experience what happens when they start seriously kissing in public.

"Yeah."

...Steve had been thinking along the same lines, actually. Well, so far as 'thinking' is really the right word. He's just cursed with a bashful mun.

"Might be a good idea."

For the sake of any innocent farm-dwellers who might wander past and be traumatized. Aren't they thoughtful?

Very thoughtful. Very. Their thoughtfulness, let them show you it.

Not literally. Go away, nosy Shatterfolk. Away! The porn: it is not for you! You can't has! Not yours!

And there's a Villiers, coming up to the poor man, munching on an apple.

If Imriel could see him, he'd probably laugh.

As it is, he's carefully hidden the various marks of ownership and love with a high-collared shirt and tie, reasonably worn out of habit, as he comes to a stop.

"Gabriel, I think they said your name was?"

He's...heard about this person. He thinks.

...

"Yes?"

Okay, he gets talked about? By who? Why? Are they making fun of him? Is it the pillow? Should he do something about the pillow?

Flustered Gabe is flustered!

Mostly by the general populace in a rather handwavey fashion. They're loud, you know. And though they've been quiet of late, he still got warnings about the possibility of missing sleep due to that very loud couple over there, point point.

"...why do you have a pillow?"

He was looking for that, you know. When he passed through the Cooper farmhouse, and noticed it missing.

"Oh."

Somewhat sheepishly, "I... forgot I had it."

"Well, you must be distracted, then..."

Have a warm, kind, and lightly teasing smile, Gabriel.

"I'm Villiers, by the way," he says, fiddling with the apple. "And I'd best return the public couch pillow before it's noticed."

Yeah, that's definitely lightly teasing. Apparently, getting laid on a regular basis does wonders for the happy!snark.

"Oh, of course," nods Gabriel, holding out the pillow. "And I'm... Gabriel Gray, but you already knew that. Sorry. I am distracted."

Rueful smile.

"Troubles?"

More kind smiling, to reflect Gabriel's in a more optimistic mirror. He hasn't heard the legendary amounts of the sound of...stuff...from the bunkers, much. Unless, of course, it's been him and Imriel.

I don't want to talk about it, says Gabe's body language.

"Nothing much," says Gabe.

Villiers' body language: talking about it can help.

A smile, oddly wistful, nonetheless.

"It's a nice day, at least."

When in doubt, talk about the weather.

"Yeah."

Slight shrug.

"'tis not the best of days to be sad," he says. Something about spending excessive amounts of time with Imriel makes speaking archaically FUN. "Enjoy the weather, at least. Or maybe see Spots?"

Villiers Remembers. Memory is a Good Thing.

"...Yeah."

Gabriel stands.

"Thanks."

Little smile for Villiers, and he sticks his hands in his pockets (leaving the pillow on the bunker) and heads for the pond.

Villiers won't follow.

His work. It is done.

Maybe the man will be happier with his foster squid. Thing. Monster.

...yeah.

As for Villiers, though, he'll just grab the pillow and make his way back to the Cooper farmhouse.

Because all must be set right again. :D