Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Masterlist

1. General Yandere Deimos Headcanons
2. General Yandere Sanford Headcanons
3. General Yandere 2BHank Headcanons
4. General Yandere Sheriff Headcanons
5. General Yandere Mag Agent Torture Headcanons
6. General Yandere 2BDamned Headcanons
7. Yan!Hank Falls For Sheriff’s Bodyguard!Reader
8. General Yandere Hank Headcanons
9. How They Comfort an Anxious!Reader ft. Hank J. Wimbleton, Deimos, Sanford & 2BDamned
10. General Yandere Jebus Headcanons
11. General Yandere Hofnarr Headcanons
12. General Yandere Church and Jorge Headcanons (They're a package deal)

Chapter Text

• Deimos is an extremely clingy yandere. When in your presence, he always has to have a hand on you, or have some physical contact. I hope you’re ambidextrous like some grunts are, because this man will always be holding your hand if he can help it.
• A lot of hugs, he loves nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck after hugging you from behind, pressing his entire body flush to yours. He purrs a lot too, the raspy noise echoing in your ears when he rubs his cheek against your face.

• He enjoys seeing you flustered and blushing, it’s probably his most favorite thing in the world. He has a tendency to corner you and kind of pin you against whatever you’re near, leaning in faaar to close, only to pause and pull away at the last second. (Only after watching you squirm, of course.)
• It went from sweet to uncomfortable for you really quickly. But, can you blame him? You're just so cute!
• Besides, while he is annoying in how he constantly disrupts everything you do, he makes sure that you can always complete your work in the end. He even gives little pointers here and there!
• He’ll show you how useful he can be so you won’t ever push him away. Is there really anyone else in your life that would give you this much helpful advice (and affection)?
• (If there is, then he’d just have to get rid of them.)
• Deimos will follow you around everywhere and anywhere (even if you aren’t aware of it). On the off chance that he can’t stay too close to you, he’ll stake out somewhere and watch you through binoculars or a scope of some kind.
• (He’s considered breaking in at this point, but he has yet to gauge just how deep of a sleeper you are.)
• Sanford and the others question why he leaves every night and brings an overnight bag, but get vague answers each time. Call him selfish, but he just doesn’t want to share you.
• (Deimos taking a bunch of night vision equipment isn't too suspicious, given their occupation. But Sanford doesn't recall 2B assigning him recon work?)
• Your coworkers are kind of freaked out by the fact that an actual wanted criminal is trailing you like a lost puppy, but it was none of their business anyway. This is Nevada, weirder stuff can and has happened.
• (Plus the piercing glares he gives them when you're turned away don’t exactly make them want to get involved.)
• He gets anxious if he doesn’t know what’s going on with you and he can’t be close. What if you need help? Nevada’s a violent place and you need someone to protect you.
• If you don’t plan on meeting him somewhere, you’ll find him there anyway. He’s played it off as a coincidence many times. (He totally didn’t install a tracker onto your phone and vehicle. That’s just weird.)
• You’ll find that Deimos is always extremely thoughtful when it comes to gifts, he’ll never give you something you won’t like. (Though, if he does, he’ll beat himself up about it for the next few months. Only the best for the one he adores!)
• Offhandedly mention something about some knick knack or piece of clothing/jewelry you were thinking of getting? Don’t worry about it, Deimos already stole bought it for you!
• In reality, he records almost everything about you. He has many documents on his computer just full of details about you. The topics range from your general likes to precisely how your lips quirked upwards when he made a joke. All dated too, he’s very meticulous.
• He repeats his favorite things about you in his head before he goes to sleep. Although he can’t cover everything, there’s just so much about you he loves!
• While his actions towards others will get progressively more violent and harsh, he would never harm you. (At least, not that badly. He likes to see you squirm, and sometimes a little nip does the trick.)
• When he’s back at the base with the others, they catch him zoning out more than usual. (It's also very odd to them because sometimes he gets so into that he starts purring? For seemingly no reason at all?)
• He daydreams about you a lot, constantly fantasizing about how great your lives will be when he can finally show off just how much he loves you.
• It’s only a matter of time before you're completely his. He’ll make sure of it.

Chapter Text

• Sanford is probably the most earnest and genuine when it comes to showing his love for you. Unlike some other yanderes, he actually tries to respect your personal space (at least in the beginning).
• He isn't the type to fall in love easily, so when he realized how deep his feelings were for you, it definitely hit him pretty hard. Hard as in he actually had to sit down and reflect on his entire life up until that point. He has it bad for you.

• He had the urge to confess to you right away. But he knew the intensity of his affection would probably scare you so early on (especially since you didn't really know him). So he tries to take it slow at first, for you.
• Granted, his version of taking it slow is still overwhelming. Having one of Nevada's most wanted suddenly show up and accompany you everywhere was kind of terrifying.
• (He was just doing what he always did, except from less of a distance. You look even more breathtaking up close.)
• Sanford quickly melds himself into your routine. Walking you to and from work, even visiting you during your shifts to make sure you're doing alright. If he happens to come around close to your lunch break, he even brings you some food!
• It's all home cooked too, he's gotta make sure his darling is eating well. And don't try to reject it either, he will feed you himself if that's what it takes.
• Your coworkers often observe him just gazing at you with a completely lovestruck look on his face. He just finds everything you do so adorable. Literally anything you do just makes him fall further for you, no matter how menial or insignificant.
• Speaking of coworkers, you'd noticed that the ones you were closest with started avoiding you for no reason. A few of them even quit entirely. At least, you assumed they did when they didn't show up for work.
• (He's glad they never spoke to you again. He didn't want the sight of their broken bones to scare you.)
• He truly believes that you are the one for him. And anyone who tries to come between you two is a threat that needs to be erased. Unfortunately, sometimes words aren't enough for those bozos to understand.
• If he has to ensure they comprehend the error of their ways by beating it into them, then that's what he'll do.
• The very moment he sees you've gotten somewhat used to his presence, he dials up the affection exponentially. He used to stand pretty close to you in general, but now there's rarely a time when you don't have one of his arms around your shoulders. I mean, you didn't push him away, so you must've been okay with it, right? (Not like he would even budge if you tried, have you seen this man's muscles?)
• I hope you're a fan of bear hugs, cause you're getting one every time he meets up with you. He's not one to purr very often, but you're one of the few who almost constantly hears it. He's the happiest when he's around you; he can't help but let the gentle rumbles go when you're pressed close. It also helps that it's so comforting. If it weren't for the fact that he never asks before he locks you into a tight embrace, it might even be sweet.
• Sanford also likes to carry you around as well. He wants to prove how good of a protector he is for you, and this is one of the best ways to show off his strength. Plus the feeling of your body against his is something he'd never grow tired of.
• If anyone makes even the slightest insult towards you, they better hope you forgive them quickly, because he won't. And if they happen to be found dead in a ditch later, riddled with bullet holes and deep gashes, well, it was their own fault.
• Sanford has probably considered getting a tattoo of something that reminds him of you (you know, to really show his devotion). He'd get your name, but (1) that could draw his enemies' attention towards you and he'd rather die than see you get hurt, and (2) that's a bad omen for a relationship in general. He's not that superstitious, but he's taking no chances with you. Every precaution should be taken to ensure that you two never part.
• While he's still on the fence about his own potential tattoo, he definitely wouldn't be opposed if you got something to match his double helix.
• He's a complete sucker for cute couples items, but not in the cliched way if that makes sense. He wouldn't want to make your relationship too obvious, should any AAHW members or anyone else try to target you. Eventually he settled on giving you a pair of tea shades similar to his own because of just how cute you looked when he placed his on your face.
• Just because he won't ever ask to come into your home doesn't mean he won't do it. It just means that he has to be a bit more stealthy than he usually is. This means waiting until you typically fall asleep to quietly pick the lock of a window and slip inside. (Of course he memorized your schedule, that's normal for somebody's significant other to do.)
• While he's careful not to touch your stuff, he'll touch you instead. You just look so beautiful, he can't stop himself from tenderly cupping your face and running a thumb softly over your cheek. Sometimes he'll even get into bed with you, pressing himself as close as possible when he spoons you. He's careful not to wake you up, of course. He knows you need your rest.
• Deimos and the others back at the base generally know where he is when he goes to see you, but respect his wishes not to get involved in whatever it is he’s doing. Not like they thought it was anything bad. It’s Sanford, he of all people would never do something unreasonable, right?

Chapter Text

• Generally speaking, Hank and 2BDamned are the most terrifying duo for anyone in your life but are sweet as can be to you (in their own ways).
• They probably fall for you after you do something that you thought was just common courtesy. In this case, it was your instinct to help that got you into this situation.
• 2BDamned first thought you were a fool for fetching him bandages and other medical supplies when you found him patching up Hank in an alley. People rarely helped each other out of the goodness of their own hearts, that’s just the way Nevada is. He tried to reject them, but you only insisted.

• Honestly, the two of them were baffled. Judging by the wanted posters on every street corner, you must’ve known who they are, right?
• It was your stubborn kindness that first caught their attention, and their liking for you only grew when you decided to actively stay and help them, following Doc’s strict instructions to the T while he stitched up his partner.
• Hank was pretty out of it at the time, but he could distinctly remember just how good you looked with your hands covered in crimson and a determined look in your eyes.
• After this event, the two had tried to go back to business as usual, but they couldn’t get you out of their heads. 2BDamned found himself lost in thought more than he would’ve liked, thoughts filled with questions and musings about the attractive stranger he and Hank had encountered. (“Attractive?” When did he start thinking you were attractive?)
• On the other hand, Hank was infatuated the moment he felt your hands on him, gingerly wiping away the blood that gushed from the deep wounds on his chest. Would you touch him again if he showed up at your house with an injury? Knife wounds don’t really hurt that much, now that he thought about it.
• The two quickly realize how deep they've fallen for you after that first meeting, even if it is a little irrational. Love at first sight must be a trope for a reason, right?
• They're very impatient after this realization. They don't want to wait to see you again or have you with them. Hank was probably on the verge of outright murdering everybody that stood between you and them, but Doc held him back on that. He was convinced that the easiest way to win your affections would be through two methods: isolation and causing you some slight trauma.
• Don’t get them wrong, both of them would die before letting anyone else harm you. But maybe you needed a little scaring to see just how good they would be for you.
• It was all too easy for Doc to assign some grunts to conveniently attack your workplace. It was even easier for Hank to come to your rescue, slaughtering them just before they could get to you. (But not after the unfortunate deaths of everyone else in the workplace. Guess you were lucky he came just in time.)
• Was it perhaps unethical for 2B to knowingly send some of the S.Q.'s own men to their deaths in order to secure your relationship? Absolutely, but as long as nobody found out about it, it didn’t matter. He had even made sure they wore AAHW uniforms while raiding the facility, so there was no doubt in your mind about how safe you’d be with them instead of on your own.
• It was easy for them to convince you that you’d be safest at the base with them. Their enemies were lurking around your city, after all.
• They disguised their true intentions at first, simply masking it as paying you back for that day in the alley. It was odd that 2B insisted that you stayed in his private room and never left his office without supervision, but the mercenaries he hired couldn’t be trusted all the time. It was even weirder to have Hank shadow you whenever he wasn’t on a mission, a hulking figure that pressed uncomfortably close on all occasions.
• Then they started being affectionate with you. 2B always has a hand pressed to your lower back or your hip when close by. His tone of voice is also noticeably softer when he speaks to you. Hank had always been unnervingly close, but now he wasted no time on pulling you into his lap and nuzzling you, loud purrs echoing throughout Doc's office. (2B would only chuckle when he saw this happen. The way you squirmed was so cute.)
• Neither of them are the wordiest when it comes to displays of love; they show you their dedication through other ways. They would never want you to think that they don't care after all. If smothering you with more physical affection than you could ever want is necessary to convey just how much they love you, it's what they'll do. (And they'll do it quite happily at that.)
• They really enjoy cuddling with you at night, when they have fewer outside matters to attend to. It gets cold enough that there's no way you would try to push them and their warmth away.
• Unfortunately, they also have wildly different schedules, so they both can’t sleep beside you all the time. It’s typically Hank who accompanies you after he gets back, locking you into a tight embrace after removing his coat, mask, and goggles. To be honest, it’s oddly comforting to be enveloped by him entirely. (Disregarding the fact that you could barely move.)
• The noisy, repetitive rumbling of his purring and the vibrations of his broad chest against your back effectively drown out your thoughts, leading you to night of deep sleep faster than you’ve ever experienced before.
• 2B found the sight of you two adorable, often looking over from his desk to see you just barely peeking out from Hank’s large arms. This is the way it always should be. Just the three of you, unbothered by anyone or anything else in Nevada.
• On rare occasions the two actually have spare time together, they always spend it with you. You’ll find yourself squished between them in some way, whether it be them crowding up on your sides when you eat in the cafeteria, or you waking up from a nap to find yourself sandwiched tightly between them, 2B lulling you back to sleep as he stroked your hair.
• In hindsight, he should’ve known the small prick of the needle would wake you. He just wanted a few more hours alone with you and Hank, even if he had to use a sedative to get them.
• The other mercs are extremely weirded out by their behavior but don’t dare say a thing. They might be exceedingly gentle around you, sure. But they’ll save their wrath until they're sure you won’t know about what they do to those unfortunate enough to have interrupted their precious time with you. (They wouldn't want you to be afraid of them.)
• Have you ever had a mop and bucket shoved into your hands and been ordered to clean up the bloody remains of your brothers in arms? Having to see what remained of their faces frozen in a permanent scream? It’s not fun.
• The two are extremely protective over you. If you so much as scrunch your face up in slight distaste at what one of the mercs say, they won’t be seen again. Any and all threats against you, no matter how small, are eliminated to the best of their abilities. This could include Hank shooting them on a whim, or Doc deciding to conduct an impromptu experiment (specifically on how receptive they are to different forms of torture). Sure, their numbers might suffer, but it’s worth it so long as you feel safe.
• You wonder why everybody avoids eye contact with you, some even turning back the way they came just to avoid your presence. Did you do something to offend them or something?
• You ask Hank, who just shrugs and hugs you tighter to him. (You've long since given up on trying to shove him off at this point. That just makes his grip tighter and you had the bruises to prove it.)
• Deimos and Sanford have a rough idea of who you are, but they don’t know a thing about your unique connection to them. As far as they knew, you acted as some kind of assistant to Doc, mainly helping with inventory and chemical synthesis for medicines.
• (The latter was a lie, 2B had no idea if you knew anything about chemistry. Not that he would ask you to do that anyway, you could damage your hands.)
• The only other detail they have is that apparently you aren't allowed to leave the base for whatever reason. Not like knowing that was worth anything, 2B and Hank never let you out of their sights anyway.
• Any and all questions about you are quickly shut down, Doc making it clear that this was a boundary they should not cross. On the rare occasion either of them catches you outside the Medbay, Hank's leering was a good enough indicator that it would be unwise to talk to you.
• It’s not like they wanted you to be lonely, but they were really all you need anyway. While they might be busy, at least one of them is always there to give you attention. Plus, they love you. Nobody else is more deserving of your company.
• They have you right where they want you. And you'll stay there, right beside them where you belong. They won't accept anything less.

Chapter Text

• Most yanderes tend to keep their feelings for you kind of lowkey. Sheriff is the direct opposite. How could you know the full depth of his love if he hid it from you?
• You’ll just be minding your own business and he’ll ride up on his horse with a guitar and proceed to just serenade you. In front of everyone. It’s very heartfelt, he clearly wrote the song himself and he has a pretty good voice to be honest. It’s just kind of embarrassing to have him interrupt your shift with it.
• You become friends with some of his underlings because he makes them check on (stalk) you when he can’t. They were kind of uncomfortable with just sitting in the bushes and recording everything you do, so they’ll be upfront with you about it.

• (They’ll still record you even if you’re against it though. They don’t want a bullet in the head for coming up empty-handed.)
• Honestly, they’re on the verge of begging Phobos or whoever the Sheriff is working for to just let him have time off to see you. This is because whenever he’s away from you for longer than two minutes, he just has the urge to gush about you to whoever is in close proximity. He loves you so much, and he wants everyone else to know how wonderful you are. It wouldn't be good if his boys didn't know about his future spouse, would it?
• (It’s at the point where his men know more about you than your actual friends do, it’s weird.)
• His underlings can’t say anything about you directly though, especially if they're acquainted with you. All information should be given through standard field reports, and there should be no mention of how they've interacted with you.
• They know how bad his jealousy can get. Having to bury a body for a small comment about your eyes was enough to make it clear.
• It's also a big rule not to mention the Sheriff's own exploits when it comes to "gathering" information on you. He can be charming, sure, but he tended to abandon this part of his persona when the people he interrogated about you put up the slightest resistance.
• (He has abused his authority to stop your boss from telling you where he got that black eye and broken collar bone, but it didn't really matter what they thought of him anyway. As long as you knew how good of a partner he'd be, it didn't matter how he appeared to your coworkers. Besides, it's not like you'll every talk to them once you're finally together.)
• He’s the type of person to listen to really lovey-dovey music and think of you the whole time (i.e. “Let’s ride into the sunset together”). All the while, he’ll have this lovesick smile on his face, just fantasizing about being with you and all the domestic stuff you're going to do together. Of course, he gets kind of angry/embarrassed when someone finds him like this (he has a reputation to uphold, after all), but he’ll immediately break and start yapping about you, much to their displeasure.
• If you give this man an inch, he’ll take a mile (even if you didn't mean to give him anything to begin with). You smiled at him once (all soft-like, the way that made his heart race) and now he’s planning how he’ll propose. He isn’t subtle about it either, why else would he ask you what your ring size is?
• Every now and then he’ll send you love letters, accompanied by flowers and chocolate, of course. They’re extremely sappy, and long - one was like five pages (including the backs). It might’ve been sweet, had they not included details that he shouldn’t have known. Like how he loved the way your eyes brightened when you took that first sip of morning coffee, or how he couldn't wait to pick out some knick-knacks together to add to that shelf over your bed.
• He’s always trying to impress you with something. He will spend an extra long time shining all his guns (and his spurs, can't forget those) to really catch your attention. He’ll put on fancier clothing, tie his hair back neatly, and scour Nevada for some nice-smelling aftershave to wear around you. He just wants you to look at him.
• He already considers himself “your beau”, and will refer to you almost exclusively with pet names. Besides the usual staples like Honey or Darlin’, he’s particularly fond of “Pumpkin” for some reason. (Probably because it’s what he imagines calling you once he gets home from work. After you're married, of course.)
• Despite his cowardly nature, he’ll take every opportunity to “defend your honor”, typically in the cases where someone did something unforgivable to you. This includes things like insulting you, making you uncomfortable, flirting with you, looking at you for a second too long, walking in the same direction as you when you walk home, etc. You know, normal things for him to be worried about.
• His men are tired of covering up murders. They didn’t get paid enough to scrub guts off the sidewalk.
• If you don’t know how to defend yourself, he’ll teach you to shoot! (It could be a fun bonding activity, right?) He does the standard thing, bringing you to an empty lot with bottles and handing you one of his revolvers. But he’ll put his hands on your shoulders, gripping them tightly and leaning in uncomfortably close as he gives you instructions. The feeling of his breath against your cheek makes you shiver (in slight disgust, but given his purrs, you doubt he realizes that).
• He's ashamed to admit it, but he has considered kidnapping you on several occasions. You're far too fragile to be out on your own, and while Sheriff does bring danger with him, he and his men would do an excellent job at protecting you. (Plus it could be like a "trial" for living together before you get engaged. People do that a lot, it's perfectly normal.)
• As evidenced by the many songs he's sung to you, he's very extra with his affection. He spends a lot of time making very elaborate plans for "dates" the two of you will go on (and yes, he conveniently forgets to tell you what they are before you agree to come along). It's all candle-lit dinners, slow-dancing, and stargazing with him. He's just hopelessly in love with you and wants to do everything possible to show it.
• Never mind the fact that you have to be tied up on some of these. As much as he would willingly chase after you, he didn't want you to have to eat cold food or miss out on the main event (that's just cruel). Plus he finds the way that you trip into him when bound kind of adorable (even if your glare makes him shrink in on himself).
• But don't worry! Despite your small resistances, he knows that deep down, you love him too. He understands that he would have to spend a little longer showing his dedication to your relationship for you to finally accept him openly. You're a real catch, it makes perfect sense that he would have to work for you!
• Until then, he'll continue upping his efforts to prove his love to you. Just don't wait too long, lest he decides to do something drastic.

Chapter Text

• Chances are you work for the AAHW, which is what led Torture to meet you in the first place. You weren’t a high-ranking scientist, just an assistant who happened to be stationed around his “room” (more of an enclosure, to be honest). The first time you came close to him was when you had accompanied your superior to do a routine examination of him (a typical procedure for Mags).
• What first caught his attention was the lack of fear you showed him compared to the others. Those who came into contact with him were typically shaking in their boots, but you had a shocking amount of confidence as you walked into the room, throwing him a sympathetic look before your boss started their examination.
• He was completely hooked on you the moment you briefly looked up at him while taking notes, giving him a soft smile that made his heart flutter. Your gaze wasn't oppressive or calculating like the others. It was a...nice change.

• Since then, he'd always keep an eye out for you, visibly relaxing when he saw your small frame. He was most at ease during your visits, even purring during the small moments he felt your gentle touch. He didn't want you to take your hands off him.
• Naturally, your boss was interested in this. The Mag had never behaved this way before. They could only watch in confusion when he actually knelt down to your height, even offering a paw to hold your tiny clipboard as you inspected the stakes in his head.
• However, this change was a double-edged sword for the AAHW. On one hand, Torture had been a lot more cooperative with them when you were there. It wasn't a daily struggle to get him to do training procedures or follow orders, in fact he even seemed to show off when he knew you were watching. But they'd soon find out that this only applied if you were in the vicinity.
• They'd made the mistake of sending in other assistants when you were busy. It didn't exactly end well. (Your supervisor was tired of replacing their lab coats. Blood was so hard to get out of the white fabric. The lingering brain matter made them nauseous.)
• Before long you were made Torture's official handler, it was just easier for everyone else that way. You were apprehensive, but the pay was too good to turn down. Torture was beyond happy the moment you stepped into his room alone and practically told him that he was your main priority now as he should be.
• Now that he's in your care, there's rarely ever a time when you're apart. He's like a hulking shadow, always looming behind you as you go about your day. Your coworkers are all (understandably) terrified of him, not only because he’s a Mag Agent, but because he's also very protective over you. Any and all slights against you are met with the harshest of punishments. But he'll wait until you leave the room to do them, of course. He wouldn't ever want to traumatize you.
• (You wondered why your friends seemed to distance themselves from you now. Sure, having a Mag around you required some caution, but it's not like Torture would do anything bad around you, right? They were told not to inform you of the exact circumstances regarding your supervisor's death. Smashing them into a bloody pulp after they insulted you wasn't the most flattering look.)
• From your point of view, the Mag had been nothing but courteous. He was actually easy to work with, readily agreeing to whatever you needed him to do. No matter how painful the procedure, or how long he had to endure whatever training you gave him, he'd go through it without complaint.
• Sometimes a part of him even enjoyed it. Especially when you'd help clean him up afterward, making jokes as you wiped the blood from his small wounds. You always got so close. The stirring in his chest only gets stronger when he feels your hands on him. (Maybe he should let the training bots knick him more often.)
• He's oddly physical to you as well. When you first greet him in the morning, he'll pick you up and press you gingerly to his face, nuzzling into you as you chuckle and mumble a tired hello. (You'd come a long way from being scared of him. How could you be when he was always so sweet to you?)
• Instead of walking beside you, he'll often resort to just carrying you everywhere instead. Not only does this prevent you from getting tired with unnecessary activity, but this can also stop you from speaking to those who he deemed undeserving of your attention. Which, coincidentally, includes around 98% of those who work with you.
• (You might squirm a little at first, but you eventually have to settle there in his hands. Not like you were foolish enough to try and get out when he's holding you several meters off the ground. He gives a pleased chuff when you finally relax, stroking your back with his thumb. It'd be better this way, now that no one else could bother you two.)
• You were just so kind, it would be impossible for him not to love you. The way you'd grin at him and give him words of encouragement and praise never failed to make him weak at the knees. It was beyond what anyone else had done for him, and he'd prove to you that he had the same dedication towards you. (Surely your little gestures were signs that you felt the same, right? There was no other reason why you'd act that way.)
• While having a Mag with you at all times definitely didn't improve your social life, you have to admit, he is helpful for getting you out of unpleasant situations. If Torture sees any sign of discomfort from you at all, he'll simply whisk you away somewhere else. And it's not like anybody is willing to stop him, they know what happens to those who try to separate him from his handler.
• With this in mind, it's rarely ever an issue for the AAHW when he chooses to break out of his room. It had only taken a couple incidents to figure out what he was after, the l337 agents reporting that they'd found him in the break room, nuzzling into a small grunt as his purrs nearly shook the building. (You'd just left to go get some coffee. Guess his separation anxiety was worse than you first thought.)
• It was common enough that new protocol was written, simply stating that everyone should just stay out of his way when he scours the facility for you. (They ended up having to replace 2/3 of their workers the last time they tried. The Auditor was less than pleased.)
• As much as Torture would love to just leave the place permanently, that would mean abandoning you, which was unacceptable. You were the safest when he was with you anyway. It was clear that the incompetent agents who were tasked with protecting the regular workers were no match for the criminals who targeted the group. It just made sense to keep you with him at all times (even if it prevented you from going home).
• Torture is content with the notion that you belong to each other in a way. Perhaps fate was smiling down at him the moment you first met, a day that he would remember fondly for the rest of his life. (Perhaps love at first sight was a thing after all).
• He knows you both have feelings for each other, and you practically live together already. He already has you all to himself. It shouldn't be too difficult to make your relationship official.

Chapter Text

• 2BDamned is one of the quickest yanderes to actually get close to the object of his affections. It didn’t make sense to him why he’d watch you from a distance or wait hopefully for your paths to cross organically. No, that’d take much too long. Once he knows for sure just how deep his feelings are for you, why would he wait?
• It doesn’t matter what you do when he finds you, you’re getting recruited into the SQ somehow. Even if that means he has to make up an unconventional role to slide you into their ranks, it would be done.

• (It's also a very convenient way to sever your connections with your previous friends. Such a shame that the base is so far from your previous place of work. You shouldn't be sad, though. He's sure he's all you'll ever need, anyway.)
• You found it kind of odd that the recruiter they sent seemed so desperate to get you specifically. But whenever you showed any sign of resistance or skepticism, they just kept offering you more money. Might as well try it out, I mean, you could always just quit if it was that bad, right? (Not like Doc would ever let that happen, but it's not your fault you didn't know it at the time.)
• (The recruiter was on the verge of an anxiety attack when they saw your eyes narrow in suspicion. They knew it was weird to have someone so, well, normal in this profession, but they didn't have a choice. They really didn't want to become the first attempt of a live autopsy, as their boss so helpfully alluded to.)
• 2B is quick to put you in close quarters to himself, and you two quickly spark up a friendly relationship (due in no small part to his insistence on helping you with whatever you need). It's not the end goal, of course, but while he's certainly impatient, he knows that he should take this slow. He doesn't want to scare you with the true depth of his love so quickly, after all.
• To you, Doc is a good partner for conversation, charming even. He’ll visit you when he knows you’re open for company (due in no small part to his constant surveillance of your schedule) and just sit and chat with you about anything and everything. You don't even realize it most of the time, but a lot of conversations amount to you discussing things about yourself, spurred on by his gentle encouragement.
• He does this deliberately, of course. Not only because it's a clever way to learn more personal details about you, but also because he just adores the sound of your voice. It's beyond soothing, he'd listen to you talk for hours if he could. (Although he loathes when your words are directed at someone else. He knows it's a little irrational, but he can't help wishing that he was the only one who you'd ever speak to.)
• He's also very open with you; willing to indulge any curiosity you have about him or his work. This is what first tips the other agents off about his questionable interest in you. From what they've seen, Doc always operates on a need-to-know basis. Hence why the Status Quo's larger purpose (beyond maintaining the state of Nevada) and long-term goals remain a mystery to most of if not all its members. The man himself was also something of an enigma. Not even his own squad knew much about him, other than his name and the fact that he was a dissenter from one of Nevada's other organizations.
• It's actually shocking for the other agents who happen to overhear a few words from those hushed conversations he shares with you. It seems you two discuss everything from current missions to stories from your childhoods??? What?!?
• (As much as they would like to, they never stuck around long enough to get a full picture of what you'd talk about. Doc didn't like others encroaching on his private time with you. He'd rather they bleed out than drag your attention away from him.)
• 2B's flattered that you want to know about him, and he'll tell you this once you make your little inquiries. (He has a penchant for teasing you. The way your eyes will widen in surprise and the blush that covers your face is just so adorable to him. He hopes you only look at him this way.)
• 2B is also surprisingly affectionate with you. From his fingers slipping against yours when he hands you paperwork, to how he'll insist on having you sit with him at his desk, close enough for your thighs to touch when you have your chats; he always has some physical contact with you if he can help it.
• And really, while Doc has a great deal of self-control, it's actually difficult for him to keep his hands off you. But the effort of self-restraint, to stop himself from completely smothering you in his touch so quickly, is completely worth it. It keeps you comfortable, and most of all compliant.
• As time goes on, his gestures only grow in scale. But because he takes it achingly slow (for him, at least), you willingly go along with it. Doc's always been so sweet to you, and he's not exactly bad on the eyes either. Why wouldn't you lean into his touch when he greets you with a short embrace, or when he puts a hand on your hip to bring you closer to him, and keeps it there.
• Speaking of being good on the eyes, Doc will actually clean up more, just for you. He takes a little longer styling his mohawk, and chooses to wear one of his waistcoats instead of his typical hoodies. He even wears dress shoes instead of boots, even if they are a lot more impractical. He just wants to keep your eyes on him.
• Because 2B meticulously plans out almost everything he does with you, and has great control over the schedules of his agents, it's all too easy for him to get you all to himself. As it happens, none of the agents are really stationed close to where you work. And those that tend to come into contact with you often are switched out, making it almost impossible for you to get close to any of them.
• (Doc's quite happy that his mask covers the wry grin that spreads across his face when you complain about how lonely you feel around your coworkers. He'll chuckle warmly at the pout you have, and offer for you to have lunch with him, in his office instead of the cantina. And of course, you accept, just as he expected.)
• He isn't above taking care of the more stubborn agents, should they have the nerve to try and make themselves more permanent fixtures in your life. Whether it be by suicide mission or sending one of their own operatives to get rid of this new "traitor" to the SQ.
• Although occasionally he'll actually let them get a bit closer to you. After all, when your new friends happen to meet their demise in extremely gruesome ways, it's always him you turn to for comfort. (He'll mentally thank that annoying agent for their necessary sacrifice, even as you wet his shoulder with tears. He hates seeing you sad, but it's worth it if it drives you closer together.)
• This isolation, in combination with how sweet 2BDamned is to you alone, only succeeds at pushing you further into his arms. You two are practically joined at the hip now, and if the constant flush that brightens your face and the way you avert your eyes when he catches your gaze says anything, you're beginning to develop deeper feelings for him as well. Good. This is what he was hoping would happen.
• By the time you're actually together officially, you'll have no one else to turn to; nowhere else to go. He can't wait for the day he finally has you completely to himself. And of course, because he's been so patient with you, you'll be so comfortable that you wouldn't even think of leaving him.
• (Perhaps, just to be safe, he should start drafting some capture plans. Come to think of it, maybe some chains would also be necessary? He knows he probably won't need them, but considering other variables hasn't hurt before, right?)

Chapter Text

• You'd been friends with Sheriff for a long time. Well, acquaintances for longer, only growing close when Nexus City had fallen and the grey skies of Nevada had turned red. But even before your world fell to its current state and you two became best friends, you’d always agreed upon one thing: Sheriff was a coward.
• Granted, it wasn't the worst thing to be here, it definitely kept him alive and out of harm's way for the most part. But it also prevented him from really learning how to fight properly, since he’d usually try to get as far away from his enemy as possible before doing anything to retaliate. And even then, his accuracy was less than stellar. You even gave him lessons, but it seems none of it really stuck. 
• Of course, Sheriff saw an obvious solution to this. You were the most skilled gunslinger he knew of, so why not just hire you to protect him instead? (He was really nervous when asking you, it was actually pretty funny. He was sweating buckets trying to work up the courage to finally do so (since he did look up to you quite a bit). You just gave him an amused look and agreed.)
• Unfortunately, your new partnership with Sheriff meant that you had to deal with all of his enemies, and with his shenanigans he’d happened to have made quite a few. But none were as dangerous (or annoying to you) as Nevada’s most infamous homicidal maniac; Hank J. Wimbleton.
• You really didn’t know how you managed to catch his interest. At first you thought it was because you protected one of his enemies, and that was correct to some extent. That’s what first caused him to notice you, at least. But it was your staunch resistance to him, even when knowing he could completely eviscerate you, that made him have a far deeper interest in you.
• He still remembers the first time you encountered each other (an event he looks back on fondly even if you don’t). He’d been tearing his way through a Merc base in search of Sheriff, only to find the man pathetically cowering behind you, clutching onto the back of your clothes like a child. He even yelped when he took a step closer. But you, no you weren’t scared (at least not visually).
• Even as the gore-covered grunt before you raised his sword, you didn’t falter, leveling him with a cold glare, lips curled in a sneer as you raised your odd-looking guns in his direction. How intriguing. He had cocked his head, taking a step closer to you only for a laser to burn through him, searing through the flesh of his arm. He jumped back in surprise, giving you the perfect opportunity to shove Sheriff towards the exit as you followed at his heels. (Ordinarily you’d be up for a fight, but you weren’t willing to risk your friend’s life. Plus this was kinda your job, after all.) 
• But you were surprised when you didn’t hear Hank running behind you. While you and Sheriff entered the nearest vehicle to get as far away from that building as possible, the tall grunt was looking down at the burn on his arm. You’d managed to hurt him, and rather badly at that. You didn’t hesitate in your actions, even when the odds were stacked completely against you. Impressive.
• It had been too long since he’d faced a normal person who didn’t show him any fear. A part of him was struck by that overwhelming passion in your eyes; a mixture of protectiveness and anger. It was captivating to him. He wanted to see more.
• Since then he’d attacked the bases you were at far more frequently. You’d come to expect his appearance almost every day, and worked constantly to prepare something that could help Sheriff’s Mercs have a fighting chance against him. (Sheriff was growing concerned. You were quite the workaholic already, but he’d never seen you fall asleep on your blueprints before, usually far too concerned with smudging them to let yourself do that. You must’ve been really upset about this.)
• But instead of focusing on ending the Sheriff, he had a new motive: finding you. Fortunately for the Mercs, Hank no longer had much of an interest in them. He’d still destroy them if they got in his way (as they deserved for keeping you from him), but now he’d been leaving some alive when he rushed past them to find your location. You brought this up, of course. 
• “You left some of our men last time. You’re getting sloppy, Wimbleton,” you mocked as you twirled your guns. He didn’t respond, too focused on the way your lips look pulled into a snide smile. (How would they feel against his? He wondered.)
• But really, why would he care about people so insignificant when you were just out of reach? You were worth more of his time than those who were too weak to provide him any challenge. He was enraptured by the way you put your all into fighting him time and time again, the sheer determination to protect someone as worthless as the Sheriff was endearing.
• The infuriating thing to you is that he continued to find you and Sheriff time and time again, but didn’t even seem to try and hurt you very much? His punches were pulled, his shots missed, and his swipes with blades were always at least a hair’s breadth away from slicing through you. It was threatening in the beginning, but now it enraged you. Did he underestimate you that badly?
• In reality, Hank’s views on your abilities were split. You were a complete genius when it came to weaponry, and he just adored seeing you with a new gun in your hand, always looking bigger and more elaborate than your last project. If anything he was in awe of your intelligence, and the imagination and care you put behind each of your pieces. The fact that he knew you made them just for him made a part of him feel light. You really considered him to be so special that you’d spend time making a weapon just to deal with him? You must think so highly of him.
• But at the same time, to his obvious amusement, you struggled with hand-to-hand combat; something he took advantage of very often. He found joy in the way you squirmed in his hold, trying in vain to break free as your fists hit weakly against him. (“I’ll fucking kill you, Wimbleton,” you hissed, and he only chuckled in response, tightening his grip on your wrists as you thrashed underneath him.) He enjoyed this physical contact he had with you, and the fact that it was in the throes of battle only heightened the sensation of your skin against his.
• (You were typically too caught up in adrenaline to realize that he’d decided to forego gloves in his fights with you. However, you did notice when one of his hands decided to press against your body where your shirt had ridden up, calluses scraping against your skin as he ran his fingers over you in a way you might describe as soft. You hid your confusion with spoken threats and decided not to ponder his uncharacteristic behavior.)
• Your weapons themselves are another point of fascination for him. All lovingly crafted by your hands, and powerful beyond belief. A part of him considered himself lucky for being your “test subject” for them, and he admires each scar they left on his form after yet another wound from you had healed. He could remember each event accurately, from the slightly indented scars on his shoulders from your three-barreled revolver to the jagged marks that trailed over his torso from your “chainsaw bayonet”. Ordinarily he wouldn’t care about the leftover scars he got from battles, but he actually enjoyed getting yours. It served as a reminder for another memory with you.
• (The last one had caused some concern from Doc, who asked about it when Hank returned to the base bloody and on the verge of passing out. He didn’t receive much of an answer, just a wet cough of “chainsaw”, the tone of which was too light to be normal. He looked rather bewildered when he saw that the man was blushing as well when he checked for any wounds under the mask. What the hell?)
• Although he also desperately wants to have one of your guns for himself. It was the thing that represented you the most; the very culmination of your character. He was beyond happy when you accidentally left one behind, too busy trying to get Sheriff to safety to realize your gun belt was feeling too light.
• It was a “laspistol”, Prototype MK 0.02 according to the engravings on the side. The bulkiness of it proved that you’d yet to streamline it, and it was notably heavy compared to usual guns. He held it up with trembling hands, brimming with excitement at finally getting something you created to himself. It became a treasured item of his, and he kept it on his person at all times, only removing it to clean dust (and blood) from its finish.
• (Deimos was unfortunate enough to see it, innocently picking it up from the table when Hank had turned to fetch some cleaning brushes for it. He studied it for a moment, perplexed by the odd design. "This isn't factory-made. Where'd you get it?" he asked, only to flinch as Hank tore the gun out of his hands. He only watched with confusion as the taller grunt looked closely at it, gently running a finger over the maker’s engraving before shoving it into his coat. Weird.)
• Needless to say, the connection Hank had with you was odd. It was far too violent to constitute anything good, but your meetings were too frequent to say you didn’t know each other. You considered him another thorn in your side. But he, on the other hand, was utterly infatuated with you.
• You didn’t notice it since you were fully immersed in your dedication to taking him down each time he appeared. But Sheriff did.
• He’d never seen Hank decide to willingly spare someone, certainly not anyone who’d gotten between them in a fight. It was like this even before Nevada had turned to chaos. That on its own was weird, but to continue to do so? Something had to be wrong. And it was.
• The way the murderous grunt seemed to enjoy it when you fought against him made Sheriff’s skin crawl, and the fact that he only seemed to focus on you instead of his actual main enemy proved that he had some sort of weird thing for you. In an effort to support you, Sheriff would try to help out, using one of your rifles to try and take potshots at Hank when you two dueled.
• Naturally Hank was far less enthused at the Sheriff’s interference with your blooming “relationship” and was in no way willing to put up with it. As far as he was concerned, the cowboy had no place getting involved. He was too weak to be a suitable companion for you, and how could he claim to care for you when he intended to use you as a meat shield every day?
• (He’d never been angry at hypocrisy before, but now his blood boiled every time you gave the other grunt a look of thanks and a grateful smile for aiming a few shots at him. He didn’t even hit anything, why the fuck were you congratulating him?)
• If anything you’d be better off by his side. For one, he was obviously stronger than him, there really wasn’t a question about it. Secondly, for all the brawls that he had with you, he’d never actually injured you. Any sensible person would see that he’d be the better choice here, as you’d be far safer with him (which in itself was a rare achievement in Nevada).
• But a part of Hank knows that it’d be difficult to remove you from your boss’ side, for contractual obligations if nothing else. That was fine; he could deal with it just as well. He’d just have to center his focus back on what was supposed to be his main objective.
• He’s sure Doc would be relieved once this mission was finally over. And then nothing would be stopping him from taking you all for himself. You’d be happier this way anyway, you’ll see. 

Chapter Text

• Hank is most notable when it comes to his near-complete lack of self-restraint compared to other yanderes. He won’t wait until you’ve come to know him well, or try to introduce himself into your life by more natural means; he’s far too impatient to do that. This means that the moment he’s aware of his deeper feelings for you, he’s going to be by your side 24/7, no matter where you are or what you’re occupied with.
• You didn’t actually know him at all, save for the many wanted posters and the rumors from the AAHW. So needless to say, you were very…apprehensive about him suddenly appearing in your life. You half expected him to murder you when you first ran into him while walking home, but instead you were surprised when he just gave you a weird look and accompanied you on your trip instead. (You didn’t know what to say, so you were silent the entire time. But even with your anxious glances at his form, you failed to see the adoring gaze he had on you the entire time. The goggles were good for hiding that.)
• This entire situation is completely horrifying to your coworkers and friends. They come into your workplace like normal only to find you standing there with the most dangerous mercenary in Nevada practically laying on you, purring loudly like a large cat while you try to input numbers into your computer. They were going to say something, but then he turned towards them and growled, so they decided that whatever was going on was far beyond their business.
• (Well, that and the fact that they’re pretty sure they could see the blood of one of their other coworkers staining the bottom of his coat. Yeah, no, they weren’t dealing with that.)
• That’s another thing; he’s very affectionate with you-far more than you’d expect from someone who apparently only knew violence. Hank acknowledges he’s not good with words at all, so most of this translates into more physical gestures instead.
• Since he's always around you anyway, there's nothing stopping him from wrapping his large arms around you and pulling you into a tight embrace, loud purrs vibrating against you as he nuzzles into the side of your neck. Or sometimes he’ll decide to actually pick you up to cuddle with you somewhere else instead, usually bringing you to places where nobody can interrupt you. It’s honestly very disruptive and you’ll try to voice this to him, even as red coats your face and you stammer once he places his hands on your sides and rubs small circles on your hips. It won’t stop him of course, especially now that he’s realized how cute you are when flustered. If anything, it'll just make him do it more often.
• (You realized after the first few times he did this that it would be almost impossible to escape his grasp, so you didn’t bother fighting it too much at this point. Plus it would be good to keep him docile for at least a little while.)
• He also does this thing where he’ll lean down and lightly bump his forehead against yours, kind of like a weird greeting. Again, it reminds you of a cat, so you’d say it’s a little endearing. You’re unaware that it’s the closest thing to a kiss he can give you without revealing his face, which is why he decided to do it to begin with. It’s just innocent enough to avoid suspicion while still showing how much he cares for you. (You can remember how excited he got when you reciprocated by leaning forward a bit to make it easier for him. His hands were shaking with excitement and he actually seemed stunned by your actions. He wasn’t expecting you to warm up to him so quickly.)
•  He wonders if you realize the privilege he’s given you, when he willingly presses himself against you with the single intent of just feeling you; of enveloping himself with your being. He doesn’t let anyone else get as close to him, you know. 
• You’re still trying to process it, to be honest. It was a rather large change to go from being a complete nobody to the main “love interest” of someone so infamous. At the very least you know you’ll be protected from anything that could threaten you, if his sudden violence against anyone who looked like they were Agency grunts was any indication. But unfortunately that level of defense he shows for you is also extended to things that are completely harmless. (Like your friends, for example.)
• In his mind, they’re a threat, both to you and the bond you both share. He’s seen enough in Nevada to know that people are unreliable, and now that you are so close, he knows that those you associate yourself with aren’t to be trusted. What if they alert the AAHW of your involvement with him? What if they try to split you up by harming you themselves?
• He’s very tense around others because of this, but it’s barely noticeable, given how everyone else (except for you maybe) is always walking on eggshells around him anyway. And it’s not like they don’t have a reason to be, he is Hank J. Wimbleton. But if anything, his love for you only makes this aspect of him worse. He’d do anything to prove his love to you; killing is just another task he does for your favor insofar as he’s concerned.
• And unlike other yanderes, he doesn’t really care about keeping the malicious side of him hidden. He knows how infamous he is, and you undoubtedly knew about his many crimes before you became involved, so what would be the point of it? If anything, he takes great pride in his skills and how he uses them for you.
• You want someone dead (or even seem like you do) and it’s done. Hank is very good at his job, but he’s never found any contract as fulfilling as what he does for you. Anyone who does anything to go against you (or your relationship with him, for that matter) is dealt with swiftly and harshly. And he can be very quick; you’ll be talking to someone and he’ll see that slight tinge of annoyance on your face before a loud snap rings out and you look up to see that he’s broken their neck. How lovely. (At least this time it wasn’t as visceral as the stabbings or burnings. Though it’ll take you a while to forget the look on their face as they lie dead on the ground.)
• Naturally he has very little patience for others trying to take your attention too. If someone talks to you for what he deems too long, they’re getting a gun or knife pressed to their throat. Whoever it is better hope that you’re willing to talk him down, or else they won’t be seeing the light of the next day. (Or the end of their shifts.) Why would he just let them get away with stealing attention that should’ve been spent on him?
• Although even with this, Hank is surprisingly good at following instructions-well, yours at least. As much as his bloodlust nags at him, he’ll listen to you if you tell him not to hurt someone. He longs for your approval over anything else, and if ignoring his urges to destroy anything that you might have the smallest of problems with brings you closer to accepting him as yours, then he’ll do it. (Although sometimes your orders aren’t enough to stop him from pursuing a goal; if someone were to make you too uncomfortable or actually hurt you, then nothing would prevent him from eviscerating them. Though he makes sure someone else has to deal with the cleanup. He wouldn’t want you to see that he disobeyed you, after all. Plus he never thought you looked good with someone else’s blood on you anyway)
• You also were unaware of the fact that he’d been watching you for a while. Just close enough to see your expressions and the way you went about your day, but far enough so that he won’t appear in your sightline. He usually isn’t one for stealth, but for you he’ll make an exception. It’s something special, to see you fully at peace when you think you’re all alone. Even watching you do something simple like make yourself a cup of coffee is enjoyable for him. Seeing every part of your life only makes him feel closer to you, in a way. At the end of this there’ll be nobody who knows you as well as he does. (He’ll make sure of it, even if that means he has to get rid of a few grunts you’re acquainted with.)
• You’ll always have his company, even when you don’t know it. For someone of his stature, it’s surprising how good he is at remaining out of sight. The only clue you’ll have to the fact that he follows you everywhere is the occasional reflection of red where it really shouldn’t be. (Like on a window when you’re walking home, or the bathroom mirror when you’re brushing your teeth.)
• (Everyone back at the base is getting a little suspicious, but it’s Hank, so it’s not like they’ll pry. He’d never been one to open up about his personal business anyway, so even if they did, they wouldn’t have any luck. Besides this, they’re some of the last people he’d like to discuss you with. He’d seen for himself how alluring you are, and he didn’t feel like having to put up with them catching feelings for you too. Killing them would take some effort, but he knows he’d have to if it happened.
• But even then, they can’t help but wonder where he goes now. 2BDamned is particularly curious about how he’s almost never around now; he’s even had to consider sending one of the others out to find him when he has a mission to do. It’s quite odd, for Hank.)
• However, for as long as Hank does this, his patience will eventually run out. He loses interest in observing stalking you from a distance after some time, and will simply switch to breaking in when convenient-usually when you’re sleeping. He’s a very inconsiderate person in general, but he knows how much you need your rest, so he’ll be quiet when he snoops around your place. Everything about your home is so interesting to him, each choice of decoration telling him a little more about your personality. Though he did take a particular interest in your clothes and the shampoo you used, simply because they smelled so much like you. 
• It’s not hard to tell when he does this, because he usually makes it obvious by not putting things back where you left them. Or by taking things of yours. It’s very annoying, you’ve had to replace things more than a few times now, not including the locks on your windows.
• In an attempt to negate some of the damage from this, you decided to just give him your spare key. Because you really weren’t getting paid enough to replace whatever he broke the next time he decided to “visit” you. His hands were trembling violently as he gently took the key from you, the other covering his face as he internally freaked out. This must’ve meant that you wanted him around you more often; that you also felt the strong connection between you two. Perhaps this was a sign that you had the same love for him that he did for you, the same longing to be in his presence?
• (You just gave him a concerned look. It was just a key, it’s not like you proposed or anything. But then you deadpanned when you realized that now he probably won’t leave.)
• After this happens, there’s no getting rid of him. And even with this new development, his behavior towards others will only become more volatile. Because even though his need for your company at all times is going to be sated, he’s still dissatisfied with how much you have to interact with others. Perhaps if he scales up the violence, bit by bit, you’ll eventually conclude that it’s too dangerous to work with others? He’s not afraid to use his status as a walking hazard to get you all to himself, if that’s what’s needed. Besides, your little stunt earlier proved that you were perfectly comfortable staying with him for extended periods of time. If you happened to not be able to pay your bills, why couldn’t you just stay with him instead?
• He’s sure you’d be better off that way in the long run. You didn’t even have to work to live anymore because he’d take care of you just fine. He gets giddy just thinking about it; the future where you’re both together, and where nobody can take you from him. It’s completely inevitable at this point, and he’ll make sure it happens. No matter how many corpses he has to pile up to make it so.

Chapter Text

• Sanford has always been able to recognize your moods from the way your facial expressions change and the subtle emotions that flicker through your eyes. His accuracy on this is something he prides himself on (even if he learned it from stalking observing you for so long before you two got together), so he'll immediately notice if you're not feeling too well, mentally or otherwise.
• Whenever your anxiety gets bad he's there to help you in an instant. No matter what you're doing, the moment he sees your expression turn (i.e. your eyes going downcast or a strained grimace pulling at your lips as your shoulders tense up, anything that could tell him you're not doing well) he'll look at you with worry and lean down to search your face. As his large hands come to clasp yours and pull your focus to him, you might notice that he's even shaking the slightest bit.
• Seeing you anxious actually makes him anxious too (which is surprising for someone who's a wanted criminal), but he keeps it to himself since he doesn't want to stress you out even further. Luckily the way he winds down is by doing things for you; being useful by getting you little gifts, cooking you food, even cleaning stuff for you if you want.
• One of his main love languages is acts of service; he wants you to know that he'd do anything for you, not only because of how much he loves you but because you deserve it. Nevada is unkind, but you should have only the best parts of it. And because he's your partner, he'll go to any length to make that happen. Although he's quite surprised when all you ask for is him, and you smile softly at the bright blush that covers his face and the giddy grin he can't hide. (You caught him off guard with that request, but it made him incredibly happy.)
• Sanford always showers you with all the affection you could ever need, but it feels a bit different when he's comforting you like this. He'll hold you in his broad arms and let you vent all your thoughts and worries to him, all while watching you with rapt attention. He wants to know everything he can about you, and the fact that you trust him enough to discuss your anxiety and how it affects you makes him feel warm. You always feel heard when you're with him.
• He gives good advice, but he'll hold off on it when he's comforting you. He doesn't know if you want solutions so he won't try to give any, but he'll listen to you all the same, hanging upon your every word as he pulls you closer to him. It's genuinely freeing, to discuss something like this and be met with no judgement or negative reactions. He even understands some of the underlying reasons for your racing thoughts, as although he's incredibly tough, he's dealt with his own problems before. (He's generally pretty in tune with his own emotions, it's how he recognized how head-over-heels he is for you, after all.)
• He's all-encompassing and incredibly strong, and really any rational person would be terrified to be held so tightly by one of Nevada's most wanted. But as he softly runs his thumbs over your sides in smooth circles, and shifts so you're close enough to hear his quickened heartbeats, you can't feel anything but safe. For all his other less-savory actions, you know that he would never hurt you, so the firm muscles that flex beneath your fingertips and the almost possessive embrace he has you in makes it all the more welcoming. You felt untouchable with him, as odd as it sounds.
• You sigh contentedly from your place in his arms and he asks you if you're okay (even if he knows from how boneless you are that you're more than fine). "I'm fine 'ford...thank you..." You both know the gratitude is for more than his concerned question, and he gives you a warm look. He believes this is all you have to say, but then you raise your head to meet his gaze. "I love you."
• Sanford's eyes widen for a brief moment and you huff out a small laugh at the red that tinges his face. (His reaction to your blatant declarations never gets old. It's almost like he's still in disbelief that you return his feelings.) You can feel faint purrs building up in his chest as he pecks you on the forehead. "I love you too," he says simply, voice low enough that it feels like a secret shared between you. He's glad you come to him for comfort, since he's always tried to be someone you can rely on. He's a pillar for you; he'll always be there to help bear your burdens, whatever it takes to show you how deep his devotion to you lies.
• Deimos has dealt with his fair share of issues on his own, but he knows that he won't be able to fully understand how you feel. And that actually really irks him, even if he knows it's wholly unreasonable. He wants to protect you from everything, but he can't when it's your own mind that's bringing you down. It's not like he could share the burden that your anxiety places on your mind (or take it from you, as much as he wishes he could), so he'll elect to try and reassure you with affection instead.
• He's always been very clingy but now he's almost like a leech, holding you tightly against him and nuzzling into your neck, purring all the while. Normally he'd at least try to be helpful in allowing you to complete your work, or even assisting you as you did so (he wanted to be useful to you, of course), but the thought of you doing anything strenuous puts a bad taste in his mouth.
• So he'll distract you, pulling you away from whatever you're doing to focus on him as he leads you to somewhere more comfortable. He doesn't really care where you end up, as long as he can press close to your side and murmur little words of appreciation into your ear.
• And he has a lot to say-even before you two were in a relationship, he'd come up with an extensive list of everything he adored about you (it'd be impossible not to, considering just how much you occupied his mind). He'll ramble on and on about how lovely your smile is and how cute your expression is whenever he surprises you with a hug, and better yet, how kind you are and how much he enjoys being around you. He wouldn't trade your presence for anything, and it's important to him that you know just how much you're worth to him.
• Really, it's impossible not to feel loved when you're wrapped up in one of his warm embraces, pressed tightly to his chest with your legs tangled as his raspy purrs echo in your ear. You're so close that you can barely tell where he ends and you begin, hearing nothing but his long declarations of love and gentle rumbles. His calloused fingers trace little shapes into your back and hip, and he only purrs louder when you nuzzle into his neck.
• The heat that emanates from him is unbelievably comfortable, and his presence is overwhelming in the best of ways. The slight smell of tobacco and gunpowder, mixed with the faintest traces of some aftershave you got him a while back (which he wears religiously now), fills your senses as you listen to his words. He could go on for hours if you let him; he'd sing your praises until his voice went hoarse and started to crack if that's what's needed to assure you of his affections.
• He only pauses when you murmur a soft "thank you" into his chest, and he smiles at the cute way you bury your head into him. His hand reaches over to clasp yours tightly, his grin widening when you slowly intertwine your fingers. He loves you so much, and he's beyond happy that he can show you the true depth of his adoration.
• Hank immediately assumes that your dampened mood is the result of someone doing something to affect you, so whenever he sees you being more anxious or withdrawn, he'll be up in a protective frenzy. He'll quickly pull you from your workstation, looking you over from head to toe as his long fingers dig into your shoulders a little roughly. He's worried.
• You give him a small, tired smile, and explain that "No, Hank, I'm fine, nobody hurt me" and he relaxes but only somewhat. Because despite the fact that nobody had injured you, you were certainly not "fine", if the way you wrung your hands and your eyes darted around were any indication.
• Hank, admittedly, is not the best at handling emotions. He doesn't really "get" depression and anxiety, or at least if he has he doesn't understand them enough to realize it. His usual method for dealing with any mental/emotional turmoil is just to go off and fight something, but there's no way in hell he'd allow you to do that, so he has to find some other option.
• He already has a compulsion to just pick you up and walk off with you if he wants all your attention (usually too impatient to wait for you to finish what you're doing. He's surprisingly needy, well, for you at least.) And this is the perfect time to do that again. But his concern only deepens when you don't even try to squirm or complain about how disruptive he's being, just leaning into his touch as he gently pulls you up into his arms.
• He carries you back home after a few choice words to your boss (about the fact that you couldn't work right now and there'd be consequences if he tried to force you), and once you're finally back he'll immediately bring you over to your couch. He'll help you remove your shoes and jacket (an oddly soft gesture for someone like him) before taking off his own coat and holsters and pulling you on top of him to cuddle.
• It's an odd fit, given how tall he is it would likely be better to do this in your bed, but he can't find it within himself to care as you relax in his tight grasp. You feel safest like this, wrapped up in his arms as he presses your head into the crook of his neck and purrs loudly. (You once told him that his deep purring was comforting, and he's never forgotten it. You thought it was odd that he did it so often around you at first, but now it's something you welcome.) And it's very calming too, the rumbling making your once-racing thoughts slow in a welcome way.
• He's really not good at reassuring people, but his love for you outweighs whatever reservations he has for whispering little compliments and praises to you. His voice is extremely raspy from disuse, and his comments are a little blunt (he's not exactly suave, so you expect it) but it's nice coming from him. Plus, he's never been dishonest to you, so his words make a blush heat your face.
• He just wants to make sure you realize that you're loved by him. And if pulling you away from your job to cuddle with him at your (shared) home will make your day better, then he'll do it as many times as you need. He's just glad that he can comfort you, even with all his inexperience in relationships and actually caring for people.
• He's never adored anyone as much as you, and the feeling of having you in his arms like this fills him with happiness like no other. You're his, and he'd do anything to keep you safe and happy. No matter if it's something soft like this, or more bloody, any amount of effort is worth it if it proves how utterly and completely in love he is with you.
• 2BDamned has the added benefit of being your employer, as well as your significant other. This means he can effectively just force you to take the day off if something's bothering you. And don't worry about your workload either, he'll just assign someone else to do it-and reprimand them severely if they mess anything up for you in the process. (Though they should have some idea of how protective he is over you at this point, so hopefully they'd know better. For their sake.)
• He'll have you at his side for the entire day (like usual), but this time he'll take this as an opportunity to "slack off" a bit on some of his duties. Of course, he still thinks he needs to get something done, so Doc will decide to take some other reports to his room and snuggle with you while reading them. Or at least that's the plan before he actually has a chance to get you into his arms.
• (Ordinarily he'd hate the idea of being so unproductive, but you were more important than everything else. The Status Quo could fall to ruin just outside the door and he wouldn't care. As long as he was helping you, Nevada could wait.)
• Doc's not exactly touchy in general, but for you there's an exception. He'll take off his mask and allow you to look at the scars that mar his cheeks, taking one of your hands in his and raising it to cup his face as he gives you a rare smile. He studies your expression and the way you relax into his touch, delighting in how you meld into his form like you were made to be in his arms. (A part of him even believes that's the case, even if he knows it's a little foolish. You're the closest thing to a soulmate for him, insofar as he's concerned.)
• "I adore you," he says after a moment, eyes filled with unbridled affection and warmth that's usually hidden behind his mask. "You are everything to me, and I hope you know that. Even if you don't believe me, it doesn't change the fact that it's true. I'd let Nevada burn if that's what you asked of me."
• He's always been eloquent in his wording, and he uses this to his advantage often. But his favorite times to do so are like these, when he can shower you with all the praise and verbal affection that you deserve. He wants you to know that his care for you is limitless, no matter how bad you're feeling or how much your anxiety nags at you. He'll be there to soothe you whenever you need, no matter what obstacles try in vain to stand between you.
• "I love you more than words can say," he murmurs reverently as your eyes fall shut, and he means every syllable.

Chapter Text

• Jebus honestly never expected to fall in love, especially not with a coworker. You were a lower-level scientist who managed a smaller team, verifying data and reporting any errors you came across. And that’s how he came to know you, from you coming up to him and pulling his attention away from his work time and time again. Ordinarily he’d hate such distractions, but with you he found himself liking it. (Perhaps a little too much, according to some.)
• Instead of sending you away like he does for everyone else or going silent to end a conversation of small talk, he’ll invite you to stay instead and have another long conversation with him, sometimes even getting coffee for you both. It’s uncharacteristically friendly, but you didn’t know him well enough to tell that it wasn’t normal.
• (Something he was rather grateful for, to be honest. He wouldn’t want you to find it weird that he’s only outwardly sociable around you, of course. It might make you suspicious.)
• He finds you to be sweet, pure, someone with not a bad word to say about anyone else in the shady organization (despite all their flaws and unethical actions). While Jeb isn’t a fan of how close the other scientists and agents are with you, your kindness and generosity made you stand out from them. Out of everyone he’d come across, only you managed to capture his attention through your little gestures, like when you brought him coffee or when he witnessed you offer to take a haggard-looking coworker’s shift.
• Your intelligence is also a breath of fresh air and he thinks you’re unbelievably interesting. He wants to hear your thoughts on everything, from your work to the Nexus Core’s business, to even simple things like your daily life. He wants to know about your history too, about what led you to Nexus City and how you became the unique person you are. He wants to know what makes you tick. 
• (Though not at all because it would make it all the more easy for him to exploit those details, of course not. Christoff is above that. Or at least that’s what he tries to convince himself.)
• Jebus isn’t the type of yandere to "openly" fawn over you, it could cause you to get in trouble, and he'd hate for that to happen. Instead, he’ll get you little gifts and leave them on your desk, all things that you’ve mentioned or that he inferred you’d like from your conversations. Well, most of the time at least.
• (You didn’t need to know how often he’s eavesdropped on your “private” talks with others and tasked people with following you to know more. That information couldn’t benefit you, so there was no point in notifying you anyway.)
• (You appreciate the little presents you find, even if you can’t tell who they’re from or how they know you wanted whatever was given to you. Although some of the gifts were really specific, to the point you found them suspicious. You can’t recall ever mentioning your birthday to anyone at any point in time (Nexus personnel didn’t celebrate that sort of thing in the office anyway due to regulations) so how did they know what flowers and jewelry corresponded with it?)
• Sometimes he even writes you long love letters too, carefully sliding them into your assigned locker where you keep your spare lab coats. They’re all multiple pages in length, filled with poetic musings and longwinded words of affection. It’s incredibly well written, to you it seems like whoever wrote it must’ve spent hours getting everything right. 
• (And in all truthfulness, it was true. They were all things he’d spent hours thinking of before, and trying to translate just how much he adores you into mere words was honestly quite difficult for him. But he’d spend weeks coming up with the perfect combination of sentences for you to read, his dearest deserved nothing less.)
• While you won’t ever be able to tell who exactly is giving them to you, your coworkers have their suspicions. Only someone of a high level would be able to spoil you with so much stuff, but you happened to be on good terms with most of the upper personnel, bar the Director whom you’ve never openly spoken to. They had kind of a bet going on trying to find who it actually was, but in reality, they’d never know. Christoff kept his tracks too well hidden for that, and besides, what he did you win your love wasn’t any of their business to begin with.
• (Although he may’ve had to take some more drastic actions to ensure that his plans were hidden. It’s kind of a shame that he had to volunteer that one Agent up for Crackpot’s Zed program, they were a good worker but this is what they got for snooping through his desk and finding the letters. They were for your eyes only. But at least this way he wouldn’t have to clean the unexplained blood off of one of his lab coats again. At least Crackpot's foolish endeavors were good for something in the end.)
• But there was one grunt who managed to figure it out; Dr. Hofnarr. As Jeb’s best friend, he’d be really stupid if he missed the way his friend’s gaze lingered on you far too long to be a coincidence (or appropriate) and the way he seemed weirdly nice to you. 
• (“Hey, Dr. Christoff, I got a report here on Project Z. I’d give it to Dr. Crackpot but it covers the Sleepwalker program in the first few pages so I figure I’d run it by you first,” you said as you gently placed the stack of papers in front of him. He immediately looked up from his work, red irises meeting yours as he adjusted his glasses. Hofnarr winced to himself, expecting some form of scolding to come from him for interrupting his experiment, but no.
• Instead, he was shocked to see the small smile on his friend's face and the oddly-soft look he had as he regarded you. He watched in bewilderment as Jebus welcomed you to sit down with him, even moving a chair so you could be closer. What?)
• Although any questioning leads to a stern look from Christoff and the order to drop it and talk about something else, which he concedes to. If he didn’t want to talk about it, it was fine. Besides, Jeb had always been rational, it’s not like it was anything bad to have a little crush on an employee. If anything he was happy for him!
• (He’d have a different opinion if he knew of the true extent of his friend's love obsession for you, but that’s just another reason why Jeb would cut off any curiosity he had. He thought it was just a "crush", which Jeb thought was funny, but it was a useful thing for him to believe. He’d hate for Hofnarr to get involved in something so far out of his depth.)
• Given how secretive he is about his affections, physical touch is something he keeps at the minimum for now. Not because he wants to, but because you might be removed from his side if anyone finds out that you're a lot closer than you let on (at least to him). The most you'll get is the intentional brush of his hand against yours as you hand him something, or him resting a hand on your shoulder or waist as he passes by you.
• (And he thinks about these moments obsessively afterwards, replaying the memories of your warmth and the feeling of your body. Perhaps, once his business was concluded with the Nexus and you accepted his confession, you'd let him touch more of you. You were so receptive to his little gestures so far, it only made sense.)
• When it comes to violence, Jebus isn’t above inflicting some harm to keep your budding relationship out of harms way. You getting together was inevitable in his eyes, but he wouldn’t allow anyone to interfere with it regardless. It would be doing a disservice to you, to let anyone get between you and make it possible for someone else less competent to compete for your attention.
• While Jeb didn't have a big ego, he was sure that you would appreciate someone who would actually protect you, and more importantly someone with strict morals (unlike the rest of the Nexus' workforce) as your partner.
• (He ignores the morality of his own actions with his long observations stalking sessions regarding you, or how ethical it might be for him to go through your things and take little things he's seen you use often like a favorite pen or a "misplaced" tube of chapstick. Morality was relative too, after all.)
• Besides, you seemed to love the little gifts and letters he got you; he's positive that you're starting to feel something for the mysterious admirer, judging by how he's seen you blush when looking at the items and reading his writing. He feels like he's bursting with excitement for the first time in ages - it was only a short matter of time before you were truly together!
• Although, with the way things are looking with Phobos and the Nexus Core, it seems he might have to up the ante on his hostility towards the other personnel. He’s sure you’d appreciate it, since it was to keep you safe. The others would have to be a lot more careful, but he couldn't care less of what they go through at his hand. As long as you were okay.
• As tensions brewed outside your knowledge, he was coming up with a plan. Given the fact that he was your superior, he could technically terminate your employment at any time, and while some others would have questions, it’s nothing a little bribery (or threatening) couldn’t fix. You might cry and beg him for an explanation, but as much as it pains him, it is what's best for you.
• He's sure you'd be grateful in the end, when he arrives at your doorstep after slaughtering that Dictator you both worked for and tells you what he's really been up to. With how kind he's been in secret, you'll know that he's never thought ill of you, and perhaps he'll even decide to confess to you right then and there.
• (A little manipulative considering the distress you'd be going through with the fall of the city? Maybe, but Christoff isn't exactly one to squander opportunities. Even if you like anyone else, he's sure they'd perish with the rest of the workers anyway. It was convenient, especially with the effects of Crackpot's projects - it's not like you could marry a brain-dead Zed.)
• Your relationship with him was a certainty and he's sure that you'd be the happiest with him, end of. After all, who other than Nevada's Savior could someone as kind as you possibly turn to for protection in a decrepit, violent, and impure wasteland of a city?
• (Though if anyone dares to try, he'll destroy them like all the rest. It's best not to try leaving him, it'll be easier for you this way. If he has to really hammer in the reality that he'll never let you go, he will. But from the way you get flustered at his few affectionate gestures, he doesn't think he needs to worry all that much.)

Chapter Text

Hofnarr remembers the day you met very well, even if it wasn’t particularly notable for you. You’re one of many scientists within the Nexus Core, though you were known for being a rare “jack of all trades” in what you studied. Dissonance, S-3LFs, Zeds, everything that the Nexus could possibly be working with, you had an interest in. Naturally, you were routinely assigned to help out other departments because of this, which led you right to him.

Hofnarr wasn’t one to believe in love at first sight, but that foolish misconception fell away the very moment you locked eyes with him, and he was struck by the heat of your gaze and the sheer beauty you possessed. You’re just so pretty; everything from the way your lips curved up in a grin as you greeted him to the ethereal sound of your voice just struck him in a way that was incomparable to anything else. For a moment he thought that he’d inhaled a chemical fume or something; the pronounced reaction from him was such a wonderment that he knew he’d have to find out everything more about you, if only to satiate this sudden, all-encompassing interest in you.

(He didn’t even realize how odd this sudden craving for information about you was; all he knew was that it suddenly became vital to him to know you better than anything he’d ever studied. He wanted to be more in tune with your thoughts, needs and wants than you yourself were. Luckily he’s more than patient to take on this task of having you as his greatest research subject yet. With how much he stares now, it’s already the case.)

It’s just that Hoffnar had never felt like that when meeting anyone before; the rush of warm emotion that overwhelmed him and the sudden feeling of self-consciousness that made his face burn and his neck itch was something completely new to him. His heart never skipped a beat or three upon simply getting someone’s name, and nor did he ever catch himself grinning stupidly whenever his own rolled off someone else’s tongue. You really were something special, he could tell.

He prayed his palm wasn’t too clammy when you shook his hand, and he could feel his face burning with every glance you took at him. (Later he realized that it was because of your sheer perfection, of course, along with his new-found love. He was but a fool then, unable to recognize how he truly felt about you. He’s so much wiser now.)

While you probably reflected on your meeting with the head of the Divergence project as a positive move for your career, and perhaps the start of a good working relationship with one of the nicer higher-ups, Hofnarr knew that it meant something more. You had no idea that the man himself was already planning for you to get far closer than what regulations would allow. Not like he cared about them now when there was so much at stake.

And so was the catalyst of Hofnarr’s rather intense infatuation with you. (Though knowing what he’d do as it progressed, this is an understatement.)

Hofnarr shows his sudden obsession with affection for you in a myriad of ways, though most of them aren’t that on the nose. To you, anyway. For one, you’ll never find yourself wanting for anything you could ever need - both work related and otherwise.

Your station is always filled with the specific supplies you need, and even if you’re positive you clocked out without restocking or ordering anything, it’s all there when you return the next day. The same can be said for the random cups of coffee that appear on your desk when you least expect them, all perfectly made to your taste, accompanied by your favorite snack when you skip lunch. Sometimes you even find flowers, though the reason why one of your coworkers thought to leave them escapes you. The Nexus Core wasn’t one for friendly gestures.

It doesn’t matter that you don’t know who’s responsible for it or that you can’t recall actually telling anyone what your preferred snacks and flowers were; the pleased look of surprise from you when you see them is enough thanks for Hofnarr (who gazes longingly at you from across the room all the time - to see your reaction, of course). Although, he will admit that he silently delights in overhearing you laugh with your coworkers about some “magical fairy godmother” or something that keeps helping you out.

(You really just thought you were being forgetful until you drew a few marks on your current bottles of chemicals and confirmed that they were replaced the next day. You didn’t know who did it, but you guessed you should grateful since it made your job a lot easier. You even brought it up to your boss when he made a round and asked how you were (something he does pretty often compared to your previous supervisors, now that you think about it). Though, Dr. Hofnarr seemed weirdly pleased when you mentioned your thoughtful helper’s gifts. Perhaps he’s just happy that his assistants were getting along. It’s the Nexus, so that makes sense.)

However, the thought of it being a gesture of simple goodwill was disproved when you found a letter addressed to you. And then another a week later. And another the day after that.

You assumed the first had been a report or something else that you’d have to sign off on, maybe some data that needed reviewing. But when you opened it, instead of numbers or anything related to divergence, you were met with compliments. The small words of affection spoke of just how wonderful the writer thought you were, and how much you’ve brightened up their life by simply being. All were laced with mentions of your impressive intellect and nods to how admirable you were. It was genuinely kind praise that made your face heat when you read it and was clear the writer had put a lot of thought and effort into it too; the handwriting was elegant, albeit unrecognizable to you (purposely, but you couldn’t know that), and the prose almost beautiful as the writer spoke of just of how…perfect of a person they knew you were.

(You didn’t know what to make of it, and your disbelief only grew with each note. As did your suspicion when they started mentioning things about you that seemed very…well, unfounded. Love letters were one thing, but outright fantasies of a future marriage were another. You decided to keep the matter to yourself, as it was more than possible that your boss wouldn’t be too happy about employees fraternizing on the job like this. Besides, it was unprofessional.)

Dr. Hofnarr much prefers to keep what you have private (hence the letters and secret gifts), not only because he’s still trying to figure out how to best reveal his true feelings for you in person, but also because he knows the sort of blow-back relationships like yours can have. The Nexus Core might be filled with scientists, but he’s well aware that no one else would be able to understand this connection you have with each other, as budding as it may be.

Hofnarr fears for your safety more than the other possible consequences of your love, and the last thing he’d want is for everyone to think that you’re attempting to climb the ladder by manipulating him or something to that effect. Keep in mind, while the man has no qualms with taking care of any issues that pop up, he’d much rather keep you out of harm’s way entirely. You’re the first person he’s ever felt so strongly for - his first love, in a way - and he’d do anything to protect you. No matter how bloody it might end up.

However, despite all of his best attempts, the way his behavior changes around you is anything but secret. You didn’t notice his odd mannerisms (and rather obsessive actions) because you hadn’t been there for very long, but his other scientists certainly did.

Obviously, someone had to be the one to fulfill all those orders he puts in for you, and while it did make them slightly suspicious that he’s doing this for you only, they could excuse it with something about how he just wanted you to feel welcome. What they couldn’t wipe away was everything else he did around you, and knowing the breadth of Hofnarr’s thing for you, it was a lot.

Aside from the obvious lovesick gazes, or him just happening to be in your immediate area, his own physical behaviors change when you’re simply in his range of view as well.

Now Hofnarr isn’t exactly the most agile grunt by any means, but his clumsiness really reaches a new level whenever you’re around. It seems like every time you’re within a few meters of him he can’t keep his grip on anything, dropping and fumbling with his pens (and important tech, to the others’ absolute horror) whenever he suddenly sees you. Even worse is his full-on stumbling and falling, usually because he was too busy staring at you to look where he was going.

(He goes red when you crouch down to help him pick up his things, even apologizing for startling him when there’s no need for you to. It was he who was distracted by your beauty, and you certainly couldn’t help that. But even so, you’re so sweet and considerate to him that he can’t take it. Even if you thought of it as pure courtesy alone, Hofnarr makes a mental note of every time you help him. It shows you care, and that means more to him than anything. Perhaps it’s a sign that you’re growing to like him too? He hopes so.)

The other scientists know that this happens because of you - it was obvious - but it’s not like they could do anything about it. They wouldn’t dare interfere, not after the stony-eyed look Dr. Hofnarr gave them at the mere suggestion that you be placed in another department away from him.

(Especially when the unfortunate assistant who mentioned it ended up with some rather gruesome chemical burns because of an accident, which then resulted in them being let go from the project. While Hofnarr openly mourned the disappearance of a promising scientist, the others took note to be a bit more tight-lipped around him. Lest their own projects blow up in their faces for some unknown reason one day.)

Naturally, if Hofnarr’s underlings know anything about his feelings for you, then his closest colleague does as well, that being one Dr. Christoff. In fact, it would be impossible for him not to know, since he’s the one Hofnarr speaks to the most about you. Hofnarr isn’t aware of how much time he spends openly gushing over you, but it makes up a bulk of their conversations at this point.

The scientist is always extremely proud of your achievements, and will happily list off and explain every little detail you report to him about your own findings when exploring the topic of divergence. Even if they’re things he already guessed or may have considered before, it’s like you breathe new life into the topics, and having you there makes him even more excited to explore them. It shows in how animated he gets over it; he seems to light up whenever he has something new to sing praises over. (Which is absolutely anything you do that day, unfortunately for Jeb.)

However, while Hofnarr’s off in his own world fawning over you and your work while explaining how you’ve made his life so much better, Christoff finds himself growing concerned. Jebus is aware that you’re a competent scientist, you wouldn’t be here working for Hofnarr if you weren’t, but the grunt made it seem like you could move mountains and turn dirt to gold if only you wanted to. It’s a bit naive of Hofnarr, but Jeb supposes that’s just how it is when you’re infatuated with someone (not like he would know).

What’s more worrying to him is just how far this crush on you actually goes, because the details Hofnarr gives are extensive. Very extensive. It may have started with just work things, but every so often he throws in a few extra lines about how pretty you are and how your eyes light up when he gives you things without your knowledge. This quickly progresses to him discussing details about your past that he finds interesting; who your classmates were when you attended college and what they’re doing now, and details about your family and friends. They were topics Christoff was sure he shouldn’t know about at all, not as a boss and not even as someone with a more romantic interest in someone.

However, at Hofnarr’s oddly defensive behavior when he tries to subtly confront him on why the hell he knows so much about you, he just decides to drop it. Christoff isn’t usually one to back down from confrontation, but the strangely unsettling gaze Hofnarr pinned on him during that conversation made him feel uncomfortable enough to do it, for his own sake. (Though he does make a note to inquire as to how you’re doing if he the time.)

In reference to the actual work his division does, Hofnarr always looks to you when delivering a new objective for everyone to aim towards, eager to see your reaction and if you’re as excited as he hoped you’d be. Furthermore, he always goes to you first to mention any success that he’s had with his divergence project, even before Christoff. He wanted, no, needed your approval; for you to like the work that he was putting in made all of the stress and sleepless nights worth it.

(In reality, you found it rather confusing that your new boss had decided to tell you about your branch’s successes personally. However, scientists always seemed to be a bit quirky, and who knows, maybe he just wanted the thoughts of someone new. Fresh perspectives were valuable sometimes, so you can understand.)

Hoffnar’s work for the Nexus Core began with the intention of scientific discovery and making things better for Nevada’s denizens, but now he finds that his main motivation is to make the world better for you. Meanwhile, you have no idea that your polite head scientist was an absolute lovesick fool for you, even as he blushed and stuttered when you merely locked eyes and said a few words to greet him, and almost shook when you got to close.

However, he was content with this arrangement, for now. He has all the time in the world now that he has you so close, and while it might be a pain to come up with reasons to keep you there with him when you might try to apply for work with Dr. Crackpot’s Plan Zed or Dr. Christoff’s Sleepwalker Program, he’s smart enough to find some. All that matters is that you’re by his side so he can study you and your mannerisms and plan the perfect confession that you deserve.

Just so long as everyone knows to stay out of his way as this relationship between you progresses, everything will go smoothly. (And he doesn’t quite like what he thinks he’d do if they ever did. He’s usually not a violent man, but he can be.)

You’ll both be together soon enough, and with how often Hofnarr stalks observes you, he knows how to truly make you happy. And you will be. You’ll see.

Chapter Text

• Church and Jorge are not the types to be hidden in their affections at all. Once they start feeling strong affection for you, it’s obvious to everyone in the vicinity, which is of course how they found out about each other’s “thing” for you. Jorge couldn’t ignore how Church insisted that you were the only one besides himself who could handle his gear or tune his weapons, and similarly, Jorge’s own increasingly affectionate treatment of you was hardly subtle. Even when they started to become a bit more intense in their actions, the heightened focus on showing you their love was mirrored between the two. 
• To everyone’s surprise, this just became another thing for them to sort of bond with each other over, instead of causing the infighting they assumed. In the G03LM’s minds, it made total sense; of course the other would love you, not loving you was just plain stupid. Plus, they operate on the same wavelength most of the time anyway, so their bro liking the same person is fine with them. There’s no one else Church or Jorge would rather share you with, and as it happens, this is what really eggs them on to make you know just how much they both care for you.
• Neither are really the type to do typical romantic gestures like give you flowers they picked or write soliloquies to describe your beauty, but they do flirt with you a lot. You’d swear that “good lookin’” was practically another name for you now with how often Jorge purrs it to you in a greeting, and then there was the rare “sweetcheeks” from Church. They aren’t exactly the most flowery terms of endearment, but then again, neither of them seemed the type to do that to begin with, so you were still surprised.
• In fact, they call you those so often that they almost caught on with other grunts as well. But attempts to make those nicknames a regular thing were quickly stopped by none other than Church and Jorge themselves; it was their thing with you, and only theirs.
• (Jorge paused from cleaning his gun when he heard one of the other technicians call out to you with his name for you. He leaned down to them and grinned behind his mask when they shrank back a bit. “Hah, that’s real funny pal. But if you call them that again I’ll crush you.” Point taken.)
• Jorge also lavishes you with praise and compliments constantly, for the most simple of actions and when you least expect it. He’s particularly fond of this way of showing affection to you, and he considers it his mission to make you know how much he loves everything about you. Everything from the way your brows furrow when you’re confused to innocuous things like the precise way you prefer your coffee and the way you look so focused when working. Although sometimes his comments can be weirdly specific. For someone who you assumed didn’t know that much about you, the fact he can list off certain more intimate things he knows about you so offhandedly is a bit unnerving.
• (It’s just because he spends a lot of time looking at you, but you didn’t know the true depth of it. It was easy to keep it secret, with how hidden his gaze is behind his mask.)
• For the record, Church also compliments you, but they’re typically shorter and more blunt. He’ll just state that you’re really pretty as though it’s a universally known fact, which it is in his mind. He’ll also fight anyone who says otherwise, but he’s always itching for a chance to pummel someone on your behalf anyway, so it’s something you’re kind of used to now. It’s weirdly flattering regardless, but you try not to encourage it too much.
• Jorge and Church also give you presents frequently as well; usually weapons and other trinkets as “battle trophies” from grunts they faced in combat, oftentimes still bloody. You’re grossed out a bit by just how much gore they track into the building whenever they find something new to gift you, but seeing them perk up proudly whenever you thank them for it makes up for it. They seem so happy whenever you show an ounce of gratitude for their presents, punching the air and fist-bumping each other when you simply smile at them while holding whatever they gave you. You might even say it’s cute, although using such an adjective for the violent mercs seems a tad inappropriate. 
• (Half of the time you’re not even sure what to do with the things they bring you, but now you have an entire wall full of weapons and armor pieces from them. It’d be useful if you ever need to get into a fight, but you’re just a technician.)
• (Of course, you don’t know how many of those special things are from people who were once threats and were foolish enough to pose a threat to your relationship with them. They really should’ve known better, it’s not like Church or Jorge had tried to hide what you were to them. Hopefully the rest of your coworkers would take a hint from the red they tracked in, and the missing presence of some of the people you shared a shift with.)
• They drop any and every conversation they have just to make you a part of it once you enter the room, including important mission briefings from the Sheriff. (Oh well. He just has to get that you’re more important.) You’ll also find yourself physically close to them more often than not; it’s common for you to have to try to ignore how they crowd in on your space whenever they catch sight of you. It’s not like you work with them often - you’re not exactly a mercenary or field worker - so when they decide to spend virtually all of their downtime around you, it’s very noticeable.
• They’re also quite touchy with you; you’re going to be picked up by one of them and bear-hugged at least once every day, and luckily they are very gentle with you, so you never have to worry about being harmed by their armor or squeezed too tight. They’d rather die than hurt you, so their grip on you is always soft, and when they nudge against you with their masked face (their version of a kind of kiss, unbeknownst to you), it isn’t hard enough to cause any damage. If they had it their way, you’d always be in their arms, and they even try to take turns with it just to be fair.
• (As an additional bonus, if you’re snuggled up in Church or Jorge’s embrace, no one bothers them and tries to get you away. It’s the perfect way to keep you all to themselves, and their loud purring shows just how pleased they are about this.)
• Church is definitely the quieter of the two, but also the one more likely to rough someone up if they affront you in some way. The other members of MERC know better than to get too close to you now, since attempts to be all buddy-buddy with you (or god forbid, flirt with you) were shut down by the mohawked G03LM’s fists. Literally.
• (With how often Church was around you, he got pretty good at reading you. So when he heard you laugh uncomfortably and snapped his attention to you to find one of the other grunts leaning way too close to you for even your taste, he was quick to get rid of the problem. It’s the least he could do, for someone he adores so much.)
• You’ve had a talk with Church about, well, massacring your coworkers whenever you happened to take an off day (at least he’s polite enough not to do it in front of you), so he’s not likely to hurt them too badly now. But it just so happens that Church also knows that you can cause a lot of damage that doesn’t lead to death all the time, which some might even consider worse.
• (Sheriff is now more concerned than ever about healthcare costs for MERC. Perhaps he can cut another deal with the Nexus Core?)
• Jorge is more the type to just threaten the other mercenaries, but he isn’t above getting physical along with Church to break a few (many) bones if he thinks the situation calls for it. Which happens more often than not, if you’re not in their vicinity.
• (They’d honestly be offended if you thought they’d forget the way that prick Sheriff just hired was giving you googly eyes. The little twerp just has to learn his place, and as your partners, there’s no one better to teach them.)
• Despite how they will deliberately target the others in your faction when they know you won’t be around, they still want to show off around you. There’s always an open invitation for you to observe their training, and Jorge is always quick to remind you of this. When you do watch them fight, they naturally put a lot more effort into fighting. They already love the thrill of it, but feeling your eyes on them just invigorates them like nothing else.
• If it weren’t for the fact that the two are so dangerous, you having them completely wrapped around your finger without knowing it would be funny to everyone else. Anything you even mention once will be noted by them, and while they might not be the most efficient at fetching it/completing some task you need finished, they’ll find some way to fulfill your wishes. Even if it means threatening asking someone else to do it for them, or going to the very ends of Nexus City and fighting through hoards of random bandits and zeds to bring back a single tool you’d simply like to have someday, they’ll do it happily. And of course, they’ll be chatting with each other the entire time about how cute you are, and how they can’t wait to see the look on your face when you realize what they’ve done for you.
• Both of them routinely refer to you as their partner, and they mean it in every sense of the word. Ever since they fell for you so hard, there’s no one else Church and Jorge would be willing to go to for tune-ups and other jobs that needed more technical expertise present. But they also mean it in the romantic sense as well. In their eyes, they’d already made it explicitly clear to everyone else that you were together. They just need to go a step further to get you to acknowledge it as well. Plus, you’d never outright rejected their advances before, so they just know you return their affections. Maybe you’re just shy about it compared to them.
• It doesn’t matter to them how long it takes you to understand and eventually officially requite what they feel because Church and Jorge are willing to work at this for however long is needed. They’re not going to quit when they know they’re so close to having you completely and being able to show you all of their love to its truest extent. Besides, they’re G03LMs; Church and Jorge can be brought back from whatever form of the afterlife Nevada has for as long as needed. If they can fight off death itself, then no one stands a chance at taking you from them, so your being with them is just completely inevitable. That’s all there is to it.