there was comfort to be felt in mundanity, particularly when such moments almost felt rare in comparison to the actual occurrences that would dominate much of rover’s life. a warm meal after a day of work—or a life threatening and extremely compromising mission—was likely one of his favorite parts, even more so when shared with his assigned mentor. calcharo was likely his uncle’s most trusted man, or was certainly amongst them given his experience, loyalty and the praise many of the organization would remark—though mostly behind his back. the man was quiet, one would judge even taciturn, organized to a fault. intimidating would perhaps be another way to describe him, as his imposing stature and quiet demeanor could certainly cause an impression. but not to rover. oh, not to say he was not admired by calcharo the very moment they were introduced and acquainted, but rover was not one to frighten easily—and in the beginning, he even felt some sympathy for having calcharo take the position of his, well, babysitter, no need to sugarcoat there.
and yet, despite his antics, which were not only a few, calcharo hardly seemed to mind—no, that wasn’t accurate. but he did hold his own far better than he would have given him credit for at first, certain that he would be the first to make an extensive report to the boss as proof of how his carefree behavior was unfitting to be part of the organization as a whole, let alone to one day lead it. he couldn’t have been more wrong. and not only about his assumptions, but of how much calcharo would come to grow on him beyond what would be wise or recommended.
rover doesn’t even know how it began, if he had to stop to ponder over it. it has been a couple of months since they have been working together, some jobs having more chaotic results than others—thanks to himself, of course, and no one else. and yet, he cannot recall what was the turning point, the moment where his respect for this stoic man turned into something far more humbling, tender and fiery. but he does know that ever since, whatever was that enveloping and warm feeling that swirled in his chest every time he and calcharo were together, was growing stronger, wider and bolder, sometimes being even difficult to keep it at bay, to keep it contained. but the field was hardly the best place to profess his overwhelming affections to someone who probably saw him as nothing but an overly confident brat that would inevitably become his boss one day.
more often than not, though, he managed to keep his mind off his complicated feelings, at least amidst work he did. but they were prickly and enjoyed resurfacing in quieter occasions, such as amidst a shared dinner in some tiny noodle bar, or like this, as they walked side by side in the veil of a rather cold evening towards the hotel they were staying for the night. it had snowed considerably while they ate their rather deserved meal, which despite being on the cheap side, was still tasty enough to make it worth the price. it was also rover’s treat, his subtle way of paying for a debt nobody asked him to, as sure as hell nobody had asked calcharo to take the blame and punishment for an assignment that ended in failure because of him. but what was done was done, and rover cannot say the action did not move him—it did, and upset him in equal measure.
the snow was reaching the middle of his calf as they marched through it, the breeze making the frigid air even more disagreeable. “this is so fucking annoying,” he groans with a pained sigh that follows, stomping his way through the white sidewalk as he feels the ice seeping in the fabric of his tailored black slacks. glancing up at calcharo who’s a tad further ahead, he tries to catch up with him by walking faster, forgetting to consider that there the asphalt below the path of snow could be both frozen and slippery. and it’s mid-sentence as he calls for him that the sole of his sleek black leather shoes glide on the ice, making him lose his balance and fall with his behind flat on the ground. it happens so awfully fast that rover’s mind only registers when he’s already seated on the floor, with the soreness being felt almost immediately after, along with the moistness from the ice beneath. and when it finally clicks, the laugh that leaves his lips is instantaneous as it is genuine, with both hands shoved in the snow by the side of his leg as his head slightly tilts up to glance at calcharo who walked back in his direction.
“fuck, this was ridiculous,” with flushed cheeks because of the biting chill in the air, golden irises look through dark lashes at the other, almost abashed in the way the smile which accompanied his amusement from before curves softly on his lips. “no telling my uncle about this, okay? this won’t go on the report,” in the past, maybe he would have been genuinely embarrassed by such a clumsiness, especially in front of calcharo of all people. but the other had seen him in far more unflattering situations amidst missions that hadn’t gone as planned, so this would hardly be a turning point in any unfavorable opinions calcharo could have about him. “a hand?” he asks with a slight movement of his head to the side, stretching his arm out after shaking off some of the snow that clung to his hand. “it wouldn’t be nice if i got up by myself and fell on my ass again. It would be funny, though, can’t deny that.” a quiet chuckle follows at the brief mental image of the pathetic scenario, with a little sigh coming right after it as he meets calcharo’s gaze and briefly waves his arm up and down to reinforce his request. “please, calcharo?”
@1fff000/ hewwo zewo pewo
at first, calcharo had been caught off guard when he was assigned to watch over rover. plenty of others at his rank had volunteered. eager, unsubtle, and without hesitation. yet the boss himself had chosen calcharo for the task. to him, it felt like a waste of time, at least that’s what he assumed when he knew nothing of rover beyond reputation. his assumptions, however, did him no favors. spoiled, rich, stubborn to the point of insufferable — that was the picture calcharo painted in his head. and he never bothered hiding his distaste for those pulling the strings, even if loyalty to the job kept him steady. his gripes with the families ran deep, and this assignment was no exception. still, he’d never let that interfere with doing his work well.
to his surprise, rover turned out nothing like he’d imagined. yes, there was stubbornness, that much had been easy to predict. but alongside it came something unexpected. a playfulness, a skill far beyond what calcharo would have wagered on. altogether, the boy was a pleasant surprise, though calcharo would most certainly rather die than ever admit it aloud.
after the first few weeks with rover, days stitched together by tasks, missions, and the kind of constant presence that left no space for distance— it had become second nature for calcharo to rely on him. that in itself was unusual. calcharo was not someone known for trust, let alone for opening up to people he barely knew, yet somehow rover had managed to carve out a place within that guarded wall. often in ways so effortless, so unbearably smooth, that it drove calcharo to the brink of frustration simply because he couldn’t quite figure out how the younger man managed it.
rover seemed built of contradictions. one moment, every move appeared meticulously calculated, as if each step had been plotted long before it was ever taken, only for him to later confess it had all been improvisation. and then, when he flitted about in a carefree display of spontaneity, calcharo would discover that every flourish had been a thread in some larger, unseen design. he was charming, but never so much that it became cloying. he was loud enough to be heard, to fill a space with his presence, but never in a way that brought unwanted eyes. he was careful when it mattered, yet carried just enough bluntness to shut down argument before it could begin.
and through it all, he was happy — or at least, he appeared to be. there was something about him, a spark, an energy that seemed to radiate from the way he moved. his steps were at once determined and impossibly light, like he was both grounded and floating at the same time. unpredictable to the point of exasperation, yet always falling into a rhythm that calcharo found himself oddly attuned to. a tune he had come to enjoy, to cherish even. or perhaps, though he hated to entertain the thought, it wasn’t the rhythm at all that pulled him in. perhaps it was rover himself that calcharo enjoyed.
then it happens almost too quickly, the slip of rover’s leather shoes on the ice hidden beneath a thick coat of dusty snow, the way he was mid-complaint one moment and sprawled ungracefully on the ground the next. and yet, just as swiftly, he continues his griping, only this time between bursts of laughter, bright and unrestrained, the sound ringing sharp in calcharo’s ears as he slows to a halt. calcharo stands there with his hands buried deep in the pockets of his coat, a dark purple scarf draped loosely once around his neck. strands of white hair fall freely down his back, a few framing his face, shifting gently with the winter air. that face, so rarely moved by anything, betrays the smallest flicker of surprise. nothing dramatic, of course, calcharo has never been one for overt displays, but even the faintest crack in his usual indifference is enough to mark the moment.
❝ mhm, i don’t know... ❞ it would almost be pitiful to look down at rover where he sits, if not for the lighthearted way he carries himself through most things. he seems immune to embarrassment, as though every stumble he makes is another deliberately staged stunt, meant to charm rather than shame. even now, his fall looks less like an accident and more like something endearingly amusing, the kind of mishap that invites people to laugh with him, never at him. ❝ keeping this out of the report would be negligent of me. ❞
yet, calcharo leans forward, still looming over rover as he sits in the snow with one hand outstretched, waving insistently in a silent demand for help. at length, calcharo obliges, his own hand closing around rover’s to pull him up. it doesn’t take much to realize just how unsteady rover really is, the younger man nearly topples into his chest from a tug that wasn’t firm to begin with. calcharo’s gaze trails downward as he shifts back, eyes catching on rover’s ankle, the one that barely bears his weight, the one that must have slipped.
❝ did you hurt your ankle ? ❞ when he straightens, they’re suddenly standing closer than ever before, practically chest to chest. the gold in rover’s eyes catches his attention despite himself, and the faint brush of breath against his skin feels like too much to ignore. calcharo holds still, breath caught in his throat as his gaze flickers down for just a second too long, towards rover's lips, only a fleeting glance, one he forces himself to dismiss as meaningless. it can't mean anything. it has to mean nothing.
❝ uh, wait. ❞ to distract himself, he shifts again, allowing rover to brace against his arm if needed. with his free hand, he brushes the snow from the back of rover’s coat, careful not to miss a single spot, fingertips continuing their careful path down the back of his legs and thighs until the last of the dusted snow is gone. only then does he circle back in front of him.
❝ allow me, the hotel is not too far away. ❞ this time, calcharo doesn’t hesitate. he leans down and lifts rover sideways into his arms, sparing the injured ankle any further strain. ❝ if i bring you back all dented i might lose my deposit. ❞ the tone of his voice is light, somewhat playful, but once again his gaze betrays him, catching on rover’s flushed cheeks, red with cold yet somehow too warm to ignore. clearing his throat, calcharo adjusts his hold and nods toward the hotel ahead, forcing his attention to zone in elsewhere, even as the weight in his arms feels far heavier and closer than intended. ❝ hold on tight now. ❞
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