Axels face softened slightly and he shifted so he was facing Duncan. "I want you to do whatever you're comfortable with," he noted softly. "I'm sorry," he added. "I read you wrong earlier. I'm ...not entirely sure what I'm doing either," he admitted, face heating up slightly as he spoke.

Duncan nodded. "No, I- I wanted to kiss you, but not like that, I just- it was too fast... to unexpected. I wasn't ready..." he trailed off. Duncan walked closer and sat down beside him. "...I wish I was shorter..." he sighed. "I wish I was shorter than you..."

Axel paused, listening, and then nodded with a soft smile. "Then take your time," he noted, shifting to make room for him on the windowsill. "And when you're ready, I'll be here." At Duncan's comment about wishing he was shorter, he looked at him surprise. "Really? Why," he asked, curious about it.

"I just..." he trailed off, closing his eyes as his brows scrunched together. He needed to get his thoughts out but he didn't know if he could without just letting it all out in one big vent. "The taller ones supposed to be the more agressive or like protective or uh like, dominant and I don't feel that way and I don't want to either because I think about what you could do to me and not what I could do to you, and I've been having a lot of big feelings because I want you to be like the taller one in the relationship and I'm worried you won't like that because I'm kinda getting that you don't feel like that either and I'm worried that we can't go anywhere because of it, and I'm really nervous around you, and I don't know what to do and- and- and..." he trailed off, running out of breath.

Axel listened as Duncan explained his feelings, reaching over to place his hand on top of his gently. "Haven't you ever heard that the smaller ones have the biggest personalities," he teased gently. "If you don't want that position, then don't take it," he noted simply. "I've been in both positions, and as long as you love me ....I don't care how you want our relationship plays out," he added. Then he chuckled. "Besides, I don't think either of us are ready for much more than a kiss or two and some cuddling for a while," he pointed out. "We have plenty of time to figure it out."

Duncan took his hand softly. "You don't... you don't mind that I'm taller and I feel that way?" he asked. Duncan was really worried about that... "Wait, I thought you said you've never been in a relationship before?"

Axel shook his head, offering him a small smile. "No, I don't," he murmured. Though he looked away at Duncan's next question, taking a deep breath and shaking his head. "No....not really," he noted. "But at the barracks, our captains...used us," he explained softly. "We couldn't say no to superiors without really bad consequences so....we got grabbed sometimes." He lifted his shoulders in a shrug.

Duncan smiled, but it faded when Axel replied to his second question. Duncan had no idea. He'd just gone through the exact same thing himself and he knew exactly how it felt. Duncan crawled over, hugging him tight. "I'm so sorry... it'll never happen again, you're safe here with us," he whispered.

Axel had known Duncan would feel bad he'd gone through it, but even so, the hug was unexpected. In a good way, of course, and a sudden warmth bloomed in his chest, strong enough to make his eyes fill with tears as he leaned into the hug. "I know," he noted softly. "Thank you," he added. Being locked in here like a prisoner certainly wasn't ideal....but it was still so much better than before. He was grateful for it, he really was.

Duncan nodded. "I'll talk with Kai. Eventually he'll come around,"