Chapter Text
Sitting at his desk, Tim was finishing off the final touches to his report; a strange statement regarding a guy who kept losing things and was blaming this all on a vase he'd recently bought. However, he kept getting distracted by Martin's fidgeting and nervous tapping. "Okay clearly you're not going to ask them, so give it here." Tim says, getting up and walking over to Martin's desk. He attempts to swipe the phone out of his hands, but Martin manages to pull it out of his reach.
Giving him a betrayed look, Martin glares at him. "Hey!" He exclaims.
Sighing, Tim rolls his eyes. "Fine, but at least invite them to have lunch with us. Ask them then." He says firmly.
They have a bit of a staring contest as Martin glares at him, but Tim doesn't relent. "Alright! Fine!" Martin exclaims in surrender. Tim grins and winks at him. Martin opens the phone back up and types out a message.
As he's sending that, the office door opens and Sasha walks out, her bag slung over her shoulder. "Lunch?" She asks Tim.
He grins and gives a pointed look at Martin. "We're getting lunch with Jon if that's alright?" He asks her. Sasha nods with a grin and Martin rolls his eyes at Tim.
The phone dings and Martin grabs it anxiously. He reads the message and grins softly in relief. "Yep. Spoons near theirs okay?" He asks them, who both nod. "Fine. Let's go then." He says, packing his own stuff away.
With a few cheers the group of them head out of the archives, all giving a cheery wave to Rosie behind the reception desk on the way out.
It doesn't take them long to walk along to the wetherspoons near the institute and they grab a table in the window so they can see when Jon arrives. Martin shoots them a text to let them know he's there. Tim scoots his chair across and wraps his arm around Sasha's shoulders. "Hey, if I make an excuse to leave early, play along okay?" He tells her, sending a teasing look at Martin.
Chuckling, Sasha rests her head on his arm. "Why are we meeting Jon, only to ditch them?" She whispers in his ear. Martin's eyes widen and he flushes bright red.
Hiding his face behind his hands Martin sinks down on the table with a groan. "Martin needs to talk to them and is being a coward." Tim explains and Sasha hums in understanding. Martin murmurs something in disagreement, but the words get lost.
The door clangs open and closed near them. Peering through his fingers, Martin spots Jon standing by the door, looking around awkwardly for them. He spots them all, just as Martin makes eye contact and they both grin. Jon quirks an eyebrow at him and he flushes even redder. Walking over, Jon slips into the empty chair next to Martin and looks between Tim and Sasha's grinning faces. "Do I even want to know?" Jon asks and their faces light up.
Leaping up in his seat, Martin slams a hand down on the table. "Nope!" He exclaims, desperately glaring Tim and Sasha down. They both roll their eyes at him and mime zipping their lips.
Blinking in surprise, Jon's smile drops slightly. "Whatever. It's fine." They murmur.
Anger immediately dissipating, Martin regrets his outburst. "Sorry love. It's nice to see you." He says in apology. Martin leans over and presses a soft kiss to their cheek. Jon quirks the hint of a smile at him and he breathes out in relief. Sinking back into his seat, Martin sighs and takes Jon's hand gently. "How's the show going?" He asks. Jon smiles and nods, telling him about the latest episode they are working on. Tim and Sasha share a look at Martin's obvious distraction, but quickly get chatting with them.
This very quickly turns into them all competing to tell the strangest encounter they've ever had. Jon is in the middle of a long winded description of a story about this infamous book from their uni days, when their phone starts vibrating and interrupts their flow. They glare down at it, but it continues to sporadically vibrate. With a sigh they pick it up, giving the others an apologetic grimace.
The Aurora
Gunpowder Tim
I suppose I should tell you lousy lot about a new development in my life
Ivy Alexandria
What… like friends do…
Toy Soldier
TELL TELL TELL
Marius Von Raum
Maybe we don't want to know about your life
Gunpowder Tim
I hate you all
Ivy Alexandria
You think that's NEW?
Toy Soldier
Don't worry friend, I know you don't mean it
Ashes O'Reily
He does
Raphaella La Cognitzi
Ignore them all, tell me your news
Drumbot Brian
The news isn't just that he hates us??
Nastya Rasputina
Who can tell with Tim
Toy Soldier
HE DOES NOT HATE US
Ivy Alexandria
I disagree
Jonny D'Ville
I certainly hate you all
I was *trying* to have lunch
Raphaella La Cognitzi
Oooh with your boyfriend?? ;)
Marius Von Raum
Well no one cares if you like us
Toy Soldier
Sorry about your lunch! But Tim had NEWS
Jonny D'Ville
Go on then Tim
Put us out of our misery
Ashes O'Reily
This had better be good now
Gunpowder Tim
I would if you would all SHUT UP for a minute
Toy Soldier
Sorry Tim!
Nastya Rasputina
I'm not
Gunpowder Tim
Whatever
I have a boyfriend now and he's cooler than all of you :P
*Image of GP Tim and Bertie's faces smushed together, while they both give the camera the finger*
Toy Soldier
So cute!!!!!
Ashes O'Reily
He is not cooler than us
Marius Von Raum
Yeah! We're REALLY cool
Raphaella La Cognitzi
I'm so happy for you two!! <3
Ivy Alexandria
Again… is this new?
Jonny D'Ville
Oh wow, congrats
Gunpowder Tim
Yes Ivy it's new
Ivy Alexandria
Huh.
Drumbot Brian
Ha! Didn't I tell you all!!
I'm truly psychic
Nastya Rasputina
Any idiot could see the tension there
Jonny D'Ville
Am I really the only one surprised by this news?
Ivy Alexandria
Yes
Ashes O'Reily
Yes
Marius Von Raum
Yep
Nastya Rasputina
Totally
Toy Soldier
You didn't know?
Gunpowder Tim
Wow and none of you said anything?
Jonny D'Ville
Damn
Ivy Alexandria
I am not getting involved in all that
Marius Von Raum
We had bets going
Drumbot Brian
You're right! So I think you guys owe me money
Marius Von Raum
Fuck
Jon looks up from their phone, a slightly stunned look on their face. Sasha looks at them worriedly. "Everything okay?" She asks. Jon just nods vacantly.
Taking a sip of their drink, Jon focuses back on the group. "Sorry it's good news I swear. It just surprised me." They say, reassuring them all. Tim raises an eyebrow at them, encouraging them to elaborate. Rolling their eyes, Jon huffs. "My friend Tim is dating his roommate Bertie now." They explain.
Grinning widely, Tim cheers. "Fucking finally!" He exclaims. Jon jumps in surprise and Sasha starts laughing.
Staring at them in confusion, Jon shares a look at Martin, who shrugs. "You both knew? How did everyone else know but me?" Jon asks, sounding utterly baffled.
Patting their shoulder, Martin tuts in sympathy. "Don't worry, people's feelings aren't exactly your area of expertise." He says, chuckling softly. Jon pouts in response, but sinks into Martin's arms anyway.
The other two at the table give them an amused look and shake their heads. "Anyway, I need to pop to the shops for some stuff for dinner tonight so I might head off?" Tim says, trying to subtly kick Sasha in the shins under the table. She winces and Martin gives her an odd look, which she shrugs off.
As Tim is finishing the last of his drink, Sasha sighs and pats her thighs. "Well I suppose I'll keep you company. Help you choose a nice bottle of wine this time." She says pointedly. To which Tim gasps in betrayal.
Sensing the beginnings of an argument, Martin cuts in. "Well I'll see you back at work in a bit then guys?" He says, sounding rather nervous. They both nod and give him a cheery wave as they skip out of the restaurant holding hands.
After watching them leave, Martin turns back and finds Jon watching him with a worried look on their face. Martin's eyes widen and his cheeks flush red. "Alright. What's up with you?" They demand, arms folded across their chest.
"Nothing!" He squeaks out. Jon raises an eyebrow at him and he sighs in defeat. "Fine. Okay maybe I do have something on my mind." He admits. Jon's lips quirk upwards with the slightest hint of smugness. Martin just fiddles with his fingers, staring down at the table.
Reaching out a hand, Jon covers Martin's hand with their own, making his fingers still. "Talk to me." They say softly.
Sighing, Martin nods. "It's stupid." He mutters. Jon glares at him and shakes his head in disagreement. "Do you want to come down to Brighton with me to visit my Mum?" He rushes out.
Blinking owlishly at him, Jon stares at him in silence for a minute. "Is that… what you've been worrying about?" They ask in confusion.
His hands go up and thread through his hair, tightening his grip in frustration. "Yeah I've never… I mean, Mum doesn't really approve of anything I've done…" Martin stammers out.
Before he can finish his stammering sentence, Jon wraps Martin up in a tight hug. "Sorry." They murmur into his hair. "I didn't know." They sit there quietly for a while, Jon absentmindedly gently stroking his back.
Pulling out of the embrace, Martin looks calmer, but still anxious. "You don't have to come, I just…" He says nervously.
Shaking their head, Jon chuckles. "God of course I'll come Martin, don't be silly." They tease, a grin creeping onto their lips.
Letting out a breath in relief, Martin grins widely. "Thank you. Visiting her is always a lot." He explains, his smile dropping slightly at the thought.
Taking Martin's hand, they squeeze it in sympathy. "It'll be nice to visit Brighton museum." Jon says faintly. Then, shaking off the memories they come back to the present. "I can give you a review of how it compares to Bournemouth museum." They joke, giving Martin a joking elbow nudge.
He laughs brightly, feeling calmer and more centred. "Oh yeah I'm sure you'll be an expert in all the exhibits!" Martin teases, just to see the outraged look on Jon's face. He listens to them rant about 'how they worked in a museum for years so they know their history' with an adoring focus. A soft smile on his lips, as he feels that soft, fuzzy feeling fill him up all the way from the tips of his toes.