[ Fervent is entirely Robbie’s fault. He came into this wound up - wound up about Querl even if it’s entirely a meathead, “You don’t talk about my boyfriend that way” thing. He’s always been protective of Brainy, and to be tossed from that to the salaciousness of having a door to Querl laughing at his joke... it’s overwhelming for reasons that have nothing to do with the actual kiss.

(Which is nothing against the kiss. The kiss is fantastic, in Robbie’s estimation, which is currently bewitched and bemused and very, very biased in its naïveté. But to hell with it, it’s the best kiss he can remember.)

And it’s so much easier to go press on than it is to retreat and poke at his feelings with a stick. Querl’s happy, by his own admittance, and he’s happy. For one minute, they can pretend that door to really does keep out the bad stuff, and he can try to kiss Querl the way he deserves to be kissed, or until Robbie’s so breathless he has to break away with a giddy half smile that keeps breaking back across his face every time he tries to take a breath and play it cool. ]

You’re amazing.

[ Robbie tilts his head to the side and leans his forehead against the door to hide his face. It leaves them cheek to cheek and lets him whisper in Querl’s ear like they’re trading state secrets. ]

Don’t tell anyone, but you’re perfect, and I want you to laugh at my stupid jokes all the time, because then you’re all lowbrow imperfect like me which makes you more perfect somehow.

[ Robbie laughs, delighted at his own babble, with its bold, blatant compliments. He feels nervy and daring and alive for instigating this. ]