Work Text:
In the aftermath of the world, Tango rests in bed. The sleeping forms of his partners lay unmoving next to him, cuddled up to him in an attempt to steal body heat.
Unlike his partners, Tango's eyes stay open. Arms folded over his chest, he frowns, unable to get his eyes to close for long enough. Moonlight trickles in through an open window. The mattress feels like it's trying to swallow him whole. He breathes out a sigh.
Blonde curls tickle his face as Zedaph shifts in the bed. “Go t’ sleep, Tangs,” he mumbles out, voice raspy with sleepiness yet still undeniably fond.
Tango blinks. He blinks again, moving to curl into the empty spot between the others arms. Zedaph adjusts to the change easily, encasing him in soft wool. Behind him, Impulse shuffles into a sort of half-spooning position, a strong arm thrown over his waist.
He trails a hand down to take Impulse's hand in his own, feeling the callouses and warmth. It's familiar, it's home.
Tango breathes in, then out, then hides his face in the crook of Zedaph's neck. Violet eyes lazily blink open in response. “Sumthin’ wrong?” he asks, and Tango feels him speak, his free hand splayed out against the other's chest. Tango frowns as he collects his thoughts.
“If I…” he hesitates. Rethinks his wording. He takes a deep breath in.
“I think I have a crush,” he whispers.
It was such a simple sentence, and yet, Tango felt like he had just confessed his darkest secret.
Zedaph, however, only chuckles sleepily, oblivious to his inner turmoil.
“Wht’s he like?” he asks, a hand sneaking up to scratch behind his pointed ear. Tango leans into the affection, a faint purr starting up in his chest. He rifles through the mental list of words he could use to describe him.
“He’s perfect,” Tango decides, instantly derailing into a ramble. “He's so hard working, n’ he has the most pretty smile, n’ his hair literally glows in the sun.. I could get lost in his eyes forever…” his words trail off, a dopey smile on his face as he thinks of him.
“Are ya talkin’ about Jimmy?” Impulse asks from over his shoulder, taking the moment to make his presence known. Tango startles in Zedaph's arms, his cheeks heating up, sparks lighting in his hair…
He groans, hiding his face in Zedaph's neck again. The blonde only laughs. “Who's this ‘Jimmy’ guy, Tango?” he teases through his giggles.
“Shut uppp…” Tango whines, a fierce blush blossoming across his cheeks. “Don't expose me like that, Impy…”
Eventually, the teasing laughter dies out, leaving a comfortable silence in its wake. Eyes half closed, he cuddles into Zedaph, instinctually craving the warmth. He feels better. It felt nice to say that out loud.
“...Tango, y’know we dont mind, right? We’re happy if you’re happy,” Impulse says after a moment, patting him on the thigh. “Besides, I've teamed up with ‘em before. He's a good guy.”
“I know…” Tango sighs, pushing at Impulse so he can lay down on his back again. They fall into position easily, his head resting on Impulse's chest as Zedaph sprawls out face down across him, ever determined to cover as much mattress space as possible. “I just– I dunno. I really like this guy.”
“Then I'm sure I can learn to like him too,” Zedaph insists, eyes falling shut.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Impulse cuts in. “He stares at you with stars in his eyes, man.”
“Really?” Tango blinks, his face heating up all over again. He hears more than he sees Impulse nod, with the way the sheets shift with the movement. Impulse wraps his arms around Tango, and in turn he places a hand in Zedaph’s hair.
As his partners fall back into darkness, Tango listens. Their hearts beat in tandem with each other; their own little melody.
Far away, a fourth heart sings along to the same tune.
(“...You need to show me pictures of this boy in the morning,” Zedaph mumbles sleepily. Tango laughs.)