Reed's Armory -- A Malcolm Reed Fanfiction Archive ..

Title: Just Because

Author: Lexx

Author's e-mail: [email protected]

Fandom: Enterprise

Pairing: Archer/Reed

Rating: G

Category: Slash

Summary: Malcolm should know better than to think Jon will back down. Ever.

Comments: Penance for my last fic. Floofay fluff. Malcolm was very pleased I wasn't abusing him.much.

Archived to Reed's Armory on 10/17/2003.

"Why do you bother with me?"

There, he'd said it. It was a sure-fire way of getting Jonathon to back off and leave him alone. Why did the man have to have arrived at his quarters at one in the morning, when all Malcolm wanted was to be left alone? Why did he have to know him so intimately that he could predict his movements? Why did he even bother?

They were sitting on Malcolm's bunk in his pristine quarters, Malcolm facing the bulkhead and Jonathon facing Malcolm's back. The dim lights and the quiet resonant thrum of the warp engines created a soft, gentle atmosphere, but Malcolm wasn't in the mood for anything except sulking and feeling sorry for himself. Why did Jon even care? Why had he ever cared?

Much to Malcolm's confusion and irritation, Jonathon didn't leave. He didn't shove himself off the bunk and walk out, not sparing Malcolm a backward glance. Nor did he shake his head and call him pathetic, as Malcolm really thought he ought to. A tiny, rational part of his brain told him that those things would always be unlikely. Jonathon just wasn't like that. He was as stubborn as a mule, and wasn't one to back down from a challenge. Especially when said challenge involved his lover.

But instead of stomping off in annoyance as Malcolm wished he would, Jonathon gently turned him around took up his hands in his own, squeezing them lightly. His work-roughened hands engulfed Malcolm's own, and Malcolm found himself squeezing back despite himself.

"I bother with you because I love you." He said; his tone was soft yet firm, in a way Malcolm had found only Jonathon seemed able to pull off.

"What's there to love?" Malcolm said, closing his eyes as the self- loathing he left tinged his words.

If that didn't get Jonathon angry, nothing would.

Confusion fuzzed Malcolm's mind, and he opened his eyes when Jonathon gripped his hands tighter and leaned in until their noses almost touched. His eyes were caught in the loving and--most aggravating of all--understanding gaze. Why wasn't the man annoyed? Malcolm knew why, but he wished it weren't so; Jonathon was just Jonathon. Things would have been much simpler if Jon had left him alone to wallow in the strange, unwarranted depression that had snuck up on him.

"Well," Jonathon said, "I love the way you look out for me. You stop me from getting into too much trouble, even if I don't always listen to you."

Malcolm snorted, but Jonathon continued before he could open his mouth in protest.

"I love you because you're very compassionate," he went on despite Malcolm's incredulous expression, "and you're always there when I need you. And of course, you're a wonderful cuddler."

Malcolm broke off their eye contact, mumbling 'I'm not,' but a gentle finger drew his head back up to face the oddly disconcerting honesty in Jonathon's eyes.

"Most of all, though," he said, giving Malcolm's hands another squeeze, "I love you because you're you, Malcolm. Just because."

Malcolm shook his head slowly, a smile slowly growing on his face. It was all Jon's fault; Jon was just Jon. Just because.

"I love you too, Jonathon." He said softly.

He disengaged his fingers and leaned across to wrap his arms around Jonathon's neck. Jonathon's arms came around him gently.

"I'm so sorry..." Malcolm mumbled into Jonathon's shoulder, closing his eyes as the man's familiar, comforting scent filled his head.

"No worries, Malcolm. You haven't got anything to be sorry about. There's no rule that says we have to be cheerful all the time. Just don't lock yourself away next time you don't feel one-hundred per cent, okay?" Jonathon said, rubbing his hands in small soothing motions on Malcolm's taut back.

Malcolm chuckled into Jonathon's uniform-clad shoulder and squeezed a little tighter. He held onto him, allowing Jonathon's comforting presence to chase the bad feelings away.

"Okay..."

Jonathon drew back a little, just enough to grip Malcolm's arms firmly and force the dark-haired man to look at him.

"I love you because you're who you are. That's all the reason I need."

Jonathon pulled him back into the embrace and rocked him gently. At one time Malcolm would have been deeply insulted at the childish comfort, but not since he had been with Jon. Jon was just...Jon, and this was the way he was. And Malcolm wouldn't change a thing.

Just because.

~the end~