Chapter Text
Free was someone who didn't often show too much of a smile. Well- okay, he didn't smile much back when he was younger, that's for certain. He smiled more now, but Silas was never one to take it for granted, given the fact that it was still rare. A smile from Free De La Hoya was comparable to that of the warmth of the sun grazing your back, or- depending on the context, could be a contrary cold chill that freezes your spine.
The point is, really, when Silas sees Free smile, it still catches him quite off guard, even to this day. He would never fuckin admit this to anyone, but he felt like becoming some type of shitty poet with the things he wanted to say when he saw him smile. A poet whose poetry was forever crumpled. And it was in the trash. And the trash was on fire. And Silas' pants were on fire. He didn't even lie??? (He did. Silas would be a lovely poet.)
Silas was snapped out of whatever fucking trance he was in via fingers snapping in his face, to which he jumped like a startled cat, fighting a literal hiss.
"HEY, quit your godsdamned-" Silas started, only to pause at the snicker that erupted from the man next to him. It was Free, of course. Sitting next to him on one of the dorm beds in BC Sol. Some movie was on in the background, Silas couldn't remember what it was. Even though he put it on. Silas was VERY good at remembering things.
"You zoned out." Free observed, voice deadpan. The smallest hint of a smirk traced his lips, one brow quirking up. His hand was still in Silas' face.
"Yeah, thanks, captain- obvious jackass." Silas grumbled, batting his hand away and moving to face forward, crossing his arms and trying to ignore the pounding in his heart from Free startling him.
But his heart began to pound a little more, perhaps- not from the startle, but at the rare chuckle of laughter that escaped Free. Silas' cheeks immediately reddened, and his head turned towards Free quickly. If he were an animal, his ears would have perked up, one twitching as he listened with the intent to take in and savour every noise thrown his way. But he wasn't an animal, he was just a stupid human. Stupid, stupid human. Free was so much more fond of animals..
Free glanced at him, noticing his weirdly flustered expression. He carefully dropped his expression, raising a brow again. Back to the monotone, unreadable face. "What?" He asked quietly, voice wielding a hint of curiousity pertaining to what the fuck could possibly be in Silas' head right now.
Silas' eyes softened a little, unusually, and he relaxed a bit. He sighed, his own, smug smirk returning to him. He pushed up his glasses (with his middle finger for added effect), lowering his head slightly to look up at Free through his lashes.
"Y'know. You look kind of adorable when you smile." He said, trying to seem cool and chill when really, his heart was bouncing all over the fucking place. His chest was like a game of pong, except the fucking pong pieces that hit the ball (his heart, in this context) back and forth were about a centimeter away from each other, so the sheer velocity of the pounding was- well, it was just too much. Maybe this was what caused heart palpitations or heart attacks all along. Free De La Hoya and a game of pong in your chest.
Free did not seem to pick up on the facade, because his response was to redden a bit himself, his eyes widening ever so slightly with surprise. "Y- what?" He asked, pausing. That clearly wasn't what he was expecting Silas to say.
Silas raised his head slightly and sighed, rolling his eyes. "Do I gotta do everything-" He grumbled, moving his hand to Free's chin. He suddenly grabbed him by the chin, lightly squishing his cheeks. Not hard, he wasn't even really holding him firmly. He just wanted to get his point across. Plus, Free had a soft- very warm, currently- face. Free, who was currently blinking at him with confusion.
"You have a cute smile, idiot." Silas murmured, watching him for a moment before loosening his grip on his chin, quirking his head to the side slightly to try and crack his neck. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Free blinked, then snorted a bit, pulling back and playfully hitting his hand, eyeing Silas. "..I literally don't even know how to respond to that."
"I mean, you could just kiss me instead-"
"Mm, in your dreams. Make me."
"Oh come on-”