“Uh… well––” Shang’s hand comes up to rub the back of his neck. There’s a tint of heat that passes along his skin, rising over his shoulders and into his cheeks. He manages to keep his head angled just enough that he hopes Robin will think it’s just the lighting from the tent making those colours change along his face.
Shang’s family was not the most affectionate physically. His father’s form of affection was teasing remarks and a few little comments here and there. His mother was the more affectionate one. She used to comb his hair with her fingers and rub his back when he would cry. But he’d lost her so long ago that communicating with physical affection was almost a lost language at this point. Robin needed it. And to hear him speak so plainly about how much that kind of reassurance meant to him was –– hard to take.
Shang had never been poor. His family was well off, his father and grandfather had both had very substantial roles in the army their whole lives, providing for their family wasn’t even a thought.
His hand runs down the back of his neck, stopping at his shoulder as he looks across the table at the other.
“It’s… not exactly the most appropriate ––” He wasn’t even sure how to finish that sentence. His lips purse for a moment. He decides it’s better not to finish what he was about to say. Why bother making Robin feel guilty for what he needed. Certainly no one else would give that affection to him, right? And… even if they did, they weren’t the one who had just read the letter with Robin, or the one who had tried to make Robin feel more comfortable here.
Backed into a bit of a corner thanks to his guilt and bleeding heart that he often hides, Shang looks back up at Robin and gives a bit of a defeated sigh.
He shifts his weight, sliding his body to the edge of the table closest to Robin. He says nothing, he barely even looks at the other. But he extends a hand, placing it on Robin’s back and gently rubs it. Swallowing thickly, unsure if this was really helping, Shang looks at Robin from the corner of his eye.
It had not been a request of any sort, for he had not expected to gain anything from it. His words were just meant to explain himself. The General’s first response only confirmed that. No, it wasn’t appropriate in army-environments. Perhaps it also had something to do with culture --- Robin wasn’t entirely sure of that one. Robin even sensed some discomfort coming from the other male and that was alright.
“No---, no, don’t worry about it. I understand.” he responded with a shake of his head. Making someone else uncomfortable for his sake was something that wouldn’t be worth it; no matter how grand his own heartache was. Like the redhead had mentioned before, he already was an exception and he was well-aware of that position. He wasn’t trying to take advantage of it in any way and it wasn’t like he was exactly proud of such a thing --- not when it came from all the negativity that seemed to surround him ever since he set foot in the training camp.
Eyes darted to the other when he shifted closer, a bit surprised and confused about the sudden movement. His breath got caught in his throat when a large hand was placed between his shoulders, an immediate warmth radiating through the fabric onto his skin. Eyes closed as he felt the warmth spread at the gentle rubs. After a moment, he opened his eyes again with a soft, content sigh.
His head titled slightly to the side, hazel orbs slowly daring to look up at the other. It only took one smooth movement for his temple to be placed against the other’s large shoulder. His torso followed shortly after, turning a bit towards the other’s frame as arms wrapped around the General’s waist; first rather lazily, only to tighten a bit shortly after.
titsay
germansingergirl
gummygunk
dededos
theartofmadeline
jacobvanloon
blakekathryn
