( open post )

[timedrive]

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[unbonded]

what??

[timedrive]

You're pulling my leg, aren't you?

[unbonded]

no i fuck around a lot but not this time

[timedrive]

[ This is quite possibly the most roundabout confession Rip's ever heard in his life. ]

I appreciate that.

Come here. To the galley.

[unbonded]

[ Carter never professed to be any good at it.

He abandons the texting without responding, though, and wanders into the gallery not long after. He looks like he might have been crying some distant time ago, but now he's flushed and warm with alcohol and hazy as he pads in, a little wobbly but no worse for wear. ]

Sup?

[timedrive]

[ Rip's sat on one of the chairs at the table-- his trenchcoat and his jacket are gone, leaving him in just the shirt and the trousers, and he watches his... husband, of sorts, wander in with eyes more piercing than they should be.

Scrutinising.

From his slightly hunched position, he straightens, head cocking downward a touch as he beckons him forward with his fingers. ]

Here. [ Legs spreading somewhat, Rip pats his thighs. ] Sit.

[unbonded]

[ It was all very funny until it wasn't, and Carter doesn't know when it properly changed over, exactly - he just knows that it did.

He ambles over and hesitates, suddenly very aware of how big he is and how small he feels. ]

... in your lap?

[ But he does as he's told, anyway, and sits, clumsy but mindful of his size. ]

[timedrive]

I'm not going to do anything silly.

[ Although, Carter's weight solid on him, Rip thinks the whole thing perhaps is rather silly in a general sense. He places hands on his cheeks, traces one down to his shoulder and to his side, and then wraps an arm around him as the other guides him to tuck his head against Rip's own shoulder in turn.

He's... hugging him, technically. It's not sex, not really, but he breathes the poor omega in and thinks about how miserable he must be without his literal other half (soulmates-- who thought that shite was real?). ]

Is this all right?

[unbonded]

I know, I'm just- heavy.

[ But he sounds quieter now, close like this, with his eyes shut as Rip touches him. The natural sweet is tainted with loss and loneliness and the sharpness of alcohol, but he lets his head be guided down and closes his eyes as he noses into Rip's shoulder. ]

... Yeah.

[ Carter mixes up sex and affection, sometimes; it's a thin line, and he seeks it out to feel loved and wanted. He doesn't think anyone has turned him down just to hug him before, and it's... nice, actually.

He doesn't cry, exactly, but he curls his fingers into Rip's shirt and focuses on breathing instead, tension slowly easing out of broad shoulders. ]

[timedrive]

[ This is good, then. Rip thinks it's good. Carter has settled against him, and he is heavy (but the man's an immortal hawk warrior-- he shouldn't be surprised at all), but he can make this easy sacrifice without worry. Carter's lost far more, he imagines; he doesn't know what it's like to lose a real soulmate, but he does remember watching Miranda and Jonas die so much he'd stopped feeling horrified by seeing them gunned down.

Head turning, his lips brush Carter's hair. Rip's tone's softer, his voice a register lower. ] What made you drink so much? [ As if he doesn't do the same, often. As if his own problem isn't as bad, if not worse. ]

[unbonded]

[ He inhales as Rip kisses his head, but it's shaky. 206 - no, 207 now, isn't it? 207 deaths. Some of these lifetimes are longer than others, and all of them are tragic. ]

Sad. Lonely, I guess. I think a lot. [ How can he not? He huffs a laugh, bitter. ] She didn't even want me, really, you know. This makes... 207 times.

[timedrive]

[ Rip exhales slowly. Two hundred and seven. Are Carter and Kendra's incarnations programmed to remember how many times exactly? (It'd be worse if they weren't.) ]

She didn't remember who she was yet. [ And now you're married to me. The thought of saying yes out of guilt for Carter's grief had made little sense then, but he hadn't thought it to be particularly harmful, either.

Now he wonders. Two hundred seven times. ]

When we kill Savage, you and Ms. Saunders-- or whoever you two become in your next lives-- will be able to grow old together, you know. Finally.

And we will. I know we will.

[ He doesn't. The Legends are a last ditch effort, because Rip stopped believing in himself ages ago.

But it sounds like the right thing to say. ]

[unbonded]

I know. [ Carter huffs a tiny laugh. ] She thought I was a douche.

[ He tucks his head more comfortably into Rip's neck, nose against his pulse. ] I wonder if that'll end the cycle. If we finally get to live out our lives... I guess we'll find out, huh. Next life.

[ There's something strange and awful and matter of fact about how he says it, the knowledge he might lose her a 208th time. ]

[timedrive]

Even if it doesn't end the cycle, at least you'll both get to die in peace instead of in violence.

[ Rip's fingers drift down the curve of Carter's skull, down to stroke his back and soothe him. The other arm stays firm around his body, careful. ]

We'll stop him. I promise you.

[unbonded]

Mm.

[ He makes a noise, soft and... content, almost. ] We sure will. I'm so fucking ready, okay? I know our friends are kind of screwing around but I can't wait to kill this guy and get your family back. I'm here to end this.

[timedrive]

[ And that's how Rip knows the marriage wasn't anything serious. Carter isn't over his soulmate, believes that Rip's going to get his family back-- this is, in the end, just a strange coping mechanism, and for that reason he decides it isn't too bad a charade to continue. ]

Thank you, Mr. Ha-- Carter. [ Is he correcting his last name or referring to him by his first? Rip settles a bit more into his seat, slouching, and takes Carter down with him. ]

I wouldn't be able to do this without you.

[unbonded]

... No?

[ He sounds like this is a novel sort of idea, that he's useful, and he re-settles when Rip slouches, heavy against his chest. ] What do you mean?

[timedrive]

Who would I be without my husband?

[ Rip isn't good at jokes. He clears his throat. ]

...you called them your friends, said you'd fight with such conviction. You've a heart that I don't, and a determination that I don't.

That's something every team needs.

[unbonded]

[ Rip isn't good at jokes, but Carter laughs, anyway, a proper one that shakes his shoulders and were he not so comfortable, he would've tipped his head back, grinning and full and easy.

As it is, he settles, grinning into Rip's shoulder. ] Well. Thanks. You definitely needed one more idiot with more determination than sense, huh? [ He loves their friends, but he also knows they're... well.

A moment later, still amused:] I can't believe you let me marry you. That's ridiculous.

[timedrive]

It's a little bit ridiculous. [ Rip concedes this point easily. He feels Carter smile against his shoulder, and coupled with the sound of his laughter, figures this a good instance. ] But I could marry worse people.

A younger me had dreams of marrying legendary warriors... albeit for more nefarious purposes. [ Something like assassinating world leaders, putting a city under his own rule... ] Now I'm old and just glad you're kind as much as you're incredibly handsome.

[unbonded]

[ Carter laughs again, pulling back to look at Rip with his eyebrows raised. He's not shy, which is a benefit on multiple levels, including here where he's blunt and bold.

There's a faded mark in the crook of his shoulder. ]

I could say the same about you. You're a pretty good husband, all things considered. Thanks for indulging my dumb ideas.

[timedrive]

I'm an incredible husband. [ Rip sounds mildly offended that there's the possibility he might not be. ] I was going to bring you cereal and everything.

...still. If there's anything you need, anything at all, tell me.

[unbonded]

[ Carter's grinning at him. ] Not many husbands would be willing to bring a drunk one cereal at whatever stupid time it is. You're pretty great. ... What kind of cereal, though, too?

[ He purses his lips in thought. ] ... The affection's pretty nice, though. I don't know if you need it as much as I do, but... more of this, I'd like that.

[timedrive]

[ Both his hands slip down, arms wrapping around Carter's waist and settling. ] I can give more of this.

And I can give you Post Honeycomb sweet crisp corn cereal. But you'll have to get off so I can have Gideon fabricate some milk.

[unbonded]

[ Carter grins at him. His entire face lights up when he does, and it's a good look on him. ] Thanks. On... both counts.

[ He slides out of Rip's lap, a little less clumsy now that he's beginning to sober up. ] That's one of my favorite cereals. Fun fact.