(Untitled)

[assured_of_this]

It's surprising to Nate how natural it feels to sit behind a desk. All things considered, it should probably be at least a little disconcerting, but he's of the firm opinion that not all desks are created equal. Doing his time in the Council office is hardly the same as pushing paper in a nameless cubicle

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[nothingtomiss]

Brad never has any trouble finding Nate, which is comforting, when he thinks about it. He's spent the morning working on the engine and he's wiping his hands on a rag as he walks into the council office. He's been thoroughly enjoying getting his hands dirty and it shows on his face, underneath smeared oil.

"Busy?" he asks, leaning against the doorframe.

[assured_of_this]

When Nate lifts his gaze at the sound of the familiar voice, his smile is slow, almost tempered, as he takes a long moment to consider the towering length of his boyfriend, covered in dirt and grime and sweat. He blinks once like he's coming to, the corner of his mouth twitching.

"Absolutely not."

[nothingtomiss]

There's a world in a smile like that and, for a moment, Brad finds himself transfixed.

"I was on my way to take a shower," he says, still leaning with one shoulder against the doorway. "But I thought I'd drop in and disturb you while you were at work."

[assured_of_this]

For a moment, there, Nate had thought Brad was going to issue an invitation to join him. Under his present circumstances, he can't decide whether he's relieved or disappointed that Brad didn't.

"Not sure I would call this working," replies Nate, and takes a final glance at the papers on the desk before closing the folder. He settles his hands atop it, gives Brad his full attention. Silently, he nods to one of the empty chairs.

[nothingtomiss]

Brad crosses the room easily in a couple of easy strides and sliding into the chair opposite Nate, still wiping his hands.

"Think Remy'll let me borrow you this afternoon?"

[assured_of_this]

"I think that depends on what you have in mind," Nate answers, as if he himself doesn't already suspect and Remy cares one way or the other. Nate's fairly certain that the only activities Remy would object to would include hunting children for sport and listening to Republican pundits.

[nothingtomiss]

"You know exactly what I have in mind," says Brad, dropping the rag in his lap and giving Nate his full attention. "Unless you have very pressing council work or something that requires your entire attention."

[assured_of_this]

"It's not exactly pressing, but I am supposed to be here." Nate twists his wrist, glances down at his watch. "But if you go clean yourself up, the time you get back here should be just about perfect."

[nothingtomiss]

"I could just stay here until you're done," reasons Brad, looking deeply amused. "Wouldn't have thought you'd be worried by a little engine grease, Nate."

[assured_of_this]

"Not worried," Nate corrects with a wry quirk of his lips. "Just being considerate. You said you were on your way to shower, I assumed you meant it. If you're more comfortable covered in grime, by all means skip it."

[nothingtomiss]

"I'm pretty okay sitting here," admits Brad, settling himself lower in the chair. "Honestly, I was only going to shower now because Terry gets pissed when I leave fingerprints on things."

[assured_of_this]

"So you're going to leave fingerprints on my things instead," Nate surmises as he leans back in his chair. "I guess there's a certain amount of questionable logic to that line of thinking. I still think you'd be more comfortable and taste better clean, but far be it from me to challenge your grimy machismo."

[nothingtomiss]

One of Brad's eyebrows twitches and he doesn't look up from his hands but he definitely smiles.

"Manipulative fucker," he says and then he actually lookings up, flashing a grin.

[assured_of_this]

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Nate counters with a steady stare, those wide altar boy eyes the picture of innocence. "Is it so wrong to care about your comfort?"

[nothingtomiss]

"Do not give me that look, Nate," says Brad, matching the stare, head tilted slightly on one side. "And don't bullshit me. I'll go shower in a second, okay? I'm just enjoying watching you for a while."

[assured_of_this]

Brad being Brad, it's easy to forget sometimes that he's got an incredibly soft spot for Nate a mile wide, to the point that he'll be obstinate about things like, inexplicably, wanting to put off showering just so he can be around Nate being bored.

Nate considers Brad a long moment and leans forward, propping his chin on his hand, fingers curled against the corner of his mouth. "I know this is a loaded question, but can I ask you a question and you be completely honest with me about it even if it makes you uncomfortable?"