Title: Matters
Rating: PG
Summary: This was how taking his ashtray and cigarette came into play.
Pairing: Hal/Dave
Warning: Angsty fluff? I suppose.
Disclaimer: Kojima's.
---
In that single moment, Hal regretted holding that lighter out to Dave's unlit cigarette. Now he'd have to watch him to hack his lungs out (and given the aging process, Dave was probably literally hacking his lungs out) while carrying the ashtray, along with wasted cigarette away.
Sure, Dave's death was imminent. But it didn't stop Hal from caring, even though Dave's newfound (maybe – increased?) cynicism and general moodiness put a little distance between them.
That, and despite the fact that 'age' and appearance shouldn't have mattered in the case of deep, true, etcetera, love, they had gradually stopped grasping each other tightly on an empty bunker on the Nomad, away from Sunny's curious, prying eyes and mind. It's not like she was entirely stupid; surely she would have seen those hand squeezes and little pecks on the cheek, all those tiny romantic things that still existed regardless of the state of Hal and Dave's troubled fate together. And these were all the tiny romantic things Hal would pretend didn't matter too much, the things he tried not to cling to, because he knew that it would all be over soon and he would be left alone again.
And this was how taking his ashtray and cigarette came into play – he knew Dave was more of an actions man than a words man. Because while nothing was said, not even a retaliation from Dave's lips, it didn't have to be explained that Hal cared enough to let him indulge in one of life's little pleasures that he had left, yet cared enough to stop him before he really messed one of those shrivelled organs up even more.
It spoke volumes. As did Hal's actions, as he leant over to offer his hand before pulling Dave into a long kiss.
Of course it all mattered.
END
