there are people that dont understand why will has the boundaries he does in ttmd;ttms or why he doesnt realize mikes feelings (which, important note, atp in the fic mike doesnt even really know either) or do something, but i think this tweet perfectly explains it
like, every time mike says something like this i expect will to be like "ok no, enough of this, i cant anymore" and pull the plug on their whole thing. i know i wouldnt have been able to handle it. he is truly the strongest soldier. fuckkk.
The fact that, after that blow up, Whitaker still went out of his way to defend Langdon in this conversation, when the only other person he did that for was Trinity, is really meaningful
Langdon offers a warning. Implied past RobbyLangdon and active HuckleRobby.
========
“Yo, Whitaker. Hold up.”
Dennis didn’t even bother to hide the annoyed sigh that got from him, dropping his head back and stopping slowly at hearing Langdon.
He had been so close. So damn close to getting to the parking lot and leaving behind this day.
Instead, he hiked up his backpack and spun slowly on his heels, facing the man standing before him in his casual clothes, his own bag slung over one shoulder.
Asshole.
He put a hand out slightly to the side, eyebrows raised. “What?”
Langdon adjusted his hold on the strap, other hand coming up to quickly wipe over the bottom of his face. “Just wanted to talk to you about something a bit, observational.”
Dennis really wasn’t in the mood for notes after the shift they had. Not truly, anyway. Not from him.
Robby had been back for a month, give or take a few days, and things were.. good. Great, sometimes, between them.
Dennis noticed it back in July, noticed it before when he did his rotation, the way Robby’s hands lingered a minute too long when correcting him or the smile shot his way others didn’t seem quick to get. Collins had given him a wary look once but never went further than that. He wasn’t sure why.
Nothing had technically happened yet. Trinity seemed to think so, though maybe that was because of how often he was still going to Robby’s. Almost every other night, now.
He thought it was an easy way to give her space with Garcia so he didn’t have to wear headphones all night. Besides, Robby was a good cook when he tried, big hands over his as he showed the proper technique for cutting a pepper.
“Okay?” Dennis repeated the gesture of asking him to keep going, asking him to hurry it up. “I gotta get going, so..”
Langdon stared at him for a moment before suddenly glancing around, taking a small step forward seemingly unconsciously. “You and Robby seem.. close.”
“I, guess. I housesat for him, gave him updates on his plants. You were right, it’s a nice place.”
Something strange twitched or stilled on Langdon’s face, the way ice ponds looked as they cracked. Taking a jab that wasn’t thrown. “.. Right. He’s a great host, isn’t he? Really makes you feel at home.”
Robby had promised a guest room to him. Swore no one had slept there in nearly a year, he’d had it cleaned fully out not that long ago.
He was sleeping in that bed less and less. Robby’s room was the only one with a TV, and that was more comfortable to a fifty year old man’s back than the couch.
Dennis wasn’t stupid. He knew what it was leading towards, however slowly. Maybe Robby was waiting for him to make the first move, trying not to seem sleazy on the first year resident.
“He does. It’s great, actually.” He thought about Robby’s hand on his thigh, upper arm, lower back. Homely and comforting. “It’s nice having a good relationship with the boss, y’know?”
It was meant to sting. It probably did. Langdon didn’t wince, credit where it was due.
“Uh huh.” Langdon did fully step closer this time, voice low. “Just be careful of what kind of relationship that is, yeah? He’s not what you think.”
Dennis almost laughed, instead feeling a sort of startled smile come over him. “What?”
Who the hell did Langdon think he was? What on Earth?
“I know Robby a hell of a lot better than you, and I know what he does, man. I’ve seen it. Whatever shit he’s giving you? Isn’t worth it.”
Langdon sounded serious. Way too serious, way too fast. Eyebrows raised, intense eye contact and everything. All of him screamed I’m not joking around and Dennis couldn’t help but feel annoyed at it.
He scoffed, quiet, narrowing his eyes a bit. “Are you seriously trying to tell me who I can be friends with? What, are you- jealous?”
It was Trinity’s words. She’d seen Langdon looking at him weirdly the last two weeks and this is where they came out.
Langdon just blinked once, twice, straightening out some. “Fuck, do I wish. No, Whitaker, I’m trying to give you a warning. Stay away from Robby.”
He said that final sentence slowly, emphasis on each bite. Like he really thought he was driving a point home, rubber mallet on an old nail.
“Alright. Yeah, sure.” Dennis raised his hands, shaking his head. “You can’t tell me what to do. I’m an adult, Langdon.”
He turned, almost making it away before he heard the shuffle. Heard Langdon move, abort whatever motion he was doing, and instead just talk.
“Have you stopped sleeping in the guest room yet?”
It was said almost too loud. Just enough to get his attention again, make him stop too suddenly. It wasn’t like earlier, languid in his turn. This time it was a hesitant whip, head moving around before his chest.
“What?”
“The guest room, upstairs.” Langdon tilted his head to the side some, tightening his chin. “Last I was there, I think it had blue sheets. His are green.”
Langdon looked like someone had threaded a wire through his spinal column and pulled it taught. Dennis was pretty sure he looked the same.
He stayed quiet, and Langdon just prowled forward. A tiger through grass, careful where he stepped.
“He’s going to chew you up, and spit you out, Whitaker. That’s what he does. That’s what he alwaysdoes, because I know he hasn’t changed. If you’re lucky, he’ll cut you loose when he’s done.”
The lights outside were always a little yellow. Dennis wasn’t quite sure why, probably weathering. It made the shadowing on Langdon’s face look harsh, gaunt in a way he didn’t appear anymore.
It wasn’t the face of someone who felt lucky. More like a guy who’d been dragged behind a car over gravel and at some point, stopped fighting the rope.
Dennis flexed, jaw clenched too tight. “Yeah. Okay, Langdon. Got it.”
He didn’t wait for a response. Just turned for the third time that night and walked away, not hearing anything beyond a hard sigh afterwards.
Later that night, half asleep and buzzed with his head pressed to Robby’s shoulder, some food network show playing quiet in front of them, Dennis ran a hand over the sheets.
They caught like damp grass on the pad of his thumb.
Not every detail was right, though. He was pretty sure the guest room sheets had been black.
i'd like to put it out into the universe before i watch the pitt 207 where i am anticipating trinity santos whump that she is my head bitch she has BEEN my head bitch and she will continue to be my head bitch and women are allowed to be assertive and confident and unapologetic and flawed and they don't have to justify their strength and their flaws as a trauma response. women are allowed to be loud and take up space and occupy spaces typically only afforded to male characters and they never need to have their trauma outed as a justification... it must be known that if anything happens to my queen dr. santos tonight that i support her rights AND her wrongs always have always will
⛸️ ❄️ figure skater will byers x hockey player mike wheeler 🏒🥅
the au I've been wanting to bring to life for so long now.. thank you winter olympics for the perfect excuse. I hope you guys see the vision bc I have more to draw for it, I think it suits them so much!!
