[ He thought he understood the appeal of dating Querl. A mutual understanding and empathy leading to friendship, a natural progression through a linear connect-the-dots of all the clues Robbie should’ve had before friendship kaleidoscoped into more. ]

Yes. Please.

[ Emotional, messy, unwound, and undone. That’s both of them right now. This wasn’t brought on by a crush. Querl was attractive, yes, but that wasn’t what got Robbie on board with dating. It isn’t how he looks; it’s how he looks looking at Robbie like that. Vulnerable and coquettish, and Robbie doesn’t know if he wants to protect him or accost him. Both. Both is good. ]

And if you want to be bossy and tell me the solution, I’m into it, but ... I’m into what you want in general.

[ Case in point, Robbie is trying very hard to not look away, even if he feels like he’s the one coming undone, like his insides are turning into a proof of bubble quantum gravity. ]

I want messy. No - I want you, the mess and the boring clothes and your obsession with blowing things up which isn’t part of standard testing, I checked. All of it, and I don’t deserve any of it. I don’t even know what to do with you, but I don’t want to back up so good luck getting off this door.

[ He goes to steal a soft kiss, intending to only brush their lips together. ]