#marked mature just in case but this chapter's pretty tame and I don't know how chapter 2 will turn out just yet

[chroniclesinlacuna]

Sharp and Soft (ch 1)

M | Nate/Male Detective (Dex DiBella)

After falling through a hole, twice, Dex needs some time to recover. And Nate needs to see he's alright. (rewrite of the recovery and pool table scenes)

It was almost…easier, in the immediate aftermath. Air heavy with dust and stained red and heady with spilled blood. He’d gotten used to breathing in, steady and calm against the sharp heat of it. Seeing Dex crumpled on the floor had done something horrible to his insides - had cracked something vital between his ribs - but he knew what to do with that. Knew to get him up, get him out, get him to help.

Here though…here, he’s lost. He stares hard at the door, listening close - listening to the painful scrapes of Dex’s breathing as he no doubt forces himself up to sit in response to the knock, and in that moment he wishes he hadn’t - wishes he’d walked away and continued his silent vigil, leaving the man to rest. But…

“Nate, come on…” He hadn’t spoken. Isn’t quite sure how Dex knows. But he’s opening the door without another moment’s hesitation, unable to resist any longer.

He’d seen Dex since they’d gotten back of course - had even helped settle him into the bed when cleared by Elidor - but in the rush to get him settled, in the mess of reporting and being careful of ripped edges, frayed nerves, it hadn’t really sunk in.

Facing him now, in the warm glow of the bedside lamp, he looks small in a way Nate hadn’t thought possible - pale skin broken up by bandages and smears of black-purple brusing. He doesn’t realize he’s just standing there again, staring, until Dex shifts again, pushing himself up even higher, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“That bad, huh?” read the rest on ao3