As the door to the emergency shuttle closed behind them, TO felt an odd sense of nostalgia. Though they hadn’t been together in the training center, and hadn’t hidden away in the observation deck to have dates, they had still hidden away just to relax and be themselves. The feeling of finding a quiet place to relax was so very familiar to them, and the peaceful time they had spent with DH, GiDi, and sometimes Avery flooded back to them. 

 

“This brings back memories.” DH said as they set the bundle down on the floor, “Sneaking food into a hidden place so that we can just relax.”

 

“I was just thinking that.” TO said, grinning. They reached for the blanket, but before they got it DH took them by the shoulders, gave them a quick kiss, and then sat them down on the floor nearby. 

 

“You stay there.” They said as they untangled the food and drink from the blankets, “You did all the work back in the training center, so I want to do the work here.” 

 

“I can help, even though my arm is-“ 

 

“It’s not your arm.” DH said, laughing. “I really just want to do this.” They touched the crystal around their neck. “You got me this crystal, set up the food in the training center, and even planned a romantic way to tell me how you felt… even though it didn’t go through the way you wanted it to. You put in so much effort for me! This isn’t much, but I want to do this.” 

 

It was enough that DH seemed to like how TO went out of their way. They felt their ears flush, and they held their hands up to their face, grinning as they watched DH work. 

 

 

 

Once they had taken everything from the blanket, DH spread the blanket over the floor and gestured for TO to sit on it. “Go on; get comfy.” 

 

Ears flushed, and still with a wide grin on their face, TO shuffled over and sat down on the blanket. DH grabbed extra blankets from their emergency supplies and turned them into makeshift pillows, which they put against the wall to create a makeshift couch. Once TO was sitting comfortably, DH took up the glasses and filled them with the sweet, sparkling drink. 

 

“It’s what; like a picnic?” DH said as they held out the bubbly glass. 

 

“Space picnic.” TO said as they took the glass. 

 

“Maybe we can have a real one on Arkane?” DH said, smiling as they poured themself a drink. They sat down next to TO, sitting with one leg pressed against TO’s as they opened up the dessert; berries, with a sweet-looking dip in the center. “The food is a pleasant touch.” They said as they looked over the platter, “But… I’m happy just to be alone with you for a little; just to not have to worry about Kei coming down the elevator, or worry that they’re staring at us and looking for something.” Their smile faded for just a moment. “I keep feeling like they’re looking for something wrong, you know?” 

 

“I don’t want to think about Kei at all.” TO said as they took a long drink. They leaned forward and kissed DH on the cheek. “I don’t want thinking of them to distract me; I only want to think of you.” 

 

DH stared at TO, then laughed, holding their hand to their mouth as though trying to hold the noise back. “Did you hear that in some movie?” They said, “It-“ 

 

“It was corny.” TO said as their ears flicked down, “Sorry, it was-“ 

 

DH turned, and kissed TO on the lips, gently at first then more passionately, their arm encircling their waist as they leaned forward. They pulled away just long enough to whisper, “No; it was sweet.”

 

TO didn’t know how to respond, didn’t know what to say as their ears burned. They didn’t understand why DH was so much more assertive with their affection right now - though they didn’t mind it at all! Maybe it was because they didn’t have the same freedom now as they did before; maybe it was because what time they had was limited, and there was this urgency that drove them to make the most of it. TO didn’t really care why; they liked it. They liked DH taking charge like this, liked it when they shifted their lips from TO’s mouth and gently kissed down the edge of their jawline before pulling away. Though half-lidded eyes they looked up at TO, their ears twitching and deeply blue.

 

“… was that ok?” they whispered. 

 

“More than ok.” TO said. They looked away, smiling. “You can do that whenever you want. I mean, after we drop off Avery and Kei off, when we’re on Arkane, alone, you can-” DH suddenly popped a strawberry covered in the sweet sauce -chocolate, TO realized- into their mouth. TO gave a muffled yelp of surprise before they had the sense to chew. 

 

“I get it.” DH whispered as they leaned forward and licked a smudge of chocolate off the corner of TO’s lip. “I’ll... be more affectionate.” 

 

“Only if you want.” TO said once they swallowed. 

 

“I do.” DH assured, “I… I’m not very good at it all the time, but I do; I really do. I just get nervous.” 

 

“Don’t do anything that makes you nervous.” TO said. 

 

“I won’t… just... just let me see what I can do, what I want to do, ok?”

 

TO reached up, put their good hand on DH’s cheek, and kissed them. “That’s all I want.”

 

======

 

A handful of berries remained in the tray, and the bottle was mostly empty. The two had kissed, talked, ate, kissed some more, and just sat in each other’s embrace as they gazed out the window into the vast expanse of space while listening to Arkanian musicals.

 

TO knew that they’d have to go back soon; they had already been down in the emergency ship for a while and eventually Kei would start asking where they were. Maybe knowing that they were running out of time for now made DH a little bolder. As they sat together, DH leaned forward and kissed TO first on the lips, then slowly started working their lips down TO’s jawline. They kissed TO’s neck and travelled down the firm, long tendons until they got to TO’s collarbone. They stopped then, one hand around TO’s waist, and the other on the edge of their tunic. 

 

“… Can I take off your tunic.” They asked quietly, their ears deep blue. 

 

TO felt the giggle escape them, half from the feel of DH’s lips gently tickling their neck as they spoke, and half from how shyly they asked the question. “You’re embarrassed to ask me to take my shirt off? I’m naked half around you half the time, anyway.” 

 

“This is different,” DH said as they breathed against TO’s neck, “This… This is different.” 

 

DH was right; it was different. There was a difference between the casual nudity they were so used to and DH wanting just their shirt off so that they could kiss TO more easily. 

 

“You can take it off.” TO said, their own ears dipping down, “You need to help me though; My arm-“ 

 

TO didn’t need to finish their statement; DH was already working, first untying the fastenings at TO’s side and then gently pulling off their fabric. The tips of their fingers ran against TO’s side, sending chills up their neck and making their ears twitch rapidly. They worked so gently around TO’s bound up arm, ensuring that there was no extra pain from the movement. The edges of the tunic came loose, and DH pulled the beck up over TO’s head and then pulled away the tunic, leaving TO shirtless as they leaned against the wall.

 

DH leaned forward, starting once more from TO’s jawline and this time kissing them with careful slowness down the long tendon in their neck and along their collarbone, to the center of their chest, where they stopped and started kissing back up. As they reached TO’s neck, TO reached up and put their hand on DH’s ear; they wanted to just enjoy this, but they wanted to do something for DH; they wanted to make DH feel as exquisite as they did. If they could make DH’s ears twitch like their own were, if they could make DH press their thighs together as TO was starting to…

 

DH stopped, reached up, took TO’s hand away from their ears and pulled it to their mouth to kiss their fingers with careful, featherlight kisses.

 

“Just let me do this.” They whispered, flushed.

 

“You… you don’t have to.” TO whispered back, “You really don’t-“ 

 

“I want to.” DH said. They held tightly to TOs hand. “I do, but I’m scared sometimes, and sometimes I still think about being a good synth and acting as King Decon would want. Sometimes that all scares me… But I want to do this.” They looked away from TO, their ears sinking down, “I want to make you happy. I want to make you feel good, and I want you to… do the same for me, but just let me do this first. I’ll feel better if I can just take care of you for now… ok?”

 

TO squeezed DH’s hand, nodding slowly, “Alright.” They said. They wanted so badly to make DH feel good too, to take away all this discomfort and guilt and just make it disappear! 

 

They knew they couldn’t. TO knew that they just had to let DH take their time and do things at their own pace. If that would make DH happier in the long run then TO had no issue doing that. 

 

DH smiled softly, leaned in, and kissed TO on the bridge of their nose. Their hand went over their head and to the back of their neck, scratching just under their skull as they rested forehead against forehead. “Thank you for being patient with me.” 

 

“It’s nothing you have to thank me for; I just want you to be comfortable.” 

 

“I just wish I was as comfortable with all this as you are-“ 

 

“It’s fine.” TO said, “I promise.” 

 

DH kissed TO again and whispered, “I love you so much.” Before they started kissing again, their lips travelling slowly along TO’s jawline and towards their neck. TO arched their neck as DH kissed along the tendons once more, expected them to work down along their neck and to their collarbone. To their surprise, DH continued along their jawline and up, closer and closer to their ears. TO gave a whimper as they closed their eyes tightly, wondering if DH would actually go to their ears. They got closer and closer…. Then stopped. 

 

“… TO.” They whispered into their ear, “Is it… would be it ok -“ 

 

“If you kissed my ears?” TO finished as their ears burned. They felt terror running through their body; what if. DH had been asking if it’s ok to stop, or if it’s ok to do something else, or-

 

“You don’t think that’d be strange?” DH asked, “I meant, I wanted to, but I worried you’d think it’s too much-“ 

 

“No. No, not at all!” TO opened their eyes wide as they looked at DH, “I… I really want you to do that… please?” They felt their ears dips back as they heard how desperate their voice sounded. 

 

DH smiled, leaned in, and gently kissed at TO’s earlobe. TO whimpered, their eyes shutting tight as they turned away to present more of their ear to DH. They could feel their ear twitching so much, warm and burning, the feeling travelling down their body and making them feel like they wanted to jump out of their skin. They felt pressure inside them as they pressed their thighs together. The guilt, the shame they normally felt when they were like this, was oddly absent. 

 

DH kissed along the lower ridge of TO’s ears, then stopped and chuckled; the sound sent shivers all up and down TO’s spine, “I can tell you like this.” They whispered, their lips brushing against TO’s ears as they spoke, “Your ears move a certain way when you like something; like when I rub your ears, or when I kiss your neck-“ 

 

“Your ears move too!” TO protested. 

 

“Yes.. yes I know. I just know how your ears move specifically when you really like something.” They continued working up to the tip of TO’s ears, their fangs running so gently against the skin and causing TO to whimper once more before they slowly worked down to the base of their ears . 

 

TO needed to hold something with their good hand, so they reached up and put their hand around DH’s waist, just under their wings. 

 

“Is this ok?” TO asked, their voice soft and breathless. 

 

“Yeah.” DH whispered as they kissed down the length of the ear. They shifted, moved TO’s ear slightly, and kissed just where the ear met the back of the head. TO gave a loud gasp, and bit down on their lower lip as their gasp turned into a low moan. They clutched at DH, gazing into DH’s own bright, sparkling eyes. 

 

It was then that the door to the emergency transport opened. Kei took two steps into the transport with their focus on their communicator, then looked up and froze mid-stride as they saw the two flushed and excited synths.