Work Text:
He bites his nails when he’s nervous.
Crypto took a mental note while waiting for their third to finish looting the vault. Mirage posed guard just outside of the gilded doors and continued to gnaw his nailbeds. When he spoke out was rushed, “Kay, so ring is that way. So is East Frag, though... Can we skeedaddle through unseen y’think?” He made a little running man with his fingers.
“Not like you to avoid a fight, Old Man.” The hacker noted with a smirk, “Age catching up to you?”
“No offense but, Shut Up.” He snapped back. “I don’t love our loot, I don’t love our location, and I don’t love the champion squad consan-corni-cost- whatever- popping up on the killfeed.” He dropped his voice low, “And our tag-a-long here is just too green. I’m not tryina kill her.”
“If you joined us at the firing range for practice, you’d see her skill.” Crypto assured, slightly louder than Mirage was comfortable with. His eyes darted to look and see if their teammate overheard them. She didn’t but, he still glared at Crypto anyway.
“Yeah, whatever, propose to her in your spare time. Let's just play ring and live another day? Please?” He tacked that on at the end with exasperation.
After a quick eye roll he nodded and pinged an agreeable spot on the map. Their third excited the vault and blessedly affirmed to get to the next stage and defend the final ring with them.
—-
They came in second place, but no horrible injuries, except for the harsh bite of the arc star Crypto took in the struggle. And no deaths. Certainly no deaths.
Crypto was grateful to be able to hide a little in his jacket as he left the med bay. He was home in no time but…
“What are you hovering outside my door for, Witt?”
“Cut the act, I’m not in the mood. Can we go inside?” Elliott shrugged, shoulder against the doorframe and eyes not meeting Crypto’s, pointedly and coldly.
Crypto didn’t answer, he didn’t care to indulge this childish behavior. Something had been on Elliott’s mind all day, maybe longer. He looked around for clearance and unlocked the door, letting Elliott go first.
[Protocol 2A: Unidentified Guest] the security voice sang out. Crypto answers with a confirmation number, and Elliott untenses his shoulders. The scan finishes and they both were left in the small entranceway in silence
“Jesus.” He sighed. “I never get used to that.” He whirled around and pinned Cryptos shoulders to the wall. They’re on each other after that. Crypto reached down to force Elliott’s hips to his by grabbing his ass, Elliott snaked his arms deeply into Crypto’s jacket to clutch at his back. His hands were rough, unplugging the wiring connected to Hack and pulling harshly at his clothing underneath. “Never get used to this either.”
“You should be, It happens regularly enough.” Crypto smirked through their little break-away. “I didn’t think I’d see you today, you were so ornery.”
“ Really rich coming from you, Mr. Resting-Bitch-Face.” His joke didn’t carry, not with the cold tone he chose.
“H-hey.” Crypto placed his hands on either side of Elliott’s face, forcing him to back up, slow down. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Nothing, man.” He attempted to peel Crypto’s fingers away from his clammy skin. “Can-can we ju-“ he tried to close the distance between them. He felt desperate on Cryptos lips, until he tore the trickster off.
“What. Is. Wrong.”
Elliott went from surprised to furious in barely a second, he pushed away from Crypto entirely and slammed himself to the wall behind him.
“Fucking…. fuck. Ca- Why can’t we just fuck and not talk. Why are you suddenly Mr. Q&A all of the fucking sudden??” He began to slide down the hard metal wall of the hallway. What was pure rage swallowed itself up in dejection, and Elliott ripped the goggles from his head and pulled at the roots of his hair. Hard. “Crypto…”
“Elliott?” Crypto stood aside long enough and fearing that the man may actually hurt himself. “Elliott. Give me your hands.”
“I don’t want-” he fidgeted and shifted away, as much as he could. “Don’t touch me. Don’t.” Elliott’s voice raised at that last command.
Crypto had no idea what to do. If he were honest, he was afraid of Elliott in this instance; yelling, being difficult, near a breakdown. He stayed silent but he kneeled in front of the man and folded his hands in his lap. He would give Elliott some time before he began seeking answers.
“Some… guys. They came to the bar the other night, b-before we left for Talos. I think they were Syndicate.” He started slow, like he was approaching a scared animal. Crypto set his face stern and immovable.
“I believe that.” He said softly in response. “They’ve checked on you quite a lot recently.”
Elliott finally looked at Crypto, if only to toss him an ‘ are you fucking kidding me ’ look. “WHAT? What do you mean ‘a lot’? Like ‘A Lot’ ‘a lot’!?”
“I wouldn’t worry. I’ve checked on them more .” Crypto hoped he was comforting enough for his lover, but still abided the not-touching rule Elliott just set.
“I mean like… Why would they be… like do they know about us? Are… I thought we were really good at sneaking around?”
“Did they do anything. While they were in your bar? Anything antagonistic?” Crypto set to diagnosing the severity of their visit. Maybe he could help assure that it wasn’t anything more than surveillance.
“No? I don’t know!?” His voice pitched up, “How am I supposed to know what’s a ‘Check Up’ visit and what’s a - a - ‘Surprise we’re killing you!’ visit!?”
Again he stayed quiet. His only advice was to just always assume the latter. But that’s the last thing he’d tell Elliott.
“TaeJoon… it… got me thinking like. The syndicate knows me and, and-and my m-mom.” Elliott swallowed down a hiccup, “they could do anything. Like they could….Is- is she in danger?”
He was at a loss for words. He knew in his heart he would sound the same if, three years ago he had a single soul to confide in when he first began running. “I’m sorry.” He mustered. It’s the least he could say, but also the most he could say. There was no way to soothe the man’s racing mind, he knew. “I’m sorry, Elliott.”
“How…? Baby, how do you do this?” His breathing became labored while he attempted to hold off the tears. Crypto chanced breaking Elliott’s instructions not to touch him. His hands shakily move from his scruffy cheeks to his jaw, to the back of his neck. He tipped forwards and Elliott let himself be held. Then he felt Elliott’s body racked with heavy silent sobs. “It’s no-Not Fair. You’ve lived like this for years I’ve… I can’t believe I made fun of you, I'm… I’m so sorry. I-”
“Elliott.” It cut Crypto deep. The deepest since his sisters face appeared on the news those years ago. He thought he would drown in his guilt, if it would do anyone any good. All he could do was hold Elliott closer, tighter, more gentle than ever. “Elliott I don’t want this for you.” Crypto steered the conversation towards a familiar passing point for them both. And Elliott picked up on it.
“Shut up. I’m not leaving you. I’m not.”
“Not even for your mother?”
He wished Elliott would have hit him for that. He deserved it. After all, it was horrible to say. But, really, Elliott was brilliant and blind and above all else, motivated by heart and guts and sheer dumb luck. It’s what TaeJoon loved most about him. So, no. No fist flew at his face, or clawed at his eyes. Only Elliott Witt’s strange ability to love.
“TaeJoon. I made you a promise. To help, and to be there for you and to be honest with you. If you or anyone else put my mom in danger I’d have killed you. But I did this… I picked this.”
“It’s never too late to… un-pick. Elliott, your life would be a lot safer without me.”
“I know that. It would also be a lot sadder, and drunker, and pathetic, and… and over. Probably.” Crypto held him tightly after that last one. “She hasn’t been doing well… I keep thinking how easy it would be for the syndicate t-to do s-omething and her- she …”
“Elliott. Going down that path is no good for anyone.” Please please let him be saying the right things. “We can start over new?” He mused, pressing his lips to the top of Elliott’s head, smelling the sweat and earth of the arena. “Get you and your mom new names. New faces... new address. Y-you know… TaeJoon Park style.” He chuckled at his own stupid attempt at levity.
But then there was this cloying silence, this horrid stillness.
“I … hate myself.” Elliott pulled at Crypto’s jacket and buried his face to his chest. “I hate myself so much. You know why?? Because I can’t- no, no, no I won’t do those things… I like my face. I like my life… like kinda. I hate myself for not doing what you can do. What you have already done!!” He sounded like he was going to start screaming, his words came out rushed and panicked.
“Elliott…” he tried.
The trickster continued “I’m selfish, and an asshole. I fucking hate that I’m a liar. I can’t do shit to help you… I promised you and I’m blowing it… and all because I don’t want a fake last name.”
That one… threw TaeJoon for a loop. A fake personality was not easy, to get or to maintain. When he first went on his own, he cried himself to sleep being on the streets again, alone and scared. He tried to fight the bitterness back, Elliott having such a lovely life hurt his pride in a way. It also hurt his guilt; Suggesting that Elliott tear his life apart and run was selfish and horrible.
“Joonie I don’t know what to do.” Elliott finally asked for help, and slumped back against the wall. His tears fell and his pride was in pieces. “She’s stuck on Solace, and I’m here trying to keep her safe. And, and I d-don’t know what I can do.”
“Leave me. Give me up.”
“No… Anything but that.”
“Elliott. You can’t have it all.”
The trickster’s head snapped up at that, meeting Crypto’s gaze. A fire was there. “You know, I’m beginning to think this solution is a little too easy for you to bring up, TaeJoon.”
“Don’t you dare suggest that, Elliott.”
“Oh? What? Did I hit a nerve? Breaking up with me is so easy, isn’t it??”
“Do you want to know why I keep suggesting it?” Crypto wiped at his eyes. Why now, tears? “For you to leave me ??” He stood up to his full height, hovering over the trickster “It would make you safer, sure but… it’s because, Elliott Witt, I could never force myself to give you up.”
“Because day after day, you give my life hope, instead of revenge. You can’t see how perfect you are, despite constantly bragging about it. You can’t see how bright your smile is. How warm your hands are. Or how your laughter feels… Elliott, I don’t trust myself to say goodbye to you.” Because … he thought… maybe I lov-
“TaeJoon… I can’t…” he openly wept now. Hearing that almost-confession seemed to wreck the man, and Crypto felt horrible. “I can’t. There’s nothing I can do without you. Nothing I want to do.” Elliott seemed lethargic, his limbs open and lying prone on the floor. Surrendering , Crypto thought callously.
“I think we both know… that…we...” He dropped his sentence while speaking it. “No…” he shook his head, “I don’t want to be the responsible one.”
Elliott looked up at him curiously, he was lost. So obviously lost. “What the hell are you talking about, man?”
“I don’t want to be responsible. I want to be with you. I want you. I want that idiotic life you planned out for us.”
“W-what life?! Ther- I have NOT-”
“Elliott, you talk in your sleep. You named our dogs after liquor, and our children after guitar brands.”
There was a heavy silence from Elliott on that one.
“I mean… I’m not… concrete on the names.” Elliott looked away, and began chuckling. And poor Crypto followed suit. They giggled a little together.
“Who names a dog ‘Cognac’?”
“Cognac is the cat, TaeJoon. Your cat.”
“Ah. Must be why Brandy and Whiskey chase it all the time.”
Elliott hid his smile behind his hand, and when it slid from his face, so did his brief fling with joy. “What are you doing to me TaeJoon…?”
Something about seeing Elliott broken made Cryptos heart ache, not just for sympathy’s sake. Something deeper like guilt, his need to fix everything… but he felt for the first time, not entirely controlled by his ‘need to control’.
Crypto kneeled down again, hovering close and soon, bringing his hands around Elliott’s jaw. “You know what, Elliott Witt? Just for tonight, I’m giving in.”
He tore at Elliott’s battle gear, willing him to take it off, take it all off. He obeyed, silently, like if he were to talk at all, Crypto would stop all of this.
“I’m taking a vacation. A small reprieve.”
Once Elliott’s arms were free of the leather holo gear, Crypto unwrapped the scarf from his neck. Carefully. He knew it was Elliott’s mother’s.
“I’m allowing myself to be selfish. Completely selfish”
After that, the closure at his neck. Crypto decisively removed the fabric from his shoulders, Elliott’s thick arms appeared from the sleeves, he just continued to peel it far, far down.
“I want what I’ve denied myself for so long.”
All while he deftly undid the belt from Elliott’s waist, his lips were on Elliott’s neck. Just trailing along muscles, throbbing veins, sweat, dirt, heat.
“And I’m not going to think. I’m just going to…”
When Elliott didn’t help remove the bottoms of his jumpsuit, Crypto went ahead and shoved his hand down his front and helped himself to a handful of stiffening cock.
“... be so careless…”
Elliott got the picture and shimmied his shoes and bottoms completely off. And he did it all while being massaged slowly and particularly under-powered.
“... that I will leave evidence.”
And with that said, Crypto sealed his plush lips just above Elliott’s collarbone and sucked and licked and bit. When he pulled away, he thumbed the leftover saliva over the bright purple splotches he’d made. Next, was purely a bite. A rather large mark just above the hollow of Elliott’s throat. Each one he did made his own moans build. He never let himself make noise like this.
Poor Elliott was just frozen in place; still fearing that the first wrong move would snap Crypto back to his usual reserved self. And he was hard, straining in his underclothes. And still had Crypto’s hand massaging him.
Crypto closed onto the crest of Elliott’s shoulder, this time savoring the salt of the sweat that clung there. Bitter and dull, but it was the tastiest thing Crypto had experienced in a long time. When he pulled away, there was a beautiful circle of burgundy.
“Elliott.” Crypto whispered against the man’s pec, he watched the goosebumps fill out the expansive skin there before getting obscured by the fuzz on his chest and stomach. “<<Do you have any idea how beautiful you look?>>” Crypto didn’t look up, he knew he’d not get an answer. Another bite mark on the swell of his plush chest, and a few flicks of a tongue around his nipple. Just to play with the barbell pierced through it.
“Mmmmffmmfff” Elliott cast his gaze to the ceiling, sweating and blushing like crazy. Just a whimper after that.
Crypto continued, he was circling the side of Elliott’s neck, just under his ear. When he finally latched on, he felt Elliott throb in his hand. Oh yeah , he has such sensitive spots near his ears. He locked his earlobe in a gentle bite, holding it between his teeth and letting his breath fill the tricksters head. He licked up the cuff and just… moaned right there. Elliott tensed up and whimpered so pathetically that Crypto wanted to give him some mercy. Instead of lazily palming at the man beneath him, he took him into a proper hold and pumped firmly, Elliott took that moment to scramble away out of the touch.
“Please no- I don’t wanna, it’s too soon.” Elliott turned his head dramatically away to recover from the sight and the sensation.
“Okay <<my love>>, I’m going to have you on my bed then. <<Is that alright with you?>>”
Elliott answered by staggering to his feet, and dumbly walking into the house proper, and disappearing into the bedroom door. Crypto followed soon enough but he first wanted to take care of his clothes; still trapped in his tight jeans and muddy boots from the game. He took off his shoes, let his coat drop on the ground behind him, undid the fastens on his vest and tore his top off altogether. He walked calmly to his bedroom, and occasionally palmed himself through the denim.
When he turned the corner he saw beautiful, helpless Elliott caught in the mirror to ogle as the markings. His fingers ran over them with a gentleness that made Crypto think “awe”.
“They look good on you, <<my love>>,” he said sliding up behind the man, and placing his hands on his hips. Elliott sighed and leaned back to the touch.
“Joonie…” he whined, he took another pass over the one on his neck, and paused.
“I never leave evidence.” Crypto let his hands drift from their places on Elliott’s hips, to crisscross and hold him around his middle, “except for now.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“I can’t leave you now.” He joked, “who would have me? I look like a total slut!”
“Maybe that’s why I did it.” He smiled and tucked his head between Elliott’s shoulder blades. “To keep you.”
“That’s cheating... or whatever.” Elliott’s laugh was one of relief, and almost sadness. “Thought you wanted me gone…”
Crypto couldn’t answer, so he reached down to find Elliott still hard. He gave him a gentle tug, and let his lips and teeth and tongue make some additions to the library of marks already on the man’s skin. He was becoming selfish, longing to see the way he could be a part of Elliott’s life. Even if it were temporary, or able to be covered by makeup, or that stupid frozen-spoon-trick.
Crypto pulled his hands back, to instead, run his fingers along the scars on Elliott’s arms and back. He remembered musing about how the tears in his jumpsuit match with some of the more rough, jagged marks left on the man. There’s one on his stomach that makes Crypto’s knees weak. And one on his inner thigh which has seen it’s fair share of get-well kisses. And another on Elliott’s chest, yet more on his arms.
But those scars are permanent, and Crypto’s marks are fleeting. Maybe permanence isn’t always best, Crypto thought to himself as he finished off a lovely crescent of purple. Maybe some things are best when they don’t last forever but are forged in pure passion.
“Maybe…” he’s not sure why he said that out loud.
“Maybe… what?” Elliott answered, more than distracted.
He couldn’t possibly let Elliott know what he was thinking, it would be cruel. “Let’s… move.” He just found Elliott’s hand to guide him to the bed, and lay him down. On his back. Exposed. He quickly followed, laying his body along the man’s below. Hips with hips and chests to chest. The warmth from Elliott was always divine. A human space heater from a desert planet, go figure. Still Crypto just felt the need to bury his head in the crook of Elliott's neck. It was akin to that feeling of rubbing your eyes, the rougher it got the better it felt. That’s when Crypto’s hands found Elliott’s hair, just letting himself softly dig his fingers in, comb out a little and lightly run his nails over his scalp.
“Please Tae Joon, I need you to touch me or I am going to die.”
“Mhm.” Crypto’s measured response made Elliott whimper, and a moment later, his plea was heard.
His hand trailed lightly to behind his sac, and held it gently, and his other went to pump the man. Meanwhile his mouth finally made contact with Elliott’s, and he drank it in greedily. Ah. That spark of Elliott, actually responding for the first time since Crypto started his little crusade on Elliott’s skin. It awakened something in his gut. Something about not being alone in his needs, or his wants. Knowing that the man below him had been aching for him too. It did not do his own need any favors whatsoever. He ground his hips to Elliott’s, the poor thing had the feeling of denim on his bare skin and Elliott seemed to need more. Crypto backed off to take his last bits of clothing away, and he quickly scrambled back to his duties
“L-love how you feel against-st me” Elliott spoke against Cryotos cheek, his hands were making their way down again to hold his hips against himself.
“Ya, ah, me too…” he let himself drag slowly next to Elliott’s cock, and he almost lost his self control when he felt the throbbing in response. “Elliott… I want to… I want to have you. May I?”
“Sorry, my- uh, my brain is boiling, you want me to top or do you want to.”
Crypto chuckled at the clumsy clarification and nipped at his neck in retaliation “I want to. I need to.”
“Well o-kay… ah-sure” he sounded so lost in his need he could have agreed to anything just then. But Crypto took him at his breathy, desperate word. He dipped away and pushed Elliott’s knees apart and up. “<<Stay there>>.”
He found some lubricant and by the time he was back he did not have the patience to tease. He let the bottle drain onto Elliott’s hole, and he used a single finger to enter him. That gasp made him feel sinful; A very very lucky sinner. He smiled to himself, “hmmm” he hummed a little affirmative, and Elliott whimpered. So vocal.
“Oh f- TaeJoon, it’s b-been a while.” He threw his head to the side and let his lover keep his pace. “Feels s-good already, oh my god.”
“Mhm,” Crypto tried to keep Elliott satisfied with responses- talking never came as naturally as it seemed to for his partner but he always tried, “you’re tight.”
“I well I ha- I left all my toys in So- at at home- not that I use them a lot! I mean you’re my only source of action so I-”
“Aein, I’m only commenting because I can’t wait to feel you around me.”
“Oh I - fuucccckkkk” his body tensed, his eyes shut, his cock bobbed untouched.
“Enjoy that thought?”
“Shut it and fuck me TaeJoon”
“Seems like you’d rather me talk about it.” Crypto teased, a smile wide on his face.
“No. No I mean… well you don’t have to stop-“ Elliott let his hands cover his face. “God just do what you want, I’m going to go insane”
“Hmmm” Crypto reached to his own neglected cock, at the same time as he slid another finger into Elliott. “I hope not. I want you here with me, when you moan my name…” he realized he was biting off more than he could chew just letting himself talk like this. “My real name sounds good coming out of you.”
“Th-then I’ll just say your fake ones.” Elliott said in an indignant way, playful, hot.
“Last time you couldn’t even remember your own name.” Crypto had enough of this little attitude spike, and lowered himself to bite a mark in Elliott’s hip. And fuck, he shuddered and locked up at that sting. Crypto did not move until he was sure another bruise appeared.
“Ah… Cry-CRYPTO.” Elliott moaned, screamed more like.
“That’s for being difficult.” Crypto shook his head tightly.
“HofuckWhatTheFuck.” Elliott breathed out, hollowed his abdomen to get all the air out, and all the self control back in. “God fucking damn it- TaeJoon… I fucking love that.”
“Demanding…”
“You bet your sweet ass I’m demanding. More. Please, more?”
Crypto could only smile, head clouded by the reactions he was getting. He managed to add a third finger and the stretch became easier each time he thrust his hand into Elliott’s thankful, begging body. They both knew he was ready by now but Crypto leaned down to bite a bruise into the flat of his inner thigh- spending an extra second or three suctioned to the skin. He wanted this one to stick around.
Once Elliott’s hands were in his hair though… Crypto knew it was time. He was too far gone to use his words, so he used his pleading, teary eyes to beg for the next step.
“You want me now? I know I know.” He trailed dozens of kisses from his thigh to his hip, and to the base of the throbbing length he’d been torturing. He licked a hot line up the underside before disengaging. Oh the moan that got was adorable. “I want you too.”
He found the lube again, and slicked himself thoroughly, “Ahhh, Elliott…” he let himself whisper. He pulled his fingers out slowly until he could get an honest look at the stretch he’d made. With Elliott’s body heaving, voice trilling, he decided that he could not stand another second outside. He lined up the blunt, needy head of his own cock and slid in. He met some resistance, and took it slow. Until Elliott reached his legs around and used his superior strength to force Crypto deep, to the hilt.
There was a moan that started from the bottom of Elliott’s chest, and when he let it out it was just a growl. “Fuck me TaeJoon, I’m so close already I’m sorry I’m so fucking h-hot for you please-“
Crypto did exactly as he was told and fucked him without dignity, without restraint. It was a race to get Elliott off before his pace set him down the same road. But thankfully, Elliott stilled, face frozen in an O of pure pleasure, he grabbed for TaeJoon’s body and let his nails rake his back apart. His stomach and chest were coated in his mess. Just how TaeJoon knew he liked.
“Made a mess…” he muttered while he kissed the man below. He was only barely in control yet, but with a full body shake, he livened up.
“God, f- sorry I’m sorr-“
“Don’t. Now I can have my fun.” TaeJoon lay a finger against his lips “If it’s too much-“
“I know, I know, stop you.” Elliott let himself fall back against the mattress, head lolling around, “It never is- god, just fucking use me, Joonie. Just use me. Please.”
And he did. His pace varied from slow, deep, and powerful strokes to fast bouncy, needy, little humps. He felt so amazing around his cock, so hot, so tight, and every so often Elliott’s overstimulated tremors made his head cloud up. Having Elliott repeatedly begging to be used was also an aide he didn’t know he needed. And the ego boost of realizing that Elliott had begun to fill out again already was… helpful as well.
“You’ve never moaned like this before, baby.” Elliott said in a whimper.
“Am.. am I moaning?” Crypto's voice was a dry croak.
“Holy sh-“ Elliott took a second to laugh, “you really are letting yourself go wild this time.”
“I just want to fuck you, Elliott.” He found the backs of Elliott’s thighs and pushed them forward, not minding the sweat slicking him, “I just want you, I just want you to be mine.”
“I am” Elliott whined in protest, Crypto moaned louder.
“I am” Elliott took himself in his hand, Crypto sped his hips up.
“I’m yours, TaeJoon.” Elliott tensed around him in an undeniably perfect way. The sensation broke Crypto's resistance and he finally succumbed to the waves of pleasure, he curled around the man under him to chase it to the end.
“Elliott ...” he leaned forwards, collapsing on Elliott’s chest and the fresh mess made there. “You c-came again?”
“I’m yours, baby. I am yours, TaeJoon.” Elliott was much more focused on making sure Crypto knew that his words weren’t empty, weren’t lies, and were worth repeating.
Crypto lined their foreheads. He kissed his lips softly, repeatedly. “I know. I know...”
They came down together, like most nights… and afternoons and mornings... Crypto finally giving in to the demands of his tired and sore body. He gently laid his head on Elliott’s shoulder, melting to that damn warmth.
“This was grama-great- amazing but… should we talk about… what we were not talking about?”
Crypto sighed heavily and wrapped his arms around himself, unable to escape the chills. “I think you still have a choice to make.”
Elliott, stern as ever, shifted to wrap his arms around the hacker, “I told you a million times I’d help.”
“Elliott. Don’t make promises you can’t k-”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” Elliott seemed determined as ever “don’t ever inf-ife— say I’d give up on you.”
The silence grew between them and Elliott spoke up again, “You don’t believe me.”
“Well I… we…” Crypto fumbled, “It’s not exactly fair, Elliott. I may have tilted the odds in my favor… by what we just…” he shook his head, “You’re promising to change your entire life for me. Would you still promise that after we have a fight? After something horrible happens?”
It was Elliott’s turn to be shocked into silence. Instead of talking though, he unwrapped his arms from Crypto’s chest. That sent that hacker's heart into a cold panic. What if Elliott got up and walked out and never spoke to him again? No. His warm hands trailed down to his hips, and further still to splay along his thin thighs. The other hand forced Crypto’s to unclench. Then he held it, brought it up to his lips. This was sweet but hollow , Crypto braced for Elliott to finally give up, to disengage, and leave.
“You know… I sort of… fell in love with you.” Elliott said slowly. He breathed in deeply. “I kinda realized when I got worried about mom and you were like right up there with who I wanted to protect. I don’t know if that … is better or worse for you. But… My mom is my priority. She’s my whole life.”
Crypto nodded, numb and cold. He understood, it was stupid to let Mirage get close in the first place, and now he was - wait “You love me?”
“Yeah, sheesh, try to keep up.” Elliott patted his leg reassuringly, “so I figure, can you hack into her long-term care MRVN to, like, make super sure we can check on her all the time? She would kill me on a lucid day if she ever found out- but like. It’s literally life or death. And, hey, this is payback for taking my doorknob off the door when she learned I was doing people’s homework for cash in high school.” He rambled, and all the while absentmindedly massaged Crypto’s bare thighs. “So I think I’d feel better if I could check in with her more often when we’re away. And, and of course assuming we can keep this under wraps from the media… and if we can also keep the Syndicate guessing- I mean that’s half the battle, right? Three-fourths… some fraction...”
“I can.. We can do that, yes.” Crypto, “I. Love…”
Elliott chuckled a little and rolled his head over to kiss Crypto on the top of his head. “Baby, cmon, only say it if you mean it.”
“Don’t be an idiot. I love you.” And that was that, he’d found the word that fit best. The most accurate word. “I’ve never… been in love before.”
“Are you s-sure…?” Elliott cleared his throat as if he fought off a small sob. “I mean are you sure you are now? Like d’you mean it?”
“Yeah. Feels right.”
“Okay! So we… um did that… whole thing. Heh. Okay…” he gripped his own hair, sounding hopeful and delighted. “And I’m covered in… eugh … I thought this would be more romantic.”
“Sorry…”
“Don’t apologize, you dork.” Elliott shifted roughly to jostle him and laugh. “ Woof, I mean really do not apologize… that was something else.”
Crypto had enough rest and adjusted to sit up and gaze at all of the marks he’d left. “I probably, hopefully , won’t ever slip like this again” he reached to touch the one on his Adam’s apple. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” He responded sheepishly, “Really? You don’t want to ever do that again?”
“Tomorrow, Ajay or Makoa or Wraith will tease you about them.” He started in that ‘lecture voice; as Elliott called it. “ When they do that, will you look over at me? Will you blurt out my name? What if you’re on camera with a big bruise? Will someone watching the Games run online to speculate, spread rumors?” Crypto scooted closer and laid his head next to Elliott’s, nuzzling into his neck, “It was stupid. It was foolish.”
“Okay so… only on places no one will see?” Elliott smiled wide and tried his luck.
“You’re asking for trouble.”
“Yeah, obviously.”
___
They showered together after that, Crypto falling into a familiar silence, as he always did after they made love. Elliott buzzed around him, attempting to draw out some further conversation, some more kisses, a laugh. The trickster seemed to have boundless energy after he had a nice hot shower. He eagerly took on the challenge of making them a dinner from the questionable things in Crypto’s fridge. He managed to serve a delicious meal for them both and tried his best to let Crypto actually eat his instead of hanging off of him, making out, holding him close.
They came up with action plans together, including strategically seeing each other less often, Crypto fixing Elliot’s electronics to his secure liking. By the end of the night, Crypto did successfully hack into the MRVN in Ms. Evelyn Witt’s LTC facility all the way back on Solace. But by that point, Elliott had fallen asleep clinging to his waist in their bed.
He’d have to wake him up with the good news tomorrow.
Tomorrow.