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The laboratory was silent, save for the subtle scratches of pen on paper. The desk lamp’s warm glow illuminated the workspace of two harbingers. Dottore was recording the results of a recent experiment, and sitting beside him, Pantalone filled out reports of today’s income.
The two had gotten used to working side by side like this. Dottore wasn’t sure why Pantalone actively chose to be in the lab of all places, but he never questioned him about it. Perhaps the presence of another was all he needed to keep him focused.
It wasn’t as if Dottore was any different. Though he may never say it aloud, he’d grown accustomed to Pantalone. When the banker was nearby, Dottore seemed to grow softer, his guard lowered, and he was a bit more honest with his actions. Subtle hints in his behavior that only his partner could pick up, indicating that he trusted Pantalone. Despite this, his words always said otherwise.
The peaceful silence was eventually broken by a sigh, then the shuffling of papers as they were collected into a neat stack. “I should head back to my office, it’s getting late.”
The only response the banker received was a grunt from Dottore. He was too focused to properly respond.
Pantalone raised from his seat, documents in one hand and the other resting on the desk beside Dottore’s paper. “Try not to stay up too late, alright?”
“Mm.”
Dottore had fully believed he’d walked away judging by the silence, until his writing hand was gently engulfed by Pantalone’s, forcing his pen to stop. He looked up at the man beside him, mildly irritated. Pantalone had leaned down so their faces were level. His purple eyes were now visible past his thick lashes. “Did you hear me?”
“I did. Was my acknowledgement of your words not enough for you?” Dottore wore a displeased frown, not appreciating that his work was interrupted by something so trivial.
“No, actually. Just promise me you won’t stay up late. I know how you can get sometimes.” The barely noticeable pressure of a thumb rubbing against the back of his hand made Dottore falter before his reply. Was this an underhanded tactic to get him to follow along?
“Hm. Fine,” Dottore said dismissively. Anything to simply get back to work. He was in no mood for a back and forth discussion tonight, and it wasn’t as if Pantalone would do anything if he did stay up later anyway.
A smile tugged at Pantalone’s lips. “Thank you.” Then without missing a beat, he closed the distance between them.
It was a painfully brief chaste kiss. Pantalone only stayed long enough for the scent of his cologne to reach Dottore. He hadn’t even registered that their lips had touched until after Pantalone had already stood back up. The banker acted as if nothing had happened at all. He wordlessly left the laboratory with a pleased smile on his face.
Certainly he knew the state he’d left Dottore in. He still sat frozen at the desk as he attempted to process what had just happened. He could still feel the ghost of Pantalone’s lips on his despite how quickly the moment came and went.
Dottore’s eyes went back to his paper, yet his thoughts weren’t on the experiment at all anymore. He and Pantalone were no stranger to physical affection. It was easier than to put any feelings into words. When their relationship had first begun to blur between a business and romantic partnership, it started out as light touches on the arm in passing. Maybe one snuck a hand to the other’s lower back. Over time, Dottore developed a habit of resting his chin on Pantalone’s shoulder and holding his waist. It was second nature to him at this point.
But they’d never come close to a kiss before at all. It felt too intimate. Both understood that, and yet, Pantalone had just given him a kiss like it was as normal as putting on his glasses in the morning.
Dottore rested his head in one hand, fingers interwoven in his hair. He stared blankly at the words on the page in front of him. He could not process a single one. His mind was too busy. Why couldn’t he stop replaying that moment in his head? The banker’s sweet cologne, his soft lips forming a gentle pressure on the other’s, that godsdamned smile he always wore once he knew he’d gotten what he wanted.
That Regrator was insufferable.
An uncomfortable feeling of want made itself known in the form of a tug in Dottore’s chest. That moment they shared wasn’t enough. Gods, he knew what he was doing, pulling away before realization even set in. That brief moment was but a sliver in time. That feeling of want turned into need as Dottore concluded that preserving that moment in his memories wasn’t going to satisfy him. It needed to be recreated.
Oh, how selfish he was to be given the smallest sliver of intimacy and want even more afterwards. It wasn’t like he could go to Pantalone and ask for more, he would rather die than admit one single action had made him so desperate. And Dottore wasn’t desperate. He was above such useless human emotions.
But if that were true, why did it ache so much?
Ugh. Dottore reached under his mask to rub his eyes. Trying to focus on work again after that was ultimately impossible. If he didn’t do anything about it soon, he’d quite possibly go insane. He wasn’t going to ask for more. No, he was preparing for revenge. Pantalone must have planned this from the very beginning.
But would this permanently alter their relationship dynamic? Were either prepared for where this would lead?
No. Don’t think, just act. This needs to be done.
Dottore muttered curses under his breath as he rose from his seat. Those curses became nonsense as he traversed the palace’s halls to Pantalone’s office. Then, they finally died down once he opened the door.
Pantalone was standing at his desk and putting away each document in their respective places. Quite the organized one in contrast to Dottore’s chaotic laboratory. He didn’t notice the Doctor had entered at all. He’d stopped knocking to request entry long ago, the habit now dead and buried.
Dottore’s footsteps were rushed. Normally, he would enter as casually as if he’d owned the place, but today was not that day. He made his way to the banker without any stops. Pantalone didn’t stop what he was doing, the only sign that he was aware of Dottore were his words addressed to him directly.
“I didn’t expect to see you here so soon, Doctor. Finished recording your little experiment?” As if he wasn’t at all concerned about Dottore’s rushed gait and barely hidden scowl.
Dottore placed his hands on top of the desk to support his weight. “Hardly.”
Pantalone’s movements halted only for a second, bordering on a flinch. Dottore could almost feel his heart break from how his poor desk was now contaminated by whatever leftover chemicals were on the Doctor’s gloves. “Hm, taking a break then?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, you know why I’m here.” Dottore’s fingertips scraped on the wooden surface until his hands imitated the shape of a bird’s claws on a perch. If his fingers weren’t so blunt, they surely would have made a mark.
“I don’t. You never told me the reason for your visit.” Pantalone shooed the Doctor’s hands off the desk as he spoke. “You really should get back into the habit of knocking, by the way. I don’t appreciate surprises. And please tell me you changed your gloves before placing them on my desk. I saw how you were handling those jars of remains just a few hours ago.”
Halfway through Pantalone’s first sentence, Dottore had already stopped listening altogether. Instead his focus was on the banker’s lips. Too smooth, too pretty. The memory of how they felt against his own resurfaced as clearly as if it had happened a second time. Oh, just the thought of watching Pantalone’s widened eyes as he was trapped in a kiss made his heart jump. This revenge was going to be delicious.
Pantalone must have stopped talking at some point, because his next words snapped Dottore back to reality. “If your plan was to just stare at me, I suggest you come back tomorrow when my makeup isn’t smudged.”
I wonder who was responsible for that, Dottore wanted to say. Surely he was just teasing him now. That pull in his chest was too unbearable to ignore at this point. Was there really any reason to wait any longer?
Dottore rounded the table while Pantalone still did not look up from organizing files. The second he was close enough to touch, Dottore wrapped an arm around him. But again, no reaction.
Was Pantalone seriously not going to address what had happened between them at the laboratory? Would he just let it fade into the past if Dottore said nothing? He had so much drive earlier and yet, he was still struck with hesitation.
Don’t think, just act.
The problem wouldn’t be solved, nor would this horrible feeling go away until this was dealt with.
Don’t think, just act.
Dottore could return to work once the urge was fulfilled.
Don’t think, just act.
His lips pressed into Pantalone’s before he even realized what he’d done. A palm at the back of his head ensured he would be trapped until revenge was complete. The banker only jumped slightly, but Dottore could feel him smile. Of course he smiled. He was expecting this after all.
Gods, what a wonderful revenge this was. The relief was instant. Dottore groaned and deepened the kiss once he allowed himself to relax. He could truly appreciate this moment now that he’d stolen it for himself. Pantalone’s lips tasted sweet and earthy as if he had tea recently, and they were just as soft as they seemed before.
The banker hooked his arms loosely around Dottore’s neck, with no semblance of a protest. Was he truly allowing him to stay until he was satisfied? This could prove to be dangerous. Dottore grabbed a handful of hair as he took more and more for himself, turned into nothing but a glutton for the Regrator. Yes, take more until the urge is quenched. He was not going to pull away until Pantalone’s essence itself was committed to memory.
He could have stayed there forever. The more he had, the more he wanted to take.
Do you know how addicting you are, Regrator? You sicken me.
It wasn’t until that annoying, uncomfortable pull finally died down that Dottore separated from him. His mind was no longer clouded by troublesome emotions. No need to seek out the cure for an ailment that ceased to exist. He huffed and took a step back, readjusting his mask as well. Pantalone looked pleased, as expected. His hands remained on the Doctor’s shoulders as if he didn’t want him to go just yet.
Dottore held one of Pantalone’s wrists and pried him off. Gently, like he were made of glass. “I’ve gotten what I came here for. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to finish my work back at the lab.”
Pantalone shook Dottore’s hand off him. “Ha, no you don’t. You promised not to stay up too late tonight.”
“And I won’t. I was almost finished before you… surprised me.”
The banker pulled Dottore closer, this time making him rest his head in the crook of his neck. Despite his grumbles, he let it happen. “That experiment isn’t going anywhere. Just stay here for a bit. Once I put away these files, we can go rest.”
“Hmph. Inefficient.” Dottore closed his eyes and took in the much stronger scent of the banker’s cologne. It enveloped his senses in a thin blanket of comfort. It was times like these where Dottore appreciated the presence of his mask.
Pantalone began combing his fingers through Dottore’s hair. His touch was too calming. “Yes, yes. You know you can leave at any time.”
Like a cold puppy seeking warmth, the ever feared second harbinger nuzzled into the Regrator’s neck. “But you know I won’t.”
It was the closest Dottore had ever been to saying how he truly felt. So far from the genuine truth, but a milestone nonetheless. Good enough for now.