Work Text:
The room was illuminated by a single window that was letting in the day's red light. The sound of scrubbing and the soft splashes of water came out of the room. Inside were two men, one with his red goggles on his head scrubbing the dried blood out of black clothes with soap. The other with his mask on was taking said clothes and washing the soap off with water.
It wasn't the quickest way to wash clothes but since the electricity went out it was the best they could do. The masked man spoke up, "Goddamn Hank, I know your a murder and all but would it really hurt you to wash your clothes more often"? He questioned as he noticed the water in his bucket had turned a deep crimson color.
Hank put down his dirty coat and scrubber to sign, "I just forget, Doc. Having the agency on my ass makes it hard to do this type of stuff". Doc watched his hands carefully and nodded. He hung up the damp pants to dry and sighed. Wearing a mask and two layers all of the time gets pretty hot especially in Nevada's weather with no A/C but Doc wasn't one to complain, that was till Hank caught notice of his friends sweating.
Hank thought about what to say, he turned to Doc and signed again, "Thank you for the help Doc, it means a lot". He paused looking up to make eye contact for a brief second then looking back to his hands, "You can take that mask off it's pretty hot in here and I can't have you overheating here just to help". Hank motioned to his goggles on top of his head and his mask that was pulled down. A rare sight to see, the scars on his face from past missions and that metal jaw.
Doc stood there taking in the full sight of Hank's wounds, he patched up so many of those. Memories of the missions he sent him on and the horrible condition he always came back in flooded his brain. Hank made a confused hum noise that faintly sounded like a purr, that for sure pulled Doc out of his thoughts. "Ah, thank you for the concern but I'll pass". Doc said, giving a dismissive wave. He admired Hank for having the confidence to show his face, but Doc couldn't bring himself to that level.
He admired Hank? The guy who barely washes his clothes? Sadly, yeah he does.
"Come on just this once. For me"? Hank signed, once again making that purring sound. Between the few interactions he and Hank have had recently, this purr is new, all Doc knew was that it made his mind race and pink blush across his cheeks. He stumbled on his words and he forced them through his thoughts, "Fine fine, just promise to keep this between us please". The tone of Doc's voice dropped a little, self consciousness pouring into it. Hanks' expression got more serious as he signed "I swear on my life". And held out his pinky.
Doc thought it was immature to pink promise on something important to him but it brought more trust than just agreeing. He wrapped his smaller pinky around Hanks as they looked at each other. This felt more intense than it should, Doc let out a soft chuckle before pulling his hand away and moving it to take his mask off.
The sound of a light click and the mask being placed on the table intrigued Hank, now that he thinks about it he's never seen Doc's face. Anything could be under that mask, he might look normal or his face is completely mangled beyond any human recognition. He stared as Doc fiddled with his hair, thinking of what he looked like forming in his head.
Doc looked up. For what feels like the first time in forever, he truly looked at Hank. His eyes widened, there was no red tint, there was no fear. It was just them face to face. The scars led from each tip of the doctor's mouth, elongating it a bit then going to scar tissue. Hank got closer to Doc's face to inspect him closer. The soft freckles, his soft amber eyes, the way the red dusted onto his face.
"You're really handsome Doc". Hank signed slowly.
Doc watched his hands move and his face turned a darker crimson. Now that would have been the end of the line for him but what he wasn't expecting was Hank's cold touch along the healed scars. Now, this made his heart soar. Along with being touch starved for god knows how long, the doctor's peculiar feelings towards Hank made this situation so much better for him. He heard a low purr. There it is, that new noise. The one that already found a warm, special place in the doctor's heart, he began to melt in Hank's hands as they held either side of his face. Softly humming as he snuggled his face in the other man's hands.
Hank smiled as he noticed Doc's eyes closed, his scarred hands lightly tracing the scars on Doc's face. Nothing else existed for this moment, there was no agency, there were no threats, no fear, there was just them. In the warm laundry room, there was something rare happening. A moment of genuine and uninterrupted peace.
Moving one of his hands, the bigger of the two rubbed his cheek against Doc's where his hand once was. This was the first time in a while that either of them got close to someone outside of combat. All of this was new for them. The small crests from Hank's hand on Doc's face. The rubbing of Hank's cheek on the others. They were melting into one another, the comfort was mutual.
They stayed there as Hank let out a hum now and again. His cold face slid away and Doc gave him a confused look, he missed the comfort. Doc looked into Hank's dark rose eyes, his thoughts pleading for him to return to his cheek. He didn't expect the freezing feeling of metal pressed against his scarring. It trailed from the back of Doc's ear to the tip of his mouth. The blush that had faded away quickly made its return in full swing. The doctor's mouth agape as he felt the steel moving towards his mouth.
The next situation he found himself in was a first to say the least. Back pressed to the cement wall and Hanks figure towering over him. One hand on the doctor's chin making him look up and the other propping himself on the wall. That cold steel found its way to Doc's mouth, a soft and slow kiss was placed on his lips as the smaller man stood there. Frozen in the moment, eyes wide open in shock. His words fumbling around when Hank pulls away. "Hank? I'm... Fuck it". Doc swore as he grabbed Hank by the coat and pulled him in for another kiss.
It was different, the passion filled the small room. It felt like everything had a pink tint to it as Doc put everything he had into the kiss, Hank exchanged it 5 fold. The hand that was on Doc's cheek slid down and pulled the doctor in closer by the waist, letting his hand rest there. Doc was the one to pull away, catching his breath as he felt the hand slightly squeeze his thigh. "Ay!! Watch it handsy, or you'll see who's the real murder". Doc said as he pushed Hank back playfully. Hank purred and made a sound that resembled a laugh. He grabbed the doctors hand and held it close to his chest, a genuine and caring smile on his face.
They decided to leave laundry for another day and start to discover this new electricity between them.