Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Steven A. Starphase has always known his luck to be streaky.

At times, it saves his life. Times like these, however…

His first attempt at asking Klaus out on a date comes a few months after his darker machinations come to light, after the single most terrifying experience in his life is resolved by Klaus’s calm acceptance rather than the final confrontation he was expecting.

It hadn’t felt right to confess knowing that he was keeping such a big secret from Klaus. But now, without that barrier…and with the office empty of any other personnel...

“Um, Klaus. Do you...have a moment?”

“Mm.” The big man looks up from his computer, features mostly placid but for the hint of curiosity in his brow. “What is it, Steven?”

“Well, you see.” He starts and then stops, clearing his throat with a grimace. All those carefully thought-out words seem to disappear even as he grasps futilely for them. “That is. You know how we’ve known each other for a very long time, and now that...now that you're aware of the...ah, situation , I was wondering, if it’s possible that...would you like-”

His cell phone cuts off his fumbling attempt and Steven sighs, shoulders drooping slightly as he drops his head forward in defeat. Klaus’s expression reads as confused but he still nods patiently when Steven moves to take the call with a chagrined “sorry, one moment” to the other man.

“Mr. Starphase! We’ve got trouble!” The panicked voice of one of Libra’s contacts comes through, the sound of pandemonium in the background, and he immediately straightens back up, heading for the window to try and spot the commotion. “Paulson? What is it and where?”

He can see Klaus get up out of the corner of his eye at the sudden urgency in his voice and they share a quick nod before Klaus is calling for Gilbert to arrange for immediate departure.

Confessing will have to wait. They have a job to do.

The next time he tries is a few days after completing all the paperwork dealing with that same attack and its aftermath. The office is, once again, blessedly empty and Steven takes a nervous, steadying sip of coffee before setting the cup down with intent.

“Ah, Klaus. So...do you remember how...before Paulson called about those hydra-leeches, I was going to ask you something?”

When the other man nods, Steven gulps a little, throat working, but plunges ahead nonetheless. “Well, I wanted to know if, if you-”

The shrill shrieks of the elevator that leads into their base drowns out his next words. Steven's initial alarm fades into resigned exasperation when they hear Dr. Abrams’s excited voice long before the usually sturdy and reliable elevator suddenly crashes to the ground floor and the culprit steps out cheerfully, as energetic as ever.

(Leo and Zapp, on the other hand, spill out of the elevator after him looking like they've gone ten rounds with one of Aligura’s preferred vehicles. Even Sonic looks ragged from where he’s got a death grip on Leo’s hair.)

He knows better than to try again during the length of Abrams’s visit.

They go out to a concert together on Saturday. Steven’s sipping on some wine from the reception table and considering the possibility of a confession afterwards when Klaus excuses himself to take a call.

“That was my mother,” Klaus says when he returns, responding to his adjutant’s unvoiced question. “She wished to know when I could next visit the family. And...”

He coughs, clearing his throat, and the sound is flustered enough to catch Steven’s undivided attention immediately.

“And...?”

“She also wished to know if I would be bringing, ah. A significant other.” Small wonder that Klaus is so fidgety, then. It’s on the tip of Steven’s tongue to say something like “you could bring me if you’d like” or even something as brazen as “as long as you’ll have me, I would follow you anywhere.” 

(He can laugh the second one off, after all.) 

At the same time, however, Klaus’s family is composed of people who epitomize light and hope just like Klaus does. Even if the other man bizarrely somehow returned his affections, Steven would stick out like a sore thumb.

He settles on sympathy and reassurance instead. At least he can help put a smile back on his best friend’s face as they walk out of the concert hall together.

Being tipsy seemed to help at the concert, so he resolves to try again after a little liquid courage at a small gathering.

Just as he’s about to pull Klaus aside to ask if they could speak in private, however, concerned cries and raucous cheers fill the air as a completely wasted Zapp starts drunkenly fighting with a mostly sober Zed.

Steven groans and sets his drink down. Time to rein in their rowdiest employee before he gets them kicked out of yet another establishment.

Then, on the 13th: 

“So...Klaus, do you have time-”

There’s a thunderous crash and they both turn slowly.

A sense of foreboding crawls down his spine as he withdraws his hand from where he had placed it on Klaus’s arm to get the other man’s attention. His apprehension only deepens at the faces of legitimate fear peering back at them, their younger employees pale and frozen over the shattered pot of one of Klaus’s beloved plants.

The burst of aura from his right sends Steven skittering away into the closest wall reflexively. The kids somehow manage to pale even more, all of them starting to inch closer to the doors and windows.

Steven sighs and drags a hand over his face, the sound briefly catching their attention in the silence. He turns away from the beseeching gazes with a shrug, dialing Gilbert’s number as he slips away from the scene of the crime.

A replacement pot should help calm down their boss, but he’s hardly going to tell the younger ones that. It’s good for them to wallow a bit over the consequences of their actions.

The next attempt sees him in a hospital chair, peeling and slicing apples for a still-healing Klaus. There’s a tiny bit of vicious, if guilty, satisfaction at the way the big man meekly fiddles with his heavily bandaged fingers as Steven’s previously milder reproaches turn into a strict lecture on the importance of calling for him or the others for support preferably before things can go to shit and land their leader in the hospital with almost-fatal injuries.

(The guilt is a little easier to ignore when he remembers how his heart dropped like a stone into his stomach at all the blood, how hard it was to resist the urge to pace restlessly outside the hospital room, trying to hold onto a calm he didn't feel. 

How it was like to feel utterly helpless while the doctors frantically worked on saving Klaus’s life.)

He glances up from the fruit in his hands to find the other man’s apprehensive stare, Klaus looking both appropriately chastised and nervous at his sudden silence. The words slip out involuntarily.

“You’re important to me.” Those green eyes widen, Klaus’s jaw dropping open at the sudden brutal honesty, and Steven immediately backtracks in a panic, wrestling down the urge to gesture with the hand holding the paring knife.

“I mean! You, you’re important to all of us - you should’ve seen Leo and K.K.’s faces, even Zapp was tense, and...everyone was so worried, you know. You’re not just our leader, Klaus.” It’s not quite what he would like to say, but Klaus’s features smooth out from shock into something softer, just like he thought they would.

“Mm. I’ll have to apologize for scaring everyone. And...thank you, Steven. I will...endeavor to refrain from running ahead all the time.”

Equilibrium restored. Steven grins in relief, going back to peeling the apple in his hands and taking a moment to be grateful that he’s not the one with the heart monitor attached to him, what with his heartbeat still going a mile a minute from the scare.

“I’m holding you to that.”

The location after that is considerably more romantic.

The managers of an amusement park provide them all with free tickets in their gratitude after Libra successfully protects their livelihood from killer animatronics. While most of the kids rejoice over the free entertainment, Steven isn’t inclined to go until he notices the subtle excitement in Klaus’s features.

They end up strolling through the park alone, Steven mostly content to go along with Klaus’s choices in rides - the younger members disperse towards the more adrenaline-pumping ones after promising to meet up for lunch and dinner, K.K. goes off to enjoy the fun with her family, and Gilbert claims to have something to attend to before he leaves as well, a twinkle in his eye that has Steven wondering if the older man knows about his ill-advised crush.

(He almost says something on the Ferris Wheel. Almost - but Klaus had looked so entranced by the view that Steven had elected to stay quiet and cherish the wonder in his face instead.)

He’s watching Klaus consider carnival games when he decides to take the chance he didn’t earlier. After all, they’re no longer in an enclosed space and there's enough of a crowd nearby to escape into if necessary...

“So, Klaus, what-”

Fireworks light up the night sky, the accompanying noise stealing his next words. Klaus makes to move closer in order to try and hear him, but Steven shakes his head quickly and gestures to the show instead.

He'll have other chances. Probably.

They go to a diner together for lunch. Steven waits until they’re both almost done eating to try again.

“Klaus, I was wondering if-”

The windows and walls next to the tables behind him explode, sending giant pieces of glass and concrete shooting inwards. Dishes and customers alike go flying from the impact; there’s the stereotypical laughter of some villainous bigshot and his minions outside and Steven can’t quite drown his noise of discontent as he hurriedly chugs the rest of his coffee.

They put down enough money to cover the bill on the corner of the table not wholly covered in debris and step out of the newly-made hole together.

The fight takes five minutes.

On the 2nd, they’re walking back to Libra with bags of snacks and drinks from the nearby grocery store when it occurs to Steven that he could probably confess before they reach the main office.

(If he times everything correctly, he’ll even be able to escape before they get to the doors if Klaus rejects him like he probably should.)

“Hey, Klaus-”

“Watch out!” Hummer’s warning barely registers in time; Klaus turns and immediately punches the giant mechanical arm flying at them with enough force that it splits in two, crashing into a few rather unfortunate shops in the background. Dog and Deldro land near them a few seconds later, the impact hard enough to leave a crater behind.

“Sorry, our bad!” The exoskeleton parts to reveal the cheerful young man waving at them. Steven can hear him gently chide Deldro to be a little more careful as they bound away towards the direction of a fight.

“What were you going to say, Steven?”

“Ah, never mind. It can wait. More importantly, we should probably follow them before they get themselves put back into a maximum security ward...”

At the next party with the core Libra members, Steven’s careful not to drink too much, entertaining the possibility of confessing to Klaus afterwards. Except…

“Hey, hey, doesn’t it look like Klausie’s having a nice time with Dr. Estevez? They’d make a pretty cute couple...” K.K.’s conspiratorial smile as she elbows Patrick slyly has Steven involuntarily tightening his grip on his whiskey.

She isn’t wrong about how good they look together either - Luciana has an arm slung around Klaus’s shoulders as he leans down obligingly to hear her better over the din of the bar, the two of them smiling at whatever it is they’re talking about.

They’re both unequivocally good people who give their all every day to save others. He knocks back the drink he was nursing and orders a stronger one with a smile that feels more like a grimace, signaling the barkeep again and again until there’s suddenly the familiarly cool hand of his second on his shoulder.

“Frost.” The quiet voice near his ear isn’t a surprise - Tai Hong has a knack for appearing whenever they think he’s doing something risky or really damn stupid (or both). “With all due respect, I believe that’s enough.”

Steven blinks at them blearily for a moment before turning his gaze downwards, surprised to find more empty glasses than he expected. “Hmm…think you’re right, actua-actually. Should...head home.”

“Please allow me to help.” He would refuse, but the room tilts strangely when he gets up and he finds himself leaning against his lieutenant’s deceptively thin frame with their arm wrapped around his waist. “Mm. ‘kay. Sorry...and thanks.”

“It’s what I’m here for, sir.”

(He ends up sulking about the sheer frustration of it all to Tai Hong on the way back. His second’s impassive expression doesn’t change for a moment even as they pat his shoulder in consolation.

After all, they didn’t miss the way Klaus’s eyes had followed the two of them as they left, worry clear in his expression.)

Chapter Text

On the 7th, it’s Klaus’s phone that rings right after Steven manages to muster up the courage to start speaking. The familiar expression of apologetic worry has the weary adjutant agreeing to help him bail Zapp out from yet another sticky situation that is almost guaranteed to be entirely the fault of Libra’s most infamous troublemaker.

When they’re proven right, Steven freezes the lower half of a quailing Zapp to the ground. It’s really only Klaus’s intervention that prevents him from making the younger man into a full-body popsicle.

(That, and the fact that the wronged party had seemed satisfied with just that much punishment. And the monetary reparations, of course, which are absolutely going to come out of Zapp’s paycheck.)

Too many all-nighters and an inconsistent (and sometimes nonexistent) diet from a time-sensitive mission mean that his immune system is absolutely wrecked during an outbreak of a Beyondian virus. Klaus bans him from working after hearing the doctor prescribe antiviral medicine and ample bed rest, insisting on personally watching over him to make sure that he complies.

While Steven doesn’t doubt that Klaus is legitimately worried about him, he’s pretty sure that there’s a bit of a vindictive glint in the other man’s eye when he essentially invites himself over. He can’t really blame Klaus when he’s the one who collapsed onto his desk at work, which, according to a gently admonishing Gilbert, gave everyone a scare and a half.

That said, he still protests when Klaus essentially quarantines him in his own room, wrapping him so securely in a big cocoon of blankets that he can barely move. And he does end up drawing the line at being spoon-fed, but some part of him still guiltily enjoys being fussed over and cared for.

In the end, it’s the careful gentleness of those big, battle-worn hands that has Steven reaching for the courage that Klaus has always inspired in him.

“Klaus...listen, I know this is a weird time to do this, but-” The world tilts dangerously and his hands involuntarily clutch at his throat as he starts coughing so hard that it feels like something inside him splits apart. He's vaguely aware of Klaus reaching for him, panic in those beloved green eyes, before everything goes black.

(As it turns out, the virus weakened him enough for another, more dangerous bacterial infection to take hold. Klaus, usually so indulgent, steadfastly refuses to let Steven look at any work to take his mind off of the boredom that comes with a hospital stay. 

On the plus side, apparently the possibility of his impending demise is enough to get Zapp to take doing reports semi-seriously.)

At this point, Steven’s honestly starting to expect something to happen each time.

They’re simply sitting side-by-side on the couch in the main office as they read during a rare break- there’s no reason to suspect that anything’s going to interrupt his confession, what with everyone else gone to allow for new security measures to be implemented. The only people present are Gilbert, Julian, and some other technicians, all of whom are busy in a different part of the building.

He still doesn’t get his hopes up, however, when he taps Klaus on the shoulder to get the other man’s attention.

“Yes, Steven?”

“I was, well. I was wondering if-” All of the lights suddenly start flashing wildly, alarms blaring loudly enough that his brain feels like it’s getting physically shaken. Klaus fares no better, hands over his ears in a futile attempt to block out the noise.

After a few excruciatingly long moments, silence returns so abruptly that he feels mildly blindsided, ears ringing.

His cell phone lets out a cheerful trill.

“Julian?”

“Yeah, sorry, nothing’s actually wrong. Tried inputting one new thing and the alarms went wild.”

“That’s fine. Thanks for letting us know.”

“Yeah, no problem. I’ll get back to work.” The line disconnects. Steven stares at his phone before dropping his head into his hands.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it's nothing, I’m fine.” He flaps a hand dismissively, not sure whether he wants to laugh or cry. “Don’t worry about it - let's just get back to reading.”

Good thing he’s used to the disappointment by now.

They’re shoulder-to-shoulder after a ridiculously tough battle, mutually holding each other up, when the thought of finally asking Klaus out returns. The other man's body is a heavy weight where they’re pressed into each other, but his warmth is so comforting that Steven starts wondering if he should ask to speak with Klaus in private once they eventually make it to the car.

Of course, that's when their headsets come back to life. 

“Zed!” Leo’s shock is clear even through the earpieces. Zapp’s rapid cursing follows. “Fuck! Hey, Boss, Mr. Starphase, something just grabbed the Fishcake and the doomsday thing. Heading after ‘em with Pubes!”

“I’m on their trail as well,” Chain confirms much more calmly, though there’s a sense of urgency in her words too.

Steven resists the urge to groan, but only by a small margin. Confession plans aside, he’s pretty sure he’s only standing because he’ll bring Klaus down with him if he falls, which is why it’s a relief when the kids manage to help Zed fend off the threat and recover the potentially world-ending device without their assistance.

(He still feels strangely old when they finally make it over and the perpetrators are all neatly bound and ready for the HLPD to arrest.)

On a rather unremarkable Friday, he resolves to ask Klaus out after his morning cup of coffee, reasoning that they’ll have the weekend to start getting over any awkwardness if the other man rejects him.

They’re out of coffee. It’s a sign.

He doesn’t end up confessing.

The next attempt comes before a business meeting with the heads of a potential new sponsor. The company insists that they bring the younger members as well in order to enjoy the Star Festival celebration later, providing everyone with festively appropriate attire.  

Steven looks up from carefully tying the obi to keep his dark blue yutaka in place to find Klaus peering anxiously at himself in their shared guest room’s full-body mirror.

“You look great, Klaus. The color and fit really suit you.”

The sincerity and genuine admiration seem to help; Klaus’s resulting smile crinkles the corners of his eyes. “Mm. Thank you, Steven. You look quite dashing, per usual." 

Steven’s heart skips a beat and then thuds too-loudly in his chest at the compliment. He’s about to open his mouth to say something inane like “you do look good, but I’m in love with you and so I might be biased” when there’s a polite knock on their door.

“Mr. Miyamoto and Mr. Rikiya are now ready to see you. Please allow me to be your guide to the meeting room.”

Klaus instantly heads towards the door, so he misses the way Steven allows himself to simply slouch forward in defeat for just a moment before following.

He tries again a few weeks later. While Leonardo and Zed are present, the younger Libra members headed over to the latter’s tank immediately so Steven surmises that it should be relatively safe to give confessing another shot.

“Let me know when you're done with your game? There's something I'd like to get your opinion o-”

There’s the all-too-familiar cacophony of explosions and things breaking and the two men exchange a worried look before they rush over to find Leo clinging to Zed as the young fishman uses one of his blood techniques to shield them from the debris.

“I apologize for the trouble,” Zed says, looking and sounding appropriately mortified. “I thought I would ask Leo for his opinion on something new I wanted to try for my show, but…well, you can see the aftermath. I’ll clean everything up immediately and pay for the damages.”

“I have some time, I’ll help,” Leo volunteers, finally peeling himself away from his friend.

“I’m simply glad no one was injured.” Steven untenses at the obvious relief in Klaus’s voice. Then he actually takes in the amount of wreckage, vaguely registering the nervousness on Zed and Leo’s faces as they watch his expression change from concern to consternation.

“Steven…” Klaus seems poised to try and calm him down, but he simply shakes his head a little and sighs - Zed’s normally an exemplary employee and it was an accident, after all. Besides, he has already taken steps to rectify his mistake, which is more than Steven can usually say for his battle brother. “...I’ll make arrangements to find you a place to practice safely by the time you two finish making this place spotless.”

He waves away their surprised but sincere thanks, silently noting the way the young men smile at each other as Klaus and Steven head for the door.

(The next day, Leo and Zed come in holding hands. Steven’s happy for them, he really is, but he’s also getting ever closer to giving into the urge to slam his head against a wall a few times.)

On a cold Thursday morning, they’re waiting in one of the Armory’s more comfortable rooms to pick up K.K. on the way to work when Steven decides to try his luck again, tapping his fingers against the soundproof wall behind him nervously.

He makes it to three words before Klaus abruptly dives towards the ground, pulling Steven bodily down under him as the wall they had been sitting against bursts apart, the fiery blast just barely singeing the back of Klaus’s vest as the sofa that had been under them crashes into the far wall.

They stare at the broken furniture for a moment before looking at each other - Klaus doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to get up from where he’s still crouched protectively over Steven, and Steven’s hardly going to complain about having the other man this close, so everything is still for one long, strangely anticipatory moment.

It’s broken by a loud whistle, the sound of Patrick’s voice reaching them before the man himself does.

“The sheer firepower on this one...And without sacrificing accuracy, either...we’ll have to reclassify it, there’s no avoiding that - thanks for helping us test it, K.K.-”

And then, perhaps now noticing Steven and Klaus: “oh, shit, you guys okay?”

Klaus nods, nonplussed as he finally gets up and offers Steven a hand; Steven smiles at him as he accepts the help, ignoring K.K.’s raised eyebrow, ready to say something about installing more safety precautions when the sprinklers finally turn on, drenching the two of them in seconds to the laughter of the others.

He dials Julian instead, shivering. Seems like the fire response system here could still use some upgrades.

(Even the cold seeping into him from his soaked clothes can’t distract him from the way his chest warms when Klaus takes a big towel from K.K. and drapes it around him instead of taking it for himself. They end up sharing until Patrick and Neyka come back with more.)

Philip is present for Steven’s next attempt, Gilbert requesting his help when Libra finds itself so swamped with work that everyone is looking increasingly haggard from the extra hours. He sends Chain and Zed to do some reconnaissance work on yet another suspected drug ring while he studies folders of information on a newly rediscovered apocalypse-bringing artifact from the Book of Demise, downing yet another energy drink to keep himself alert.

Klaus ends his call with K.K., who’s tracking a few would-be assassins with Leo and Zapp. They exchange a weary look of commiseration; he takes in the woebegone expression, the tired slump of those broad shoulders, and puts down his own papers, back cracking as he stretches, yawning.

“Let’s go for a walk. Just to the corner store.” Then, because Klaus seems to need more convincing: “I'm sure everyone could do with some donuts and drinks when they get back…”

“Mm." He must look like a sorry sight, because it only takes a quick onceover for Klaus to agree. "Yes, a little fresh air may do us both some good.”

It’s while they’re strolling over that Steven registers how they are, in fact, alone. Despite the bone-deep exhaustion, something in him still thrills at the idea of confessing, which feels simultaneously easier and harder with all the caffeine in his system. He takes a deep breath: 

“Klaus? What do you think of-” Intimidatingly loud thunder shakes the air before they’re suddenly pelted by an unexpected downpour.  

He mutters “of course” under his breath even as Philip rushes over to them with a gigantic umbrella already open. Gilbert sends him a sympathetic look, and he kind of wishes he knew how the old butler found out before Klaus managed to piece anything together.

On the 16th, K.K. reads horoscopes while lounging comfortably on the couch in the office, gushing a little over her own and Klaus’s more positive fortunes and laughing at Zapp's. She stares meaningfully over at him when she reads Gemini’s considerably unfavorable prognosis aloud; he smiles blandly back even as he mentally cancels his plans to finally say something.

He needs all the luck he can get, after all.

Chapter Text

They take advantage of a clear Saturday morning and head over to the park, enjoying a few matches of chess out in the warmth of the sun. Steven watches the concentration on his partner’s face more than he does the chessboard; he’s not surprised to find himself smiling a bit at just how helplessly fond he is of Klaus's typical intensity. 

The urge to say something sweeps in like a tidal wave, affection for the gentle giant sitting in front of him rising so suddenly and so strongly that the words actually form, slipping out before he can stop them. Panic instantly replaces fondness and he’s bolting upright to perhaps explain or excuse himself, but Klaus only looks up in confusion.

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“Oh. Uh, well.” Steven honestly can’t tell if he’s immensely relieved or immensely disappointed. Trust Klaus to be so focused on a chess game that he didn’t hear a confession. “I just, I was saying-”

“Hey! You two! Good timing, there’s something for that illegal organization of yours to check out.” Daniel strides over and then pauses, nodding at Klaus’s polite greeting before raising an eyebrow impatiently at Steven. “Oi, what’s up with you? You’ve got a weird expression on your face. Weirder than usual, anyways.”

“It’s nothing that’ll affect my work, so don’t worry about it.” He drops his face into his hand. And the day had started out so promising too...

Gilbert is regrettably absent for Zed’s birthday party, which is a (mostly) quiet little affair. Steven volunteers to cook, well-aware of the trio’s usual food choices and Zed’s general disinclination towards the extravagant, and is pleasantly surprised when Klaus joins him in the kitchen.

He sneaks glances at Klaus while he peels vegetables, watching as the other man slices a pound of cabbage, that singularly intense focus at odds with the absolutely adorable apron he’s wearing. Steven has to tilt his chin down to hide his grin at the sight. 

They work mostly in a comfortable silence, periodically conferring over a recipe or trading off tasks, coordination in the kitchen as smooth as their coordination on the battlefield; Klaus’s pleased smile at their progress has Steven starting to feel that familiar disbelieving hope again, the thought that maybe, just maybe, he’s not a fool for thinking that there might be something, not when this casual domesticity just feels right, somehow…

“After the party...after the party, do you think we could t-”

The oven’s beeping is almost inaudible over the sudden shrieking and crackling of the pots and pans. Steven scrambles to turn the heat down, hurriedly checking on each dish still cooking on the stove before looking over at where Klaus is crouched, peering intently in on the cake.  

Klaus gives him a thumbs up, pride radiating from that big frame. Steven sighs in relief; anything else he might have said is lost to muffled noises outside before the door cracks open and Leo stumbles in, glaring at Zapp for the shove.

“Uh...is everything okay, Mr. Klaus, Mr. Steven? There was a lot of noise all of a sudden…”

“Everything’s fine, young man. We’re maybe...three-quarters done, actually.” Steven waves a hand at the finished dishes on the cart and at everything still cooking.

“That’s great!” Leonardo takes one step back towards the main office and then pauses. “Is there anything I could do?”

Steven’s about to refuse, to shoo him back to his friends, when he catches the considering look on his best friend’s face. “Klaus?”

“Hmm. Actually...Leonardo, would you and the others like to decorate the cake?”   

Catching on, Steven pitches his voice a little more. “You three can come in too, you know.”

There’s some more stifled bickering and thumps before Chain and the two battle brothers enter as well, still pushing at each other a little. Zed stops as soon as he notices their attention, however, neatly dodging Zapp’s shove and Chain’s punch in retaliation.

“It's up to you, since it's your birthday and your cake." Steven gestures towards the cake decorating tools. The fishman considers them, looking mildly bemused at first, before nodding seriously. “I...would like to try new things. Thank you both for the opportunity.”

The kitchen’s considerably nosier with all four of the younger employees inside as well: Zapp’s crude drawings and accompanying comments prompt Chain and Leo to smack him while Zed undoes his terrible work, the squabbling goes on until Steven clears his throat menacingly enough that they all go silent, Klaus compliments Leo’s artistic vision and Zed’s painstakingly careful decorative icing and Chain’s neat penmanship, Zapp contributes sneakily while they’re all distracted with the exception of Steven (who says nothing), rinse and repeat.

By the time they’re done decorating the cake, the dishes are all completely ready and Steven’s carefully arranging them on the serving cart, leaving Klaus to carry whatever won’t fit.

“I can help set the table,” Zed volunteers and Leo immediately grabs the plates and heads out towards the decorated table. “It’s your birthday, so let me and the shitty senior do that.”

“You wanna fight, pubehead?” Zapp bristles immediately but a look from Steven has him quickly grabbing some of the cutlery as he leaves the room as well with a small scoff, still muttering a little under his breath once he feels like he’s far enough to avoid incurring the adjutant’s wrath. Chain visibly holds herself back from kicking him, probably out of consideration for all the glasses and bottles she's holding onto herself. Zed blinks at their backs, surprise clear in his expression, and Steven finds his lips tugging into an unwitting smile in sympathetic understanding.

(It’s a strange but wonderful thing to know that there are people in this world who care for your existence enough to celebrate it, isn’t it?)

“Go ahead and sit down, we’ll have everything out in a moment.” Zed wavers for a moment but when Klaus nods in agreement, the young fishman bows slightly before leaving with a quiet but sincere expression of gratitude.

“Steven...were you going to ask me something earlier?”

“Ah, well-” They can hear K.K. as she announces her arrival by greeting Zed with birthday wishes outside, and Steven busies himself with checking one last time to make sure that everything looks as perfect as can be. “It can wait.”

It's waited this long, after all. 

He ends up trying a letter instead - if asking Klaus verbally won’t work, maybe written word is the way to go.  

Unfortunately, that ends up being little more than a fanciful thought. He finds himself typing a few words and then deleting them before re-typing the same words yet again. When an hour and a half passes and he’s still staring at a blank screen, he turns off his computer and opts for pen and paper instead.

Verded makes a sound of surprise and confusion when she opens the door to her boss slumped at the kitchen island with his head pillowed in his arms, asleep, surrounded by balls of crumpled paper on the ground.

Needless to say, he decides to go back to spoken word after all.

Steven stops by a flower shop on his way to work on the 24th, reasoning that Klaus’s love of plants means that the other man will at least enjoy the beautiful bouquet, even if no confession ends up happening (or, well, if the confession happens and Klaus rejects him).

It isn’t a bad plan, which is why he isn’t surprised at all when that happens to be the day that some aphid-like aliens decide to launch a city-wide attack by consuming as much plant matter as they can before mutating from tiny little bug creatures into giant monsters.

He freezes the ones that try to tear him apart after eating their way out of the bouquet and heads over to where the screams are loudest.

If his attacks are more vicious than usual, no one says anything to him about it.   

During yet another particularly busy week, Steven makes confessing his main motivation as tasks relentlessly pile up.

It’s what he clings onto as he tries to placate their pushiest sponsors, as he studies case information with Gilbert and models simulations with Anila and works incessantly on a seemingly never-ending mountain of paperwork. It’s what keeps him going when the breaks he tries to schedule are inevitably pushed aside for emergencies or business calls that end up running long, when he puts away his preferred coffee in favor of chugging energy drink after energy drink to keep himself from falling asleep at his desk (and then, when they start to lose their effectiveness, energy shot after energy shot; the Beyondians have quite the selection).

Klaus likely doesn’t understand why Steven keeps glancing up at him every once in a while, but seeing that familiar face strengthens his resolve just that miniscule amount, reminds him of what he has to look forward to, even if a confession is every bit as daunting as everything he’s faced this week.

Unsurprisingly, however, he simply passes out in his chair when the last paper’s completed; there’s a vague impression of someone getting him upright, of someone helping dress him in a loose shirt and sweatpants...but the next time Steven really opens his eyes, it’s to the ceiling of one of the office’s bedrooms.  

He’s comfortably burrowed into the warmth of the bedsheets and his tired limbs refuse to move beyond quickly throwing an arm out to retrieve his cell phone. There’s several messages from contacts within Libra and sponsors and others as well, but none of them seem as important as Klaus’s texts telling him exactly who helped him to bed or the ones explaining how he couldn’t find Steven’s spare pajamas and so had simply lent Steven one of his own sets or the last text, which implores him to take at least one day off.

He looks down at the white buttoned shirt and sighs, chastising the presumptuous rush of fondness that follows when he realizes just how big it is on his smaller frame. It doesn’t mean anything, after all - Klaus is simply being thoughtful, as he always is.

(Strangely, the other man does pause when he comes in and finds Steven still in his shirt, his second-in-command reading a tablet while reclining leisurely against some pillows, not quite ready to leave the comfort of the bed just yet.

Steven tries and fails not to read into his expression too much.)

They’re leaving a movie theater together when Steven’s interrupted from an attempt to maybe invite Klaus over to his own apartment or perhaps a restaurant with private booths by twin calls of his name.

“Mr. Starphase!”

“Oh, Gamiel, Emilida - it’s good to see you two again.” He offers a casual greeting to Verded, who follows her kids over at a more sedate pace. “How’s the cat?”

Despite still being a little shy around their mother’s boss, the kids offer him big smiles when they manage to catch up. “She’s doing really well! We clean up after her and play with her and make sure she has enough to eat and drink all the time - Mom said we’re being really responsible.”

They seem to notice that he’s not alone at the same time. Emilida tugs on his sleeve a little and when he leans down to oblige her, she whispers a “who’s that?” into his ear while peering up at Klaus in wonder and maybe a little fear, her brother simply staring in open awe. It earns a chiding “Emilida” from her mother, but Klaus only takes that as his cue to introduce himself as Steven’s longtime friend and coworker.

To his mild chagrin, Verded and Klaus proceed to immediately bond over how much Steven overworks himself and how he needs to take care of himself more. He busies himself with catching up with the kids instead until Gamiel suddenly stiffens, looking at the time.

“Mom, we’ll be late if we don’t go soon - we’ve got that dinner with Dad and your friends, right?” Verded gives a little “oh” of surprise before hurriedly excusing herself, the little family waving their goodbyes as they go. Steven waves back with a smile until they’re no longer in view and asks Klaus if he wants to try a new restaurant that just opened last week.

He still doesn’t manage to confess though. It’s too noisy and crowded, but at least the food’s delicious.

Intermission, a few days later:

“Mr. Starphase...this may not be my place to ask, but you've seemed...troubled, lately. I’m always willing to listen if there is something bothering you.” Verded’s smile gentles even more at his surprise, and he manages a sheepish expression, hand going to the back of his neck reflexively. It’s hardly the first time his housekeeper has somehow seen through what others can’t.

“This is probably weird to talk about with your employer, but.” He runs a hand through his hair, feeling strangely like a kid going to their parent about a crush. “How did you and your husband get together?”

She looks mildly startled for a moment, but warm affection lights up her face almost immediately. “We were classmates and then good friends for a very long time. I would venture to say we were best friends, perhaps - and he still managed to surprise me when he invited me over to a dinner he made all by himself.”

“At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to change what we had - I was afraid that if things went south, we would lose an invaluable friendship.” Steven’s expression must give away something of his own fears because she pats his hand, eyes soft. “As it turns out, he was afraid of the same thing. We talked about it and decided together that our relationship was strong enough that we could recover from any bumps along the way through mutual effort, healthy communication, and perseverance.”

A pause.

“Is this...about the gentleman at the movie theater?”

His startled reaction gives him away instantly. “What..is it that obvious?”

(Does everybody know? Besides Klaus?)

“No, but.” Brief hesitation. “It’s just in the way you look at him, sir. Like he’s the sun in your sky.”

Steven drops his head into the cradle of his arms, resting his forehead against the cool marble of the kitchen countertop yet again. Verded’s quiet, giving him time to recover, to consider, but he can feel her eyes still on him, waiting for whatever he has to say.

“I just...don’t think anyone’s good enough for him.” He lets the “least of all, me” go unsaid. From Verded’s sympathetic gaze, she probably heard it anyways.

“If I may, sir… please don’t let your feelings speak for his.” Even though there’s the slight sense that he’s being scolded, her voice is still incredibly gentle as she continues. “Give him the chance to decide that for himself.”

“You’re right, but...so many things could go wrong. If there’s any awkwardness between us, the entire office could be affected. And Klaus is so damn nice, he would overdo things trying to make up for rejecting me. I don’t want…” Steven trails off. Klaus is generally prudent and incredibly smart, yes, but sometimes his sheer kindness is overpowering.

“There’s always the possibility that things might not work out in some way,” Verded agrees, getting up from her seat to make for the refrigerator, “but, just from an outsider’s point of view, you two seem very, very close.”

And she and her husband had been close before they took a chance together. Steven sighs, but he manages a weary smile.

“I think I will try talking to him. Thanks, Verded.”  

He takes a page from her husband’s book and finally manages to invite Klaus over for a home-cooked dinner at his apartment, making dishes that he knows his longtime partner is fond of and pairing everything with a mild wine that they both like.

Klaus’s surprised appreciation at the sight of his favorite recipes warms him, but it doesn’t distract from the nerves, even as he chides himself - he’s over thirty years old, how is this so difficult?

(Does vulnerability ever get easier?)

“Mm. Steven.” He startles, looking up from dessert. They had been conversing relatively easily, but Klaus can evidently tell that he’s distracted. “Is something wrong?”

“Er...well, it’s not that something’s wrong, per say. I’ve just been...considering the future, lately.” Not technically untrue.

“I have as well.” Klaus sips at his wine. Steven almost chokes on his next bite and hastily coughs to clear his throat, waving away the other man’s concern.

Once he’s satisfied that Steven’s not actually dying, Klaus continues with a pleased smile. “Libra has been everything I hoped it would be, and more - the city, no, the world remains safe. We have grown from the fledgeling organization we once were and managed to find extraordinary core members.”

His eyes crinkle as he says “I was thinking that I’m...happy with how things have turned out.”

Ah. They’re on different wavelengths, then. But Klaus isn’t done, so Steven peels his thoughts away from how he’s going to bring up what he meant and listens instead.

“They were hardships at the time, but recently, I’ve been thinking about how those struggles in the past have helped me find my purpose in protecting the balance of these two worlds. And how, in the future, I’ll continue to contribute everything I can towards this goal.” That passion for justice is back in his eyes - normally, it inspires fondness or exasperation, depending on whether it’s being manipulated by Daniel, but right now, Steven can only feel a sense of creeping apprehension.

“That’s...very like you, Klaus. Always with the strength to move forward and promise your all.” He swallows, throat dry. “But, ah...is there room for anything else? When I said future, I was thinking about how K.K. has her family and how Leo wants to try journalism properly someday…”

There’s a moment of silence as Klaus considers. Steven has to fight to hold his own hands still on the table.

“Hmm...I’ve already decided to dedicate my life to this mission, so I suppose not.”

He should stop, he knows, but suddenly, every failed attempt is catching up to him and he’s not completely in control when he asks “not even romance, huh?”

It’s Klaus’s turn to cough, pinking a little. “No - with how demanding and dangerous Libra’s work is, with how much of my focus has to be on my job...I don’t believe it would be a good idea.”

Steven blinks once, twice, mouth open and closing silently. Then he’s reaching automatically for his best smile even as the sudden crush of heartbreak has his insides churning, has the beat of his traitorous heart going double-time.

“You’re probably right. To future success, then?” He raises his glass once he’s sure his voice won’t do something silly and give him away. It’s a toast to Klaus’s dream - and a subtle little send-off to his own more fanciful ones.

(It’s for the best that he never managed to tell Klaus after all. Maybe his luck isn’t so bad.)

His luck is exactly that bad. Or perhaps, exactly that good, since he ends up surviving yet again.

They’re near the end of a tough fight with way too many enemies when one of the summoned world-ending creatures (just how many apocalyptic monsters are there, anyways?) decides to simply self-destruct, taking out a sizeable chunk of the surrounding neighborhood.

The move also has the added effect of collapsing an avalanche of rubble onto Steven right after he’s already used a dangerous amount of blood. He’s aware it’s a futile attempt even as he tries to bring up a shield, the ice barely managing to drag itself upwards two feet before the debris is upon him.

When they finally manage to dig him out, he’s clinging onto the last dregs of consciousness, eyes managing to crack open a sliver with what feels like monumental effort at the sound of Klaus’s wonderful, wonderful voice. The other man’s hovering over him, concern and fear especially obvious in those beautiful green eyes as he gently cups the side of Steven’s face that isn’t leaking blood, and Steven tries very hard to make his limbs cooperate to perhaps pat Klaus on the cheek in comfort, but the broken bones and oxygen debt are simply too much.

He closes his aching eyes and tilts into Klaus’s hand the barest amount instead, vaguely registering the way his own blood is sticky against his back, though some of it has managed to soak uncomfortably into the front of his suit jacket. It only makes Klaus worry more, judging from the way his voice hikes in frantic intensity, the slightly tighter grip of that big hand, and Steven’s last conscious thought is that he really, really should have actually confessed, if only so Klaus could know the depth of his feelings, just like Chain had let him know, once upon a time, if only to get closure like she did, if only to stop feeling like he hid something big from Klaus yet again.

If only to talk it out together like Verded and her husband did.

He’s not aware that this regret translates to a quiet, thin, utterly exhausted little “I wish I had asked you out after all” right before he lapses into unconsciousness, nor is he aware of the way Klaus stiffens, absolutely stunned, after leaning down to hear, features slack with surprise.

He’s not aware of how Klaus’s brow furrows in contemplation as Libra’s fearsome leader squeezes into a small, cramped hospital chair next to Steven’s bedside, holding his unconscious adjutant’s hand and reassuring himself with a big thumb over that steady pulse, how he tightens his grip involuntarily when he comes to a crucial realization about the past few months, only to loosen it immediately when Steven makes an unconscious noise of discomfort.

He is, however, very aware of the next time he regains consciousness because his terrible traitor of a heart still quickens a little when he wakes up to Klaus’s hand over his, when he wakes up to Klaus dozing nearby. He tries pulling away before the heart monitor can pick up on this, but the movements end up waking the other man.

“Steven…!” Klaus’s relief is obvious, lighting up his face, and Steven really, really wishes getting over him could be an easier process.

“Thought I was...done for again.” He tries for levity and grimaces at how rough his throat sounds.

“I am immeasurably glad that that isn’t the case.” Klaus moves to get him a cup of water, speaking in quiet tones with a Dr. Estevez behind the curtain, and he takes it gratefully with his non-dominant hand, the other wrapped in a cast.

(He misses the warmth of Klaus’s hand almost immediately and hates himself for it.)

The doctor checks everything over and then gives him a thumbs up. “You’re healing about as well as can be expected. Rest up and we’ll have you back on your feet in no time.”

They thank her at the same time and then blink at each other, prompting her to laugh as she leaves the room to help with other patients.

There’s silence for a moment. Then:

“Steven. There’s something I would like to ask you.” Klaus pauses as if to gather himself and then simply asks outright, unflinchingly meeting those wine-red eyes.

“For the past few months...whenever you were interrupted, were you trying to confess to me?”

Steven’s surprised his heart doesn’t actually stop beating, breath catching painfully. He doesn’t try to deny it, not when Klaus’s tone suggests that it’s not really a question.

“You’re right. That’s what I was-I’m sorry.” He takes a deep breath, staring down at his blanketed lap, and winces when it makes all his pains ache more. “I swear I am trying to move on, and of course I won’t act on...on my affections, but if you’re uncomfortable, I can try working from outside the office more-”

He stops, wide-eyed from behind his bangs, when Klaus gently takes ahold of his free hand again.

“I would like you to stay by my side regardless, but I don’t wish for you to move on in the first place.”

Steven groans. “If you try to date me out of pity, it’ll only end horribly.”

“You know me better than that.” Klaus’s reprimand is gentle, but his following request brooks no argument. “Allow me the opportunity to explain.”

Verded’s words come back to him, unbidden.  Give him the chance to decide. 

Steven’s throat works but no sound comes out, so he just nods instead. Klaus smiles at him, eyes fond, and that damnable hope stutters to life again.

“It’s true that I haven’t given much thought to romance in years, for exactly the reasons I gave you last time. And it’s true that I would have needed time to think.” He squeezes Steven’s hand, perhaps in response to how stunned his counterpart still looks at this turn of events.

“However. Just because I have not considered it before does not mean a relationship is impossible - there was no need to give up so early, Steven.”

That earns a noise of choked indignation before Steven registers the teasing glint in Klaus’s eye and huffs instead. “I don’t know how many times you noticed, Klaus, but I made over twenty-five attempts to say something about it.”

A pause. “Hmm. I must have missed a few occasions.”

“I’m glad you did, to be honest…”

“Regardless, Steven,” Klaus says, getting them back on track, “I had considered the idea of dating when K.K. married Yukitoshi, but decided I should not attempt a relationship, reasoning that my complete commitment to Libra would be unfair to a potential partner uninvolved in our work.”

“Then, someone who’s actually Libra as well…”

“...would be more understanding of all the inconvenience, the lack of time during our busiest weeks, and the on-call nature of the job, yes. Even then, though...I thought prioritizing my work so heavily would be too much of a deterrent.”

Klaus suddenly hesitates, looking abruptly nervous like he’s just thought of something. “Mm. Actually, Steven. Is that something that would bother you? I know I may not be able to offer as much as you deserve…”

“What? Deserve? I’m the one who…Of course I don’t mind. I know how important Libra is, how important Libra’s work is - and not just to you, considering how many times we save the world on a weekly basis. Besides, I just...want to be with you. No conditionals involved.” Despite his best efforts, he can feel his face heating up at his own honesty.

(It’s worth it, though, to see the way Klaus’s features light up in response.)

“In that case, I have a request.”

“Klaus…?”

“Please make another attempt.” Steven does as good a double-take as he can, given the broken bones and all the hospital equipment.

“Ask you--here? Right now?”

“Yes. I’ve already asked Dr. Estevez to give us an hour with no interruptions from the hospital staff, and no one from Libra will be here for at least another forty-five minutes. Please, ask me again.”

Steven would drop his face into his hand if he could. Instead, he swallows and forces himself to meet Klaus’s eyes, as green and genuine as ever.

“Klaus, will you go out with me once I’m no longer confined to a hospital bed?”

“Mm.” He can hear Klaus’s pleased smile in his words, and it makes his own lips twitch upwards in response. “I would enjoy that very much, Steven.”

They’re still holding hands when the others come trooping in to visit. It’s Gilbert who notices first, chuckling quietly in the background as Chain, Zed, and Leo all express their relief at seeing Steven finally awake (Zapp mutters a “tch, I wasn’t worried”, fooling absolutely no one).

K.K.’s “Oh, Klausie...This guy, really?” has the younger employees staring more searchingly at just how close Klaus and Steven are, with Klaus carefully avoiding dislodging any hospital equipment from his seat on the bed. Leo comically takes a step back in surprise before leaning forward as if that’ll help him parse their joined hands better.

“Oh, heeeey! Does this mean you guys are actually doing it now?” Zapp leers a little, which prompts Chain’s fist to the back of his head. When Steven looks at her, she offers him a quick thumbs up.

“Are you sure about this? You could do a lot better than this black-hearted man,” K.K. wheedles, leaning on Klaus's shoulder. That prompts a rueful smile from Steven - he agrees with her, after all.

“Mm. On the contrary, K.K., I could not ask for a more perfect partner.” Klaus evidently doesn’t, however; Steven coughs and hurriedly makes for the cup of water by his bedside to try and hide the way his cheeks pink at his new boyfriend’s sincerity. K.K. only sighs, looking slightly chagrined despite her affectionate “what a charmer!” comment, and then jabs Steven with her index finger a few times right underneath his distinctive scar, ignoring his “ow” in response.

“You still annoy the hell out of me, but it’s about time. Congrats, you two.” The others echo her and the conversation moves onto other topics from there, Steven prompting them on everything that happened while he was out.

Klaus holds his hand the entire time, kissing his cheek in farewell when he finally leaves to respond to yet another Hellsalem’s Lot emergency. A quiet reminder of what’s to come after Steven recovers has him smiling to himself, even in the sudden silence of the otherwise empty hospital room.

It would be just his luck if a successful first date was as tricky as this confession, and yet Steven can’t find it in him to mind too much.

After all, Klaus agreed to go out with him. He has to be the luckiest bastard in the world.

(...Still, though. It’s not like there’s anything else to do in the hospital, so planning a bit can’t hurt. It helps to be prepared, after all. )