Third Time’s The Charm

The first couple times Howard told Vince he loved him didn't go so well.

Category:

Characters: ,

Pairing:

Genre:

Rating:

Status:

Length: words

Notes: This story is one of Moment’s.


Third Time’s The Charm by A Moment In Subtext

“You laughed the first time I told you.”

“Default mode number one; amusement,” Vince said, shrugging. “You startled me. I wasn’t expecting it. Besides, you didn’t really mean it.”

“What do you mean I didn’t mean it?”

“Well, it’s just one of those things, innit? That people say when they think they’re gonna die? ‘I love you’, ‘I’m sorry’, ‘goodbye’, y’know?”

“I didn’t say it because I thought we were going to die.”

“You jumped off a roof the second time I told you.”

“I didn’t jump. We fell. You’re the one who was standing up.”

“Because you were trying to get away. You were clearly disgusted by the very idea.”

“I was not.”

“You weren’t?” Howard asked skeptically.

“Nah. Coarse not. Default mode number two; disturbed.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why would you default to disturbed?”

“Well, I’d already done amused. Never do the same thing twice in a row. Especially default reactions.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Can you. . .say it again?”

Howard started. “What, now?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I want to hear it.”

“No defaults.”

“Alright.”

“I mean it, Vince.”

“Alright. Would you just say it already?”

“You’re very eager.”

“Yeah, well. No one’s ever said it to me and meant it before. It’s a bit exciting.”

“I love you.”

“Wow,” Vince said slowly. “Wow. That’s. . .I’ve got goosebumps, Howard. What a thrill.”

“You’re meant to say it back, you know.”

Vince smiled blithely at him. “How ’bout if I show you?”

+ posts