Work Text:
You Still Love Her
“Hey? Can we talk?” I asked, hanging in the doorway of our hotel room bathroom. I fiddled with the collar of my fluffy bathrobe, waiting for Five to answer.
He looked up from the bed where he was sprawled out in a matching bathrobe.
“Sure. What is it?” He said, slowly sitting up and moving to the edge of the bed, sitting more hunched over than usual, giving away his true age. Bright green eyes looked up at me with both curiosity and apprehension.
I took a breath, leaned against the doorframe.
“So uh, while you were tripping balls today-” I giggled, nervous. Softly, I finished my sentence.
“I heard you call out. For Delores.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He looked away, then back to me, his brow furrowed with concern, guilt even. “Are you upset with me?”
“No. Not at all.” I replied, and crossed the room to sit by him. “She was- she is important to you. You went through something unimaginable together. I’d never expect you to stop loving her- I know that wouldn’t be fair to ask.”
I laced my fingers between his. He squeezed. His voice thin, he said:
“I appreciate that.”
I waited a second, expecting him to maybe say more, but he didn’t.
“When we got together, I accepted that she’d always have a special place in your heart."
He nodded, and replied:
"You have a place there too."
"I know." I grinned. "I have a question for you, if that’s ok?”
“You can always ask me things. I want this to work.” He replied, smooching the back of my hand with a small smile. The gesture soothed me. It helped me ask this fate-altering question:
“Are you sure you’re ready to move on?”
“Yes.” He replied, instantly.
The look he gave me was so gentle, so determined, that I felt myself sinking deeper into my feelings for him. Comfortable once again.
“I don’t play games when it comes to love. I’m in this, one hundred percent. I want to see where this leads us.”
I smiled, content with his answer.
“Me too. I’m all in.”
“Glad we’re on the same page. Thank you for coming to me with this.” He leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. “You can always ask me for reassurance, ok?”
I nodded, and my stomach growled.
“Want to mosey down to the lobby? The buffet should be open right about now.”
“Yeah. I’d like that.” I said, and we both got up to get dressed.
On the way out of our room, in the hallway, I had another thought.
“Five?”
“Hm?”
“If you ever want to talk about her, please do.”
He squinted and tilted his head to one side.
“You want to hear about my ex?”
“I’d love to know more about the woman who got you through the apocalypse. When you’re ready.”
He smiled and lazily wrapped his arm around me.
“I’ll take you up on that someday. But for now, let’s focus on us.”
He came in close and whispered to me:
“You’re one of a kind. I love you.”
“I love you too.” I said, and let him guide me all the way to the lobby, where our dinner awaited.