[The blush spreads down the back of Koby’s neck, but -- he can't make the bruises on Tim's neck go away. He can't heal what's been irrevocably broken in this place.
So he crosses the room, tea in hand, settling on the edge of Tim's bed.] Yes, I like him a lot. And he likes me, I think? I think. I mean, he cares, I know that. He promised to keep me safe, no matter what, so.
[Koby makes a face at the term, because -- well, it's accurate, but it sounds very impersonal.]
I mean -- technically? You could call it that? It's -- more than that, though. Some of it's the way things were in the village and some of it is what he's been teaching me here, and it's all sort of become this...
[Have a waved hand, half-fond, half-helpless.] I don't know how to describe it, I guess. I care about him, a lot. [A beat, then, repeated, softer:] A lot.
[ Impersonal, sure. But leaves room for Koby to fill in the blanks. ]
That's sweet. Good.
[ If it were anyone else, of course, he'd have a thousand follow up questions about Quentin and polyamory and everyone's feelings about it all, but he's learned enough about these sailors not to. They behave as if it's casual, but feel deeply regardless. Sometimes Tim even admires it. ]
He's only thirty...something... [Late thirties. Koby doesn't actually know. Still, it's pushing twenty years. Wait til he tells Tim about his biggest crush at home, on Luffy's grandfather.] Anyway, he doesn't act old.
He's annoying, though, sometimes. [Taking his tea back and sitting next to Tim on the bed.] He drives me crazy, same as Quentin. Maybe that's my type?
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Come on. Tell me something good that isn't "are you okay, you should lay down, tell me everything you remember for the fifteenth time."
[ Take my mind off the feeling of the next breath being my last. ]
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So he crosses the room, tea in hand, settling on the edge of Tim's bed.] Yes, I like him a lot. And he likes me, I think? I think. I mean, he cares, I know that. He promised to keep me safe, no matter what, so.
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Are you two...?
[ Trailing off, with his eyebrows raised. You know what he's asking, Koby. ]
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Are we what? You'll have to be more specific.
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You know what I mean. Hooking up.
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I mean -- technically? You could call it that? It's -- more than that, though. Some of it's the way things were in the village and some of it is what he's been teaching me here, and it's all sort of become this...
[Have a waved hand, half-fond, half-helpless.] I don't know how to describe it, I guess. I care about him, a lot. [A beat, then, repeated, softer:] A lot.
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That's sweet. Good.
[ If it were anyone else, of course, he'd have a thousand follow up questions about Quentin and polyamory and everyone's feelings about it all, but he's learned enough about these sailors not to. They behave as if it's casual, but feel deeply regardless. Sometimes Tim even admires it. ]
You're into older men.
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But...you're not wrong. I guess I feel...safer? Protected. Less like the floor's gonna drop out from under me.
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[ Conspiratorial, rather than judgmental. Hawk has a decade on him, which Koby's well aware of, so he knows. He gets it. ]
Safety and experience. I like that too.
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He's annoying, though, sometimes. [Taking his tea back and sitting next to Tim on the bed.] He drives me crazy, same as Quentin. Maybe that's my type?
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[ He shrugs. ]
I think having strong feelings makes them more infuriating. I don't know how they do it.
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[So is Shanks's??? Koby, please.]
I think it's strong feelings, plus height, plus infuriating smiles. That's my working theory, at least.
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Speaking of height. Do you know Harry?
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I'm not sure. Should I? Do you?
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[ A little grin. Almost enough to make him forget about everything else for a moment. ]
I do.