for thetoxictitan

[ambassadorofboom]

Fuse grinned at the drone zooming in on their group, head held high despite their clothes being filthy with dirt and viscera. Bloodhound was looking a little singed as well, just some early game jitters and an ill-placed thermite grenade from Fuse. After that, it had been smooth sailing. They made a pretty good team if he said so himself.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, not many reporters seem all that interested in interviewing a mad scientist or a guy who'd just crashed his ship into a crowd of fans and Bloodhound had already slipped away, having no interest in more pictures or interviews.

Fuse didn't mind too much. Fighting in the Bone Cage was one thing, running around an entire canyon was another.

"Whaddya say we celebrate with a cold one, mate? My treat?" The offer sounded casual enough but there's a hint of lonely hopefulness in his tone that's threatening to almost sound a bit pitiful.

Comments

[thetoxictitan]

Caustic held his gaze forward, steeled and cold. He despised the media coverage. Luckily, as he was The Games token villain, the feeling was mutual.

He was unbelievably tired from having to deal with the theatrics of this new contender, as well as Fuse’s brash attempt at friendliness during the beginning of the game.

The doctor is snapped out of his thoughts by the other’s voice, stare snapping to Fuse. His tone is almost amusing to Caustic,
“Very well, but we exit the arena in silence.”

[ambassadorofboom]

“Yeah, no worries maybe some oth-“ He stopped mid-sentence as he realizes Caustic hadn’t actually turned him down. Recovering quickly from the initial shock, he chuckled at his blunder and gave the scientist a nod, “Alright, sure thing.”

If he’d been amused before, Fuse was sure Caustic would be practically stifling laughter now.

True to his word, Fuse lets a comfortable silence settle between them as they head to the pick up ship, not saying a word until they’re in the air and heading back to the city.

“You know anywhere good, mate? I’ve got a few waiting in the fridge back at quarters. Some good Salvo stuff. Last of my stash. I wouldn’t mind sharing with ya, ‘specially after a win like that, mate.”

[thetoxictitan]

He certainly enjoyed the reaction, cracking a little smirk under his mask. Its quite amusing to throw legends for a loop, it shows how human they truly are.

Caustic takes to idly cleaning his hammer on the ship, getting any blood or dirt off one of his most prized possessions. This only halts when Walter begins to speak, “I do not drink regularly, but your quarters will suffice”

While the Salvonian was quite irritating, something about him intrigued Caustic. He saw the chaos and instinct in him and wanted to examine him closer, find out if there was some order within all that flames, explosions, and grandiose appearance.

[ambassadorofboom]

Unlike Caustic, Fuse seemed content to sit back and watch King’s Canyon get small and fade into the horizon, his body starting to make the aches and pains from the hard fought win known as the last dregs of adrenaline settled. It’s a strange kind of tired, content calm that comes after these kinds of things, a feeling that wasn’t unfamiliar to him.

“Yeah.” His quarters. Alright. That sounded... cozy. Intimate, even. Maybe if he were a fee decades younger he might even feel a little flustered but he knew better to expect anything more than a few beers between new friends. “Sounds good to me, mate.”

The ship rattled and lurched, the sound of the thrusters shifting to slow them down, signaled their approach to the landing pad. Pushing into his feet, he stretched a little as he got up.

“Home, sweet home, eh? I’m gonna ditch the gear, mate. Gimme ten, yeah? Then you know where to find me,” He chuckled.

[thetoxictitan]

Alexander finds himself in a similar situation, the constant high-action of the games have left him with an aching body, a light wheeze in his breathing and frequent bouts of coughing that never let him settle.

He somewhat dreads the notion of being in someone else's room, somewhere he is unfamiliar with and therefore lacks a decent amount of control, but really what other alternative was there without some extraneous party as a distraction?

He nods, resisting the urge to roll his eyes as he splits off to stow away his own equipment and get into more comfortable clothing. He prefers to keep as much separation as possible from his research and personal life.

[ambassadorofboom]

Walter figures there's definitely not time enough for a shower but he does do his best at washing the flecks of mud and... blood, maybe? off his arms where he's dirty enough that removing his elbow pads and gloves had left distinct outlines of clean skin. He splashes a bit of water on his face as well and runs damp fingers through his hair and he's good to go. His choice of casual clothing isn't anything too surprising, jeans that look like he's had for the last two decades and an equally faded t-shirt for some obscure Salvonian band that likely broke up years ago.

He plops down on the bed in his quarters, using it as if it's a couch, and pulls up his guitar to pass the time as he waits for the good doctor to join him, picking away at some unrecognizable and unhurried tune.

[thetoxictitan]

Alexander opts for a turtleneck grey sweater, loose black pants and some matching shoes. Slicking back his hair one more time, as it had fallen out of place. He’s unexpectedly tense for something he has convinced himself he cares nothing about, fidgeting with his clothing and thoroughly examining himself in the mirror.

Once he’s satisfied, he retrieves his notebook and a pencil to head on his way. The soothing sounds of Fuse’s guitar draw the doctor in like a siren’s call, only for him to pause just before the door to listen uninterrupted for a second. He snaps out of his trance when he is reminded that he is indeed still human and can be affected by such meaningless things. Caustic sighs under his breath and gives a knock on the door.

[ambassadorofboom]

The tune stops at the knock and there's some quiet movement from the other side of the door before Fuse pulls it open, all smiles.

"C'mon in, doc, make yourself at home," He steps out of the way to let Alexander make his way inside. Like the other quarters, his own is pretty cramped. Despite having not been around too long, the room had a few personal touches already - his guitar, a slightly butchered Salvonian flag with different things written and spraypainted on it - a gift from the guys at the Bone Cage when he'd left, and a small spread of tools and oil on the top of the dresser that he used for basic upkeep on his arm. Though, now that he knew the other Legends a little better, he'd made a habit of popping in to see Ramya instead of winging it himself. And then there was his minifridge.

"Afraid the bed's the only place to really have a seat, mate, unless you prefer the floor," He points out, motioning toward it as he leans over to pop the minifridge open and snag two bottles. It's difficult to see how full it is but there's a distinct clinking of glass as he nudges it closed with his foot. He cracks them both open with his prosthetic hand with ease before passing one to Alexander as he once again gets comfortable on the bed, leaning his back against the wall.

[thetoxictitan]

He enters the room and starts taking in the clutter, its somewhat reassuring to see that his quarters are fairly clean, as he was expecting a mess of bottles and unwashed clothing on the floor. Perhaps he miscalculated already.

“The bed will do” Alexander bites the bullet and settles in, leaning in to take the bottle from Fuse. The bed feels quite...intimate, as much as he despises that word, and it leaves him unable to relax.

[ambassadorofboom]

Alexander isn't alone in feeling a little awkward about sitting together on the bed. It did feel way too intimate but it was the only place to sit in his cramped quarters; Fuse didn't even have a desk, much less a chair.

Despite the feelings of awkwardness, Walter projects an air of being laid back, as usual. He tilts back the bottle, closing his eyes as the taste and feeling of the brew immediately takes him back to Salvo. Is he a little homesick? Yeah, maybe just a little.

"So, whaddya think? One of Salvo's finest," He sounds almost proud of the beer, watching with something akin to eagerness in the hopes that Caustic finds it 'satisfactory' as well.

[thetoxictitan]

"It's...satisfactory" He rumbles, perhaps not strong enough for his taste but as beers go its a decent drink. So he continues to sip at the alcohol, slowly but surely relaxing and letting himself glance over at Walter more often. How does he seem to calm down so quickly?

After awhile of silence, Caustic sits up to begin to speak "You're an intriguing man, Fitzroy. I had only accepted your request to better understand a rather chaotic mind like yours"

[ambassadorofboom]

"Gotta feelin' that coming from you, that's a glowing review. I'll take it," He chuckles, taking another long drink.

He doesn't really mind the silence that settles between them for a few minutes. It feels comfortable, both of them just enjoying a nice drink.

"Was that a compliment, mate?" He's going to take it as such, "Chaotic? Not really sure I know what you mean.

You're a pretty interesting bloke yourself though, y'know? Didn't much expect someone with your skills, your smarts, to be running around in a blood sport. Guess we all have our reasons though."

[thetoxictitan]

“You may make of that comment what you will” He takes a longer sip, opting to lie back a little himself.

“Chaotic as in instinctual or impulsive, your actions and processing seem to be all on a whim. Though it is understandable if I recall the political climate of your planet correctly.

As for myself, I am merely here for further data collection.” Deep down in his iron-clad heart he is flattered that Fuse thinks so highly of him. Even if he himself is satisfied with his place in The Games.

[ambassadorofboom]

Walter seems to pause to give what the doctor is saying some real consideration.

"Instinctive and impulsive..." He mulls it over before giving him a nod, "Yeah, I s'pose that's pretty accurate."

He leans back a little, a growing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You seem to like that about me, doc," He tilts his head to study Alexander for a moment, his gaze lingering on his lips and well-groomed beard before moving back up to search Alexander's pale eyes. He's pretty sure he isn't misreading this situation - beers, in his room, getting his 'impulsiveness' complimented. He likes to think he can take a hint.

He leans closer, shifting so he can rest his hand on the side of Alexander's face to guide him into a firm kiss, not an inkling of hesitation or uncertainty as he presses his lips against Caustic's.

[thetoxictitan]

“I find it quite...fascinating, yes” Alexander feels a blush start to creep up his face, attempting to obscure his face with a hand and turns away slightly as his eyes betray his interest.

The poor man is like a deer in headlights when Walter finally kisses him, his blush intensifying tenfold. Though he makes no move to object, even resting a hand over the other’s gently after his initial hesitance melts.

[ambassadorofboom]

The blush is strangely endearing. Walter had noticed his freckles upon their first meeting but the red flush only makes them stand out now. He offers the doctor a lopsided smile as he eases back from the shallow kiss.

“Yeah, I think I see what you might be talkin’ about,” He says, smirk growing wider.

His gaze shifts to Alexander’s hand placed over his own, feeling a silly little flutter in his chest.

“Heh. Seems like I’m not the only one who’s full of surprises.”

[thetoxictitan]

Caustic’s gaze flickers to his hand, pulling it away in a slight panic. “It was solely a reaction, this does not dictate any feelings” He grumbles, turning away again to try and hide his intensifying blush under a layer of irritation.

He sits up, slouching in on himself as if he’s setting up a kind of an emotional barrier. He will not allow himself to grow attached again like he did with Ms. Paquette, it only ends in failure.

For the moment, he occupies himself with another swig of alcohol as he contemplates whether leaving is an optimal choice.

[ambassadorofboom]

Fuse doesn’t chase after him, slowly lowering his hand with his eye trained on the doctor’s face, trying to gage whether he’d overstepped a boundary out whether the scientist was just a little on the skittish side. He lets him put up his defenses and go somewhere where he feels comfortable again. Lets him feel a sense of control over the situation. He’s navigated these waters before, traversing the fine line between pushing someone outside their comfort zone while not going so far as to scare them off completely.

He offers him a laid back reassuring smile and a blink that may very well have been a wink. Maybe.

“Nah. Totally understandable,” He settles back, still subtly keeping a close watch on Caustic.

“Just to clear the air a bit y’ know, this can be as little or as much as you want. I’m not a complicated bloke,” Clearly not... judging by his very uncomplicated relationship with a certain unhinged Salvonian war lord. He gives Caustic’s knee a pat, something more than friendly and reassuring but less than open affection, and tips back his bottle, draining the rest of his beer.

“But hypothetically -you scientist types deal in hypothesis all the time right?- hypothetically, if you were curious,” He pauses to lean over and snag another bottle from the mini fridge, cracking the top off on his arm before continuing, “I’d be happy to oblige.”

[thetoxictitan]

There is certainly a lot of inner conflict going on right now, and it shows quite plainly if you look in the right places, one hand running through his own hair, the small sigh escaping him, taking out his small notebook to scribble a few things down.

There’s a part of him deep down that truly wants to learn about Walter further, its an interest bordering on something else he’s afraid to admit. But does he truly want the Slavonian to know him that intimately? Shatter the veil of intimidating and gruff Caustic to someone who many not have earned the privilege? But he’s offering the most ample opportunity, the data would be fascinating to study and perhaps even utilize.

He resigns to setting the notebook aside, taking a big gulp of his drink and turning back to Walter with his more typical uncaring tone,
“Fine, but if you speak of this moment beyond the confines of this room, I will make sure your death prolonged and torturous.”

[ambassadorofboom]

The good doctor does look a little nervous. Cagey. Fuse finds it absolutely endearing. He wouldn’t go so far as to use the word ‘cute’, no need to get himself murdered outside of the games, but it was pretty damn cute. Especially the little notebook. He’s dying to know what kind of notes had just been added but doesn’t feel bold enough to ask, again, the whole valuing his life thing.

He waits with a feigned air of patience, nervous as hell on the inside that he’s pushed too far but cool as a bloody cucumber on the surface as he takes another drag from his fresh bottle of beer, giving Caustic time to work through his thoughts.

The answer isn’t everything he’d hoped it’d be while also being better than he imagined.

He hums in consideration, tilting his head a little.

“I’ll be straight with you, mate, I won’t be anybody’s dirty little secret. But I can meet you halfway. I ain’t no gossip and there ain’t anybody for me to go running off to gush to about this anyway. But. If someone asks, I’m not gonna lie either. Deal?”

[thetoxictitan]

“Very well” He gives a firm nod, turning a little to face Fuse on the bed. If he’s being honest with himself, the logistics of an encounter like this are foreign to him.

Too many variables in play for him to come up with a conclusive solution. So he goes, hesitantly, with his gut feeling. Perhaps continuing from their prior interaction would suffice...

Caustic takes Walter by the collar of his shirt, pulling him back in to start up another kiss. Its certainly not as graceful as the Salvonian’s attempt, quickly bumping noses as their lips collide.

[ambassadorofboom]

Fuse hums quietly when Caustic takes him by the collar and pulls him into another kiss. Unexpected, but in the best way possible.

His lips curl into a slight smile against Caustic's as he presses into the kiss, returning it with enthusiasm. The doctor's facial hair brushes against his own and across his lips, both ticklishly pleasurable.

He makes another soft noise when their noses bump for a second time, smile growing as he exhales something just shy of a pleased chuckle through his nose. His own hands had found their way to rest against Caustic's chest before sliding his good hand up to cup the side of Caustic's face, fingers threading through his beard.

[thetoxictitan]

Alexander keeps his eyes closed for most of it, only daring to open them when he feels the touch on his face.

And when he sees the display in front of him he can’t help an eyeroll, where the noises and the smile truly necessary? He pulls away after a beat to breathe and gauge Fuse’s reaction.

There’s still a dusting of red across his cheeks and he can’t seem to make eye contact for more than a few seconds, but he doesn’t turn away this time which is a good start.

[ambassadorofboom]

"Not bad, Doc," He mumbles softly, "Not sure what 'data' you think you need. Seems you got quite a bit of data already."

He leans forward, taking Alexander's lower lip between his teeth with a low chuckle before letting it slowly slip loose.

Still grinning, he gives him a light push to the side, getting up so Caustic can swing his legs up onto the bed.

[thetoxictitan]

He feigns a look of annoyance, blush still prominent across his cheeks. That lip bite is absolutely scandalous, but he can’t help quietly filing that image away for later.

“Any data will suffice, a larger collection is needed” Caustic mumbles, giving the bed under him a once over before getting readjusted. Its a standard model, but he can already hear the awkward creaking of the bedpost and the snapping of the feeble metal under their combined weight. It makes him cringe internally.

[ambassadorofboom]

While he's up, he takes the opportunity to shrug out of his worn t-shirt, frowning a little as he has to take a bit of extra time to work it off over his prosthetic arm.

He doesn't notice the bed complaining until he's easing back onto it, the frame once again creaking as he shifts his weight onto one knee before swinging his other leg over to straddle him. Even then, his focus is on much different things.

"Lemme know if you need me to slow down..." He reconsiders what he's said, fairly certain Caustic isn't the kind of person to admit to being overwhelmed, "If you need a break to jot some notes or anything."

A reckons that's a perfectly good excuse if the man needs a breather.

He settles further, watching for a reaction as he rocks their hips slowly together, grinding down against Alexander with a soft exhale of a groan, resting his good hand on Caustic's chest. Just as unhurriedly, he feels over the dips and muscle of his chest and shoulders, a slow exploration.

[thetoxictitan]

Alexander watches every movement thoroughly, slightly fixated on the prosthetic and sophisticated it is. It seems to replicate muscle movements and pressure accurately. At some point he snaps out of his thoughts to realize he should follow Walter’s lead, removing his own sweater.

He only grunts an affirmative in response, avoiding eye contact for the time being as Walter straddles him.

Once he starts though, Alexander lets a sigh of contentment escape him. Its been such a long time since he’s felt a tender touch, almost in ten years. The grinding only exemplifies the burn of desire in him, his body is begging for it.

He lets a hand explore Fuse in return, starting at his hip to map out what he may come across, scars, tensed muscles, anything.

[ambassadorofboom]

He reluctantly eases back when Alexander starts to work his sweater off. They’re a pair. Alexander looks just as he expected. Pale, freckles, and like his chest hadn’t seen the sun for a few years. Which Fuse reckoned was probably true. He hasn’t been around that long but he hadn’t ever seen the scientist in anything shy of long sleeves. His own tan wasn’t much better, a faint outline of his usual sleeveless undershirt showing in the contrast between lightly sunkissed and pale skin.

There are naturally a myriad of scars, most old, but the freshest around his right shoulder, still faintly pink. Joining them are a few blossoming bruises from today’s games and a spattering of old, amateur looking tattoos, the lines more like melty blobs at this point - a heart, maybe some initials.

Alexander’s sigh goes right though him, affecting him far more than he would’ve thought it would, jeans already feeling a little uncomfortably tight. Likewise, it’d been a while since he’d had anything like this and his body yearned for it. He leans into the touch, rocking his hips again with another groaned sigh.

“Bloody Hell, mate, feels like we’re a couple of randy teens,” He chuckles, going for his belt so he can unzip his pants. He leaves it at that, moving his hand back to Alexander’s chest, thumb following the dusting of dark hair that runs up his torso to fan out over his chest, teasingly brushing over a nipple.

[thetoxictitan]

Alexander finds Walter all too interesting, so much of the man’s life pretty much plastered over his body. Which is fitting as Fuse isn’t the type to hide anything. The happy trail he sports doesn’t help Caustic’s returning blush either.

Caustic holds a few bruises himself from their last game, no matter how much he covers himself there is still very little between him and a golden trophy to the stomach. He does, however, have a few burns up his arms and chest from the nature of his work over the years.

Having Walter’s calloused, warm hand across his body is so comforting yet so intimate. It leaves him melting into that touch and giving into his desire to grind back.

He can’t help but chuckle under his breath with the smallest of grins, “Not a phenomenon I would have predicted to feel again”
There’s a stutter in his breathing as that hand moves so lovingly across his body, fingers in his free hand clenching to the sheets below him as he’s teased.

[ambassadorofboom]

A smirk curls at the corner of his mouth as Alexander seems to share his sentiment. There's a spark here, a mutual attraction that he hadn't misread, and he's glad he's not the only one who is feeling it.

"Nah? Happens when you keep it all pent up too long, mate. Then someone comes along and wakes it all up in ya. Gets that heart pumpin' again," He chuckles as well, as much at himself as at his partner, admitting in a round about way that it'd been a few months. Easily a few months. Back when he'd still been fighting in the Bone Cage.

His fingers trail lower, carefully over the red and blue mottled bruise painted across Alexander's ribs as he rolls his hips forward again. Gaze slipping to the movement to his side, he feels another flush of heat and desire at the simple sight of the scientist's hand curled tightly into the sheet.

"Can I?" He taps a finger of his robotic arm lightly against the button of Alexander's pants, raising an eyebrow in question. Not that he actually plans to use his arm. Despite what he leads others to believe, he's still a little unsure how his arm when it comes to finer motor skills.

[thetoxictitan]

“I suppose ‘pent up’ is one way to put it” Starved is more apt for his situation, as he rarely ever indulges in his lewd thoughts. Nor did he have anyone as an outlet, until now.

Caustic follows the trail of that hand in his mind, the pressure, the path it takes, all of it. He’s seemingly unfazed by the added roll of the other’s hips once again, letting himself reciprocate it this time with ease.

“You may” Is the only response he can spit out without sounding too desperate, even if the state of his body betrays it all.

[ambassadorofboom]

Walter doesn't need to be told twice, deftly working Caustic's pants open and giving them a light tug to unzip them. Shifting back slightly, he once again moves his prosthetic arm clear of both of them and unabashedly works his hardening erection out with his left hand.

Gaze dark, he gives him a few slow, experimental strokes, rough, calloused hand against sensitive, soft skin.

He watches Alexander's reaction carefully, knowing he has lube tucked away in his bedside table if his hand is too rough. Or maybe his mouth. Subconsciously, he wets his lips, giving Alexander a massaging squeeze as he works his hand upward.

"Feel good, mate?" His voice is gravely and soft.

[thetoxictitan]

Its made abundantly clear by the moan that slips from his lips that he is very sensitive. All of their rutting and conversation before heightened his anticipation.

It dawns on him in that moment as he glances into Walter’s gaze that he is the test subject now, and Fitzroy is free to experiment.

“Y-Yes” He responds with a lighter, breathier voice. The words seem to get caught in his throat for a second too.