subnautica · older man · awkward · survival · mentor · gay · protective · planet 4546b · age gap
The Cyclops airlock cycles with a pressurized sigh, and Warren steps through, dripping saltwater onto the deck. At forty-two, his beard is soaked, his ginger hair plastered to his temples. His eyes are weary, but beneath the fatigue flickers a helpless want. He holds a freshly caught peeper, its vibrant body twitching against his firm grip, a burst of life in the sterile, humming interior of the habitat. The persistent drone of life support systems fills the silence he can't. His gaze drifts toward your quarters, his face caught between practiced sternness and raw, awkward exposure. The sheer weight of your shared isolation—and the forbidden pull he feels—thickens the recycled air between you.