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It was just the two of them in the lab, which was how they often found themselves. Wesker had become used to the almost constant presence of the other man - in fact, it wasn’t unusual that he’d subconsciously seek the other out. His relaxed and lighthearted state - along with his invaluable insight - provided Wesker with an easy environment to work in, a welcome change to the dregs he'd previously been working with prior to Ferris’ employment at Umbrella. Though Wesker would of course be lying if he said that was the only reason; it certainly didn’t hurt that he found Ferris so easy on the eyes and an absolute pleasure to be around. It was refreshing to enjoy working with another scientist on more than just an academic level.
It was getting late, a point that was punctuated by the occasional yawn Ferris would release. Despite being accustomed to long hours at the lab, Wesker was beginning to feel the same way. He checked his watch.
“Ferris, you can go home. Our shift is just about over. I can take it from here.”
“No, no, I’m alright,” Ferris assured him over his shoulder. “Jeez, Albert, so quick to get rid of me?”
Wesker scoffed, his mouth twitching into a smile, and leaned back in his chair, spinning around to face Ferris, where he stood at the laboratory bench. “Forgive me for saying so, but you look exhausted. Am I not allowed to express my concern?”
Ferris had turned to face him in return, abandoning his work on the bench behind him. “You’re the sweetest, you know that?” His tone was teasing, but Wesker could detect some sincerity beneath it.
“I can’t say I do. It’s not a word I’ve heard used to describe me before.”
“Does that mean I’m the only one you’re sweet to?” Ferris had begun to slide closer to him along the bench, his arms tucked coyly behind his back.
“Perhaps,” Wesker had to stop himself from clearing his throat. He was suddenly aware of a shift in the environment, one he had noticed between them before, but one he was always caught off guard by. It wasn’t an air he was accustomed to, and it often caused his heart rate to increase, much to his chagrin.
“Because I do think you’re very sweet,” Ferris was in front of him now, leaning over him. His legs were crossed, his behind resting on the bench. “I have a feeling you might think I am too.”
“That’s awfully presumptuous of you…” Wesker was trying to save face, though he had a feeling he wasn’t succeeding. He’d be stupid to claim not to have noticed the dynamic between them during the three years they’d been working together. At first, Wesker had been convinced he was imagining things. But slowly, Ferris had been making it more and more clear his intentions. This felt like the penultimate conclusion to this long game they had engaged in, and despite his ineptitude in the area of romance, Wesker wasn’t one to back down.
“Tell me I’m wrong then.” Spreading his legs, Ferris lowered himself onto Wesker’s lap. He reached out and plucked the sunglasses from his face, causing Wesker’s eyes to blink and narrow reflexively from the fluorescent lights. Ferris couldn’t prevent a charmed smile in response.
"Ferris. What are you doing."
Ferris hummed and brought his arms up to wrap around Wesker's shoulders. He slowly brought his face closer to Wesker's own; Wesker thought he must be deaf if he couldn't hear how loudly his heart was pounding.
"This isn't appropriate. We can't do this... here," Wesker kept his voice low.
Ferris stopped and met Wesker's eyes. Their lips were only centimetres apart, and Wesker could feel his breath on them.
"Then don't."
It was a challenge. Whether it be his pride or the part inside him that had been wanting this from the start, he couldn't tell, but there was a surge of emotion in him as he closed the gap between them. Confusion, annoyance... Relief. A strange mixing of feelings he couldn't decipher, more perhaps than he'd ever felt in his life. All the fault of the man he was now kissing, an experience he never thought he'd find himself in - and yet one he came to find he was thoroughly enjoying.
He couldn't stop himself smiling as he pondered all of Ferris' schemes leading up to this moment. The understanding the younger man had of him was disconcerting, but Wesker realised he didn't mind. It was impressive, the way in which he conducted himself, watching and perceiving, and waiting for any opportunity to strike, and Wesker held a strange sense of pride while reflecting on it. He wasn’t used to feeling like prey, but the unflinching audacity of the younger man had him amused and - annoyingly - somewhat flustered. He'd really made an impact on him, and Wesker knew this affectionate soft spot would only continue to grow as time went on. It had obviously already been fairly large, given their current circumstance. He decided he much preferred this outcome to the previous decision he had settled on to deal with the confusing feelings Ferris elicited in him - he would have missed the little thing too much.
Ferris pulled back and opened his eyes. Wesker gazed at him with a surprising amount of calm, his previous panic subsided. He found himself wondering absentmindedly if he'd done a good job. Ferris tilted his head.
"You've never done that before, have you?" He asked him.
"Not once. I never found much reason to."
Ferris grinned. "That must make me pretty special, huh?"
Wesker exhaled in amusement. He had no idea.
"Have you?"
"I have. Not with someone I like even half as much as you, though. I'm not sure it really counts now."
"You're saying I was better?" Wesker inquired.
"No one else could be." Ferris leaned forward into him, bringing their noses side by side. Eyes that were previously trained on Wesker's lips now held his gaze. "I like you a lot. I'm glad you like me, too."
Wesker didn't want to look away. His mind felt slower than usual, like it was in a state of shock. He should be alarmed by this - but instead, he felt a sense of calm, and a strange warmth inside him. The same feeling he got every time he spoke to his co-worker, the same one who was now straddling his lap as he sat leaning back in an office chair that felt incapable of holding both their weights, yet didn't buckle. Co-worker. It was clear they'd graduated past that term. To call Ferris a co-worker felt insulting. He was his partner, and Wesker had a feeling he had been for a long while before this encounter. He hoped he would be for a long while after, as well.
Wesker wrapped his arms fully around the slender figure on top of him in a far more affectionate gesture than was typical for him, and was rewarded with a delightful purr. Despite what Wesker could reckon he wanted, Ferris drew back from him slowly. His eyes were shining.
"I'm glad you kissed me, Albert," He was looking at him with his head tilted, his features soft. "I've been wanting that for a long time. But you're right. We can't do this here." Suddenly, that head tilt felt much more mischievous. Wesker let out a surprised laugh.
"You devious little thing," He was running his palms up and down along Ferris' thighs absently. "I should have taken you for a tease."
Ferris winked. "Oh, I’m no tease. Don't worry, we can pick this up back at your apartment," He narrowed his eyes playfully. "You are going to invite me back there, right?"
"I'm nothing if not a gentleman," Wesker countered.
"Don't I know it," Ferris said in an exaggerated, swooning tone. He placed the sunglasses he still had a hold of back onto Wesker’s nose bridge, pushing them up with one finger. "Ignoring that you just called me a tease, of course." He leapt nimbly from Wesker's lap, and Wesker found himself missing the weight almost immediately.
“I suppose it's best we're not found here by the next shift. I’d rather we not both lose our jobs,” Ferris sighed. “It being so dangerous makes it a little fun though, right?”
“We’re acting like schoolboys,” Wesker muttered, getting to his feet. “As much as I enjoyed that, we can’t be making it a habit. Not in the labs.”
“No, you’re right,” Ferris looked disappointed. “Of course, the Birkins don’t have to worry about that when they do it.” He said it with venom, a scowl on his face.
“You know it’s not the same for us,” Wesker said it quietly. While he didn’t have the same inclinations towards public displays of affection as his companion, he understood his frustration. It was not the only reason for his dissolution from society, though it certainly didn’t help.
Ferris looked downwards for a moment before shaking his head as though to clear it. He looked up at Wesker happily.
“You know, suddenly I’m not so tired anymore. How’s about we wrap this up and get out of here?”
“Do you suppose there’s somewhere in Raccoon open at this time of night?” Wesker tested. Ferris looked momentarily shocked before he smiled brightly.
“Dr Wesker, are you asking me on a date?” He asked him.
“Perhaps. Is that what you want?”
“More than anything.”