Work Text:
beta read by me✅
Edited✅
"Nah, I dont want to come in your hole Boffy" Wrld said through the comms, which made a crunching noise- using the devices underground wasnt the best option, but neither of them cared.
"Enjoy the fucking Hound then" Boffy huffed back, strapping the black device back to his belt. Pulling out the stone pickaxe, he began digging out the stone, in an attempt to make the small hole in the hill more habitable.
"No no, I changed my mind! I want to come in your hole!" Wrld yelled, not even few minutes later. The other huffed, securing the torch in the wall, before dusting off his hands.
"Already? I thought you wanted to explore"
"No no, there's something in the woods bro, I dont want to be outside anymore!" Wrld whined into the comms. Someone- or something took damage outside, and he stiffened.
"Did you just took damage outside my base?"
"No? Im not even near"
"Well shit, I'll place a torch outside" Boffy cleared the comms, placing the pickaxe against the wall and making an opening in the side. The cold air immediately sweeps in, the sudden amount of oxygen making Boffy cough the slightest, before he slams the torch into the side. A small light illuminates the entrance and outside, making the fog seem even thicker. He peeks out, the only sound being Wrld's quick breathing through the comms he definitely forgot to turn off, and the occasional fish jumping out of the water in the river.
"I see it! Finally!" Wrld cries out and stumbles in past Boffy, leaning his back against the stone, hands on his hips.
"Did you got chased or whatever?" Boffy comments, closing off the entrance, and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Dude I swear I saw something in the corner of my eye" he huffs, pulling off his mask and running a hand through his dark hair.
Boffy hates the fact he forgets how to speak for a moment.
Wrld always wore his mask, on every mission, in every dangerous situation. He excused it for "protection", that it helped him hold his glasses so they wouldn't fall, that the occasionally dusty environment they were in made him cough.
"Or maybe you are just schizophrenic, and there's nothing there" Boffy comments, averting his gaze and throwing more coal into the furnace that provided minimum warmth, but he lit it anyways.
Wrld's eyes narrowed behind his glasses, burning holes into the back of Boffy's head.
"Oh really? Then go out yourself if there's nothing!" He huffed and walked over to the corner of the 'room' (more like a hole in the wall, Boffy poorly dug out), and pulled out a blanket from his backpack.
Spreading it onto the ground he sat onto it, pulling out his iron axe. Which more than definitely needed some repairing, judging by the cracks and chipped corners.
The silence that followed was deafening, only sometimes interrupted by Wrld muttering something to himself, shooting Boffy a dangerous look.
That gave Boffy more time to think than he liked.
He looked over his shoulder, studying the other man'sface.
How his somehow perfectly trimmed eyebrows furrowed when he was concentrated on something, how his glasses sometimes slid down his nose and he had to push them upwards, how his dark hair was always in shape- never seem to be messy.
What am I thinking?
Boffy shook his head and quietly dropped onto the ground, pulling the leather jacket around himself tighter.
By the time Boffy managed to say something, it was almost dawn.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it" he muttered, looking up at the other. Of course he was asleep.
Arm under his head, he laid curled around himself, snoring softly, seemingly gone for a long time.
One thing escalated to another, and Boffy came to a conclusion Wrld was definitely cold.
Crawling over to him, he shrugged off his jacket and covered the other with it, his fingers lingering on Wrld's shoulder for longer than necessary.
Boffy's eyes snapped up as he made a harsher exhale, but didn't woke up- yet.
Sudden wave of boldness, and his fingers are travelling, mapping out dips and curves of Wrld's arm. Feeling the material of his red hoodie underneath his fingertips, feeling the solid muscle of his bicep, his strong forearms, the soft skin of his wrist, his gentle fingers.
*Flashback*
"Never going back to these dinosaurs bro" Wrld laughed as they laid on the shore of a river, legs dipped in the water, after a successful mission. It was one of those rare moments, when Wrld abandoned his mask, and the banter died down to soft spoken words.
"Yeah sorry for the arrow earlier" Boffy said, turning his head at the other, as the water created a peaceful atmosphere.
"Nah, its okay, It was funny" Wrld chuckled, his face tilted towards the sun, glasses in hand. He took a moment, just appreciating his work partner, how the sunrays basked his skin in a palette of golden colours, the water droplets still clinging to his arms and chest from the previous swim. (More like Wrld repeatedly throwing Boffy into the river, till he got bored)
The silence after wasnt bad, they didnt need words to be comforted by the others presence. Soon enough, the sun dipped behind the horizon- golden hour- Boffy thought.
"Hey Wrld?"
"Yeah?"
"Are we friends?"
A beat of silence.
"Of course we are, why are you asking that?"
"Just wondering"
"Why? What's on your mind Boffy?"
He sharply inhaled, staying silent. Wrld turned himself to face the other, brows furrowed in concern.
"Have you wondered if we could ever- be more?" Boffy asked in a whisper, shutting his eyes tightly. The last sunrays slipped between his eyelids, and he felt Wrld's eyes on him.
"And if I have? What if I meant some of those jokes about us dating?" He sits up- Wrld's shadow sitting up- moving ever so slightly closer. "What then?"
"Then I would-"
The water suddenly became quieter, like even the birds sensed the weight of the conversation, the rays of sunlight still providing enough to see every facial expression clearly.
"I would- maybe- kiss you, only if- you'd agree of course"
"And if I'd agree?"
Their eyes finally met, and surprisingly it was Wrld who reached out first, gently running his index finger over Boffy's cheek, his gaze softening. He leant in, slowly, giving Boffy plenty time to dodge, or pull away. But nothing like that happens, their lips meet in the middle in the softest of a kiss.
Only now everything is truly said. When Wrld's hand slides down, gently gripping the back of the other's neck, in a want to pull him closer. And Boffy lets him- of course he does. He would let Wrld do everything he wanted, kiss him till his lips bled, strangled him with that gentle look of his.
*end of flashback*
"Boffy? You alright?"
Boffy flinched out of the memory, letting go of Wrld's hand in the process. Staring wide eyed at now fully awake Wrld, he cleared his throat and scrambled to his feet.
"Yeah, of course. Let's go find a place to residue, this isn't exactly the most comfortable- hole" Boffy said, messily collecting his things, and creating an opening in the wall. The fog has cleared up, but it was still pretty hard to see anything.
"You sure you're good? Looks like you didn't have a good sleep" Wrld commented, folding up his blanket, and slipping his mask back on.
"I haven't slept really- well. But it's okay, let's go before the Hound will find us" Boffy said, putting on a forced smile, before stepping out of the make-shift cave. Inhaling the cold morning air, he readjusts the straps of his backpack, before deciding the best strategy is to go south.
They travel almost silently, except the few very bad puns Wrld manages to make- seemingly trying to cheer his friend up. Eventually, they spot a tall watch tower in the distance, agreeing to make it their shelter.
"Are you sure it's just the sleep? You strangely haven't called me something- insulting" Wrld asked, as they began walking up the stairs. Boffy went first, axe clutched like a vice in his hand.
"Just- thinking. It's alright- dickhead" He answered.
"There he is." Wrld smiled widely, but deep down, he was still worried. "Do you think there's somebody up there?"
"No, the beginning report said nobody sane stays in this forest" Boffy says, running a hand through his curls, before reaching forward and opening the door. The room is of course- abandoned, but still furnished.
"Wrld? Speed up buddy" Boffy said from the doorframe, shoulders tensed up, as he looked at something past the others shoulder.
"Im doing what I can, nimrod" Wrld huffs and speeds up a little bit, before he's pulled up the rest of the stairs by Boffy. He yanks him inside, and shuts the door tightly.
"Why?" Wrld asks, staring at Boffy who's locking the door twice.
"The Hound was under the tower, and saw your ass" he explains. "But i think we are safe. It doesn't know how to climb stairs"
With that, they begin to look around, and as the sun dips under the horizon, each sits onto their bed. Well 'their' isnt really true, the bed they choose is not exactly it, but well.
Once again, Wrld takes off his mask and Boffy cant think about anything else. Looking at him through half hooded eyes, hands gripping the mattress like a vice, Wrld finally acknowledges him.
"Be honest now, whats wrong? You are- acting strange" Wrld asks, eyes squinted as he polishes his glasses.
Boffy averts his gaze and lays down, turning his back towards the other. Hoping he would get it, he shuts his eyes tightly.
Not even 10 minutes later, Wrld stands up, the bed creaking softly as he sits down beside him. A gentle hand comes to rest on top of his, carefully squeezing his fingers.
"Today is the 6 months anniversary of our first kiss, you know? I haven't stopped thinking about it, but you seemed like you did." Wrld starts, running his thumb back and forth over Boffy's knuckles.
"I really want to kiss you again." He whispers, connecting his lips with the other's hand. Wrld stays there, cheek placed against Boffy's hand for god knows how long.
And Boffy is awake the whole time, of course. Heart doing constant backflips at his every word. He's surely redder than a tomato, who wouldn't be.
So he lifts his other hand, placing it into Wrld's hair. Maybe tangling his fingers in the others hair tighter than he intended, making Wrld choke out a pained groan as Boffy pulls him up.
"Hey Boffy I know you are trying to be romantic and all that but- this hurts" Wrld shifts, eyes squinted from the uncomfortable position, as he basically hovers above the other. Hands placed dangerously close to Boffy's waist, if he'd extend his finger he would be touching the soft fabric of his hoodie.
"Who says I'm trying to be romantic?" Boffy raises his eyebrows, twirling the others dark hair around his finger, the grip still painful.
"Of course you are a sadist" Wrld groans again, as a malicious smile appears on Boffy's face. He raises his other hand, cupping his cheek in an ironically soft way.
"If you say so" He tuts softly.
"If I say so? I poured my heart out and you are basically ripping out my hair in return?"
Boffy tsk's, but a genuine smile appears on his lips. His fingers letting go of Wrld's hair, instead cupping his face with both hands.
"Well thank you, finally. God" Wrld mutters.
"Do you still wanna kiss me?"
"No!"
"You do"
"I do not!" He huffs, pulling away from the others embrace, but Boffy is there to stop him. Wrapping his arms around Wrld's neck, he yanks him closer, their lips meeting messily in the middle.
Wrld immediatelly stops protesting, his hands finding their place in Boffy's hair.
"You wanted to kiss me" Boffy smiles as they part.
"Shut up, your only luck is that you are a great kisser"
"Of course"