71. A Gentle āI Love Youā Whispered After A Soft Kiss, Followed Immediately By A Stronger Kiss + Philinda
Also prompted by @philcoulsons ā„ļø thanks guys
Heād paid in full, his credits gone, his name signed off. The only thing left to do was tell her. Sheād be happy at first, ecstatic that heād found a way to get them home. But the details would kill her.
So he told Jemma first, stoically going through the motions, telling her the details as he would with any other mission. She tried to reach out to him afterwards - she knew him well enough to see his pain - but he stepped backwards, just out of her reach. He couldnāt think about the consequences yet.
It was hard to find moments alone, just the two of them. There was always another world ending situation to deal with, always someone needing something from them. But the moments did come eventually.
He walked into the bunk, just before it was his turn to take over the sleeping shift. He sat at the edge of the bed as she stirred, waking at just the sound of his breathing. Phil couldnāt help but smile, seeing the sheet pulled up around her chin, her hair mussed and her eyes slowly blinking awake. She was beautiful. It took her a moment to register his presence, but quietly smiled up at him, a soft, āhey,ā falling from her lips.
He couldnāt look at her, he couldnāt watch the excitement on her face, knowing it was going to fade. He shook his head, āI have something to tell you.ā
There werenāt any other options. He couldnāt get more people back, and Melinda couldnāt stay. Her leg was getting worse every day and they didnāt have the medical supplies to help her. He had no choice.
She could see his fretting, his mouth hardening into one flat line, picking at his nails without thinking. She knew his tells.
āCome here,ā she said, making a space for him to lay next to her.
He was already shaking his head, because as much as he wanted to, it would be so much harder to say when there wasnāt an escape, when he was looking her in the eyes.
But he felt her hand gently curl around his forearm, pulling him towards her, and like always, he followed her, unable to resist.
They lay facing each other, Melindaās thumb brushing over the creases in his forehead, āwhat is it?ā
Phil physically couldnāt form the words. It was almost as if vocalising it would make it happen. He would say it, she would leave, and he wouldnāt be able to follow. But at least sheād be safe.
He cast it aside for a second. His priority was her. It always had been. She was hurt and he couldnāt help her in space, there was no other option than to send her back.
āYou know you can tell me anything,ā there was worry in her voice but she was leaning towards him, her hand trailing up his arm to cup his jaw as they gravitated towards each other.
Theyād been skirting this boundary for as long as he could remember, but as she pressed her lips lightly against his, he couldnāt imagine why.
The words, āI love you,ā mumbled against his lips, were his undoing.
He captured her lips again, his arm wrapping around her waist, still being careful of her leg, but needing her to be as close to him as possible. Theyād always known that once the line had been crossed there was no going back.
She tasted like fire, and he knew he was going to be burned by her, but he couldnāt stay away. Her tongue traced the roof of his mouth, flames flickering out to catch him, but he couldnāt resist her. His teeth grazed her lower lip as he moved ever closer to her, their chests pressed together, able to feel the other breathing, hearts beating between them.
Melinda broke away first, smiling softly at him.
This would only make it harder for him to tell her, but her safety was his priority. He could do it for her.
But heād tell her later, when she wasnāt curled up in his arms, smiling as he brushed a kiss to her forehead. It could wait a minute longer.
