Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and Locus is just. Pining from afar. When they cuddle or hold hands or kiss.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and Locus is yearning for something like that. Something where you feel safe and loved and, sure, you get into arguments, but they’re never used against you and your words don’t get manipulated to the point of not even recognizing what you actually said and what was twisted.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and Grif and Donut both notice him pining. They try to talk to him about it only for him to go beet red and silent while Grif tries not to laugh because jfc what is his life now, having to coax an ex-merc into telling him about his crushes.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and they finally finally start noticing and realize he’s never going to make a move. So they scheme.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and Tucker starts being more touchy with him: clear slow pats on the shoulder, bumping his hip lightly to move him out of the way (or just because), even doing a side hug when he’s feeling adventurous.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and Wash starts to give Locus soft smiles that he gives no one else; starts to let his hands linger on him when they spar and one of them offers the other a hand to get up; starts to have quiet conversations with him in the morning before anyone else is awake.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, and Locus is so fucking confused and anxious and doesn’t know how to process what either of them are doing because they can’t possibly be hitting on him. They can’t. That’s not how it works. He’s supposed to simply yearn from afar as they do their own thing and wait for his silly crushes to go away.
Wash and Tucker being in a romantic relationship first before Locus is included, until they’re not. Until Wash leans over to give Tucker a kiss goodnight and then turns around to give Locus his own, a soft one on the cheek. And Locus just stares at Wash, lips parted and eyes wide. After long seconds pass with no one moving or speaking, Tucker walks closer to the two of them, cups Locus’ cheek with a hand, and gives him another firmer kiss on the lips. Nobody mentions the tears in Locus’ eyes.
Wash and Tucker and Locus being in a romantic relationship. All three of them, no ifs, ands, or buts. It’s not perfect, not when they’re all stubborn, two of them are protective to a fault, and there’s enough trauma between them to make sure a whole mental health team has jobs for years, if they ever went to get professional help. But that’s okay because they have trust and care and respect. They (usually) have communication. They have days and months and years of soft touches, quiet conversations, time spent with the idiots they call friends and family. And that’s enough.
