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“What do you always think of, Hank?”
The question was plain and simple, an inquiry of the functions and dispositions of one’s character while unoccupied by daily banter and babble. What truthfully occurred behind those cogs and bearings behind Hank’s mind?
2bdamned sighed, drawing a soft breath. “I mean, you always seem so quiet. It almost seems as though the typical discomfort that accompanies a prolonged, tense, silence doesn’t affect you.” he murmured, glancing over at Hank’s typical slouched figure beside him.
Didn’t seem very silent to Hank.
What with the city singing its chorus of honking cars, whirling wind, sounds of people- how could it possibly be insinuated that there was a silence among them? Did the city’s sounds not radiate enough human presence to comfort the soul for some? Or were there other things occupying his mind so outright that the city’s lack was instantly replaced by comfort?
Nothing. Hank scribbled down on the paper, leaning softly against the wet metal railing.
2bdamned narrowed his eyes at the man, pouting. “It can’t possibly be just nothing. Don’t you get anxious when there’s no… occupation around you? Nothing to confirm the humanity beside you?” he huffed, drumming his hands against the cool of the balcony railings. “Don’t you have questions to dwell on?” 2b softly turned back to the shape of the city's skyline, distantly trying to imply his own unformable thoughts and questions.
Hank chuffed in amusement, observing 2b’s lax figure. The darkness, combined with the light of a busy city illuminated him so gorgeously. Highlighting the beauty of him, shading the greatness of his. You’re kind of pretty . Hank slid the notepad over, giving as much of a smile it could with his mangled mouth.
2b squinted at the paper for a moment, before turning back up at his husband with lighthearted austere. “I ask it a question, I get back a flirt. Since when did I marry such a romeo?” 2bdamned snorted halfway through his dialogue, cracking a smile as he playfully punched his husband’s arm. “Really, what do you think of?” he inquired.
“You.” Hank vocally produced, the growl in his mangled vocal chords resounding through his voice.
2b grew red with embarrassment, “Hank, don’t joke around with me–” “–not joking.” Hank replied back, just as curtly. Doc squinted at Hank, adjusting himself on his crutch to better observe the man, and Hank kept gazing on, completely firm and unwavering on their claim. Eye to eye, a prolonged silence shared between them as though a makeshift staring-contest was in place.
“...I can’t believe it.” 2bdamned breathed out, giving a disbelieving grin up at his husband, “You’re serious, aren’t you?” he shook his head, almost teasingly. Hank only softly laughed, gazing back with ever the more love. 2bdamned turned back to the city-line, shaking his head as he smiled dumbly. “Your affection knows no bounds, Wimbleton, by Maker. You’re one specimen, I swear. Ought to set you on a slide and observe you under a microscope.” he mused.
“Really?” Hank hummed, slipping its arms around 2b’s waist almost as if second nature. 2bdamned chuckled, “You’ll woo me off my feet if the dystrophy hasn’t already.” the crutches fell onto the balcony floor, with Hank supporting the smaller man’s weight against its body.
“Cool. Can I get a kiss?” Hank asked, butting up his head against Docs. “Oddly talkative for a quiet brute. Who’s to say I’ll let you?” 2b teased, though actionably defying his words with the soft nuzzles against Hank’s face, near feline-like with the habitual mirroring of behaviors through years of intimacy.
“More kiss, less talk.” Hank huffed, receiving a complacent peck on the lips as a response. 2bdamned leaned in close, connecting what little Hank had with his much mangled ones. It felt odd, to be honest, yet in the midst of it, it still felt wholly human. Aware that the true expression of it might never be the same as when they first had kissed (which, for clarity, had definitely been with the presence of a “typical” jaw and face). Even so, the attempt of whatever it had intended to be was so sweet, ambrosia to the heart.
They separated softly, with 2bdamned leaning his head back near instinctively as to expose the flesh of his neck there for Hank. It felt animalistic, like something primally affectionate and sweet.
Hank leaned down, leaving little nibbles across as though it were his attempts of soft kisses. They had always been, even before Hank kind of lost his whole lower jaw. Soft kisses for loving.
Doc sighed softly, contented in his mind as Hank continued to ‘kiss’ away. “You really are a flirt, you know. I mean… wholeheartedly, to express that in the midst of your continual dull silence, you are wholeheartedly admiring the complexities and expressions of me? ” 2b murmured, his eyes fluttering with the comfort of the situation.
“I mean, I’ve never exactly had anything you could call… “healthy love” before you, mind you. But, goodness gracious, either you’re some unyielding angel, or I’ve just seen a little too much abuse in my lifetime.” 2bdamned laughed softly, feeling now the warm purr that radiated off of Hank, almost to say, it didn’t care what ideal its love demonstrated, but more so that it just… it purely did. It loved 2b, and that was purely it.
Or, maybe, that just meant that it was cozy, too.
“You’re a person of mysterious caricature.” 2b hummed, filling in the gaps of Hank’s typical silence. “No one knows what goes on behind the thoughts of a lumbering, silent beast like yourself. People could inquire that it’d be the horrible, and terrifying mutilation of the ‘inevitable’ next innocent slaughter. My colleagues might say it’s a mental disorder. And I might call it madness, brewing from biological development and dissonant exposure. Who knows what men we’ve been made since the events of those years.”
“And yet…” he paused, licking his dry lips and mouth-scar. Hank, too, had stopped in its affections, curious to listen to its husband.
“Yet despite all the characterizations you’ve ever been subjected to, you are wholly… just, some idiot.” 2b chuckled. “The most, utmost, foolish and lovestruck idiot known to man. I mean- the amount of people you’ve killed surpasses the ten thousands, y-you have a distinct ability to snap and kill me here if you just wanted to and- and the thing that plagues your mind the most is… is… how pretty I look?”
Hank gave a playful look, adjusting the two so they pressed heads together. 2bdamned laughed affectionately, “You’ve got so many priorities wrong, and yet that’s just what I love about you.” he smiled, gently reaching up to cup Hank’s face in his hands. Hank purred at the gesture, “Do love you.” it replied, rubbing up against his touch.
“Love you too, Hank.” 2b murmured, contentedly up against his beloved.