CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE 8: WHAT IF
What-If Scenario #2: What if Robin and Ian smooched. actually don’t perceive this one
March 1, 2023, Nighttime KBW
It had been a long day. Three new recruits in a single day, one of them his ex-boyfriend. Landing on the brand-new-to-him station. The imminent gala, that he still hadn’t locked down his outfit for. He just knew that it needed to be something good. By the time the evening rolled around, he’d set on ducking into his hotel room and sleeping for a solid twelve--no, thirteen hours.
He crossed the fancy lobby, the click of his shoes reverberating off the tiles of the floor as he headed towards the elevators. When the doors slid open, Robin relaxed his shoulders and laid his head against the wall. Being the only one in the elevator, he had no one to act like the second-in-command of a reputable ship around, and he could just be…himself. For the first time all day.
That was short-lived, though, as when the doors began to slide shut, he heard a “Wait!” and the sound of sneakers running in his direction. Robin could be an asshole, he could press that button, right there, that slid the doors close. The guy would live, and Robin would get his precious elevator to himself. But instead he made himself straighten up and quickly darted his hand to keep the metal doors from closing. He’d effectively sandwiched his hand before they jumped apart, revealing Ian Solko, new entertainment recruit. His light brown hair looked windblown from sprinting, and his breath quickly heaved in and out. Ian’s large eyes met Robin’s, and he could have sworn he saw the man swallow before he moved into the elevator and clicked the button to his floor.
“Robin the first mate, right?” Ian asked shakily, in between breaths. They’d formally met earlier that day, but Robin understood. There were quite a few names to remember.
“Just Robin,” he replied. “Have you been settling into the ship okay?”
“Oh, yeah!” Ian brightened. “It’s been a whirlwind of a day. But everyone’s been so sweet to me so far! I’ve talked to so many people. And they’re all okay with me bringing a grumpy cat aboard, not the grumpy cat from the memes, but a grumpy cat. Beverly is her name, apologies in advance if she doesn’t like you, she’s kind of just like that--” The entertainer wildly gestured with his arms as he rambled on about his cat. Robin would like to say that he picked up on every single thing he said, but his brain was tired. Ian officially told him too many things. His mind went to his appearance instead: his oversized t-shirt and cargo pants and scuffed sneakers, his dyed brown hair framing a rounded face with big cheeks that stretched when he gave a wide smile.
“You have great skin,” Robin commented. He hoped he hadn’t interrupted something important. Ian seemed surprised at the sudden shift in topic, but he seemed to take it in stride.
“Thanks, Just Robin! It’s kind of a species trait. I was a vanneer a couple weeks ago, so my skin hasn’t been able to get exposed to the elements quite yet. But if I’m a human for a long time, I do get acne and all that…” Right, Robin had been briefed on Ian’s species. Same as Stella’s. He wondered how that was going to play out on the ship.
“--But your skin is great, too! You must work really hard to keep it so glassy,” Ian went on, a bit mystified.
Robin did smile at that, a quick, tired one upturning his lips. “I do work hard on it, thank you.”
“Is it--would it be weird if I touched it?”
“‘It?’”
“Your cheek?”
Oh. “Yes, it would,” Robin confirmed. Ian sagged and laughed hesitantly. Uncomfortably.
“Sorr--”
“You can, though. If you want to,” Robin continued, cutting them off. Sure, why not? He wasn’t hurting anything.
“O-oh. Okay!” The doors to Robin’s floor dinged open and they stepped out into the hallway. Robin ducked around a corner, effectively keeping elevator traffic from interrupting them. He leaned his face down so Ian could feel his cheek. And yes, this was weird. Why was he letting Ian do this? And worse, why was Ian tracing his finger along his cheek very slowly and softly?
“Very nice,” Ian whispered. Robin caught his eyes flickering briefly towards his lips, then back to his eyes again.
Well. Entertainers were not off-limits, Robin had already made sure of that. For no reason, of course. Why would he have a reason? Ahem. But Ali was their boss now, not him.
“I don’t know how I didn’t realize your eyes are two different colors,” Ian breathed, continuing to stare at them. “I’m a big fan of the color purple, though I think yellow is my favorite--” Robin interrupted the entertainer by capturing his lips in a kiss and pressing him against the wall.
He heard Ian squeak with surprise under him, his large eyes wide as saucers, but he very quickly got over his shock and leaned into Robin’s lips, meeting him with an intensity he hadn’t expected. His hands reached up to Robin’s chest, thumbs tracing over his suit jacket and brushing along the fabric over his collarbones. Robin’s arms braced on either side of Ian’s small frame, effectively surrounding the entertainer. He hoped Ian didn’t feel trapped, but by the way they were slotting their lips forcefully against his, their tongue tracing his bottom lip, Robin felt certain that Ian enjoyed every moment of this.
Their kisses grew slow and languid, the exhaustion settling into the first mate. When they finally parted, Robin brought his hand to Ian’s chin, cupping his kiss-swollen face in his hand. “You’re very pretty, and this was fun, but…”
“No, yeah--” Ian nodded into his palm. “I mean, fuck. You’re gorgeous. But we don’t need to take this further tonight. If you wanted to kiss some more, though, maybe? Sometime? I wouldn’t be opposed.”
“Get some sleep, Ian,” Robin told them gently, sleepily, leaning down to softly press his lips against their forehead. He didn’t miss the new entertainer’s blush on their cheeks as he turned to head to his room.
