ghost of a chance.

[goodfight]

The Capital Wasteland. It's a wasteland. It has dead trees. There are trash, debris, and rotting corpses everywhere. It's Neil's hometown. D.C. ain't pretty, but D.C. is where he comes from. A crappy start, literally.

Neil's hardly phased, though. Despite Alex's clear opinions regarding the area, the younger guy has been looking forward to getting back. Years have passed since he last laid eyes on the Capital Wasteland; some positive change must have occurred. Or any change, really. Anything would be fine.

As they pass through Megaton's gate, however, Neil catches a glimpse of that thing, and he stops dead in his tracks. His eyes widening to show white.

"Da... Dad?"

Comments

[doubletap]

Something heats in him, warms something in his chest. He follows Neil, waiting as he rummages. "...That's nice to hear," he says, without pride or complication.

[goodfight]

He fishes out a doctor's bag. Using the proximity, Neil again reaches for the injured hand and sets to work. "Didn't expect that from me, right? I'm normally so resistant," he states dryly.

[doubletap]

Alex doesn't fight the ministrations, only does what is needed passively. This time he watches Neil's face instead. So the kid is aware of the fact. "...And you decided to change this approach?"

[goodfight]

Oh, this question. It's difficult, and the fact shows on Neil's face. "I didn't decide on random, or came to a decision after thinking it over. It just--" He blinks down at the hand. "Felt right."

[doubletap]

Neil works on Alex's hand, and Alex steps closer, close, reaches out again with his other hand. His fingers move through the soft hair at the base of Neil's skull. "...Still feel right?"

[goodfight]

His first thought is that it's quite nice. Having another care about him, enjoy him. The second proves more complicated, and again, the detail reveals itself. "Despite everything--" Despite his father, his gutted house, and the blatant violation of privacy. "--it feels right."

Work done, Neil carefully lets go of the hand and then reaches to cup the other's cheek.

[doubletap]

Neil surprises him. Continues to surprise him. The now-wrapped hand cups Neil's hip, and the hand on the back of his head draws him forward. "You're getting the better of me here," he murmurs. "Home advantage?"

[goodfight]

Strange. How weird he's so drawn to this guy from the West, with his thousand of caps and an entire region teeming with life. "Or maybe you're actually letting your guard down," gives Neil, who moves close against Alex. "Courier."

[doubletap]

Something in his chest jumps, and his body reacts to the words and proximity. He blinks, cheeks reddening slightly, then gives a half-nervous chuckle. "Damn, kid, you really--"

Fuck, he doesn't even know what to say. He glances down, off-balance.

[goodfight]

For once, it's Alex Seattle Geer who's caught off his game. It's charming. So charming, enough for the younger man to break into a pleased smile.

"What?" He rubs his hand against Alex's cheek affectionately. "You think I'm not capable of being 'nice'?"

[doubletap]

His eyes are locked onto that smile before Alex evens know he looked back up. He lags in his reply, and when he speaks, it lacks the normal charismatic rhythm. "I just... Thought that... Fuck," he says with emotion, turning his head to kiss Neil's hand. He closes his eyes, stays there a moment.

"...Didn't know if you'd even want to be nice to me after I made you upset like that."

[goodfight]

Alex stumbles through his words, and Neil thinks there is nothing usual about this interaction. But it's fine. Neil believes it's fine. There is the vague sense that the ground might crumble beneath them, but otherwise--

Neil shrugs, still keeping the smile. "I get upset. I calm down. I'm at five months from my 24th birthday, and somehow, I've gotten a lot more resilient. Live and let die, or whatever." He chuckles lightly. "We've got the whole Capital Wasteland to tour, and family shit isn't worth ruining that."

[doubletap]

Alex laughs again, that same strange nervous sound. Still, he pulls Neil closer, enjoying this even as he thinks it's going to end. "So I'm going to tell you the truth," he murmurs, affection written on his face.

"You're entirely attractive at this moment. It's too much for me."

[goodfight]

He's pulled in, surrounded by what his dad might call wrong, and Neil only feels it's right. "But you're smiling," he points out. "That probably means you're good with this."

[doubletap]

The smile Neil noticed only grows at the mention. "I'm good with this," he agrees softly. "I love you."

[goodfight]

He could continue as he normally does, but no. Fuck it. "Guess I love you, too," Neil says carefully, "judging from how pleased I am to hear that."

[doubletap]

...He really doesn't understand what the fuck is going on, but there is less blood in his head by this point and he is wasting energy trying to figure it out. "God damn, kid," he breathes out, slipping his hands up to cup Neil's face. Alex--calm, collected, eternally amused Alex--looks thoroughly off his rails. Ruined, in a way most would love to see.

"God damn," he repeats, closing the gap between them to kiss the kid who's knocking him so far off his normal setting.

[goodfight]

Neil's achieved the almost improbable: Alex Seattle Geer is off his damn game, and it's all because of a kid who's barely getting used to being an adult. But this kid's off-balance as well, and he wonders if this is the first sign that he's falling into something else. Something he can't properly put into words.

He moves into the kiss, returns it lightly. Neil breathes in the scent of the other, taking actual pleasure in something where he hasn't before.

[doubletap]

The enthusiasm is new, something that makes something stir in Alex, not lust or want or amusement-- It feels like hope and it fucking scares him, but there is nothing in him that would reject the interaction, not in him that would stop. It's better to experience this, he knows. Better to have held this in his arms and have once claimed it as his own, than never have had the experience.

He backs up, pulling Neil with him, not breaking the kiss; backs until he hits wall and pulls Neil into him. He murmurs into lips, in between breaths of air, mumbles affection and love and appreciation in the moments in between.

[goodfight]

He slips into another's movements so easily, and somewhere, Neil registers the echo. A lingering threat of before, a potential intrusion into their space, but affection overtakes everything else, and he's stays kissing Alex, both arms wrapping tightly around the other man's torso. Life, love, and the unnamed passing between them.

Neil breathes suddenly. Pulls back gasping as if he's been underwater for a very long time. "Shit, uh--" He feels off, thrown across somewhere unknown. "I need to-- Bar that door."

[doubletap]

Neil is off. Affected, and off his game, and it's fucking delicious. Alex makes a sound in his throat in response, pulling Neil back to him, swallowing words with his tongue, and a part of Alex's brain wonders what changed. Is this just a way for Neil to ignore his dad? Rebel against him even? Is he using Alex as a distraction--an excuse?

Except Neil said he loves him. Said he was happy that Alex said the same.

There's a sound like a growl from Alex and he breaks contact, eyes closing in a bid for concentration. He squeezes Neil to him, pressing himself into him, grinding once, then breathes out, letting go and moving past him. Alex whistles for ED-E, whom Dogmeat follows after a glance at Neil (who is giving off the mate smell and therefore not in the mood to play), and opens the door, whistles a three note request. ED-E chirps back happily.

Alex shuts the door behind dog and 'bot, and returns with a heavy step and darkened eyes to Neil. He grabs him, holds him close, and kisses his neck. "...They'll stay right outside the door. Won't let anyone in." He presses against Neil, hands moving over his back.

[goodfight]

If he said something, Neil doesn't recall. Alex pulls him into it once more, and by the time the older man addresses the concern, Neil has forgotten. Stares breathlessly at the other directing their kids outside the door, whistling instructions.

Then Neil understands, before Alex comes back and starts things once more. He murmurs a content sound, a hand reaching to twist fingers into Alex's hair. "So," Neil begins. "That christening you were talking about."

A step too far, too unnecessary. A step he gladly takes for the moment.

[doubletap]

Neil twines his fingers into Alex's hair, and he never thought he would think that that act is sexy. The kid speaks, and he forgets his damn train of thought. "God fucking damn, Neil."

Alex nips under Neil's chin, before coming up to kiss him deeply. He's out of breath, out of mind. "...God damn, you own me right now."

[goodfight]

Any chuckling that might have occurred is cut short by a deep kiss, taking away breaths and understanding both. Neil presses his other hand against Alex's cheek, rubbing against the skin there. "This is different," he manages, chest heaving. "Not like the usual."

He's teasing, but it remains the truth. This is thoroughly different from the norm.

[doubletap]

Neil touches him, and Alex lets out a quiet moan. Tries to swallow it, muffle, but it's already in the air. He leans his head against Neil's, lower body pressing against Neil in need. He breathes out roughly.

"Tell me why," he wants to know, needs it somewhere desperately. He kisses Neil's forehead, lips lingering. "Tell me what changed."

Because Alex is reacting. Neil is the one who has shifted.