Chapter Text
“…I have never seen your full face, come to think of it.”
“What?”
Katana and Subspace were laying beside each other in the samurai’s bed, peacefully quiet. (That is, until Katana had broken the silence.)
“You are always wearing those…coverings. Mask…eyepatch…”
Subspace huffed. “Could say the same for you. I’m not the only one who wears a mask here.”
Katana sighed. “That’s…different. I am willing to remove it in your presence, along with others who have earned my trust. I don’t believe I have ever seen you…without…” The samurai gestured vaguely to the eye and facial coverings on the other’s face, finding the words, “…anything.”
The scientist chuckled dryly, looking away. “Without anything? ” His flirtatious tone sounded forced.
“Subspace, I am being serious.”
“…”
“Why do you even care so much?”
Katana furrowed his brows, huffing. “If you are not comfortable with exposing your face, of course I will not force you. I simply…want to see you? If that’s alright.”
Subspace furrowed his eyebrows. “Trust me, I’m not a sight worth seeing.”
The samurai shot up abruptly, tapping the space beside him, prompting Subspace to do the same.
The scientist squinted warily, but lifted himself up nonetheless and took a seat next to Katana.
“I do not believe that is the case, my dear. I don’t doubt that you are truly stunning behind that mask of yours, no matter what your head tells you.”
Subspace scoffed and looked away, but the pink dusting his cheekbones was still evident. A weak “shut up…” was all he said in response, although it held no venom behind it.
Katana smiled, resting his palm on top of the other’s. “I also…believe it would be pleasant to kiss you. If you would like, of course.”
The scientist blinked once, then twice. He flushed impossibly darker, sputtering over his words before giving up and sighing.
“I suppose…that would be acceptable.”
The samurai laughed softly at Subspace’s embarrassment, before being interrupted by the aforementioned man. “Well, get on with it then! I don’t have all day!”
“I doubt that.”
Katana moved his hands slowly to hover above Subspace’s cheeks, looking up at him before making contact.”
“Is this alright? You may remove my mask as well, if you wish.”
“…Go ahead.”
The samurai hummed as he felt Subspace’s hands lightly settle on the back of his head, carding through his thick hair.
He let the scientist play with his hair for a few moments before being reminded of what they were doing when Subspace moved a gloved hand to the knotted strings keeping his mask in place.
Katana did the same, finding his way towards the buckle of Subspace’s gas mask.
“May I?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, he carefully undid the buckle, leaving his gas mask to sit loose and unsupported on the scientist’s face. Not removing the mask entirely just yet, Katana’s hands made their way towards the eyepatch Subspace wore.
All the while, he could feel Subspace fumbling with the knots of his own strings, struggling to undo them.
The samurai gingerly slipped the eyepatch off, the gas mask falling suit. Subspace finally managed to undo the knots of Katana’s mask, discarding it to the floor.
…
The two took a moment of silence to finally look at each-other’s bare faces. Katana was scarred from battle, sure, but nothing severe as Subspace. The scientist’s face was heavily damaged, hot pink chemical burns (and/or rot? Maybe both…) jaggedly running across a good half of his face.
Subspace heaved out a shuddering breath. “I know, it’s-”
“Beautiful.”
Stunned for a moment, the scientist stared blankly at Katana before sighing and shaking his head. “You’re just saying that. You really don’t have to-”
“ Subspace . I do not believe you are listening to me. I think you are truly beautiful. One of the most stunning creatures I have had the honor to lay my eyes upon.” Katana cupped his lover’s face with his large hands, stroking his cheekbones softly.
Subspace squeezed his eyes shut, before setting his hands on top of the samurai’s. “Do you still want to kiss me?”
Katana smiled warmly. “Of course. If you’re comfortable.”
This time, the scientist returned the smile, wrapping his arms around Katana’s nape and closing the space between them. Their hands snaked around each other’s bodies, embracing the warmth the other gave to them.
The samurai pulled away, moving to plant a kiss to each rotten, burnt part of Subspace’s face.
“Agh, that tickles!” Subspace complained but made no move to pull away, instead letting his hand rest comfortably in his lover’s hair.
Katana lifted the clawed hand that wasn’t holding the scientist’s waist up to find Subspace’s free one. Intertwining their fingers, he hummed contentedly against the other’s chest.
“I love you.”