harbingerofrot

[harbingerofrot]

A kiss? Harbinger looks straight into Charon’s face, and he can tell that he is blushing by the heat pooling on his cheeks at the mere mention of a kiss. It was one of the very few things he was able to provide when it came to physical contact and while he always craved for such an opportunity to display some modicum of intimacy, it didn’t come easy for Walter to open himself up and let other people in. The perpetual fear of hurting others lingered in his mind. Behind every thought. Behind every action. What if this was the time he would lose control and accidentally kill someone else like he did to that poor scientist? One thing was killing people because he was ordered to dispose of them, and another was… well… that. He took a deep breath. Almost like steeling himself for what was to come but Walter definitely did not expect for Nero to lean in and press a tender kiss on his cheek. If he wasn’t blushing before, he definitely was now. There was something so sweet about such a simple action. So pure. His lips curled into a smile,e and before he could think twice about what he was doing, both of his hands were pulling Nero’s face toward him so that he could press their lips together.

A kiss. He could give one kiss. He focused for long enough to let himself kiss and be kissed by Nero, shyly parting open his mouth so that his tongue could seek the other man’s. It wasn’t a full-on makeout session but definitely a more intimate kiss than one pressed against his cheek. And right before things would escalate, Walter pulled back. Resting his forehead against the other agent’s gloved hands moving to hold onto Nero’s broad shoulders for a moment or two. Now that… was a kiss. “To be continued once we both return.” How far he could try this was something not even Walter could predict. But who knows? “I won’t be cocky and say for you to come back alive for another kiss but if that’s the incentive you need to come back?” Well… whatever worked, right?

"What? No! I was going to..." Nero's breath was shallow, his heartbeat racing as he tried to think of something, anything to make up for his apparent failed attempt to bed the fellow agent. But he couldn't help but feel like there was more. More to Walter. Enough for Nero to always have him in his sights. Something tender, something... Something Nero wanted. "I was going to ask for.."

"A kiss." Nero could have guessed where he would have gone with this. His mind raced a million thoughts a second. Each one a strand on Nero's body that managed to pull him closer to the fellow agent. "Just one... Just.." Nero moved a bit closer, feeling the cool brisk air between them as he places a kiss onto Walter's cheek. "There."

"Sorry.. I.. I should have waited for an answer..." He swallowed dryly, a slight pain throbbed in his throat as he caught a sob in his throat. "But, you never know, right?" He chuckles softly, wiping anxious tears from his face.

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It was kind of nice to know someone like Nero would not be judging him. He had absolutely no idea that Casper was a mole when he interrogated him. And he had killed a lot of rats that day, seeking for answers that could pinpoint the identity of the mole. It was sad to know that he was working for the ones behind the events of Hell Week. He must have his reasons to do what he did – but that would be something that neither of them would ever know. It was sad, but it was true. Walter chuckled in response, his gaze now following Charon as he remained close – someone Walter had been grown to appreciate in these past couple of days. Someone easy to look at yes, but also intelligent and perfectly capable of having a conversation with someone and stimulating them in more ways than just plain sexual. Which was quite complicated in his case. ”

A favor?” The question was unexpected, and Walter was sure that the look of confusion on his face would say it all. What sort of favor? Maybe it was something like keeping a positive outlook on life if he survived or letting people in by lowering the walls around him. But how else would he keep others safe if not by keeping them at arm’s length? One wrong moment, one momentary distraction and that was it. It would be enough to make someone cease to exist. Another innocent life lost because he couldn’t control himself. “You’re not going to ask to sleep with me, are you?” That probably sounded too incredibly vain. Even Walter could feel his cheeks burning from the audacity of his own question. “You know how hard it is for me to remain focused in those times. And I am not risking your life for a nice roll in the way, Nero. You mean too much to me for that.”

"Oh, you know me, I could never judge you." Nero says with a smile, but his voice didn't hide his feelings at all. He had quite the emotional whiplash these past few days, finding out the identity of the mole had been an agent he'd respected devastated him. Finding the person who might have helped him could be staring at him in the face, it just might break Nero's heart. Seeing Walter here in front of him, collared and powerless, how could it not. His eyes scanned the other's face, pieces of him aligning with memories of their time in the medbay after hell week. His eyes twinkling as he spotted him from across the bar. His hair still styled nicely and yet Nero ever so tempted to run his hand through it. There's a phantom feeling of sorts in his hands, befuddling Nero as he felt the tautness of medical gloves over his palms. Glancing down he could see they were their, but the feeling of holding what made Walter a favorable pick as a teammate in his gloved hands.

"I don't think you knew either." He attempts to say in a softer and quieter tone. A lonesome expression paints Nero's face. He brings a hand to Walter's shoulder, giving a sympathetic squeeze in hope of reassuring him. He still was the pair of shoulders Harbinger could depend on. Nero's brow quirks, the set of questions making him uneasy. They shouldn't have. Nero knew the consequences of their line of work. Harbinger asking these questions now must mean he was starting to understand too. Despite this, Nero refused to let him think that way. He wanted Walter to rage against the dying of the light with all he had if it came to it. For his own sake. He steps closer to the collared agent. "I'd miss you, Walt." He manages out, a pout joining his concerned expression, "Not that I want to entertain this, but if we don't see each other again, can you do me a favor?"

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A pretty big favor to ask. It most definitely was but with all things considered, who better than someone who could rot things to dust to be the one to weaken the bloody thing? Harbinger remained silent for a while, interlocking his fingers over his lap as he listened to the concerns and experiences of someone who had been through that. It was indeed a pretty big ask, but who better than him to do it? Everyone else had their uses. Powers and abilities that were more suited to a different array of tasks than his own. All he could do was decay that which was alive. Rot it until it became nothing.

”That’s why it needs to be me.” His lips curled into a resigned smile. “All I can do is rot things, Theseus. Human bodies are easy but something that large – I need to be at the source. That’s why I joined.” Because anywhere else, he wouldn’t be as useful. He was good for assassination missions or eliminating troublesome issues but in a large fight? “What better chance will we get than this? If I get close enough – or even inside the core – I can rot her from the inside out. Give everyone an opening to finish the job.” And if the cost for that was himself? “More risky than being unable to touch people? Fearing that I will accidentally kill someone merely by kissing them or touching them with my gloves off?” It was worth the risk. “Theseus…” With a chuckle – albeit a weak one – Walter took the other agent's hand onto his own. “If you think strategy, what I am proposing is effective. Please… I want to help. Use this curse I have for at least one good thing.”

theseus was silent as he listens, guiding the other man to take a seat on his makeshift bed.           and for a moment, that's all he could do as walter speaks: listen and take his plan in, knowing full well that he was planning to do the same. for him, it was to even a score he had with the moldy bitch ... and to avenge the deaths that would have been avoided, if only he was strong enough.    "   that's a ... pretty big favor to ask.   "    he says, sitting beside him, all focus are now on him and him only. under him, the earth seemed to shift as well: the tent seemed dimmer and quieter now, as if they are in their own world.

"   walter, you do know this is not an easy ask, right?   "    he tried to keep his tone leveled ... and not as pleading as he had in his head as the same dread he felt before came crawling through him again.    "   controlling her the first time ... just trying to bond with that network the first time was the worst experience of my life.   "    he continues, trying to be his most convincing. because this was not a sacrifice he can let anyone take. not when he can try to do something about it.    "   she's strong. stronger than we think. she will probably know your plan before you could even come close. this plan could be risky for you.   "

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”Sorry for disturbing you.” Walter gives the other agent a quick smile, entering Theseus tent for much needed privacy. They were on the same group – the one seeking the origin of the mold and finish it once and for all. What other group would he be capable of joining if not one where his decaying abilities would be better used? “I have a favor to ask.” Gloved fingers traced the edge of the collar around his neck and Harbinger shook his head, temporarily unable to look at the other man in the eye. “I’m sure I won’t be able to decay the mold unless I’m at the source.” Which meant coming into direct contact with whatever that thing was. “I need you to help me do it. Maybe… Maybe I can rot it from the inside out. Create an opening for the rest.” Even if that came at a great, personal cost. “Don’t say no. I have amends I need to make, Theseus. This is my chance to do it.”

LOCATION   :      CAMPSITE   -   THESEUS' TENT.

"   big day tomorrow. shouldn't you be resting?   "           theseus says, though his tone is more amused than anything. happy, really, for the company. saying that tomorrow will be a big day is a massive understatement ... especially for the both of them who will be facing the heart of it all.    "   come on in. you still haven't told me what this is about.   "

closed starter for @harbingerofrot.

[harbingerofrot]

@youmustswearonit liked for a camp starter

”Are you here to judge me too?” There was no malice in his voice. If anything, there was a hint of amusement as Walter turned his head toward Nero, greeting the other agent with a smile on his lips. “I was never one to worry about fashion, but I think the collar is a bit outdated, right?” Every word he said, every action he took… now to be scrutinized by those holding the leash. “I didn’t know he was a mole. I did my best, and that was not enough.” And that was enough for him to be a suspect. Which Walter understood. They were merely following rule,s and what he could do now was prove himself to those above. “Do you think this will be the last time we will see each other?” His gaze moved from the other agent to some invisible point that only Harbinger could see. “If it is… I wonder if anyone will miss me. If I did enough to make a difference.”

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@uncanines liked for a camp starter

A sigh dances past his lips. He can hear the footsteps of the other agent approaching, undoubtedly ready to question him about the collar around his neck or maybe inquire him why he deemed Casper trustworthy when he had been a mole all along. If only he could give people answers that would ease their minds. Harbinger understood the reason behind him being collared. The device tightly secured around his neck was nothing more than a monitoring device to keep track of the things he did and said. What better way to check if he was a good person than on the field, right? “I don’t have answers for you. I’m sorry.” Walter gave the other agent an apologetic smile. Almost as if everyone wondered how he had failed to see that Casper was the mole. “I did everything by the books – and this is what I get.” A collar around his neck like a dog – the invisible leash pulled by unseen hands. “I’ll still do my best.” His team was depending on it, after all. “I understand if you can’t trust me as well – but I do want for us to succeed.”

[harbingerofrot]

@deadlypandora liked for a camp starter

The collar around his neck was… unexpected. Harbinger understood the reasons why he was collared after Casper was revealed to be a mole – but not like he was aware of that information at the time of their interrogation. Maybe he should have done things differently? Not like Harbinger could blame others of being suspicious. He had one job and in return, he had considered Casper trustworthy when he was not. Of course, there would be suspicion upon him too. And… that was ok. There were bigger things happening right now and the last thing he wanted was to seem ungrateful or complain. The fact that he was collared didn’t mean he couldn’t be of help. If anything, he wanted to be even more helpful to prove his loyalty to Pandora. “Sorry.” His gloved fingers stopped playing with his collar and moved to pick a lock of his hair, his attention shifting from his thoughts to the newcomer approaching him. “Did you say something? I was… thinking.”

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A sharp inhale motion took place the moment the other agent’s fingers began to approach him and play with his hair. Walter was definitely blushing over the whole favorite place being the bed comment – but it was the sudden proximity that made him almost freeze on the spot. He could control it now. Even a brush against his skin would otherwise be considered fatal – but with enough training and focus, he could keep some modicum of physical contact. Not the whole thing. It was very, very hard to maintain his powers from being constantly active if his mind was elsewhere – if his focus shifted to something else more than keeping the rot away. But such a simple action, a brush of his hair… how he wanted to lean into the contact, to feel someone’s warm skin pressed against his own. That was probably the thing he had missed the most ever since he got his powers. That physical touch. That intimacy that came with feeling someone’s skin pressed against his own.

”It’s ok.” Walter cleared his throat and he could feel his cheeks burning momentarily. Why was it that every time an attractive man would talk to him, he would be reduced to a blushing mess? Was it because he couldn’t act on the things the wanted to do? Not like he had a monumental ego or anything – he was good looking – but there were so many other people way more attractive than him around. People who could give in to their urges and wants without any fear or doubt. Much unlike him. “I’ve learned to suppress it. Took me awhile.” Moving from his spot, Walter adjusted his clothes ( synthetic of course ) before keeping himself close to Nero but not close enough to purposely enter his personal space. He always needed to be mindful of that. “As long as I don’t get distracted with something else, you should be in the clear. But… let’s not test fate. You have a very pretty face and it would be criminal to make it all vanish.”

Nero often wished the serum could give him just an inkling of an ability, a way to connect with his fellow agents when they were hurt. Physically or emotionally. While people could argue he already did the former from the comfort of his bed, Nero held the stubborn thought that there was always a more substantial way to help Pandora's front liners. Sometimes that meant being a set of ears. He brought a hand up to brush itself across Walter's face, tucking a strand of the blonde's hair behind his ear. Nero would usually catch himself from doing something like this, but liquor often had a way of bring his impulses to the surface. "My favorite place is my room and on any other day, I'd be more than happy to uh, entertain you there, but… I'm sure we're both too drunk. Too upset, yeah?"

"Medbay should be empty during this time of night." Nero begins to offer, "A couple of medical beds and a some banana bags should help us sober up, eh?" His hand continued to trail along the fellow agent's shoulder, softly running across his back before coming to rest on Walter's shoulder. He read his file, big cuddly looking guy with a power that would make anyone else feel untouchable. Nero found him quite charming, and gentle. He wanted to know what made a man so powerful talk so soft, as soft as the hair Nero found his fingers beginning to toy around with. Blinking, Nero retracted his hand, "Sorry about that, my hands have a habit of thinking for me at times, heh." He chuckles awkwardly before standing up from his seat, his brown eyes searching over the heads of his fellow agents until he found the exit sign. He turns back to Walter, nodding his head towards the exit's direction. "Shall we get going?"

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He knew the mention of porn was a mistake right after the words left his mouth, but he couldn’t fight back the laugh that danced from his lips at how suddenly excited his roommate seemed to be with that concept. “Everyone does it, right?” He could feel his cheeks heating. He coughed slightly to clear his throat as he took a couple of steps back from Thierry so that he wouldn’t realize how badly he was blushing right now. How else would he take care of his needs? Not like he could touch others – with the exception of Dante. Even that chaste kiss that he had exchanged with his roommate had required quite a deal of focus and concentration so that he wouldn’t turn poor Thierry into dust. “I…” Gosh. Walter shook his head and sat on the couch, quickly pulling a pillow that he proceeded to hug like his life depended on it. Not that Shriek would judge him. He was fully aware that it would not happen. And while everyone was aware of his reluctance to touch others, this appeared to be a lot more impactful than just that. It was almost like he was showing a part of his soul to his roommate.

”I can’t touch people.” Something that everyone already knew. “And I have needs. It’s easy for everyone to just kiss someone and have sex but…” Walter sighed, his gloved fingers brushing away his hair while he actively avoided looking at Thierry. “It took me so much effort to control what I could do just to kiss your lips, let alone become fully intimate with someone.” And he had needs – he would jerk off on the daily, wishing and hoping that maybe one day he would be able to control himself enough not to kill the person he was with. “It’s embarrassing, Thierry. I don’t want you to think I’m a loser or something.” It was just him and his hand or if he was lucky Dante when they had the time to be together. The only person he was not scared of hurting simply because he couldn’t. “I tend to… do that late at night. When you’re sleeping. Or when you’re… uh… not around.” Gosh – this was embarrassing on a brand new level. “Do you… watch it too? I mean, I doubt you need it. Pretty face like yours must get all the attention.”

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃                   ▪                 *   shriek.            this   agency   was   designed   to   keep   everyone   from   making   connections,   and   while   yes,   it   was   for   good   reason,   it   was   also   impractical   in   the   screaming   agent's   eyes:   you   can't   stop   human   connection   or   emotion   …   it   was   literally   just   natural.   if   they   really   wanted   everyone   out   for   themselves   and   that   only,   the   agency   would   have   stuck   them   in   single   pods   or   something   (   though   they   wouldn't   dare   say   that   aloud   …   don't   want   anyone   getting   ideas   about   that,   this   place   was   suffocating   enough.)   rules   or   no   rules,   thierry   wasn't   just   gonna   let   walter   sit   in   his   misery.   hell,   it   was   probably   a   service   to   the   agency   now   that   they   thought   about   it:   a   depressed   operative   seemed   like   a   risk   factor   anyways.   thierry's   laugh   is   infectious   as   they   see   the   blonde's   features   turn   to   pure   shock. 

now   the   kiss   …   they   weren't   expecting   that,   and   suddenly   was   beginning   to   see   the   rewards   of   staying.   also,   that   was   a   big   gesture:   walter   didn't   like   to   touch   anyone   out   of   that   reasonable   but   isolating   fear   of   turning   anyone   in   their   contact   to   dust,   so   the   fact   that   they   even   mustered   up   the   courage   led   alone   the   control   to   plant   one   on   their   lips   without   the   slightest   sensation   of   dryness   or   a   crackling   feeling   of   flesh   crumbling   was   an   endearing   indication.   ❛   well   aren't   you   sweet,   but   save   the   sugar   for   later   …   you   might   just   need   it   ~   ❜   thierry   wiggles   their   brows   as   they   hear   out   walter's   options:   horrors   were   always   thrilling,   a   little   romance   never-   wait,   did   he   just   offer   porn   ?   ❛   you've   got   porn   on   your   laptop   ?   walter,   tu   es   vilain,   vilain   garçon   !   ❜   feigning   shock,   thierry's   expression   goes   from   a   fake   gasp   to   an   impish   grin   as   they   lean   in.   ❛   and   do   be   so   kind   as   to   tell   me   what   the   mighty   walter   simmons   jerks   off   to   when   I'm   not   around   …   or   if   I   am   around   ~   ❜

[harbingerofrot]

It’s not that he needed a shoulder to cry on. The mere notion of sobbing the loss of those that died during the raid was enough to turn his cheeks into a much deeper shade of crimson. What was it with this annoying tendency to blush whenever someone would get closer to him or say something that strung his emotions. There were moments when he would find himself asking if he was fit to being an agent. He understood what the role entailed. He understood that death was inevitable for every single one of them. But that didn’t make things easy. It didn’t make it ok to celebrate their survival when others had been met with their own untimely death. The mere thought of being unable to help – unable to save them was enough to make Walter clench his fists, the gloves now stretching over his hands, keeping that soft, protective blanket over him. Just because they should accept the fact that they could indeed die and that they couldn’t save everyone… it didn’t make it any easier. It shouldn’t. That’s when their humanity was gone and they would become nothing more than weapons to be wielded by those in power.

”I wouldn’t say I need to cry…” A nervous chuckle danced from his lips as Walter could definitely feel the flush on his cheeks, something he found a solution for by drinking his beer as quickly as he could – hoping he wouldn’t end up drooling or spilling its contents all over himself. Now that… would be bloody mortifying. “I just don’t feel we should be celebrating when lives were lost.” There was a hint of sadness in his voice, fingers locking one strand of his hair behind his ear as he glanced at the other man. He never really liked crowds anyway. Made it all the more important to keep himself focused on his own powers than he normally would in the privacy of his own room. “Do you have a favorite place?” The question was presented with a smile – one that he hoped it would assist in dissipating any dark clouds in the other agent’s mind. “We could go there. Away from… well – this. I’m happy everyone is happy but…” But there were things that couldn’t be forgotten.

"Yeah, just wished the booze was half way decent. If it doesn't help me forget what happened, the least it could do was help me sleep." Nero grumbles out against the lips of the bottle, meeting flush with his own as he took another swig. The burn of the liquor flowing past the soreness in his throat, sore from the crying from the night before, burning as he found himself trying to stop crying now. It was a tricky life to handle, tricky life to come to terms with, a balance of putting your life for the cause while never truly trusting those that fought beside you. Perhaps that so called balance was no longer possible by virtue of being in Pandora. His deep brown eyes still move themselves across the bar, scanning across the faces of their so called compatriots before Nero turns to look at Walter as his hesitant voice reaches him. "Nice to meet you, Walter."

"Need a refill?" Nero offers, placing his half finish drink into Walter's gloved hand. After all these years working with other Pandora agents, Nero still had a bad habit of taking his fellow agents at face value. In a place where keeping the cards close to your chest seemed second nature to other agents here, at times it made Charon feel inadequate. Then again, unless he were to gain sudden mind reading abilities this late into his time in Atlantis, a surface level view of them was sometimes all Charon had to go off on. Nero couldn't help in catching himself staring at the other man, studying his pout, wondering if it was genuine. His hand let's go from the bottle, patting the fellow agent's shoulder before leaning closer to his ear. "If you're not going to party, perhaps we can go elsewhere. You look like you could use a shoulder to cry on, pal."

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”It’s not that.” Words come out of his mouth quicker than his brain can register. He feels guilty now – a pang in his chest and a rock in his stomach as Walter sees the look on the other man’s face. A look he knows too well. One of guilt and fear and resentment. One where every fiber of his being screamed to be accepted only to be aware of how others reacted and felt in their presence. He could not feel what others felt, but he recognized fear and shame in eyes as blue as his own. “It’s not you. It’s… me.” People already avoided hi,m knowing that a touch could kill them. That a brush against his skin could make their skin dry and become grey, to rot and peel like dust followed by muscle and bone… all in a matter of heartbeats. “I do not want you to experience what I did. It is not – It is not something I wish anyone else having to endure. I’m sorry.”

A barely audible chuckle dances from his lips as Walter closes his eyes for a second. “My power is death. I steal the life of everything that lives with a touch and watch it decay until it’s no more than dust. And – I can control it now but I couldn’t back then.” Back then when his powers manifested and he killed that one scientist merely by touching him. Even years after he could still remember his screams. The look on his face as life was taken from him, as his skin dried and eyes disappeared into the sockets. As a perfectly healthy man became the equivalent of a mummy… and then dust. “It’s not because I do not trust you – I just don’t want you to live what I did. No one… no one deserves that.” Again, a chuckle. Walter clears his throat, a gloved hand moving to play with his hair for a moment as he granted a moment of silence for them to process. To be present. To start anew. “Perhaps talking about something else would lighten our moods? I don’t like seeing other people sad either. Makes me sad.”

/// 𝖆𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖞 , w. harbinger. /// the instant he senses a dramatic shift in walter's body language and vibe, ari feels his heart sink ever so slightly. clearly, it was too much too soon to offer use of his powers to help the other cope with what must be extremely heavy, confusing emotions. this is one of the many downsides he's pinpointed when it comes to his abilities. while he understands that his empathy has major upsides in the opinions of some people, many others look at him differently once they know what he's about. this has happened before — someone losing trust in ari out of fear that he's been manipulating or controlling their emotions the whole time they've known him, or they're worried that he has an all-access pass to their history and traumas. in truth, those are things he would never do; not without someone's consent, at least. he would much rather make friends with people all on his own. relying on his powers for that would be very shameful.

❝ you're right, ❞ he begins, eyes angled down toward his lap. he can't help but feel a little meek now, but he's trying his best not to make any of this about himself. ❝ m'sorry if i crossed any boundaries, or freaked you out or anything... and m'sorry if i insinuated that you aren't capable of processing your emotions on your own. ❞ he half-smiles, nodding his head for emphasis. ❝ i think it's really great that you've been able to learn so much in your solitude, even if it hasn't always been comfortable, or fun. honestly, not many people are able to do that on their own. it tells me a lot about your character. ❞ reaching for his drink, he takes a long sip of it; eager to calm the new nerves that cropped up after this conversation. ❝ wow, i, uh... totally didn't mean to kill the mood. forgive me. maybe i should slow down on the cocktails. ❞

[harbingerofrot]

Whatever he was expecting, this wasn’t it. Walter wanted Thierry to go to the party. To mingle, to socialize… maybe even get laid because he was a good-looking man. He would be just fine in the confines of their apartment with some movies and popcorn, anything to distract him from the hell they all went through before. It wouldn’t be easy but Harbinger was adamant about pushing that sort of thoughts away from his head from at least tonight. But he wasn’t expecting Thierry to return. Or to bring sustenance and simply forgo the party in order to spend time with him doing what he felt it would be the most enjoyable activity that one could do alone – that did not include masturbation. So… that happened. And Walter could only catch his jaw after eating the ground at the sudden change of plans, his head tilting toward his roommate – almost as if he was trying to be absolutely sure that Thierry was doing this for himself and not just because he felt a modicum of pity toward him.

”You really don’t need to do this.” He really didn’t but Walter could feel the heat reaching his cheeks – not just at Thierry unzipping his clothes and showing off some skin but also to the simple action of wanting to spend time with him. Not leaving him alone – which was something Walter did on the daily. “Before that…” It took him a moment. Several seconds stretched into infinity and back as Walter took very long and deep breaths as if he was centering himself. This would require concentration. This would require a clear head. And once he felt his heartbeat slow down just enough for him to know he was calm – Harbinger leaned close to Thierry and pressed a gentle, almost chaste kiss on the other man’s lips. It was funny how much focus he needed to have to just kiss someone – especially knowing his emotional state would determine how much control he had on not decaying everything around him. But he did kiss Thierry. It wasn’t a long kiss – but a kiss nevertheless as Walter pulled back with a smile and scooted closer to the other man – trying to keep the skin-on-skin contact to a bare minimum. “Thank you.” Staying there with him was… it meant a lot more than Walter could put into words. “I was thinking some comedy movies or B-Rate horror ones because those are always funny…” Yet – there was a blush on his cheeks. “Or we could do romance. I … may also have porn on my laptop but that is weird to watch with someone else – not that I’m suggesting – but those are the options I have.”

𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃                   ▪                 *   shriek.            now   it   was   hard   to   leave   for   the   impromptu   party   knowing   that   their   roomie   was   going   to   be   boarding   alone.   yeah,   yeah,   the   agency   said   no   attachments,   and   don't   get   the   screamer   wrong,   they'd   do   what   was   necessary   if   the   time   ever   came,   but   it   just   wasn't   in   their   nature   to   give   such   a   cold   shoulder.   talk   about   a   terrible   luck   of   the   draw,   being   shoved   into   an   underwater   containment   base   surrounded   by   a   multitude   of   sexy   agents   all   riled   and   horned   for   each   other   in   some   variation   and   being   stuck   with   the   one   power   that   basically   was   a   horrible   gamble   on   whether   or   not   you   kill   someone   with   a   simple   touch.   it   just   wasn't   fair,   but   life   often   wasn't.   ❛   ne   me   fais   pas   bouder,   blonde.   ❜   thierry   puts   on   a   fake   pout   as   they   think   for   a   brief   second.   a   snap   of   their   finger   as   they   figure   out   just   what   to   do   to   remedy   all   of   this.   ❛   don't   wait   up   on   me,   I've   got   a   bit   of   something   to   go   pick   up.   ❜   thierry   muses   with   a   slide   out   of   their   door   …

…   after   about   20   minutes,   the   screecher   returns   with   not   only   two   cold   drinks   in   hand,   but   also   three   bags   of   what   look   like   food.   ❛   so   what   are   we   watching   tonight   ?   ❜   if   walter   really   thought   that   thierry   was   gonna   let   them   sulk   in   their   self-isolation   by   not   coming   to   the   little   party,   then   the   little   party   would   simply   have   to   come   to   walter:   french   style.   plopping   right   down   next   to   the   rot-bringer,   thierry   easily   unzips   their   attire   for   the   night;   wasn't   like   they   hadn't   seen   any   of   it,   hell   they   were   roommates.   if   walter   was   a   good   boy,   sometimes   they'd   do   a   little   walkthrough   in   nothing   but   their   underwear   just   to   make   them   blush.   all   that   to   say,   thierry   enjoyed   adding   a   bit   of   ‘pizazz’   to   the   necrosis-inducing   agent's   daily   routine. 

[harbingerofrot]

An empath? It’s not that Walter had anything against empaths or people who could assist others with their own emotions and thoughts – but the mention that the man sitting beside him was one of them… made him feel uneasy. No, he did not require help, he did not need someone to help him forget what troubled him or ease his mind. He did not want to burden someone else with the weight he had on his shoulders. That was his burden to bear and no one else’s. Besides – he really, really, really didn’t want anyone knowing what he was feeling and why he was feeling it. That was a level of vulnerability that he was not willing to accept or embark – at least not with someone else. Someone he just barely knew. “I appreciate your offer, but please don’t. It’s … very kind of you but…”

His knuckles clenched under his gloves and Walter proceeded to drink his beer in record time, not because he wanted to avoid the other man but the thought of someone else realizing what he was feeling was a bit overwhelming for him. “My emotions are my own. Whether I am stressed or happy – sad or angry – I should be the one going through them alone. Process them at my own time and pace.” Sure, he could see the appeal, and maybe talking to someone who could feel his emotions and help him process things would be beneficial, but at the same point – a part of him wanted to feel the weight of his decisions. The same way he felt the weight of the curse that rushed through his body and made him kill things with a touch. “I’ve been alone for a few years now.” He motions to his gloves with an almost apologetic smile. “I have learned to process my thoughts and feelings by myself – because that’s all I had learned how to do.” Being away from others, being isolated, being feared. “It was very kind of you to offer, and I truly appreciate it but… It’s my burden to carry. I’m sorry.”

/// 𝖆𝖋𝖋𝖎𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖞 , w. harbinger. /// while he does his best to keep his powers at bay whenever he's engaged in more casual conversations, he can't help but pick up on the tension that's circulating through walter's system. he's an empath even when he's off the clock, as annoying as that can be sometimes. that said, ari would never interfere and manipulate anyone's emotions unless they wanted him to, so he aims to add lightness to his interactions with those who are wound up in an attempt to get them to unwind a little bit. in this case, maybe the alcohol walter's sipping on will help him chill out some, too, but even if that's not enough of an influence, ari's typically pretty exceptional at easing the stress of other's on his own. honestly speaking, he's always wondered if his powers manifested how they did because of his expertise in crisis management. ❝ c'mon, your hair isn't boring. it may be straight, but it literally looks like gold. it refracts light so well, too. ❞

when walter finally relents and agrees to another beer, ari calls the bartender over and orders it; doing so quickly so the other man wouldn't have time to change his mind. ❝ fine, fine, fine, you can get the next round. i won't complain about that ! ❞ ari exclaims, taking another sip of his drink, half-way empty now, and when walter offers a cheers to their night, he raises his glass; happy to celebrate. ❝ hell yeah, man. you're great company too, and if you need a little help getting rid of any, like... emotional troubles, or like, you really wanna forget about things tonight, i can help with that. ❞ hopefully his offer doesn't seem sketchy. he'd just hate for walter not to enjoy himself as much as he could be. ❝ i'm an empath. emotions are my game, so... ❞