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Cavalero was rude, not harsh but rude. Never gentle and once you catches up with current events of Zariman, he’s gonna give you all type of messy work.
Crow, happily was used to… People being mean around him and to him. He had enough experience with Lodun and Thrax to not cry when someone in his life path was not choosing words carefully. Probably all those years being alone made Crow more tough as person. He wasn’t that tough before the accident.
But none of them liked pity, not from others, not from themselves. Both of them used be tough because here is job that must be done. Crow was good at killing, Cavalero liked when any type of enemies was driven away or killed. Even could give approval, of course in his own way which any other would think is rude.
Slowly, day after day, month after month — they got bond which none others was expected. All the crew was expecting fight over basically everything between them. And they was fighting, sometimes, over plan to next mission or some minor thing like better food for dinner. But then it turned other was. Some closeness, based on relaying on each other in battle, on seeing that person sounds mean not because they hate you but because life made them be tough to survive.
It became more than friends at some point. Neither of them had strength to say aloud things both felt. Cavalero though it’s not a place to that kind of thing, Crow was kinda busy with.. Saving world. But they still was spending time together, Crow was bringing different things from different places, sometimes weapons, sometimes something little.
One day Crow felt he could not return to Zariman next time. Things in world started to move and he knew that he can’t just rewind loop again. Not in that System. Guy found something alcohol, drink enough to have strength to do what he have in mind. Came to Cavalero and distracted him from sorting stuff with light tap on his shoulder. Man said something about it’s not the time but turned to Crow anyway. Just to get a kiss. It hold for a few seconds before Crow pulls back, exhaling and turning gaze away. He never did such thing. He don’t want to see the reaction but can’t find a word to not let this silence stretch. Cavalero found them.
"You could've find better way to do it."
Not loud, not with disgust. Just quiet and looking away too.
"My bad, never tried before."
Crow scoffs not leaving, yet. Even if he want to leave out of shame.
"And you want my help? Need me to show how to do it properly?"
Crow can hear not the laugh but smile? Giving glance at Cavalero he notices that man turned to him properly now and was leaning on box he was looking in before.
Second.
Cavalero not rejecting him.
Two seconds.
Its an invitation.
Three seconds.
Crow just making sure, trying to find any trace of joke. There none.
"Probably not here."
"Others don't come here but if you insist."
"Yes."
Crow knows how it feels to be breathless. How to not have enough air in your lungs, trying to keep yourself conscious. But he never knew it can be that good. Feel breathless yet so alive. He never felt so much want to keep someone close and keep doing that for him. Simple physical touch but he never had one. And with someone who was not last person in his circle of people?
It went further later, become if not usual then normal. Occasional meet, some work together. Or maybe not work. There always stress in this world which need to be relieved.
They never talked about feelings. It was just physical. Just nice company. Crow was always returning to him. Cavalero was always here. Two of people who become tough through survival found themselves in this. And never dared to say word aloud. This bond was different, special. Full of understanding in touch, in glance and covering each other's back from anything that was outside safe quarters.