31_days | [March 30] [Pacific Rim] Allowed to Interrupt

Title:Allowed to Interrupt
Day/Theme: 30. but the truth is that I want to tell you this.
 Series: Pacific Rim
 Character/Pairing: Hermann Gottlieb/Newt Geiszler  

 

Eventually, they had to get up. Hermann's leg was starting to throb. They got more or less upright, but didn't move apart. Even with Newt's support though, Hermann looked around for his cane.

"I need to find-" he began and Newt started nodding.

"It's in our room." he said. Hermann arched an eyebrow for an explanation. "When you beat me to the elevator, I had to wait for the next one, and I didn't know where you gotten off, and I figured you might go to our room, so I took it there, and then you weren't there, and I thought you had to come back eventually. I mean, all your meds are there and, and stuff, so you would have to come back. But…" He hung his head and shifted. His fingers plucked at the sleeve of Hermann's clean dress shirt. "You didn't."

"I have a spare set of everything in a bug out bag," Hermann said, smiling a little. "I keep it in the storage room by the emergency exit."

"That's a really good idea," Newt said, actually looking impressed. Hermann didn't quite have the energy to be smug, but he could agree.

"I know."

"Hey," Newt said next. He looked like he wasn't sure he should bring it up, but as usual, went ahead anyway. "Will you tell me what you were going to say? Right before I had my meltdown?" Hermann blinked and then looked away. Newt saw his throat bob with a gulp.

"You don't have to," he said quickly. "I mean, it might not even apply anymore after-"

"Give me a moment," Hermann said. "Let me remember."

"Oh come on, you don't forget anything." Newt said. Hermann winced.

"I have to go over the conversation again," he said. "And I've shied away from that."

"Oh." Newt looked guilty again. Normally, putting him in his place would've been satisfying, but Hermann wanted this to be over. Newt pressed on, though. "Ok. Well, um. I was yelling about it not being my fault."

"Ah." Hermann said. He didn't want to discuss this, but Newt was doing the hard part.

"And then you pulled yourself up all huffy, like you do," Newt went on. Hermann made an indignant sound. "You do! And you said, um, something about it would really be for the best if-" He trailed off, shoulders going tense. He squeezed in close again and shuddered.

"If we left," Hermann said quickly, not wanting to see him break down again. "I thought it would be best if got away for awhile. Both of us. Not to another facility or anything like that. Just a trip. A vacation, I suppose. To give us some time to ourselves and some distance."

"But not from each other," Newt said, eyes going from grieved to hopeful.

"I don't do well when we are apart." It was painful for Hermann to admit it. Newt tackled him in another hug.

"Oh God, me neither!" he gasped. "I was on autopilot all through the lecture and I couldn't put the phone down in case you called…"

"I wouldn't interrupt your presentation," Hermann said, but he was starting to think maybe he should've.

"I'm glad you came," Newt said. "I mean it hurt to look up and see you there and not be sure, but it was still better, you know? Like popping a joint back into socket."

"Ugh," Hermann remembered his hip being dislocated. Pushing it back in had been blindingly painful.

"Listen." Newt pulled his chin down to look him in the eye. "I love you. A lot. And I will say sorry forever for the way I acted. I swear I only said it because I thought you were going to say it first." He buried his face in Hermann's chest and took a shuddering breath. "Your idea was better."

"Of course it was." Hermann rubbed his back. "You should know that by now." It was meant teasingly and Newt was smiling when he looked up again.

"Where are you going to take me?" he asked.

"Where would be good for you?" Hermann asked. Newt shrugged and snuggled back under his chin.

"Surprise me." It was muffled in Hermann's collar.

"Really?" Hermann wasn't sure what to make of a passive, agreeable Newt. Not that he wouldn't enjoy it for a little while.

"Anywhere," Newt agreed. "We can go to the Museum of Mathematics if you want. Or, I don't know, to see the world's biggest protractor. I don't care. Just hold my hand and don't let me wander off."

"All right," Hermann said. He was strangely moved by that and even more so when a hand slid into his hair and pulled him closer.

"Ever. Ok?" It was just a whisper, but Hermann shivered and couldn't find his voice for a moment. Newt felt it and looked up worriedly.

"Too much to ask?" he said. Hermann was shaking his head by the first two words.

"No," he said. "No. It's just that you beat me to it again."