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george had three screens open. one on his laptop, then on his ipad, and another one playing quietly on his phone. each streaming updates, telemetry, commentary, or anything he could get his hands on. the room was pitch black at almost 2 in the morning, except for the glow of reentry graphics and scrolling numbers.
“come on…” he whispered with fingers curled tight in the sleeves of his hoodie.
ARTEMIS II was coming home.
he’d followed it obsessively. every briefing, every minor delay, and every orbit adjustment. his boyfriend had learned very quickly early into their relationship that he turned into something else entirely when it came to space.
especially the moon.
george still remembered ARTEMIS I with all the tension and fears, and all the what-ifs that had lived in the back of his mind even if that mission had succeeded. it didn’t matter because to him, space was beautiful, yes, but also terrifying in a way that sat deep in his chest and refused to leave.
and this time, there were people onboard.
“just land safely,” george murmured with voice trembling. “come home.”
the audio crackled faintly through george’s speakers:
reid: and we have a great view of the moon out of the window too. looks a little smaller than yesterday.
george froze. his breath caught in his throat with eyes widening as if he could somehow see it too: the curve of the moon shrinking in the distance, quiet and silver… and impossibly far away then another voice followed.
nasa: guess we’ll have to go back.
and that broke him. a soft, strangled sound left his chest as his tears spilling instantly because it wasn’t just the relief or the success of the mission but it was the wonder and the promise. the quiet certainty that even after everything, humans would always look back at the moon and want to return.
suddenly, a movement beside him.
“george?” a man called, squinting his eyes. george turned around and the man’s expression shifted instantly. “hey, hey,” he said as he rise up from the bed. “what’s wrong? what happened?”
george shook his head with one hand flying up to cover his mouth as tears spilled over. his boyfriend blinked then followed his gaze to the screen. he saw the reentry confirmed. the man looked back at george.
“they’re okay?” he asked gently.
“yes,” george nodded. “they made it!” he managed even though his voice was breaking. “they came back, max.”
max didn’t hesitate and pulled george into his arms with one hand cradling the back of his head. “hey,” he murmured and pressed a kiss into george’s hair. “it’s okay, they’re home, yeah? you’re happy?”
“i was worried,” george admitted with a small voice as he clutched on max’s shirt. “i know it’s stupid… but i just…” he paused. “the space is so dangerous and i just wanted them to come back.”
“it’s not stupid,” max said immediately. “not even a little bit.”
george laughed weakly. “you say that every time i cry over space.”
“and i mean it every time,” max replied. “you love it. that’s your thing, the moon… all of it.”
“i do,” george said, sniffing and leaning to max.
“i know,” max said smiling.
they stayed like that for a moment then the room filled now with the distant sound of applause from the broadcast. safe landing confirmed. george let out a long breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding for hours.
max pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him. “you’re really crying over astronauts again,” he teased lightly while his thumb brushing away the tear tracks.
george huffed. “they just came back from space, max. space.”
“yeah, yeah,” max said while smiling fondly then his eyes glinted with mischief. “you know… maybe someday i could be an astronaut.”
the mercedes driver blinked as the image came uninvited: max in a fitted flight suit, all broad shoulders and quiet confidence, helmet tucked under his arm, floating somewhere between stars and the moon…his ears turned pink almost instantly.
max caught it and a slow knowing grin spread across his face. “aha,” he said while leaning closer. “you've got astronaut kink.”
“what–no!” george’s head snapped up and shoved lightly at max’s shoulder. “shut up!”
“it’s okay,” max laughed brightly and pulled back george in before he could retreat so far. “i get it. heroic and well, space…” he teased with much softer voice now.
“you’re annoying,” george muttered though he was smiling but cheeks still warm.
“mhm,” max hummed and pressed another quick kiss to george’s temple. “but you love me anyway.”
george rolled his eyes. “unfortunately.”
max grinned and without a warning, he started humming softly. something familiar that made george caught off guard then groaned quietly as realization hit.
“maaaxiee…”
the dutch only smiled wider and began to sing off key but earnestly:
🎶“i’m leavin’ on a jet plane… don’t know when i’ll be back again…”🎶
george let out a laugh as he buried his face in max’s shoulder. “you are so annoying.”
“but you’re smiling,” max pointed out.
“i am,” george admitted because this was their thing. ever since they’d watched armageddon together for the first time and george had cried through half of it, max had made it his personal mission to undo the sadness every single time, with bad singing included.
max pressed another kiss to his temple and still humming. “see?” he murmured. “everyone came home safely. happy ending.”
“yeah,” george whispered and tightened his arms around him. “uhm, maxie?” he slightly pulled apart to look at his boyfriend.
“mhm?”
“can we send gifts to the crew?” george pulled out the cutest and softest smile max had ever seen and of course he’d fold instantly.
“of course, schat,” max smiled fondly and pulled back george to kiss him on the lips.
outside, the world carried on but inside, it was just them tangled together in the quiet aftermath of something that mattered more to george than he could ever fully explain and max understood anyway. and the greatest thing he'll ever learn isn't about the stars but about the boy who loves them.
🏁