I’m glad. For your sake, at least. I don’t know if I think you’d take anyone past a point they couldn’t come back from.
Fine, yeah. A bunch of people from my ... approximate corner of the multiverse are here, and it’s been interesting. But it’s also eased up somewhat. So.
You’re pulling overtime in the hospital, I presume?
[ Kyle doesn't text back, instead taking a moment to straighten up his desk and office, something he normally never does when someone is coming by, and then having a look in the mirror. He had just thrown on something to head home in, but now that Stephen was on his way, he suddenly has a moment he hasn't felt in a while. Excitement and nerves.
Digging through his drawers, he finds a nicer shirt, a silk tee shirt that clings just so, sleek and black and does a lot more for his physique and tones than the one he'd had on. Another look, liking what he sees, and then moving to crack the door open for Stephen's arrival. ]
[ stephen used to pitch in at haven sometimes, in a previous tenure at duplicity; he suspects it’ll come up eventually. for now there’s a sense of somewhat unsettled nostalgia for him as he makes his way through the hospital lobby towards the elevator, a familiarity to the path he takes towards the head administrator’s office.
he knocks on the door before he cracks it open further. stephen isn’t on too different a wavelength for the informality of the occasion: button-down, rich red scarf, jacket thrown on top. it’s a polished look because stephen is always polished, not that kyle has too many bases for comparison--kyle, who’s already seen him shaking and disheveled. at the sight of him stephen’s expression, subdued in the hall, softens into a smile. ]
[ He looks up at the knock, only realizing just in that moment how glad he is in seeing Stephen. Just those texts from him had made Kyle smile a bit more and it wasn't something that came to him easy in these last few days. He pus
hes to try and fake that he's okay and he's handling it all, but he knows he's not. He can try though.
His expression softens when he sees him though. There's that at least. ]
Hi. How are you?
[ He feels a little uncertain but he can't help taking a step closer to him, asking that as if he hadn't just been recently dragged out of a pit. ]
[ he lets himself in fully. the lighting in the office is less harsh than he remembers--not that he ever spent much time in the admin offices. it suits kyle, he thinks, who despite his recent trials looks untarnished.
sometimes stephen forgets uncertainty can be natural. he’s not someone who usually conducts himself with hesitation or awkwardness; he’s overly direct in conversation, sometimes harsh. but outside of that difficult evening kyle had spent in his bed, stephen is aware they only mostly flirt over text; they don’t have many precedents for how to exist around each other in ordinary space.
but he’s been dwelling on time lately, and missed opportunities, and how easily people come and go even without the benefit of a realm that actively tries to do them harm. he lifts a scarred hand and--rests it on kyle’s chest, in part a brief moment of shameless admiration for what the shirt does for him, and also because he doesn’t see the point in resisting the urge to touch him. ]
It’s really good to see you. And ... to see you made it out alright.
[ Everything has been such a madhouse even since the rescue. Life at home changing once again, people he hasn't been able to track down, and all of it feel like swirls of madness in the last few days. He has to move on then, do what he can and to keep things safe and secure for those in his life.
And sometimes, just maybe, find those moments for himself.
Just in that soft touch and not realizing how much he needs it until that moment. His fingers lightly brush the back of Stephen's hand, tracing along the back of his hand so tenderly. ]
My healing kicked in shortly after we got out and fixed a lot of what they did to me. I'm doing the best I can.
[ He's not sure it's enough but it is all he can do. ]
[ that’s the kind of person kyle is, stephen’s beginning to realize. the kind of man who dropped everything to rush to the aid of a man he barely knew; who brought a shameless tenderness with him that stephen, for all his wounded pride, couldn’t turn down.
fuck. he really likes this guy. likes him on a personal level, likes the way he moves in the world, his ready kindness a sharp contrast to stephen’s basest inclinations--which are always towards selfishness.
he draws in closer, a slight further sway into kyle’s space, a reluctant smile pulling up at one corner of his mouth. ]
You probably want to get out of here sooner rather than later. Don’t you.
[ He wraps both arms around Stephen, drawing him in closer to him. Smiling as he kisses him. It's a soft and tender thing, more full of promise than the desire and care that Kyle is feeling.
He knows it would be easy to just sink into this now, to draw him to the couch and just keep kissing him but he forces himself to draw back slightly. Not letting go, just breaking the kiss. ]
The thought to tug you down onto my lap on the couch is there, but I think we'd be more comfortable at my place. There's the ocean and bottles of very good alcohol and the sound of the ocean with a very big bed to curl up on. If you want to.
[ With all he's been through and lost, he doesn't feel like holding back on his desires. Not when it comes to those he feels a connection with like he does Stephen. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@strange; text.
Are you alright?
no subject
I'm coping? I made it out without hurting anyone so I think I'm doing okay.
Are you okay?
no subject
Fine, yeah. A bunch of people from my ... approximate corner of the multiverse are here, and
it’s been interesting.
But it’s also eased up somewhat. So.
You’re pulling overtime in the hospital, I presume?
no subject
I hope most of them weren't in that pit. It is absolutely the worst thing I've been through in this place.
There's a lot of people that need help so I've been doing as much as I can, yeah.
Am I going to get a lecture about working too hard?
1 of 2.
Not really. I worked in a hospital at one point as well. During catastrophe, even.
The work is the work.
2 of 2.
no subject
I was just heading to my office to look over the books. Got a better offer for me?
no subject
But I can bring dinner, if you’ll be there for an all-nighter. Don’t overthink it.
no subject
Maybe plan to stay for a drink?
no subject
Like I said. Text me when you’re just about done.
1 of 2
2 of 2
Unless you want to meet me at my office.
no subject
Be there soon.
no subject
Digging through his drawers, he finds a nicer shirt, a silk tee shirt that clings just so, sleek and black and does a lot more for his physique and tones than the one he'd had on. Another look, liking what he sees, and then moving to crack the door open for Stephen's arrival. ]
no subject
he knocks on the door before he cracks it open further. stephen isn’t on too different a wavelength for the informality of the occasion: button-down, rich red scarf, jacket thrown on top. it’s a polished look because stephen is always polished, not that kyle has too many bases for comparison--kyle, who’s already seen him shaking and disheveled. at the sight of him stephen’s expression, subdued in the hall, softens into a smile. ]
Hey, Kyle.
no subject
hes to try and fake that he's okay and he's handling it all, but he knows he's not. He can try though.
His expression softens when he sees him though. There's that at least. ]
Hi. How are you?
[ He feels a little uncertain but he can't help taking a step closer to him, asking that as if he hadn't just been recently dragged out of a pit. ]
no subject
[ he lets himself in fully. the lighting in the office is less harsh than he remembers--not that he ever spent much time in the admin offices. it suits kyle, he thinks, who despite his recent trials looks untarnished.
sometimes stephen forgets uncertainty can be natural. he’s not someone who usually conducts himself with hesitation or awkwardness; he’s overly direct in conversation, sometimes harsh. but outside of that difficult evening kyle had spent in his bed, stephen is aware they only mostly flirt over text; they don’t have many precedents for how to exist around each other in ordinary space.
but he’s been dwelling on time lately, and missed opportunities, and how easily people come and go even without the benefit of a realm that actively tries to do them harm. he lifts a scarred hand and--rests it on kyle’s chest, in part a brief moment of shameless admiration for what the shirt does for him, and also because he doesn’t see the point in resisting the urge to touch him. ]
It’s really good to see you. And ... to see you made it out alright.
no subject
And sometimes, just maybe, find those moments for himself.
Just in that soft touch and not realizing how much he needs it until that moment. His fingers lightly brush the back of Stephen's hand, tracing along the back of his hand so tenderly. ]
My healing kicked in shortly after we got out and fixed a lot of what they did to me. I'm doing the best I can.
[ He's not sure it's enough but it is all he can do. ]
I'm really glad you're here.
no subject
[ that’s the kind of person kyle is, stephen’s beginning to realize. the kind of man who dropped everything to rush to the aid of a man he barely knew; who brought a shameless tenderness with him that stephen, for all his wounded pride, couldn’t turn down.
fuck. he really likes this guy. likes him on a personal level, likes the way he moves in the world, his ready kindness a sharp contrast to stephen’s basest inclinations--which are always towards selfishness.
he draws in closer, a slight further sway into kyle’s space, a reluctant smile pulling up at one corner of his mouth. ]
You probably want to get out of here sooner rather than later. Don’t you.
no subject
[ He wraps both arms around Stephen, drawing him in closer to him. Smiling as he kisses him. It's a soft and tender thing, more full of promise than the desire and care that Kyle is feeling.
He knows it would be easy to just sink into this now, to draw him to the couch and just keep kissing him but he forces himself to draw back slightly. Not letting go, just breaking the kiss. ]
The thought to tug you down onto my lap on the couch is there, but I think we'd be more comfortable at my place. There's the ocean and bottles of very good alcohol and the sound of the ocean with a very big bed to curl up on. If you want to.
[ With all he's been through and lost, he doesn't feel like holding back on his desires. Not when it comes to those he feels a connection with like he does Stephen. ]