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Avery could never forget the first time he saw Der without his gear.
It was the afternoon, the hot summer sun beat down on the pair as they worked outside building a dock over the lake. If they were lucky, a gust of wind breezed past them. Der always stopped to stand in the wind.
“Why don’t you take it off?” Avery asked, placing down the final oak fence. Der cock his head at him like a dog would— something Avery has yet to get Der to admit to— and squinted at Avery, “What do you mean?” Avery leaned against the fence, “The armour,” he gestured with both hands to Der’s entire body, “you must be hot.”
Der paused, weighing his options before he shrugged and abruptly took his helmet off for the first time. Avery’s jaw dropped— Der was handsome, there was no doubting that, but he was expecting him to brush Avery off and continue placing fences. Next, he took the gauntlets and the rerebraces, tossing them to the ground.
Avery struggled to collect his thoughts— he should look away, but damn if his roommate wasn’t fine. Avery could feel his face burning, and if it couldn’t get any worse, Der turned to him with the most innocent looking face and mumbled, “Clasp’s stuck.”
Fuck.
Avery timidly stepped forwards and brought his hands up to Der’s neck and undid the clasp that was very much not stuck. Then, he trailed down and undid the larger buckles around his waist. The thin compression shirt Der wore underneath was all Avery could see now. Just from looking at Der from the back made him a wreck, he couldn’t imagine what he’d do or say if Der turned around.
“Avery—?” Der began to ask as Avery stumbled backwards. He jumped over the newly placed fence and stuttered out, “I’ll be in the— water. I’m overly warm. I’m sure you get that,” Avery fell back in the lake before anymore word vomit spilled from his mouth.
He stayed under the water for a while, he wasn't sure how long, then he just poked his head out. Der had moved to the edge where Avery had jumped off, just leaning over and looking at the slime. Now that Avery wasn’t frying his brain, he could see what Der looked like clearly.
He had dark skin— which Avery knew from the few times he’d seen the gloves off— but he also had scaring. A long scar started at his chin, ran up through the corner of his mouth, and to his left eye. He also had another one, smaller, that ran across the bridge of his nose. Avery looked further up and saw—
“When did you have red hair?” Avery asked, reaching a hand up for Der to grab and haul him back into the doc. “I have always had red hair,” Der responded calmly. He had deep brown eyes and now having a conversation with Der without the helmet, Avery realized Der was way more expressive than he thought.
Avery tried his best to keep himself calm while staring at Der, “I’ve never seen it,” He subconsciously reached out to touch it when Der jerked back. Avery recoiled, “Sorry!” he squeaked out, “I didn’t mean to just grab it.”
“It’s fine, I just didn’t want the lake water in my hair,” Der reached up and tightened the tie, “Which you are covered in.” Avery smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, I did, uhm, jump in..” He turned away, now looking over at the plains biome across the lake. “It's getting night, we should head back.” He suggested and Der silently agreed.
The walk back was short but quiet, Avery found himself unable to speak while walking next to the half armored knight.
He was enamoured. Der looked huge with the bulk of the armor, but without it, he looked fairly skinny. He was still strong, yes, but seeing this had Avery wishing to grab him by that stupidly slutty waist and—
“I asked you a question,” Der grumbled next to him, now taking the lead as they walked into the house. “I— wasn’t listening,” He rushed in, shutting the door behind him. “I know,” Der passed through the whole first floor and went upstairs, but not before calling out a quick, ‘I’ll be back’.
Avery took a quick seat at their little dining room table and dropped his head onto the table. I need to get it together, he yelled at himself in his own head. Der was being vulnerable, he didn’t need Avery swooning over his every move. However, Avery couldn't deny, it was odd Der needed help unclasping something he’s been doing months alone while they lived together.
He heard footsteps down the stairs, Avery picked his head up and felt himself practically glowing.
Der had shed all the armor, now in sweatpants and a loose tee. Most notably, the newfound red hair was tucked into a messy bun on the back of his head.
He is doing this on purpose, Avery decided.
Avery stood up, wincing as his lake-soaked clothes stuck weirdly to his slimy skin. Der scowled at him, “Go change,” he swatted at him, “then come back down so we can eat.”
Avery grumbled but obliged. If Der was going to play dirty, he could too.
Avery came back down in a tank top and shorts, now dry and more composed than he's been all day.
Der had the furnace on but he couldn’t see anything in it. He was at the counter chopping something, as Avery stalked closer, he could see a bowl of potatoes and another of carrots. Neither of them were fantastic cooks, but Avery could admit Der had a better grasp at not blowing them up.
The slime moved into the kitchen— he was surprised to see Der didn’t even turn his head in Avery direction— he then plastered himself along Der’s back, resting his cheek on his shoulder.
“Whatcha cooking?” He muttered, scooching closer. Der was warm against Avery’s cool skin. “Potato soup,” Der pulled another carrot from the bowl, rested the blade of the knife at the base, and slid it up gently, peeling it. Avery heard Der say something else but he wasn’t really paying attention, he was more focused on Der’s control over the knife.
“Aves!” Der flicked his forehead. He winced and pulled off him completely, “You’ve been distracted all day. Why?” He noted, like he didn’t know why Avery was so distracted since the dock. Avery pouted, “You cannot be serious,” Der set his knife down and turned around, prompting Avery to continue, “You’ve been weird all day! I mean— we’ve known each other for months and every time I mention the armor you just scoff and walk away.” He flailed his hands around wildly, trying to enunciate his point, “But today you just took it all off! No hesitation! Everything off and then you go and say the ‘clasp was stuck’ when it wasn’t!” Avery tried to look at Der, trying to explain he's not being weird, Der is, and he wanted to know what he was playing at.
“Does it bug you?” He asked, stupidly calm, but his face was looking quizzically at Avery. He shook his head too quickly, “No! I mean, yes— but— it doesn’t bug me.” Avery shut up, jaw clicking loudly as his mouth slammed shut. “Does it bug you?” He asked and Der shook his head. “If it doesn’t bug you, why are you so affected?” He turned back around to chop carrots again.
Avery huffed, "I'm not affected!” he argued.
“You jumped into a lake,” Der recalled.
“I—”
“And you’ve zoned completely out to the point you didn’t hear my questions.” Avery couldn’t believe Der was this obtuse to what he was doing.
Or maybe Der was trying to get Avery to say what he wanted.
“I guess I’m affected,” Avery cooed with newfound confidence, “but you’d have to admit, even you’d get distracted when someone you’ve been living with randomly decided to strip in front of you.”
Der paused, his shoulders locked up and he set the knife down, “I did not strip in front of you!” He squeaked out over his shoulder. Avery took the opportunity and stepped closer. He grabbed Der’s shoulder to turn him around, dropped his hands on the counter, caging Der in. “You wear the armor like a second skin, that was practically foreplay in your books.” He moved his face just under an inch away from Der’s.
He looked around frantically, like he wasn’t expecting this. “Avery.” He hissed, “I am cooking, please.” He begged but Avery didn’t let up. He grabbed Der’s waist finally— his hands almost wrapped around it fully, it left Avery feeling dizzy— and pressed them together from shoulder to knee as close as they’d go. “It can wait,” He smiled, pulling one hand up to cradle his face gently. Der’s eyes went wide, he made a noise of surprise and pried himself away from Avery grasp. He stood facing the corner of the kitchen, arms crossed and nails digging into his skin. He breathed heavily.
Shit, Avery thought and let Der have his space, “You okay?” He asked, “I didn’t mean to push you too far—”
“I’m okay Aves,” He said quietly but provided no further explanation. Avery scooted closer and into his field of view. Der was flushed completely red, he turned his head away from Avery when he realized Avery noticed.
Avery smiled, “Awe!” He said when he figured out Der was embarrassed, “C’mon, you don’t need to be embarrassed,” He grabbed Der again and pulled him into a hug. Der melted into his arms, dropping his head into Avery's shoulder. “Im not embarrassed…”
Avery laughed, trailing his fingers down Der’s back, giggling more when he shivered under the touch. “You were so embarrassed.”
“I will walk away if you continue to tease me.” Der tried to put some bite into his voice but failed.
“Tell me what happened!” Avery took a half step back, encouraging Der to look him in the eyes. At first, he said nothing, trying to wiggle out of Avery's grasp with little pleas of ‘I have the furnace on’ and ‘Let me cook’. Avery was determined, he held onto Der until he gave Avery a good reason to leave or tell him what was wrong.
“C’mon!” He tried to prompt Der into talking. He stayed silent a moment longer before mumbling out a little, “Haven’t done that in a while.”
Avery paused, Der was a secluded person, he wasn’t sure how long a while was but he didn’t ask for clarification. “Would you like to continue?” He asked gently and Der froze again. Avery wondered for a moment he sprung on too fast again but then he gave a little nod.
Avery grabbed Der’s face in his hands again, trying to go as slow as possible before pressing his lips to Der’s. Avery felt Der melt against him again, fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt Avery thought for a moment it might rip. Avery licked his bottom lip, earning a whine from Der. Avery drank each needy noise Der offered him, he pressed a last kiss to his mouth before trailing wet kisses and little nips down his jaw to his neck. “Aves—” Der’s voice raised an octave at Avery covering the left side of his neck in harsh bites. Avery had one hand gripping his waist and the other toying with the band of his sweatbands while he pushed Der back to lean against the counter.
Avery pushed Der right into the cutting board, knocking the knife off the counter. Der gathered his mind for just a second to pull Avery out of the way.
Avery looked down at the ground, both stopped entirely, and stayed silent. Avery spoke up first, “We should get back to cooking,” He looked back to Der with a sheepish look on his face.
“You started this!” Der groaned, bringing both hands up to cover his face. Avery squawked in annoyance, “Me? You thought it was funny to get naked while building a dock!” Der tried to protest before Avery grinned slyly, “Which I wouldn’t mind again. Y’know going at it by the lake—” Der shoved Avery away with a hand in his face, “Please shut up. Go away.” he begged. Avery cackled, “A moment ago you were practically begging me to continue!” Der pushing Avery towards the front door.
“Der?” Avery asked as he was shoved onto their porch.
Der closed the door in his face and stood by the little window next to it. Avery tried the handle. Locked. “Hey!” He yelled as he watched a smug Der walk away and back in the kitchen.