Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

your man thinks i'm a bad man and i'm sure he's right, your man's gone for the weekend and i'm here tonight, your man's twiddling short thumbs and he's picking fights

Martin and Tim had been dating for just under a year. They got together before the Jane Prentiss attack, but while Martin was still living in the Archives. It was an unlikely match, but it came up when Tim walked in on Martin recording his poetry and busting him for having a crush on someone in the archives. Now, that someone was his boss, Jonathan Sims, but Martin had already convinced himself that that would absolutely never happen. Jon had been very clear in his thoughts and feelings about Martin in the past, and there was no way them grabbing a drink together would ever be in question. Now, when Tim asked, “It’s not me, is it? Because if it is you know- Dance card’s open.” Martin wanted to bash his head into the desk.

After that conversation, Tim continued casually flirting with Martin, mostly to tease, but he also figured, what’s the harm? After a couple months, Tim finally got Martin to agree to drinks and they’d been together since. Of course, Tim still had a thing for Sasha (who is no longer Sasha) and Martin still got absolutely stupid around Jon. After the Prentiss attack, Tim was very vocal about his disdain for Jon. They could hardly be in the same room together, despite every effort Jon made.

After one particularly bad day, Tim had had enough of Jon. It was one of those days where he was already at his limit with Jon, not for any particular reason, but it was like when you're having a great day but just seeing that one person's face can absolutely ruin your day. He already was keeping in some choice words in Jon's direction, but when he saw the photos of his house when he was dropping reports off to Jon's desk? It just made Tim snap.

Martin and Sasha were working on a case together when they heard a loud crash. Their heads shot up and they looked to the sound before looking at each other with wide eyes when they heard Tim’s booming voice. 

“Oh no.” said Martin

“Oh bloody hell…” Sasha mumbled. 

They got up and ran into the break room, the yelling getting louder as they opened the door to see Tim pining Jon against the wall where there was a broken coffee mug on the floor where Jon had dropped it and a wet spot on the wall where the coffee pot must’ve hit when Tim missed throwing it at Jon’s head.

“You’re watching my house?!” Tim yelled in Jon’s face. 

Jon’s eyes were wide, and he was visibly shaking. He looked terrified. There wasn’t a doubt that if Tim wanted to he could seriously harm, if not kill him. “Tim, I-I’m sorry! I really- I don’t know- I was just-!” 

“You were just what? Trying to figure out if I’m the killer?” Tim laughed. Jon’s toes were the only thing touching the ground at this point and he was trying to pull his tie away from his neck. Maybe Tim didn’t realize he was choking him.

“T-Tim please-!” Jon gasped. “I-I can’t, I can't b-” he kept clawing at his neck.

“You know what, I didn’t kill Gertrude. But I’ll gladly take credit for this archivist.”

“Tim! Enough! Enough!” Martin yelled, him and Sasha running up to them. It took both of them to pull Tim off of Jon. Tim put his arms up in surrender, dropping Jon to the floor where he quickly pulled his tie off, gasping for air and coughing. 

“It’s fine. I’m done with him anyway.” Tim said. Sasha grabbed his arm to drag him out of the room. “Take a walk with me.” she said as she walked him out.

Tim started to walk with Sasha before pulling away to turn around, giving him one more good hard kick in the stomach. Jon felt like he could be sick. 

“Tim! ” Martin and Sasha screamed at the same time, Sasha giving his arm a real tug now. “We’re going!” she yelled, pulling him out of the room

Martin immediately dropped down and helped Jon sit up and leaned him against the wall. He helped get his tie off all the way and undo the first button of his shirt after moving him away from the broken glass that remained on the floor. He saw drops of red on the white tile and flipped Jon’s arms and hands over to check if any broken glass got him. His hands and knees were cut up from the drop back to the floor. He looked at his face as well, seeing that Tim must have gotten a few blows in before they came in. His nose was bleeding and his lip was split, and it looked like a bruise was forming on his cheek bone.

“Okay, you’re alright.” Martin said. “I need to help you up, I wanna get you away from the glass. C’mon, I’ve got you.” he said softly. Jon was still shaking and hyperventilating. He really felt like Tim was going to kill him. He was more scared than he had been running through the tunnels. Something about a real person, not a monster, a real living, breathing, thinking person being angry enough to try to kill you was making him have a hard time calming down. 

Martin basically carried him to the cot in document storage, helping him down. 

“Okay, I’m gonna go grab the first aid kit. Do not move. Do not try to get up. You’re hyperventilating, I need you to breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Slowly .” Martin said calmly.

Jon nodded, taking shaky breaths as Martin left the room. He returned after a few minutes and sat back down in front of him. “First thing’s first,” Martin says, popping and shaking the ice pack from the kit. “I’m gonna put this on the back of your neck. The cold should help calm your nervous system.”

Jon nodded again and put his head down, Martin placing the pack on his neck. 

“I’m gonna take your right hand, I have to get the glass out.” he said. 

Martin grabbed the tweezers out of the kit, carefully pulling glass out and dropping it in the plastic cup he grabbed from the water cooler. He cleaned and wrapped both of Jon’s hands. 

“Okay, now this is gonna be weird for both of us but I have to clean your legs too..” Martin said. “So y-your pants…” 

Jon looked up at Martin, clearly having been zoned out. “Hm? Oh uh, y-yeah just…hold on.”

Martin nodded, helping him stand up. “Do you mind..?” Jon mumbled. 

Martin’s eyes widened. “Oh! Oh right, yes! Right.” he said, turning around. Martin turned back around when Jon had sat back down and covered up with a blanket. Martin sat back on the floor in front of him and started working on pulling out the glass in his knees and shins.

“Do you think your nose is broken?” Martin asked. 

Jon shook his head. “I don’t think so? It hurts like hell but not like that.”

Martin nodded, continuing to work on his legs. “Man…Tim really did a number on you, huh?” he asked. Jon remained silent. “Uhm…so he found the pictures?” 

Jon looked up at Martin. “How-”

“I saw you when I was spending the night. You’re not a very good spy. Plus I literally saw them on your desk, did you forget?” he asked, a tight lipped smile leaving as quick as it came on. “ Why, Jon? The paranoia is…” he sighed. “We’re all really worried about you.” he said, grabbing the bandage wrap for his legs as he finished pulling the glass out and cleaning him up. He grabbed a pair of clean pants Jon had left when he would bring spare outfits for the late nights he spent in the Archives and helped slip them on him. It was way less weird helping him get dressed than the opposite, and Jon accepted the help.

Jon held a long silence, not wanting to respond to the paranoia comment. Change the subject. He thought.

“I should be worried about you. Dating someone capable of-” Martin held a hand up to stop him.

“Woah woah woah I’m gonna stop you there. I know that was scary for you. It was scary for me to see him hurting you like that but Tim has never and would never hurt me. Not ever.” he said seriously. “I think you know that.”

Jon sighed, looking down at his lap. “I’m sorry…that was unfair of me.” he said. “So…the ice pack really helped. How did you know about that?” he asked.

Martin pressed his tongue into his cheek, clearly considering if he wanted to answer.

“I get panic attacks after I was trapped in my flat. Tim taught me.” he said quietly.

“Oh. I had no idea.”Jon answered. 

Martin smiled sadly. “Why would you?” he asked. “How are you feeling?” he wondered, looking at the bruise forming around Jon’s neck. 

“Like someone tried to hang me with my own necktie.” Jon joked.

Martin gave him a look and Jon smiled a little. “I feel like hell. And like I need a drink.”

“Well,” Martin sighed, standing up and offering a hand to Jon, helping him up. “I think I owe you that at least.”

Chapter Text

On the way out of the Institute, Martin and Jon ran into Tim and Sasha. Jon looked up at Tim, stumbling as he stepped back away from him and Martin caught him. Tim didn’t even bat an eye at Jon, just looking to Martin. “I’m taking the rest of the day. Are you coming?” he asked Martin.

“Tim, I-”

“Tim, why don’t you take a long weekend.” Jon said, looking at the ground.

Tim laughed and looked at Jon. “Excuse me?”

“I just, I just mean-” he said, voice shaking and putting a hand up to try to keep some distance. “I think it would maybe do us both some good…I’ll make sure it’s paid I just think we could-”

“Yeah. You know what, you’re right. C’mon, Martin.” Tim said, holding out his hand for Martin to take.

Martin swallowed and clenched his jaw. “I’m actually gonna take Jon for a drink.” he said. “I’ll come over tonight.”

Tim furrowed his brow, a look of disbelief across his face. “Martin he’s been stalking-!”

“You could’ve killed him!” Martin snapped. “You almost did, look at him! Thank god Sasha and I took our lunches together early today and were actually here or I think you would’ve, or at least sent him to hospital. Christ, he should probably go anyway! Just-” he sighed, running his hands down his face. “I’m gonna go get a drink with him. You two will take a long weekend, Sasha and I will hold down the fort. I love you, I will see you Monday. Go somewhere- go see your mum. She misses you just…take a break.” he said.

Sasha stayed by Tim, quietly saying “Come on, he’s right. I’ll help you pack.” as she led him down the front stairs of the Institute. 

Martin and Jon watched them walk away, Jon taking slow breaths to try to calm down again. “You know, I think Tim might be scarier than just about any statement in there.” he said.

Martin sighed and nodded. “He’s…been having a hard time. He needs someone to blame for what happened and someone to be angry at. So, with the way you’ve been acting lately he’s got you in his sights, I guess…There’s some other stuff, too, but..I don’t know, he won’t tell me about it.” he put a hand on Jon’s back. “Let’s go get that drink.”

They started walking to the pub up the road and Jon pulled out a pack of Marlboros. He looked up at Martin. “D’you mind?” he asked. Martin shook his head and Jon pulled out his spider web designed zippo, lighting it. 

“I thought you quit.” Martin said.

Jon shrugged. “Call it a relapse, I guess.”

“Those can kill you.”

Jon laughed. “So can worm queens and war ghosts and…fucking vampires.” he said. “I’ll take my chances. I think cancer would be a mercy.”

Martin frowned, keeping his eyes forward. 

They got to the pub and went to grab a table towards the back. “I’ll go grab our drinks, you just sit. What do you drink?” 

“An old fashioned please. A double, if it’s not too much trouble.”

Martin nodded and smiled. “You can have whatever you want.” 

He went up, coming back with their drinks. 

“What’s your poison?” Jon asked as Martin sat across from him.

Martin chuckled, taking a drink. “Vodka soda with lime.”

“Isn’t that Tim’s drink?”

“Almost like we’ve been dating for a year or something.” 

“Or something.” Jon muttered, taking a drink.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” 

“Nothing, nevermind.” Jon laughed. 

The two men sit together, drinking and talking more than they ever had outside of a work environment. Every time they’d gone out it had been in a group. About an hour in, both men were becoming sufficiently tipsy, creeping up on drunk.

“So,” Martin started. “Why do you hate me?” 

Jon’s jaw dropped “Hate you?!”

“Yes! Come on, Jon. I deserve to know.” he said, taking a drink. “Come on, tell me.”

“I don’t hate you, Martin.” Jon sighed. “Okay, look. I have never…hated you. Have I.. possibly, maybe been a little harder on you that Tim and Sasha? Sure.”

“Ha!”

“But! Listen- let me finish.” Jon laughed, drunkenly putting his wrapped hand over Martin’s mouth, who lightly swatted him away. “It’s because I know you can be capable of so much more than you show me! I just- Martin I’ve seen your CV it’s- God it’s impressive. So I get frustrated when you-”

Martin’s stomach was in knots. He’s already bad at secrets, even worse when there’s alcohol involved. He must’ve been making a face because Jon stopped what he was saying. “What’s wrong, Martin?”

“I..uhm it’s…” he swallowed, holding his drink tight. “It’s fake.” he said. 

Jon cocked his head a little bit. “What’s fake?”

“My CV. I-I lied on it. I…I really needed a job and it was a really good opportunity!” Martin kept rambling and Jon stopped him. 

“Woah hey! Hey hey hey, it’s it’s okay!” he said. “Martin it’s okay. I’m not gonna..fire you or anything.” he laughed. 

Martin looked at him confused. “...You’re not?”

“No! No, honestly Martin that changes…a lot. If that’s all a lie, then-”

“Well it’s not all a lie.”

“Regardless. That changes things. Martin, your work is incredible for someone without a degree! I thought you’d been through all the training and basics already but that makes so much more sense now. I mean it. Now, why you lied can be an issue for Elias. I’m not gonna say anything to him, but I’m deciding now it’s above my paygrade.” Jon smiled.

Martin blushed a little and nodded. “Thank you, Jon.”

The pair kept drinking for at least another hour before wrapping it up. Martin paid their tab and they walked out of the bar, officially having reached the point of drunk. Jon lit a cigarette instantly just walking aimlessly with Martin.

“Okay! Okay so- so you got you to ask me your question.” Jon laughed, cigarette hanging between his lips. “Now it’s my turn.”

“Go ahead, little man.” Martin responded, slurring a little. 

“Wh-Hey! Just because you’re built like a fucking tree doesn’t mean-”

“A tree? ” Martin laughed.

“Because you’re tall! Okay, shut up. Alright so my question. Tim?”

Martin stared at Jon for a good 10 seconds of silence. “Uhm…what about Tim?” he laughed.

“How?”

“How did we get together?” Martin asked.

“Yes! Talk about an unlikely pair.”

“Oh, come on. I know I might not be the best looking-”

“That’s not what I said.” Jon interrupted. 

Martin blushed. “Right…okay, well I-” he started laughing, recalling the memory. “It’s embarrassing! It’s embarrassing so- okay I was recording some of my poetry and-”

“What?” Jon laughed, tagging a drag of his cigarette.

“Stop interrupting me! Okay, so he came in accusing me of liking someone at the Institute and he bullied me in the way Tim does until he could figure it out. He didn’t, but he..made a comment about being available.” he chuckled. “You actually came in after that! It was when I was living in the Archives, I don’t know if you remember. You came in asking why Tim was grinning and then you- I mean you were worried about me living down there.”

“Oh, you were working on the uh…oh what was it? The Hither-Green case?”

“Yeah!” Martin laughed.

“Okay so you’re with Tim but..you said he didn’t figure out who you liked?” 

Martin’s face grew hot. “Uh-I..”

“So who was it?!” Jon grinned. 

“No! Don’t do this I’m not playing this game again!” Martin begged.

“Was it Sash? She’s really pretty!”

“Jon! You’re just as bad as Tim, ple-hease. ” he whined.

“Was it me?” Jon asked in a jokey voice. 

Martin felt his heart drop into his stomach. You love Tim. Keep your mouth shut, it was a long time ago. He stayed quiet and Jon stopped in his tracks.

“Martin, was it me?” he asked again. 

Martin ran his hands through his hair, stress eating him from the inside out. He turned to look at Jon. His eyes looked watery. Was he…crying?

“Jon, I said I didn’t want to do this.” he said with a break in his voice.

Chapter Text

The cigarette Jon held between his lips fell to the concrete as his jaw slightly dropped. There’s no way. 

Jon shook his head and walked quickly over Martin who looked visibly upset now.

“Martin, I didn’t-”

“It’s just not funny, you know?” he chuckled, angrily wiping a tear from his face. “God, I just don’t understand why people can’t just- why they don’t listen to me or take me seriously! I said I didn’t want to do this! My feelings aren’t a fucking fun little guessing game!” he said, his breath quickening. “I just- Christ!” 

Jon put a hand on Martin's arm and he pulled away. “I’m sorry, I’m- Martin I am so sorry I did not mean to-I’m drunk I’m just being stupid forget I said anything.” Jon said desperately and slightly slurred. 

“You know, I stand up for you all the time, Jon. All the time and the one time I ask you to just leave something alone you can’t help yourself. You don’t have to know everything, you had no right to-”

Martin was clearly more than a little inebriated. The two drunk men arguing on the sidewalk was attracting attention and Jon noticed. 

“I know, I know. I’m- my flat’s about a 10 minute walk from here. Let’s go sober up…” Jon said, guiding the taller man towards his street. He didn’t want to dismiss Martin, but he needed to get both of them inside. 

Martin was walking with Jon, taking slow deep breaths as they continued their trek. He calmed down quite a lot about halfway to Jon’s flat, but his hands were still shaking. By now, Jon had lit another cigarette as well. 

“I’m sorry.” Martin started. “I didn’t mean to uhm…I’m sorry. I was..I was having a really good time before all that.”

Jon shook his head and smiled softly up at Martin. “I’m still having a good time. It was my fault. I didn’t mean to play light on your feelings. You were right, I should’ve listened and that wasn’t fair of me.”

Martin nodded. “Thank you…” he said quietly.

They got to Jon’s flat and after a couple minutes of trying, Jon finally got the key in the lock. He heard a little laugh coming from Martin’s direction and he smiled, looking over at him. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Took you long enough to find the lock, huh?.” Martin laughed, and Jon scoffed, pushing the door open. A wave of relief washed over Jon. The mood seemed to be lightening up again. Thank god. I feel like such an ass…

“You’re drunker than I am, I’d like to see you try!”

“I think we drank the same amount and you’re half my size, I’m bloody drunk so I can’t imagine where you are.”

“Half your-?! Wow you are on a roll tonight, Blackwood!” Jon laughed. They walked into Jon’s flat, kicking off their shoes. 

Jon walked..stumbled to the couch and collapsed on it, staring at the ceiling and one leg hanging off the edge. 

Martin followed Jon, smacking his leg to get him to lift it. “ Ow! Open wounds!” Jon whined.

“Oh, sorry! Sorry!” Martin laughed, sitting on the couch, Jon letting his leg rest back over Martin.

The two of them sat together, talking about nothing for over an hour. 

“Okay, so besides poetry, what does Martin Blackwood do for fun?” Jon asked. Martin’s cheeks turned a little red. Is he trying to actually get to know me…personally?

Martin shrugged and thought for a moment. “Mm, depends. I really like kayaking during Summer. Hiking during cooler months. Um..I don’t know, I hang out with Tim and Sasha pretty regularly otherwise. I mean, obviously Tim but the three of us go get drinks every week. You knew that though.” 

Jon gave him a look, almost coming off a little hurt. “You guys go every week?” he asked.

“Uh..yeah?” he responded, trying to figure out why Jon looked like that. “I..you never wanna come.” 

“What?”

“Jon,” Martin chuckled. “Are you..serious? Every Friday we go and I ask you every week to come and you just kind of grumble at me and wave me off.”

Jon looked off, like he was trying to recall a memory from years ago. “Mm..I don’t, uh..I’m sorry Martin I guess I never really…”

“It’s okay.” he smiled, a touch of sadness on face. “Maybe we can get things patched up with you and Tim and we’ll all start going. The whole team. I love you both, it really sucks that you don’t get along.”

“I know, I wish it wasn’t like this.” Jon said, before he really processed what Martin had said. “You- wait what did you say?” he asked.

Martin looked confused, trying to recall what his drunk self said just moments ago. When he realized, he gasped and his eyes grew wide, smacking his hands over his mouth. “No! No I didn’t mean- I mean like, I love- I’m in love with Tim and you’re- I consider you to be a friend! I don’t know if I’m-I’m your friend but I just, I think it’s important to tell people you care about that you love them and I-”

“Martin, relax, relax. I understand.” Jon said gently. “That means a lot to me…and I know I haven’t always treated you the best but I consider you to be a friend, too.”

Martin smiled and nodded. “Okay…good.” 

They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments, Martin’s hand resting on Jon’s knee.

“Tim really..I’m sure he’s sorry, Jon.” he said. Jon shrugged and let out a sigh.

“Honestly I probably had it coming. I don’t think I had it coming that bad but…I would’ve freaked out, too. I don’t know what’s been going on with me lately and I don’t like it but something just isn’t right. I haven’t just been keeping an eye on Tim though!” he said, sounding a little defensive.

“That doesn’t really make it better.”

“Well- I know but- look. Why would someone kill Gertrude? And what’s-..” he stopped, having to take a deep breath to try not to get too worked up. “What’s stopping them from doing the same to me?” he asked. “When Tim attacked me I-I have never felt fear like that. The infestation- that was terrifying, not knowing if you were..I mean if everyone was okay.” he blushed. “But-because of you we took out almost all of them ourselves! And, I d’know, I don’t think I really believed we would die. I knew it was a risk, but…” Jon sighed, running a hand through his growing, shoulder length hair. “What I’m trying to say is I really thought that Tim was killing me. I thought I was dying, Martin. Before you came in, he-I-...you didn’t see the look on his face when he was…” he brought a hand to his darkly bruised neck, Martin seeing his hand shaking. 

He hesitantly reached over to grab his hand, trying to steady it. “I am so sorry…” he said gently.

Jon squeezed his hand a little and nodded before letting go again. “Thank you…but don’t ever apologize for anyone but yourself.”

Martin huffed a small laugh. “How serious of you.” he joked with a little smile.

“Well I’m no poet, but..”

“Hey! Not fair.” Martin laughed.

They sat in silence for a few moments, Martin absentmindedly rubbing Jon’s leg with his thumb.

“So- what did your parents say about the ‘parasite infestation’ at your boring, totally normal archive job?” Martin asked. “I wrote a letter to my mother, but…” Jon’s face fell and he started staring off, not saying anything. “Uhm..Jon? Are you okay? Oh, are you gonna be sick, let’s get you-”

“No! No- I uhm..oh man now it’s my turn, huh?” Jon chuckled sadly, his eyes welling with tears.

“Oh, oh no what did I say?”

“Nothing! Nothing, Martin my…my parents died. A long time ago, I was really young. I just don’t, uh…” he took a long, deep breath. “No one has asked me about my parents in a really long time so it just caught me off guard. I’m sorry.” he said, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “It’s funny, actually, I was two when my dad passed and my mum died when I was five so I remember her a lot more clearly but I mean, it’s still been 25 years. I-after today was weirdly, out of all of the shit we’ve gone through the first time I thought that I wished I could call my mum about it.” he said, trying to keep it together. “She was just so kind and-” he stopped, taking his glasses off to wipe his tears on the sleeve of his shirt. “I’m sorry. You didn’t ask, I don’t need-”

“No. I…tell me about her.” Martin said with a nod. “I want to hear about her.”

Jon smiled a little and took in a shaky breath. “You know I really can’t understand how I remember what I do about her. I mean again, I was only five. But she was just..a woman who always put others first. Always. But not in a way where she was spreading herself too thin, she thrived when she got to help people. I got most of my appearance from her. The complexion mostly, I mean, and the height. She was just this little Pakistani woman. I mean, literally I think she was 5’4”? So I would’ve had a whole two inches on her.” he said with a little laugh that made Martin smile. “But, yeah, she was just… beautiful. Inside and out. She loved her family, her community, her God. All she wanted to do was spread love and kindness and she did that until the day she died.” he told Martin with a fond smile on his face, that slowly faded. “She’d be so disappointed in how I turned out.”

Martin furrowed his brow. “How do you mean?”

“Martin, come on. I don’t exactly have a shining reputation for my actions.”

“That isn’t fair, Jon. You need to go easier on yourself.”

“It’s true, are you really going to tell me I’m wrong?” Jon asked with a bit of a scoff.

“Yes! Jon, you are one of the smartest, bravest, toughest, bullheaded, insufferable, strong willed people I have ever met. You have your moments. A lot of them. But I am proud and damn lucky to know you.” Martin said. 

Jon froze for a moment, him and Martin just staring in each others eyes. There was a tension building. What..was it?

As if on cue, Jon sat up quickly and Martin was already working to pull him up. Martin pulled Jon into his lap just as easily as Jon had moved there himself and Jon put a hand on the back of Martin’s head, gently taking a handful of hair and kissing him hard. Hard enough that he was going to have to make sure he didn’t reopen the cut on his lip.

Martin pulled away to catch his breath, his arms still firmly around Jon. “It-it was you.” he panted.

“What?”

“My crush, it was you.”

“I know.” 

Chapter Text

The two men held each other close, their kisses hard and desperate. Martin ran a hand up the back of Jon’s shirt, the other holding his waist tight. He moved to kiss his neck, moving to lay on his back and pulling Jon on top of him. Jon sat up a little and smiled as he looked down at Martin. “This is a good view for me.” he said.

Martin laughed and nodded. “Me, too.” he said, pulling Jon back down and keeping a hand tangled in his hair. They kissed like this for a long time. Martin absentmindedly moved his hand down to hold Jon’s hip, slipping a thumb into Jon’s waistband in the process. Jon pulled away a little, moving Martin’s hand. Martin looked at Jon, taking heavy breaths.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Jon shook his head. “I just, I don’t think-” they started speaking over each other

“Oh! Jon that wasn’t what I was-”

“I mean it’s not you I just-”

“trying to do I really just got carried away, I’m sorry.”

“don’t do that, so..”

The pair looked at each other for a moment, waiting for the other to speak first. 

Just as Jon opened his mouth to speak, Martin’s phone rang and he jumped a little before glancing over.

Incoming call: Tim Stoker [heart]

Martin’s heart dropped and he threw Jon back onto the couch with ease, forcing himself to regain composure as he stood up and answered the phone. Jon’s face flinched, feeling…hurt? He thinks? He just so easily tossed him aside like what had been happening was nothing. Martin took a few steps away, his demeanor forcibly changing to more relaxed.

“Hi, love.” he answered. Jon looked down at the floor.

“Hi, yourself. I wanted to let you know I’m at my mums.”

“Oh, good! Tell her hello for me.” he said.

“Can we talk when I get back? Just about…everything. Not us. I have a lot of shit I need to get off my chest. I don’t know, I’m thinking about taking some more time off but I really wanna talk to you about it first."

“Of course we can. Whatever you need.” he said, glancing over at Jon.

“How were drinks with Mr. Paranoia?”

Martin dug his nails into the palm of his hand. “Great actually, we talked for a really long time. I actually just dropped him off.” he lied, Jon looking up at him and trying not to look hurt. I know he’s with Tim but-that was something, right? That felt like something. Martin looked away from Jon for a moment, trying to process what had just happened.

“Did you guys get drunk?”  

“Yeah, a bit actually but it’s okay, I’m sobering up now, I think he is, too.”

“Jesus, it’s only 6 o’clock. Well don’t let boss man do anything too fucked up.”

“Tim give him a fucking break.” Martin groaned. 

“C’mon, Mart, you cannot tell me you actually trust or believe a word that comes out of his mouth. I still can’t actually believe you’re choosing to socialize with him after how he treats you.”

“Tim! I’m not doing this right now, drop it! Just…God, you need to figure your shit out because I’m so sick of being stuck in the middle of your beef with him. Figure out how to get along with him, I’m done with it.” he said, in an angry whisper that was still loud enough for Jon to hear.

“Martin, you don’t-”

“No, I do know! I do understand! Just because I got out physically unscathed I went through it, too. I went after her by myself, I was trapped for weeks by her as a result, and I was trapped again in the bloody archives, I got lost in the tunnels alone, and I found the corpse of Gertrude Robinson. I’m traumatized, too! But I’m not walking around being an ass. I know you’re angry. I know you’re at the end of your rope but Jon is not responsible for this.”

There was easily 20 seconds of silence between all of them, Jon shocked by the tone coming from Martin.

“You’re right…I know I just…can we please talk when I get home?”

“Yes.”

“I love you, Martin.”

“I love you, Tim. I’ll see you Sunday night, okay?”

Martin hung up the phone and looked back over at Jon. They began speaking at the same time.

“Maybe you should-” 

“I think I should leave.” 

Jon nodded, looking down at the floor.

Martin put his shoes and jacket on, pausing after he opened the door a little. “I’m really sorry, Jon..”

Jon shrugged, looking over at Martin with a smile. “I’m not.”