Log: Coping Together

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Who: Agent Maine and Delta Ai
What: Maine and Delta are upset about York's hospital visit
Where: Ai household
When: Monday morning (8 June; backdated)
Warnings: really awkward flirting

Maine's drives to the Ai residence are getting shorter, though whether he's growing used to the commute or his speed is creeping, he doesn't notice. He's too eager to get there.

York is hurt, their little world is in danger, and all he has is his jeep and a box of brownie mix.

Comments

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

The door opens and Delta is right there. He looks a little shaken, but otherwise, he looks okay. Maine embraces him, grateful to have him so real and so close.

[protective_logic]

The arms around him, so safe and warm. It's enough to make Delta want to cry.

"I love you," he whispers into Maine's chest. "I love you, and I don't want you to get hurt."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"I love you," Maine whispers. "And I never want to let you down."

Some injury is expected in this line of work, but ever since he met Delta, he has been so much more careful. It's not that he has someone to live for now, but--well, maybe he does.

[protective_logic]

Delta curls a fist in Maine's shirt and looks up at his boyfriend.

"Say it again," he pleads. After his little episode of no hearing, there is something about seeing words on people's lips that matters even more to him. "Please."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"I love you," he says, louder this time. He kisses Delta's forehead.

[protective_logic]

Delta sighs happily, leaning against Maine. There. He feels a bit better.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

He gently rubs the small of Delta's back. There, he's a little more relaxed.

"Brownies?" he asks.

[protective_logic]

"I'd rather just stay together, close," Delta whispers. Fuck brownies.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"I like that too." He holds Delta closer. It's so good to have him, to be with him. Why do they always need to have excuses to be together?

[protective_logic]

"Couch?" Delta suggests quietly. "I just... can you hold me?"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Yes," he says. "Gladly."

He leads Delta over to the couch and sits down with him to enjoy the quick safety of the living room.

[protective_logic]

Delta, though, isn't one to content himself on simply sitting down. The second Maine is down he practically drapes himself over his boyfriend, resting heavily on him and not caring who sees.

Fuck them. He needs this.

"Why do we only meet when things are stressful these days?"

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine is fine with that. He scoops Delta up so they're lying on the couch together, his back pressed against the back of the couch.

"Was just thinking that," Maine admits. "We should change it."

[protective_logic]

And here Delta is, blushing because it's been so long since they've lain together like this. It's comforting. He feels so warm.

"We should. God I've missed you."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Still owe you a museum date," he points out. "How are things at Smithson's?"

Delta blushes so easily. So far, Maine appreciates it because it helps him know where to draw the line. That, and Delta's smile.

[protective_logic]

"Fine," Delta answers. "He's taken me on as a full time employee. I manage finances at night. I'm better at it than he is."

He carefully shifts and rolls until he's facing his boyfriend fully. "It makes me so happy, working there."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Full time? Congratulations," Maine says. "I love that it makes you happy. And I'm not surprised that you're better at finances."

His boyfriend doesn't give himself enough credit, he thinks. Delta deserves to be proud of himself.

[protective_logic]

"Means a lot of great things," Delta grins. "Including insurance and days off. I called him a bit before you got here and explained the situation. He assigned me a lot of reading and promised an uplink later to go over some inventory numbers and see if I can't make the ordering system more efficient."

Of course he'll have to go in tomorrow. Period.

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Insurance is good," Maine says. "Days off sound better." He might have to monopolize them.

"Won't be offended if you read while I'm here." Delta always looks so peaceful when he's reading, and of course Maine brought his crocheting, just in case.

[protective_logic]

"How could I read while you're here?" Delta asks. This is one of the few times they've been together lately, probably because of whatever caused York to get hurt if Delta knows how to guess.

Why waste the time he's being given?

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Don't want you to fall behind. And, I like watching you read." He idly rubs Delta's back again. "Just want to be near you now. That makes me happy."

[protective_logic]

"If you want to be near me, then be near me," Delta answers, leaning forward to kiss Maine's lips lightly before pulling back.

"Me working at a desk isn't really near you. And it's not why I asked you here."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

"Then I'll be right here," Maine says. "Until someone kicks me out." He kisses Delta back. It's so good to have him here, to know that he's wanted and he isn't imposing.

It's still so hard to believe that someone could want him around. Could want him like this. He's afraid of overdoing it.

But how to tell Delta that?

[protective_logic]

"I don't know what I'd do in Sigma's place," Delta whispers, leaning in to press the words into Maine's shirt. "I don't think I'd survive."

[maine_makes_growly_noises]

Maine cradles him against his chest. He wants to reassure Delta that he would survive, that he's so strong to have come so far and done so much with so little. He wants to promise that he's being careful, but that he has a target on his back now that Louisiana is finally, mercifully, pulling away from Control.

Instead, he asks, "How is Sigma?"