[There's no absolute there, no promise, but the allowance made is what gets Maverick to relax a little more, curling his arms around Rover and pulling them to him as he sighs out slow.]

Yeah.

[He feels so dumb, like a preteen girl with her first crush, having his heart thrum so intensely at just a I like you. As if they haven't said anything much more explicit that would get his blood pumping...but the little, straightforward assurances are nice. Rover likes him. He likes Rover. A whole fucking lot. He rests his cheek against the top of their head as he holds them and breathes for a while. Sure, he'll feel a lot better once the backup is in his hands, if they can really make that happen, but...for now, this is more than enough.

...]

I thinks it's, uh. Good. [ugh this sounds so stupid, but he really really wants to try, here] You calling me out and wanting to talk, instead of...letting me. [stuff]

I mean, I know this isn't just about sex, it's just ni -- hell. Never mind.