maskormenacelogs | embarrassingly backdated

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embarrassingly backdated - IGNORE PLEASE

WHO: Newton & Hermann [Completed, CLOSED]
WHERE: waaaaay over in Hong Kong
WHEN: Jan 4-11, but specifically the 8th.
WHAT: Driftiversary.
WARNINGS: This is VERY backdated. January 2016 during something or other that was going down that now I can't completely remember, but it predates the capture and submarine tour with the captives. It was completed off comm back in Jan and then things happened and we just...never go around to posting it...and as time went on, it got embarrassingly farther backdated and we just...never posted it, I guess. So there you have it. Our Shame. Trying not to count this for any kind of AC, mind you, just wanted to enter it into game canon, or at least something other than gdoc canon.

Despite feeling pretty shitty about their ill-timed vacation when they boarded the plane (but then, there was always SOMETHING and he and Hermann were regrettably poorly equipped to fight), Newt had settled fairly comfortably into the vacation once they were halfway across the world. Or as comfortably as he could, considering he was still mostly not used to taking vacations these days.

It helped that the hotel was gorgeous and afforded a beautiful view of the water, the city was bustling and alive and full of lights, and Hermann seemed to be especially amenable to sightseeing, nights out, and holding hands. It was their anniversary, after all. While it hadn't been a year chronologically (technicalities that bothered Hermann, not Newt), today was the calendar date that (in ten more years and a whole other universe) Hermann saved Newt's life and they drifted, together, with a Kaiju, and saved the world.

Tonight they were rockstars.

Newt shifted the strap of the messenger bag on his shoulder. Keeping The Watch a surprise had been a challenge. Not just because they shared a brain, but because they shared a hotel room, too, and Newt had to tuck the box into the bag just to get it out of the room.

But now that they were here--well, in about fifteen more feet according to the gps...NOW they were here--he could finally stop worrying about spoiling the surprise. Because dammit, it was a good surprise and he didn't want to ruin it. And if he had to contain himself for a minute longer, he totally would have.

"Hey." He stopped and held Hermann's hand, keeping him from going farther. Maybe he should have written a speech, although Newt had always been crappy at sticking to his own lesson plans...a speech was entirely out of the question. But maybe writing something down just to wing it would have still be better than a completely adlibbed attempt. "Uh." He gave a nervous laugh and waved a hand to indicate the intersection. "We're here."

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Hong Kong was stunning.

It had always been beautiful, beyond the bone slums, but Reckoner's skull was an eyesore he'd still half-expected to see for simply how iconic it had become. But there were only buildings and so much more light than he remembered. Almost as if it were still day and evening didn't exist. Truly, a city that never slept. It was marvelous, and they strolled the streets hand in hand no matter the hour.

The shatterdome was gone of course- had never been built. They walked the island and reminisced, even braved the shore once. Hermann had resolved to touch the ebbing tide once before they left, but not yet.

No. They'd avoided this area for days now, circling around it, finding other places to go, explore, or eat at. For good reason.

Nearly five months since they'd cancelled the apocalypse. Five months and a few days since they'd drifted. But today's date remained January 8th, 2016. According to the calendar date, it had been a year (short 9 or 10 of those to actually qualify, but it was enough).

He was nervous, and Newton was excited- performing the mental equivalent of bouncing in place. The tug on his hand stopped him short, and Newton's smile was bright and edged with his self-same nerves. Hermann followed the gesture to their surroundings, attempting to reconcile the streets neatly lined with buildings to the rubble and half-destroyed remnants he recalled.

Not to mention the dead newborn kaiju body.

"Yes..." His foot scuffed a stray pebble on the street. It felt oddly precious, like everything about this location. They'd drifted here, they saved the world here, their entire relationship changed here.

"I er.. brought you something." Hermann gently extracted his hand from Newton's and unzipped his parka, from where he pulled a soft brown parcel covered in flimsy paper wrapping. The clumsy green bow held it all in place and cemented its image as a gift. He held it out for Newton to take, eyes tracing over the man's arms. He was relatively certain it would fit correctly..

"I.. you bought me this coat, so it only felt appropriate.."

Without the destruction and the dead Kaiju, the intersection was really not much to look at, not compared to the rest of Hong Kong. There were skyscrapers rising above them, a few brightly lit eateries and a convenience store, but without the gps, Newt would have never recognized it.

Newt's eyes went wide as he watched the parcel emerge from Hermann's enormous coat and then his hands, very carefully, almost reverently took the package. He hadn't expected a gift. Okay, sure, they sort of talked up the day in private to the point where Newt was pretty sure they both sort of expected it to be a gift kind of day? But he hadn't actually expected one.

For what was inevitably clothing, it was moderately heavy. Not in the same way as the parka, but the package felt weighty, important. And the bow was green, the color of the moment. Don't think he didn't notice that, Hermann. He gawked at it a minute longer and then shook his head.

"I got you something, too." He juggled items, almost handed the present back to Hermann for a moment while he got into the messenger bag, but ended up tucking it under his arm instead. Hermann would need a hand free for his own gift.

Newt wasn't great at wrapping presents, but the paper was an enthusiastically bright a metallic-foil blue--almost Kaiju blue--to make up for that and it encased a hefty little box, sturdy enough to protect the contents. "...Here," he added without further formality, holding it out to Hermann. "Careful! That's--That's delicate, okay! Not like ...specimen delicate--it's not, don't make that face, Hermann, I didn't get you a Kaiju, okay--but I didn't get it all the way here for one of us to drop it." He wanted to watch Hermann open the gift, for better or worse. "You first, or me?" And without waiting, he decided: "Me. I'm gonna go first."

He grinned, cocky and yet childlike, eager to open the gift. The green bow was retained, stuck to Newt's hair, while the paper was dropped as he shook out the jacket and held it up.

His old leather jacket had been totally ruined in the chase around Hong Kong and he had scrapped it entirely during their first week here. This one was new, beautiful, crisp and, to Newt's absolute delight (and no, he was definitely not tearing up, that would be waaaay not cool), the embroidery on the back read: Rockstar. "Holy-" The jacket fit, too. Of course. Leave it to a mathematician to take exact measurements. Newt shrugged it on, ditching his current jacket without care onto the ground, tugged on the lapels (first to show off and strike a pose, then tugging the jacket around him, enjoying the feel of being wrapped up in Hermann's gift--wow, the leather felt nice...and no he was not petting the jacket, ok, shush), and did a full 360, showing it off proudly, trying vainly to check out the embroidery again...while he was wearing it. He felt like a rockstar. Tonight, ten years from now, was the night he proved himself a rockstar, right here, next to Hermann.

"It's perfect. Thank you." He shook his head. No, not going to cry. "Shit, Hermann. You know you didn't have to? I mean the Drift was a gift. The best gift, not to knock the jacket-- Thank you."

Newt finally took a break from admiring how awesome he looked and felt in the jacket to declare: "Open yours now--now, okay, I have to preface this by saying I've had this since November, and uh-- Well, anyway. Open it." Oh god. What if he didn't like it?

Hermann had expected the bow to go mostly unnoticed, but found himself very pleased that Newton noticed the tiny extra thoughtful touch (and last-minute adjustment). He was not surprised the man had something for him in turn- Newton had been far too excited not to- but the small box was not anything close to what he'd imagined. He took it carefully into the palm of his hand, intensely curious but more interested in watching Newton open his gift first.

It really was a lovely jacket. Not something he'd wear of course, but the part of him that was well-informed of Newton's love for leather could appreciate it. So of course he would like it, but even that knowledge still didn't prepare him for the wonder and glee that was Newton's appreciation. Hermann smiled, watching him pose and turn and yes, pet. All through the echoed prickle of tears in his eyes.

"Well I must confess that I have nothing planned for your birthday, so you're free to take that as both if you like." Of course, they'd still do something for it, but he'd leave it up to Newton to decide. It was his day after all, and he was out of gift ideas.

Attention turned back to the weighted bright blue box in his hand, and Hermann huffed, casting about for a place to sit. A stone bench formed from concrete conveniently cropped up just outside the nearby eatery. With a bit of a shrug, Hermann strode over and settled onto it with a hum of satisfaction. He set his cane aside to handle the gift properly with two hands, carefully turning it over and tugging at bits of paper until something gave.

"Where on Earth did you find this wrapping paper..?" he muttered while tearing off bits to get to the box underneath. It looked.. like a jewelry box? Though it was rather large for one. Hermann threw a puzzled look at Newton, spent a moment locating the hinges, then pried it open with more strength than he'd anticipated it would require.

Wrapped around a satin pillow was the most complex watch Hermann had ever seen. He stared, then pulled his glasses on for a better look.

"Oh Newton.."

There were a multitude of dials and numbers, for everything from telling time (and in different timezones?) to calculating any number of things- speed, height, position... An analogue computer of sorts all in one wristwatch. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and he plucked the watch and pillow out of its box. The strap was a rich brown leather that would fit snugly over his wrist, and Hermann teased the pillow out and rolled up his left sleeve.

He'd had a watch, but much like Newton's leather jacket, he'd lost it somewhere in Hong Kong. Unfortunate, but this of course was a substantial improvement. He did hope it came with a manual as he latched it around his wrist with a smile. It appeared large on his skinny wrist, but a few turns and tugs proved it wouldn't be falling off or catching on too much.

"It's absolutely lovely Newton, thank you." Turning toward the man, he tugged him in for a kiss.

"I am covered for the next century, dude, it's brilliant." He could not get over the jacket. Newt was going to make it work with every outfit until the end of time. EVERY OUTFIT. Hermann only had himself to blame.

Nervously, chewing his lip, he waited for Hermann to unwrap his gift. The light in Hermann's eyes made the wait and the secret keeping completely worth it. He suddenly understood why people proposed.

"It's a pilot's watch," Newt explained after the kiss, his arms around Hermann's waist. For a pilot, because you always wanted to fly. Because we're copilots. You helped stop the clock, so you should have a clock of your own. And because it just...felt like you. There were so many things Newt wanted to say, none of which he could make himself say. To be honest, he was scared of overexpressing himself. It had a tendency to scare people off. It might even have scared Hermann off, initially. Newt still wasn't 100% sure how at first meeting went so wrong.

Not that it mattered now.

In any case, he had wanted to see the watch on Hermann's wrist (it was so much better actually on his wrist than anything Newt had imagined), and how ridiculous it was that Newt was so fascinated with the way this piece of metal and leather looked against Hermann's milky pale skin.

"I was going to get you a pocket watch," he finally decided to say, as if it required explanation. "I think that was initially my idea, looking back, because it was a cliched anniversary gift, but now, in retrospect, it was a terrible idea. I can admit that: I had a terrible idea. I knew it was a bad idea at the time, but then I didn't know why... What it came down to was that...it wasn't you. It was ME pigeonholing you into what I thought you were, or what I thought you'd want, but it wasn't you at all. I'm not saying I hit it out of the park with this watch--although I think I did; I REALLY like it," his grin was that of an overeager puppy who couldn't even complete the 'roll-over' because he kept trying to get petted and approved of.

"It felt like you from the moment I saw it, and god--I thought, yeah, this has Hermann written all over it. It's a pilot's watch, which you totally are. It's classic. It's not just some ornamental thing with a bunch of dials that spin and look pretty, but can't keep accurate time... It's crafted. It's engineering. I wanted something that you could wear and go places with and--OKAY maybe an outdoorsy one would be better for your teleport ability, but those look like camping gear and you're a fucking Mercedes Benz with a sports car under the hood, as we've established and." He shoved his hands into his pockets though they continued to move about, flailing the jacket with them. "Anyway. What I meant to say was: glad you like it, dude. Happy anniversary."

Anniversary.

Hermann flushed with pleasure, the single word capturing so many things and all of them significant. A reminder that they'd held together this long, even if this date in particular didn't quite reflect those years. Memory of course, when they'd chosen to join forces rather than stay on their own respective sides and arguments. And something of a promise; a will to make it to the next one.

The sheer amount of thought that had gone into the gift was astounding. Newton said he'd had the gift since November, which was shortly after their dance, but before they.. fell into alignment. And by jove, Newton was learning. He would have accepted a particularly nice pocket watch, albeit with some skepticism. But this was perfect, and he admired it under the Hong Kong lights, tugging down his sleeve but reluctant to cover it completely.

"Yes, Newton. This is wonderful. Happy anniversary indeed."

Another chaste kiss and Hermann leaned back, surveying the street and the ethereal glow of the city around them with a content smile. He folded their hands between them and decided this was probably the happiest he'd been in twelve- or thirteen years.

He was in love, and the revelation wasn't nearly so shocking as he might have expected. Instead it rolled through him in waves of tender affection and the pleasant thrill of new discovery. Turning, Hermann wrapped Newton in an embrace and pulled him close. He couldn't bring himself say it- not yet, it was much too new- but perhaps he could impart some of what he felt into this.

"Thank you, Newton."

He beamed up at Hermann and then tucked his face against the parka, against Hermann's shoulder and neck, and held him. They probably looked ridiculous, standing on a street in Hong Kong, exchanging gifts and embracing. But if anyone took notice, Newt didn't care. He only had eyes for Hermann.

The warm affection from Hermann was so overwhelming, at first Newt confused it as his own. It was wrapped in an excitement that reminded Newt of his giddy Drift Partner and the feeling of Hermann's hand in his own when they attempted to shake hands that day, THIS day, in 2025.

"No, Hermann. Thank you. You're the reason we're celebrating today. Thank you for going with me." Now I never want to go anywhere without you.

The phrase I love you was so weirdly foreign in the context of romantic love, but it was on the tip of his tongue anyway. Newt pulled back, fussed with Hermann's hood and the front of the parka where it had been wrinkled by the embrace, and said instead, "Now, how should we celebrate becoming rock stars and saving the world? Can I take you dancing?"

His heart hammered in his chest to the point where it felt like it might burst free of his chest from underneath Newton's head. Caught up in a euphoric feeling that was entirely alien, he couldn't keep from smiling. Everything looked beautiful then; from the lights reflecting in Newton's glasses to the dark, clouded sky overhead.

Hermann kissed him again, because it felt like the only appropriate response to everything at that point. Yes, he was happy- they were happy- and they more than deserved to have this. There was nothing he wanted more than to keep his arm looped around Newton's waist and bask in the comfortable, warm contentment of the moment.

And really, for all Newton lacked tact on a normal day, he could certainly be sweet at points. A dance. It felt like something they should do- important, in a way. "So long as it's a proper one this time. I will be alright for at least ten minutes."

Not that he had any idea where one might go to dance in Hong Kong, but if nothing else, they could do something of a repeat of their second dance back in their hotel room.

He would have been concerned for Hermann's heart had he not seen the look on his face and experienced everything himself. It was, dare he even think it, majestic. Bliss. Never in his life had he imagined Hermann looking so happy, yet here he was inspiring dumb words like radiant and majestic... Hermann was practically glowing by the time he kissed Newt again and it was like swallowing a supernova.

"Proper. I can do proper. I'll give you a Viennese waltz if you want it." Seriously, though, there were a couple of lounges nearby; Newt had them bookmarked already on his phone out of curiosity and an interest in the nightlife. Some very swanky high-end kind of places, at least one gay bar, some that were near impossible to get into (but Newt could dream). "Okay, so... You, me, bottle of wine, a couple of glasses, some sultry jazz--?"

Newt hooked his hands in Hermann's parka's pockets and swayed a little side to side, just twisting in place with pent up energy. "You know I'm all for a crowd, you know that, and if you're up for it, we could try a nice place for a while and, of course, if it doesn't meet your standards, we'll head back. There's a place not far by taxi that has these huge glass windows--big, like the whole roof-top ceiling--we'd be dancing under the stars if not for the light pollution. Or we could head back right now--have the dance floor all to ourselves in suite 1203--" He raised a brow. "Unless a hotel-room dance is a little too improper." The idea, he admitted, had been tossing around his head off and on for the last couple of nights.

Crowds were not his style, as Newton well knew, but this was a special occasion and while he was riding an emotional high, he may as well be a bit more daring than his usual self. And he rather liked the idea of the place Newton was describing. Yes, some wine, a few dances, and perhaps a nice booth to relax in until they felt like going home. Nice atmospheric lighting..

Newton looked so charming swaying on his feet like that.

"Yes, alright. Let us hail a cab then, and sort out the address to this place you've heard of." This was Hong Kong, so he doubted they'd need to look far for one. They'd get back to their own hotel room for a private celebration of their own later. Still, it was something of an effort to disentangle himself from Newton in order to walk.

"..Do you really know how to dance the Viennese waltz, Newton?"

Crowds were definitely not Hermann's style, so Newt appreciated all the more when Hermann agreed with surprisingly little resistance. He was going to show Hermann a fun night. The best night. This was going to be the party they deserved and hadn't yet had the opportunity to enjoy. And Hong Kong was so far removed from any imPorts that he was hopeful there would be little if any disruptions.

Newt pulled away with some reluctance, taking out his phone to quickly draw up the address of the lounge, but his spare hand remained with his fingers tucked just barely on the hem of the pocket, tethering him to Hermann.

He squirmed a little under the scrutiny and hastily busied himself trying to catch a cab...which really wasn't that hard. His hand was barely out before, just a couple of blocks away, a car was changing lanes towards them, and then he was out of a distraction. "Look. I know it's nerdy, okay. I mean, I kinda do? Not like Dancing with the Stars level or anything, but I can do that kind of... box step thing and turn it. Picture, like, the boring one. The one where a circle of couples go around and around and around. That one. That's what I can do. Dad thought it'd be useful if I actually knew what a waltz was when he taught me to play The Blue Danube, so I can kind of waltz. I guess I could throw in a fleckerl or two if I had to but I'm not positive I wouldn't trip over my partner's feet since I've only attempted that one alone in my own living room while drunkenly watching youtube vids of Dancing with the Stars."

The car stopped curbside and Newt hopped to in order to open the door for Hermann.

The entire explanation (or justification) proved wholly amusing. "You're more cultured than you let on," he mused, then waved his hand. "In any case, we'd need to work up to anything like that."

He ducked into the cab and made sure he had his feet and cane within the car before nodding. "But we'll see what we can manage tonight."

The door closed and he waited for Newton to climb in on the other side. He immediately took the man's hand while he gave their driver directions in a mix of short English phrases and broken Cantonese.

At least they understood the driver completely thanks to their communicator's translator.

"I must say it's nice spending time in a non-import community," he said in German once they'd finally begun to move. "More relaxing and pleasantly ordinary."

"I'm more cultured that you let yourself believe, you mean," he muttered, though Newt brightened back up again at the promise to see what they could manage tonight. He wasn't looking for a waltz. Hell, he wasn't even looking for much of a dance. If he was allowed to hold Hermann and move in time to the music, that was exactly what he aimed to do. And if Hermann didn't feel up to anything more by the time they got back to the hotel room, then Newt would curl up next to him and hold him then, too. He was rather easy to please.

Newt waited for a break in traffic before ducking out, opening the car door and sliding into the seat next to Hermann. It was a strange and pleasant surprise for Hermann to take his hand and Newt threaded their fingers together and leaned against him. The directions Newt managed were brief, but when the driver repeated them back through the communicator's translation ability, it was clear he had understood them.

"Yeah," he agreed, also in German. "Though imports remind me of Shatterdome crews, back in the heyday: the best, the brightest, and lots of ego problems. But the way you describe it makes it sound like we're vacationing to the countryside: 'more relaxing and pleasantly ordinary.'" His attempt at mocking the Bavarian accent was significantly better than his attempt at mocking Hermann's English one. "I never thought I'd hear Hong Kong described as relaxing and ordinary."

Hermann huffed a laugh and tipped his head against Newton's as he stared through the windshield. "We may as well be. For all it's a thriving metropolis, Hong Kong doesn't have much concern in way of superpowered attacks. ..Nor alien ones, for that matter."

It was the greatest draw of a house that might actually be out in the countryside. But they needed to focus on a car before that. And before that, they were going to enjoy their vacation. He switched back to English.

"I'm glad we're here, Newton," he said simply. "It may not have been a year, but it's still a celebration long overdue."

"Me too. We deserve our victory celebration." He lapsed back into German, mostly because he suspected Hermann was trying to keep their import status not outright stated.

"You know--You know, I had always pictured victory being a thing we did ...kinda together. I mean, I pictured kicking your ass with my science, but during those five years, I'd always sort of known you'd be there when we won, if we won." But Newt hadn't known then how much he would need Hermann--how their competitive nature would give him reason to keep trying, to push himself and explore deeper, reexamine theories, be better than he was--...and he could never have anticipated how Hermann would save him...and the world with him. "I wanted you to be there. There's no one else I could have saved the world with, Hermann. And no one else I'd have wanted to."

He raised their joined hands and brushed a kiss along Hermann's knuckles. Never, in Newt's life, had he imagined himself feeling this way: in love (silly, sappily, ridiculously in love--and okay, scientifically, he wondered if, like with anger and sexual passion, they actually fueled each other in a vicious downward spiral and only made this sappy state worse, especially while touching...but if that was true, he wasn't complaining)--but it was more than that, more than in love. A part of something. There was a reason they called a couple 'an item.' One thing. Together. He had become an item when K-science became a unit of two, and they hadn't ever stopped being that, regardless of the nature of their relationship. And now they couldn't stop it. Now they were inseparable. He literally could not go for long without needing to see Hermann. He had never been that with anyone ever. He had never realized he was missing that connection to someone else until their letters--it took him a quarter of a century to realize that he could be so much more than just himself, and a decade and a drift and another dimension to realize he desperately wanted to.

Hermann's gorgeous dark eyes watched him and the words slipped from Newt's mind to his lips and tongue without even thinking. "Du bist alles für mich."

They were deep words; deep, impassioned ones that he might have read in one of Newton's letters, forever precious and silent but never spoken. Hermann listened with rapt attention, unable to blink let alone glance away. There were tender feelings, coupled with the sense of gravity and sincerity Newton meant them with. Nothing offhand, nothing to overlook or wave off as a casual remark.

Impressions and concepts of togetherness and unity filtered through the drift- one side desire to be more than oneself, and then the fulfillment of that. Yes, two halves, one whole- they would never again be entirely separate.

The man's lips were unbearably sweet and even one month ago, he'd never have imagined in his wildest dreams that Newton was any measure of sappy romantic. Yet here they were. Here he was, held under Newton's captive gaze, his normally glib tongue struggling to find a response.

But he was swiftly shocked to utter silence, frozen in his seat and staring in wide-eyed bewilderment. Hermann's ears rang in the wake of words that were somehow more devastating than the phrase 'I love you'. He could still hear them, looping through his mind in the exact tone of voice Newton used- hushed and heartfelt and made more powerful by their native tongue.

You are everything to me.

Dimly, he was aware of the car stopping and the driver saying something, but he couldn't move, didn't want to, only had eyes for the man looking at him with increasing concern.

He had to say something before Newton took it back, could feel his nerves spiking in a way that seemed to jumpstart his awareness from the frozen lapse of time he'd been rooted in.

"Newton." His voice cracked on the man's name and suddenly his eyes were watering, chest constricting, and tears became a real threat. Hermann breathed, held Newton's hand and focused on trying not to cry because the last thing he wanted was to ruin their night out by getting overemotional in the back of a cab.

Newton's eyes were suddenly too much; too sincere, too loving, too green-- Hermann dragged the man to him and pressed his head into his shoulder as he drew in ragged breaths. Words broke free of his lips in a desperate stream of mixed English and German; rough, repetitive and imploring in their need to communicate everything his tears failed to express.

"Ich liebe dich. I love you. I'm sorry. Bitte, Newton. Verstehe."

Newt had nearly started to backpedal, terrified he'd overstepped some line that Hermann had taped down between them--how could he have said that out loud?? A month and a half! That's all they had between them! A month and a half and ten years and SHIT SHIT SHIT-- Say something, Geiszler, you idiot. Say something so he doesn't--

And then, like a beacon through fog, it was all hope again. Stunning hope and frightening wonder and you would do that for me? and he clung to Hermann's parka.

November 29th (Hermann had a thing for numbers, not Newt, but he remembered the day with clarity anyway) had changed them, he had thought at the time. Everything after had been ripples, and Newt honestly didn't think they would change again. What other milestones were there? Didn't they have out their confessions in August? But the 29th had just been kisses and sex, it hadn't really changed them as August had. Boyfriends, he had told Miles. Boyfriends! That was nothing. This was...he didn't know what, yet. Newt didn't think he was being overdramatic when he decided that what had just been said had irrevocably altered the way they understood each other, as today had in 2025.

- I'll go with you.
- You would do that for me?

- You're everything to me.
- I love you.

"Ich verstehe." He stumbled over returning the words, not because he didn't feel the sentiment, but the phrase was so weighty and private and Newt's tongue was tied with emotions. "Hermann." He nodded, running his fingers up the back of Hermann's undercut and into the short cropped hair--his ridiculous cowlick, wow what a dork, my dork-- Yeah, they were definitely fueling each other's spirals and Newt could barely catch his breath. He had nearly hyperventilated a second ago thinking Hermann WOULDN'T return his feelings and now he was nearly doing the same because he HAD. "Yes. I. I love you. Too, I mean. Ich liebe dich auch."

Hermann breathed, still desperately trying to regain control of himself because he'd always hated tears. Tears were weakness and he'd already suffered enough bullying in school. Anger he could do, anger was safe. But it was impossible to be angry with Newton now. He was just so overwhelmed, and where Newton's touch grounded him, his words broke his fragile resolve all over again.

He clung to Newton's forearms and shook. Pressed his face harder against the leather and focused on drawing in deep, steadying breaths. All it really managed to do was make him feel light-headed, but that was worrying enough in itself to take the edge of hysterics off.

Hermann drew back, scrubbing at his eyes, and breathed a hiccuping sigh. God, he was pathetic. They'd have to tip the cab driver well for putting up with this.

"Sorry," he managed gruffly, clearing his throat and rather embarrassed now that he had the presence of mind for it. "I'm.. not sure I'm suited for public at the moment." His face was probably splotchy, eyes red-rimmed from crying. Not the best image to present to anyone.

Newt gave a half-laugh, half sniffle, and ran his thumbs over Hermann's cheeks, tracing his cheekbones and wiping at the tears. He'd reduced Hermann to tears. Newt actually felt guilty for unraveling the man this much, because it was so important to Hermann to look put together in public and here he was with even just one witness ...an emotional mess.

They were such a sight. But they'd always been a sight, it's just that now they weren't screaming at each other until they were red in the face; they were crying and kissing in the back of a cab and Newt didn't care if no one else understood it. They didn't have to. It'd always been him and Hermann and it'd always BE him and Hermann and no one else had to EVER understand it. But Newt was only half the equation and if the equation wasn't balanced--

Hermann's eyes were red-rimmed and tears were caught in his ridiculously long lashes. His pale complexion was a mess of red and pink, with a few tracts of tears now drying where Newt's thumbs had missed wiping them away, and his hair stuck out worse than usual. What a mess, Newt thought fondly.

"Nah, man, you're beautiful. Your mascara's not even running," he teased, wiping again just under Hermann's eyes and then kissing him on the lips. "But if you wanna go home--the hotel, if you wanna go back to the hotel," he smoothed down Hermann's hair as best as possible with his fingers, "we can. Our hotel's damn comfy and it's got a great view."

Hermann sniffed, nodding. Newton's touch was infinitely gentle, fingertips warm and soothing against his face. He relaxed somewhat, though he did spare a quick glance to the driver, who at least was trying to look like he wasn't paying any attention. Their fare had gotten rather high already.

But his lips twitched into an echo of a smile and he glanced down, turning his cane over in his lap.

"Yes, that may be... for the best at the moment." His eyes flicked up, then back down. "..I am sorry, Newton, I did not intend to ruin our plans. But tomorrow perhaps?"

"What plans? We're making this up as we go."

He was still buzzing with happiness when he leaned forward and provided the driver with their new destination, their hotel. The man nodded and Newt settled back next to Hermann, holding his hands, as the car took off.

"Everything I intended to accomplish in Hong Kong has already been fulfilled," he turned their joined hands until he was able to admire the watch face against Hermann's wrist. "Now it's just icing on the cake. This is about you and me, Hermann, doing it together. I can dance with you anywhere, any time. Maybe it's better anyway to spend tonight away from a crowd; it always was just you and me, really."

Following the movement, Hermann couldn't help but wonder over the gift all over again. It truly was a marvelous watch- it almost didn't deserve such an ordinary name with how exquisite it was. For the first time, he wondered how much Newton had paid for it and suffered a frisson of unease. Which was ridiculous of course, he'd paid a few hundred for Newton's jacket and they had very nice checks nowadays, but a part of him was still the frugal scientist that saw equipment as price tags should it malfunction.

"Yes, it was." They'd had interns and notable professionals on hand for the glory years of the war, but once their funding ran out, their staff tapered off until it was just the two of them during those last years. He still sometimes resented them for it. Perhaps Newton wouldn't have needed to share his mind with an alien species if there was more research being done on the Breach itself.

But he could never regret the drift.

"We'll dance," he agreed, fingers tightening on Newton's. "Then we'll decide where to go from there."

"Sounds like a good plan."

For the drive back, Newt tried to distract them with trivia (at least that which he had not yet exhausted from their earlier travels around the city) based on things he had read when preparing for this trip, or with comparisons to their homeEarth Hong Kong... spoken in German, of course, but his blabbering kept tapering off as the lights from the passing street signs or billboards illuminated Hermann's features just so and he would find himself staring. It was like getting caught on a particularly vivid and brilliant passage in one of the man's letters, or admiring the curvature of his penmanship. What a hopeless case.

"We're here." The translation feature announced and Newt startled, dragging his gaze from Hermann and back to the driver. He paid the man their fare for both trips, plus a hefty tip, and then shuffled out to the other side of the car. Like a good date, he held the door for Hermann and, if Hermann wanted it, offered his hand.

Hermann listened with an indulgent patience, agreeing or disagreeing with Newton's comparisons to their home world and mildly skeptical of everything the man said. He kept seeming to glance over when Newton was looking at him and at first he'd thought the awareness as an effect of the drift, but he began to realize that the man was staring at him- looking at him like he held all the answers he'd ever had questions for. The open wonder underlying his gaze made Hermann's face heat and he had limited success in distracting himself with the colorful views out the window.

Newton was genuinely, whole-heartedly in love with him and the truth of it was as astounding as it was frightening. He'd found love and it was wonderful and breath-taking, but if he ever did anything to shatter the wonder in Newton's expression, he'd never forgive himself.

Hermann found himself equal parts disappointed and relieved when they arrived, his heart firmly split between emotions. But he waited, pointedly avoiding eye contact with the driver and fiddled with his cane until the car door opened. He accepted Newton's hand with a smile and allowed himself to be helped out of the vehicle. Really, Newton was much too sweet to him.

"Why thank you, Newton," he said archly. "Now if you'll escort me to my room..?"

"Certainly, my dear Doctor. It would be my pleasure."

Looking ever the proud and faux-diginitied escort, Newt led him through the doors. The lobby, no matter how many times they ventured through it, was still stunning and high class, busy with tourists and business people, but Newt's focus as they cut their way through was for once not lost to the many moving parts around him. His focus was on Hermann, and Newt looked a little like he thought he had just walked into the ball with Prince Charming himself and that everyone in the room should be supremely jealous. Which they should be. He was a rockstar dating a brilliant supermodel who could model the universe with numbers. Hell yeah, they should be jealous.

They weren't alone in the elevator, but when they disembarked, they were the only two in their hall. It felt strangely intimate and a little charming, even in the ritzy uniformity of the long stretch of doorways. With a cheeky grin, Newt unlinked their arms, kissed Hermann's hand, and waited as the other man found his keycard. "Your room, my good sir."

Hermann regretted setting the stage about ten seconds into the lobby.

Newton looked far too proud, practically strutting alongside him with his head held high like he'd just won the Nobel Peace Prize all on his own. He rather imagined no one was envious of two very odd and strangely dressed men, and found himself moderately embarrassed for being presented as such. But it was also flattering in its own right, and Hermann failed entirely to hold up the image of any sort of dignitary when he couldn't quite keep the adoring smile off his face.

"You're terrible," Hermann informed him, hopelessly fond as he searched his pockets. "Ah." He slid the key into the door and pushed it open, then stepped through and held it just long enough for Newton before letting it fall shut.

"What on Earth am I going to do with you, Newton..?"

The embarrassment vibrating through their connection was different than much of Hermann's usual embarrassment; it was overwhelmed by a certain fondness and warm weird feeling that Newt thought was the mental connection's equivalent of a blush. Hermann was so beautiful, so ridiculously brilliant when he smiled, and Newt hoped that he didn't look as much like a lovestruck puppy as he felt.

"You've been asking yourself that for years. If you haven't figured it out, I don't know, man. Maybe it's just a mystery of the universe. What WILL you do with me? Lots of things, I hope!"

He hooked his fingers in the front of Hermann's waistband and gently urged him closer, stepping further into the room. He deposited his phone and wallet and bag onto the bed and popped the collar of his new jacket. "But I think I was promised a dance."

Still flush with the discovery of newly acknowledged love, the drift seemed to simmer with soft feelings and a tempered sort of excitement. Hermann shrugged out of his coat and followed Newton's lead, thought about swallowing the coy smile on the man's face and easing him down into bed.

"Yes, you were." Unable to fully resist, he stole a kiss then cast about for the remote to the television. He guided Newton over to the bedside stand, and spent a few moments flipping channels.

"I should think a local music channel will suffice?" Sure it was all in a foreign language- albeit one they could understand through a translator. As soon as he found something with a slow enough tempo, he set the remote down and laid his cane on the bed.

Then it was up to Newton to lead.

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