Do I Wanna Know?

Chapter 1

The replicants had gone to bed long ago, or at least, they'd gone to their bedroom. Korvo had no idea what freaky shit they got up to once their door was closed, and he wasn't going to ask. Various rays and sci-fi noises are just a healthy part of any replicant coming of age, probably.

He was pulling out his favorite night dress and cap when Terry came into the room, his completely impractical and not-at-all-regulation t-shirt declaring "my other car is a fixed-gear bicycle" in bright red block letters. Korvo turned away from him and primly set his own homeworld-issued robes away in their own special drawer he'd lined with scented drawer-liners to keep them crisp and fresh while adding a touch of whimsy to his side of the dresser.

"Ready for beddy Korvy?" Terry asked, slapping a firm hand down on Korvo's shoulder and opening up his own side of the dresser. Korvo took a peek to see it was an absolute disaster, typical. His socks were even rolled up into balls. Balls, Terry! Was he serious? He was going to stress the hems and stretch them out! And who would he come crying to when he had stretchy- stretchy socks all slouching down on his legs? Korvo!

"Hmph!" Korvo gave a non-commital response and turned away from Terry, refusing to meet his gaze.

Terry paused and then turned to face Korvo, his face looking crestfallen.

"Alright, what's the deal babe? You've been all kinds of uptight with me lately and I'm not sure which thing I need to be apologizing for unless you tell me!" Terry whined, clutching his Poe Dameron pajamas in his hands.

Korvo ignored Terry and crawled into their earth-style shared bed, turning his back towards him. The truth was, the reason he was irritated with Terry was so embarrassing and petty, even for Korvo, that he couldn't bear the thought of admitting it out loud. How could he possibly keep his respect as the team leader with such pitiful thoughts roaming about in his head? It was much better for Terry to wallow and whine about some misperceived slight than to know how Korvo actually felt and confirm what a loser he really was.

Terry hopped back and forth on one foot in distress, gooblers popping out of his head and running away to nest in his mess of a drawer.

"Argh, fine! I'll just start apologizing for EVERYTHING and you can stop me when I reach what you're mad about, okay?" Terry said as he stepped into his pajamas and crawled into his side of the bed.

Korvo shrugged and nestled under the covers.

"Umm, okay. I'm sorry for taking the last Dr. Peppy out of the fridge, I'm sorry for taking the replicants out of school to go to the zoo, I'm sorry for using the last of the fabric softener when I know how much you like bathing in it after a long day, I'm sorry for experimenting with drugs just so that I could wear a D.A.R.E t-shirt ironically to impress people online, I'm sorry for taking the Pupa to multiple restaurants on kids eat free days-"

Korvo's brow furrowed with each confession, and he put a pillow over his head to try and drown out Terry's endless stream of minor sins.

"Stop me anytime Korvotron 'cause I can keep going all day. Okay let's see, I'm sorry for not washing the ship and instead going on a Jersey shore binge, I'm sorry for getting wine drunk and puking all over the herb garden, I'm sorry for wearing your robe and engaging in sexual roleplay with a very interested man I met off of craigslist-"

"You WHAT?" Korvo turned around and shouted, gooblers pouring from his head as he stared at his partner in outrage.

"Ah-HAH! I knew you were listening to me!" Terry said smugly.

"I'll kill you, Terry!" Korvo pounced on top of him, strangling him as he thought of his precious robes being sullied as Terry cucked him with some basement-dwelling weirdo from Craig's own list.

"Korv-J-joking-" Terry choked out, bringing his hands up to try and pry Korvo away from him. Korvo kept bearing down on him, his emotions clouding his mind as his annoyance turned to hurt and then to rage, but before he could do any real damage Terry reached up and tickled him under his arm causing him to giggle and let go.

"Cut that out Terry, you know I hate forced giggling!"

"But you were choking me to death!" Terry protested, Korvo crossed his arms and sulked, still straddling Terry.

"I was just joking you know, I wanted to see if you were paying attention. I could never take your robes, they mean too much to you." Terry said, bringing his hands up to caress Korvo's waist.

"And I have them sealed with shlorpian lock technology so only I can access the drawer." Korvo said.

Terry nodded in agreement, "And you have them sealed with shlorpian lock technology so only you can access the drawer." He said in a placating voice, moving his hands up to stroke Korvo's back. Korvo sighed and leaned into his touch, some of the negative emotions seeping out of him.

"You gotta talk to me Korv, I'm as dumb as I am hot, you know that. Tell me what's wrong so I can fix it." Terry said, looking up at Korvo with pleading eyes.

Korvo sighed and got back in bed next to Terry, snuggling into his side until his head was resting on his chest.

"You can't fix it. It's so stupid, I can't even say it." Korvo muttered, his cheeks turning a deep blue in embarrassment.

"Korvy baby, feelings are stupid sometimes but you can't just hold them in until you get another red goobler. Share your problems with me." He pressed a kiss to the top of Korvo's head, and a small smile graced his lips.

"I don't deserve you." Korvo whispered, tears welling in his eyes.

"Is that what has your robes in a bunch? That is pretty stupid." Terry said.

"Terry!" Korvo pushed himself up on his elbows to look down at his mate, who was smiling from ear to ear.

"What? It isn't about who deserves who, I chose you. You're the one I want to be with Korv and there's nothing you can do about it, so just accept it, you big idiot." Terry pulled him into a hug and Korvo held onto him tight in response, wrapping his arms around Terry's waist and holding their bodies close together as if he could meld them into one being.

"I don't know how to... express myself like you do Terry." Korvo said after a long moment.

"I know, dummy. I don't need that from you." Terry replied.

"Then what can I do for you?" Korvo asked, looking up into his partner's eyes.

"Just keep loving me," Terry said with a yawn, "And putting up with my shit, of course. I really did do most of those things I listed earlier, you know." He said, before leaning over to turn off their bedside lamp.

"I can do that." Korvo said, kissing Terry one last time before rolling over and letting his partner spoon him.

I can do that forever. Korvo thought as he drifted off to sleep.