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English
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Part 4 of Gepard calls Sampo babygirl (not clickbait)
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Published:
2023-05-28
Completed:
2023-06-09
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3,312
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2/2
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a fire that burns unseen

Anonymous

Summary:

“Woah, Gep, it’s not what it looks like,” Sampo waves his hands in dismissal, seemingly adamant on changing the topic. “‘Twas a small scuffle—”

“Who did this to you?” Gepard fumes, the air surrounding him getting colder. (CH.1)

+++

"I love you," Gepard said tenderly, his gaze open and honest.

"I love you too," Sampo replied, meaning the words with his whole heart. He knew it. Gepard knew it. They both knew it. (CH.2)

-

Gepard finds out Sampo got hurt. Cue protectiveness.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter 1: love is a flame that blazes with sacred fire

Chapter Text

It was way more probable for Sampo to worry for Gepard rather than the other way around.

 

Gepard can’t blame Sampo, even Gepard himself is aware of his tendency to… overwork, and Sampo is usually left with dragging him to bed and making sure he’s not woken up by turning off all the alarms on his phone set the previous night. 

 

Their argument would usually end in Sampo winning with a coy smile, forcing Gepard to take a nap with hugs, sometimes with one of his smaller smoke bombs if Gepard is adamant on staying up the whole night to double check formations and strategies. It would be a win-win situation though, as Sampo would successfully get Gepard to rest and Gepard would get to wake up in the embrace of his boyfriend.

 

Boyfriend. Haha. Narrating that makes his heart feel giddy.

 

Gepard was filing his last stack of papers this week instead of being on duty, sighing frustratedly at the lack of action, and shoving it to the side of his desk. He was told that he wasn’t to go on patrol today, which is ludicrous. It’s his job! Not filing papers! Something felt off today, and it just— it irritated him. Maybe it was because he didn’t wake up with Sampo in his arms, didn’t get to admire Sampo making breakfast for the two of them, didn’t get to kiss Sampo goodbye before he went to work—

 

Something felt off. That was Gepard’s conclusion.

 

He honestly felt a slight pang in his heart when Bronya said his only job was to file papers for the rest of today, but the plus side is that he got to leave as soon as all the assigned papers were signed with what was required. Gepard’s hands were itching to do something else, something more, but he relented. 

 

The reason he relented was because of a text message. A text message from Sampo.

 

+++

 

Sampo

Certified ancient relic agent

——————

 

Sampo

Gepard! Babe!

 

Sampo

Hi :)

 

Gepard

Hello, Sampo. What is it?

 

Sampo

Sigh, why are you so professional, even while texting your own boyfriend?

 

Gepard

Did you actually type sigh

 

Sampo

You love me!

 

Sampo

Anyway, if you catch me napping once you get home, just wake me up plz

 

Sampo

I’ll make us some food once you get home :)

 

Sampo

Btw you’re almost done right? It’s almost your dismissal time

 

Sampo

Or are you overworking again? :(

 

Sampo

[Sticker: Teary_PomPom]

 

Gepard

Actually, I'm just filing papers today. 

 

Gepard

Packing up right now.

 

Sampo

WAIT REALLY?!

 

Sampo

Should I start cooking now?

 

Sampo

Whaddya feel like for dinner

 

Gepard

No. Get your rest

 

Sampo

I should be saying that to you! Honestly…

 

Sampo

I’ll take a short nap, okay? Wake me up when you get home!!

 

Gepard

Ok

 

Gepard

Can’t wait to see you. :)

 

Sampo

!!

 

Sampo

[Sticker: Heart_PomPom]

 

+++

 

Gepard always had a tendency to protect. 

 

It’s a Landau duty, so the need to protect his loved ones has been instilled in him since young. Sampo is a loved one.

 

If you told him a year ago that Sampo would be his lover and Gepard would think of him almost every second where he’s not determinedly working to serve his country, he would ask if you were on illegal medication and call his guards to take you for inspection with no hesitation. If he sounds dramatic, blame Sampo. 

 

The thought of Sampo has his heart feeling that giddy feeling again. Aeons, I’m a child…

 

The next thing Gepard knows, he’s out of the office, out of the building, away from that cursed paperwork and finally outside. He didn’t bother going outside for lunch, so he was inside that building for 9 hours. No, he’s not insane. Yes, he’s really tired. 

 

The sky has just turned into a hazy blue, stars slowly starting to form in certain areas. He always likes walking in the dead of night with Sampo when able to, hands interlocked and strolling as they stargaze until sunrise. And he always loves seeing Sampo underneath the moonlight, smile soft and not forced. Sampo’s smiles should never be forced.

 

He almost bumps into someone while thinking about Sampo, and he realises, Sampo makes me a different person. 

 

…What is he doing with himself?

 

+++

 

Gepard makes sure to quietly enter his apartment, aware that Sampo is sleeping. He didn’t know where, though. 

 

He found out soon enough.

 

The first thing he sees is Sampo sprawled out on his couch, clearly about to fall off while wearing one of Gepard’s shirts, which is odd. They have similar sizes, so it’s not that noticeable, but Gepard can tell which shirts are his. Sampo would never wear light beige willingly, not a shirt that didn’t reveal at least 15% of his hips and/or waist. Gepard feels himself smile, taking off his outer garments until he only had his undershirt and pants on. Sampo is wearing my clothes.

 

He walks closer to Sampo, admiring the gentle beauty that he holds. It’s always Sampo talking about how ‘handsome’ or ‘breathtaking’ he is, but Gepard never finds the time to compliment him back with Sampo always denying any genuine praise his way with a scoff and change of topic.

 

It makes him slightly angry, how he thinks he’s undeserving of such compliments. Maybe Gepard should whisper sweet nothings into his ear more often. He likes seeing him blush, anyway. It’d be a win.

 

Gepard walks up to the snoring figure, mouth going flat as he notices a scar with dry blood clotted around it under Sampo’s right eye. It wasn’t there two days ago, so he must’ve gained it after he left for his ‘meeting’. 

 

+++

 

“Hey, whenever I say I have a meeting, jus’ go along with it, okay? Everytime you think of my meetings add quote-unquote in front, alright? Every. Time.” Sampo munches on a sandwich. He makes a delighted noise after taking a bite, and Gepard notes to buy him this type of sandwich more often.

 

“Hm? Sure.” Gepard nods, too busy with his own food.

 

“Hah!” Sampo smiles, eyes crinkling and all. Such a gorgeous smile. “Thanks, pretty boy.”

 

+++

 

Gepard knew how Sampo’s ‘meetings’ went. It would always end with Bosski getting the bank, and Sampo puts it. He rarely got injured from these outings, but Gepard could tell if things got bad or not.

 

Sampo’s tight expression and sweat dripping down his forehead indicate that it didn’t go as well as he hoped for. His hands clutch the blanket sloppily put on top of him, only covering his torso and thighs, and unclenches. Gepard sighs, sits on the side of the couch right next to his boyfriend, and adjusts the quilt so it’s covering every part of Sampo except his face. That urge to make sure Sampo is comfortable and safe is stirring up inside him again.

 

Sea green eyes blink awake at the feel of movement. Sampo groggily gets up, rubbing his eyes and yawning. “Wh… What time did you get home, Gep?”

 

Gepard smiles, one hand automatically going to Sampo’s cheek and caressing. “I only got back a few minutes ago, don’t worry. Are you tired?”

 

“Hah, I should be asking you that…” Sampo gently moves Gepard’s hand away from his check, and motions for the water on the coffee table. Gepard acts just as fast as the movement was given, bending to grasp the glass and lightly place it against Sampo’s lips. 

 

+++

 

“Oi! Babe! Whaddya want for dinner?” Sampo calls from the kitchen, having freshly washed his face and kissed Gepard like no tomorrow against the bathroom door. After all the shenanigans, he seems much more lively now. 

 

Gepard emerges from the bathroom, finished showering, only a towel around his waist. There’s a smaller towel in his hands, motioned to dry his hair. “I’ll have anything you make. You know I like your cooking.”

 

Sampo wolf whistles at the sight. “Wow, I’m feeling really hungry right now.”

 

Gepard scoffs, throwing his hair towel at Sampo’s face when in a close enough distance. “Shut it, Koski.”

 

“Make me.” Sampo stinkeyes Gepard and turns back to grilling what seems to be steak. Along with the apron sloppily tied around his waist, Gepard wants to do nothing else but grab.

 

So that’s what he does. He walks up to be directly pressed up to Sampo and grabs. Sampo calls him a crab when he does this, but Gepard doesn’t have the energy to care everytime it happens. 

 

“Oh, getting more daring by the day, are we?” Sampo purrs, looking down at the hands gripping his sides and slipping down to his hips. 

 

Gepard breathes in the scent that is Sampo and smiles in his hair. “You made me like this. Don’t complain.”

 

“I wasn’t complaining,” Sampo hums, head moving around to meet piercing blue eyes. “In fact, I’m delighted at this revelation of how much of an impact my waist has on you.”

 

Gepard only raises an eyebrow, cheeks hurting from smiling so much, and leans in to smother kisses at Sampo’s cheeks. Sampo laughs in retaliation, and Gepard can feel his own heart swell with appreciation for this man. Gepard really, really, loves Sampo. So much he’ll go insane.

 

+++

 

Gepard walks into his bedroom to Sampo snoring away. 

 

They were conversing about their work before Sampo declared that he was tired and full beyond relief as soon as the topic of his ‘meeting’ came up, heading to the bathroom with a walk stiffer than usual. Like his limping. Gepard didn’t think about it much at the time, but now that Sampo looks absolutely exhausted as he loudly sleeps like no tomorrow, Gepard regrets not pressing on about it. 

 

It wouldn’t hurt to see if Sampo was… injured, or not. Gepard is Sampo’s boyfriend, so he has a right to worry. Right?

 

As soon as Gepard removes the blanket that covers Sampo whole, he sees red. 

 

Bandages wrapped around Sampo’s chest and torso, stained bloodily and in desperate need of a change. There are slight red lines on his shoulders as well, gliding into his collarbone and begging for salve. 

 

“… Sampo,” Gepard breathes, breath turning frantic, “Sampo!”

 

Sampo jerks awake, looking at Gepard with wide eyes. “Wh…”

 

Gepard immediately crouches down onto the bed, next to Sampo. He tries to adjust the bandages, in a trance to protect, only being able to half-process the voice being pierced into his head. 

 

“Woah, Gep, it’s not what it looks like,” Sampo waves his hands in dismissal, seemingly adamant on changing the topic. “‘‘Twas a small scuffle—”

 

“Who did this to you?” Gepard fumes, the air surrounding him getting colder.

Chapter 2: … and fills the being up with sweet desire

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

His boyfriend swallows, looking at him. “Y— It’s nothing, Gep. Really. Don’t worry—”

 

“No,” Gepard breathes, raggedly, “you’re— Sampo, look at you. Why— what happened?!” When he sees Sampo flinch slightly at his tone, he swallows and tries to stop his shaking body. 

 

“I…” Sampo groans, arms flopping back onto the bed. “Can we— can we hit pause on this convo, Gep? I’m not… I don’t want to talk about it.”

 

Gepard internally winces. He shouldn’t pry, but he really, really, wants to, and it’s killing him. It’s killing him that Sampo doesn’t want his help. It’s killing he can’t do anything.

 

Sampo must have noticed his worried thoughts, as he huffs lightly. Gepard would do anything for that soft smile. “Gep, stop overthinking it. I’ll… explain later, yeah?” Sampo’s bare hand caresses the hand Gepard has on his stomach, covered in bandages.

 

Gepard can only sigh and nod. He’ll be alright. We’ll be alright.

 

+++

 

Gepard wakes up in the morning, sun already out, and all he can think is: fuck.

 

Fuck, I want to punch something. Fuck, is Sampo okay? Fuck, I can’t stand to see him like this. Fuck.

 

The kitchen was sunny and warm as Sampo hummed quietly and chopped vegetables for the stir fry. He moved smoothly between the stove and counter, lost in the familiar rhythm. 

 

Gepard loves watching Sampo cook, apron on and all. Fuck, I love that apron. He feels his arms wrap loosely around his boyfriend’s waist from behind. His embrace was warm and gentle, his chest softly pressing against his back.   

 

"Mmm, hi Gep," Sampo said, a smile breaking across his face.     

 

Gepard nestled his chin into the crook of his shoulder, taking in a deep breath. "You smell good. What’re you making?"

 

"Omelettes. With those vegetables you like," he said, continuing to chop bell peppers and snow peas.

 

Gepard tightened his embrace slightly. "It smells delicious already." His tone was gentle and peaceful, contentment imbuing each word. As if he wasn’t fuming last night.

 

"You're just saying that because you want attention," Sampo teased.

 

Gepard smiled against his shoulder. "Maybe," he said softly. But he made no effort to loosen his arms. He stood still, his presence steady and comforting, emanating warmth through his embrace and gentle breath against his neck.

 

Sampo slowed down his cutting and gently leaned back into him. His presence overwhelmed him, warming him from the inside out and causing his body to seem to melt into his. They stood like this for several peaceful moments, both still, feeling the beat of the other's heart and the slow rhythm of breaths moving in tandem.

 

Sampo turned his face and pressed a soft kiss to Gepard's cheek. "You're distracting me from my cooking," he said lovingly, with a devilish grin.

 

"I don't want you to move," he said with a mock pout, tightening his embrace ever so slightly. His voice was light and airy but laced with truth. If Gepard’s past self saw him now, he’d be appalled at how in love he was with Sampo, of all people.

 

Sampo laughed lightly and turned his attention back to the cutting board, though his hands moved slower now, savoring his presence cocooning his. Gepard could sense his smile without seeing it, could feel the happiness radiating from him where their bodies met. Their intimacy in that moment transcended simple affection; it was a deep knowing of the othis, an alignment of spirits that needed no words.             

 

Gepard's hand drifted up from his waist and began tracing slow, aimless circles on his stomach. He felt a tingling while his fingers brushed against his shirt, his body coming more alive with each gentle touch. There was magic in his caress, reawakening that first rush of passion they'd felt for each other when everything was new. But this was even more comfortable now, a sense of home that only came with knowing the deeper truths of another soul.

 

They stood there for several more minutes as Sampo finished prepping the vegetables and moved the pan onto the stove. Flames licked up from the burner as oil sizzled and hissed, adding the aroma of sesame and ginger. Gepard would usually recoil from this, but not today it seemed. He wrapped his arms tighter around his now, swaying his gently side to side while peppering soft kisses on his hair and temple. 

 

"You're making it hard to mix all of this stuff together," Sampo said with mock reproach, but he made no move to escape his embrace. There was comfort in surrendering to his love, in letting his body melt into his until he could no longer distinguish who's he ended and he began. 

 

Gepard sighed contentedly against his hair. It smelt like roses. "I just want to hold you."

 

They swayed together for a few moments more before Gepard finally loosened his arms and pressed one last kiss to his cheek. "I'll let you cook," he said with a smile in his voice. "But I expect a talk on the couch later."

 

Sampo turned in his arms and wrapped his own around his neck, gazing up at the face he knew so well, the one that still made his heart quicken when he smiled. "Of course," he said softly. Gepard hoped Sampo would tell him about what happened when they ate. 

 

Their lips met in a sweet kiss, lingering and slow. Gepard's hands came up to cup his face, stroking his skin softly with his thumbs. Sampo sighed into his mouth, feeling the familiar electricity even after all this time. When they finally broke apart, they were both smiling.

 

"I love you," Gepard said tenderly, his gaze open and honest.

 

"I love you too," Sampo replied, meaning the words with his whole heart. He knew it. Gepard knew it. They both knew it.

 

Hand in hand, they turned back to the pan, bodies still touching as they moved together in the dance of their love.

 

+++

 

“My client.” Sampo answered finally.

 

Gepard looks up from his breakfast. Sampo’s cooking was amazing, it never failed to wake him up with just enough to make him energised, but not too full so he could still do his active duties. He tilts his head, blinking. “Hm?”

 

“My client… um, did all the scar stuff to me.” Sampo chuckled grimly. “They were powerful, and I didn’t meet one of his deadlines. Which is bullshit, right? Just because I didn’t collect the artifacts on time doesnt mean that he can send his goons on me…” Sampo was swinging his fork back and forth, and Gepard wondered how that sole pea that the metal had stabbed could stay on for that long. “…Gep. Babe. Gepard.”

 

Gepard blinks out of his trance. “W— what? Sorry.”

 

Sampo scrunches his face for a second. It’s alarmingly adorable. “Your fork.”

 

Gepard’s eyes grew wide and he looked down at his own fork, the metal around his hand was cold and on the verge of breaking as frost summoned from his fingertips. He was gripping it tight… When Gepard gets agitated, he tends to morph that anger into ice and freeze any object in his grasp. On multiple occasions he’s gotten his gloves frozen and damp. Sampo finds it amusing everytime.

 

He hears Sampo sigh. “It’s not that big of a deal, Gep. You don’t have to get mad over it.”

 

Gepard shook his head. "I should have been there. I should have protected you. I need to—"

 

Sampo reached over and rubbed his lover’s hand. "Hey, it's not your job to protect me, silly. We protect each other, remember?"

 

Gepard took a shaky breath, trying to push the guilt from his mind. "I know. I just… argh,” he breathes out harshly, “I love you so much. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. Again.”

 

Sampo stood up and walked around the table, dragging his seat to be in front of him and taking Gepard's face in his hands. "Nothing is ever going to keep me from you," he said, gazing into cold, blue eyes. "We're in this together, for better or for worse, White Knight.” He grins.

 

Gepard nodded, unshed tears pricking at his eyelids. Sampo always knew what to say to ease the worries from his mind, but he feels… frustrated, when someone he loves gets hurt.

 

Sampo leaned in and kissed him softly. Gepard kissed him back, trying to convey all the love he felt for him in that simple gesture. Sampo broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Gepard’s, breathing the same air.

 

"How about we take a walk after breakfast?" he proposed, sharp teeth gleaming as he grinned. "Some fresh air will do us good. You have patrol?”

 

Gepard smiled, finally feeling the tightness in his chest release. “I can call in sick. That sounds perfect.”

 

Sampo stood up and went back to his breakfast after mockingly gasping about ‘ Gepard Landau taking a day off? Impossible!’, but Gepard held onto him a moment longer, silently vowing to always protect this bond they held so dear, to shield him from harm for as long as he lived. 

 

Gepard met his eyes across the table once more, and saw his future reflected back in the loving gaze Sampo gave him. 

Notes:

COUGH COUGH yes short chapter and anticlimactic ending i deeply apologise but if you want further story after this fic Gepard beats the shit out of Sampo’s client hehehe (I’m not good at writing violence)

Uh I kinda felt bad that I didn’t have a lot to add here bc I was super pumped when I started this fic. So for this chap I just kinda made thicker paragraphs and read countless websites on how to make stories seem more poetic .

I could possibly add another chapter to this work I just. Idk I’m not feeling it rn, so it’s just marked as complete. Watch out tho, I might add to it <33

Notes:

OKAY SO for chap 1 is it probable that Gepard would be filing papers or. No. bc I have absolutely no idea I just wrote him doing his thing for the sake of my sanity and writers block

if u guys couldn’t tell all my titles are from poems so if u notice it ur so cultured 🤝🤝🤝

hi I read this fic where person A was super protective over person B after B was trying to hide their injuries and I’m an absolute sucker for this trip and I thought. Why not GePo/SamPard nyehehehe

Have a brilliant day, night, evening, friends!

ALSO ADD ME ON HSR LOVELIES !! UID IS 802166111 !!! IM ON ASIA SEEVER AND I NEED MORE FRIENDS PLS <33