Work Text:
Olivier palmed the pale blue ceramic mug he had been sitting in a small café nursing it for the last half hour, his coffee was no longer hot but a mellow warmth. He had been chewing the inside of his cheek like a dog. He's been thinking lately, about his life, about his family. Olivier mused at the thought of that, family, what family did he have? He had his son, his Guiding light, the main reason he strives to be a better man, drop his old habits and move on to the right path. Alexis was all he had, in a way he was fine with that, but he knew that the beautiful flame he had been guarding with his life could be extinguished in a second, one bullet can end it all, it only took one misstep for a plan to go wrong. That's all it took. Olivier looked up when the door to the café opened, and Olivier stood to greet the familiar face.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, I had a couple reports to sign."
Gustave sat in the booth across from Olivier, accepting the lukewarm coffee Olivier had ordered for him prior to their meeting.
"It's alright, gave me time to think anyway."
Olivier wasn't stupid, he knew the relationship was fragile, they had spent a long time pretending like everything is okay, Gustave understands why he did what he did back in Africa,he won't accept it, but that's okay. Him understanding has been the buildings blocks of their relationship, it's allowed them to spend time during their lunchbreaks, talking about anything that interested them. It was awkward at first, the tension was thick and very obvious.
It got better over time, awkward smiles and skin crawling silence turned to gossip around the workplace and corny jokes. Olivier remembers the first time he made Gustave laugh, actually laugh until he had to cover his mouth with his hand to prevent any humiliation.
It was a corny joke about medicine, but it hit the sweet spot and had Gustave cackling.
/"A man walks into a doctor’s office. He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear, and a banana in his right ear."
“What’s the matter with me?” he asks the doctor. The doctor replies, “You’re not eating properly.”/
It was that very joke that had Gustave laughing, and Olivier couldn't of been more proud of himself in that very moment.
Right now though, he was nervous. He's been meaning to ask Gustave a very personal favour, and he's hoping that this wouldn't cross a line or push too far.
"I've been thinking,"
Olivier began, his old habits kicking in again because he began to bite his lip.
"In our jobs, I cannot guarantee that I'll live to see next week."
Olivier stared at his coffee, swirling it a bit in his mug. Trying to distract himself from the nerves plaguing his chest.
"Everything can go wrong quickly, and it pains me that I cannot promise my son that.."
For fucks sake, Olivier felt tears well in his eyes. He refused to cry in front of Gustave, there's something vulnerable about crying in front of someone, someone Olivier constantly tries to impress.
"I cannot promise him that.. I'll come home, and it pains my heart thinking he'll loose another parent."
At this point Gustave was staring at him with an empathetic gaze, he was beginning to understand this was a private matter, and was most likely the reason he brought him to a nice Café in quiet spot of town, so he waited patiently for Olivier to finish.
"I'd like to ask a favour of you,"
Olivier felt a lump form in his throat, he closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. This was harder than he thought, he always prided himself on being strong, never showing fear or sadness in the line of duty, now look at him, he's crying now, just thinking about leaving his son behind has his heart breaking.
"If I don't make it home one day, and I leave Alexis alone, could you.. could you make sure he's okay?"
Olivier couldn't bare to look into Gustave's eyes, was he insulted? Upset? Disturbed that Olivier would even ask this question? They had only begun rebuilding their friendship, had he just destroyed the very foundation of it?
"Olivier-"
Panic settled in his gut, and he felt the need to justify himself.
"I know this is a very loaded question but.. all jokes aside, you're a very good man, you have all the care in the world."
Olivier finally looked up, wiping his eyes and pretending he wasn't crying.
"He'd like you, I know that, and I know that if I died, you'd make sure he's okay, I know how crazy this sounds Gustave."
There was a couple moments of silence, Olivier could see the gears turning in his head. For once in his life Olivier had truly feared he had said the worst.
Gustave leaned in closer, his brown eyes baring into green ones, some of his black hair fell onto his face, covering his features.
"It is my soul purpose to try and keep everyone here alive,"
His voice was just above a whisper, and it had Olivier ensnared, there was something oddly beautiful about Gustave, not everyone got to see it. The thought that the sweet and tender side of Gustave being only for him had butterflies fluttering in his stomach, flying up his throat trying to get past his lips.
"However, I understand that I am no god, I cannot keep everyone alive."
Gustave took a breath and tucked the loose hair away.
"If you pass in the line of duty. I would be honoured to make sure your son is okay."
Relief flooded his body and through his veins, like a damn broke he smiled, he could hug Gustave if it weren't for the table being in the way.
"You promise?"
Gustave returned his smile, leaning back and taking a sip of his now cold coffee.
"I promise."