A/N: Quick drabble is quick, and I think this one actually counts as a drabble (being well under a thousand words). Wrote this because I'm too sleepy to work on the other thing I'm working on, because I wanted an excuse for fluff, and because I wanted to explore Malcolm's magically appearing burn mark. All of which I feel are excellent reasons. XD
Drabble Number Nine Rating: T (For use of one curse word)
Connections
It always seemed that it was the little things that Reese noticed. Of course, that most likely was how it'd always been—Reese noticing the little things, and Malcolm noticing the big things. And it seemed so right, because Reese understood the little things—he got them, appreciated them.
So it was no surprise that while they were sitting around the lunch table one day, Malcolm rambling on about some nerdy thing or another to his equally nerdy Krelboyne friends, that Reese noticed Malcolm's hand was unoccupied, so he took it. And it was equally unsurprising that Malcolm didn't notice at all, and kept up his rant.
As he continued to ignore the Krelboynes' conversation, Reese massaged the top of Malcolm's hand with his thumb. He looked down at it and followed the motion his thumb was making. It was interesting to him that their hands were so similar—Malcolm's were a little smaller, certainly, but both his and Reese's were covered in a myriad of scars. Nicks and burns and entire chunks were healed over with scar tissue.
Without much thinking about it Reese turned Malcolm's hand over. His fingertips were immediately drawn to the giant burn mark on the far side of Malcolm's palm. It was rectangular and studded with three unburnt circles down its center. It seemed... familiar, and he ran a finger across it.
Glancing up at Malcolm, Reese tapped him on the shoulder. Unsurprisingly, this didn't gain his attention. So Reese physically picked up his brother's hand and shoved it in his face.
"Hey!" he said, loud enough for the entire table to hear. They all fell silent suddenly and gave him confused glares.
Malcolm turned to face him, pulling his own hand out of his face.
"What?"
Reese held up his hand again.
"Did I do this?" he asked, indicating the burn.
Malcolm blinked, trying to come out of 'uber-uber-thought' mode and return to 'normal-uber-thought' mode. He looked at his hand, then at Reese.
"Um, yeah?"
Reese nodded.
"Thought so."
Then he leaned forward and kissed Malcolm's palm, right over the burn mark.
The entire table had vaguely the same annoyed reaction: 'Dammit Reese, not at lunch!' It was only Dabney that glared as if he wanted to burn lasers through Reese's skull.
"Sorry about that," Reese said.
Malcolm could feel his face begin to heat up, but he forced his expression to stay neutral. He didn't, however, try to take his hand back. He knew better.
"Don't worry about it."
Reese nodded again, and then went back to ignoring the rest of the table. Malcolm switched back into 'uber-uber-thought' mode and continued his rant.
Reese turned Malcolm's hand back over and started tracing scars again, continuing to notice the little things and appreciate them for what they were: permanent connections between the two of them.
A/N: Does Reese seem out of character? Because on the one hand I can see a relationship between them maturing him, and making him more affectionate. But at the same time he's apologizing and being affectionate. Even if he has matured, do you think he could do both at once without exploding? I think so, but then again I'm biased.
Episode referenced is 'Garage Sale' if anyone wants to know. I may need to take a page out of usedusername's book and start saying that more often. Would probably help. XD
Reviewing isn't necessary, but I eternally love those that do. :D
