The Two Kings - Zack x Hodgins one-shots

strawberry scented boyfriend

Zack opened his eyes just in time, a few more minutes and he would miss his stop.
- What's the matter with me? - he thought to himself. He almost fell asleep on the night bus, and the last time something like that happened was... Never. He got out into the night almost forgetting his bag on the bus seat and headed for his house. Well, not completely his.

- I'm home! - he announced, closing the front door behind him. He tossed his bag away, struggling to undo the buttons on his coat.

- I'm in the bathroom! - yelled Hodgins. Zack yawned and followed his voice upstairs, rubbing his eyes.

He knocked on the bathroom door.
- May I come in?

- Go ahead.

Zack opened the door and chuckled. Hodgins was sitting in the bathtub, surrounded by a significant amount of what appeared to be slightly pink colored foam.

- Jack, would you mind telling me why are you taking a bath at 4 a.m.? And why does it smell so sweet in here?

- Well, you said you're gonna be back late, so I decided to wait for you - Hodgins answered, playing with the foam. - And what you're smelling might be strawberry bubble bath.

- Hodgins... How much of this stuff did you put in there? - Zack asked, wondering if his boyfriend was three or thirty-three years old.

- Uhm... About half a bottle? Anyways, what took you so long at the lab? - Hodgins asked, changing the subject.

- A bunch of stuff actually - Zack yawned again and walked up to Hodgins. He sat next to the tub, leaning his back against the wall. - I was trying to reconstruct the victim's skull, but Fisher wouldn't stop talking about the inevitability of death, the lack of sense in life and all his sorrows. It seems late night hours awake his inner melancholic poet.

- I'd say the melancholic poet isn't by any means inner and is always awake - Hodgins pointed out. - But go on, I have an impression that it's not the end of your today's struggles.

- You're absolutely right - Zack said with a bitter smile. - When I was just about to finish the skull, something didn't seem right, but I ignored it because I used all the pieces I had and did everything exactly as I should. But then Fisher came over and handed me one more little chunk of the cranium, saying that he "found it earlier and forgot to tell me". Which meant that I had to take the whole skull apart and start from the beginning!

- Oh man, that sucks - Hodgins could only imagine Zack's frustration.

- And on top of that - Zack continued. - Booth came along, furious, asking about the murder weapon. When I told him I haven't found it yet, he started banging his hands on the table, scattering the bone bits everywhere!

- Woah, that sounds like a really shitty day - said Hodgins, taking a closer look at Zack. He looked exhausted. Crumpled shirt, hair messier than ever, dark circles under his eyes...
- Zack, when's the last time you had some proper sleep?

The boy shrugged.
- I don't know, two, three days ago? Give me a moment - he replied, thinking intensively. - 59 hours exactly.

Hodgins sighed. Has this man ever heard the term "healthy sleep schedule"?
- Look, I'm no expert, but you sure as hell need some rest - he said. - Care to join me?

Zack scoffed.
- I'm really not in the mood for your games, Jack. Besides, I thought we both agreed that the tub isn't the best place for this.

Hodgins looked at him, pretending to be outraged.
- Hey, I was just suggesting a purely platonic bath together! You're the one with a dirty mind! - he grinned, reaching his hand out to Zack.
- Your last chance: you coming in?

Zack sighed, giving up.
- Since you're asking so nicely...
He quickly got undressed and took Jack's hand, stepping carefully into the bathtub.
- The water is very hot.

- Not as hot as me - said Hodgins with a smug smile.

- Well, almost as hot as you.

Zack settled down between Hodgins' legs and leaned against his chest. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, feeling the warm water flowing all around him.
- This is nice...

- Told ya - said Hodgins, resting his chin on top of the boy's head. He wrapped his arms around his chest.
- If I find out you were up for more than 48 hours ever again, I'll slip sleeping pills into your coffee.

Zack giggled softly.
- Empty promises.

- I'll do it - Hodgins claimed, splashing some water on Zack's face. - Without hesitation. You know I will.

- And then what, you'll use my unconscious body to lure aliens into your garage?

- Pfft, are you kidding me? I'd never use such a beautiful body as an alien bait - Hodgins laughed quietly, kissing Zack's cheek. - I'd lay you on the couch in my office and make sure no one disturbs you, that's all.

- That's all? You wouldn't do anything else?

Hodgins looked at him, playing offended.
- Is that what you think of me? That I'm just some horny stallion, taking every chance he can to get laid? - he scoffed, splashing more water at Zack.
- Scandalous!

- I didn't say that! - Zack laughed, attacking Hodgins with foam. - I was meaning to ask if you'd give me a pillow or at least a blanket, but I guess you're the one with a dirty mind after all!

- Yeah, right! And I'm supposed to believe that? - said Hodgins, dumping a handful of foam onto Zack's head.
- Look at you, you look like a sleep deprived Teletubby!

As a revenge Zack smeared some of the strawberry lather all over Jack's face.
- And you look like a creepy Santa Claus - he giggled.

- Yeah... Aren't we just the most brilliant and serious scientist at the Jeffersonian institute - said Hodgins ironically, looking at the two of them covered in pinkish foam. - Now sit up straight, I'll wash your hair.

Zack sat still and smiled when Hodgins started massaging his scalp. He loved when he did this. He closed his eyes and chuckled softly.
- We're gonna smell like strawberries tommorow.

- It's better than smelling like decomposing bodies, don't you think? - said Hodgins, rinsing Zack's head with clean water, making sure it doesn't get into his eyes.
- There, all nice and clean. Now come on, it's almost half past four. Time to go to bed.

- Two more minutes? It's so nice in here - Zack asked, grabbing Hodgins' hand. Jack agreed and leaned back, hugging Zack from behind. Through the window they could see the slowly rising sun, while on the west side of the sky stars were still visible.

- I love you Jack - Zack said quietly. He placed the man's hand on his chest, allowing him to feel his heartbeat.
Hodgins gave him a warm smile. Zack wasn't really the type to say such things, his answer to love confessions was usually "I know" or "Obviously". But when he did say those few beautiful words, Hodgins could swear everything seemed a little brighter. He grabbed Zack's chin and kissed him, putting all his love in this one kiss.

- I love you too, Zacko.

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