Chapter Text
The early morning sun in November didn't lend itself to a particularly energetic start of the day, especially just right after one went through what some would call a literal hell on Earth. Gromsko slept through his first alarm despite the sunlight pooling directly on his face, in a warm spot on his bruised eye, and he was well on his way to sleeping through the second one when he recieved a text message. Oddly enough, the notification sound woke him up. He rubbed at his face and blinked a couple of times to refocus his eyesight as the light blinded him. Looking at the bright phone screen didn't feel pleasant either but he smiled as he saw it was König who texted him.
K: Good morning
Did you sleep well? 😀
He took a moment to consider his answer. He did end up getting stitches after a very torturous process of having his cuts cleaned and basically reopened so they would heal better. Still he had to wait for the blood test results to check if he didn't get some lovely disease by the way. All things considered, could have been far worse.
G: Hi, a lil patched up but slept aight, you?
He put his phone down only to immediately pick it back up to read the instant reply.
K: I don't feel truly rested yet, my face is still quite sore. How is your chest?
Gromsko smirked at that and bit his lip, rolling over onto his back.
G: I'll show you mine if you show me yours xD
K: [picture]
G: Damn, you lookin pretty, even all stitched up, imagine I kiss it better xoxo
[picture]
K: ...
Heilige Scheiße 😳
Are your nipples always hard or are you just eager you had an excuse to show off to me?
G: Wouldn't you like to know 😎
Come over and find out?
This time he had to wait a little bit longer for the reply. He did start to wonder, if maybe he took the teasing a step too far.
K: I would but I can't leave for longer yet. May get deployed again soon.
G: Already? You just had gone through all that and they won't let you rest until you can get the stitches out at least?
K: Does this mean you are worried about me? 😭
Gromsko hesitated for a second. He was worried indeed and more than he'd like to admit, at that. Was he really going to get so sappy so early into this, whatever this was? They'd been to one date, after all, if you can call sitting in maccies all bruised, cut and battered that. He kind of felt a little immortal then just making the moves with all the confidence in the world but he had been riding a real high after what they had been through.
His chest tightened as he looked at that last message again. He scrolled up to see the selfie he got before. König was definitely an absolute loser when it came to technology, the angle was odd for him but even in a bad photo he looked simply striking, rows of blue stitches across his pale skin. Gromsko's hand still remembered wiping the blood off, the shape of each and every cut and the bones that felt so fragile underneath as he held that face ever so gently.
It surely did alter his brain chemistry forever, that moment. Not that he hadn't been certain type of otherwise inclined sexually before but he had never thought he would act on it, not with the way he had been taught he should live his life. He had kind of actually given up on any other idea of future but pure commitment to the army, not even really hoping to live long enough to retire. Now though...
G: V much, u could have bled out, debilu.
K: Aww 😭 I miss you already.
Gromsko had to put his phone down for minute, his heart doing what felt like backflips in his chest. Yeah, now was something else indeed. He collected himself.
G: Where are you stayin rn?
K: Do you think I should be sending you an adress of a super secret military base? Over a text message no less?
G: Yup
K: I may get in trouble...
G: It's for me though... 😌
Jk, głupku, just say what the nearest town is.
K: Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Where are you then? I mean, the nearest big city.
G: Shreveport
3,5h drive, not bad
I'll be there for dinner xoxo
König was the one to take a moment to respond this time.
K: ...what?
G: U said u missed me so I'm coming over.
K: 😳 😍
Seafood or BBQ?
G: Whatever u prefer
K: I'll send you the adress <3
***
Gromsko made a quick job of packing a small duffel bag with a change of clothes (just in case, you never know) and made his bed before walking over to the common kitchenette. Of course, the day started all too well and he couldn't be too lucky now though, could he. Price stood there with his favourite, pink "Best Captain" mug in his hand. He eyed Gromsko carefully, raising his eyebrow.
"Going somewhere, soldier?" he asked.
"Well, am I or am I not, technically, on a sick leave?" Gromsko chose to stand his ground without going for a fully defensive tone.
"Yes. To heal your wounds and not tear the stitches roaming around wherever you are going."
"I don't plan on any activites that would put me at a risk of that." Gromsko protested.
"You clearly plan on staying somewhere overnight and probably not with your mama given how flushed your face just became..." Price pointed out.
"It's not like that, Captain." he did feel the tips of his ears burning.
"Oh, I'm sure it is exactly like that but..." Price put his mug down and crossed his arms, his face softening, in conflict with his body language. "You do deserve a break, honestly, so you just be very careful out there."
"I'll be back by tomorrow at the latest, Captain." Gromsko promised solemnly, putting his hand on his chest in a dramatic gesture.
***
Driving across the state lines, Gromsko blasted Sabaton at full volume, singing along to some of his favourite bits, trying not to really think much of what kind of insanity he allowed himself to get up to.
It was only when he drove slowly along the street the little bar was located on, that it kind of hit him. He was going on a date with a man. And said man was already there, waiting, waving at him from a parking spot he clearly kept safe and unoccupied for him.
Gromsko felt an absolutely devastating emotion, which he couldn't exactly name, wash over him as he saw that König had the same exact scarf that he stole for him, wrapped around the lower half of his face. The freakishly tall man gave him the smallest awkward wave, trotting off to the side to let him park.
Gromsko took a really deep breath, fumbling with his keys a little longer than necessary before finally getting out of the car to face the man he came all the way over there to see.
"Hi." he said, feeling an absurd level of shyness overcome him.
König tilted his head, a strand of black hair slipping out of its place behind his ear, dangling to the side. Gromsko fought the urge to adjust it for him immediately. König's eyes were bright and smiling. He looked really good in civilian clothes, black cotton shirt with a couple of flimsy buttons at the front, beige cargo pants and black Martens. Of course the bright scarf contrasted with this well-put together look but it seemed like König couldn't give two fucks and that confidence was truly making Gromsko feel something stir deep within himself.
"Hello." König replied softly.
Gromsko felt a little stupid; his stomach was tied in knots as he suddenly realised he kind of invited himself over and maybe would actually get König in trouble for going out with him. He looked down, feeling himself blush. Idiota.
"I'm so happy you came!" König exclaimed and when Gromsko's head snapped back up to look at him, he was standing much closer.
So close, in fact, that Gromsko had to look up into his face. Jesus, was this guy huge... He felt slightly intimidated but König definitely paid their height difference little to zero attention. He reached out and pulled Gromsko into a gentle hug, for the first time such a closeness without blood pooling between their bodies. It felt so much nicer, just so soft without the desperate need to survive.
Gromsko relaxed with a sigh, wrapping his hands around him too, letting go of any conflicting thoughts, breathing in his scent of old books and something fruity like cherries. It was pleasant, he decided, very pleasant. He enjoyed the prolonged embrace, their breaths evening out to match as he closed his eyes.
Eventually König pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head before leaning back a little.
"Care to grab a bite now? You must be starving!"
"Just a bit." Gromsko laughed and eagerly grabbed the hand that reached out to him.
***
It had gotten dark way too fast for Gromsko's liking. They had spent hours talking about everything and nothing over their steaks, deserts and coffee, and Gromsko decided he enjoyed nothing more than making König laugh. The owner of the BBQ place started giving them weird looks though so they took it as their sign to get going.
König immediately grabbed hold of Gromsko's hand as they walked out into the chilly evening.
"What's your plan now?" he asked, when the door closed behind them with a chime of the bell.
"Ah, I'm not sure what to do honestly..." Gromsko looked up into the starry sky, breathing in deeply. "I could just go back but another long drive today... I'm a bit tired but in like the best of ways." he smiled, turning back to König. "Absolutely worth the trip, getting to know you and spending some quality time together."
"I think we could steal a couple more hours." König looked Gromsko deep in the eyes. "If you really don't have to go back today, that is." he was blushing, Gromsko could tell even with the silly scarf covering his cheeks.
"I'd like that very much." he smiled, squeezing König's hand. "I can get a motel room but just so you know, I'm not the type of guy to go all the way on the first date." he winked, enjoying the power to make König squirm a little.
Truth to be told, he had zero experience dating guys and if he dared to think about it, he still needed a little bit more warming up to the idea of just diving in straight for the biggest guy in town. He felt a little insane for it, really, König was a human mountain, terrifying whether he was on your side or not.
"We can just cuddle a little, I'll be good, I promise." König had the absolutely most innocent smile on his face. "We'll take it at your pace. However, I'd like to point out this is technically our second date, if you want to be precise. The maccies felt like one to me, even if we couldn't end it with a kiss."
Gromsko stared at him speechless for a moment, really wishing they would be kissing right now, in fact. König had the biggest puppy eyes while he waited for his decision and damn, if he wasn't the most attractive person in the world. He felt himself falling fast.
"Let's do it then, if you are also able to stall a little before going back to your base." he smiled a bit shakily. "I'd love me some cuddles."
"Wunderbar!" König smiled with his eyes closed now, little wrinkles at their corners the most adorable things Gromsko had ever witnessed; he couldn't even find words to express what he really felt.
***
In the deep but comfortable darkness Gromsko got hit by a sudden realisation. So sudden, in fact, that he stopped playing with the strand of König's hair that he had been mindlessly twirling with his fingers for the past quarter, if not longer. König sensed the change in his demeanor immediately.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he said, his voice a low rumble right underneath Gromsko's ears.
"Just realised we're lying here all cuddled up, as close as humanly possible and we still don't even know each other's actual names." Gromsko shifted a little to meet his eye. "Unless you'd rather keep it a secret?"
"No." Gromsko felt König's thumb caress his cheek, his bright eyes were glimmering in the dark. "My name is Arthur. What's yours?"
"I, uh, hate it a little bit, it's Sobiesław but people would call me Seba or Sebi." Gromsko admitted. "It is a bit of a mouthful, isn't it?"
"So-bie-slau" König made an attempt. "I'll get the hang of it eventually. " he grinned, his teeth a bright spot high above him.
He was truly everything Gromsko could have dreamt of, caring, funny, sweet and tolerant of his shortcomings, it was a lot to process. Gromsko was maybe confused about many aspects of his life still but there was one thing he knew for sure he wanted there and then.
"Arthur..." Gromsko said carefully. "Can I kiss you now?"
König looked a little flabbergasted and flustered, closing his mouth for a moment before a smile reappeared on his lips.
"Please do." he said; so Gromsko tucked that long strand of hair behind his ear and cupped his face, before leaning in until their lips met.
He made sure to be gentle, wary of the stitches still going across his mouth but König didn't seem to care as much about them himself, his hand resting at Gromsko's nape, bringing him in closer with clear hunger for more. He deepened the kiss until they went completely breathless.
Gromsko closed his eyes as they pulled away, letting him take the lead, move on to kiss his neck right below the corner of his jaw and nibble on the skin there gently. He let his head loll back, exposing more of his neck for König to explore and mark. His breathing sped up as König commited to just that, gently ravaging him, setting his skin on fire. He had never felt anything quite this intense with anyone else.
"Is this still okay with you?" König asked breathlessly against his skin.
"God, very much so..." he almost whimpered, absently digging his fingers in and tangling them between strands of König's hair, pulling at them gently.
König huffed out a quiet laughter, warm against his skin, sending a delightful shiver through his whole body.
"Sorry, I'm so inexperienced with men..." Gromsko reminded him, blushing deeply.
"We'll work on that..." König glanced up at him. "Step..." he kissed the corner of his jaw. "by step." he pressed their lips together again, lazily slipping in some tongue.
Gromsko's head was spinning as he shuffled even closer to him, throwing his leg over König's hip, knowing it would expose exactly how much he enjoyed it all, however, he found out very quickly it worked both ways. He groaned and pulled on König's lip with his teeth, König's hand burning against the small of his back now.
God, all his doubts and objections seemed to be lacking solid foundations now, crumbling fast underneath this loving touch.
[art by the amazing Ne]