"Gilgamesh says hello", Soro voiced as Druig began unboxing the bag of leftovers. They had moved down into his cabin, which was a three room space with walls of exposed varnished wood. A living space with a separate bathroom and bedroom, the doors to which were shut. With the time difference, it was still barely sun rise in the forest despite Soro having left Australia late afternoon or early evening. Still, Druig was wide awake and moving around the room to fetch himself a glass of water from the kitchen sink and a fork from a drawer. Soro sat on an old wooden chair, hand carved by the feel of it, at the small kitchen table.

"Oh does he?" Druig replied through a mouthful of bread. He set the tubberware container, warmed from the microwave, down on the wooden surface. He took the seat opposite Soro and leaned closer on his elbows as he chewed. Blue eyes as bright as ever. "This taste is familiar".

Soro rested his chin in his palm and watched his husband, separated and now back, seemingly. Druig was watching him too. He got halfway through the dish of stew before either of them broke the silence. "Happy anniversary", Druig repeated, quietly and audibly nervous. Druig barely let himself seem nervous or anxious around anyone, but Soro had always been an exception.

"Happy anniversary", Soro repeated. His glasses were digging into the side of his face and he didn't know what to feel. He felt too much. Love. Anger. Frustration. Sadness. Grief. Love and Anger being the most prominent. They warred in him despite the way he had cried into Druig's shoulder earlier.

"Why did you leave me?" The question slipped out before Soro realised he was talking. But once he started, it was pouring out. "I understand why you left the team. But you didn't talk to me. I was so worried about you. Why didn't you ask me to go with you? I would have gone".

"I know", Druig's voice was ashamed. "I realised afterwards how blind I had been in my rage and my frustration. It took a while for me to calm down. Away from all their wars I felt better than I had felt in a long time".

"That was too late".

Druig sighed and his dark hair dusted his eyebrows. "It was. I thought I had ruined things forever between us. I treated you horribly".

"You certainly could have treated me better", Soro replied through his tears. "And you did treat me well, for the time we were together. It was just that last decade that things started going wrong".

"I should have talked to you". The fork was standing in the plastic container now, food forgotten.

"Yes!" Soro threw up his arms as his voice cracked. "You should have, but you didn't". He rose from his seat and turned away from the kitchen corner. The other side of the room was set with a small tv and a faded leather sofa. He let his eyes pick out the patterns in the red and black rug as he rubbed tears from his cheeks harshly.

He heard the scrape of wooden chair legs on the wooden floor and footsteps approaching. Druig reached out and laid a tentative hand on his shoulder. It was warm, and after a few seconds where Soro didn't push him away, the taller man took the opportunity to draw himself close. Warm arms wrapped around Soro's waist and he draped himself over his back, chin into the crook of his shoulder. Soro couldn't help but lean his head against his. "You hurt me". His voice was clouded with unsounded sobs. "You hurt me and I still love you damn it".

"My darling", Druig whispered as he cradled him close. "My darling, darling Soro. I will make it up to you. I love you too. I have always loved you".

"Then don't do that again", Soro sighed and finally relaxed into the hold. Druig felt the tension leave his frame and immediately leaned back to that he was supporting his weight fully.

"I can't promise that but I can promise that I will endeavour to do better. Be a better husband to you". The words were mumbled but honest.

"You can start by communicating", Soro muttered, more grumpy now than angry. The emotional storm was making him sleepy, that along with time zones difference. (Portals still leave him with jet lag). He sank deeper into Druig's embrace.

Druig let out a light chuckle and it vibrated next to Soro's ear. He had been forgiven and he knew it. The arms around his was it loosened and Soro turned around to face him. He wrapped his arms around Druig's neck and jumped, forcing the man to catch him with a hand under each thigh as he locked his legs around him. Soro clung on tightly and rested his head on Druig's shoulder. He didn't ever want to let him go again, and now that he was here he realised that he had missed touch so much it ached. It was an ache he had long grown used too until it was forgotten. He was reminded of it now as he clung on to his husband like a child with a comfort toy.

"Soro. Darling", Druig rested his head against his as he gently sidled around the couch and lowered himself down. His hands now free to move up and stroke his fingers through long dark hair.

"Ajak's dead. The deviant's are back. They killed Ajak. Sersi, Ikaris and Sprite came and found me. We went to go find Ajak but we were too late. That's why I was at Gil's and Thena's". He moved his head away to break the news to Druig's face. He watched the blue eyes settle into the usual unreadable expression they always took when he was thinking about or processing something. "I expect the others will come here eventually. Either after they find Phastos or Makkari, or before. I don't know".

"Oh", Druig's hold on him loosened. "Did you allow me to catch you because of that?"

"You didn't catch me. I was clumsy and dropped my glasses", Soro scowled. A smile broke the unreadable gaze.

"Because that's much better. Ouch", he laughed as Soro poked him. It didn't hurt, he was just being dramatic.

"I may have been emotionally compromised but I was going to speak with you anyway. It had been long enough. There's so much to tell you", Soro paused for a brief second. "Husband".

The blooming smile that hurt the cheeks and closed the eyes that overtook Druig's face was a relief. "I shall love to hear it all. Husband. My lovely husband". He had always loved his endearments, better with words than Soro (ironic despite his communication issues).

Soro giggled, giddy with love and face flushed. His face was still covered in dry tear tracks and Druig reached up to cup it in his palms as he leaned up to press a dozen little kisses across them. The tickling feeling made Soro laugh harder as his glasses were knocked askew. "Druig! Druig! Dear, stop! That tickles".

Druig stopped with a last kiss to his lips that connected and deepened as Soro kissed back. His hands gripping the neckline of the other's shirt as they kissed slowly and deeply. Familiarising themselves with each other again. One of Druig's hands gently pushed Soro's glasses up to the top of his head as he deepened the kiss further. He sighed into it, mouth opening in an invitation. It was an invitation the blue eyed man took.

Eventually, lips sore and breath heavy, Soro disconnected himself. "Druig dear?" Druig hummed back, eyes half lidded and thumbs tracing the line of Soro's cheekbones as fingers stroked unbound hair out of the way. "Take me to bed?" The request was soft. Not demanding, not urgent and lust filled. It was a simple question. That was what made it exposingly more intimate.

Soro pulled away and untangle himself enough to stand up. He held out a hand as he pulled his glasses back on. (walking into things was not sexy or romantic). Druig took it and stood up. He smiled gently as he began to led the way to his room, half walking backwards so he could keep his stare on the other's face. One hand caught on the handle and the door was swinging open to greet them. Soro laughed as he was pulled inside, one foot catching on the door as he went and it stung shut behind them.

unedited

They're so cute together. Urgh. They are a old married couple and a newly married one in their romantic honeymoon phase at the same time. There is no in-between with them.

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