Chapter Text
Phillips huffed as he closed the door behind him. The small office felt even smaller with four of them inside. Dr Erskine held out the glass that was originally in Simon's hands, towards the Colonel. “Night cap?” he asked as he wiggled the glass and the schnapps sloshed noisily. Phillips waved his hand dismissively, “You know I don't drink that stuff Doctor.” he said as he noticed Grace sat on the chair.
“This the fella?” he asked, his eyes scanning Grace who felt the colonel could see all the hidden parts of him. The older man's eyes softened a little as he saw the bruising starting to show on Grace's jaw. “Did you see which one hit you?” he asked in a softer tone of voice. Grace shook his head, “No sir.”
Phillips shifted his gaze and rotated to stare straight at Simon, who stood so rigid he looked like he might snap at the waist. “Did you?” Phillips asked in a louder tone.
“Yessir.” Simon rolled the words together, his eyes on the top of the door ahead of him.
“You the reason why my canteen is now a swimming pool.” Phillips removed his hat, revealing greying dark hair combed back. “Oh do relax Sergeant, before you break something.”
Simon let out the breath he was holding and slumped his shoulder back down, the easy grin pulled at the corners of his mouth.
“Which one hit the doc here?” Phillips' tone changed and was friendlier.
“Wilson, sir,”
The colonel nodded, “It's always Wilson.” he said with a sigh.
“The, I mean, Dr Grace here hadn't eaten, so we went to the canteen, see if there was anything left for the evening.” Simon started to explain, closing his mouth as Phillips raised a hand. “Chef now as well? Is there no end to your domestic talents?”
Simon's gaze lowered, he said nothing more. “The morning alarm will be going off soon.” Phillips said to the wall, “I suggest that the canteen is fresh before the staff arrive to start the eggs.”
Head still low, Simon walked to the door, his hand on the handle as Grace stood up, the chair scraping on the floor, “I’d like to help.” Grace said quickly, stepping to join Simon.
“Ry, you don't have to,” Simon started to say before Grace shot him a look. Phillips and Erskine shared a look and the older Dr smiled knowingly with a small nod of his head. “Be back at the lab in the afternoon, Martin will want to talk to you.”
The pair bolted from the office, down the metal stairs and out of the lab. As they slipped through the door, Simon turned to Grace with the biggest grin, “That was amazing! You were amazing! The way you stood up to Wilson, man! That was awesome!”
Grace laughed as they ran to the canteen, his breath a little laboured and he noticed Simon slowed his pace. “Nah, those mop moves! The way you,” Grace imitated the hand and arm movements Simon did earlier. “I wish I could do that!”
“I'll teach you!” Simon quickly promised.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, of course! First we got to get some muscle on you though, so you can pick up the mop.” His tone was light, a small tease.
“And dancing too!” Grace added in a huff of breath, it felt like no time at all to get to the canteen. They both burst through the double doors and surveyed the damage to the room. The canteen looked fine, a few tables and benches were out of sync and the large pool of dirty water had mostly started to dry. The whole floor would need a mop.
A flick of the foot and Simon caught the mop handle with one hand, Grace stooping to right the bucket. “We make a great team,” Grace admitted, “My brain, your brawn.”
“Hey! I'm smart! I read!” Simon retorted as he returned with the bucket full of water.
“Picture books don't count.” Grace was getting a little revenge for earlier comments. The mop head chased his feet until Grace hopped onto a bench. They both laughed.
“It's not dirty magazines is it?” Grace joked again, sitting on a table and resting his feet on the bench.
Simon let out a snort, “Betty Grable is a fine woman.” he said quietly, the mop swishing along the floor. Grace saw the look, the slight change in Simon's shoulders and he apologised, “We’ve known each other for five minutes and you probably have a sweetheart waiting for you.”
There was a quiet moment as Simon swept the mop over the floor, his back to Grace, “No,” he said quietly as he turned to wash the mop head, “No sweetheart.” His eyes lifted a little to regard Grace, eyes glittering in the overhead lights, “You?”
Grace snorted and then laughed, “Come on Sy! Look at me! You think I broke a gal’s heart?”
A small shrug of the shoulders, “You helping or just going to sit there and remind me of how single I am?”
Grace looked around and helped by moving the benches while Simon slid the mop underneath. They made short work of the large room and were just tidying up as the kitchen staff arrived to start the breakfast. A few friendly waves towards Simon and introductions to Grace.
As Simon returned with the empty mop bucket, Grace was yawning and beginning to feel how exhausted he was. “Are the days always so eventful?” He asked between yawns.
His answer was a short shrug, “Depends on the day, sometimes there's a small fire and that really gets everyone going.”
Grace stared open-mouthed until he noticed the quirk of a smile. “Nearly had me there!” He grinned.
They walked towards the accommodation area, landing at the room Grace had to himself. “Thank you.” He said as he turned the handle and nearly fell into the space. “Are you nearby?”
Simon shot a quick glance down the hallway, “Not far, I share with five other guys so, you know.”
“Did you want to bunk with me?” the words were out of his mouth before Grace had even realised what he said. “I mean, I have a chair, I can take that if you want to rest here.”
“We did just share a jail cell.” Somehow Simon spoke the words that made Grace feel less uncomfortable, he nodded and stepped back from the doorway.
“You haven't unpacked.” An observation from Simon as he looked around.
“There's not much to unpack.”
“Then why so heavy?”
Grace brightened, “Books.”
Together they arranged the bed and Grace took the blanket to the comfy chair that sat near the sink. He curled his legs up and placed his glasses on the desk. “Goodnight.” He called out to the dark room.
“Good night.” came a tired rumbling reply.
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
Knuckles quietly rapping on the door woke Grace from his dreamless sleep, he peered around, not recognising where he was. He clumsily reached for his glasses and tried to focus. He left the chair and reached to open the door.
Dr Dubois was standing outside his door, bright eyes and a warm smile. “Good morning Dr Grace.” He said as he peered into the room over Grace's shoulder. “What time is it?” Grace mumbled as he rubbed his eyes, glasses pushed to the top of his head.
“It's a little after ten,” Martin answered, raising an eyebrow as Grace mumbled something. “I wanted to show you the tests Dr Shapiro and I have been running.”
Grace nodded and yawned, “Let me freshen up and I'll meet you in the lab?” he asked. A curt nod in response and Martin was off down the hallway.
Grace closed the door and surveyed the room. He was alone. The blanket and pillow were back on top of the bed, folded neatly. Simon must have slipped out while he slept.
The bathroom was a shared facility, Grace ducked in and out as fast as he could. The showers were private, curtained off from each other. Even so, Grace felt a little uncomfortable as he toweled off and slunk back to his room.
The lab was before the canteen, unless Grace wanted to head the longer way around. He hoped he could sneak by and grab something to eat, however that plan soon vanished as he spotted Dr Dubois waiting for him outside the thick blast door.
Martin waved as he saw Grace's blonde hair bobbing down the hallway, he almost didn't spot the Dr as he walked behind a couple of tall men in military uniform. “There you are Dr Grace!” Martin called out and waved, smiling as Grace returned the wave.
They both entered the lab, Martin talking about volts of electricity and how the serum would react when an electrical current was introduced. He and Grace both looked at the results they had and could extrapolate the data from that.
The resulting amount would need to be around 2 million volts in order to shock the cells within the serum. “We just need to build a Van Der Graff generator.” Grace suggested, “A really big one.” He and Martin with Annie's suggestions worked through the day to work through the math.
A chalkboard was commandeered in order for them all to stand around it and check their equations. Even Dr Erskine joined them, adding his insight where he could. By the time the dinner bell rang they were all very satisfied with their work.
“Now, we need someone to build the generator.” Erskine had added at the final moments of their day. Martin perked up, “Would Mr Stark be of any assistance?” he suggested. Annie hmmmed happily, “Mr Stark. He's so dreamy.” she sighed happily. All three others shared a look.
Erskine nodded and headed up to his office, Martin and Annie looked at each other and tucked an arm under Grace's. “Come along,” Annie said brightly, “Let's make sure you actually get some dinner tonight.”
The canteen was just starting to fill up. Uniforms and lab coats were everywhere, the room had a hum to it as people spoke and laughed in the space. Grace felt a little overwhelmed, his eyes darting all over the place and he couldn't catch a breath. He didn't see the three that had spoken to him last night, nor did he spot the familiar dark curls of Simon.
He joined Dubois and Shapiro in the evening for a few board games in Martin's room. As the evening wore on, Grace felt an itch, there was something about the equations they had written that annoyed him. When they had reached a point in the evening where the enthusiasm for another game was waning, Grace made his excuse and left. Almost skipping his way back to the lab.
The blast door was slightly open, not unusual for this lab, Grace slipped in and noticed the lights were on inside. A familiar looking metal bucket on wheels was at the end of a bench. Grace looked around and spotted Simon mopping the floor near the chalkboard. “You're not cleaning that are you?” his voice came out a little more high pitched than he thought.
Simon's head snapped up at the sound of Grace entering and speaking, He looked from the chalkboard to Grace and down to the mop. “Heya Ry!” Simon called out cheerily and slipped his hand into his pocket as he walked the mop back to the bucket. “You're up late.” He said, bending to adjust a wheel on the bucket, “Always get stuck does that one.” he muttered loudly.
Grace rested against a wooden bench, “You're not cleaning that off, right?”
A slight shrug, “No, looks important though.”
“It is! Very important. It's the voltage output we need for the serum to energise.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes, but it's wrong. The equation is incorrect.” Grace placed his hands on his hips as he stared at the chalkboard.
Simon continued to mop the room, the rhythmic swish of the fibres against the floor. Listening to the soft noise was almost hypnotic as Grace scanned over the equations. He finally spotted it! The missing line that had been making his brain itch! “Got it!” He cried out triumphantly and spotted where they had missed a number that had not been carried down.
Humming happily, Grace strode to the chalkboard and adjusted the numbers. His mind finally satisfied as he did a little ta-daa motion with his hands, wriggling his fingers. Simon returned the grin when he spotted Grace smiling. “Sounds like you'll sleep tonight now that is sorted.”
“Yes,” Grace said as he stretched and yawned, “It has been another long day.”
“Oh!” Simon called out as Grace headed out the door, “Ry?”
“Hmm?”
“There's a few of us headed out tomorrow night to catch that new movie, if you want to come along? No pressure, I just think you'll have a swell time.” A bright smile met Grace as he turned around.
Grace nodded as his chest warmed and his heart skipped a beat. “What time?”
“Nineteen hundred.”
Grace walked out of the lab slightly elated.
The next day passed quickly, with the new equations Martin and Annie set to work, Grace was still wondering how to get the cells to do their thing. The light spectrum yielded no results and frustrated him.
The clock ticked closer towards the evening and Grace was feeling a little apprehensive about the whole going out thing. Not that he had never been out with a group before. Well, he thought, he probably hadn't to be honest. Unless school field trips to museums counted. Grace chewed on his bottom lip, they probably didn't.
A little before 4pm Erskine approached the bench that Grace sat at, he had noticed the younger doctor was quieter than usual today. “Something on your mind?” A soft voice asked beside Grace.
He lifted his head from the scope and gave Erskine a small smile. “No, not really.” Erskine nodded and started to turn to walk away, “It's just.” Grace continued. “I've been invited out, with a group.”
“Ahhh,” the Dr said softly, “You are not used to company? You are like me? One who enjoys their own company?”
Grace found himself nodding.
“Doctor Grace, Ryland.” Erskine paused and looked at Grace, “May I call you Ryland?”
Another nod from Grace.
“My advice, should you wish to accept it, is that there comes a time when you look back and wish things had gone differently, do not let this be one of those times.”
Before he knew it, Grace was alone in the lab, updating his notes on the yellow pad next to his work area, he chewed on the end of his pencil thoughtfully.
Simon had initially entered the lab calling for Ryland, he paused as he took in the view. There was Ry, sitting at the bench, blonde hair catching the evening orange light, his glasses askew as they hung from his ear. An overwhelming feeling hit his chest as he stared at the sight before him.
“Hey!” A male voice called from the hallway, “You find him yet Convict?” The voice stirred Grace from his thoughts and he caught movement in his periphery, Simon leaning against the door with a lopsided grin on his tilted head. He leaned back, “Yeah,” he called out into the hallway and Grace heard several footsteps. “Well? Come on then?!” another voice echoed, “If we miss the cartoon I'm going to be annoyed!”
“You coming?” Simon grinned over his shoulder towards Ryland as he waved to the people in the hallway. His nose wrinkled in delight as Ry hopped from his seat and crossed the room. “Not interrupting are we?” He asked.
Grace shook his head as he joined Simon, “Nah, nothing that a night out couldn't hurt.”
The group was large, for Grace's metrics. About eight of them altogether, Simon did some quick introductions, most barely nodded or took one look at him and continued with their conversation. Grace followed and Simon hung back to join him. Hands in pockets and shuffling his feet as he slowly walked at a pace they were both comfy with.
“We’re not going out through the store?” Grace asked as he realised their direction.
“There's a secret way out, through some maintenance rooms. Usually where the stores come in and out.” Simon explained with a slight shrug.
“The stores you have access to?” A raised eyebrow as Grace asked and received a sheepish grin in return. “You know,” he continued to say, “They're not your friends if they're just bringing you along to get something from you.”
Simon opened his mouth when a voice sang his name in a teasing manner. Two ladies in the group had harmonised his name. His head snapped to them both and hissed “Stoppit! You know that freaks me out!”
The pair laughed and held onto each other as they turned into a doorway.
Simon shook his head, “They read those weird books by that Lovecraft.” He shuddered, “Fucking creepy.”
The maintenance rooms were orderly and well kept, brushes, brooms and mops plus crates and boxes all labelled. Mostly foodstuffs, cleaning and spare machinery. A chemical smell hung in the air and Grace heard water dropping.
They emerged into an older building, empty and derelict inside. Grace couldn't fathom what it used to be, he raised his voice to ask and was immediately hushed as two of the group peeked through a couple of holes in the newspaper on the windows. There was a discussion over the key and unlocking the door.
“Clear!” One hissed and three of the group ran out the door, giggling as they ran down the street to the left. One of the men at the window joined one of the singers as they stood by the door. While waiting, he bent down and kissed her, the one at the window hissed “Clear!” and the pair were away.
The one at the window glanced over his shoulder, “Convict, you locking up?” he asked as he watched a car pass by the window.
“I'll lock, you get yourself out there Henry.”
Henry was a lanky young man, black hair slicked back and a bucktooth that made his grin into a sneer. “I'm telling Elli you have a boyfriend!” he grinned and stood by the door, ready.
“If that makes you think you have a chance, you tell her whatever you like.” A bored reply, they had played this game before.
Henry pulled open the door, still watching over his shoulder, he walked out and slammed straight into someone. A deep voice called out, “Hey! Watch where you're going young man!”
Hands grabbed Grace around his shoulders and he was pulled backwards into a dark corner. Something warm pressed against him. Something warm that breathed hot air over the top of his head.
Simon had pulled them both into a corner to hide, stooping down to watch the exchange outside through a smaller hole in the newspaper, he was just above Grace, they waited a tense few seconds before the noise outside quietened down.
“Are they gone?” Grace whispered into Simon's ear and he startled, realising where he was. “Sorry, sorry,” he said as he moved back, away from Grace and the wall, “Shoot, I'm sorry.”
“We’re not beating the boyfriend rumours with antics like that.” Grace joked and followed Simon out the door. The key turned solidly in the lock and returned safely to Simon's pocket. They turned left, towards the bright lights of the movie theatre.
“Henry likes one of the Ellies.” Simon explained as they approached the ticket booth. “Probably both, or whichever will give him the time of day.”
Grace gave his money to the bored looking ticket seller and moved aside for Simon to do the same. “So, he's jealous?” Grace asked as they made their way inside. A shrug as a response.
“Want some popcorn?” Simon indicated the concessions stand and joined the queue. Popcorn bought and buttered they made their way into the screen, settling on a couple of spare seats at the end of a row. The cartoon started and a small cheer rippled around the crowd.
The movie was a little boring, a romance set during the era of pirates, with not much action or cannons exploding. At some point Simon nipped out to grab more popcorn, returning quickly enough that he didn't miss much.
The film ended and the projector started its loop again, a news bulletin with events happening in Europe. A wave of soldiers with pulse weapons were being fought out in the dense forests.
They made their way out of the screen and met up with the rest of their crowd outside. There were hands waving and calls for Simon as the pair stepped out of the movie theatre. Delicate hands snatched the popcorn bag from Simon as the pair of Ellies sang his name. “You're freaking me out!” Simon exclaimed and shivered.
“You're coming dancing right?” One of them asked and fluttered her eyelashes. Simon shook his head, “I got an early start tomorrow.” He said as he held a hand up and Ellie twirled around. “Ask Henry, he'll go with you.” They each made disappointed noises as they pouted.
“I've got to get ready, there's a visitor tomorrow.”
“Who?” They both said together. Even Grace was starting to find it freaky.
Simon leaned his head between them and Grace heard a gasp of delight. The pair of ladies looked at each other and ran after the rest, their giggles echoing up the street.
Grace stood next to Simon, watching the group walking up the street. “Who's visiting?” Grace asked, his head tilting upwards.
“Stark.” came the answer and a grin as Simon set off back to the lab, “You didn't want to go dancing did you?”
Grace shook his head and followed.