That First Night

"I sleep in the nude." Agent 300 walked around the living room, taking in his surroundings. Agent 250 stared after him, unsure of how to react. If it had been anyone else saying that, he'd have known exactly what it meant. But 300 was the last person he expected to say something like that – 300 wouldn't notice a come-on from a man if it bit him on the lip, and 250 could attest to that personally. But the way 300 had smiled when he said it…

Well, it's not like I can do anything about it anyway, 250 thought ruefully, not with this gaping hole in my stomach. And that was another thing that was confusing the hell out of him – when he'd woken up in the hospital, 300 had been sitting right next to him, holding his hand. And he didn't leave his side the whole time 250 was in the hospital. For 250, who'd been silently in love with his work partner for months, it felt like a gift from heaven, and he didn't question it. The situation wasn't exactly conducive to in-depth discussions about feelings anyway, not with Niels, the man who'd put him in the hospital in the first place, just one bed over.

But after hearing a bombshell like that, 250 desperately wished he could figure out just what 300 had in mind.

"Um, the bathroom and everything are upstairs," 250 said.

"Lead the way and I'll follow," said 300, and smiled in that easygoing way that always made 250's heart do a backflip. 250 headed up the stairs, but the motion made his wound ache sharply, and he had to stop and take a few deep breaths. "Here, let me help you," 300 said swiftly, and before 250 could protest, the younger man wrapped his arm around 250's waist and pulled 250's arm over his shoulders. The touch felt like electricity running through 250's skin, and for a second he was too stunned to move. "Come on, just take it slowly," 300 said encouragingly.

Somehow 250 got his feet connected to his brain again and continued up the stairs. 300 was able to support his weight without even breaking a sweat, but he himself was breathing heavily. It wasn't from exertion or pain, though. It was from the heat of 300's torso against his, the pressure of 300's arm on his back, and the feel of 300's shoulder under his hand. 250 wasn't sure whether he was relieved or disappointed when they finally got upstairs.

Was it his imagination, or did 300 hold on to him for just a second too long before letting go? 250 glanced over at the other man, trying to read him, but he was just looking around, taking in the hallway the way he'd done downstairs, seemingly unaware that anything had passed between them. 250, however, could still feel the warmth of 300's body every inch of where they had touched.

"So, which one is your bedroom?" 300 asked.

"This one," 250 said, going through the first door, "and the bathroom's in here. Uh, you want to get ready first or second?"

"You can go first," 300 said with a smile. He sat down on the bed and started unbuttoning his waistcoat. "I don't mind waiting for you."

250 blinked, then went into the bathroom and shut the door. He looked in the mirror, and his reflection looked just as dumbfounded as he felt. There's no way that can mean anything other than what it sounds like, he thought. Can it? What the hell is going on? 250 was more in love with 300 than he had been with anyone in a long time, but until he'd woken up in the hospital 300 had never given the slightest sign of returning his feelings. And now all of a sudden he's holding my hand and telling me he's going to sleep naked in my bed, 250 thought, and giving me come-ons like that one. I can't figure it out. He sighed and reached for his toothbrush.

When 250 came out of the bathroom, 300 had draped his waistcoat and tie over the back of the chair in the corner and had put his shoes on the floor underneath. He was sitting on the bed, wearing just his shirt and pants, with the top three shirt buttons undone. 250 swallowed. Then he said, "Towels are in the cupboard, and there should be a spare toothbrush in the left-hand drawer." Goddamn it, he thought, why am I only able to talk to him in banalities?

"I'm sure I'll find everything," 300 said smoothly, and in one motion he stood up and slid past 250 into the bathroom.

250 undressed, a little gingerly because of his wound, and crawled into bed. He lay back with his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling, listening to 300 move around on the other side of the bathroom door. What if he actually cares about me?, 250 thought suddenly. What if he even loves me?

The bathroom door opened and 250 stared hard at the ceiling. He could guess what he'd see if he looked over at 300, and he didn't think he'd be able to hide his reaction. Even without looking, though, he was acutely aware of 300 moving through the bedroom, and he concentrated on keeping his breathing even.

300 walked slowly towards the bed and 250 forgot to breathe altogether. 300 slid under the blankets, gently eased 250's left arm from behind his head, and lay down in the crook of 250's elbow. 250 turned his head to look at him, but 300 was looking down at the bandage on his stomach. 300 reached across 250's body and softly touched the edge of the bandage, his fingers brushing the skin of 250's stomach. Without thinking 250 reached down with his right arm and took 300's hand. 300 smiled and interlaced his fingers in 250's. Then he tilted his head up and looked in 250's eyes.

250 knew he had to say something to break the tension or he'd have to ignore his doctor's orders not to exert himself. "Listen, I couldn't say this at the hospital in front of Niels, but…thank you for saving my life."

"You don't need to thank me," 300 said, and he was close enough that 250 could feel his breath on his skin. "You'd have done the same for me."

"Yes, I would have," 250 said, maybe a little too fast. What he wanted to say was, I would have done that and more, I'll do anything you want me to, I love you.

300's smile broadened. "I know," he said, and for a second 250 wondered frantically if 300 could hear his thoughts. "I'm very glad you're all right," 300 said softly. Then he propped himself up on one elbow, brought his face slowly in to 250's, and kissed him lightly on the forehead. He pulled back a little and looked 250 in the eyes for a few seconds. Then, "Good night," he whispered, and lay back down. He nestled into 250's arm and closed his eyes, and his even breathing showed that he fell asleep almost immediately.

"Good night," 250 whispered, staring back up at the ceiling. For him sleep was a lot longer in coming.