New Fic: Overstimulated

[jackwabbit]

Overstimulated

Fandom: Star Trek Discovery
Rated: PG
Category: Double Drabble. Culmets. Angst, Romance.
Season: Post-two, Pre-three.
Spoilers: General Series Knowledge Through The End of Season Two.
Summary: Sometimes, even when it’s good, it’s just too much.
Note: See notes at the end.

Also, this is part of the "I Rang The Bell With My Heart In My Mouth" series, and stories in this series are presented as inspiration strikes, not chronologically. See notes above for timeframe/related stories.

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It’s their first time since Hugh’s return, and while both are willing, it’s Paul who sets the pace.

Suddenly, Hugh’s voice startles him.

“No.”

It’s only one word, but it stops Paul in his tracks. He pulls back, eyes questioning.

“No?”

“No,” Hugh repeats.

Paul nods.

“Okay.”

Hugh huffs out a frustrated sigh.

“Sorry. I thought I…”

“It’s okay,” breathes Paul.

Hugh bites his lower lip and looks away.

“It’s just…”

Paul caresses Hugh’s cheek.

“Whatever it is, it’s okay,” he whispers.

Hugh still tries to explain.

“The jahSepp. They…”

Paul’s other hand holds Hugh’s other cheek.

“I know.”

A tear escapes Hugh’s eye.

“For so long, it was just… so… much.”

Paul wipes the tear away.

“And this…” Paul trails off, gesturing between the two of them, then continues. “This is too much?”

Hugh nods, still not meeting Paul’s eyes.

“Yeah,” he admits.

Paul kisses Hugh’s forehead.

“Okay.”

Then he leans back, pulling his hands away from Hugh’s face and giving him space.

Hugh finally looks Paul in the eye.

Then he slowly smiles, and this time around, it’s Hugh who says it first.

“I… I love you.”

It’s shaky, yet secure.

And now it's Paul's turn to cry.

-----

A/N: In my headcanon, Paul said “I love you” first to Hugh the first time around, as referenced in my drabble, “Situational.” So I figured it was Hugh’s turn. Also, consent is very, very sexy. Just saying.