#rushtelford

[judgeverse]

big fan of whatever the fuck rush and telford have going on

[judgeverse]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Telford finds out the hard way you can't just pretend it's okay.

(wordcount: 4057, rating: E)

- - -

He was a stranger in his own skin for those ten seconds. It was a glitch in the system. A mistake. The thoughts ring in David’s ears, it’s fine, it wasn’t really me.

But the memories of it--

Enough of that. David’s looking up at Nick expectantly, concealing his emotions. There’s something in his eyes that betrays him, but Nick doesn’t comment. He takes a deep breath, clearing his mind, no longer drowning in his memories. He resurfaces.

“Do what you want,” says David, and takes a deep breath. “And if I don’t want it,” he says, with a faint smirk, “you’ll find out, fast.”

[judgeverse]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

You can stitch up the damage, but you can't hide it. (rating: T, wordcount: 3,331) - - - Telford runs his hand through his hair. “You’re going to wonder if you’re ever going to feel like the person you used to be again. You know, deep down, you won’t. You can’t tell how much is missing. How much of yourself is real? And one day, you’ll hear your best friend say it wasn’t you that did those things, and you’ll ask him, who the hell did?” Scott opens his mouth, then closes it. He thinks for a minute. “What did he say?” Telford smiles bitterly. “Nothing.”

[judgeverse]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Rush-bot and Telford negotiate their way through the next obstacle: intimacy. (rating: M, wordcount: 4778) - - - “Even with my limitations, that doesn’t mean we can’t work within those parameters,” notes Rush dryly. “I’ve never heard the word ‘parameters’ used during sex before, and I don’t ever want to again.” “Killjoy,” says Rush.

[judgeverse]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Fragile communication between two troubled men. (rating: T, wordcount: 1447) - - - “Forget it,” says Nick, with a well-timed eye roll. Over his life, he’s learned how to copy subtle mannerisms and use micro-expressions to his advantage. David infuriates him at times, with all his reserved stubbornness, and his inability to open up and treat his concealed emotional wounds. But he's a work in progress. They both are. David impulsively goads him again. He needs catharsis, and it's hard to come by, but the simple thought of it is valuable enough to make this risk worth it. “I don't think you have a clue what I go through. You can't relate to this shit.”