pkemeter | Victory Road IC Inbox

[Venkman looks down at their intertwined hands, smiling unguardedly.]

You know, back in undergrad, I was so scared this wasn't gonna last. Us, I mean. Thought you'd wisen up eventually, you know?

And now look at us. Look at you.

[He's not the same Egon that Venkman fell in love with fifteen years ago, that's true. But it's still Egon.]

You remember the first couple times I tried to get you to dance?

[It took a few tries for him to figure out the right combination of annoyances and tenderness.]

Are you talking about the bruises, the grievous shin injuries, or both? [Spengler smirks.] I'm thankful you stuck with it, despite my stubbornness at the time.

[Egon was never one to do very much self-reflection. Why spend time thinking about your emotions when there was always the next experiment, the new and exciting and unknown? To bury yourself in your work, achieve complete and total understanding of the strange systems of the universe--or at least attempt it--that was the ultimate goal to be achieved. The only interest Egon ever had in analyzing his own feelings was through a scientific lens, how the synapses in the brain fired off based on certain stimulus, different chemicals and hormones intermingling with each other to create an amino acid soup.

Perhaps that was why it took him so long to realize how fortunate he was. His partners taught him one thing he couldn't learn on his own--how to slow down, how to stop and take a moment to enjoy the present. One of the many, uncountable things that he's grateful for. Things like dancing, singing, celebrating--things he dismissed as slightly interesting but trivial activities when he was younger revealed themselves to be innately human rituals. Anthropology--that's what it was. A new field of study he was eager to pour himself into.

Egon brushes a stray hair from Venkman's face before kissing him again, his glasses knocked slightly askew but not caring enough to fix them. He pulls away for a moment, studying Venkman's face. After a beat, he says quietly:]

Dr. Venkman, after several years of research, I do believe I have come to a stunning conclusion.

Both. And let's not forget the complaining.

[Venkman's own attempts at self reflection over the years are always a mess. He's never been quite as bad at it as Egon- and certainly not for the same reasons. But it's hard to simultaneously be full of yourself, and have the unshakable, paranoid belief that some day, everything is going to fall apart, and it'll be his fault.

But there is one thing they both have in common- they've both figured out, after many, many years, that they're incredibly lucky.

He leans in to Egon's touch, and reaches up to readjust Egon's glasses.]

Yeah? What's your conclusion, Dr. Spengler?

[There's another brief pause as Egon untangles his fingers to carefully cup Peter's face in his hand. He stares down at Venkman with an expression of utmost seriousness before breaking into a small smile.]

Why, Dr. Venkman, I do believe that I may be in love with you.

[And then he kisses him again, deeper this time. He lingers there for a few moments, fingers trailing through Venkman's hair, before pulling away slightly, still inches away from his partner's face.

Egon gazes at Venkman for a few moments before breaking eye contact. He glances over his shoulder, back towards his desk, as if just realizing the initial purpose of this distraction. In an almost reluctant tone, he says:]

I should--I should probably get back to the water samples.

[Venkman laughs a little, even as his heart skips a beat as though he hasn't heard those same words thousands of times before. He closes his eyes as he returns the kiss, gripping the collar of Egon's shirt to pull him a little closer.

His eyes flutter open again after a few moments.]

Well, that's a relief.

[He sounds a little breathless. And overwhelmingly delighted, despite his attempts to sound casual.

And then Egon glances back at the samples and microscope, and Venkman frowns.]

Hmmm. No. I think that can wait.

[Egon opens his mouth to protest, to say that the discovery of knowledge waits for no one, that the secrets of this universe must be unfurled, but then stops. His gaze lingers on his petri dishes for a few more moments before he turns back to face Venkman. A strange, overwhelming feeling has trickled into his chest, something--he's a little embarrassed to admit--that has taken him years to identify and only more difficult to put into words.

The secrets of the universe aren't going anywhere. At least, not for a long time.]

Perhaps you're right.

[He rests his hands on Venkman's shoulders and grips them tightly--not too tightly--an unusually soft expression on his face.]

I don't suppose you have any new hypotheses on the matter, do you?

[Venkman watches this little internal struggle with an oddly hopeful expression. Once Egon speaks up, his face lights back up again.]

On which matter? The fact that you're in love with me? Personally, I think it's because I'm irresistible.

[He kisses Egon on the nose.]

Though I don't have a lot of proof of that "hypothesis". You might need to run some tests. Gather data. Follow me back to the bedroom and kiss me some more. You know the drill.

Irresistible is a rather broad term that isn't quantifiable.

[Egon rolls his eyes, his grip on Venkman's shoulders loosening a little, though he leans in for the kiss.]

Was this your intention all along? To come in here, charm me, and then whisk me away?

[He may as well ask while they're at it.]

Mmmhmm. What's a better term for it, then? Captivating... attractive... Seductive.

[He's teasing. Mostly.]

I dunno. Did it work?

[Egon makes a face at Venkman's comment.]

Those are all still wildly subjective terms, and you know it.

[As for his question, well...after recovering from that, he takes Venkman's hand in his and idly interweaves their fingers together.]

It would be in poor form for me to lie about the results, wouldn't it?

[He winks.]

Lying about the findings would make you a pretty shitty scientist, yeah. So how's about you come with me and tell me all about your findings... The findings are how much my plan worked. Wait, then they'd be my findings?

You know what, these science analogies are kinda breaking apart. Can we just make out some more?

[Egon doesn't respond verbally--rather, he just tugs in Venkman's collar and pulls him into another kiss. The kiss stretches out a few moments before he pulls away, breathless. For once, he allows himself to smile like the lovesick fool he is.]

Where to?

[Said as simply as if he were stating the time of day.]

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truly dont think i'll ever get venkman more in-character than this stupid comment

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