Chapter Text
"Oh wonderful. This is just what we need," Coby grumbled as the downpour attacked. The sarcasm was thick. He pulled his long coat closer around him, but still shivered, soaked to the skin, hair plastered to his face. "We won’t even be able to make a fire to keep us warm or cook dinner."
If the rain was bothering Drake, it didn’t show. He just kept pushing his way through the forest alongside his small companion. "I keep forgetting raw meat isn’t an option for you. We'll find something," he promised.
Drake studied him, taking in his features, finely shaped, his features delicate, yet perfectly placed, his jaw defined, and a sparkle in his dark, wide eyes. Coby was precious. Coby was an angel who fell from heaven. Bright, energetic, passionate. Noble and hard-working, and with endless optimism. Drake hated that he admired Coby so much, hated that he looked at the much younger man the way he did. Coby was eighteen. Drake was in his mid-thirties, but this? This was genuine attraction. Physical and emotional alike. He dared not say anything of it, but he knew Coby could pick up on subtleties with Haki as fine-tuned as his. Drake had no doubt Coby at least suspected something was weird, even if he might not be able to place it properly.
Drake longed for contact. This camping trip was one of the rare times he’d see Coby for more than an hour at a time. Tops. He planned to make the most of it. They’d already been out two nights, as part of their assignment, this would be the last night they would have before they would have to part ways again. Drake wanted so badly to scoop Coby into his arms, to kiss his forehead if he was bold enough to push that far. Maybe to hold his hand. No. Coby is too young, and we're professional. That’s all. Drake knew he was only lying to himself though. Just making up excuses.
"Drake?" Coby's voice snapped him from his thoughts. "What’s wrong?"
"It’s nothing."
"It’s not nothing. I can tell something's up."
"You can tell wrong, then."
"My Haki told me."
Drake fell silent. Haki never lied. "Fine, but it’s nothing to worry your pretty little head about. Just…it’s best for everyone if you leave it."
"C'mon! Now I want to know! And anything to get my mind off this goddamn rain."
Drake pulled Coby against his side, allowing him to use Drake's arm— hovering above his head— as a mostly-useless umbrella. If it helped Coby in some small way, Drake didn’t mind. "Fine. I’ve been…uh…thinking. A lot. About…you." The words were hard to get out, and pink already dusted Drake's cheeks.
Coby blinked innocently up at me. "Me? What’s wrong with me?"
"No need to assume something is wrong. It's not your fault. It’s just…you’re so sweet and cheerful and smart and strong and cute…you’re adorable. You’re perfect. The world needs more people like you."
Coby's thin lips curved into a smile that just made Drake's day, just like that. Seeing Coby smile for him. Because of him. "That’s…really sweet, Drake. Thank you."
Drake stopped under the relative shelter of a thick grove of evergreens. "We can shelter here for the night."
"I’m hungry," Coby mumbled miserably. His stomach growled in agreement. "And tired."
"Me too. Sadly, we lost the last of the camping rations when we had to escape the flooded riverside. And I can’t hunt for us with all the animals hiding from this rain, so we'll be hungry tonight. Sleep is a thing though."
"But it’s so cold and wet and…" Coby lowered his head in shame. "We’ve been out here two days and we’ve had like, six scares. So it’s scary too. Out in the wilderness and away from any kind of outside help, in unfamiliar territory…god, I’m a Marine. I'm not supposed to be afraid of anything anymore!"
"It’s okay to be afraid, Coby. Nothing will hurt you though, I promise. Anyone shows up and tries to hurt you or otherwise take you away from me, I’ll bite their head off. Possibly literally."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"It’s cold and wet."
"I can’t do much about the wet, but we're under relative shelter now. If…If you want, I’ll shelter you from the wind and keep you warm though."
"How?"
"By…um…" Drake was quite visibly a blushing mess by this time. "By…well…you could nestle against me. I'll wrap myself around you nice and tight so you can sleep on me and know you’re safe."
"Awe, dino-boy is looking for a cuddle?" Coby teased.
"Oh shut up."
"I’m not wrong." Coby curled up against Drake's side once they’d found relatively dry spaces to lay down. "Don’t be so sensitive! It’s nice, I have a big, strong dinosaur friend to cuddle with, what more could I ask for?"
"The rain to stop."
"Shut up when I’m trying to be sweet."
Drake curled his massive body around Coby's tiny, fragile-looking form, pulling the rosette against his chest and nuzzling into his neck. "Coby? Feel free to say no if you want, but…can I kiss you? Not a real kiss, just a goodnight kiss on the forehead or something."
Coby tilted his head up the slightest bit to present his forehead, smiling at the delicate kiss placed on his scar. "Mmm. I wish I could have a goodnight kiss every night."
"Every night you spend with me, you will. I promise." His arms locked around Coby's waist, gently squeezing him. "Nice and warm?"
Coby nodded, nestling against his companion. "I am now."
Drake lay his head overtop his coworker's, tucking Coby against him and kissing the top of his head. "You’re so cute…"
Coby blushed, snuggling closer. "Hold me."
"For as long as you want."