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On the way up from the hangar back to the third floor, Elliot didn't think much about the Courageous elevator stopping on the second floor. The doors opened, with Rean standing there. He nodded his head at Elliot then moved in next to him, allowing the doors to close and the elevator to move again.
This was also probably the third time in the last few days that Rean had instantly sought out Elliot's hand, and Elliot gladly took it even if it was just for a moment. Rean had had a lot to think about lately with everything that had been going on for the last few weeks, and if he was able to give him even the tiniest bit of reassurance, then he would. Even if it was just this, since he seemed to fail to do anything else despite the fact that by all technicalities, the two of them were dating.
Rean turned to look at him in the face as if he wished for a kiss, but that was when the elevator stopped again, and they both smiled awkwardly and Elliot stepped outside, heading to the rest area to sit down and check the quartz he had gotten changed earlier.
Not that again. He was starting to feel as if that was getting unusually common with him and Rean. Rean, who clearly wanted to just... hold him or something, but this ship was way too public and crowded, and they never seemed to get the chance for a bit of privacy. Things were much easier if they stopped by Ymir or something, but on the ship, there were little chances for even that tiny bit of handholding. He sighed as he slumped on the rest area bench, finding little interest in the ARCUS now.
"Tiring day?" Machias' voice asked, and it took Elliot a moment to realize Machias was sitting at the end of the table, doing some weapon maintenance.
"Oh," Elliot acknowledged, mustering some energy and shuffling to the other end of the bench to sit closer to his friend. "Yeah, bit of that, and bit of something else." He put the ARCUS on the table next to Machias' various gun parts. "Just got a reminder of something yet again, and it gets me kinda down, you know?"
Machias put the part of the shotgun he had been cleaning down on the table, crossed his arms across his chest and gave Elliot a stern look. "Right then. Speak up."
"Huh?" Elliot stared at him for a moment then smiled. "Ahaha, it's... nothing serious really? Or maybe it is serious, I don't know, but it's also kind of personal and..." He took a glance around, but nobody else seemed to be in the vicinity to hear. "It's about Rean, actually," he then said in a low tone of voice. "We just passed each other in the elevator." Machias just looked at him as though that wasn't enough of an explanation, and Elliot took a moment to think about it. "We... would both clearly want some intimacy, but a quick touch of his hand was all I had time for before the doors opened again."
"Mmmh," Machias mumbled with a nod, clearly understanding what Elliot meant with that. "And you'd like something more?"
"Obviously, but this ship is a little..." Right then, a pair of first years from the other classes passed by, and Elliot stayed quiet until they were out of the corridor. "See what I mean? Can barely even talk to someone without being interrupted. Imagine wanting to..." He waited for a few seconds then leaned a little closer to Machias. "...kiss someone in here," he whispered.
The knowing look on Machias' face was more than a few variations of, "I know exactly what you mean", and Elliot straightened his back and just stared at him for a moment. "Okay, so," Machias said, lowering his voice a little. "Anything proper has to wait till we're docked, but on the ship? You can kiss around here."
"You can?" Elliot asked. "We've managed like once, in the bathroom when it was pretty late, but..."
"There are a few places," Machias continued. "Bathroom if you don't mind that, then one of the storages, either deck near the wall assuming nobody else is outside, and..." He took a pause, thinking. "Oh and if Paula isn't there with the horses, you can go behind Valimar. Yeah Clara barely ever leaves her work down in the hangar, but she can't see that spot and implying that she sees anything but her pile of rock." He smiled. "Though Valimar might comment on something. And you're with Rean, so he'd definitely say something."
He was clearly speaking from experience, and Elliot blinked. "You mean... you and Jusis have done it?" He asked, a little surprised. "I... honestly thought he doesn't like touching other people, but guess even he makes exceptions."
"Well, yeah, damn stupid haughty noble likes to tease me, for one thing," Machias grumpled. "Though sometimes I do feel like he just... wants to be close to somebody. Full of himself as he is, we're at war here. In the end, Jusis is just a very... private person, which also means that yeah he sure as hell is good at finding the few locations on this ship where he can shove me against the wall for half a minute."
If that was Jusis' way of getting himself a bit of intimacy, Elliot wasn't sure, but then it was none of his business. He was unfortunately quite aware of what Machias and Jusis had been doing during their time in Thors, and then he and Machias had talked about it during the last month while hiding in the windmill. Talking things out helped, and Machias had even admitted he missed Jusis, despite trying to pretend he didn't.
Elliot was never going to deny anything; he had missed Rean, and he had missed Crow, though the latter one... Well, he would just follow and support Rean's determination to drag him back. From what Elliot had seen, Crow could lie all he wanted, but he had definitely had feelings, and if anyone could smack him for all that idiocy, it would be Rean.
Another Thors student passed by, and Elliot waited for a bit before he dared to speak again. "I just..." He said quietly. "Rean's my boyfriend, whenever he remembers that anyway, and I want to support him. Sometimes, I just feel that I lack the ways to do so." He looked a little embarrassed. "That probably sounds a little selfish of me, considering everyone here is doing their best to support Rean, but I..."
"You, selfish?" Machias questioned. "That'd seriously be the first, considering how considerate of others you always are. Even now." He smiled a little. "Sure, we all want to support him, and each other, but that doesn't mean you should be doing it any less. Hell, I think you should be doing it as much as you can." He sighed, looking down a little. "I'm... not an expert at being the best support, but overthinking isn't going to help you here."
Such honest words took Elliot by surprise, and he gave Machias a smile back. "...Thanks? I mean it. You're right, and I really am overthinking. Rean does need to take it easy a little more often, considering his habit of trying to solve everything alone." He leaned on the backrest and closed his eyes. "If only I knew how to..."
"As it happens, I saw him just now in the elevator, and he said something about going to the hangar," Jusis voice from the side said, and startled, both Elliot and Machias turned to look at Jusis, now standing at the other end of the table. How in Aidios' name had they both missed the fact that the elevator had stopped on this floor again, Elliot didn't know. "If you're so worried, why not go suggest a break on the deck?" Jusis suggested.
"And how long have you been there?!" Machias asked, clear irritation in his voice. "Eavesdropping is a really nasty habit, though I wouldn't put it past someone like you!" Jusis just smirked at the accusation and crossed his arms across his chest.
These two never changed, and though Elliot did feel a little embarrassed about the possibility of Jusis overhearing part of their conversation, that also meant that unlike the earlier other first years, both him and Machias were so comfortable around Jusis that his possible presence didn't bother them at all. "Maybe I should," Elliot then said, getting up on his feet. "Or maybe I should go press him against Valimar."
That earned him an amused look from Jusis. "Hmph. So much for privacy," he said, his words aimed at Machias. He then shrugged. "I suppose that works, as long as you don't mind possible Divine Knight commentary," he continued, now talking to Elliot.
"He really did say something to you two?" Elliot asked. "I'll uh... keep that in mind. See you later!" He headed back to the elevator and waited for it to arrive then took a ride to the hangar.
As the doors opened again, he remembered he had been supposed to look at his ARCUS but had gotten sidetracked. Well, he had all evening for that. Right now, there were priorities. Rean was exactly where Elliot had assumed he would be, which meant near Valimar, with his eyes closed as if he was just concentrating on being there.
Paula wasn't with the horses, there was nobody else in the hangar (Clara didn't count) and that meant against Valimar's legs was free game. Rean did open his eyes when Elliot got closer, and there was a smile on his face as he opened his mouth for a greeting - and that's when Elliot just grabbed his hand, dragged him under Valimar, pressed him against the closest Divine Knight leg and got on his toes to quickly kiss him.
"Ah--" Rean mumbled then just went and grabbed a hold of Elliot's waist, pulling him up for a proper kiss. Light, but soon very fierce, and Elliot held onto Rean's shoulders and stopped caring about the possibility of someone walking in on them. It was quite obvious they had both needed this, and Elliot made a mental note to thank Machias for the encouragement. As expected, he could hear Valimar activating himself, and he withdrew just a little and nodded upwards. At least Rean caught on very quickly and let go of Elliot. "All good, Valimar, we were just... taking a break," Rean explained.
"Acknowledged," Valimar said. "For some reason, that particular spot seems to be popular for that."
Elliot just grinned and chose not to comment.
End