Work Text:
Subspace grumbled as he slammed the door to his laboratory, walking inside with a snarl directed to nobody, a frown on his face. He began taking his gas mask off and placing it to the side and lifting his eyepatch, only to hover his hand over the scarring on his face and lower the cover back into place.
“Stupid.. stupid..!!” He muttered, thumping his foot against the floor and ruffling his hair with his hands.
He was agitated, and the reason he was mad, made him even more mad!! He was annoyed that he was mad!!
He was bothered because he had a particularly annoying run in with Medkit during a Phight..
—
Subspace huffed as he ran and hid behind the nearest corner he could find, catching his breath as he tried to plan out his next attack. He was low on health and needed to get an assist in at least!!
But when he peeked around the corner he was spotted quickly, by non other than Medkit, of FUCKING course it had to be!! He growled in annoyance, readying up a mine for the doctor only for him to not show.. Weird.
Subspace took a step to look around, and then. BAM!! He was taken out by Medkit, from behind!!
“Not fair!!” He shouted before being respawned.
—
The memory only furthered his growing agitation. It was such a small thing but it sent him spiralling. He was continuing to pout and stomp around his lab, until there was a sudden thud at his window, causing him to pause.
He heard another thud, reluctantly he walked over and peered out his window, he already knew who it was. He opened the window.
“Broker??” He asked, calling out in a whisper.
…
“HII SUBSPACE!”
Subspace stumbled back as Broker practically pounced through the window. Causing the two to fall onto the ground with a thud.
“Agh- Broker!! What was that for?? Why didn’t you call first??” Subspace question, sitting up and pushing Broker a bit
“Eh, just didn’t think about it! I thought you were used to this by now!” Broker smiled, before noticing the annoyance in his partners tone, as-well as the occasional ear twitch, Broker practically had these signals memorised by now, Subspace tended to rant a-lot about his day to Broker.
Subspace got up and went over to his desk, with little care, less so than usual.
“What’s got you so grumbly today, Subspace??” Broker asked, appearing behind his partner with a tilted head and curious gaze.
“Nothing!! Nothing at all!!” Subspace spoke defensively, moving away from Broker, reluctant to share his annoyances today.
Broker doubted that, a-lot. He rolled his eye and followed after Subspace, gently putting a hand on his.
“Hey, Why don’t we go out tonight! C’mon!” Broker didn’t wait for Subspace to answer, he grabbed Subspaces hand and began to drag him to the window, and then pretty quickly hopped out of it, dragging the Bunny-like demon down with him
“Agh! Broker!! What are you doing-“ Subspace snarled, a bit annoyed with his partner’s antics, but it was hard to stay mad at him, even for someone like Subspace.
“We’re going for a walk, obviously!” Broker smiled, keeping a grasp on Subspaces hand, although not to tight that it’d cause alarm or discomfort to the other, and then began walking. It was snowy, Broker hated that about BlackRock, it was so darn cold! But he didn’t mind, no not at all.
Subspace was confused to say the least, he thumped his foot as he stopped Broker. “What are we actually doing?? I have work to do, and- I’m not in the mood for this!!” He tried not to yell, not wanting anyone to hear the two.
Broker turned to Subspace innocently, like he didn’t just drag him out of his lab, out of a window, into the snow unprompted. He just smiled. “Just calm down, please? Trust me here!” He winked with his actual eye, or would that be blinking? Whatever!!
Subspace was about to give in when he realised- He didn’t have his gas mask on.. Which, sure, didn’t matter around Broker, as Broker was immune due to his weird dead nerves or whatever, but what if they saw anyone else?? What if anyone saw HIM.. He ran his hand on his scarred skin and winced, not out of physical pain.
“Wait- Broker!! My mask- Let’s go back!!”
“..Why? It’s just us, nobody’ll be out this late!” Broker didn’t see any problems at all, he didn’t have any problems looking at Subspace, and that made the pink demon surprised.
“But- Look at me!! I don’t- Look good like this, It’s not fitting for someone like me to be out like this!!” He didn’t fully even know what he was saying. He was always so confident, why did he care now? Why did he care around Broker?
Broker paused, he looked at Subspace slightly worried. He’d seen Subspace angry, shouting, ranting but.. this was new, it was soft. Broker didn’t know how to help with this, just listening wouldn’t cut it.. Broker hesitated, worried he’d say the wrong thing as he gently rubbed his thumb over Subspaces hand, still in his.
“I think you look just as amazing, y’know?”
Subspace paused, had not been expecting that with such a honest tone from Broker. It was nice.
It felt nice.
Subspace didn’t know how to respond to that, how would he? Nobody ever saw his scars as anything positive. Surely, Broker was lying right?
“No you don’t, don’t lie to me!!” He growled defensively, looking away as he pulled his hand away from Brokers.
“Subspace-“
“No, Broker, No.” Subspace cut him off, he wouldn’t be fooled by such pathetic lies, made to make him ‘feel better’. He wouldn’t let that happen, not again, not ever. He wasn’t a fool!! This relationship was nothing but for beneficial gain, thats how it started and that’s how it’ll end!! He was just letting Broker hide out from the law, and Broker was just letting him experiment, that’s it!! He ruffled his hair, stepping back, closing his eye as he tried to calm himself down from this, such an overreaction, gods, subspace, calm down!! He didn’t know why he reacted this way, why did he care?? Ugh!! He should just run, he was faster- Broker probably wouldn’t even chase him, right?? He-
“SUBSPACE!”
Subspace was broken from his trance by Brokers hands on his shoulders, he looked worried- Why was Broker worried? Why did he look so unsure? Why did Subspaces face feel wet?
Oh, oh.
Subspace realised it as he felt a tear trickle down his cheek.
Pathetic. Subspace, pathetic.
This wasn’t how he should act.
He was better than this.
Right?
No he wasn’t.
“Subspace. Look at me, please.” Broker sounded broken. Subspace reluctantly returned his gaze to the teal demon in-front of him. There was a silence, before Broker smiled and giggled, confusing Subspace.
“Sorry, Sorry! You just.. You look perfect.” Broker struggled to get the words out, this type of stuff wasn’t.. how he usually was, but he wanted to try, for Subspace. Even if it was super cheesy, and cliche.
Subspace blinked at Broker, before giggling a bit too, the two laughing together quietly, Subspace between small little sobs and hiccups.
This type of softness, genuine, and gentle love was so foreign to both of them, neither knew how to process it, so they laughed, and that made it feel right. It felt okay.
Subspace didn’t hate it, no not at all.
Broker gently held Subspaces hands again, and placed a gentle kiss on Subspaces lips, making the other flinch before removing the soft touch. It felt so new, but welcomed.
The two pulled away pretty quickly, it was just a gentle peck, but it’s all that Subspace needed. No more words, no more than just that.
“Let’s.. go back to the lab, it’s cold out here.” Subspace said with a faint smile, Broker quickly agreed and the two hurried back, climbing the tree nearby Subspaces window and hurriedly entering the warmth of the lab between small giggles and exchanged flushed looks.
<3