HI HI!! it's not weird at all. if anything, that made me so shy. thank you, it means a lot to me♡
this can be interpret as either platonic or romantic
absolutely, 65 would take the time out of his day to write letters/notes to pantalone.
although he's more reserved, he wouldn't hesitate to remind pantalone to rest. a handwritten note that says: "don't forget to take a break. drink some tea, it can help with your insomnia."
if he was in a good mood, he would write more detailed letters! he's so old-fashioned, kindly asking pantalone if he would like to join him on a simple walk around the gardens. (they would probably schedule their visits like a formal meeting)
if he didn't have the energy to deliver the letters himself, he would just ask either 8 and 18 to deliver it on his behalf (although 18 would question why lmao).
the idea of exchanging letters was very endearing to pantalone. if anything, he was deeply touched by 65's observant nature.
this way of communicating may seem inconvenient in the eyes of others. however, letters are something special between them, a meaningful gesture that shows respect and affection♡
note: platonic only! 18 confronting pantalone about his favoritism. a short fic to this strawpage ask!
"it's not fair. why does he get all the attention?"
18 has been pacing around the laboratory, rambling about his recent frustrations to 25, who only seemed bored out of his mind. as of lately, most of pantalone's affection had been directed toward 8, whether it was offering him sweets or praising him for his accomplishments.
18 had desperately tried to convince himself that it didn't matter, that he was above something so childish. and yet, witnessing the blatant favoritism in broad daylight was beginning to get under his skin. 25 could only roll his eyes, tapping his fingers against the desk. "so.. you're jealous of a child?"
"i am not jealous." his pacing around the laboratory came to a sudden halt, not appreciating 25's accusation. 18 gave him an irritated glare, although the older segment could care less. "i'm simply pointing out the obvious favoritism in this facility."
that statement alone wasn't enough to convince 25, he had a feeling that this ran much deeper than just favoritism. honestly, he was far too exhausted and bored to be dealing with this right now. "you should be complaining to him, not me. i don't know why you're telling me this."
"because i trust-" 18 quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, silencing himself before he had a chance to say something embarrassing. 25 raised an eyebrow, he clearly heard the word 'trust' slip from the younger segment's mouth. he tugged his mask down, a teasing grin forming across his lips. "what was that again?"
"i-i find you tolerable! that's what i meant to say." 18 crossed his arms, looking anywhere but at his older self. what a terrible excuse and yet, he was clearly trying to salvage whatever dignity he had left.
25 decided not to press him any further, simply pulling his mask back over his face. "sure, let's go with that. now then, go confront pantalone yourself. i have work to finish."
he quietly watched in amusement as 18 stormed out of the laboratory, practically fuming with embarrassment. after 18's departure, he quietly resumed his research, though the word 'trust' continued to echo in his thoughts.
trust, huh? what an odd thing to hear. 25 had never saw himself as a reliable person and yet, 18 nearly admitted that he trusted him without hesitation. behind his mask, the corners of his lips almost formed into a soft smile. however, he was quick to dismiss his thoughts before focusing the rest of his attention on his work.
.
.
.
.
the office door swung open as 18 marched inside, his irritation was clearly noticeable. he made his way straight toward the banker's desk before slamming his hands down against the wooden surface. pantalone raised his head, a friendly smile forming on his lips.
"oh my. what brings you here, 18?" the irritable expression on 18's face was very amusing, though it was obvious that something had him deeply upsetted him. "explain to me why you are always spoiling 8."
pantalone titled his head in confusion, a bit puzzled by the sudden accusation. "pardon?" he wouldn't deny it, he had a soft spot for 8. however, he didn't realize that this had become an issue among the other segments. pantalone did notice the faint sadness lingering in 18's eyes, which made him soften his expression.
"don't act like you don't know what i'm talking about. it's not fair that 8 gets all of your attention. what makes him.. so much better than the rest of us?" his words gradually fell quiet, his anger fading into something more vulnerable.
a soft sigh escapes from pantalone's lips, rising from his seat and walked around the desk to meet him. if there was one thing that he knew about dottore, it was how stubborn he could be. however, dottore had always yearned for affection, something that he had been deprived of from a young age.
he gently placed a hand on top of 18's head, giving him a soft pat and a reassuring smile. "i sincerely apologize. it was never my intention to single you out. all of you are very precious to me."
if only 18 weren't so stubborn and constantly in denial, then he might have asked for a hug as well. instead, he quickly pulled away, a mixture of surprise and embarrassement written all over his face.
"you-! ugh, forget it. i'm leaving!" as one final attempt to salvage his pride once more, 18 stormed out of his office quickly. a soft chuckle slips from pantalone's lips, watching 18 leave abruptly after a simple head pat. there was something endearing about the way 18 tried to hide what he truly wanted, which was reassurance.
the younger segment was used to being excluded, overlooked by others. sometimes, he would wish that someone would notice him, to praise him for all of his accomplishments. however, he would never admit it openly and hides his feelings behind a wall of stubbornness.
after that encounter, pantalone kept his promise and began treating 18 with more warmth and softness. in the beginning, 18 didn't know to how to feel about this sudden change.
his self-denial was constantly clashing with the part of him that always wanted to feel accepted. against his better judgement, he started accepting the sweets that pantalone offered to him
does 18 actually hate the affection, the attention he's receiving now? not at all. if anything, he found himself silently appreciating it. he had never received so much kindness before, it almost feels surreal.
however, would 18 ever admit it openly? absolutely not. he prioritized his pride far too much and the last thing he needed was 25 teasing him again...
18 can be so stubborn sometimes but in a good way. he doesn't want to admit that he wants attention, to be pampered.
all versions of dottore are utterly precious to pantalone, he doesn't mind spoiling them. the moment 18 makes his frustration very clear to the banker, pantalone wouldn't hesitate to treat him softer.
every greeting is followed by a soft pat on the forehead, maybe a 'good job' or 'i hope your day is going well."
pantalone would even stash sweets into his pockets, offering one to 18, who would try to deny it but the candy looks very tempting (he still took one regardless)
that infuriating smile on pantalone's face only made 18 more frustrated. but does he really hate the affection, the attention and praise? not at all, he just values his pride over his feelings lmao
tags: hurt/comfort, mentions of claustrophobia, anxiety, crying
note: dottore is afraid of snowstorms (bonus, overprotective pantalone)
not a sequel but another perspective to weather-related fears. for pantalone's story: thunderstorms
something about the snow was utterly annoying to dottore. from a logical perspective, colder climates can be detrimental to one's health, with the risk of hypothermia significantly increased. from a more personal perspective, dottore had always despised the cold.
he had lived in sumeru before, although he didn't have many fond memories of his homeland. however, there was one thing that dottore could tolerate about sumeru, which would be the warmer climate.
the warm weather was far more suitable for maintaining body temperature and the gentle rays of sunlights that never felt too harsh against his eyes. safe to say, dottore was far more accustomed to warmer climates than colder ones.
the carriage ride back to snezhnaya was utterly dreadful, holding his stomach as he leaned against the window. the ginger biscuits were exceptional, easing the nausea that he would normally experience as a symptom of his motion sickness. however, the persistent twisting in his stomach refused to go away. something deep down told him that he was probably feeling anxious again.
pantalone noticed his husband's discomfort, resting a hand on the doctor's thigh. "are you alright, zandik? we're almost home." all he heard as a quiet grumble, dottore deciding to lean against pantalone instead. "it would be far more wonderful if we arrived sooner. i can hardly tolerate this any further."
he sought out comfort in holding the banker's hand, trying to take his mind off what was happening outside. the weather was unforgiving, snow pouring down from the sky relentlessly. dottore hates to admit it but snowstorms made him anxious. the thought of being trapped beneath piles of snow was incredibly terrifying.
unfortunately for dottore, his nightmares became a harsh reality when the carriage struck something, presumably a large rock. one of the wheels had been thoroughly damaged, causing his subordinates to step outside and inspect it.
pantalone let out a weary sigh, leaning over to press a gentle kiss on dottore's cheek before making his way towards the door. "stay here, okay? i'll check on the carriages." dottore simply nodded his head as a response, crossing his arms as the door clicked shut behind him.
the unsettling feeling of being left alone inside the carriage made his heart race like crazy. in classic fashion, dottore simply chose to ignore his feeling, dismissing it as pointless. but the anxious feeling in his chest only continued to grow, a scowl forming across his face.
dottore moved closer to the door and tried to push it open, only to find it stuck in place. that's oddly concerning but he quickly ignored it. he tried again, using more force but the stubborn door refused to open no matter what he did.
that alone was enough to finally send alarm bells ringing through his mind, goosebumps crawling across his skin. this was no longer a situation that dottore could ignore. he glanced out the carriage window, only to watch the snow beginning to pile up at an alarming rate.
a sense on dread settled in the pit of his stomach, his expression slowly turning pale. dottore tried to open the door again, desperately struggling to force it loose.
"damn it.. someone, open this carriage at once!" he raised his voice, the command disguised as a desperate plea fell on deaf ears. he felt terribly dizzy, his stomach churning as he slammed his foot against the wooden door. damn it all, none of his efforts were working and he was getting frustrated.
if dottore had been in a better state of mind, he wouldn't have hesitated to tear the door apart with brute force. however, his thoughts were disoriented, as if his head was spinning. he fucking hated this, how he felt utterly helpless and powerless because of his own fears. his breathing grew uneven, coming out in short, rapid pants.
the confined, uncomfortable space felt as if everything was closing in around him, the relentless snow hitting against the carriage from outside. his heart pounded violently in his chest as his trembling hands gripped the collar of his shirt. dottore yanked at the fabric, not caring if it tore apart. he just need air, some space to get out of this living hell.
everything hurts, dottore felt like he was suffocating. behind the mask, tears began to sting at the corners of his eyes. he was truly terrified, fully convinced that he was about to be buried beneath the snow at this rate.
he gave the door one final attempt, his fists pounding against the wooden surface as tears streamed down his cheeks. he tries to scream but the lack of oxygen in his lungs cut his voice short.
a weak whimper escaped his lips as his hands fell to his sides, accepting his pitiful defeat. dottore swallowed back a sob that threatened to escape from his throat. he had already spent many centuries being excluded, treated as though he were worthless. if anything, he didn't want to be alone again, to die here alone.
thankfully, his pleas didn't go unanswered as he heard loud bangs echoed against the door. dottore weakly dragged himself away from the door, avoiding any chances of being injured by accident.
a swift, strong kick finally forced the door open, panic and worry settling on pantalone's expression. without hesitation, he rushed over to dottore, making sure that his husband was okay.
"zandik! are you alright?" warm arms immediately wrapped around his body, dottore couldn't hold back the urge to cling to pantalone tightly. he returned the embrace, burying his face into the banker's shoulder. never before had another person's warmth brought him so much relief until now.
the sound of hurried footsteps rapidly approached the carriage, dottore could already assumed that their subordinates were arriving. the last thing he wanted was for his troops to see him in such a pitiful state. pantalone quickly pulled away, offering a reassuring smile before stepping out of the carriage, positioning himself in front of the doorway.
"lord regrator! we heard the banging and rushed over-"
"oh really? and yet it took you this long to realize something was wrong." something about the venom in his voice was slightly unnerving. dottore rarely witnessed pantalone lose his temper, at least not in front of him. "didn't i make it clear that someone was supposed to inspect the quality of the carriages before our departure from sumeru?"
his eyes narrowed, not even his signature smile was capable of concealing the anger rising in his voice. with every step pantalone took forward, the subordinates took two steps back out of fear. "utter incompetence from all of you. this leaves a bitter taste in my mouth."
his smile had gradually vanished from his face, annoyance written all over his expression. when it came to his husband's well-being, pantalone wanted to make sure that everything was perfect and comfortable. the huge oversight of failing to repair the carriage was enough to make a vein throb at the side of his head.
his voice dropped once more, making sure that these incompetent fools remember their place. "prepare another carriage for us at once. i have given all of you far too many chances."
pantalone stepped down from the carriage, lifting part of his coat up to shield dottore from the view of the subordinates that he was scolding. "if we encounter any more issues throughout this journey, i'll make sure your lives become a living hell. do you understand me?"
not a single soul dared to answer, they rather not face the ninth's wrath. the tension in the atmosphere was thick, all of the fatui subordinates were frozen in silence and fear. pantalone took their silence as acknowledgement, his signature smile slowly returning to his face.
"good. now move. time is ticking, hm?" a chill ran down their spines as they hurried back to their respective duties and positions, finally giving the married couple some much-needed privacy. the moment their subordinates were out of view, pantalone wasted no time in returning back to the carriage.
he rushed back to dottore's side, pulling his husband into a warm, tight embrace once more. "i'm so, so sorry. please forgive me. are you hurt, darling?" dottore could feel the way pantalone trembled, as if he was also frightened too. he sniffled, allowing another wave of tears to spill freely down his cheeks.
he only hugs pantalone tighter, his hands gripping the back of the banker's coat. ".. i'm not hurt. just get me out of this carriage, please." pantalone offers a soft nod, helping dottore out of the broken carriage. however, he quickly removed his own coat and draped it over his husband's head, trying to preserve dottore's dignity. "i'll guide you, okay? just follow me."
he held dottore's hand gently as they walked through the thick snow, despite likely being cold himself. pantalone was incapable of softening his expression, casting harsh glares towards their subordiantes.
it served as a strict warning, making it perfectly clear that they were to keep their mouths shut about what had happened. not that any of them would ever dare to question why the second harbinger was hiding beneath a winter coat.
they arrived at the newly prepared carriage, far more sturdier than the previous one. pantalone dismissed the fatui soldiers with a supposedly friendly yet warning smile, making them leave in fear. finally, more privacy as they stepped inside, dottore removing the coat that had been resting over his head.
the thought of entering another carriage unsettled him, however, dottore would rather not deal with snow lingering on his skin. "i'm so sorry.. if only i had known this was going to happen." a melancholic look spread across pantalone's face, blaming himself for this unfortunate incident.
he cupped the doctor's face, gently removing the mask before peppering soft kisses across dottore's cheeks. "it's okay, feofan.. please don't blame yourself." however, pantalone was quick to disagree, shaking his head. "no, i'm the one who left you in that carriage. i should have known better, i shouldn't have left you there all alone."
dottore noticed the way pantalone curled his hand into a fist, trembling with a mixture of anger and regret. "it's not your fault. none of us could have predicted this would happen.." he wrapped his arms around pantalone's neck, pulling his husband into a tight embrace. his breathing had long since stabilized now that he was with pantalone.
he drew in a shaky breath that barely concealed a sob, burying his face into his husband's shoulder. "i was so terrified, i felt helpless. no one heard me and i t-thought i was going to be trapped.." pantalone only tightened the embrace, gently running a hand through his husband's blue hair, letting dottore cry in his arms.
"i know, i know.. you're safe now. you're okay." all he could do was press gentle kisses to dottore's forehead, the sound of soft sobs echoed in the carriage. they remained like that for a while, patiently waiting for the cries to subside.
pantalone eventually pulled back, his thumbs gently brushing away the tears from the doctor's face. "once we get home, i'll prepare a warm bath for you. we can cuddle afterward and drink some hot chocolate. does that sound good, dear?"
dottore could only nod, he didn't have the energy to speak anymore and pantalone could tell that he was exhausted. of course, he didn't mind if dottore went nonverbal, pantalone would always support him regardles. he gently guided dottore to rest his head on his lap before grabbing his winter coat, draping it over his husband.
it seemed like those incompetent subordinates had finally managed to get the carriages moving again. pantalone could care less, his full attention remained on his husband's well-being. he continued to thread his fingers through his husband's hair, quietly encouraging dottore to sleep.
a soft, tired smile appears on pantalone's lips, closing his own eyes as he hummed a gentle tune for both of them. he still felt guilty, if only he had noticed something was wrong with the carriage sooner.
however, there was no use crying over spilled milk right now. pantalone silently vows that a mistake like this would never happened again. his husband's comfort would always be his top priority and that would never change.
note: a song-based fic, i thought this song suits them well♡.
audio link on youtube: i wanna be yours by arctic monkeys
series: dating chronicles have been added to the masterlist
i wanna be your vaccum cleaner, breathin' in your dust
his heart pounded relentlessly against his chest, the mere thought of confessing his feelings was anxiety-inducing. and yet, a voice in the back of his mind kept encouraging him to make his move.
dottore was aware that if he let this chance slip by, he would regret it for the rest of his life. pantalone had became an irreplaceable part of his life. he couldn't imagine a future without his beloved banker.
i wanna be your Ford Cortina, i will never rust
however, his thoughts slowly drifted towards something far more melancholic. his perspective and understanding of relationships had always been skewed. dottore would always felt self-conscious over what he could possibly offer in return. after all, relationships can be transactional sometimes.
what could he do to prove he was worthy of such unwavering devotion? would pantalone eventually grow tired of him? is there anything he can do to prove that he can be a good lover?
if you like your coffee hot, let me be your coffee pot
for years, dottore was responsible for taking care of pantalone, as his doctor and business partner. as much as he complained about the banker's smoking habits, dottore still wouldn't hesitate to replace his lungs. if anything, he had already gone to great lengths to ensure that pantalone would live a long and healthy life.
you call the shots, babe. I just wanna be yours
previous memories resurfaced in his mind, remembering the way pantalone would smile so tiredly after recovering from his surgeries. such kindeness and gratitude reflecting so clearly in those violet irises.
dottore could easily tell pantalone had his own insecurities, unspoken sorrow lingering in those tired eyes. although he would never pry into the banker's secrets, dottore wouldn't mind being the one to offer him a listening ear.
secrets i have held in my heart, are harder to hide than i thought
he eventually snapped out of his thoughts, lowering his gaze to his trembling hands. his fingers clenched tightly around the sumeru rose, trying to steady his breathing. to say that dottore was afraid would be an understatement, he didn't know what to expect. he had already invited pantalone to meet him outside the palace on the porch.
will pantalone still continue working alongside him, even if this confession fails? would their relationship ever be the same again? dottore had long since fallen head over heels for the banker many years ago. it only became more difficult to keep his feelings hidden.
maybe i just wanna be yours, i wanna be yours, i wanna be yours
dottore finally forced himself to leave the laboratory, there was no turning back now. as he walked down the hall, the sensation of his heart pounding against his ribcage was incredibly unbearable and annoying.
it was a mixture of anxiety and excitement that was increasing the tempo of his heart rate. the thought of devoting his love to someone else was something entirely new to him.
his knowledge and personal experience on romance was extremely limited. he had never fallen this deeply for another person. however, pantalone was different, captivating in every way possible.
that annoying yet endearing smile, that genuine laugh was reserved only for him to hear, the way those violet irises always looked at him with such tenderness. how could anyone not fall in love with a man like pantalone?
let me be your 'leccy meter, and i'll never run out
dottore finally arrived at their meeting spot, only to find pantalone smoking another cigarette between his lips. a faint scowl immediately appears on his fae as he quickly hid the sumeru rose behind his back. he wasted no time scolding pantalone, the smell of nicotine was utterly dreadful. "i just replaced your lungs months ago. you ought to be more cautious."
"no need to be so crude, my dear doctor. i've only had three today." pantalone looks over at his direction, discarding the cigarette into a nearby ashtray. he steps closer, that infuriating smile forms across his lips as usual. "you're awfully late for our meeting, care to indulge me?"
let me be the portable heater, that you'll get cold without
if only pantalone could see the way dottore rolled his eyes, but that pesky mask concealed every bit of his expression. a small part of pantalone couldn't help but wonder what the doctor was hiding beneath that mask. but he decided to not ask, the last thing he wanted was to overstep a boundary. "i was only late because i had to purchase something."
pantalone only hummed as a response, unwrapping the scarf from around his own neck. the weather outside was awfully cold and he didn't want his dear doctor to be freezing in the snow. he kindly wraps the fabric around dottore's neck, their eyes lingered on one another for a moment. "you'll catch a cold at this rate."
i wanna be your setting lotion (wanna be), hold your hair in deep devotion (how deep?)
it felt as though the world had stopped spinning for a moment, neither of them dared to break eye contact. however, dottore broke the silence with a quiet sigh, looking away as a rosy blush threatened to form on his cheeks. he could have sworn that he saw something in pantalone's eyes, a look of devotion and perhaps even.. love?
he cleared his throat before bringing the sumeru rose from behind his back. dottore extends his hand out, waiting patiently until pantalone return the gesture. the moment their hands met, his breath hitched in his throat. their eyes met once more, and this time, pantalone greeted him with a soft, patient smile.
at least as deep as the Pacific Ocean, i wanna be yours
"...pantalone?" dottore broke their eye contact once more, lowering his gaze to their joined hands. he could hear his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. "yes?" he finally looked up again, noticing the faint pink tint forming on pantalone's ears. was he shy too or was it simply because of the cold weather?"
regardless, it was time to make his move. with his other hand, he offered the sumeru rose to pantalone, allowing him to accept the small gift. "for a long time, there was this feeling that i couldn't ignore. heart palpitations, butterflies in my stomach, sweaty palms.. these are all symptoms i've been experiencing lately."
secrets i have held in my heart, are harder to hide than i thought
he did something that no one else had the privilege of witnessing until now, getting down on one knee. taking in another deep breath to calm his nerves, dottore held pantalone's hand so gently. "at first, i was concerned that i had been experiencing some kind of underlying condition. to some extent.. my hypothesis was correct."
he slowly lifted his gaze, noticing the wet droplets clinging to pantalone's eyelashes. "you're like.. a ray of sunshine in my dark world. i can't imagine my life without you by my side." he gave their joined hands a light squeeze, swallowing down any emotions that threatened to overtake the steadiness in his voice.
maybe i just wanna be yours, i wanna be yours, i wanna be yours
"you make me feel human. you don't treat me like a monster. you're the only person who has ever truly understood me and i couldn't be any more grateful for that." dottore reached into his pocket, pulling out a handcrafted flower ring. it wasn't meant to be an engagement ring, but rather a promise ring.
a promise that he would be faithfully devoted to pantalone, to be there whenever he needed his love and support. dottore gently slid the ring onto the banker's index finger before pressing a tender kiss against his knuckles.
"if you give me a chance, i promise i'll make you happy. so pantalone- no.. feofan, will you please go out with me?"
wanna be yours, wanna be yours, wanna be yours (x2)
dottore slowly rose back to his feet, never once letting go of their joined hands. pantalone was wiping away the tears that spilled down his cheeks, his smile only growing wider. he steps forward, hesitating for a moment before pressing a light kiss against the doctor's cheek. "... it took you long enough to confess, you know?"
"i know.. but i wasn't sure how you felt about me, about us." pantalone shook his head in disbelief, holding back his emotions. he held the sumeru rose close to his chest, trying to keep his tears from spilling out again. "you.. can be so dense sometimes. i've loved you for a long time, this is the happiest moment of my entire life."
i wanna be your vaccum cleaner, breathin' in your dust (wanna be yours)
he drew in a shaky breath, trying to regain his composure before he might actually burst into tears. "... my answer is yes. i'll go out with you, zandik. i would love to, if you'll have me." dottore was quick to brush away the tear that slid down his own cheek. it was a blessing that mask was able to conceal his emotional state.
he finally steps closer, pressing a shy, gentle kiss against pantalone's cheek. for dottore, it was far too soon for anything on the lips, though he knew that pantalone wouldn't mind.
i wanna be your Ford Cortina, i will never rust (wanna be yours)
without warning, pantalone threw his arms around dottore for a warm embrace. they stood there beneath the falling snowflakes, holding each other close. this was the beginning of something precious, a meaningful relationship built on trust, patience and everlasting love.
tags: fluff, mild comfort, mentions of panic attacks, nightmares and motion sickness, gift giving, lots of hugging
note: a sequel to the previous post! dottore kept his promise♡
for weeks, his mind had been in a constant state of torment. frequent nightmares had disturbed his sleep and the relentless panic attacks had lowered his productivity. it's damn near impossible to focus on work because he felt so uneasy and anxious.
dottore hates how his own body betrayed him, how he utterly feels weak and exhausted. he wants nothing more than to return home, he was at his limit. thankfully, the mission had been a success and he was already making the journey back to snezhnaya.
however, the mere thought of riding inside of a carriage was utterly dreadful. unfortunately for him, sacrifices had to be made and dottore refused to show even the slightest hint of weakness in front of his subordinates.
the last stretch of his journey only intensified the anxiety rising in his chest. it didn't help that his stomach was twisting violently, feeling nauseous. dottore was unable to tell whether he was on the verge of another panic attack, about to vomit his lunch, or both. regardless, the only thing he wanted was to get out of this damn carriage already.
the moment they finally returned to snezhnaya, the dizziness and anxiety had begun to settle. after regaining his composure, dottore finally stepped out of the carriage. somehow, he managed to maintain an intimidating presence despite the lingering effects of his motion sickness threatening to betray him.
sometimes, dottore forgets just how unforgiving and harsh snezhnaya's climate could be. the snowfall covering every inch of the nation and the snowflakes landing on his face. a faint scowl appears on his face, wiping away the snow that accumulated on his shoulders.
he had always despised the cold, finding warmer climates to be far more suitable. and yet, the snow reminded him of someone special, allowing his expression to soften as warm memories surfaced in his mind. pantalone was always fond on the winter seasons, using it as the perfect excuse to plan home dates.
warm cups of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows that were prepared with love. cozy sweaters and scarves that were hand-sewn by pantalone, to which dottore would always wear them with pride. on good days, they would even indulge in a private yet entertaining snowball fight, which always end in a draw.
from a safe distance, his subordinates remained on high alert. to say that dottore had been in a foul mood throughout the mission was an understatement. for weeks, he had been visibly on edge and maybe more than one subordinate might have found themselves on the receiving end of his temperament.
as they passed through a nearby market, something had caught his attention. dottore rarely went shopping, if anything, he would rather avoid it because of his reptuation. he pulled his hood over his head to conceal his identity, quietly slipping into the shopping marketplace without bothering to inform his troops about his disappearance.
however, his subordinates knew better to keep their distance, especially after the hell they had endured during the mission. dottore walks up to a flower stall, his gaze lingering on a bouquet of roses. rainbow roses were exclusively native to fontaine, which symbolizes passion and romance.
the sight of the roses immediately remind him of pantalone. his heart never failed to skip a beat whenever his husband comes to mind. the way pantalone always had a genuine smile on his face, a smile reserved only for dottore. the way pantalone laughs was utterly precious, sometimes followed by soft snorts that always made dottore smile.
what he adored the most about pantalone was the way he looked at him. those beautiful violet irises held so much love and patience. sometimes, dottore felt undeserving of kindness and yet, pantalone always found a way to prove him wrong.
he ultimately purchased the bouquet, a lovely mixture of sumeru roses and rainbow roses for his beloved banker. much to his own surprise, dottore found himself buying a few more gifts as well, mostly sweets. unlike him, pantalone definitely had a sweet tooth and couldn't resist the taste of buttercream treats.
he eventually returns back to his troops, finishing the rest of their journey despite his motion sickness occassionally affecting him. their arrival to the zapolyarny palace was followed by a wave of relief from his subordinates, they were grateful that they can finally rest after an exhausting trip.
dottore waved his hand dimissively to his subordinates, sending them on their way before quickly heading over to his husband's office. pantalone should be working by now, which hardly mattered to dottore at the moment.
he simply wanted to see his husband again so badly. these past few weeks have left his mind in a state of anguish, constantly on edge and he was unable to relax at all. whenever he was anxious, pantalone had always been there to calm him down. but this time, he was forced to endure all the pain and exhaustion alone, far too unbearable on his heart.
dottore hated to admit it but the brief separation from his husband has been far too difficult than he had anticipated. without bothering to knock, he pushed open the office doors with some struggle because of the gifts in his hands.
thankfully, pantalone was already making his way to the door, opening it for dottore to enter. the softness in pantalone's expression was clear as day, incredibly relieved. dottore had return home safe and sound, keeping his promise.
"zandik? you're back-" pantalone wasn't able to finish his sentence, as dotttore quickly set the gifts down on a nearby table and swept him into his arms. without hesitation, he lifted pantalone off the floor, spinning him around with a fond expression on his face. "i missed you so fucking much. you don't understand how many days i spent counting until i could see you again, feofan."
the moment pantalone was back on his feet, dottore was already peppering his face with soft kisses while resting his hands on the banker's waist. "um, z-zandik?" dottore only hummed as a response, pulling away to finally notice how red pantalone's face was. his calm composure had crumbled because of the affectionate kisses from his dear doctor.
"oh.. apologies, too much?" pantalone needed a moment to regain his composure, quickly burying his face into dottore's shoulder as a last minute attempt to salvage what little dignity he had left. "a-ahem.. not at all. i'm just surprised, i wasn't expecting any of this."
the crimson tint on pantalone's face finally softened into a rosy blush, meeting his husband's gaze. his hands reached for dottore's mask, carefully peeling it before setting it aside on a nearby surface. "how was your mission, dear?"
dottore let out a weary sigh, the exhaustion was clearly written across his face. "the mission went well, but i felt uneasy the entire time." something about pantalone's presence was oddly comforting and reassuring, as if all of his worries had finally been put to rest. unable to hide to his eagerness, dottore lean in once more and begun kissing along the side of his husband's neck.
"panic attacks, nightmares and that godforsaken carriage ride. all i wanted was to come back to you, feofan." although the kisses were incredibly distracting, pantalone simply couldn't ignore what dottore had just said. "that sounds awful. are you okay?"
dottore finally pulls away from the banker's neck, a genuine smile forming on his lips. "more than okay, now that i'm with you." a familiar warmth resurfaced onto pantalone's cheeks, though the blush was far less intense than before. "you should've asked me to come with you. i wouldn't have minded."
"i know, love and next time, i will. i would rather not endure that kind of hell again." dottore leans in close, capturing their lips in a brief, tender kiss. he simply couldn't let pantalone go, he wanted nothing more than to stay by his side at all times. they finally separate from the kiss, pressing their foreheads together instead. "i bought you a few gifts. care to see them?"
"later, dear. right now, i have to entertain a certain clingy doctor." dottore could only roll his eyes before kissing his husband's forehead, earning a soft laugh from the both of them.
"but.. thank you, zandik. you didn't have to buy me anything. i'm just grateful that you came back safe and unharmed." a gentle hand came up to cup dottore's cheek, a thumb lightly tracing the scars across on his face. the tender expression on pantalone's face was enough make dottore feel safe.
"well, i did promise that i would take you on a date, remember?" pantalone let out a soft chuckle, pressing his lips against the doctor's cheek. he was genuinely touched that dottore kept his promise. "aren't you sweet, hm? but we can go another day, you need to rest."
"maybe that's for best. thank you, feofan."
"for what, dearie?" it was a good thing that dottore had tucked away a spare sumeru rose inside of his coat pocket. he slipped the flower out, tucking it behind pantalone's ear gently. he reached for his husband's hand, lifting it up to his lips and placing a gentle kiss against his knuckles. "for being my safe space, sweetheart."
tags: mild hurt/comfort, fluff, late night conversations, 45 comforting 18.
note: this is strictly platonic btw!! i wanted to try something new, so i apologize if the segments are ooc.
the use of khaenriah technology allow dottore to create his segments, versions of himself preserved from different periods of his life. frozen in time, their own personalities are shaped by the memories they possessed at that particular age. all of them were driven by the unwavering pursuit of knowledge, to explore the unknown.
their relationships with one another were either cordial or chaotic sometimes. 65 mainly kept to himself, while 25 was deeply absorbed into his own research. 18 would occassionally pick on 8, who would always run into the arms of a certain banker to complain about 18's teasing. and 35 would conduct experiments in his spare time, in pursuit of something that transcend humanity's limits.
then there was 45, who stood somewhere in the middle. frozen in a quieter, more introverted period of his life, his obsession for knowledge was far more restrained compared to the younger segments. sometimes, he would find himself looking after his younger selves, making sure they weren't trying to tear each other apart.
one particular night, he returned from a mission in sumeru. he was on his way back to his quarters when he noticed 65 approaching him, his body langauge seemed very tense. "something troubling you, 65?"
the older segment let out an tired sigh, exhaution was evident in his posture. "very much. those two nearly ripped each other apart in the lab." such a concerning statement, 45 could only raise an eyebrow at 65's words. "who? did 18 get involved again?"
"yes, it was 18 and 25. they got into an argument and i ultimately had to separate them." a weary sigh escaped 45's lips, shaking his head in disbelief. he wasn't surprised by the news, their personalities often clashed with each other. "25 already retired to his room but 18 is still in the laboratory."
"... i'll go check on him. rest well, 65." an apologetic smile forms on his lips, bidding farewell to the older segment. he felt slightly guilty that 65 had to put himself at risk just to separate those two hotheads. he already made his way towards the laboratory, the doors opening with a loud creak.
his steps slowed down, his eyes scanning across the facility in search of his younger self. it took a while but he eventually spotted a familiar figure hiding in the corner of the laboratory.
45 wasted no time closing the distance between them, noticing that 18 was sitting on the floor while hugging his knees. he lowered himself to the floor, reaching out a hand, only for 18 to slap it away. "go away. you're bothering me."
"i've barely returned and i'm already greeted with malice?" 45 decided to sit beside his younger self, his expression softening at the sight of how upset 18 appeared. "are you alright? at least the lab still seems to be in one piece."
the only response he received was a quiet sniffle from 18. he finally lifted up his head from his knees, tears clinging to his eyelashes and his cheeks were still damp. "why are you here? if you've come to lecture me, i don't want to hear it. 65 already scolded me and 25 enough."
"i'm here because i'm concerned about you. what happened?" he waited patiently until 18 was ready to speak, sliding off his bulky coat and wrapping it around the younger segment's shoulders. "i was just annoyed that 25 gets praised for all his hard work, but i don't. it doesn't help that he kept taunting me every chance he got."
45 let out a soft hum, quietly acknowleding 18's frustration. "i snapped at him, then we started shouting. 65 stepped in before things could get any worse." he sniffles, averting his gaze as he brush the tears away with his hand. "he's so fucking arrogant, i can't stand him."
"well.. we're all arrogant and selfish. it's simply in our nature." 45 offered a faint smile, resting a reassuring hand on the younger segment's shoulder. "there's nothing wrong wIth feeling frustrated, but the two of you need to communicate better."
another wave of fresh tears threatened to spill over, raising his voice unintentionally. "i have and i tried! it feels like no one takes me seriously. as if all of my research is nothing more than a joke to everybody."
unfortunately for 18, a sob finally poured out. all of emotions that he had tried so hard to suppress finally overwhelmed him at once. his voice fell to a whisper as tremors shook throughout his body, his shaky hands tightly gripping the edges of the coat draped over his shoulders.
at this stage of his youth, dottore had long since learned to detach himself from his emotions, burying them away as if they were pointless. 45 could only imagine how much 18 had been bottling up this whole time. without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around the younger segment, feeling 18 stiffen almost immediately.
"... i do see your hard work and i am very proud of you. proud of all of us. don't ever think you don't matter, because you do." all he felt were shaky hands reaching around to his back, tightly gripping the fabric of his sweater.
45 continue to comfort his younger self, slowly running a hand through those blue strands of hair. "if there's one thing i know, it's that.. you've never really had someone to lean on for support. so cry, i won't judge you."
all of the grief and sorrow that 18 held back came pouring out like an ocean. he clung to 45 tightly, only harsh sobs can be heard in throughout the laboratory as he wept in 45's arms. they remained there for a while, gently swaying back and forth in a warm embrace. all 45 could do was rub 18's back, holding him close until the sobs finally subsided.
45 eventually pulled away, using his thumbs to wipe the remanining tears away. his smile softened into something warm and tender. if there was one thing he wished he could do, it was to provide comfort to the younger versions of himself. all of them were overdue for a much needed hug. "feeling better, 18?"
18 nods his head, looking away with a hint of embarrassment written on his face. 45 decided to not press the matter any further, slowly rising to his feet. he held his hand out, helping the younger segment stand up. "let's head back, okay? i'll talk to 25 tomorrow." he had barely taken a few steps toward the exit before noticing a faint tug on his armsleeve.
"... please tell 25 that i'm sorry. i'm the one who started this mess." as much as he appreciated the younger segment's honesty, 45 believe it would be better if they reconciled in-person. "i'll let him know but i think it'd be wiser if you told him yourself. after all, he owes you an apology too."
45 noticed the guilt lingering in 18's expression, which made his chest ache. perhaps he had an idea that could help put his younger self at ease. "care for a cup of tea before heading to bed? you look like you could use one."
a faint scowl forms on 18's face, trying to feign annoyance. "stop coddling me like i'm a child." a soft chuckle slips from 45, accompanied by an amused smile. "my apologies, that wasn't my intention. feel free to decline my offer."
"... fine, whatever." 45 pushed the doors, allowing 18 to step out of the laboratory first before following behind him. although, he did notice the way 18 had already begun putting his walls back up.
however, he was grateful that 18 was willing to vent out his emotions without feeling judged. for someone trapped in the period of dottore's life where his insecurities affected him the most, 45 would try his best to offer support to 18.
they continued their conversation over warm cups of chamomile tea in 45's quarters. he listened quietly as 18 rambled about his latest research, offering a soft smile in return. it wasn't surprising when 18 had finally drifted off to sleep on the couch, still wrapped in the older segment's coat.
45 rose from his seat, reaching for a nearby blanket and gently placing it over 18. he whispered a soft 'goodnight,' brushing a stray strand of hair away from 18's sleeping face. no matter what happens, he would glady spend every opportunity offering an ear and safe space for the younger segments.
tags: comfort, fluff towards the end, mentions of pantalone's backstory, crying, late night conversations
note: a roleplay inspired fic! i humbly offer you this surprise hehe
his childhood has been filled with nothing but thorns and misery. growing up in poverty left behind scars that lingered for years, haunting him in every direction. despite the hardships he endured, his beloved teddy bear has been a source of comfort during his lowest moments.
no matter where he went, the teddy bear has never left his side. even when his own mother tried to pry the toy from his hands, pantalone refused to let go. he treated his childhood toy as a friend, a bond that kept him grounded through thick and thin.
as the years passed by, pantalone spent several hours repairing every tear and hole with his own hands. he was very resourceful, using whatever scraps he could find to fix his best friend. whether it was small bits of yarn or loose thread pulled from his worn-out clothes, he always found a way to stitch his teddy bear back together.
however, one of his greatest fear was eventually parting ways with his teddy bear. unfortunately for pantalone, that moment arrived far sooner than he had expected. one day, the teddy bear spilt open again and this time, the tear was far too severe. pantalone did everything he could but his sewing proved to be useless, the stitches failed to hold the toy together.
all he could remember was the overwhelming grief and sorrow, his heart felt like it was being torn apart. he was only twenty and yet he sat there in silence, heartbroken at the sight of his beloved friend finally crumbling into dust in his trembling hands.
his vision blurred with tears, a sob rips from his throat as he stared at the remains of his stuffed animals. his first and only friend was gone and he felt so weak, useless even. all he could do was mourn in silence, his hands tightened around the dust as he wept on the cold, hard floor.
but this had occurred centuries ago and he had long since convinced himself that he had moved on. however, if he were ever given the chance to meet his younger self, pantalone wouldn't hesitate to spoil him in riches. in his youth, he had never had the chance to enjoy a life of luxury.
now, he has an empire of accumulated wealth that seemed endless. with all the mora within his grasp, pantalone could buy anything his heart desired. if he was given a chance, he would sit there and provide comfort to his younger self.
to advise him that the gods won't answer his prayers, so he should prioritize his own survival instead. to build a promising future where he wouldn't have to risk his life anymore.
if only pantalone could hold his younger self and let that child cry in his arms until there were no more tears left to shed. life had dealt him a cruel hand from the very beginning, experiencing cruelty and neglect at such a young age. had it not been for his teddy bear, pantalone would have lost his sanity long ago.
the nostalgic memories from his childhood caused tears to lingered on his eyelashes, enough to force pantalone out of his slumber. he let out a weary sigh, brushing the back of his hand against his damp cheeks. it didn't matter how many times he tried to wipe the tears away, the void in his chest didn't disappear.
pantalone had spent centuries trying to suppress the painful memories of his childhood. and yet those same memories decided to continue haunting him at every corner. he became frustrated with himself, fighting back a sob as more tears spilled from his eyes.
he hates this feeling of helplessness, he doesn't want to cry over something that happened centuries ago. why was he still grieving over a childhood toy that had perished in his youth?
the sound of his cries eventually stirred dottore awake, slowly sitting up in bed. without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around pantalone and pulling him into a warm embrace. dottore remained silent, offering his husband a shoulder to cry on until pantalone felt better.
he has no idea what had caused pantalone to cry. could it have been a terrible nightmare? maybe he was overwhelmed with something work-related? once the sobs finally subsided, dottore gently cupped his husband's cheeks and brush the tears aways with his thumbs.
"what happened, feofan? are you alright?" pantalone feels embarrassed, looking away with shame written on his face. he sniffles, letting out a shaky breath as he struggled to compose himself. "i'm fine. it's just.. the reason is so childish."
"it's not childish if it's affecting you this much. so tell me, love." dottore leaned forward to press a gentle kiss against his husband's cheek. the way he looks at pantalone was so tender and gentle, nothing but love in his eyes.
pantalone offers a sad smile before removing his glasses as he blinks the tears away. "...when i was a child, i had this teddy bear. it was brown, covered in poorly sewn patches. but it meant the world to me."
dottore reached for a box of tissues on the nightstand, offering it to pantalone. he accepted the offer with a nod, using the soft material to dry his cheeks. "sometimes.. i miss my teddy bear." a dry, humorless chuckle escapes him, looking down at his lap. "sounds ridiculous, huh? i'm a grown ass man and yet i'm still longing for a toy that perished long ago."
the sentimental value of his childhood toy had been enough to reduce him to tears. perhaps the inner child within him still yearned to have his precious friend by his side. dottore nods his head in understanding, reaching for the banker's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "... you know, i could make you a new one."
"pardon?" the sudden offer caught pantalone by surprise. however, dottore cleared his throat before quickly correcting himself. "if you could provide me a detailed description of your teddy bear, i can recreate it using the materials i have."
the immediate silence from pantalone made dottore concerned. did he say something wrong? his hands came to rest on his husband's waist, his expression softening into a reassuring one. "it wasn't my intention to replace the original, please believe me. i just wanted to reunited you with an old friend. i didn't realize how insensitive that must have sounded, i'm sorry-"
dottore's rambling was cut short by pantalone, who threw his arms around him and pulled the doctor into a tight embrace. another round of tears streamed down his face but this time, he had a genuine smile on his lips. "don't apologize, i'm not upset. i'm just touched that you would go that far for me."
a quiet sigh of relief slipped from dottore's lips, returning the embrace and pressing a kiss on his husband's forehead. "i would do anything for you, feofan." those words alone were enough to make pantalone feel so loved. he pulls back, just enough to capture their lips into a brief, tender kiss.
"thank you. i love you so much, dear." the smile on pantalone's face had softened into a sincere one, wiping away the rest of his tears with his hand. "i have a request, zandik. this might sound.. ridiculous."
"not at all. what is it?"
"could you.. make a painting for me? something small enough to display on my desk." dottore gave a small nod before lying down in bed again. he extends his arms out, silently inviting the banker to join him. pantalone chuckles, accepting the invitation and wrapping his arms around dottore. "a painting of your teddy bear? i can do that, consider it done."
his confirmation alone was enough to ease the emptiness in pantalone's chest. he rest his head against dottore's chest, closing his eyes with a smile on his face. as for the offer that dottore proposed earlier, he decided to save that conversation for another time.
knowing dottore, he would probably search for whatever was left of the original teddy bear and reconstruct it anew. regardless, it was endearing to know that dottore would always prioritize his well-being and comfort, pantalone was grateful for that.
after crying so much, pantalone felt utterly exhausted. he was gradually drifting off to sleep in his husband's arms. dottore continued to hold pantalone close, absentmindly running his fingers through those violet strands of hair.
his own consciousness began to fade, letting exhaustion overtake him as well. dottore pressed one last kiss to pantalone's forehead, quietly whispering a 'goodnight, feofan' before closing his eyes and falling asleep as well.
summer classes had concluded today! and i passed with flying colors.
however, longer fics will be less frequent starting mid-september. it's because fall quarter begins soon for my university. don't worry, i still plan to write but i will be more busy.
also, i might take short breaks. just because my health is an unpredictable rollercoaster and sometimes, my nerves will flare up.
(another ramble below, a sentimental moment)
and i would like to say thank you again. i can't express my gratitude enough, you guys are wonderful.
i was so scared to interact in online spaces again because of what happened to me in the past (doxxed). but you guys help me feel more comfortable on tumblr. i feel safe and i'm eternally grateful for that.
so thank you everyone, for being patient with someone like me♡
tags: fluff, gift giving, slice of life, celebrating birthdays
note: pantalone making dottore's birthday special (totally not based on my own experience, surely not lol)
putting together a gift was far more difficult than he had expected. pantalone wanted to make sure everything was perfect for his husband. he had spent weeks buying a bunch of presents and even making a few handmade gifts too. after all, pantalone absolutely adores spoiling dottore.
all he could do was wait for dottore to arrive home, still finishing up lab reports in his laboratory. pantalone went ahead and set up the table in their living room, candles flickering on top of the cake.
a handful of balloons were scattered across the room and he placed the gifts in a nearby corner. perhaps he had gone a little overboard with his budget but pantalone didn't really care. after all, it wouldn't leave a dent in his fortune.
a brief wave of sadness washed over him, all he could think about was dottore. pantalone was very aware that his husband rarely celebrated his own birthdays. more often than not, dottore would even go on missions for weeks. he truly wanted to avoid his birthday altogether.
he understood why dottore was reluctant to celebrate his birthday, pantalone used to do the same. sometimes the memories of this special occasion can be unbearable. however, if there was one thing he had learned, it was that every birthday was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. everyone was destined to meet their end sooner or later, so why not enjoy your special day?
pantalone eventually snapped out of his thoughts, the sound of footsteps approaching from outside caught his attention. he quickly dimmed the lights, making his way to the front door to greet his lovely husband. the moment dottore steps inside, pantalone slipped behind him and covered his eyes with his own hands. "what is the meaning of this, feofan?"
"just play along, won't you? now, come with me." for weeks, dottore had his suspicions that pantalone was planning something extravagant. however, he still decided to play along reluctantly, taking hesitant steps forwards as they reach the living room.
he knew exactly what today was and he has been dreading it. although he understood that pantalone had good intentions, it wouldn't erase the terrible memories he had with previous birthdays. to dottore, birthdays were seen as trivial and he had never seen the point in celebrating his own.
they continued walking until they reached their destination, pantalone finally pull his hands away and came around to stand in front of his husband. "keep your eyes closed, okay?" dottore let out a weary sigh, the growing sense of dread continues to build in his chest. "fine, i will. i don't know how you do this every day."
pantalone rolled his eyes before reaching for the small cake on the table. "stop analyzing my eyes. that's not the point right now." he adjusted his grip on the cake, stepping closer as a warm smile blooms across his lips. "now then.. open your eyes, dearie."
dottore slowly opened his eyes, his body immediately tensing up. their living room was decorated with balloons, presents, and scented candles. before he had a chance to scold pantalone for his impulsive spending habits, his gaze finally lingered on the cake resting in the banker's hands.
the cake was decorated with fresh strawberries and flickering candles, definitely a beautiful sight indeed. this wonderful desert was clearly made with only the finest ingredients, everything was high-quality and visually appealing. dottore stood there in silence, completely stunned in place.
he finally noticed the rosy blush forming on pantalone's cheeks, he could tell that his husband put a lot of thought into this celebration. "birthdays are special, you know? it always pained me whenever you deliberately left on a mission on your birthday.. simply because you didn't want to celebrate it."
pantalone carefully return the cake back on the table before reaching for a handmade rose instead. he had crafted it by hand, using leftover scraps of paper and fleece to bring it to life. however, this small project took a lot of energy out of him and he was only able to make one.
"this time, i want to spend it with you. i want to show you that you matter to me, that you deserve all of my love." he placed his handmade gift into dottore's hands, his smile growing warmer with every passing second. "allow me to be the first to say it. happy birthday, zandik."
to say that dottore was surprised would have been an understatement. he remain frozen in place, his fingers tightening around the rose. for a moment, pantalone was worried that he had gone too far.
all of his concerns vanish away the moment dottore suddenly wrapped his arms around him. without hesitation, he returned the warm embrace with a smile, gently pressing a kiss on the side of his husband's head.
pantalone was about to say something, however, he suddenly felt a warm dampness soaking into his shoulder. he was quick to be concerned, trying to pull back but dottore only clings to him tighter. he really didn't want pantalone to see the tears on his face. "are you okay? why are you crying, dear?"
dottore only buried his face deeper into his husband's shoulder, light trembles shook throughout his body. curse these human emotions, he had never expected himself to react so strongly to such a wonderful surprise. "i'm fine, just hold me. please..."
it was utterly embarrassing, he was still growing sentimental over a tradition that he had intentionally avoided for centuries. it wasn't the cake or the mountain of gifts that brought tears to his eyes. but rather, he got emotional because someone had cared enough to remember his birthday, let alone go through this much effort.
pantalone let out a soft sigh before finally separating from the warm embrace. his hands gently cupped his husband's cheeks, slowly removing the mask from dottore's face. tears blocked his vision, followed by a sniffle. all he could do was mutter a soft apology, to which pantalone immediately reassured him. "don't apologize for being emotional, it's perfectly normal. are you alright, though?"
".. i'm alright, i promise. i'm just overwhelmed."
"overwhelmed in a good way or a bad way, dear?" pantalone gently brushed the tears away with his thumbs, pressing a soft peck on his husband's nose. "in a good way. i'm just.. grateful, thank you." dottore had never expected to receive this much love and kindness before, sometimes it felt overwhelming. for centuries, he always viewed himself as a monster and yet pantalone was always here to remind him that he was still human.
"you're welcome. do you still want to blow out your candles?" a light chuckle escapes his lips, following pantalone over to the couch before taking a seat beside him. "sure, bring it here." the cake was slowly placed in front of him, and the eagerness on pantalone's expression was quite adorable.
he sat in silence, allowing the banker to sing 'happy birthday' in the comfort of their living room. a soft laugh slips from dottore, noticing that pantalone had stumbled over his words halfway through the tune.
however, it was the thought that mattered the most to him. the moment that the song came to an end, dottore silently made his wish before finally blowing out the candles with a smile on his lips. "happy birthday, love!"
"thank you again, feofan. although, it really wasn't necessary to buy me so many gifts." truth be told, dottore was simply happy with the cake and the handmade rose that his husband prepared. of course, pantalone was quick to disagreed, already cutting the cake into slices. "nonsense. my husband deserves to be spoiled rotten. now, let's eat some cake."
dottore could only sigh in defeat, reaching for a slice of the cake. deserts had never been his favorite but just for today, he didn't mind eating some. this has been the best birthday that he had ever celebrated. and now, he's looking forward to celebrating his next birthday with pantalone. after all, everyone deserves an opportunity to make a wish and celebrate their special day.
note: pantalone finding every reason to hug and kiss dottore. also poor capitano and tartaglia lol
the limits of what dottore could tolerate when it came to physical touch were definitely being challenged, thanks to his husband's persistence. no matter where they went, pantalone insisted that they needed to hug at all costs, claiming that it was for the sake of his health.
unfortunately for pantalone, dottore found all of his excuses to be complete lies. by all means, he doesn't mind pantalone being clingy but he would strongly prefer if they remained physically affectionate behind closed doors. sometimes, it felt like his husband was pushing his luck a bit too far.
today was no different. it was supposed to be a quick, formal meeting regarding the recent budget changes, and yet the mischievous smile on pantalone's lips was enough to send warning signals. dottore had already taken a step back from the banker's desk, putting some distance between them.
"stay there, feofan. do not come over here and pounce on me." pantalone tilted his head, feigning confusion because it was incredibly amusing to watch dottore becoming so defensive. "so quick to accuse me when i did nothing wrong. how rude of you, my dear doctor."
dottore was quick to snap back, crossing his arms as a faint, rosy blush formed on his cheeks. "i have my reasons for putting distance between us." if anything, he could think of a million reasons why he didn't want pantalone anywhere near him.
his affectionate touches and sweet words gave him goosebumps on his skin. "you were smothering my face in kisses and capitano was unfortunate enough to witness your shameless behavior."
"out of all our colleagues, he's the least of our troubles. he never brought it up, so i don't see the issue here?" fortunately for them, capitano knew better than to meddle in other people's business. however, it wasn't his intention to interrupt their privacy, he only wanted to discuss funding for his troops.
dottore ran his hands across his face, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "the problem is that you are so quick to touch me at random moments, that i don't know how to react-" warm, steady hands came to rest on his hips, making him jump from the unexpected touch.
he immediately turned around to find pantalone standing behind him with an amused expression. how the hell had he gotten behind him so quickly? he was just sitting at his desk only a moment ago! "you are proving my point right now."
"so? it's just us here. i doubt anyone would intrude on our private moment, hm?" dottore was incredibly grateful that his mask concealed his face, he would rather not give pantalone any more reasons to tease him right now.
his hands rest against his husband's chest, gently pushing pantalone back a bit. although pantalone did enjoy provoking a reaction out of dottore, he was still careful to not cross their boundaries.
without hesitation, he gently pulled away before offering a soft, reassuring smile to his husband. "did i make you uncomfortable, zandik?" dottore could only sigh, shaking his head. despite the teasing, it was endearing that pantalone still prioritize his comfort above everything else.
"not at all, don't worry about that. i'm just.." his words fell silent on his lips before averting his gaze. dottore would rather not admit aloud that he was a bit bashful to reciprocate his husband's affections sometimes.
a soft chuckle escapes pantalone's lips, dottore's shy expression was enough for him to assume that he was simply embarrassed, not uncomfortable. he decided to press their foreheads together, pulling dottore closer to him his eyes lingered on those soft lips, seeking for permission. "may i, dear?"
"... go ahead, feofan. you're insatiable anyways." there was no venom in his words, earning a soft laugh from both of them. dottore tilts his head just enough to avoid poking pantalone with his mask, gently capturing his lips into a tender kiss. he felt pantalone attempting to deepen their kiss, slightly parting his lips to welcome him in for more.
before they had the chance to do unspeakable things on the banker's desk, the office door was suddenly slammed open. the loud noise startled them, abruptly ending their little makeout session. "pantalone! i grabbed the paperwork you wanted. is there anything else you need- oh!"
tartaglia froze in place, nearly dropping the papers to the floor. by all means, this was truly an accident and a misunderstanding at best. he had informed pantalone hours earlier that he would be stopping by, and somehow, he managed to run into them again under the most unfortunate circumstances.
to avoid any further confrontation, tartaglia set the paperworks down on a nearby table and quickly left without saying another word, closing the door behind him. dottore couldn't hold back a scowl, his poor face was burning red as a cherry.
pantalone could only sigh, his own cheeks were a bit red as he pulled away and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "oh dear, i forgot he was um.. supposed to come over today." this was completely unintentional on his part. he had genuinely lost track of time because he was more focused on teasing dottore. "and you didn't inform me?"
"my memory is quite poor. have pity on me, dearie." unfortunately, luck and mercy were clearly not on dottore's side today. all he could do was groan in frustration, burying his face into his hands. pantalone tries to comfort to his grumpy husband, pressing a quick kiss on dottore's cheek. "at least it wasn't pulcinella."
"how is that any better? you call that comforting?" dottore used his fingers to flick against his husband's forehead sharply, making pantalone wince. he was dangerously close to making pantalone sleep on the couch this time around. safe to say, dottore's pride has never been the same since then. and tartaglia made an effort to knock more often moving forward.
tags: hurt/comfort, fluff towards the end, mentions of insecurities and previous surgeries, crying
note: a continuation to reveal your scars but pantalone's perspective. i would like to think pantalone has scars/calluses on his hands♡
series: dating chronicles are added to the masterlist.
pantalone was no stranger to concealing his weaknesses. a man of pride and greed, he always made sure to cover his tracks flawlessly. however, there was one thing he could never hide quite so easily, which was the scars scattered across his body.
in exchange for a prolonged lifespan, pantalone had encountered more than a few difficulties throughout his life. from necrosis to skin grafts, his body had undergone multiple surgeries and medical treatment to preserve his physique.
by all means, he saw it as an equal exchange. a fair trade, one could argue because he placed his unwavering trust in dottore's abiities to treat him. pantalone left his health and well-being in good hands and he had never regretted his decision. however, there were days when he found himself feeling self-conscious about his appearance, pesky insecurities would float around in his mind for a while.
when he started dating dottore, pantalone felt more reluctant to hold hands with his lover. granted, dottore also had scars on his hands and pantalone knew he wouldn't judge him. however, there was always that nagging voice in the back of his mind telling him otherwise. for a businessman, he was supposed to be pristine, not painted with scars.
his hands were his greatest insecurity. from his biased perspective, they looked utterly horrifying. pantalone had never bothered to take great care of them, allowing years of scars and calluses to build up over time. every time he stared down at his bare skin, a wave of self-hatred hits him hard. all pantalone can do was conceal his imperfections with his gloves and forced a professional smile on his face.
for a long time, pantalone wore thick gloves on his hands and sometimes kept them buried deep within his coat pockets. he tried to casually play it off whenever dottore brought up his habits, insisting that the weather had simply been too cold lately. as if snezhnaya wasn't always cold everyday, what a terrible lie. but dottore didn't bother to press the matter any further.
of course, there wasn't a part of pantalone that didn't feel guilty for withdrawing his touch from his lover. and yet, it was difficult to swallow down those insecurities and simply ignore his negative thoughts.
he continued to avoid the subject until dottore brought it up again during one of his routine check-ups. except, dottore had a tendency to be well.. direct with his words, not realizing how they might come across to others. "take it off."
"pardon?" pantalone tilted his head in confusion, which made dottore soften his words. "i meant your gloves. take them off, please." he watched as the banker's body tensed, freezing on the spot. pantalone tried to look away, fidgeting with his hands nervously.
perhaps he had still been a bit too forward with his approach, which was unfortunate. dottore could only sighed, removing the mask from his face and setting it aside on a nearby table. he took a seat beside pantalone, reaching out to take one of his hands into his own. "apologies, i was too forceful with my words. i just.. don't understand. you're not afraid of my scars, and yet you're scared to show me your own."
dottore felt a slight tremble coming from pantalone's hand, gently squeezing it to reassure him. "feofan, i have operated on you more times than i can count. i have seen every part of you, even the ones you hate. i won't feel disgusted, i promise."
pantalone let out a shaky breath, fighting back every emotion that threatened to spill out. he was truly afraid that if he spoke, he might cry on the spot. instead, he finally made an effort to peel away his gloves, resting the fabric on his lap.
he knows that he can't avoid his scars forever, his eyelashes rapidly blinking away the tears. his vision was beyond blurry and he really didn't want to cry infront of dottore. pantalone knew it was ridiculous to feel ashamed of the state of his hands. but his insecurities still held him down, thoughts spiraling in his head.
the silence was suffocating for a moment until dottore finally made a move. he removed his own gloves, tossing them aside without a care. he laced their fingers together, lifting their joined hands and pressing a kiss on the top of them. "beautiful. just like you, love."
pantalone felt his eyes watered even more before a few droplets rolled his cheeks. he began to cry more when dottore peppered kisses across his hand, treating each scar as if it were precious. he sniffled, using his sleeve to wipe away the tears streaming down his face. "d-do you truly mean that, zandik?"
"yes, very much." dottore could hear the slight doubt in his lover's voice, deciding to reassure pantalone with a quick kiss on the lips. the last thing he wanted was for pantalone to feel uncertain about his words. "i'm so damn lucky to have you as my significant other."
"heh, you could just say 'boyfriend', dear..."
"... don't nitpick me right now, not when your face is still a mess." pantalone let out a soft chuckle, he couldn't argue with that fact. his face was indeed a mess but it didn't bother him at the moment. pantalone did think it was endearing that dottore was far too shy to admit the status of their relationship, as if it were all a dream he could wake up from. "you're blushing, zandik."
"and so are you. now, hush and let me dry your face." dottore rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance as he used some tissues to clean the tears from pantalone's cheeks. despite their little bantering, pantalone was grateful to have dottore by his side. once his face was dry from tears, his glasses finally returned to his face, despite the redness around his eyes.
"... thank you, dear. you don't know how much this means to me." a soft, genuine smile of gratitude formed on pantalone's lips, which was terribly contagious as a smile formed on his lover's face too. dottore reached for one of the banker's hands again, pressing another kiss on his knuckles. "you're welcome. at least.. we're matching now. scars and all."
pantalone didn't feel ashamed anymore, resting his head against dottore's shoulder. perhaps he might take his gloves off more often in private, behind closed doors. at least they had each other, through thick and thin. maybe, in time, pantalone would feel more comfortable with his scars, viewing them as a proof of everything he had endured and survived♡
another tedious meeting had came to an end, all the harbingers going their separate ways for the evening. dottore and pantalone were the last to leave the meeting room, walking side by side while holding hands. unfortunately, they still had their own matters to attend to. they would have to part ways eventually.
"planning to work on another experiment again, love?" dottore simply shook his head, gently squeezing his husband's hand. much to his distaste, a soft yawn escaped him as he felt more exhausted than usual. he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the evening by pantalone's side. "no, i'll be leaving on another mission. i might be gone for a few weeks."
his words made pantalone stop in his tracks, anxiety swelling in his chest. he knew dottore was more than capable of handling risky missions on his own. however, the thought of losing him at any given moment still terrified him greatly.
despite his own hesitation, pantalone made an effort to not stand in dottore's way, forcing a light smile onto his face. "is that so? what a pity, i'll be bored out of my mind without you here."
his forced smile didn't convince dottore at all. he could easily tell which smiles were genuine and which were simply for business. dottore could even sense the underlying fear in pantalone's voice, but he decided not to comment on it. instead, he wrapped his arms around his husband, pressing their foreheads together.
"you may be exceptional at lying to others, but not to me." all he heard was a soft sigh coming from pantalone, noticing how defeated and tired he was. a hand gently brushed against his cheek, tucking a strand of violet hair behind his husband's ear. "i'll be safe, i promise."
"you better keep that promise. i have a tendency to overthink, you know?" deep down, pantalone wished for dottore to stay but he knew they couldn't ignore the tsaritsa's orders. "i'm aware. it's cute how much you worry about me."
"...are you trying to provoke me again?" dottore let out a soft chuckle before shaking his head, the pout on his husband's lips was incredibly endearing. "rest assured, i wasn't trying to rile you up. it's just.. nice having someone worry about my safety for once."
a soft, pink blush forms on pantalone's cheeks, making an attempt to look away. "well.. your safety is my priority. you're my husband, after all." thankfully, he wasn't the only one blushing. in the corner of his eyes, he noticed a faint hue appearing across dottore's face as well.
honestly, dottore preferred to show his feelings through actions, not with words. he rested his hands on pantalone's hips, leaning forward to gently capture his lips in a soft, tender kiss. however, he didn't want to risk removing his mask, especially if someone sees them. despite the awkward angle, he still savored their little moment together.
pantalone reciprocated the kiss, resting a hand over his husband's chest. reluctantly, they eventually had to separate, looking at each other lovingly. dottore reached for one of the banker's hand, taking it into his own and pressing a gentle kiss on the back of his hand. "wait for me, feofan. i'll even take you out on a date."
he couldn't refuse an offer like that one. a warm, tender smile spread across his face, his heart swelling with happiness. "then you better come back soon. safe travels, zandik." he reached out for one more hug before dottore left for the evening, pressing a kiss on the doctor's cheek. "i love you, dearie."
dottore only hums, pressing a quick peck to his husband's cheek as well. "i love you too, sweetheart. take care of yourself while i'm gone." they finally pulled away from the hug, dottore leaving in the opposite direction to finish preparing for his departure.
pantalone stood there for a moment, lifting up his hand to rest against his cheek, his smile softened a bit. something about the way dottore expressed his love through his actions made him feel really happy. all he could do now is quietly wished for his husband to return home, safe and sound in his arms soon.
tags: angst, hurt/comfort, TW: mentions of abuse, neglect, violent outbursts and self-harm. insecurities and lots of crying. some fluff towards the end.
note: the leaks about pantalone's backstory in the new artifact set had me in tears. the way he views his life is so sad, my poor heart </3
disclaimer: please proceed with caution. yes, this does mention leaks! if you need to, feel free to skip♡
misery came in many different forms, shaping the way a person views their own life. for pantalone, the shackles of his past had returned to haunt him once more, his office had felt incredibly suffocating tonight. his hand tighten dangerously around his pen, anger slowly rising within his heart.
the memories of his childhood only worsen his anger, being reminded of how helpless he was. a mother's love was supposed to be unconditional, providing support and comfort to her child.
and yet, pantalone had received none of it. even during the most vulnerable moments of his life, the woman he had once called mother had labeled him as a disobedient freak. a monster.
she truly made his childhood a living hell, making sure to punish him at any given opportunity. her intolerance and hatred only worsened with time, he continued to feel trapped by her intimidating presence. how twisted she was, selling off her only child to debt collectors.
ironically, pantalone was content with this outcome. this situation had been far from ideal, but for the first time in his life, he was finally freed from her torturous wrath. unfortunately for pantalone, his life continued to worsen as he grew older.
his fate in the gods had begun to diminish, his resentment only continue to grow. how dare they mock him? no matter how many times he had pleaded or begged, not a single one had answered him. even when he was in tears, praying for a better life, no one had been there to grant his wish.
his second tragedy came when he was sold off again, this time as a test subject. barely in his early twenties and he was already framed for something that he had never done, his body was already bruised and worn out. if he was going to be used, then might as well make himself useful.
the memories of his tragic life eventually struck a nerve within him, the pen immediately snapped in his right hand. large clunks of ink coated his hand and stained his paperwork in messy black streaks. a frustrated sigh left his lips, slowly rising from his seat. his gaze lingered on the glass of untouched wine on his desk, catching a glimpse of his own reflection.
pantalone had never admitted it to anyone but he hated himself, greatly. if his own mother couldn't stand the sight of him, why should he tolerate his own reflection? another round of vicious thoughts haunted his mind, being reminded of a familiar voice that berate him throughout his childhood.
'worthless'
'monster'
'a burden'
'my greatest mistake-'
within seconds, his hands had collide with every item on his desk, throwing it to the floor as his anger consumed his rationality. all he could see was red, slamming his fists against the desk until cracks in the wood were visible.
if he had truly been such a mistake, then why was he born into this cruel world? why did she make him suffer for so long? why frame him for something he never did? why must his body betray him every single time?
was his suffering nothing more than a cruel form of entertainment for the gods above? pantalone eventually collapsed to his knees, letting out a gut-wrenching cry from his throat. blinded by rage and misery, he reached for the broken pen before painfully stabbing the palm of his right hand.
his hatred was profound, bitterness settling into his heart. misery clung to his childhood like a thorn, as if he was predetermined to suffer for an eternity. his outburst continued for hours, not a single subordinate dared to enter his office at all.
over time, his anger finally burned out and pantalone ended up retreating beneath his desk. his knees pressed close to his chest, wet droplets clinging to his eyelashes. pantalone didn't give a damn if his office was in a terrible condition, he didn't have the energy to clean up anything.
warm tears finally slipped down his cheeks, burying his face into his knees. pantalone sat there for a while, doing everything he could to suppress his sobs. he didn't want dottore to see him in this pitiful state, all weak and defeated. regrettably, his wishes went unheard once again as familiar footsteps enter the office, his body tensed up immediately.
"... i know you're in here, feofan." his gaze lingered over the horrendous state of the banker's office. dottore couldn't say that he was surprised. he had a feeling that pantalone was always swallowed his anger down in an attempt to maintain his calm, composed facade. he rarely witnessed pantalone losing his temper and he only ever saw the aftermath of his wrath.
dottore immediately made his way toward the desk, carefully avoiding the shards of glass on the floor. he crouched down, finding pantalone hiding beneath his desk. when he reached out to comfort him, his husband immediately swatted his hand away. "don't.. please. i'm filthy."
"i strongly disagree. a shower could do you some good, dear." a whimper escaped pantalone's lips, reluctantly lifting his head up. nothing but tears streamed down his cheeks, his glasses stained with a faint trace of blood. "... you know what i meant. i'm an awful, greedy man."
a dry, humorless chuckle left his lips, another round of tears blocking his vision again. "sold off by my own mother and framed by a gang? hah, my luck is truly awful." he sniffles, biting down on his bottom lip as he fought back another sob. "despite meeting you under unfortunate circumstances, at least i was useful to you.."
dottore was slightly speechless, he wasn't quite sure on how to respond back. he couldn't lie to himself, he did have his own motives back then. but something about pantalone's sharp tongue and impressive talent for negotiations always intrigue him.
if he hadn't given pantalone a chance all those centuries ago, their circumstances would have been different. granted, their first meeting was hardly pleasant.
dottore could only sigh, reaching out for his husband's hands and gently coaxing pantalone out from beneath the desk. "let's.. not bring up the past. it's only making you spiral." pantalone immediately yanked his hands away, worried that the blood and ink on his hands would get on dottore. "don't touch me, you'll get dirty."
"you really think i give a damn about that?" dottore couldn't conceal the irritation in his voice, letting out a frustrated sigh. by all means, he wasn't angry at pantalone but rather at the insecurities that continues to haunt his beloved banker. how could the man he loved be so cruel toward himself? for someone who enjoys being wealthy and confident, pantalone was awfully insecure sometimes.
"i don't care if there's blood on your hands, whether it's yours or someone else's." the space beneath the desk was cramped as hell but dottore didn't want to force his husband to leave his spot.
instead, he looped his arms around pantalone's shoulders and pulling him into a warm embrace, despite the small space. "you are my husband, for crying out loud. i married you because i love you. you gave me a reason to keep living."
more tears ran down pantalone's cheeks, holding onto the doctor's back as he let out a few broken sobs and hiccups. "damn those people who treated you like an outcast. they were too blinded by hatred to see how radiant you truly are."
all dottore could do was hug him tighter, feeling his husband's body tremble in his arms. "the world already decided to treat us like monsters. then monsters we shall be. but don't blame yourself for things that were out of your control."
his words only made pantalone cry harder, allowing his grief, sorrow and pain to pour out like a river. dottore gently pulled away, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears rolling down his husband's face.
"i love you so, so much. will you please come out so i can hug you properly?" pantalone nods his head weakly, finally crawling out from beneath the desk. the sight of his tear-stained face made dottore's heart clench.
he quickly pushed the chair aside, not caring where it went. dottore pulls pantalone into his arms, his back resting against the wall for support. he whispered soft reassurances into his husband's ear, listening to those heartbreaking sobs. a hand rested against pantalone's lower back, rubbing soothing circles as he helped his husband regulate his breathing. "shh.. in and out. you're doing so well, sweetheart."
the last thing he wanted was for pantalone to have a panic attack. thankfully, he felt his husband's breathing begin to stabilize, placing a kiss on his temple gently. they remained there for a while, hugging each other softly. his sobs finally faded into sniffles, pantalone resting his head against dottore's chest.
"... besides your hands, are you hurt anywhere else?" pantalone shook his head, his voice was hoarse from crying so much. "no but i.. did stab myself with a pen." oh dear. dottore let out a soft sigh, deciding not to comment on that. he reached for the banker's right hand, pressing a gentle kiss on the back of it. dottore didn't care if it was covered in blood, he wouldn't bother him in the slightest.
"zandik, that's gross..."
"i've cut into more bodies than i can count. this is the least of my concerns right now." at least he managed to make pantalone laugh, relishing in the soft sound of his little snorts and chuckles.
dottore had a soft smile on his lips, finally removing the mask from his face, setting it aside. he leans closer, gently pressing a kiss on pantalone's cheek. "are you feeling better now, sweetheart?"
".. i am, thank you. apologies for the mess."
"it's fine, i've seen worse." dottore hums, already aware that they would need to clean themselves up soon. he was already planning on examining his husband's injuries, especially given pantalone's tendency to hurt himself as a temporary escape.
he was so absorbed into thoughts, considering what's the best treatment for the banker. however, pantalone noticed the distant look in dottore's eyes, letting out a soft, defeated sigh."i'm so sorry. it was careless of me and i-"
"no more apologizing." another kiss landed on his forehead, dottore giving him a light, genuine smile. "it was done in the heat of the moment, i understand." because dottore had done the same thing before, taking his anger out on anything within his reach.
he would never judge his husband for doing the same, although he wouldn't encourage it. "i'm no better, dear. and yet, you kept me grounded. so allow me to do the same for you, let me be your anchor too."
pantalone sniffled, a weak smile forming on his lips. he closed his eyes, not minding the few remaining tears sliding down his cheeks. "thank you, zandik. and thank you for giving me a chance all those years ago."
another chuckle escaped pantalone's lips, a soft rosy tint appearing across his cheeks. "you're making me shy, zandik. though, you're just as annoying. always nagging me about smoking."
dottore fell silent for a moment before letting out another sigh, gently wiping away the tears with his thumbs again. he had grown incredibly fond of his beloved banker as centuries flew by. and he was grateful that their relationship had developed into something more, something meaningful and precious. "don't thank me. it was your resilience that earned you the position you deserved. all you did was win over my heart, despite being a pain in my ass sometimes."
"i've replaced your lungs at least three times already. i have every right to nag you, you greedy banker." dottore begin peppering his husband's face with kisses, making pantalone laugh out loud. aw, he had missed that smile so damn much. he had missed the joyful sound the banker's laughter.
trauma didn't heal easily, dottore knew that firsthand. the least he could do was make his husband's life as comfortable and lavish as possible. a shower and first aid was very much important but for now, they simply sat there, laughing and kissing until pantalone was no longer crying.
tags: modern au! humor/crack, false accusations, mentions of objects of being thrown (lmao)
note: inspiration strikes again (thank you♡). it's mainly just dottore arguing with his segments. but pantalone is briefly mention towards the end.
"which one of you imbeciles went through my phone?"
dottore was beginning to regret creating segments of himself. a surge of irritation ran through his veins, not even bothering to hide his anger. he had realized that pantalone's contact in his phone had been renamed to something utterly ridiculous.
his grip tightened around the phone, barely holding himself back from lashing out at his segments. dottore had never shared his phone's passcode with any of them and yet, someone had managed to hack into it. this is completely unacceptable.
"perhaps it was either 18 or 25. 8 and I went to the aquarium earlier." 45 adjusted 8 in his arms, a soft smile resting on his lips. 8 couldn't defend himself in this matter, having long since fallen asleep in 45's embrace. it was incredibly adorable how he was hugging the shark plushie close to his chest, his sleeping expression seemed so peaceful.
"tsk, don't blame me. what about 65? he hasn't even said anything yet." 25 clearly wasn't in the mood to be accused of something that he didn't do. 65 looked at 25 with annoyance, he really didn't want to get involved at all. "if you must know, i was out buying groceries. besides, i don't see the point in going through his phone."
dottore was truly at his limit, letting out a groan of frustration. he quickly ruled 65 out as a suspect. that segment was far more mature than the rest and rarely involved himself in other people's business. 45 had already vouched for 8, especially since the little one was fast asleep. that only leaves 18 and 25 as the main culprits in this matter.
"if i may ask, what happened?" 45 asked, gently running his hand through 8's hair. "did one of us delete something important to you?" the question alone made dottore embarrassed, clenching his jaw tightly.
"far worse than that. here, see for yourself." a rosy tint forming on his cheeks, pulling up his contact list before turning the screen around. someone had changed his husband's contact name to 'sugar daddy,' with a ridiculous amount of unnecessary emojis.
65 let out a disappointed sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. 45 immediately looked away, muttering a quiet apology as he struggled to hide his laughter. 25 stared at the screen with a mixture of disgust and irritation on his face. "who the fuck wrote this? it looks like some shit that 18 would write."
"youngsters these days." 65 muttered under his breath, standing up from his seat with the support of his cane. he had a feeling that one of the younger segements was about to become the target of dottore's wrath. he would rather not associate himself with this mess. so he decided to leave quietly, heading into the kitchen for some tea.
"then who did this? because it had to be one of you two." his glare hardened as he slammed a fist against the table. the loud noise nearly startled 8 awake but 45 gently soothed him back to sleep, gently patting his back. "dammit, it wasn't me! it was 18, look at him!"
his gaze quickly fell on 18, who was failing miserably to hide his own laughter. a vein throbbed on his forehead, dottore was dangerously close to strangling someone. "explain yourself, now."
"it was funny! besides, pantalone's rich so.. it's not entirely inaccurate, hm?" sometimes he truly regretted how much of a menace he had been at 18 years old. "you fucking idiot. keep your hands off of my phone."
"not my fault it was so easy to hack into your device. besides, 25 helped me unlock it."
"what?! i did not, he's lying!" poor 25, he found himself being thrown under the bus by his younger self.
that was dottore's last straw. without hesitation, he begun to grab any objects within reach and hurled it at the younger segment. 18 immediately hides behind 25, who was unfortunately caught in the crossfire against his will. dottore lunged after 18, chasing him around the living room while shouting curses at the top of his lungs.
meanwhile, 45 remained exactly where he was, greatly entertained by the sight of dottore clashing with 18 and 25. "mhm.. what's happening?" it appears that 8 had woke up from his nap, rubbing his eyes.
a soft chuckle left his lips, he always had a soft spot for 8. "hush, don't worry about it. care for some snacks? 65 is preparing some tea and juice." 8 only nodded his head in response, resting his head against 45's chest before closing his eyes again.
.
.
.
.
"feofan, please change it back."
his cheeks had turned into a deep shade of red, staring at his husband's phone screen, clearly annoyed and embarrassed. after pantalone found out what had happened, he had immediately change dottore's contact name to 'sugar baby.'
pantalone was trying his hardest to stay composed but the situation was incredibly hilarious. he knew one of the segments had started this mess and yet, he couldn't help but tease dottore until he's flustered.
"why? i think it's perfect. maybe i'll start calling you that-"
