TRP: Goro and Hansel (Deadly and Cute)

[Setting: Day 429, the castle. Takes place immediately after Goro and Jonn (Notebook).]

LINA

Goro stood for a moment at the bottom of the stairs after Jonn was gone. Felt all... weird. Kind of creepy-crawly. Not 'cause of Jonn, but just 'cause of all the shit they'd been discussing. Going hungry and stuff. Goro rubbed his arms vigorously and turned to climb the stairs.

He started puzzling through where he might find Hansel. He was at at weird point as far as getting his memories back, where he could remember a lot of shit, but not quite how it all linked together. He didn't know offhand where he could find Hansel; he had to sift through a few memories of looking for Hansel and think about where he usually found him.

Unsettling. It was getting better each day, though.

He started his hunt on the second floor and got lucky. Hansel was in the sitting room between the war room and library. Goro lurked in the doorway, waiting to be invited the rest of the way.

IZZY

Hansel glanced up from the coffee table, where he'd been sorting out potion ingredients. He'd kinda heard Goro and Jonn's voices, before, and been vaguely pleased that they seemed to just be ... talking, normally. Was good. A little puzzled too, since he'd already seen Jonn off and figured the kid would've been gone by now. He couldn't quite imagine Goro and Jonn just getting caught up chatting.

Goro looked kinda unsettled, now, and he was all skulking around, like he used to do sometimes. Hansel gave him a smile. Didn't have to try -- just seeing Goro made him smile, anyway. He patted the couch next to him. "Hey, ishi."

LINA

Goro scuttled over to the couch and climbed on, positioning himself under Hansel's arm.

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him around the shoulders and kissed the side of his head, then let his arm settle around Goro's waist. "Whatcha up to?"

LINA

"Just saw Jonn off. We were talking for a while. I took him upstairs to give him one of my blank notebooks, so he has a journal."

IZZY

He gave a pleased hm. "S'good. He used t'keep one."

He didn't bother filling in how that one'd gotten lost after Goro shot Jonn off the Sugar Glider and Jonn had to leave all his shit behind. Hansel'd gotten it back to the kid eventually, but he didn't think Jonn really liked to look at it anymore, after that.

LINA

"I thought it might help him to write shit down. He, uh. Seems like he has a hard time figuring shit out."

IZZY

"Aye." Hansel frowned a little, and kissed Goro's head again. "You, uh. You both okay?"

LINA

Goro sighed. "Nah."

IZZY

He shifted a bit. Jonn'd sounded pretty chipper. He was like that, though. Some weird shit was like water off a duck's back to him. Hansel didn't really think Goro would be here, either, just hanging around, if Jonn was still upset, so he settled. "Wanna talk about it?"

LINA

"Maybe," Goro said, frowning uncertainly. He pushed harder against Hansel's side, prompting more of a squeeze.

IZZY

Hansel eased back from how he'd been sorta on the edge of the couch, leaning back and tugging Goro into his lap for a proper bear hug.

LINA

"Mm," Goro said approvingly. "Man. It's a good thing you're so strong. I squeezed Jonn like this for ten goddamn minutes and my arms still feel shaky."

IZZY

Hansel let out a little unintended aw at the notion of Goro squeezing Jonn. That was real fuckin' sweet. "Yeah, kid likes it 'bout as much as you do."

LINA

"It's how he knew I'd love the blanket, I guess." Goro rubbed his face against Hansel's beard and let out another sigh. "He reminds me of me in a lot of ways I ain't thrilled about."

IZZY

Hansel frowned, figuring there were a lot of ways that Goro might mean that. "Aye?"

LINA

"Mm." Goro nodded. "I mean, in some ways it's alright. Helps me understand what he needs better, I think. But..." He made a little noise of disgust. "Just... don't wanna be looking in that mirror, I guess."

IZZY

Hansel made a little grumbly sound and squeezed him. "Well, I fuckin' like lookin' at the both of you."

LINA

"Pfff. Yeah, yeah. I love you."

IZZY

"Aye. Love you too." Hansel kissed his head. "T'be honest, I dunno what Jonn really fuckin' needs, most the time," he admitted. "Can make things better for him for a bit, but ... I dunno."

LINA

"Yeah. Yeah. It was... kinda rough, talking to him, 'cause -- I'd try saying one thing, and he'd argue with me by saying something else, and then I'd tackle that, but he'd jump back to the first thing, and... eh, you know what I mean?"

IZZY

"Mm." Hansel sure fuckin' did. "I don't think it's, uh ... fuckin' good, an' I wouldn't talk to Luci or Theo like this, but y'know, sometimes it ain't any good to argue with him. Kid ain't gonna see sense. Just gotta tell him how it is. He'll just sorta ... believe you, kinda." He winced.

LINA

"Yeah, I noticed that. Fuckin' freaky. I guess it's just a good thing he's got people like you and Luci standing in for his own gut feelings. Now that fucking Helena's dead, at least."

IZZY

Hansel grunted. "Fuckin' Helena," he muttered. Could fucking kick himself for not realizing who she was. Jonn's fucking friend Helena. Sure.

LINA

Goro shuddered a little and hid his face against Hansel's shoulder. "'M fucking lucky I never fell in with her, or the Basha." His uncle. Fucking unbelievable. "I mean, it's more than luck. I avoided 'em. I never, ever liked other people telling me what to do. In case you thought that was a recent trait." He pulled back to give Hansel a weak grin.

IZZY

"Pffft." Hansel softened a bit, forgetting his grumpiness about fuckin' Helena -- she was dead, anyway -- and leaning in to kiss Goro's forehead. "Nah. Recent thing is you actually likin' it when someone tells you what t'do."

LINA

Goro hissed and snickered and tried tickling Hansel, for revenge.

IZZY

Hansel snickered back and wrapped around him to trap his arms and squish him.

LINA

"Cheater," Goro said. "Using your strength and my love of huggin' against me."

IZZY

"Pirate," Hansel reminded him, as always.

LINA

"Shark." Goro snapped his teeth.

IZZY

"Tasty," Hansel agreed, bending to gnaw at Goro's shoulder.

LINA

Goro yelped, then made an intrigued sound and leaned into it.

IZZY

Hansel jumped at the yelp, startled, and pulled back, not really registering yet how Goro had leaned in right after. "Fuck, sorry," he blurted, more embarrassed than anything. "Fuckin', uh ... forgot."

LINA

"Forgot what?"

IZZY

"That, uh ... you forgot."

LINA

Goro stared at him blankly. "You didn't do nothing wrong. I like everything you do." He grinned stupidly, just thinking about what a fool in love he was.

IZZY

"Pffft." Well, that just made him more embarrassed.

LINA

Goro glanced around the area, then leaned in and whispered, "But I remembered a few times I wanted to get off and you wouldn't let me. Fuckin' asshole."

IZZY

He snorted. "Aye, well ... maybe we can do more stuff like that once you remember a bit more."

LINA

"Psh. We'll see. Maybe I don't need you to get off, huh? You ever think of that?"

IZZY

"Never did, ahuv," Hansel said solemnly. "Y'really openin' my eyes. Here I thought you were all chaste an' pure before me an' Mishka got ahold of you."

LINA

"'S'what I wanted you to think. 'Cause I wanted to get dragged off and ravished by pirates, so I had to act the part."

IZZY

"Playin' the long con, huh?"

LINA

"Mhm. Hey. Hey, I just remembered. That book you started reading to me, the night I first lost my memories."

IZZY

Hansel grinned. "Aye?"

LINA

"That was hot as hell. We oughta finish that."

IZZY

He kissed Goro's head and loosened up so they could get more comfortable. "Sure. Y'like me readin' to you, then?"

LINA

"Mhm. I like your voice. And I like doing stuff with you. And just being around you." Goro leaned in to whisper again. "Turns out I just love you."

IZZY

Hansel gasped quietly, grinning, and snuggled him, scratching him with his beard. "Turns out I love you, too."

LINA

"God, I can sure fucking tell." Goro sniffled suddenly, not quite tearing up, just emotional. "You were so good to me, when I couldn't remember anything. So good."

IZZY

He scoffed gently and scrubbed his beard against Goro's cheek some more. "Always try t'be good t'you, ahuv."

LINA

"Mm. Guess you wouldn't be my dream guy if you didn't."

IZZY

Well, Hansel sure fuckin' hoped not. "Mmhm."

LINA

Goro grinned again, thinking back on that first night. "I just thought, goddamn. This guy's a total sweetheart, a farm boy turned sexy pirate, and he's a good cook to boot. Was too good to be true, just about. Thought I must be dreaming."

IZZY

Hansel kissed Goro's cheek where he'd been scratching it. "Got some interestin' dreams."

LINA

"Nah. Nah. Truth is, I never could dream up something as good as you."

IZZY

"Psshhh."

LINA

Goro smiled and closed his eyes, content.

"Y'know... I been remembering some big stuff. Like, the wedding day. And you proposing to me at the Sanctuary. That kinda thing." He shifted to get more comfortable, letting out a little sigh. "But I'm also remembering just... lots of small stuff. Us taking walks together. Me just sitting with you, watching while you make potions. Lying in bed talking for hours and hours." His smile widened. "Never thought that kinda thing would be how I'd wanna spend my days. But it is. It's real good."

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd again, but only a little. He ran a hand up and down Goro's back, smiling. "Aye," he agreed softly. "Real fuckin' good. Like everything we do, so long as we do it together. Makes even the little stuff all special."

LINA

Goro nodded eagerly. "Just... being in love. Goddamn. It's like... magic." Ah, that sounded dumb. He huffed and scoffed at himself.

IZZY

He grinned and ran his hand back up to ruffle Goro's hair. "Fuckin' precious. Aye, you sap. You'd know about magic, so I guess I gotta believe you."

LINA

"Psssh. I ain't precious."

IZZY

"Are too."

LINA

"You can take your precious and shove it up your ass, how about that?"

IZZY

Hansel opened his mouth to make a dirty joke, then closed it and just snickered.

LINA

"What? What?"

IZZY

"Nothin'." He dug his hands into Goro's sides to tickle him.

LINA

"Hey. Hey, fuck you. That don't work on me." Goro squirmed anyway, trying not to grin.

IZZY

"Oh, aye?" Hansel grinned and kept at it, leaning in to try to tickle Goro's neck with his beard, too. "You sure?"

LINA

Goro snickered and pawed at him. "Yeah, but keep doing it, 'cause I just like it."

IZZY

"Aye, your holiness," Hansel teased.

LINA

Goro kept squirming against him. He snapped his teeth and caught a beard hair.

IZZY

Hansel snickered and twisted, pushing Goro down -- kind of roughly, not thinking -- onto his back on the couch, dropping weight onto his hips and pressing a hand against his chest. He was grinning, automatically, but then hesitated with his hair falling loose over one eye between them. 'Cause -- maybe Goro didn't remember, quite, that he was safe. Maybe his body didn't remember. So Hansel paused, still smiling, but waiting, trying to make sure it was okay.

LINA

Goro beamed up at him, still pawing at him a little. His heart was racing. It was funny, 'cause -- he liked messing around, wrestling with Hansel, but he also just felt so goddamn affectionate toward him that all he wanted to do was be skin-to-skin with him, kissing and hugging.

Too hard to choose. He just wanted to do everything together, all at once.

IZZY

The smile turned back to a grin. Hansel leaned down to nuzzle into the crook of Goro's neck nip at him a little, gently, still careful.

LINA

"Mm." Goro squirmed happily. "This is neat."

IZZY

"Mmhm?" Hansel asked, not really to ask, but just 'cause it made him happy when Goro said shit that he liked. He kissed the spot he'd been nibbling on a couple times and shifted his weight so he could slip a hand into Goro's robes, under his shirt to rest skin-to-skin at his waist. He'd gotten real fuckin' good at getting into all of Goro's clothes without getting them off. Then he moved down more to Goro's shoulder, where it wouldn't be as sensitive, and bit a little harder.

LINA

"Psssh." Goro kept grinning, but he glanced around the room nervously. "Should we really be doing this here? There's... there's people, and shit."

IZZY

"Can head upstairs," Hansel offered, around a mouthful of Goro.

LINA

"Maybe," Goro said coyly.

IZZY

"Mmm?" Hansel prodded, kissing his shoulder and pushing that hand more under his back to pull him into a little bit of a curve, then slowly sliding his hand further down. Just a little. Just enough to make him giggly and red, hopefully, and not uncomfortable.

LINA

Goro yelped, giggling, and flushed. He batted at Hansel, though not all that forcefully.

IZZY

Hansel snickered against him. "Hey, shh," he whispered. "Gonna get folks' attention."

LINA

"Psssh." Goro swatted him in earnest.

IZZY

He kissed Goro's shoulder one more time and pulled back, slipping his hand back out of Goro's clothes to push himself up on it and grin down at him. "How 'bout that book, huh?"

LINA

Goro sat up, nodding eagerly. "Mhm." He grabbed a fistful of Hansel's shirt, intending to be touching him in some fashion for the whole trip up to the bedroom.

IZZY

Hansel grinned a little wider. Always liked it when Goro grabbed at him. Any time, any way. He wrapped his arms around Goro at the same time he dropped a foot to the floor, straightening up and bringing Goro along with him to carry him bridal style.

He kissed Goro's forehead. "I got you."

LINA

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mGqTmjqx8ipmYCxaADje9ByEyA7y6Pa6FhGHBaBT8Hs/edit?usp=sharing

IZZY

Hansel fell quiet, and still -- warm and heavy as if he were drunk, just content to be with Goro again. Be with him properly. Knowing who each other were, feeling ... mostly normal, again, just about okay. He'd missed Goro's skin. Missed the way he'd flail around when he got happy -- when he was so happy his body couldn't hold it all in. Hansel was the only one that got to make him that happy. No one else knew him that well. No one else had gotten him to trust them that much. No one else had him.

Hansel cuddled him and nuzzled against him, kissing his hair and his face, missing that, too, even now -- missing it like he'd never had it at all, and this was new.

It felt new, somehow. Not just because it'd been a while, but because Goro seemed -- different, somehow. More comfortable, or happier, or like he felt safer. And he'd already come so fucking far in trusting Hansel and feeling safe and comfortable and happy, and it wasn't like Hansel thought this meant it'd been fake, before -- just that -- it was more now, or something.

And it was good. It was really fucking good.

"Ishi," he whispered. Just to say it. Had to say it, all the time, often as he could. Really fucking revel in it. "Chatich ishi. Shemeshi. Got you back. Told you I'd get you back."

Goro was spent, all blissed out and relaxed in his arms. "You promised," he murmured.

"Mmhm." Hansel squeezed him -- gently, this time, to not overwhelm him. Let him bask. Then snuggled against him some more and let out a long, happy sigh, content as a barn cat chubby off mice in the grain. "Always got you. Ain't lettin' go for anything."

LINA

Goro grinned and pressed his face against Hansel's shoulder. "Are we really married?" he asked, knowing full well they were. He remembered the wedding. He remembered Hansel proposing. Could feel the weight of the rings on his finger right then and there.

It was just so fuckin' good, he couldn't stop going over it.

IZZY

"Mmhm," Hansel said again, nuzzling into Goro's hair. "You wanna do it again?" He dropped his voice, trying to sound conspiratorial, but he was too giddy and it came out as a stage whisper. "Hey. Goro."

LINA

Goro snickered, trying not to giggle, and said, "What?"

IZZY

Somehow -- even though he was still just as happy -- any little bit of teasing or joking or messing around faded, and Hansel just sincerely whispered, "Will you marry me?"

Didn't feel like that first time, not just because of the circumstances and how Goro had already said yes, and they'd already had a whole fucking wedding. But because Hansel thought he might feel a little different, too. More comfortable, and happier, and safer.

LINA

Goro made a dumb squealing sound -- couldn't help it -- and burrowed closer against Hansel. His hands weren't free to shake around so he jiggled his feet. His face hurt from grinning. "Mhm. A thousand times. And then some more."

IZZY

Hansel didn't quiet giggle, 'cause it was deeper and throatier than that, but it had the exact same sound to it -- all spilling out of him like he couldn't hold it in, which was pretty fucking accurate. He had this vague idea that it shouldn't make him so happy, his husband agreeing to marry him. Goro'd already done it once, for fucksake. Wasn't like they'd gotten divorced. Wasn't like it was news. But he was still all fucking giddy and happy about it, kinda like he got sometimes when he remembered he was married and he was real fuckin' drunk and just happy to be around for it.

There were a lot of things that made Hansel feel pissed off or scared or worried when they shouldn't, so fuck it -- why not let things make him happy when they shouldn't?

He squeezed the air out of Goro, made him wheeze and his back give a couple little pops, rocked him in place excitedly, and whispered, "Yeah? How many more?"

LINA

Goro sort of decided and remembered at the same time that making Hansel happy was about the best thing he could do with his time and energy. It was just so fuckin' good, seeing Hansel get giddy.

"How many you got, big guy? Ten thousand? A million?"

IZZY

"I got all the fuckin' time in the world for marryin' you, ahuv," Hansel promised.

LINA

"Every morning and every night," Goro promised back. He wiggled his way up so he could kiss Hansel's cheeks. "Any day, any time. My dream guy. God, you know what's great though?"

IZZY

Hansel immediately guessed, "Everything?" because that was about how it felt, right in this moment, gazing dreamily at Goro's face and holding him.

LINA

Goro giggled. "Yeah, but. What I was gonna say is, even if we never got married again -- we'll still be husbands. Just like magic. Once and forever."

IZZY

He grinned. "Aye. S'true. Ain't ever gonna not be married, even after we're dead and gone. Gonna just be a couple married dead guys." He kissed Goro's forehead. "Still in love. Gonna say it on our headstones. Never stopped bein' husbands, for anything."

It gave him a little tickle of fear in his chest, but he said it anyway. Decided to believe it.

LINA

Goro made some more inane noises and worked his hands free so he could hide his face, still grinning like a crazy guy. Which he was. Crazy for Hansel, and all.

"It's too good," he said, almost out of breath over it. "Too good. I never had something this good."

IZZY

Hansel squeezed him again. "Well, better fuckin' get used to havin' it, sweetheart," he said contentedly.

LINA

"Nnnnn," Goro insisted, not unhappy in the slightest, just... fuckin' overcome.

IZZY

"Mmmm," he agreed.

LINA

Goro had too much going on in his body, and he couldn't hold still. Not even close to it. He loved how Hansel would keep squeezing him no matter how much he moved around. Other people thought Goro was too much to deal with, but not Hansel. Never Hansel.

Goro squirmed against him, shifting his arms and legs, jiggling his hands and feet, burying his face against Hansel's chest and grabbing at him intermittently, just feeling so goddamn... safe. Safe to be who he was, however he was, and trust that Hansel was gonna keep holding him, keep loving him.

"I'm too happy," he said weakly, trying to explain.

IZZY

Hansel just kept right on squeezing, happily. Usually he just waited for Goro to actually say he wanted away, but right now he might've pouted and kept hanging on anyway. Just wanted to hold him. Just loved it too much -- loved him too much. Didn't want to let go even for a minute.

"Nuh-uh." He planted his face in the crook of Goro's neck. "Oughta be happier. S'what you deserve."

LINA

"Psh. Psssh." Goro flailed around some more. "I don't think I can get happier. Sounds freaky. I'm all happiness right now, so that'd just be fucked."

IZZY

"Aye?" Hansel grinned. "Well, maybe I just gotta show you how much happier you can get, huh? Maybe that's gonna be in my vows, next time 'round."

LINA

"That's scary," Goro insisted. "What if I just die? People can die of happiness, I bet."

IZZY

"Nuh-uh," Hansel said again.

LINA

"I'm a medic," Goro said. "I'd know."

IZZY

"Yeah? Get a lotta dead 'cause of happiness cases back at the abbey?"

LINA

"Well, I wouldn't say a lot. Pretty rare, y'know."

IZZY

"How many?"

LINA

"Couple."

IZZY

"You lyin'?" he teased. "I know you wouldn't lie t'me 'bout somethin' so serious."

LINA

"On my honor," Goro said. "There was this guy. Half-elf. Real shifty-looking motherfucker. A newlywed."

IZZY

"Sounds hot."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Not much compared to the guy who was with him, you ask me. His husband. Fuckin' gorgeous ex-pirate, six and a half feet tall just about. Whoo, I was swooning on my feet, lemme tell ya."

IZZY

"Aye? They both kick the bucket, then?" He kissed Goro's head a couple times. "Just too fuckin' in love with each other?"

LINA

"Exactly. See? You already knew how it turned out. You know it can happen."

IZZY

"Nah, I just know you," he said happily, and kissed Goro's head a few more times and snuggled him roughly. "I know how fuckin' fulla shit you are."

LINA

"There's a lotta people back in Skyport who buy my shit hook, line, and sinker."

IZZY

"I ain't a lotta people." He grinned. "I'm your fuckin' husband."

LINA

"I know. You can fuckin' read my mind, practically. Ain't right." Goro wagged his right ring finger at Hansel and stuck his tongue out.

IZZY

He snickered. "You knew what you were signin' up for when you married me, chataltuli."

LINA

Goro put his arms around Hansel and hugged him tight. "Yeah. You wanna know a secret?"

IZZY

"Mmhm." He squeezed Goro tight.

LINA

"I like it. I like that you know me so good." Well, that seemed like a given, so Goro felt like he had to elaborate. "When I lost my memory, I learned real quick that... you seemed like you knew me so good that you knew what I needed before I did. And, I -- I think that's just true, period. All the time, even when I got my memories."

IZZY

Hansel psshh'd gently. "That ain't a secret," he murmured. "You do the same shit for me."

LINA

Goro nuzzled his face. "'Kay, well. It makes me feel... real safe, is all. 'Cause I can trust you. I know you got me."

IZZY

Hansel swelled with pride, a little. "Aye. Sure fuckin' do."

LINA

"And I got you, Hans," Goro said firmly. Then he hesitated. "Am I... allowed to call you that?" It felt natural, like he just did it sometimes, but he also remembered Hansel telling him not to a long time ago.

IZZY

"Aye," he said again, nuzzling into Goro's hair and giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Been a long time since you haven't. S'okay. I like it."

LINA

"Hm. Okay. Well, anyway. I got you. Like I was saying. I don't..." Goro frowned and chewed his lip for a second. "I dunno what I... do for you, but. Anything you need, I'll fuckin' move mountains to do it, yeah?"

IZZY

"Psshh." He kissed Goro's hair. "This right here. This is what you do for me, love. Ain't gotta move mountains for it."

LINA

"Pssshh," Goro said back. He snuggled closer and closed his eyes, finally finding it easy to be still.

Well, for a few seconds, anyway. Then his eyes flew open again and he jerked. "Oh. Jeez. Ah." He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his forehead. "God. When am I gonna be done remembering shit."

IZZY

Hansel made a concerned sound, frowning a little. "All good?" There was a lot of bad shit to remember, he knew. Just the remembering itself seemed like it was pretty jarring, though.

LINA

Goro winced, but nodded. At least, he thought so. "Um. Ah. Jeez. I fuckin'... died?"

IZZY

"Mm." He grumbled a bit and tightened around Goro. "Couple times, now."

LINA

"But I did it bringing Raef's husband back," Goro said quietly, marveling. Raef had told him he'd done that, but Goro hadn't remembered until just now. "From... from a bone."

IZZY

"Aye. Was fuckin' impressive," he had to admit, but he did it at the same time he squeezed Goro that bit more.

LINA

"You were so upset though," Goro said. "You wouldn't stop... crying, and holding me." He winced. "Uh, shit, sorry. You probably don't wanna relive it."

IZZY

"Mmph. S'fine." It kinda was. He didn't much wanna think about it, but -- he wanted to help Goro remember. It'd been so fucking hard just not telling him shit, while his memory was completely fucked. "Just ... yeah. Was real fuckin' upsetting. Ain't that you weren't smart about it -- had Luci right there with you t'bring you back. But you were gone."

He planted his face in Goro's hair firmly to breathe him in.

"Don't like you bein' gone," he mumbled. "Lost too much a'ready."

LINA

"I'm sorry," Goro said impulsively, giving Hansel a squeeze.

IZZY

"S'okay," Hansel said, kind of reflexively. He wasn't sure if he'd ever gotten Goro to understand just exactly why it'd upset him so much. Just like stepping outside a room, Goro'd tried to tell him, and it was kind of true -- kind of reasonable. Hadn't stopped Hansel from being upset, though.

He wondered if Goro remembered him talking about Taavit. He wondered if Goro remembered them killing Mishka. He wondered if Goro remembered Aleksei killing him.

LINA

"Man. Kinda sucked, though. Casting that spell. I was so fuckin' exhausted, after." Goro winced. "Didn't have a lick of magic left in me, and..."

Bringing someone back from a bone. That'd do it, he supposed.

He remembered another time death had touched him, but not quite killed him. The way he'd felt a cold, sickly weariness lingering in his body for hours after. Hours after--

He jumped and sat up as far as Hansel would let him. That had been before the remodel of the third floor. Out on the balcony.

"There was a ghost," he said. "Oh, god. Fuck. What happened? Did we kill it?" It had been gone when he woke up. When Luci healed him.

IZZY

"Aye, aye," Hansel said quickly, gently pulling him back to try to reassure him. "All good now. Was last winter. She's gone."

LINA

"Ah, fuck. I tried to turn her and she just... went ballistic on me." Goro leaned into Hansel again, wincing some more. "Jeez. Fuckin'... freaky. Ain't never happened to me before. Normally, undead, they either take off or just keep doing what they were doing, not... not like that." It scared him, but he didn't wanna sound like a wuss.

IZZY

Hansel nodded. He squeezed Goro against him and rubbed Goro's back, like he was cold now. He'd been cold before -- when Hansel and Mishka found him. "She was, uh ... a wraith, I think, or somethin'." Ghost was all he'd needed to know. "Powerful sorta undead, s'pose. But we killed her. Took care of it."

LINA

Mishka's sister. Goro remembered asking her questions, wanting to suss out if she was trying to trick him. She was. And then, after he'd woke up, he'd switched to asking Mishka questions, and Mishka got spooked, and... and Hansel got mad.

Goro felt cold, all the sudden. He pulled back a little bit, slow, looking at Hansel nervously. Wasn't like he seemed mad now.

Goro and Hansel didn't fight much, as far as he could remember. The rarity made each one stand out all the more: big, black sinkholes dotting a peaceful field. Goro'd dragged himself out of each one and run, and run, and run, so fucking scared he might fall into a new one too deep and lose Hansel for good. And it made him feel thin, fragile as an empty eggshell.

Still in love. Gonna say it on our headstones, Hansel said.

"Never stopped bein' husbands for anything?" Goro said in a small voice, checking.

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said slowly. He felt like he knew exactly why Goro was spooked. Wasn't like he forgot what else happened, that night they saw Asenka. He let Goro pull away but kept rubbing his back. "Promise."

LINA

Goro pressed his face against Hansel's chest again, tightening his arms around him. Clutching him like he was gonna fight if Hansel tried to push him away.

Hansel wasn't trying to push him away, though. Goro literally couldn't remember the last time he had. Their love was stronger, now. Headstone-solid. Not an eggshell.

"What if I make you mad on accident?" Goro asked anyway. Just checking.

IZZY

"Still husbands," he promised quietly, and squeezed Goro again, since he'd come back in. "Just folks fight sometimes, that's all. Still love you."

LINA

"It's hard for me to get it," Goro said, muffled from hiding his face. "I mean, knowing that people can fight and still love each other. Even though I still love you. Never loved you any less after we fought. But... ah... it freaks me out. I just... don't have enough examples, I guess. Haven't had enough love to know it can last."

Admittedly, he had one really, really persistent example in Amari, but Amari was -- uh, kinda weird.

IZZY

Hansel nodded. "Yeah." He wanted to say he'd ... show Goro, but he didn't fucking want them to fight and make up, because he got fucking freaked out when they fought, too. "I, uh ... yeah. Me too. It's fuckin' scary. I know."

LINA

"Worth it, though," Goro said, still muffled. "I'll do anything to be with you. Don't matter how scary."

IZZY

He nodded again, and nuzzled into Goro's hair to stay there. "Yeah."

LINA

Goro freed his face so he could kiss Hansel's chin. Then he just looked at him for a minute, any fear and unease ebbing away. "'Cause being with you is the best thing. S'all there is to it."

IZZY

"Yeah?" he asked, a little uncertain, or maybe just wanting to hear Goro say it again. He wasn't always sure. Maybe it was the same feeling, and it just hit him different, at times.

LINA

Goro broke into a grin. He didn't want Hansel to feel insecure, or anything, but... he loved it when Hansel was vulnerable with him like that, letting that little uncertain note slip into his voice. Tentatively trusting Goro to tell him, again and again, how good he was.

"Yeah," Goro said, nuzzling him. "Ain't nothing I'd rather do than be married to you, y'know. Wake up with you every morning. Cook breakfast with you. Share everything with you. Did I mention you're my dream guy?" Goro smooched him.

IZZY

"Psshh," Hansel said weakly. "Might've come up." He settled, though. Felt comfortable and easy again. It got simpler to feel that way, got to be less of a struggle -- it'd been going that direction ever since their wedding night, like a gentle slope. His throat didn't lock up so much anymore.

He kissed Goro's forehead. "Y'know there ain't nothin' I'd rather do, either, right?"

LINA

Goro grinned again and nodded. He kissed Hansel, then just kept kissing him -- urgently as he had a little bit ago, when he was still all worked up. He felt satisfied now, but kissing Hansel still felt just as good.

IZZY

Hansel grinned and submitted to the kisses, pleased. He squeezed Goro and rolled onto his back, pulling Goro on top of him so he could just look up at him happily.

LINA

Goro giggled. "Fuck you. You're making me giggle."

IZZY

"Good. Like makin' you giggle. Like makin' you squeal an' flail around, too." Hansel couldn't stop grinning like an idiot. "Like makin' you so happy you can't hold it in."

LINA

Goro giggled some more and beat his fists weakly against Hansel's shoulders. "Dick. I'm deadly."

IZZY

"Aye," Hansel said. "Deadly an' cute. Chatich."

LINA

"You know what I just fucking remembered? You calling me a shy shark. I still don't think that shit's real." Goro kept gazing down at Hansel dreamily, even as he complained.

IZZY

"Psshh." Hansel reached up to brush a hand through Goro's hair. "Aye? You callin' me a liar?"

LINA

"Sure am. Pirate."

IZZY

He grinned. "Hey, now. Pirates ain't liars. Real straightforward." He put on a gruffer, rougher voice, but couldn't make himself stop smiling through it. "Yer money'r yer life."

LINA

"'Pirates aren't liars,'" Goro repeated, and made a show of really thinking about it. "Gosh, who do I know that throws that whole fuckin' theory out the window?" He grinned and tapped on Hansel's orcish wedding band, just in case he wasn't being obvious enough.

IZZY

"Hey, now, ishi. You callin' my ish a liar?" Hansel asked, feigning insult.

LINA

"Uh huh. Both of 'em. You got a type."

IZZY

"Psshh."

LINA

"I'll buy this shy shark crap when I see it with my own eyes."

IZZY

"M'kay," Hansel said, perfectly pleased with that. "I'll find you one, then. Give it a good spook so it hides its li'l face." He grinned. "Real cute."

LINA

Goro snickered and started to bring his hands up automatically to hide his face. Then he realized what he was doing, yelped in outrage, and beat at Hansel's chest again, all while grinning uncontrollably. "Fuckin' asshole. Got me right where you want me, don't ya?"

IZZY

He snickered back and squeezed Goro tight. "Aye, right in my arms."

LINA

Goro worked his arms around Hansel and squeezed him back. "Mm. Right where I wanna be, too."

[end]