Confusion

Sitting in the massive cafeteria onboard the Acclamator-class assault ship Vindication, Scorch glanced sidelong at Sev as the sniper sat wolfing down his meal of what they believed to be nerf steak and gravy. For weeks now, he had struggled to identify the not-quite-painful twinge in his chest whenever he saw his brother from certain angles and whenever they were alone together. For a while, Scorch had thought it was guilt, but for what? Had he said something? Done something? No. It could not be guilt. It was a need. But for what?

Sev jerked, noticing that he was being watched and he looked up, freezing Scorch as their eyes locked. “What?”

Breaking eye contact, Scorch shook his head. “Nothing.”

Sev looked at Fixer. “I got something on my face for something?”

Fixer shook his head in silent reply before looking at Scorch. “You've been awful quiet lately, you know.”

“I have?” Scorch asked. He hadn't realized the change in personality that had come over him.

“Been looking at me weird, too,” Sev added. “All the time.”

Scorch clenched his jaw.

Boss looked up from his food. “Is there a problem I should know about? If there is, it needs sorted. Now.”

Not meeting anyone's gaze, Scorch stared down at his plate. “Nothing important. I just...haven't been...I don't know.” Standing up, Scorch left his tray and walked out of the mess hall, intending to head back for his bunk to think. Instead, he had just reached the main corridor when a hand gripped his shoulder and spun him around.

It was Boss. “I don't know what's gotten into you, soldier, but you're a part of this team. I've you've got a problem, we need to know or we can't help you. So you gonna let us in or what?”

This time, Scorch met his sergeant's eyes. “I need to talk to Sev first...alone.”

Boss nodded his approval and released his brother.

Jerking his head, Scorch indicated for Sev to follow him, the other clone looking extremely wary. However, he did follow and Scorch only stopped when the two of them were in their bunk room, the door closed. Turning to his brother, Scorch was anything but sure of what he wanted to say. But then he saw Sev's face only inches from his own and he stepped back instinctively. Then the feeling that had been nagging at him earlier grew and he inched closer again, his breathing quickening and heartrate skyrocketing. All the while Sev watched him with a distant curiosity bordering on aloof.

Scorch tried to swallow an unexplainable lump in his throat, but it wouldn't go away. His mouth opened just slightly, trying to force his anxiety down to a reasonable level, but instead he found words spilling out he didn't know were there.

“Kiss me,” he whispered, his gaze flickering between Sev's cold eyes and hard mouth.

“What?” Sev asked.

“Please,” Scorch added.

Sev didn't move, but his eyes showed a level of confusion now. He almost looked conflicted, but Scorch had to know.

Stepping forward to close that small, final gap, Scorch slowly reached his arms up and around Sev's neck, knowing that any sudden movement might startle his slightly psychotic brother. His breath came in minuscule gaps now, then stopped altogether as their lips met. At first, Sev didn't respond, but a second or two later, he began kissing back, forcing his tongue into Scorch's mouth, his own arms coming around Scorch's waist in an almost painfully tight grip that made him gasp.

Then, the door hissed open, Boss and Fixer standing on the other side looking more than a little surprised.

Boss only managed a small “Oh.”