[Eren allows Finnick to lead him to the bed. He sits on the edge, idly toying with the device on his wrist. He's not accustomed to taking it off, but the cold weather has made it irritating against his skin. He removes it without quite thinking, setting it on the nightstand nearby.
[Finnick asks something...
[Eren turns to him, brow furrowed in genuine confusion.]
[Eren's expression softens into something between understanding and...vague amusement, even? It's still a subtle shift, but somewhat less so than normal. He figures Finnick is just showing off a new trick.]
[Finnick's expression turns from one of expectant interest to confusion with a slight fall of his smile. Wait, hold on, what did he say? He laughs a little and shakes his head quickly with a blink.]
My... My brain just completely stopped working, say again?
[Finnick realizes that he hasn't misheard; Eren is just speaking complete gibberish. The sounds coming out of him are more guttural and harsh than usual. Is he okay?
He's smiling a little, too, which should make Finnick happy, but instead increases the strangeness of the situation and makes his heartrate pick up just a little with momentary panic. His brow furrows in concern.
Is Eren having a fucking stroke? Is Finnick?]
Are you okay? Why are you talking like that? Are you fucking with me?
[Eren's expression fades very quickly into a frown. Finnick is panicking; it makes Eren nervous too, where he'd felt lighthearted a moment ago. He flexes his hand as he's wont to do, feeling that annoying itch on his wrist again.
[He glances at the device on the night stand and holds up a finger for Finnick to wait, calm. He doesn't want to talk again if it's going to disturb Finnick more.
[Eren slips the device onto his wrist...Has he ever taken it off in front of Finnick before?
[As soon as Finnick speaks again and Eren realizes he can understand, he'll raise his eyebrows and hold out his wrist, tapping the device, then pointing to Finnick.]
[As Eren puts his device back on and taps it, Finnick looks around, forgetting where his is for a moment. Oh, right, in his pocket. He gets up and digs it out, holding it in his hand and looking at Eren again.]
[He relaxes with relief when he can understand Eren again.]
Different languages?
[Panem only has one language. Theoretically, others once existed, but it's never been a day-to-day reality for him in his life, to encounter others who speak so differently. It perturbs him a bit, that he and Eren had such a stark difference between them without even knowing it. More disturbing is that the device changes his perception of even the way Eren's mouth moves and the sounds it makes. He wants to know Eren as he truly is.]
I don't like that- the translating. I want to know how you really speak.
Well- yeah, I know what language is. My world only has one, but I heard there were different ones in the past. I guess it makes sense that people from other worlds would speak differently... But it honestly never occurred to me until now.
[He sits cross-legged, his hand finding Eren's to fidget with.]
[The corners of Eren's eyes pinch in that way that he almost looks like he should be smiling. He gives a very small shrug of one shoulder.]
Only humans speak languages where I come from. [Titan shifters are included in that, though...he knows that some pure titans can speak too; they...were human once...]
I liked hearing it. [A surprisingly earnest thing to say, coming from Eren.]
Even if I can't understand you, it's interesting to listen.
[There it goes. Eren's eyes follow Finnick's device as it flies. He takes off his own and lays it again on the nightstand, then gets comfortable on the bed, lying on his side.]
Now, I'm not sure what to say. [It's odd to feel...a bit naked, suddenly. Finnick and he haven't really been speaking this entire time, have they? Another piece of the real Eren showing through (to his core, and always, an Eldian).]
[Eren is looking at him funny, but he's not irritated. Success. He continues just staring at Eren's face, tracing his nose gently, and murmuring various pet names.]
[He's smiling. Eren can't be sure why. Eren doesn't return it, but he never does. He watches Finnick's eyes, savors the sound of his voice. They may never get a moment like this again. Fingers continue to stroke at Finnick's cheeks.]
You've ruined everything. [His voice is soft - so terribly gentle.] I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to love you...
[Finnick becomes hypnotized by watching and listening to Eren, as he often is. But there's something in Eren's voice and his eyes that's so vulnerable. He wishes he could understand the words, but he knows if he could, Eren wouldn't be saying whatever it is he's saying. He's just... Like that.
Finnick stares at those green eyes, so deep you can't see the bottom, and the way his lips form around strange syllables. The tip of his thumb brushes Eren's lower lip. He wants to jump into that deep green water, he wants to feel it on every inch of him. He wants to drown in it.]
Dearest... Sweetheart... My love.
[Those final words sound assured, with quiet intensity, as he locks onto Eren's dilated pupils.]
[Finnick's phrases are so short, with such a bobbing, consistent rhythm - buh-buh...buh-buh...buh-buh...
[Eren takes a deep breath. He doesn't break Finnick's gaze, locked with his own. They've inched closer without realizing. Eren's knuckles worry over Finnick's cheek. He is so novel, so very Finnick, as if there's only one, because there is, to Eren, only one person who makes him feel the way this beautiful man, these beautiful eyes, this beautiful voice makes him feel...
[They can both be honest, can't they, if only when speaking their own languages?]
Do you love me? [It's a whisper, a question.] Will you? Always?
[It's as though there's a magnet pulling them closer, and as their words become quieter, their tones matching in sincerity and vulnerability, Finnick knows without being able to decipher the words that Eren is saying something very important, perhaps very terrifying. It could be a secret, a sin he committed, but there's something in the way he's touching and looking at Finnick like the most precious piece of seaglass...
There are no shared words, and yet, there is understanding. Eren's inflection rises, not once but three times, and he looks almost scared, and Finnick just wants to reassure him.]
It's okay, Eren.
[He strokes the hair by his temple, then moves to gently kiss his forehead.]
I love you. It's okay.
[Like this, there's no fear at all in saying it. He just lets it pour from his eyes, his lips, his touch.]
[Eren searches for the words, but of course, he can't decipher any of them. Finnick's touch is more tender than ever, it seems, those seafoam eyes twinkling even in the dark. Eren clings to the sound of his own name instead; it sounds just like how Finnick usually says it...
[There's a lump in Eren's throat. He catches it before it can become a problem, but there's effort in choking it down. He takes Finnick's face in his hands and brings their lips together for a deep, urgent kiss. It lasts. When Eren pulls away, he breathes against his lover's lips:]
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[Finnick asks something...
[Eren turns to him, brow furrowed in genuine confusion.]
What did you say?
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I said, what did you do today?
[He takes off his shirt and shimmies out of his sweatpants, which have the device in the pocket.]
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I didn't know you spoke another language.
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My... My brain just completely stopped working, say again?
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You can't understand me? [He points to himself, shakes his head. He really has to fight that smile. What's going on?]
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He's smiling a little, too, which should make Finnick happy, but instead increases the strangeness of the situation and makes his heartrate pick up just a little with momentary panic. His brow furrows in concern.
Is Eren having a fucking stroke? Is Finnick?]
Are you okay? Why are you talking like that? Are you fucking with me?
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[He glances at the device on the night stand and holds up a finger for Finnick to wait, calm. He doesn't want to talk again if it's going to disturb Finnick more.
[Eren slips the device onto his wrist...Has he ever taken it off in front of Finnick before?
[As soon as Finnick speaks again and Eren realizes he can understand, he'll raise his eyebrows and hold out his wrist, tapping the device, then pointing to Finnick.]
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[As Eren puts his device back on and taps it, Finnick looks around, forgetting where his is for a moment. Oh, right, in his pocket. He gets up and digs it out, holding it in his hand and looking at Eren again.]
Say something...?
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Different languages?
[Panem only has one language. Theoretically, others once existed, but it's never been a day-to-day reality for him in his life, to encounter others who speak so differently. It perturbs him a bit, that he and Eren had such a stark difference between them without even knowing it. More disturbing is that the device changes his perception of even the way Eren's mouth moves and the sounds it makes. He wants to know Eren as he truly is.]
I don't like that- the translating. I want to know how you really speak.
[But then he won't understand him. Hmm.]
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[Eren hadn't for a long time; there's no judgment in his tone whatsoever.]
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[He sits cross-legged, his hand finding Eren's to fidget with.]
Is that dumb?
cw: fictional racism, genocidal ideology
It's ignorant, but it's not like that's your fault. I was ignorant too, and I hadn't even heard of past languages.
Now I know - I speak Eldian. It's the name of my race, but apparently a lot of places in my world speak it.
[Interesting, since most of the world also advocates for the eradication of the Eldian race.]
bb boy is so dumb
[Right, Eren isn't a regular human, since he can transform into a Titan...]
I don't think mine... Has a name? It's just... What we speak. Would it be human language?
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Only humans speak languages where I come from. [Titan shifters are included in that, though...he knows that some pure titans can speak too; they...were human once...]
I liked hearing it. [A surprisingly earnest thing to say, coming from Eren.]
Even if I can't understand you, it's interesting to listen.
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Yeah... I want to hear what you really sound like. Let's do it again.
[He throws his bracelet across the room.]
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Now, I'm not sure what to say. [It's odd to feel...a bit naked, suddenly. Finnick and he haven't really been speaking this entire time, have they? Another piece of the real Eren showing through (to his core, and always, an Eldian).]
there are two types of guy in this situation
Now I can say anything I want and you won't get annoyed with me.
[He bites his lip.]
I could call you... Sugar lips. Little guy. Baby doll.
[He pokes Eren's cheek gently.]
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[Something in Eren's face seems to both soften and focus at once. He reaches out, running his finger tips, feather-light, over Finnick's cheek.]
You really can't understand a thing that I'm saying, can you?
Promise me...
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Pookie... Cupcake... Darling... Sunshine...
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You've ruined everything. [His voice is soft - so terribly gentle.] I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to love you...
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Finnick stares at those green eyes, so deep you can't see the bottom, and the way his lips form around strange syllables. The tip of his thumb brushes Eren's lower lip. He wants to jump into that deep green water, he wants to feel it on every inch of him. He wants to drown in it.]
Dearest... Sweetheart... My love.
[Those final words sound assured, with quiet intensity, as he locks onto Eren's dilated pupils.]
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[Eren takes a deep breath. He doesn't break Finnick's gaze, locked with his own. They've inched closer without realizing. Eren's knuckles worry over Finnick's cheek. He is so novel, so very Finnick, as if there's only one, because there is, to Eren, only one person who makes him feel the way this beautiful man, these beautiful eyes, this beautiful voice makes him feel...
[They can both be honest, can't they, if only when speaking their own languages?]
Do you love me? [It's a whisper, a question.] Will you? Always?
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There are no shared words, and yet, there is understanding. Eren's inflection rises, not once but three times, and he looks almost scared, and Finnick just wants to reassure him.]
It's okay, Eren.
[He strokes the hair by his temple, then moves to gently kiss his forehead.]
I love you. It's okay.
[Like this, there's no fear at all in saying it. He just lets it pour from his eyes, his lips, his touch.]
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[There's a lump in Eren's throat. He catches it before it can become a problem, but there's effort in choking it down. He takes Finnick's face in his hands and brings their lips together for a deep, urgent kiss. It lasts. When Eren pulls away, he breathes against his lover's lips:]
I love you. I will. Always.
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; n ; we can probably wrap here
ok! bookend