Duties can wait

The base was as lively as always, fellow members, low and high ranking, roaming around working on various things. Merrik looked over his list, given to him by those higher in rank than him for him to read and give orders to those below his rank. It was a bit of a boring task, but that day was a relatively slow day to begin with.

“Mudpot, you’re on scouting duty today, northern front.” Merrik said when the long haired melancholy passed by. Mudpot jumped in place and stopped, he signs, knowing full well he failed to go unnoticed by his higher up, and friend.

“Yes sir…” he says, then heads off to get his gear and get ready to head off. Merrik hadn’t looked away from the list, and still didn’t when another passed by.

“Oakheart, you’re on training duty, new trainees joined yesterday and the previous trainer is out sick” he says, He’s gotten used to telling who was around him at any given time even if he wasn’t looking. 

“Again? At this rate I might as well get appointed as a main trainer since Capri can’t ever seem to not be sick.” she complained, shaking her head.

“You’d make a better trainer regardless.” Merrik added, he’s watched Oakheart and Capricorn sparr before and Oakheart won each time, personally he’s surprised she hadn’t been given the offer yet.

“Yea, well, I’ll go to the training grounds in a bit, gotta grab my stuff first before I can teach.” Oakheart says before heading off, Merrik returns to his list, next up is…Merrik looked up and around, spotting the next on the list, trying to seduce some of the other members.

“So are you busy-” 

“Kaizer! Supplies. Now. “ Merrik raised his voice, scaring the wannabe casanova, catching Merrik glare when he looked over.

“Uuuh on second thought I gotta go.” he says, then starts heading in the direction of the supply rooms. Merrik shook his head, irritated at Kaizers behavior, then returned to his list, next was Bugzy… Merrik away from his list and looks around for Bugzy, noticing immediately that he was nowhere to be seen. Mudpot started to walk by again, and Merrik took the opportunity to question him.

“Mudpot, a moment please.” he says, instantly getting an eye roll from the melancholy.

“What now?” Mudpot asked, walking over to Merrik, now in his armor for the off chance of a fight coming up during his scouting.

“Have you seen Bugzy? He’s usually around here and he's not.” Merrik pointed out, he knows Bugzy doesn’t just stay in the main area, but that's usually where he was. Mostly because that's where Merrik was most of the time, Merrik has noted that Bugzy is much more comfortable when he was around, so it was rare for Merrik himself to not see Bugzy around.

“Huh? Bugzy?” Mudpot looked around himself, noticing Bugzy's absence in the main area as well, then shook his head. “I haven’t seen him at all today actually now that you mention it.” he says, which gets a surprised look from Merrik.

“That's… I thought Bugzy was spending time with you since I haven’t seen him all day myself.” Merrik says, even if Bugzy wasn’t spending time with Merrik, he usually spent time with Mudpot or one of their other friends who were a part of the group. Merrik didn’t expect Bugzy to only want to be around merrik all the time, even if they were dating, but not being seen by the person Bugzy was the second closest to in their small friend group? Merrik started getting worried. “I’ll go look for him then, stay safe while scouting.” he says, then puts his list away and starts walking off, Mudpot signs and heads off as well.

During this time of day, the resting quarters were effectively dead quiet and empty. Everyone was usually elsewhere, working or just hanging out with others. Even so, with how the pieces are starting to come together in Merriks head, this was the first place he thought to look. Merrik read over each of the doors labels as he walked by them, most of them he ignored, until he came to the door with Bugzy’s name on the label. Merrik instantly noticed that the door knob was missing something, Bugzy as of late started wrapping a red cloth around his door knob to let others know, specifically friends, if he was in his room or not. It’s absence told him Bugzy was in his room, which only worried Merrik more.

Merrik goes to knock, but stops for a moment to consider actually knocking or not. If what was going on was actually going on with his boyfriend, Merrik worried his presence might only make the situation worse. After a moment, he gives in and knocks on the door, if Bugzy doesn't want Merrik to be around, Bugzy will easily let him know. There was a good moment of silence after he knocked, and Merrik let a moment more go by before he spoke up.

“Bugzy, may I come in?” he says in a soft but audible voice, he knew he’d get a response, regardless of the response given. He’s response was the sound of the door unlocking and the sound of movement, Merrik noting that it sounded like the sounds of movement were going away from the door. Merrik put his hand on the door knob, takes a second to breath a bit, then opens the door. He’s greeted by the usual when it comes to Bugzy’s room, a mess, he always wondered how Bugzy could find everything in it. He already knew where Bugzy was the moment he saw Bugzy’s blankets and sheets were in a small ball on his bed.

Merrik closed the door behind him, making sure to lock the door so they didn’t have any unexpected, or unwanted visitors. Merrik walked over to the bed, sitting down on the floor and putting his back onto the support of the bed. Merrik wanted to keep his presence there, but he wanted to keep a distance as well as not to stress Bugzy out. Merrik moved his left arm onto the bed and put his hand close to the ball of blankets, light movement came from the ball when he did this. He almost moved his arm away at that moment, worried he might have accidentally stepped over the line, until a pale white hand reached out from the blankets and held onto Merriks. Well, held was putting it lightly, Bugzy’s grip was firm and shaky, which only put the nail in the coffin in Merriks opinion in regards to the situation. Bugzy’s dysphoria was having a go at him again, and it was either at its worst, or close to it.

Merrik made his own grip firm and reassuring, and with Bugzy seeming to seek out Merrik’s presence physically, Merrik took the chance to move up onto the bed, putting his back against the wall. He made sure his hand didn’t leave Bugzy’s grip while he moved, not that Bugzy would easily let go to begin with. He stays quiet, rubbing his thumb on the back of Bugzy’s hand. The silence is broken when Bugzy suddenly starts moving after a bit to get closer to Merrik, to the point of being on top of Merrik in the form of a hug. Merrik swore that if Bugzy wasn’t covered and hidden in blankets, that he might be cold, as Bugzy was trembling, as if he was freezing. He returned the hug, with Bugzy so close he can finally hear his boyfriends sniffling, it broke Merriks heart to hear it. 

Merrik once again took a chance and moved a hand up to where Bugzy’s head was, which was hidden by a blanket, and moved the blanket back some, revealing Bugzy’s face and some of his long, curly grey hair. He’s face was red from crying and he was breathing sharply, as if he was having trouble breathing, it probably felt like it to Bugzy at least, on top of that, he’s eyes were tightly shut. Bugzy slowly opened his green eyes and looked up to Merrik, who gave him a gentle smile. Tears started falling from Bugzy’s eyes and he hid his face in Merriks chest as he began to cry once again. Merrik moved his hand up to Bugzy’s head and started to stroke his head, and finally broke the silence himself.

“Bugz, you’re perfect, alright?” he says softly, and Bugzy’s hug tightened in response. “There's no part of you that is wrong or imperfect, and I love you for you, alright.” he continued, then nuzzled his face into Bugzy’s hair. Bugzy continued to cry, and Merrik continued to talk and reassure his boyfriend, and with time, Bugzy began to calm down. By the time Bugzy stopped crying and his breath had stabilized, Merrik had lost complete track of time, although at this point, he had no intention in mentioning Bugzy’s duties for the day. He’ll have to deal with the higher ups later, so Bugzy didn’t get his head bitten off when he needed love and support the most, at least Bugzy was the last on his list. Right now though, none of that mattered to Merrik, right now the only person who mattered to him right now was his sweetheart of a boyfriend, and he’ll stay here with Bugzy as long as he needed.

Their duties can wait.