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Gears’ touch was softer than he expected.
In all honesty, Iceberg expected for Gears’ hands to be rough and maybe not so right for cuddling, yet he feels perfectly content in his boss’s arms right now.
Wait his fucking boss?
Julian immediately sits up, pushing Charles’ arms away from him. He doesn’t care if it’s rude or wrong or whatever but if someone walked in on them right now he would be absolutely murdered by the O5 council because he knew of Dr. Rights’ tendency to spread rumors and if people thought he was sleeping with Dr. Gears-
“Julian.”
“ChARlie?!” Iceberg squeaks, his voice cracking embarrassingly.
“Why have you awoken at this time.”
Julian looks over at his… partner? He isn’t sure what he and Charles are, but it’s definitely not professional. I mean, maybe not in Rights’ eyes but Julian was pretty sure unprofessional in the eyes of everyone else was “kissing your boss”, “cuddling with your boss”, and “flirting with your boss”. Whatever. But this fine morning at fuck knows o’clock, Iceberg sees something he doesn’t see a lot when it comes to Charles. Emotion. Emotion in those eyes of usually nothing.
Worry.
“I’m just- I’m uh-” Don’t make yourself sound like a total dick Ice, “Charlie, can I ask you something?”
“Proceed.” Charles responds as he sits up, awkwardly placing his hand on Julian’s shoulder, making it obvious he has no fucking clue what to do with it.
Julian swallows. His throat is dry. God Gears’ hand is warm…
“Is this right?”
“It depends, Julian. Do you speak of our job? Of the foundation? Of our work? Our ethics-”
“ Us. ”
“Us?” Charles drops his hand from Julian’s shoulder and Julian wishes for him to place it back because it was a freedom from the cold he is always experiencing, even if it’s just temporary.
“Is it right for me… and you… to ya know, be cuddling and kissing and-”
“No, probably not.”
“Thanks Charlie.”
Gears sits there for a moment and so does Iceberg, and there they are, sitting underneath a weighted blanket in Gears’ office on the couch that Julian often finds himself dramatically falling onto just to complain about his day while Charles reads through files among files and Julian continues to vent. Iceberg feels happier though, when he sits on this couch with Gears.
“I do not mind if it’s not…. Ah, professional, though.” Charles finally says.
Julian’s head snaps up and suddenly he doesn’t feel as bad as he had and maybe he wouldn’t vent on this very couch again later, “Really?”
“Not at all.”
Iceberg feels a laugh build up in his chest and suddenly he’s hysterical. Why be so worried, Ice? Of course he doesn’t give an actual fuck because why else would he be sitting in this couch with you right now if he did ?
Gears looks at Julian blankly, “You’re laughing.”
It feels like a question, even if it’s more of a statement, which means it’s a question, a little something Julian had learned about Charles after so many years with him.
“Because I’m stupid, of course you don’t mind.”
Silence.
“Julian.”
“Charlie?”
“I love you.”
Iceberg freezes up, which he didn’t even know was possible since he’s already pretty much frozen. What did he just say?
“You what?”
“I love you.” Gears repeats, in his monotonous voice.
Julian is close to hysterics again. Gears love him? Now he could understand that Charles liked his kisses and cuddles and his horrible flirting and- holy fucking shit was Julian in denial of Gears’ love towards him now even though he had just confirmed it seconds ago what a fucking idiot you are Ice-
“Of course you love me.” Iceberg blurts out to cover up the obvious shock he was left in, “Everyone loves me.”
“No. I think I love you.” Charles says.
Iceberg nearly chokes, “Okay you can stop talking now.”
Gears leans forward and pecks one of his awkward kisses on Iceberg’s cheek and suddenly Iceberg can feel warmth in his face, something that can only happen with Charles.
Even to this day, Julian feels shocked that Gears loves him. Even if Charles kisses him so horribly it makes Iceberg laugh and leaves Charles confused. Even if Charles makes him a meal everyday with hearts on it. Even if this isn’t the first time they fell asleep to each other’s heart beats on this very couch, it still leaves Iceberg speechless that Gears chose him to be the man he reveals his emotions to.
“I love you too.” Julian finally says.
God, he’s such a fucking idiot.
“Hey Gears-”
The door opens and Julian suddenly goes through all five stages of grief within a span of seconds as he recognizes the voice of who opened the door.
“You have some paperwork-” Dr. Rights begins as she opens the door only to freeze in her tracks as she sees the two men sitting on the couch together, both shirtless and certainly looking suspicious.
It takes Agatha a few moments to process everything before her before her eyes widen and she turns around and shouts:
“Shaw you won’t fucking believe this! ”
Iceberg stumbles out of the blanket and chases Agatha out the door, “NO SHAW DON’T BELIEVE A WORD SHE SAYS!”
And Gears is left on the couch and he can’t help but feel the corner of his mouth quirk up a bit.