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Chapter Text

Gov was very surprised when Florida and Louisiana invited him to drink with them and a few other states. They decided to play a few card games and the losers would do shots. Gov as it turned out, not only was bad at said card games but was also incredibly unlucky. He had opted for gin instead of his usual whiskey.

“Mais sha, you’re one unlucky sucker.” Louisiana said as Gov downed yet another shot.

“Not the only thing I can suck, Louis.” Gov giggled as everyone at the table exchanged looks with each other.

“What exactly do you mean by that Gov?” Texas ended up asking.

Gov grinned, “I may not be religious but I’d be willing to worship you on my knees.” Florida wheezed as Texas blushed and stuttered. There were many laughs and chuckles from the other states.

“Huh, new drunk Gov. Who knew the fed could be flirty.” California remarked. Said fed just laughed as he stumbled over to replace his bottle, grabbing a bottle of whiskey this time. They kept playing, Gov proceeding to lose many more games and flirt with everyone at the table, a few jokingly flirted back, others reacted much like Texas, and the rest just laughed.

Gov downed yet another shot of whiskey as he lost horribly. He huffed as he realized he was dangerously close to passing out. “I’Mm done. I’ma go to bed. But I’m sad cause you’reee not gonna be there.” He laughed as he did finger guns at Maryland who just chuckled, it was a little odd but he seemed to be on the receiving end of most of the fed’s drunken flirting. He shook his head.

“I’ll go with you hun. Don’t want you passing out on the way there.” Gov beamed at the state as he stood and promptly almost face planted on the table. Maryland laughed nervously and quickly rushed over to Gov to make sure that he didn’t fall again. They walked in surprising quiet, Gov not talking until they made it to his room.

“You’re really pretty, you know that right?” Gov broke the silence as Maryland sat him down on his bed.

“Wha-” Maryland was taken aback but Gov kept talking.

“You’re really nice and sweet and you’re weird in a good way but you’re also really pretty and cool and I keep wanting to talk to you more but at the same time I don’t because what if you do like me how I like you? What then? Because I don’t know how to have a friendship with someone much less date them and I don’t want to be a burden because I’d be terrible partner I can’t take care of myself so how the hell would I take care of a relationship with someone else.”

Gov had tears rolling down his face by now. “Especially you because you’re so nice and deserve someone better than me.” He hiccupped. Maryland was stunned and didn’t know how to react. Well, there’s emotional drunk Gov. His brain very unhelpfully supplied him. Seeing Gov crying, despite his drunkenness, always made something squeeze in Mary’s chest.

“Hun.” He wasn’t sure how to continue, “I…” He sighed, “Thank you. And I’m sure you’d make an amazing partner hun.” He hesitantly put an arm around Gov who instantly melted into the embrace. “I think we should wait till we’re both fully sober to talk about our relationship though.” Gov nodded before he flopped back onto his bed.

Mary went to stand but was stopped by Gov lightly tugging on his shirt. “Can- can you stay? Please?” Gov’s voice was soft and pleading. The old bay state was too buzzed and much too tired to resist. He ended up falling asleep cuddled against Gov.

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Gov woke up with a blinding headache. The gentle morning light that poured into the room seared his eyes. He groaned, burying his face into the soft warm pillow that he was cuddling. He squeezed it with a contented sigh, not registering the fact that the pillow was oddly human shaped and solid until he heard it chuckle and squeeze back.

He blinked his eyes open to find himself cuddling Maryland who was smiling at him. Gov was a little confused as to why the old bay state would be in his bed until the events of last night slammed back into his brain. Oh stars he had flirted with so many people, he flirted with Maryland, he Confessed to Maryland! His panic must’ve showed because Maryland shushed him and ran his fingers through the fed’s hair.

Gov couldn’t help but to melt under the gentle touch with a hum. He was too tired and much too hungover to resist falling back asleep. The next time he woke up he was alone and the light outside suggested it was much later in the morning. Gov sat up, grimacing as his head was still pounding and he had slept in his suit. He decided to shower, trying to ignore his sadness that Maryland wasn’t around.

It was fine and probably for the better, he tried to convince himself as he stripped down and stepped in the shower. Maryland was sweet and much too good for him. Gov would probably just stress him out anyway. He kept his shower short and swiftly changed into some comfortable clothes: an oversized navy blue sweater and plain black sweatpants. Both had been gifts from IDC who criticized his lack of clothes that weren’t suits.

He fell back onto his bed with a sigh, he was debating whether or not he should disappear into his office and hoped that no one would bring up his drunken behavior. (He knew full well that wasn’t going to happen, he swore that he could vaguely remember Florida recording him after the first flirt.) He jumped when his door opened to see Maryland standing in the doorway.

The old bay state was balancing two plates of food and two mugs of what Gov could only assume was coffee. Though the fed’s eyes were drawn to Maryland’s face, a blush had spread across his cheeks and even reached the tips of his ears, he looked… well Gov could only describe the expression as when a computer buffered.

Maryland shook his head, still looking a little stuck even as a lopsided smile slid onto his face. “Good morning hun.” Gov was a little confused as to what had gotten into the state but he accepted the offered plate and mug gratefully. He gave a contented hum as he took a sip of coffee and bit into a croissant. They ate in a comfortable silence, though Gov was desperately trying to stop his brain from overthinking everything.

That was made easier with the delicious food, but soon they were both done eating and neither sure what to say. They each tried a few times but stopped short before actually saying anything. “So…” Maryland looked at him but he didn’t know how to continue.

“So” Maryland parroted before pausing when it was clear Gov didn’t know what to say, “Were you serious?” Oh. That’s the first question. It only makes sense he supposed. He could surprisingly remember what he said with clarity. So Gov nodded, unable to look at the state, fearing his reaction. He wasn’t really sure what he was expecting, disgust most likely, but glancing up, Maryland was beaming at him. “That’s really good cause I’ve felt the same for a while.”

Gov was taken aback. “Huh.” was his very eloquent response. Then what Maryland said really sunk in and his face flushed a dark red. The old bay state laughed and Gov couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. They both dissolved into a fit of giggles that eventually lapsed into a peaceful quiet. At least until Gov cleared his throat and asked, “So, um.” He fiddled nervously with the end of his sweater, “Do you know how to do this because I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Maryland laughed, “Honestly hun, I have no idea either.”

“So we both have no idea what we’re doing.” Gov huffed.

“Seems that way hun.” Maryland hummed and they lapsed back into silence. Gov was pulling at the end of his sweater sleeve, seeming to want to say something.

“So uh.” Gov cleared his throat again, “Um, can- Would you mind-” Gov blushed again, he wasn’t sure how to phrase this. He sighed, “Would you mindcuddlingmore?” He totally didn’t squeak out the end of that. He did but at least Maryland seemed to understand him as he scooched closer to the fed and slid an arm around him.

“Yes hun, we can cuddle more.” The old bay state chuckled as they both flopped back onto the bed with contented sighs. And if Florida peaked his head in to check up on them because no one had seen Gov exit the room, only to snap a picture of Gov on top of Maryland both sleeping peacefully… Well, neither of them needed to know that.