(no subject)
Title: Men In Uniform
Fandom: Primeval
Rating: G
Characters/Pairings: Implied one sided Becker/Jess, Matt.
Spoilers: None, really, unless the webisodes count.
Summary: In the 3rd webisode, Matt has an issue with the security team uniforms. What makes him change his mind? (after all, this is the guy who was willing to shoot Becker in order to persuade him to use the EMDs!)
A/N: Apparently Jess has decided to take up residence in my brain.
They're doing inventory in the armoury when Matt brings it up again. Strictly speaking Jess' presence isn't required, but she had figured it would be a lot safer for all involved if there was a third party around. A lot of dangerous weapons in the armoury, she observes; she'd hate for one to be fired accidentally.
"I think it's time you reconsidered your stance on this, Becker," Matt comments , opening a drawer and pulling out boxes of ammo to be counted. "You made a small child cry today."
Jess starts to giggle but stops abruptly when Becker glares at her. "I'm pretty sure that had more to do with the giant dinosaur that had just appeared in front of him and started eating people, actually."
"I don’t know, Becker. Children are used to seeing things like that these days. Haven't you ever seen Jurassic Park?"
"Well then maybe small children just don't like me," Becker suggests, picking up a handgun and twirling it in his hands. "I can live with that."
Matt walks over to him and takes the weapon from him. "It's the uniforms. They're threatening. We're meant to be keeping a low profile, remember?"
Becker laughs incredulously, staring at Matt when the other man makes no response. "Low profile? Matt, we turn up at anomaly sites in fleets of identical cars. We carry lethal weapons with us at all times. Not to mention the small fact that we fight dinosaurs. But dressing in all black, that's too conspicuous for you?"
"They've got to go."
"I quite like the uniforms," Jess pipes up from her corner, absently doodling flowers on her clipboard. Her pen stills as her words sink in, and she hastens to explain herself. "From a civilian's point of view, I mean. Like Becker said, you all turn up with these guns, shouting orders to each other that nobody outside the team will be able to understand. At least if you look official there's some feeling of security, it's not just a group of lunatics running around chasing after imaginary monsters. Plus it makes the it's just a military exercise, nothing to see here cover a lot more believable."
Becker quirks an eyebrow and Matt seems to be battling a grin. Having said her piece, Jess looks back down at her papers.
"Okay then," Matt says after a moment of silence. "The uniforms can stay."
"Wait a second." Becker still doesn't sound happy. "I've been making that exact point for weeks now, and you've said no every time."
Matt shrugs. "Depriving you of something you want is fun. Depriving Jess would be like kicking a puppy."
"Fine, have it your way."
Becker leaves, muttering some not entirely complimentary things about the Irish under his breath. Matt and Jess share a look of amusement before carrying on with the inventory.
"He does realise he technically won that one, right?" Matt asks, stealing a piece of paper from Jess so he can jot down some figures.
"I'm sure he'll be crowing about it by this afternoon," Jess tells him, standing there a little awkwardly and fiddling with her pen. "By the way, what did you mean by depriving me?"
"Just that if you like the uniforms so much…"
"I don't like the uniforms," she interrupts, cheeks turning pink. "I just think they're a good idea."
"Right." This time he doesn't even try to hide his smirk. "So it's just the person wearing it then, is it?" He looks pointedly towards the door that Becker has just left through, and Jess feels herself turning even more red. "I thought so. Don't worry, I'm not going to say anything to him."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jess replies, putting her clipboard down on the table next to him. "You can finish up in here on your own, can't you? I should probably get back to the ADD."
"Yeah, sure," he says, and Jess gives a small nod before walking away. Matt shakes his head and smiles as he watches her leave.
This is going to be fun.