"Didn't I cut up this entire piece of kaiju kidney yesterday?" Newton rocked backward and forward on his feet. This is starting to feel like Groundhog Day. I mean, if I can't even remember what piece of carcass I'm on, things have gotten pretty bad around here. He was desperate to make headway and keep testing every single kaiju specimen for some little clue as to defeat them. As much as he admired them, he had a job to do, and that was find a way to end them. He was trapped in a way. He was professionally motivated to conquer them by science but personally motivated to understand them. If I could study them in peace like I would any other animal, that would be great. But the kaiju were, in fact, destroying the earth. Newton had no choice. I just want to study them in peace and live a normal life. Go to work and then come home to an apartment instead of the dome. Like, an actual domestic setting. Maybe live with somebody. Somebody like that chalked up dork on the other side of the fucking lab...
Hermann sat across the table from him. Newton had fixed them a dinner of spaghetti. Not an original dish, but he was good at it.
"How is it?" Newton asked tentatively. He was genuinely nervous about Hermann's opinion.
"Very nice."
"Really?" Newton was skeptical.
"Really," Hermann said with a sincere nod and a wink. He blew him a kiss. They both had knowing smirks on their faces. After several minutes, Newton twirled some more pasta on his fork and held it out to Hermann expectantly.
"What? Oh, um..." Hermann leaned forward slightly and allowed Newton to feed him a forkful. I bet even Hermann couldn't deny how sexy that is. Newton got up slowly and Hermann watched as the man leaned against the table and fed him some more. Newton repeated the action until Hermann's plate was clean.
"That was lovely darling."
"The food or the way it was served?" Newton said cheekily. Hermann pulled him onto his lap, kissing him. The taste of Newton's rich tomato sauce still lingered on their tongues.
"You'd make a good food critic."
"I'd only eat your food."
"Is that symbolic of your commitment to me?"
"It could certainly be taken that way," Hermann said playfully, rubbing Newton's back.
"How about...um. Hold on a second." Newton got off Hermann's lap and got down on one knee. Hermann swallowed and his eyes widened.
"Newt?"
"Dr. Hermann Gottlieb, will you marry me?" Right out of a fucking rom com. I can actually say I embarrass myself now. Newton waited, staring into those big brown eyes. Is he tearing up?
"Yes," Hermann breathed, in shock.
"Seriously? I mean, dude, this is...I'm asking you to be my husband. This isn't just me being-"
"Newton, darling, I said 'yes.' Please come up off the floor and kiss me," Hermann said tenderly. Oh man, it's that funny little bittersweet look he gives me. Newton obliged. After a few moments, he pulled away, breathless.
"Herms, you really want to get married to me?" Newton asked, cautiously, disbelieving.
"Yes. A thousand times yes." Hermann kissed him again.
"Why? What's in it for you?"
"Do you actually want me to tell you why?"
"Uh, yeah," Newton said shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well," Hermann said thoughtfully, settling his arms firmly behind Newton. "Your intelligence, your infuriating behavior, your cooking, the way we make love, your package is nothing to sneeze at..." Newton laughed. Hermann added; "Would you like me to go on?" Ok, there, I know it's a fantasy; he would never compliment my junk.
"Ok, ok, I didn't mean to fish for compliments, I just want to make sure that you're sure."
"I've never been more sure of anything," Hermann said before capturing Newton's lips again. Newton moaned softly...
"Newton?! Wake up!" Hermann growled. "You're going to end up in the med bay again. You can't have your head in the clouds while there's a scalpel in your hand and there is a large toxic chunk of kaiju meat in front of you."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just need another cup of coffee." Hermann rolled his eyes, muttering to himself as he turned on his heal. Oh my God, now I'm daydreaming about marrying this nerd?! Somebody save me. There's now way he'd even sleep with me much less walk up the aisle with me. I have to stop fooling myself and concentrate on work. Seems like that's all I've got.
