Archive of Our Own ^beta

Rodolfo should’ve predicted that the mission would go wrong. The weather had been torrid for a while, as the summer was in full bloom, and that day in particular was insufferable. The air felt dry and heavy as a small squad of the Vaqueros departed that afternoon, and it soon began to bother all of them.

Still, they persisted. Based on reasonably solid intel, they expected a chance to take control of a secluded building they knew was one of El Sin Nombre’s supply storages. Doing so would have given them the upper hand for a while. It wouldn’t last forever – they have long learned that fighting crime in their homeland would always be an uphill battle with no true victories. It would always be a push and pull between the Vaqueros and Sin Nombre’s forces. An unending fight to minimise the harm. And every single one of their soldiers had committed to the cause. If ambushing a weapon storage in the summer heat could tip the scale to their side, they were going to do it.

Alejandro led them into it, as expected. He had reasoned that the weather wouldn’t negatively affect their performance – they planned to make it a quick job, in and out, not enough time in the sun to suffer heat exhaustion. And it would have been just that if things hadn’t gone south.

It all fell apart as they began to approach their target. What started as a stealthy but calm advance soon turned into chaos when they heard the first gunshot. It came somewhere from the building, straight at them.

As was his second nature, Rodolfo looked towards Alejandro for guidance. The man directed him and the other soldiers expertly – orders were given, guns were drawn, and the fight began. The resistance they encountered was unexpected but they adapted the best they could. That was until the harsh conditions started catching up with some of them, including Rodolfo himself.

At some point, just about to enter the building, Rodolfo tripped. His ankle bent the wrong way when he lost his balance and pain shot up his leg even before he felt the impact of hitting the ground. The heat-induced vertigo he’d been ignoring returned, messing with his head as he tumbled to the ground.

“Rudy, what the fuck?!” Alejandro’s alarmed voice came from somewhere behind him, a mix of disbelief with a hint of anger. His attention left Rodolfo for just a second to direct the others before rushing to help him.

Despite his disorientation, Rodolfo realised he had to act, and to do so quickly. Each one of the enemy soldiers would be eager to end his life the moment they realised he was vulnerable. He was the right hand of Los Vaqueros' leader, after all. On instinct, he turned onto his back and tightened his grip on his gun. Just in time – mere seconds later, he fired a shot into an enemy’s torso. It wasn’t a kill shot, but it bought his Colonel enough time to reach him and finish the job. As the man’s body dropped, Alejandro immediately lunged towards him. 

As Rodolfo tried to stand, his ankle trembled and he realised it wouldn't support any of his weight. The attempt brought on a fresh wave of pain and made him wince, which Alejandro noticed and let out a heavy sigh.

“What did you do, mi vida? Up, come on, lean on me. I need you somewhere safer.”

He hauled Rodolfo up, almost carrying him, and hustled him to the side of the building. It wasn’t quiet there – shots were still firing and people were shouting – but the spot was out of direct line of fire. Even before Alejandro could help him down on the ground, he was already shaking him off. “Go, Colonel, your men need you,” he urged.

“As if you weren’t my man,” he barked back irately.

“I have a loaded gun and seemingly no concussion, I’ll be fine even if any marauders come at me.” Despite his initial confusion, he was confident he could manage on his own. And even if he couldn’t, Alejandro was needed elsewhere. He’d rather not think about that possibility, though. “I’m not going anywhere, amor. Come back when you clear the place, and I’ll be here.”

Alejandro didn’t argue. His sense of responsibility wouldn’t allow him to compromise the mission by staying longer than he already had. With a prolonged gaze and a nod, he straightened up and went off to join their men in the struggle against the enemy.

Rodolfo leaned against the wall behind him and let out a long exhale. Only then did his body begin to catch up with what had happened in full as the adrenaline rush began to fade. The pain in his ankle worsened and he became aware of a handful of smaller injuries – scrapes all over his arms and the way his palms burned from the fall. It wasn’t the worst he’d ever felt, but he couldn’t help thinking how such a minor injury could so easily put his life at risk. Had Alejandro not been there…

Rodolfo shooed his thoughts away. This wasn’t the time to contemplate the dangers of his job. He was alive and would remain that way as long as he kept his head straight. All he could do was keep himself as safe as possible and wait until he could get out of there.

While the sounds of gunshots began to cease, there was no roar of victory he’d normally expect from their men – a sign that something had gone wrong. He couldn’t see what was happening from his covert spot aside the building but heard it when the Vaqueros began retreating. Alejandro’s voice carried as he ordered them out of the building and towards their cars parked at a distance. Once he was sure that was taken care of, he found his way back to Rodolfo.

He rounded the corner, red in the face and breathing heavily, clearly having rushed to get to his partner. There was no relief in his eyes when they met Rodolfo’s, though. With his eyebrows furrowed and jaw clenched, he looked disgruntled to say the least. It didn’t come as a surprise, but it did make it clear that the man wasn't bringing any good news.

“What happened?” Rodolfo asked in a soft but steady voice.

“A damn waste of time and resources, that’s what,” Alejandro spat. “Fuck’s sake.”

He helped Rodolfo up from the ground, pulling him in to support his weight as they made their way to one of their cars. Once again, he put in so much effort that he was almost carrying him, but it didn't bother him. If there was a reason for their retreat, they had to be quick. He held Rudy’s waist firmly but as carefully as always, despite everything.

"Back to base, at once!" he ordered as they reached the car. Then he helped Rodolfo into the passenger seat before getting behind the wheel himself.

Soon, they were far enough away from the location to slow down a little. This allowed Alejandro to give him a short but more coherent explanation of what had happened while he was incapacitated.

Their men had encountered much fiercer resistance than expected. What was supposed to be a simple outing had quickly turned into a messy shootout – just as Rodolfo had imagined from the sounds. There were no KIA, and the only injuries were moderate at worst, but that didn’t ease Alejandro’s frustration. It was present in the tension that Rodolfo could see in his shoulders, his back, the way he walked. Whenever El Sin Nombre’s forces got the upper hand over them, he couldn’t help feeling on edge.

“That about covers it for now,” he concluded eventually and handed Rofolfo a water bottle. He accepted it gratefully – although not cold, it was cooler than the sun-warmed one he'd been carrying in his pack.

After drinking about half the bottle, sip by sip until his thirst was finally satisfied, Rodolfo relaxed for what felt like the first time since he’d left base that morning. The day wasn’t over yet, naturally, and he and Alejandro still had a lot to take care of in the following days. They had to ensure all the injured men received medical attention and plan how to proceed from there. Rodolfo himself would have to get his ankle checked out before considering getting back into the field. But for the time being, he could use the time in the car to take a breather. The ride would likely be silent for the most part, as they usually were when Alejandro was in a foul mood, and that was fine by him. It was the way his partner ensured he wouldn't misdirect his anger and say something he didn’t mean. That was, of course, when they had space for such feelings – if the situation was dire, he’d shove them away and prioritise his responsibilities as the colonel.

It took Rodolfo almost a half of their drive back to base to realise they weren't alone in the car. Three of their least experienced soldiers were sitting in the back seats, as Alejandro had asked them to be before they left that morning. He wanted them close by to keep an eye on them, make sure they weren't left behind.

When they were embarking, the three were chatting with Alejandro and asking him questions, clearly happy with the arrangement. But when Rodolfo turned his head to look at them on their way back, he could tell they’d rather be anywhere else than in that car. They likely haven’t had the chance to see their colonel this agitated before. Even as quiet as he was, everything in his tense posture and hardened expression spoke of how he was feeling.

There had been missions gone awry before, naturally, so the three had seen him irritated. But there was a crucial difference this time – in the past, Rodolfo hadn’t been among the injured. One might call him self-centred for assuming that his injury had such a major impact on the colonel’s mood, but he knew it to be true. His safety was one of Alejandro's main priorities. It was more than likely that when he went back to leading their men after leaving Rodolfo injured, his frustration made him treat them with a firmer hand than usual.

“Ay, hermanos,” he called to the back seats. “Everyone solid?”

“Affirmative, sir,” came a short reply from one of them.

“Relax, then. You should find every chance to do so when you don’t have to stay vigilant.”

“Dunno if they deserve it,” Alejandro grumbled without tearing his eyes away from the dirt road he was driving along. “If only they…” He trailed off, but Rodolfo could see the tight clench of his jaw from his seat.

“There will be time to discuss what went wrong later,” he reminded. Alejandro furrowed his brows at that but responded with a nod of acceptance.

Once the silence in the care had been broken, the soldiers seemed more at ease. They talked among themselves for a while, keeping their voices low as they recalled their perspectives on the mission. After a while, one of them asked about Rodolfo’s leg.

“Injury like any other,” he replied with a shrug. He wanted neither pity nor respect for getting hurt out in the field. “It’s nothing bed rest and some PT can’t fix.”

Whilst talking to them, he looked at Alejandro out of the corner of his eye. The man's shoulders dropped a little, releasing some of the tension he’d been holding onto, as he listened to his reply. The thought of his partner's smooth recovery seemed to put him more at ease.

Back on base, Alejandro insisted Rodolfo stay in the car while he directed their soldiers. He opened the door so he could hear him talking to them.

The sun has already began to set by then, and he seemed to have decided to let their men rest before discussing what happened the next day. He sent most of them to get cleaned up and settled down, and directed the injured men to medical. Although his commands were as reasonable as always, his tone was off. Much different from usual, he didn’t crack any jokes or give out pats on the shoulder. When one of the men tried to make a joke of his own, Alejandro curtly told him to quit it and act his age. Not an uncommon thing to hear from a commanding officer, but their soldiers weren’t used to such treatment. When he came back to the car, Rodolfo let him know what he thought about that.

“You shouldn’t treat them any differently just because things didn’t go the way you planned for.”

“We both know that’s not all there is.” Alejandro helped him out of the seat with a grunt and guided him to lean on him. “I know how to handle myself when it’s just a bad mission.”

“It’s different because I got hurt, huh?”

There was a beat of silence, Alejandro looking away to collect his thoughts. He exhaled slowly through his nose before answering. “I could’ve lost you just then.”

“It’s a risk that comes with the job, no? ”

Alejandro shook his head, sighed heavily, and didn’t say anything more. Rodolfo had a feeling there was more the man wanted to say but needed time to find the right words, so he didn’t push. They made their way to medical in silence.

While he went inside on his own, Alejandro waited for him until he came out with his ankle wrapped and a recommendation to rest and do cold compresses to keep the swelling down. Neither of them was surprised, but it still reassured them to hear that there was nothing worse to Rodolfo's injury.

They made their way back to their quarters at a slower pace, as they were both beginning to feel tired; not too tired to get cleaned up before crashing into bed, though. Rodolfo hated sleeping dirty if he could help it, and especially so when he was at base and had a shower available to him at any time. Even injured, he'd figure out a way to do it just to feel clean.

Except, it turned out that he didn't have to. The moment he mentioned craving a shower, Alejandro was quick to offer his help

“Wouldn’t want my love falling over and getting hurt.”

Tired and sore as he was, Rodolfo found the offer to be a blessing. Using the Colonel’s en suite bathroom was already a luxury, but he'd never complain about getting some help from his partner. It would spare him the pain and waste of time caused by trying to have a wash without putting weight on his ankle.

Alejandro led him to the bathroom soon after that. He sat him down on the toilet lid before beginning to help him out of his clothes, although that part wasn’t necessary. Rodolfo’s ankle wouldn’t stop him from taking off his shirt or wiggling out of his pants and underwear. Regardless, he didn't voice that thought. It wasn’t like Alejandro didn’t know – but he seemed to crave the closeness and being able to care for his partner, even quiet and uneasy as he was at the moment.

Once all of Rodolfo's clothing and the bandage around his ankle had been removed, Alejandro helped him move to the shower. Soon, the first splash of cool water hit his skin and pulled a contented sigh out of him. It was a pleasant relief after spending the day in the scorching summer heat. The pain made it difficult to fully relax, but he managed by leaning on the tiled wall with one of his hands. It was enough comfort to make his eyes close and his head loll forward. He relied on sound and sensation to know what his partner was doing.

There was a pop as Alejandro opened a bottle of body wash and a beat of silence as he poured it into his hand. It was followed by a touch on Rodolfo’s shoulders when the man began lathering him up. They didn't speak much throughout the process, aside from Alejandro’s guidance as he washed him.

“Turn around now, I’ll do your back. Take your time, careful with your ankle…”

“Okay, back towards me now.”

“Lean on me, yeah? So I can do your legs.”

It felt lovely, though, his lover's hands gliding over his skin and methodically cleaning the day's grime off of him. Alejandro talked to him in a low voice, a sort of warm murmur meant for Rodolfo's ears alone. After a while Rodolfo noticed a sort of anticipation beginning to grow inside him. A simmering desire in response to the careful, loving touch making him more sensitive and jittery.

He couldn't find it in him to be surprised by his body's reaction. While it wasn't common for Alejandro to bathe him like this, they did shower together every now and again. And every one of these past times, it had always ended with mutual pleasure and running out of hot water – but it wouldn't be the case this time, Rodolfo reminded himself. Despite his sweet carefulness, Alejandro still seemed off – too quiet, lacking a certain spark he usually had. They had to talk about that first, before Rodolfo could even consider acting on his physical desire. Because of that, he made an effort not to react to the touch. It was a struggle not to get embarrassingly hard when Alejandro washed his legs all the way up to his inner thighs, but Rodolfo managed by letting his thoughts drift away to distract himself.

He didn't even notice when Alejandro was done. He only blinked himself back to reality when the man began rinsing him off, which prompted a soft scoff from Alejandro before he carefully helped him out of the shower. Then, Rodolfo was handed a soft towel, and began drying himself, but not before leaning in to press a quick kiss to Alejandro’s lips. It made the man smile with equal fondness and surprise, as if he wasn’t expecting the gesture.

“Thank you, Alejo, I feel much better.”

“It’s nothing, mi vida. I like caring for you.” Alejandro leaned in for another kiss, slow and sweet. “Need help getting to bed?”

“I’ll manage on my own,” Rodolfo assured. “Treat yourself as nicely as me, will you? I’m sure you’re craving a shower too.”

Alejandro couldn’t argue with that, so he let Rodolfo go back on his own to get ready for his own shower. His partner limped out of the bathroom at his own pace, dressed in nothing but a fresh pair of boxers and a towel slung over his shoulders.

Back in the room, he made a short detour from his route to the bed to grab a small kit he was given at medical earlier. It contained a bandage and a couple of ice packs for him to use on his ankle. He wasn’t keen on taking regular trips to medical and bothering the staff with such mundane things, so he opted for doing them himself. Or, at least, doing them himself the first few times. He guessed Alejandro would take over the chore sooner or later regardless of what he had to say about it.

The warm shower had him feeling relaxed and somewhat slow. He took his time getting himself on the bed and activating one of the ice packs before placing it on his ankle through the towel. The coolness was a striking contrast to warmth surrounding him, bordering on uncomfortable, but Rodolfo knew to give it a moment. Soon enough, it began to numb the pain in his ankle and reduce the swelling.

Alejandro took his time under the shower, so Rudy’s injury had been thoroughly cooled by the time he heard the bathroom door open. He’s already reached for the bandage to put it on when his boyfriend came into the room.

He was mostly undressed like Rudy, his skin decorated with droplets of water and hair a semi-damp mess after being vigorously towelled off. That look on him never failed to make Rudy’s heart beat faster, no matter how often he got to see it. Alejandro noticed him staring and raised an eyebrow with an amused smile.

“It’s gonna be hard for you to do this right without looking at your hands.”

“It’s never easy to focus when you’re around, mi amor.”

The words earned him a faux-exasperated shake of Alejandro’s head. Fair enough, Rodolfo thought, his flirting could get cheesy at times. His partner didn’t humour him with any verbal reply, instead opting for offering his help.

“Let me do this too, it won’t help if you tie it too loosely.”

He had him sit down on the edge of their bed and kneeled on the ground for the task – which wasn’t necessary, but who was Rodolfo to deny him if that was what he wanted? He handed Alejandro the bandage before letting him take hold of and move his leg to get started. His grasp was sure and he began snugly wrapping Rodolfo's ankle. They were both quiet for a short while, and it was the kind of silence that heralded a confession.

“I think I figured out why this made me feel so on edge,” Alejandro began eventually, nodding in the direction of Rodolfo’s injured joint.

“Tell me.”

“Bear with me, okay? It's hard to put into words. I’m not stupid, I know it’s not safe out there and can’t pretend I don’t know death will likely come for us out in the field.” He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes for a moment to compose himself. “But it’s easy to forget about it when it comes to you. You’re... beyond capable as a soldier. People say the only person that could kill me is myself, but in my head it’s always been easy to extend that saying to you as well.”

Rodolfo couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped him at the words. “I could never match you in terms of bravado. That’s why it only stuck to you.” Then, he met his eyes and turned serious again. “But I think I understand. When you don’t have to worry about incompetence, you may forget that accidents can still happen.”

Alejandro nodded before turning his attention back to what he was doing. There was a momentary pang of pain when he tightened the bandage, making Rodolfo frown, but it went away quickly.  His ankle felt much less unstable, which was a relief in and of itself, and he sighed at the feeling. Hearing it made Alejandro’s expression soften while he secured the bandage with a couple of clips. When he continued speaking, there was less tension in his voice, although not less emotion.

“I’m scared, amor, that’s what it is,” he confessed in a soft voice. “When I think about what could’ve happened if I weren’t there, or if you hadn’t managed to shoot that bastard before he got to you... Knowing that a stupid accident like this could take you away from me frightens me more than any enemy ever could.”

Something grave and heavy sank into Rodolfo’s heart as he listened, because he knew Alejandro wasn’t being unreasonable. No amount of strength or tactical ability could prevent such accidents from happening. They could make them less likely and help him get out of them but wouldn't guarantee survival.

“Oh, my Alejo...”

“It made me angry at first,” Alejandro continued. “At our men, at you, at myself... obviously, you could tell. But I realised that it was pointless. What could my anger do against bad luck? Nothing.”

His voice trailed off there, but there was a thought left hanging in the air, words left unsaid. Rodolfo felt the defeated helplessness there despite not hearing the words. ‘With all that said, there’s nothing but fear left for me to feel.’

“I... I feel that way too, sometimes. How could I not, when I see you throwing yourself into danger as if you’re invincible? But I try not to think about it. I'd rather cherish the time we have left, not worry about how it’s going to end.” His reply came equally soft, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was reassuring himself just as much as Alejandro. “There’s no way we could prepare for the day death comes for either of us. I just wish that when it does, both you and I will be able to say that we’ve always been there for one another. Through the victories and the failures, and the accidents too.”

Alejandro’s eyes had fallen closed while he was listening to him, as often happened when Rodolfo let his words flow for a while. The crease between his eyebrows told Rodolfo that he wasn’t quite soothed by what he heard. He could tell the man wished there was something he could do to take more control over their fate. Nevertheless, it appeared that hearing Rodolfo's voice brought him some comfort.

“No matter how difficult or frightening this life can be,” he continued, “I know you’d never be able to leave it behind.”

“For you, mi vida, I’d do anything.”

“I don’t want you to, querido. I’m just as deep in as you are. This... Las Almas, the military, this is us.” He reached out a hand to stroke Alejandro’s cheek with his thumb. “For as long as you’re here, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything else.”

Alejandro responded with a heavy sigh. He leaned into the touch of Rodolfo’s hand on his cheek, asking for more of his affection without words. Rudy could never deny him. If he couldn't do anything more to ease his lover's worries, he could at least take his mind off of them.

“You always take care of me so well,” he mused. “Even at times when you can’t look after me yourself. The Vaqueros always report back to you if anything upsets me while I’m out with them and you’re not there, huh?”

While he was speaking, Alejandro began to shift his position. He rested Rudy’s foot back on the ground, mindful of his injury, and began moving in a bit closer. Each action was slow and careful, intended not to disrupt Rodolfo’s speaking, but not hesitant. Soon enough, he was kneeling between his partner's legs rather than simply in front of him.

The teasing tone of Rodolfo's last sentence made him look up with a new, playful gleam in his eyes. A mischievous smile spread across his face as he replied.

"You got me there. Do you mind?"

“As if. I love how you spoil me every time I come back to you.”

The man in front of him didn’t look frustrated or defeated then. He was much more like his usual self, the look in his eyes somewhere between boyish confidence and something akin to devotion as he looked up at Rodolfo. There was enthusiasm in it, eagerness, and it made him look like a man on a mission.

As if on cue, he nuzzled his cheek against the inside of Rodolfo's thigh like a cat. His stubble scratched a bit, but his partner couldn’t complain. The rough sensation was electrifying in its own way, reminding him of how keyed up he'd gotten under the shower earlier. Alejandro then kissed the sensitive skin there, making Rodolfo shiver as each press of his lips sent little sparks of pleasure up his body. He didn’t say anything, though, didn’t rush it. He was waiting for Rodolfo to acknowledge his actions first.

“What does my Alejo want?” he prompted, a bit breathlessly.

“ You ,” the man all but purred against his skin. “Wanna take care of you.”

No question had been posed, but he could tell it was there. A request for permission was clear in Alejandro’s piercing eyes and the teasing kisses left on his skin.

Rudy being injured seemed to make him careful in his actions, much different from how things normally went between them. They’d known each other for long enough that they could usually go off of nonverbal signals and let their desires loose, trusting one another to say if there was anything wrong. But it seemed that he wanted to give Rodolfo more space in case he needed it this time.

“Waiting for me to let you?” he teased in response. “I should get injured more often if that’s all it takes to make you such a gentleman.”

“Don’t even say that, mi amor. I wouldn’t survive it.”

“I know, corazón, I’m just kidding.” He moved the hand he had on Alejandro’s cheek to his hair to gently pet it. “But do show me how much you want me, yeah? I know you want to, so pamper me a little.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear.”

Alejandro flashed him a cocky grin before directing his attention between his legs. The same path he’d traced with kisses, he then followed with little nibbles and sucking bruises into his skin. Starting from the bottom part of his thigh, he worked his way up at a languid pace. It didn't take long for him to begin losing this patience, however. The little nips began to sting just a bit more and he sucked on his skin harder, leaving darker marks in his path. There was a sort of impatience in his actions that made Rodolfo’s cheeks burn with its intensity.

When he reached the bottom of his partner’s boxers, he began tugging them down right away. With his help, Rodolfo kicked his underwear off and spread his legs invitingly. The man took it in stride and buried his face in the crook between Rodolfo’s inner thigh and groin, taking a deep, slow breath there.

“Shouldn’t have let you take that shower,” he murmured, a lighthearted complaint. “All I can smell is soap.”

“How’s that bad?”

“I’d rather you smell like you.”

Rodolfo scoffed then, embarrassed by the shameless admission. It wasn’t convincing in the slightest as real annoyance, not when his cock twitched at the words.

“Another time,” he told him with a sly smile. “I’ll get down on my knees for you as soon as we get back after a mission if you let me. Bet you'd smell amazing then.”

Thinking about it didn' stop him from continuing to tease Rodolfo with his mouth. One could almost call it lazy, the way he slowly mouthed at the sensitive skin between his thighs and sac, pulling away every now and again to tickle it with his breath or find a new spot to focus on. But that wasn’t quite it. The fire in Alejandro’s gaze was unmistakable, his restraint but a momentary effort not to let his desire loose and devour his partner all at once. With plush lips and teasing breaths against skin, he was making it near-impossible for Rodolfo to think straight. Still, he was keen on entertaining his lover’s fantasy.

“You’d have to find us a private spot away from the others, or debrief them quickly–” His breath hitched as Alejandro chose this exact moment to lick a wet stripe up his shaft. “Either way, they’d probably know you were up to no good.”

The man hummed as if considering the thought. Then, he met his eyes again with a smirk.

“So why bother hiding it? I could just... let them watch.”

The mental image of it hit Rodolfo all at once and looking down, he could see his cock twitch against his lover's parted lips; the sight made him blush. It was okay though, he wasn't embarrassed, because Alejandro was blushing too. It wasn't much of a contrast against his tanned skin, but having known him for years, Rodolfo knew exactly what it looked like. Gorgeous, above all. Seeing him like this had Rodolfo feeling more confident, somewhat bolder. He wanted to work him up and make him flush even more.

“It’d be humiliating, no? For you. Colonel Alejandro Vargas on his knees for the Sergeant Major, out for everyone to see.” He chuckled breathlessly at the thought. Alejandro’s eyes fell closed and he groaned against his skin, seemingly imagining what it would be like. “I’d love it. That way they’d all know who’s got their commander wrapped around his finger.”

His words seemed to hit home and had Alejandro all but panting between his legs. There was a feral look in his eyes when he opened them again.

“I wouldn’t mind it. It’s not like they don’t already know.”

He didn't wait for a response. After having made himself wait for so long, he was beyond enthusiastic to take Rodolfo apart, so he wrapped a hand around the base of his cock and guided the tip into his mouth. That by itself was enough to make replying almost impossible. At once, Rodolfo's thoughts were cut short and his mind was flooded with the feeling of wet, velvety-soft warmth–

He couldn’t help the way his hips twitched to chase the sensation, but Alejandro took it in stride – didn’t take his cock in deeper, not yet, but bobbed his head and hollowed his cheeks around the tip to indulge him.

Rodolfo threw his head back with a groan, honest and unabashed. There was no point in hiding how much he liked it – Alejandro has had enough practice to know just how to please him. He loved hearing his reactions, too. It showed in the crease between his eyebrows and the way he hummed around Rodolfo's cock, determined to make him fall apart. While one of his hands rested on his partner's thigh, the other reached up to play with his nipple. He pinched it roughly, just the way Rodolfo liked, and the man all but trembled under the attention.

Rodolfo couldn’t quite let himself go and get lost in the pleasure, though. Because whenever he placed his feet more firmly on the ground, a twinge of pain reminded him of his injured ankle. His liking for a bit of rougher treatment in bed seemingly didn’t transfer to that sensation. Alejandro noticed it in just a moment and pulled off his cock with a tut of disapproval. 

“That won’t do. Lean back, querido.”

Rodolfo obeyed, leaning back on the bed but propping himself up on his elbows so he could still watch. The action took a lot of strain off his injured leg by itself, but Alejandro didn’t settle for that. He was an overachiever in most things in life, and caring for his boyfriend was one of them. The hand he’d been resting on Rudy’s thigh was moved under his knee and pushed it up towards his chest – protecting his ankle and giving Alejandro better access to his body.

The position could be embarrassing, were it anyone other than his partner putting Rodolfo in it. As it was, he was happy to finally be able to relax and enjoy himself to the fullest, so he relaxed into it and nodded his approval. Alejandro didn't need any more encouragement than that. He moved the hand that was playing with Rodolfo's nipples back down to massage his perineum.

“You’re so lovely, mi amor," he sighed as a pleasant shiver ran up his spine.

Alejandro didn’t answer him verbally but his eyes sparkled with what could only be described as adoration when he looked up at him. Being praised always made him determined, if not desperate, to please. He wanted to earn more of it, to hear how good he was being for his lover.

While he continued bobbing his head, he made a point of taking Rodolfo's cock deeper. The man gasped when he realised, his face burning and mind buzzing, and the sound turned into a moan when Alejandro took it as encouragement. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from him, not even when the man sucked him harder and all but sent his legs shaking.

While Alejandro couldn’t quite smile with his mouth occupied, the corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement when he looked up at him. Rodolfo couldn't even complain about being laughed at – meeting eyes with him left him utterly speechless. There was no need for words, though. Alejandro seemed to already be thinking of the next thing he could do to turn him into mush. He pulled off his cock to take a deep breath, preparing himself for something– And took the entire length of Rodolfo's cock in his mouth in one smooth motion.

“Dios mío, Alejandro,” he breathed in surprise, somewhere between delighted and concerned. “Be careful, won’t you?”

There was no way Alejandro didn't hear him but didn't seem to care much about the warning. He continued with unwavering enthusiasm, bobbing his head slightly before sinking all the way down again over and over. It was a matter of time before he choked, the way his throat constricted punching a groan out of Rodolfo, but it didn’t faze him at all. After a short break, he swallowed him back down right away.

Rodolfo couldn't find it in himself to reprimand him for being careless as the tight warmth around his cock was way too distracting. But at the end of the day, the worst thing that could happen was that Alejandro would give himself a sore throat. And if that happened, then… Well, then Rodolfo would feel rather smug hearing him struggle to raise his voice the following day.

Even that thought was soon wiped from his mind as Alejandro continued sucking him off in earnest. The wet sounds that filled their room were downright filthy and nearly drowned out Rodolfo’s own soft gasps and groans. And when he grabbed Alejandro’s hair, the man moaned around him without a trace of shame.

“Fuck, so good–" he grunted and his hold tightened, which pulled another pretty sound from his partner. "I won’t last if you keep this up.”

“Good,” Alejandro answered when he pulled off for a breath. “Just let go and enjoy it.”

Rodolfo couldn’t help the needy moan that slipped past his lips when Alejandro went back to what he was doing. He'd always been sensitive but something about this time had him even more so. It was almost too much to bear, but not quite – as was, rather than feel overwhelmed Rodolfo found himself getting close in a matter of minutes.

“Fuck, Alejo, mi amor. This– You’re so– Christ, so fucking perfect, I love you.”

He wasn’t quite babbling, but it was close. It happened whenever he was about to come, words of praise pouring out of him like a waterfall. Alejandro drank them right up and moaned eagerly around his cock, which only served to work Rodolfo up even more. His boyfriend simply loved being praised, and he adored that about him. While it was him being taken apart at the seams by Alejandro’s skilled mouth,  the other man appeared just as enraptured after just a few words of barely-coherent praise.

“Gettin’ close,” he breathed. “Gonna let me come in your mouth?”

Alejandro looked up at him, his eyes all but begging for it, and nodded as much as he could. He pulled back so that only the tip of Rodolfo's cock was left in mouth to stroke the rest of it with his hand. At some point, he let go of Rodolfo's thigh, which allowed him to hook his leg over his shoulder as the pleasure kept building. This new position gave Rodolfo the leverage to buck up into his partner's touch. Doing so caused a twinge in his ankle but it was soon drowned out by an onslaught of pleasure when Alejando followed his nonverbal plea and went harder. And that change was all that was needed for Rodolfo to get there. The pleasure he'd been feeling crested momentarily, making throw his head back with a cry.

“Ah, shit, please– fuck !"

Alejandro jerked back for a second when he felt the first pulse in his mouth, which led to a splatter of cum striking across his lips. The sight was beyond pornographic, making Rodolfo groan and shudder. His lover didn't give him any time to recover from it either. He went back on track in just a second and wrapped his lips around the tip of Rodolfo's cock to suck him through the peak of his pleasure and swallow every last drop of his cum. Then, he pulled off with a lewd popping sound and he licked his lips to clean the rest of it off them.

“Christ almighty, Alejandro,” Rudy breathed heavily after the last of his high had rolled through him.

“Not quite the same person,” Alejandro chuckled, his voice hoarse. “But I’ll take it.”

“Oh, shut up, you joker. Come up here, I need to touch you.”

The way they scrambled to change their positions was rather ungraceful but it felt natural nonetheless. There were no words needed as Rodolfo moved up the bed while Alejandro all but tore his own underwear off. His unwavering confidence couldn’t conceal how needy he was getting, rushing through the motions to feel Rodolfo’s body against his own as soon as possible. And when he finally climbed atop of him, it was truly a sight to behold. His cock was rock-hard after he’d spent all this time focusing solely on his partner and it bobbed heavily between his legs as he straddled Rodolfo’s hips. Seeing the way it leaked precome between their bodies almost made him feel bad for his partner. Not quite, but enough to spur him on to spit in his hand and touch him. It only took a handful of strokes to make Alejandro groan and curse under his breath, his eyes fluttering closed as pleasure washed over him.

“You never fail to amaze me, cariño.” Rodolfo praised him breathlessly. “Taking care of me always gets you so worked up.”

While he didn't shy away from flattery when it came to his lover, this bit was nothing but the truth. He adored Alejandro's weakness for praise. They’d been long enough that one would think his enthusiasm and need to please would eventually wear off, but that never seemed to be the case. Just like when they’d first gotten together, his biggest turn-on was knowing that he’d done a good job at pleasing his partner. And Rodolfo still found it just as charming, just as lovely as back then.

It seemed that Alejandro wanted to say something in reply, but it was beyond his reach at this point. The only sound that came out of his mouth was a low groan as Rodolfo began stroking his cock with a single-minded purpose to take him apart.

“Don’t need to say anything. You treated me so well, you deserve to enjoy yourself now.”

It wasn't just for his pleasure, either. Seeing what kinds of reactions he could get out of him was Rodolfo's favourite thing to do. Like when he tightened his grip just slightly and stroked faster, and Alejandro all but doubled over on top of him. He leaned on his chest to support himself, but the way he clutched at it exposed just how worked up he was.

Rodolfo kept talking to him, knowing how much the man loved hearing his voice. While he didn't quite see the appeal, he knew what it did for his partner, especially at times like this – when it was breathy and still sort of rough with arousal after he’d come. It didn't even matter what exactly he was saying, any sort of praise had Alejandro inching closer to the edge.

By that point, it was obvious the man wouldn’t last long, although he couldn't find the words to. It was clear in the clench of his jaw and the way his eyebrows furrowed as he disregarded his self-restraint and bucked forward into Rodolfo’s touch. He seemed to need a bit of a push to get there, though, and his partner was eager to provide it.

“Come on, Alejo, please ,” he encouraged him breathily, looking up with his best pleading eyes. “Mi corazon, let me see you cum for me.”

The words were paired with a tight stroke from the tip to the base of Alejandro's cock, just the way he enjoyed most, and Rodolfo locked eyes with him to watch him come undone. It was only a moment before the tension in Alejandro’s body drained all at once. With a punched-out groan, he slumped forward and ground his hips into the tight ring of Rodolfo's hand. He spilled between his finders right then but that didn't make him stop the movement. Soft, somewhat overwhelmed moans slipped past his lips as he rode out the waves of his orgasm, making a mess of Rodolfo's stomach in the process. Overstimulation set in after a little while and he let his head hang low as tried to get his breathing under control.

Rodolfo found himself speechless – the sight his partner made was nothing short of breathtaking. It was a treasure to see a powerful, commanding man like him giving up his control, allowing himself to indulge in pleasure and then remain in that vulnerable state that came afterwards. Were Rodolfo any younger, this sight alone would be enough to get him going again. As it was, his mostly-soft cock twitched between their bodies one last time, which prompted a giddy laugh from Alejandro. 

“I needed that,” he said with the sort of content relief that made Rodolfo smile in response. “Thank you.”

“There’s no need, amorcito. It’s not like you’re the only one who had fun here.” With a gentle hand on Alejandro’s nape, he pulled the man down for a slow, tender kiss. And when they parted, he murmured to him with a dopey smile: “Besides, I knew it’d help you wind down so you wouldn’t go around terrorising our poor soldiers.”

He felt Alejandro’s responding chuckle more than heard it – a puff of air against his lips before another sweet peck was placed on them. The man’s eyes creased with a smile that said he didn’t mind Rodolfo’s utilitarian approach at all.

“Safe to say they’ll be grateful for whatever power managed to get my head on straight.”

“I’ll let them know they’re welcome,” he teased and Alejandro playfully swatted at his shoulder in retaliation. “I’m sure they’ll figure it out on their own. It’s not like we’ve ever been subtle.”

Alejandro couldn’t argue with that, so he responded with another soft laugh. Then, Rodlofo watched him straighten up and lean forward to reach towards the nightstand. He retrieved a couple of tissues from the box that was standing there and Rodolfo accepted them gratefully. The sticky mess on his hand and stomach was starting to feel rather gross. He wiped them clean and then laughed when Alejandro took the tissues from him and threw them across the room towards the trash can. He missed it entirely, as was to be expected.

“What an outstanding marksman you are, Colonel.”

The words made Alejandro groan with faux-annoyance. “Fuck that, I’m not getting up to fix it. I can get them in the morning.”

Despite his amusement, Rodolfo couldn’t help but agree with that sentiment. The mess that was that day had already tired them out, and being sated from their respective orgasms only sealed their desire to rest until morning. The time wasn’t late per se, not the latest either of them had stayed up for work-related reasons before, but that night they could allow themselves the early rest.

“You sure can. For now, just come here.” He patted the space next to him on the bed. “Get some cuddles in while we can.”

“As if I wasn’t going to pester you for more tomorrow,” Alejandro teased while following his direction, getting off of him and laying down on his side. “You’re underestimating me, mi vida.”

“Oh, no, I know you will,” Rodolfo snorted. “But I can use it as an incentive – you play nice with the boys, and then you can get some more.”

In response, he received a playful pinch on the side from his partner. Alejandro would play nice, they both knew that. His earlier frustration and anger were long gone, replaced by his usual spark. With his head screwed back on the right way, he’d act just as reasonable and social as he normally did the following morning.

While Rodolfo laughed at his reaction, lightheartedly reprimanding him for acting like a child, Alejandro manoeuvred them so that his partner was laying on his side and he could spoon him. With his chest plastered to his lover’s back, he placed a tender kiss on his nape. It had Rudy making a questioning sound, a little hm? to ask Alejandro whether he wanted to say something.

“Just thinking… You know me so well, mi vida. Always feel better when I’m with you.”

Rodolfo responded with a soft “I’m glad” – partly because there wasn’t anything more he needed to add, but mostly because he was already beginning to feel sleep take over him. Being surrounded by his partner’s warmth always made him relax right away. 

Alejandro wouldn't fall asleep as quickly, it wasn't in his nature, but it was okay. He’d hold Rudy close as he drifted off, enjoy the closeness and the ability to feel like he was shielding him from any and all harm so he could rest. While his ever-active mind winded down from the day he’d gradually slip under as well, breathing in the scent of his lover’s body as he all but melted into him. And the following morning, he’d wake up ready to face whatever was awaiting him as the Colonel – with Rodolfo beside him, supporting him, as it always was.