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The past few weeks had been one of the most hectic weeks in Hal's life, and that was saying something. Between getting cornered by those mercenaries to being rescued by his stalker and staying at said stalker's apartment- it felt like he was finally given a chance to breathe. Even as the dust settled and it seemed like no one would be coming for his neck, Foxdie frequently occupied his mind, an amalgamous, abstract thing that he still couldn't wrap his head around. A bioweapon developed by Armtech right under his nose? For how long? What were they planning on using it for?
How many people were going to die?
A strange sense of responsibility had taken root in his bones, spurring him to long hours riffling through Armstech files and covering his tracks. It was likely the same feeling that got him wrapped up into this mess and seeking refuge in the home of a man who had been watching him for god knows how long. Hal's fingers stilled on the keyboard.
"I was... looking out for you. To keep you safe."
Somehow, that fact didn't bother him as much as it should have.
He shook his head and returned his attention to the lines of text before him. Snake was a strange man. A very strange man, he amended, thinking back to their first interactions. It was obvious he rarely spoke to other people, if at all, from the hoarseness of his voice and his frankly lackluster conversational skills. Hal was fairly certain that an empty house for sale would be more decorated than his apartment, with only a cache of firearms and weapon on display. The only thing Hal learned so far about him was his codename, and that he was some sort of government agent. The image of Snake's wry grin as he said those words flickered briefly in his mind.
Even stranger was how Snake knew exactly what time he'd stumble out of bed in the early noon, a fresh, hot cup of coffee brewed just the way he liked it waiting on the countertop. He would have a painkiller ready for him before Hal could even process the beginnings of a migraine. He'd come home (when did he start calling it that?) from whatever the hell he got up to during the day and restock the fridge full of Hal's favorites. Hal had only known this man for a few weeks and it was like he knew him from the inside out.
It wasn't fair. He wanted to crack Snake open and peer into the lines of code hidden inside his soul too.
A notification warning him of his laptop's low charge shook Hal out of his thoughts. He scanned his surroundings for the charger, letting out an annoyed huff when it was nowhere to be seen. Snake was sitting on the ground not too far from him at the coffee table, methodically cleaning his gear. It was rare that he wouldn't be in the same room as Hal when they were both home, as if unwilling to let him leave his sight. A soldier's instincts, Hal figured. His movements alerted him and suddenly that piercing gaze of his was pinned on him. For as unarticulated Snake presented himself as, there always was a fierce intelligence in his eyes- from the way he could scan a room and know immediately where everything was and will be, to the way he could find someone's weak points just by looking at them. How he incapacitated those mercenaries in seconds was proof enough.
At Snake's questioning tilt of his head, Hal cleared his throat. "Laptop's about to die, have you seen the charger?"
He jerked his head in the direction of the bedroom. "Put it in the bottom drawer."
Hal set the laptop to the side, which needed some time to cool off anyway. As he got up from the couch to find the charger, he muttered to himself, "Why is it there..?"
Snake responded without looking up. "Tripping hazard. Bad escape route."
The charger was in the bottom drawer of the nightstand, just as Snake said. Hal retrieved the neatly coiled thing, feeling a small wave of accomplishment. He got back to his feet and took a look around.The bedroom, like the rest of the apartment, was spartan. Not a single personal touch to be seen, and everything was tucked away in a predictably militaristic fashion. The absence of anything notable only made Hal want to poke around more.
There wasn't much in the drawer Hal found the cords in, just some extra cables and empty notebooks. After some thinking, he decided to check out the closet, though he hoped that he wouldn't find any actual skeletons hiding there. Taking a deep breath, he swung the closet door open in a grand sweep to reveal... a set of clothes hung on some coat hangers. Hal blinked, feeling vaguely disappointed. Most of them were black turtlenecks, or other pieces of clothing in similar drab colors. There was a fur-lined coat that had an emblem that read 'Iditarod'. Huh, Hal thought to himself. Interesting.
He crouched low to the ground, hoping to spot something exciting hiding in the dark corners. The only other thing in the closet besides the clothes was an inconspicuous plastic bin with some more clothes inside. Just as he was about to leave it be, a flash of color illuminated in the sliver of light caught his eye. He inched the box out of the shadows and noticed that it was bright, nothing gaudish but still not something he could picture the standoffish soldier wearing. Cracking off the lid, Hal realized with a start that this shirt was familiar. Very familiar. He reached into the bin and pulled out a faded red Gundam shirt. His shirt.
"What..?" He murmured to himself, baffled. He fanned out the carefully folded fabric, lifting it to the light. It was definitely his shirt. When it went missing, he assumed it had been mysteriously whisked away like one of his many socks he lost during laundry runs. Clearly this wasn't the case.
Before he could question the presence of his shirt any further, footsteps sounded behind him. He whirled around, clutching the fabric to his chest, to see Snake wandering into the room as if looking for him. He must've been taking too long in the bedroom and the man was coming to investigate why. Snake locked eyes with him, then the shirt, and froze like a deer in headlights- eyes wide in the shadow of his bandana.
Silence stretched between them. It was obvious that Snake wasn't going to make the first move. He lifted the shirt up, feeling a little bad when Snake seemed to curl inwards a bit more in shame.
"Why do you have this?"
There was a long pause before he spoke. "DNA evidence." He said finally, sounding not very convinced himself.
"You're not a very good liar."
Snake stiffened even more, rubbing his hand over his wrist. The gap between his next reply was even longer, and when he spoke, it felt like each syllable was pulling teeth from his mouth. "Wanted. Wanted to feel close."
Hal allowed those words to process in his head. The gears slowly churned. "To me?"
A jerky nod. Snake was backlit by light streaming through the open door, but even in the shadows, Hal could see a furious flush spread over his cheeks. At the same time, a rush of heat filled his chest and roared in his ears. He always understood that Snake's monitoring was strictly professional, something to ensure the completion of his mission. Any reason otherwise was just unthinkable, especially for someone like Hal.
Snake was still rubbing at his wrist. His thumb ran across the skin in sweeping motions over and over again. The last time Hal saw him do that was the very first time they had met, when he had snatched that same wrist in an attempt to get some answers. A pale, sweaty complexion blooming to a deep red, a hand rubbing at his wrist, and a very apparent hard on.
This new perspective on Snake's behavior was undeniable. Strange. It was all so strange- this soldier who had been watching his every move for months, who evidently had stolen his clothes, who saved his life- wanted him?
Even stranger was- "Do you want to be?"
Snake flinched, eyes flitting to him like a gunshot in the dark. "What?"
"Close. To me."
He could hear Snake's breathing grow louder. Another stiff nod, then absolutely nothing. Hal sighed inwardly, already tracking a pattern present in the man. He knew soldiers were supposed to be good at following orders, but Snake seemed to be taking it to another level.
Hal set the shirt to the side and patted the space before him. "Come here."
Snake made his way across the bedroom and knelt with a mechanic rigidity that was far from the elegance Hal had seen him move when he took out the mercenaries. He stared unmovingly at Hal's form as if seeing it for the first time. Hal took the opportunity to take in his appearance as well. He was gorgeous, something Hal's lizard brain registered even as he was getting jumped in that alleyway. His unruly hair was kept at bay by that bandana he never seemed to take off, long eyelashes fanning from his crystal blue eyes, and a beauty in that rugged face Hal had only seen in worn machines.
Hal watched Snake scan his entire body from head to toe, taking in every little detail that Hal probably wouldn't even know himself. It made him want to squirm in place and he couldn't help but swallow thickly. Once again, it was clear Snake wasn't going to be doing anything else, so it was up to Hal to push him along.
"You... You can touch. If you want."
Snake's gaze snapped to his, disbelief and shock coloring his expression like he didn't even consider it an option. His breathing quickened and after a minute, he lifted his hands slowly towards Hal.
His palms pressed flat against his shoulders. They moved in unison down to his biceps, movements stiff like a doctor at a consultation. Despite how clearly it seemed he was holding back, Snake's eyes were wide and focused on his every move- committing the warmth of Hal's skin through his clothes to memory. Without thinking, Hal raised his hand to cup his cheek. His skin was flushed, and the stubble scratched softly against the pad of his thumb.
All of a sudden, Snake stilled, those faded blue eyes darting to his- even wider than before. Hal felt the tremors beneath his fingers before he processed that the other man was shaking. He quickly drew them back as if burnt, guilt tugging sharply at his throat.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I-"
Before Hal could finish his sentence, all the air was swiftly knocked from his lungs as his back hit the wooden floor, a sudden weight pressing firmly against his chest. Blinking through the dizziness, Hal realized one of Snake's arms had wrapped itself across his back, clutching at his shoulder, and the other was fiercely cradling his nape. He was pinned to the ground by the man's sheer breadth and weight, unable to do much other than to grasp at Snake's shirt.
Snake's face was buried in the crook of neck, his hand angling his head to allow for better access. After a beat, he realized that he was huffing his neck, desperately taking deep breaths at the skin there like he was gasping for air.
Oh, fuck, Hal thought deliriously to himself. That's really hot.
Snake hadn't meant to jump onto Hal like that. Mid-motion, he had enough lucidity to break his fall by curling his arm around his skull, the instinct to protect his mark always present no matter how out of it he was. But then, with gravity pressing their bodies together, and the luxurious feeling of Hal's warmth flushed against his skin, all logical thinking quickly flew out of his brain. That protective nature won out to greed and all he could think about was how good Hal's shirt smelled, and how much better Hal himself would smell.
Salt. Musk. A faint sweetness, soap? Snake realized a part of that scent was from the shampoo they both now shared and his head spun and spun and spun at that thought- a piece of him now entangled in Hal. He was right, this was far better, especially with the never-ending heat rolling off Hal's body and melting into his bones, and the way Hal squirmed beneath him. Snake was trained to subdue and it was so very easy to press Hal to the ground, all delicate skin and bones, and keep him there- safe. Snake could feel his hands clinging onto the fabric of his shirt. God, he wanted more, but that would mean moving away from his neck and Snake needed to take in as much of that scent as he could while he still had the chance. He felt his eyes roll to the back of his head. It was intoxicating.
Heat quickly filled his belly, licking at his insides in a maddening way. He couldn't help but start rocking into Hal's leg to relieve that pressure. Pleasure rocketed up his spine and he kept chasing that high, head swimming from his scent and the delicious heat of his groin. The sensation of Hal all around him was better than any fantasy his brain conjured up. So good. Hal felt so good.
A breathless moan tumbled from Hal's lips. Snake was practically panting into his neck, breaths hot and heavy against his chest. His hand was still wrapped around his nape, but the other had begun fervently exploring his body- groping and pressing every inch it could find. Sparks flew in the wake of his touch and Hal couldn't stop the gasp when Snake squeezed his chest. It was like all the energy that was trapped beneath his skin from earlier suddenly exploded and now his body was frantic and shaking with need.
An unmistakable movement at his leg drew his attention. Snake's panting grew louder with each thrust and a wave of arousal flooded his stomach as Hal belatedly realized he was humping his leg like a dog in heat. Fuck, Hal thought again. Fuck, fuck, fuck, that's so hot.
Overwhelmed by all the stimulation and an urgent need to do something, Hal snaked his arm across Snake's back, curling his fingers in his tangled hair. Snake emerged from his neck in surprise, but before he could do anything, Hal smashed their lips together. A muffled groan spilled through from how good it felt, in spite of their clicking teeth. Snake's lips were chapped and slick. They parted in shock, allowing Hal's tongue to slip through and press against his. Through the sliver of his eyes, Hal could see Snake's eyes widen, then squeeze shut.
Before he could question why, Snake's body went rigid. His strangled moan was swallowed up by Hal's mouth as he ground hard against his leg, hips stuttering. Something hot and wet grew on his pants leg. He was still shaking and panting into his mouth, a flushed and fucked-out expression on his face.
Oh, Hal realized as his stomach dropped with arousal. He came from kissing me.
"Jesus Christ, Snake..." Hal murmured hoarsely, suddenly feeling as if he had run a mile. At the sound of his name, Snake jolted back to reality and panic entered his expression.
He clambered off Hal's body, trembling limbs landing behind him. "N-no, I didn't mean- I-I'm sorry-"
Hal was quick to follow him. He raised his hands in a way that was hopefully disarming. "Hey! Hey, hey- It's- it's okay."
Snake fervently shook his head. "Only allowed to touch. Not allowed to-" He cut himself off, hips twitching to the air.
Hal placed his hand on his ankle, praying that it wouldn't set him off. To his relief, Snake stilled at the touch and affixed his gaze on his hand instead. "It's okay. I- You're allowed to." He cringed inwardly to himself, the words too much of a directive for his tastes. "If you liked it, then I liked it." He amended.
Snake stared at him disbelievingly, eyes wide like saucers. His breathing slowly returned to an even pace and it seemed like he was back to normal. Then, his gaze dipped down to the tent in Hal's pants and Hal followed his stare with a swallow. He spread his legs apart, hand fanning down his thigh.
"Do you want to touch?"
A sharp intake of breath. A tongue running over shining lips. Then,
"Please."
Without further instructing, Snake crawled back towards him, albeit a few inches from his space. The corner of Hal's mouth quirked up into a smile. A quick learner. Hoping to spur him into action again, Hal spread his legs even further and leaned back, running his hand up his stomach. Snake watched with an absolutely hungry and raptured expression.
"Go on," Hal whispered. He wanted to see what Snake would do, left to his own devices.
With deft fingers, the soldier undid his fly, pulling his pants off with Hal's assistance. Left in his boxers, a wave of vulnerability struck Hal and he instinctively closed his legs, only for them to be parted by Snake's hands. Breath caught in his throat, he tried to move them. They didn't budge.
Snake's attention was fully focused on the bulge straining in his boxers, already damp from precum. He laid on his stomach until he was face to face with his erection. Not at all to Hal's surprise, Snake pressed his nose against his boxers and began sniffing earnestly. Hal's cheeks flooded with embarrassment. His neck was one thing, but this...? But trying to push Snake's head away was no use. If anything, it made him press his face even harder.
Hal smelled good. This was nothing new, Snake already knew this from the first time he'd taken his clothes. But this wasn't anything he'd ever experienced, nosing into Hal's boxers. The scent of sweat and musk was even stronger now, with the saltiness of his arousal. The knowledge that it was his cock underneath the fabric made his head spin so hard it had him drooling. Snake pressed his tongue flat against the heat of his erection, tasting cotton and salt.
He closed his mouth around the curve with a hum, memorizing Hal's muffled gasp. That's no good. Without moving away, he snatched both of his hands and pinned them to the ground. The next moan that came out of Hal's mouth was so clear and beautiful. After a few moments of running his tongue over the damp cloth, Snake moved a hand to free Hal's cock from its confines before interlocking his fingers around his wrists once again.
Hal dick sprung out, full mast, smacking him lightly on the cheek. For a moment, all Snake could do was stare with a watering mouth. The rosy head was leaking fat drops of precum, twitching in the air. He mapped out the veins of the length with his eyes, anticipating the shape of them underneath his tongue- the curve of his sac and the happy trail that led to the bush of hair at the base. 'Beautiful' wasn't enough to describe Hal, he was saintly. Snake wanted to worship at his feet and choke on his cock.
A soft whine drew him out of his thoughts and he momentarily locked eyes with Hal, a pretty, desperate expression on his flushed face. Wanting to make good on this opportunity he'd been given, Snake dipped down to take the length in his mouth. It was difficult, without any hands to guide him, but he managed to work down half of his cock in one swift motion. Hal twitched in his mouth and he gave a muffled groan at the warmth and weight of him on his tongue. He pushed further, burying his nose into the wiry hair there, and was rewarded with the overwhelming scent of Hal's musky sweat and the salty taste in his mouth.
Hal cried above him, such a sweet sound. Snake pulled back and rammed his head back in, wanting to hear that sound again, wanting Hal to just give in and fuck his throat like he fantasized so many times about. Of course, with his hands pinned, Hal couldn't pull his hair like he imagined, but the bucking of his hips was enough to fulfill that sensation as his cock breached his throat again and again. Vaguely, Snake was aware of the drool dribbling down his chin and the wet choking sounds of his throat being fucked echoing in the room. But all he could focus on was Hal's ragged breathing, his cute moans, the twitching of his desperate body- something he could only imagine from far away.
"Oh, fuck," He croaked as his rutting increased in speed. Snake stole a glance up, nearly cumming again on the spot at how beautifully ruined Hal looked, hair mussed up and glasses smudged and crooked. "Sn- ah- Snake, I'm gonna-"
That was the only warning he got before a flood of warmth and salt filled his mouth. Snake's eyes fluttered shut, eyes rolling to the back of his skull as he burned the sensation to memory. He swallowed it all, even when he was on the verge of gagging, pulled off Hal's cock, and licked up all the remnants dripping out. He tasted so good. Finally, he released Hal's hands, red imprinted around his wrists. To his surprise, Hal immediately moved to pump his cock, spurting more lines of cum over Snake's face. It was warm against his skin and Snake shuddered with another wave of arousal. What an honor, he thought to himself. He had no idea whether he could lick it up or not. He didn't know which he preferred.
Catching his breath, Hal peered at Snake through his eyelashes and crooked glasses. Snake had the overwhelming urge to fix them, but remained in place. Hal tilted his head the same way he always did when trying to debug a program, then leaned in to press a kiss against Snake's lips. Another surprise. Snake pushed into the touch, trying to learn by heart the feeling of his eyelashes fluttering against his skin, his warm tongue swiping against lower lip, and the soft clink of their teeth.
When he pulled away, he was beautiful- so beautiful. He always was, even from far away and now up close where Snake was allowed to see every little detail. Though, he wasn't sure if he was allowed to fall in love with them.
"Oh, Snake," Hal murmured, blinking him out of his thoughts. "What am I going to do with you?"