"Are you okay?" Zeb cries, hurrying over to help him towards the door.
"Fine," Alex answers through gritted teeth, praying that his leg would behave long enough for him to get inside and that it would start working again after a bit of resting. If not, he wasn't sure how he was going to get home that night.
"Here." Ahsoka hands him a towel when he finally makes it to the door with Zeb's help (mercifully Zeb wasn't asking too many questions, which he was infinitely grateful for.)
"Thank you." Alex nods his thanks as he accepts the towel, starting to dry himself off.
"You really took a drenching, didn't you?" Zeb says, grabbing a second towel and helping to dry him off. It was all Alex could do not to swallow too noticeably as the other man starts rubbing his legs down, and he couldn't help but wonder if he was doing this on purpose or if he even realized what he was doing.
"I'm afraid you'll catch a cold staying in those wet clothes," Hera says, frowning as she looks Alex over. "Kanan might have something you can borrow…"
"Kanan's a bit shorter than him," Zeb quickly puts in. "Mine might fit him a bit better."
He turns to Kallus. "I live just across the way if you don't mind a short walk."
Alex was tempted to say that, as much as he appreciated Zeb's offer, Kanan's clothes actually might fit him a bit better. But then he saw the hopeful expression on Zeb's face and realized that Zeb was inviting him to come alone with him to his house and suddenly he was very much okay with risking going out in the rain again.
"I don't mind at all," he says, and the expression on Zeb's face was more than enough to make up for the fact that he was quite possibly going to end up drenched again.
"All right," Hera says, seeming to catch the undercurrent of their conversation and visibly fighting back a smirk as she opens the coat closet to pull out an umbrella. "At least take this."
"Thanks, Hera." Zeb accepts it and then, carefully opening the front door, opens the umbrella just outside before stepping out underneath it.
"You coming?" he asks, grinning as he gestures for Alex to join him.
"Absolutely," Alex answers, stepping out under the umbrella as well.
"You're going?" Ezra cries, running up to the door with a heartbroken look on his face.
"Just for a little while," Zeb promises. "We'll try to come back if the rain stops, okay?"
"Okay…" Ezra agrees, not looking entirely happy but nodding as he returns to the rest of his family.
"I almost feel bad leaving him like that," Alex admits as he and Zeb make their way across the street.
"Don't," Zeb reassures him. "Nothing keeps him down for long, and he's got three fawning uncles and an aunt over there with him, he won't even miss us."
"I suppose so," Alex agrees, doing his best to quell his guilt, which he succeeded in doing fairly well once the two of them reach the landing of the house across the street and Zeb unlocks the door.
"It's not much," Zeb says a bit hesitantly as he flips the light on. "I live by myself, and I'm not much of a decorator… I tried to get it cleaned up this morning in case you wanted to… Well… You know."
"It's charming," Alex reassures him, perhaps a bit less than truthfully. The interior of the house was a bit empty and stark, and the mismatched Goodwill furniture clearly had been picked more for comfort and value than for style. Still, the fact that Zeb had made a point of cleaning the place up in hopes that he would be coming over meant a good deal to him, and he would take that over the most fastidiously decorated home in the city.
As he walks a bit further into the living room while Zeb sets the umbrella to dry in the front entryway, he catches sight of himself in a small mirror on the wall, and his heart sinks a bit. His usually meticulously combed and gelled hair had melted in the rain, now hanging loosely around his face.
"I look like such a mess…" he quietly groans to himself, hopelessly trying to fix his hair back into some semblance of order.
"Leave it," Zeb says softly, surprising him by coming up behind him and putting his hands on his shoulders. "I think it looks good that way."
"Do you now?" Alex asks, smirking slightly as he turns around and trying to not let on that he was both excited and a bit nervous about where this seemed to be going. It had been so long since he'd done anything like this, what if he was a complete disappointment?
"Absolutely," Zeb breathes huskily in his ear, and Alex feels his heart leap up into his throat as he finds himself being pushed up against the wall, Zeb's lips against his neck, sending fire through his veins. He lets out a soft moan, knowing that he was being far too eager but not caring as Zeb moves his legs apart, pressing himself in between them, making Alex want him in a way he hadn't wanted anyone in quite some time-
"Aaah!" Alex lets out a cry of pain as suddenly a jolt of pain slices through his leg, and he surely would have crumpled to the floor if Zeb hadn't been there.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Zeb asks, all traces of the romantic mood from only moment before gone as he takes Alex by the shoulders. "Karabast, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed that you wanted-"
"N-No," Alex manages to get out between gritted teeth, trying to fight back the tears of pain that were pricking at his eyes. "N-Not you… It-It's my damn l-leg…"
Zeb's eyes go wide with understanding. "Why didn't you tell me?" he cries, and, before Alex can even react, scoops him up into his arms and starts carrying him over to the slightly battered couch in the middle of the living room.
"You stay there," Zeb says firmly when Alex starts to try to stand up after he sets him down. "I'll be right back."
Alex sinks into the couch, silently cursing himself. How could he have been so stupid? Zeb clearly wouldn't want someone like him who couldn't even make it through foreplay without-
"Here." Zeb returns, and, to Alex's great astonishment, presses a glass of water into one hand and two small oblong pills into the other one. "They're just generic over the counter stuff, but they should hopefully help a little bit."
"T-Thank you…" Still feeling like the worst date in the world, Alex carefully swallows down the painkillers as Zeb gingerly sits down on the edge of the couch.
"How are you feeling?" Zeb asks.
"A little better now that I'm off of it," Alex answers. "Usually it's fine but sometimes when it gets cold or there's rain like this…"
"Old battle injuries have a habit of doing that," Zeb says with an understanding smile that makes Alex relax just the tiniest bit. "Trust me, I've got lots of friends who have the same type of problems. I should have remembered what you said last night about your leg…"
"I don't expect you to remember everything that I said to you last night," Alex reassures him.
"I still feel terrible for not realizing you were in pain," Zeb says regretfully, his shoulders sinking.
"Don't." Alex says firmly. "I wasn't hurting that much until it suddenly started acting up so it's not your fault."
"All the same…" Zeb hesitates for a moment before quietly offering, "I could try to massage the muscles out for you, if you want to see if that helps at all. Most people people say I'm pretty good at it, and if it might make you feel a bit better…"
Alex considers the offer. This wasn't exactly how he had planned today going, but, even if it didn't help much, Zeb massaging his leg didn't sound half bad.
"All right," he finally agrees. "Let's try it."
Zeb smiles at him, looking relieved, before glancing down at Alex's sodden clothes and observing, "It might help if we got you out of those first…"
"I suppose you're right," Alex agrees with a small laugh. "But I'm probably not going to be moving anywhere anytime soon, so if you wouldn't mind helping me..."
"Wouldn't mind at all," Zeb answers with a grin.
"You understand I don't usually let men take my pants off on the first date," Alex says, pretending to be stern a few minutes later as Zeb was helping him out of his soaked trousers.
"Of course," Zeb answers with an amused grin. "I promise I don't think any less of you for this."
"Good." Alex smiles up at him before shivering slightly as he's exposed to the cold air-even in his shorts it was a bit chilly.
"Here, let me go turn up the heat for you," Zeb says, quickly hurrying to adjust the thermostat before returning to the couch, kneeling down beside it. "Now, which leg is it that's bothering you?"
"My right one," Alex answers, gesturing wryly to it.
"All right then." Zeb carefully reaches out towards it, intoning, "It might hurt a bit at first…"
He was right-the first few moments were agony and it's all Alex can do not to cry out. But then slowly but surely the pain recedes and, to his great surprise, it not only stops hurting but starts feeling better than it had in-well, longer than he could remember.
"How's that?" Zeb asks as he continues his work.
"Heavenly," Alex answers blissfully, relaxing into the couch and feeling like he could just stay here for forever and be perfectly content.
"I'm glad it's helping," Zeb chuckles gruffly, and Alex lets his eyes slide shut, unable to keep a smile off of his face. This was absolutely wonderful. Zeb was wonderful. He couldn't believe just how amazing a man he had only met the night before was making him feel.
"I think that should do it," Zeb says a while later, and while Alex hated the idea of making this stop he was too blissed out to argue.
"Feeling any better?" Zeb asks, producing a blanket from Alex had no idea where and starting to tuck it in around him.
"Much," Alex manages to get out. He was warm and finally dry again, and his leg wasn't hurting anymore. What else could he ask for?
"Looks like it's stopped raining," Zeb observes, glancing out the window. "Still, I don't think you're in any condition to go back over there-you should probably stay off that leg for the rest of the night just to be safe."
"Probably," Alex starts to agree, only to realize what exactly Zeb had said. "Wait, the rest of the night?"
"I don't like the idea of you driving home if there's any chance of your leg seizing up again while you're driving-I don't want you getting into an accident," Zeb says firmly.
"So you're suggesting that I spend the night here?" Alex asks.
"Well… If you wouldn't feel uncomfortable with it," Zeb answers with a sheepish smile. "You could have the bed, of course! I'll sleep out here on the couch."
"I'm not taking your bed from you!" Alex protests.
"Well I'm not letting you sleep on the couch when your leg is injured!"
"...I guess we could share the bed…" Alex says after a moment.
A smile crosses Zeb's face. "I wouldn't say no to that," he agrees before quickly adding, "But don't worry, we won't be doing anything besides sleeping. I'm not about to let you re-injure your leg!"
"Fair enough," Alex agrees, a bit disappointed but sadly knowing that Zeb had a point.
"That's settled, then." Zeb nods, looking relieved, before asking, "Is there anything that I can get you? I don't know if it's warm enough in here for you yet, I could make you something hot to drink."
"Tea would be lovely," Alex admits.
"Oh…" A concerned look crosses Zeb's face. "I usually only keep coffee here, and cocoa if the kids are staying the night…"
"If that's all you have, that's not a problem-" Alex starts to reassure him, but Zeb suddenly cuts him off, looking relieved.
"Hera! She always has a whole bunch of tea, I'm sure she wouldn't mind lending us some! I'll run over and get some for you."
"Zeb, you don't have to-!"
"It's just across the street, it's not a problem! What kind of tea do you like?"
"Well… Earl grey would be wonderful if she has it," Alex finally answers.
"That's what I'll get, then." Zeb stands and, to Alex's surprise but not displeasure, gently brushes the back of his hand against his cheek before heading towards the door.
When Zeb was gone ten minutes, Alex wasn't terribly worried. When he was gone twenty minutes Alex started to feel a little antsy. By thirty minutes, he had to start wondering if something terrible had happened-he'd only just gone across the street, right?
Finally, just as Alex was debating trying to go after him, the front door opens and Zeb returns, laden down with not only a large metal canteen but a large assortment of tupperware containers filled with food.
"What happened to you?" Alex asks, sitting up in surprise.
"I always forget that there is no such thing as a short visit over there," Zeb sighs as he dumps his load on the coffee table. "First Hera insisted that she brew the tea herself because she said I wouldn't make it right. Then Kanan insisted on sending food over because he said I never have any real food in my kitchen-which, to be fair, he's right about, but he didn't have to say it! And then both Ezra and Sabine wanted to send over pictures that they drew you to help you feel better…"
Alex smiles as he spots the two pictures that were in the midst of the jumbled up pile.
"Well, even though it took you awhile to get back, it was still very kind of them," he says as he picks up the crayon drawings to look at them closer. "It sounds like you have a very caring family of friends."
"They're not just mine anymore," Zeb says wryly. "You think they did all this for me? Naw. I think it's only fair warning to tell you they've officially decided to adopt you, and there's no getting out of it."
"R-Really?" Alex was both shocked and, deep down, touched. He rarely spoke with his own family, and he didn't have friends at work so much as colleagues that he tolerated. Since meeting him, Zeb had seemed like his one lucky strike. The idea that an entire family wanted him…
"Adopting strays is something we do around here," Zeb chuckles, lightly ruffling his hair as he sits down on the edge of the couch. "Now, let's get that tea poured for you before it goes cold, and then we might as well enjoy the food that they sent over with me. Do you want me to put on a movie or something while we eat?"
"That sounds perfect," Alex answers, secretly feeling, for the first time in longer than he could remember, that he was home. He had no idea what the future held for him and Zeb, but somehow, as much as he didn't believe in luck or superstition, he had a small, persistent feeling that somehow this was the start of something that would last the rest of his life. And as he and Zeb laughed and teased their way through a Star Wars movie marathon, and much later as he sleepily let Zeb carry him to bed, he realizes that the idea of this lasting forever wasn't something that he minded at all.
"Aah, Agent Kallus, good morning."
Alex looks up from his desk on Monday morning to see Captain Thrawn standing over him again.
"Good morning, Captain," Alex answers evenly, taking a long sip of strong tea from his mug to try to stifle a yawn resulting from his complete lack of sleep the night before-not that he regretted a single minute of it, but he wasn't about to let Thrawn know anything about that.
"How was your weekend?" Thrawn asks, clearly fishing for information about how Friday night had gone.
"Uneventful," Alex replies soberly.
"Really?" Alex couldn't help but think that Thrawn looked vaguely disappointed. "Nothing at all to report?"
"Not that I can think of, sir," Alex responds dryly.
"I see." Thrawn sighs. "Well, it was worth a try. I suppose you have bested me, Alexsandr, and I am a man of my word."
"Thank you, Captain." Alex nods, accepting his words. But just as Thrawn was starting to walk away, he calls after him. "Oh, Captain?"
"Yes?" Thrawn answers, turning back to face him.
"I believe I will take you advice about leaving on time this Friday night-and maybe some other nights during the following weeks too," Alex answers, fighting back a smile.
"Really?" Thrawn's eyes widen almost imperceptibly as he processes his words. "Does this mean that you actually enjoyed yourself and you're actually going back?"
"No, sir," Alex answers before finally allowing himself a small smile. "I have a date."
Thrawn stops stock still, shock registering on his face, before suddenly smiling. He didn't say anything, just nodding before turning and heading back towards his office, the unspoken, "I told you so" hanging in the air between them. Not that Alex minded. And beside, he had more important things to focus on, like the work he needed to do to ensure that he was able to leave on time this Friday.
He starts to open a case to review on his computer, but before actually opening it he pauses to look down at the small picture of Zeb that he'd printed out and taped to the edge of his computer. Seeing that handsome, smiling face was all the motivation that Alex needed, and he opens the file to get to back to work.
~Fin