𝕃𝔼𝕋ℍ𝔸𝕃 // 𝕊ℙ𝕆𝕆𝕂𝕐 !

          𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌.  𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋   curiosity as to why someone would break into nasa’s communication systems just to end up messaging the astronauts when they probably could have gone ahead and accessed  ALL SORTS  of private information.  whatever the reason,  beck found himself intrigued over this whole situation already.  wondering what this person could  possibly  want to say to the ares III crew right here and right now.  fingers came up,  poking and pulling at his bottom lip as he waited for a  RESPONSE,  eyes shifting towards johanssen as if she’d automatically  /know/  what he was doing.  she was sneaky.  he wouldn’t put it past her to monitor their computers.

          there’s a flashing on the screen that draws his attention back to it,  and immediately beck has to keep himself from laughing OUT LOUD.  data.  even from several million miles away he could point out the star trek reference there and there was no  STOPPING  the eye roll that followed.  taking a moment to shift his position in his bunk,  the astronaut places his hands on the keyboard and begins typing once again.     ❛  data.  ha.  i get it.  cause i’m in space.  and he’s an ai.  nice one.    ❜     his head shakes and a hand comes up to rub over his eyes a couple of times before fingers are back moving against the keys.     ❛  my mother taught me a lot of things.  don’t do anything  DANGEROUS  was one of them too,  but here i am.  on mars.  so clealy i’m not very good at listening.  you know who else told me not to talk to strangers?  our systems operator.  but again,  i have a  PROBLEM  with listening apparently.  as long as you’re not out to mess with nasa’s programming,  i’m happy to say hi.  ❜

          one corner of beck’s lip  PULLS  into a faint smile and his pointer finger taps against the side of the laptop a couple of time.  he can’t deny that it’s actually kind of nice to talk to someone who  WASN’T  the same five crew members he’d been around for the past several months.  so instead of closing out the window with the simple  hello,  he decided to attempt to further the conversation.     ❛  anything interesting happening on earth?  gotta be something better going on than sifting through dirt and rocks all day long.  fill me in.  ❜

          A reference as nuanced as Data wasn’t supposed to garner a reaction.  Seeing that it did had Jensen sliding forward so he could look at all the code to read his message again.  ‘ Is someone a nerd?? ‘  He dared to ask in reply.  Geek was self explanatory since he was talking to someone in space.  What little information he possessed on NASA told him that alone took a lot of dedication to not only education but to the field itself.  Joe Schmoe didn’t get sent up to space.  Except for that one time they tried selling seats to the highest bidder.  Didn’t work out too well.  As far as Jensen knew no one’s tried again.

          ‘ Be honest now.  Did you roll your eyes? ‘  Was the only thing he could think of typing back.  Hands slide on his thighs, rubbing against the denim.  For some reason the hacker’s heart was kicking up in speed.   There was no reason for anxiety because he was already in the system.  Talking to this other person was already intriguing.  Much better than anything he got on a deep mission.  Being stuck to the same group of people ( no matter how much he loved them ) got to be old.  At the same time, his occupation made it hard to connect on a serious level.  Not that he expected this particular conversation.

                              But the new contact was nice.

          𝐈𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄,  laying against the concrete right now.  beck didn’t really  CARE  how many neighbors happened to come out their homes or drive by,  looking at them like they were  CRAZY  for doing what they were doing.  which wasn’t anything  bad  as far as anyone else could see.  it’s not like they were undressed and making up for lost time right there on the front lawn.  that would come later when they were alone and in private.  but the smart ass remark about jensen’s temperature and  what beck did to him  sure did have the astronaut  GRINNING  in a mischievous way as he sat up a little higher.  legs shifted on either side of the male and without much more of a warning,  hips  ROLLED  a couple good times against jensen’s.     ❛  how’s that temperature now?  ❜

          the grin did soften a bit as he finally pulled himself off of the other’s body,  and as soon as he was stable on his own two feet,  chris was reaching down and helping jensen up to his as well.  then it was just a matter of moving to grab the  DISCARDED  luggage  ( jensen had just been off on a  month long  mission,  he deserved some rest )  before he was turning and making his way back into the home.     ❛  some  BAD GUY,  huh?  we need to have a discussion about this whole letting people get the  jump  on you.  i’m not the biggest fan of seeing you come home hurt.  ❜     beck let the bag drop to the floor near the front door,  hands immediately coming up to touch the skin  AROUND  the visible injuries.  gently,  of course.  a minor inspection before his touch was dropped to the other’s  CHEST.  

          ❛  anymore injuries i need to know about?  i’d like to have a look at them  BEFORE  we get into too many more  welcome home  activities.  unless you want to have to stop every time i spot another bruise or a cut.  ❜     he couldn’t help it.  the doctor in him  ALWAYS  wanted to take care of people.  jensen in particular    —    someone he was  very much in love with    —    was someone that he couldn’t help but  WORRY  about.  especially because while he’d  FIGURED OUT  that the other wasn’t always out simply  hacking  and working with computers,  he still didn’t have the  FULL  idea of what jensen’s job was exactly.  all he knew was that when he came home from jobs,  he always seemed to have some sort of  PHYSICAL  affliction that worried the doctor.  no matter how minor they may be.

         For several long seconds all Jensen could do was attempt to control his breathing while he focused on that little cloud up ahead.  His temperature had skyrocketed thanks to the doctors wiggle but he couldn’t find his voice in time to admit that.  The blood was boiling through his veins.  Thoughts he’d managed to control while away from home were suddenly flooding back and practically overwhelming.  Hopefully it wasn’t too physically obvious.  At least not until they got inside the house.  Although, he also wanted Beck straddling him again.

                            Decisions, decisions.

          Thankfully, Jensen finds a little reprieve when there’s space put between them.  He actually gasps his relief.  Eyes flutter shut in another attempt to gather himself.  If coming home was always going to be like this then he’d need to start mentally preparing himself before the plane even landed on the ground.  The attention was still something he wasn’t used to.  In fact, there’d been a number of nights  out on his mission when he was convinced all his time with Beck was nothing more than a dream.  There was no logical reason why they should work. Yet, here they were making a scene on the sidewalk.

          Once inside, Jensen lets the door click shut behind him.  “ I don’t think the memo about not ambushing the good guys made it that far into the jungle.  Next time we’ll send it Priority Express. “  A grin accents his sarcasm.  At least the direction of the conversation helped lower his temperature.  One day they’d need to have that conversation.  The conversation about what exactly he does with all those hacking skills and that will most likely be followed by the conversation about not being able to trust him anymore.  Just a matter of time.

          Licking his dry lip, Jensen quickly removes his shirt so he can show off that yellowish green bruise on his ribs.  The same bruise that has a bullet graze in the middle.  Several wounds were almost healed on his knuckles and there was a fading bruise on his hip from a utility belt he had to wear for an extended period of time.  “ All in all I’d say I’ve come home in worse condition. “  Jensen has to smile proudly at that, if for no other reason than to help the mood before doctor mode activated.

          𝐀 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐔𝐓'𝐒 𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐒   jensen begins to try and explain away the fact that he had to walk off screen.  he can’t help it because he  KNOWS  it isn’t true.  he knows damn well that his necessary water intake coupled up with adorable words and statements entirely too often for it to be a  COINCIDENCE.  plus there was the fact that he always had that  look  on his face right before he left.  sometimes there was a slight blush,  the  SMILE  that was all too telling,  after two years,  you learn to tell the signs.  and jensen was  FAIRLY  easy to read for the most part    —    but that could have a lot to do with the fact that reading his expressions through a screen had become a  NECESSITY  thanks to the distance.  and he was going to call him out.  beck was lifting the hand that wasn’t on jensen’s neck,  POINTING  it at him with a smug smile on his face   …

          but then those words came out.  talking about him as if he was anything  TRULY  special.  words that softened the astronaut  immediately  and had him wanting so  BADLY  to just lean over and steal a kiss from the other male.  and had it not been for the fact that jensen immediately cleared his throat and shifted his focus to his phone,  he absolutely would have.  so he settled for letting fingers push up through the back of the other male’s hair,  pads stroking and scratching  GENTLY  against the scalp while he reached over with his other hand to hook right back around jensen’s elbow.  sure he had to lean over to really get the closeness he  DESIRED,  but a minor discomfort thanks to the seat belt around his waist was  nothing  in comparison to how good it felt to be this close to him.  he never wanted to be far away again.

          ❛  so this thing you have planned involves the water?  or is it just  near  the water?  are we about to have a romantic night on the beach or something?  ❜     finally taking a moment to shift back more right in his seat,  beck lets his eyes wander out his window    —    searching around for any sign of anything that they could be doing.  his curiosity was really starting to get the better of him.  it wasn’t until he removed his touch from the other completely and let his own hands rub up and down his thighs that he realized he could benefit from a quick  STRETCH,  so he nodded and shot a smile in his  dates?  companion’s direction.

          ❛  can we?  my muscles are starting to tighten up a little bit.  ❜     and he waited until the car was brought to a stop before he was  PUSHING  his door open and letting out a  slightly dramatic  groan as he exited the vehicle.     ❛  my age starts to show a bit when i sit in a car too long.  not that you young'ins know anything about that.  ❜     he spoke with a grin,  POKING FUN  at their  slight  age gap before he was letting a chuckle flow from his lips and making his way around to jensen’s side of the car.  and in a bold move,  the astronaut was reaching out    —    hand coming up to stroke gently along jensen’s cheek as blue eyes took a moment to just  ADMIRE  the other.     ❛  for a while i didn’t think i’d ever get to see your face in person,  you know that?  i never want to put that much distance between us again.  is that weird to say?  ❜

          There’s a slight jolt of the vehicle when it comes to a stop on the side of the road.  Stars up ahead remind him of the two years they’d spent apart, both good and bad.  A good chunk of that time was spent wondering if he’d ever get to meet Chris in person of it the good doctor would only continue to be something pulled directly from his dreams.  All of this was new for Jensen.  More often than not he was on the sidelines looking in because he was too awkward.  Didn’t help that his job put him overseas for months at a time so there was never really the desire to push for anything beyond a date or two.  

          Here Jensen felt like he was skipping a few steps by taking Chris somewhere overnight.  Part of him hoped it wouldn’t create a misunderstanding.  Especially since he didn’t expect anything to happen.  All he wanted was a few quiet hours of relaxation with someone he didn’t think would make it down to the ground.  Since they were lost anyway he wondered if it was a good opportunity to let the cat out of the bag.  Then they could still turn around and do something else if it didn’t go over well.  In fact, now that they were talking about it Jensen was convinced it was a terrible idea and that thought had his stomach churning.

          He hated to admit to himself that Beck pulling away didn’t exactly help.  “ Uhhh, “ blue gaze flicks back out to the crashing waves beyond the Jeep.  The other was already out and prancing around like something pulled from a cartoon.  “ I mean sure. “  A small smile and a shake of his head has the soldier stepping out of the driver’s side.  Arms stretch up to the sky, allowing blood to rush back down his legs.  Beck’s words have him rolling his eyes.  Age was nothing but a number.  What mattered was how you felt inside.  Cheesy but a philosophy he held close to his heart.

                            Mainly because he refused to believe he’d ever stop playing with toys.

          Looking up, Jensen can’t help but twitch when he finds Beck standing close.  Only because he didn’t expect another body there.  Considering how the other spilled from the vehicle he figured the astronaut would be rolling in the sand by now.  Maybe even frolicking through the waves.   “ No.  That’s, uh, “ he had to swallow hard.  There’s a faint beam of light on his shoe that is suddenly very interesting.  As each second passes his heart hammers harder.  Memories of all those systems failing messages burn the back of his eyes.  “ I know.  Knew.  What was happening, I mean.  The way you cut our calls short several times I just… “  Needed to know.  “ I didn’t think… “  He has to turn his gaze toward the ocean because the tear rolls down before he can stop it.  This was supposed to be a happy trip.  A celebratory trip.

          𝐉𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐍𝐎 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓    —    even when the request is made of him.  he’s not mad  AT  jensen.  he’s not even really mad in general,  he’s just   …   bummed out.  it’s his own fault.  he  KNOWS  it is,  but he can’t help but project that general coldness towards the male.  it’s almost instinct.  that and the fact that the more he allows himself to  EMBRACE  jensen in this sort of state,  the more  needy and clingy  he knows he’s going to come off.  and he’s been punished more than enough times in life for intense  ATTACHMENT.  by now he’s learned that he’s better off backing away in times like these.  his brother drilled that lesson in a long time ago.

          but his movements are stopped when jensen practically  LEAPS  in his direction and cuts off the path towards the door.  an audible gasp can be heard at the surprise move,  but the teacher feels himself beginning to  relax  all too easily when those hands come up to his cheeks.  eyes fall closed and all he wants to do is fall into the other’s body.  but he can’t.  not even when their foreheads press together because he still feels like jensen wants to be  ALONE.  he saw it,  clear as day in the way he’s been acting ever since josiah showed up.  he needs to stand firm.  give the other the space he needs.  but it’s so  difficult.  he craves this touch so much.

          at least,  right up until the name  JOSIE  comes out of jensen’s mouth.  brows furrow together and he grabs the book that’s under his arm,  whacking  the other male in the side as he pulls his head away and brows  FURROW  together to express his distaste for that nickname.     ❛  jensen.  ❜     but he allows the other to continue speaking,  and what he has to say begins to soften his expression all over again    —    turning a scowl and a  POUT  into an actual smile.  it’s small,  but it’s there.  and the blue hues almost  sparkle  at the fact that the other seems to be so  INSISTENT  that josiah doesn’t leave.  this was new.  this was   …   unfamiliar.  in the best of ways.     ❛  are you sure?  if you need time,  i can give you time.  i don’t want you to get sick of me.  or   …   ANNOYED  with my presence or anything.  i just missed you.  i’m sorry for getting upset.  i shouldn’t have.  it’s not fair of me.  ❜

          Being around Josiah was always a weird change in dynamic.  Usually it was Jensen who was coiled to leave or Jensen the awkward one waiting to get kicked to the curb.  At the same time, he liked to think that he did it with a little more grace.  He expected it because he was weird and slightly socially awkward.  On the other hand, Josiah seemed to expect it for entirely reasons that the soldier had yet to decipher.  Past pains if he had to put some money on it.  Not that he wanted to.  Jensen would probably knock on Pooch’s door and ask for some help at that point.

          Whatever it was that prompted the teacher to leave, Jensen is ecstatic to learn that the thoughts were slowly changes.  He can’t help but chuckle when there’s a book lodged in his side.  It didn’t hurt.  In fact, he was pretty damn sure Josiah couldn’t hurt a fly.  Still, he liked to see that fire come out of the other.  Even if it was just a little fight it helped remind Jensen that he could rise against the things that kept him down.  

                               One day.

          Bit by bit a smile grows on Josiah’s beautiful features.  That, too, is a relief.  They might be in weird relationship limbo land  but that didn’t mean he wanted anyone uncomfortable.  It also didn’t mean he knew how to approach any of the things he wanted to say.  One step at a time was always the preferable way, hence the offer of food.  “ Baby, I’m very sure, “ he says softly when he pulls his forehead away.  A kiss is placed on Josiah’s forehead.  Instinct.  Pure instinct.  Jensen wants to do more - show more - but he’s not sure what Josiah needs.  So, he keeps his fingers where they are.

answer = “  bandage: patch them up when they get hurt “      ic reply ( @donttouchthestetson , cougar )      document type ( nonverbal.starters ) ; accepting

          “ Damnit, “ Jensen looks down at the polo shirt he’d bought for cheap at a thrift shop several days earlier.  The purchase had been made specifically for this mission, sure, but that didn’t stop him from morning the canary yellow fabric now stained with red.  Pain radiated from just beneath his ribs where the bullet was lodged into his flesh.  No time to whine, though.  Clay and Pooch were deeper inside the building waiting on him to clear the technological path.

          The agent’s face started getting cold.  Gooseflesh rose along his shoulders, moving quickly down to his forearms.  Jensen took a reluctant few seconds to pull his gaze away from the laptop screen so he can pinch the bridge of his nose.  “ Oof.  It’s getting a little chilly in here, “ he jokes more to himself than anything else.  Anything to break the silence since his fellow teammate was the talkative kind.  “ Maybe I should take a hacking detour and turn the heat up. “  His knuckles crack in preparation for the rest of the mission.  The earpiece that fell out when he’d been shot is put back in place.

           While he’s distracted by the code on the screen Jensen feels something press against his side, causing him to hiss.