Chapter Text
“Suits you.“
“Hm?“ H knew the voice so well that he found a smile painted on his lips even before he was consciously aware of who had said the words.
“The office.“
The boss of London head-quarters turned around, the smile on his face now a full on grin as he knew who was standing in his office and the sight didn't disappoint. Agent C was leisurely leaning in the doorframe of his new office and H knew that the expression on the man's face was the one of hiding a smile as he noticed how H looked him up and down appreciatively.
“Thank you,“ he mumbled and the other agent raised a sarcastic eyebrow.
“Since when do you say thanks for compliments?“
“Oh, not for that,“ H said, leaning back in his chair, “I meant for the recommendation.“
“Oh.“
“Yes.“
“I honestly didn't exactly expect you to thank me for that either.“
H shrugged. “I don't think I would've gotten the position without you.“
A smug smile. “Obviously not, you don't manage to do anything without my help.“
H scoffed in mock offense, but then he sat up a little straighter and made a gesture for the other to sit down while quite seriously stating his next question.
“What changed your mind, though?“
Agent C gracefully gracefully made his way over from the door whilst raising another eyebrow at that. “Pardon?“
“Well,“ H shifted in his chair. “It seemed that for months you were of the opinion that I didn't even deserve to be in the position I was in, never mind leading London... Why now?“
A chuckle - one that, H decided, he definitely hadn't heard for way too long. “Now now, don't let it grow on you too much. You're still on probation!“
But H didn't laugh and instead remained silent, waiting for an honest answer. C seemed to notice and went to finally sit down. He took a moment to do so before letting out a small sigh and leaning back in his chair defensively. “Well,“ he began, crossing his arms, to finally stop the fingers of one of his hands restlessly playing with the sleeves of his shirt - H noticed himself smiling involuntarily at the sight of the old habit. “You had changed.“
H opened his mouth to say something in return, but thought better of it as his co-worker shifted in his seat and continued. “Listen, I know you hate it when people say that, but it is true. You weren't yourself, hadn't been for...well, for a while and --“
“You go get yourself neurolised by someone who is like a father to you and tell me how you psychologically deal with it,“ H retorted. The other man raised his hands in defense.
“Hey,“ he said, “I know, okay? I get it. And I don't blame you. Nobody does.“
“I don't need everybody's pity. Thank you very much.“
“I do not pity you. What happened to you could've happened to everyone. And I'm sure that most people wouldn't have managed to do what you did, had it happened to them instead of you. My point is, you had changed. Even you cannot deny that. And now that we know the reason, even you should be able to understand why I thought you unfit for the job.“
After a moment's hesitation, H shrugged. “You could've been more supportive,“ he said very carefully like he hardly dared saying it.
The other man chuckled to himself - H fought down his involuntary smile this time. “I must say it is kind of hard to be understanding towards the man who keeps bragging about saving the world and not needing help. Having to continuously clean up the messes you started leaving behind didn't help either.“
H bit his lip and gave an uncomfortable smile. “Fair enough.“
“And I tried being understanding,“ the other man added. “You didn't exactly take it well.“
“I admit I didn't respond in the best possible way...“
“You had a romantic affair with Riza.“
“I'm sorry.“
There was a moment of tense silence until the man on the other side of the desk sighed and H dared look him in the eye again. The gaze the other gave him was less cold than he had expected. It seemed more....tired than anything else.
“It's alright,“ C shrugged. “I'm just glad you're back on track. I probably have to thank that new girl, she really turned you around again.“
“M?“
H saw C bite his own lip at that - now that wasn't something one saw each day. And it had certainly been a while since H had seen that habit in C... What had it usually meant again?
“That her name? Yeah, I reckon she must've really impressed you if she could reach you.“
H nodded thoughtfully. “There's something about her, you know...“
“I'm sure.“ The voice was suddenly a lot cooler than before and when H looked up again the other man had finally broken the intent gaze he had held on him for minutes.
“Wait,“ H inquired, coin finally dropping, “You aren't....jealous, are you?“
The other man scoffed, but it was rather half-hearted and he still didn't look up. H wasn't fooled that easily. He sat up and now fixed the other with an intent gaze himself. “C?“ His voice came out as worried as demanding.
The one spoken to sighed heavily and quietely muttered something incomprehensible to himself, refusing to look up.
“C, come on,“ H tried again. “You're not seriously telling me that you're --“
“F'bloody course I am!“ C's face wore a frown that H knew well from years of experiencing it being directed at him and him very specifically and decidedly. It was HIS frown, just this time it looked more upset than usual. “I mean,“ C fidgeted, it was uncommon for him to fidged, but H was positive, he was definitely fidgeting, “Have you taken so much as a look at her? Honestly, who wouldn't be jealous?“
“Wha...,“ H had to stop and shut up for a moment to take that in. “You seriously think I fancy her?“
C shrugged. “She's smart, talented, pretty, she talked O into hiring her, she talked you into working with her, she saved the world --“
“With my help!“
“- she even beat Riza in hand-to-hand combat!“
“Okay, I will admit that was pretty damn impressive, but still - she is SO. YOUNG.“
“Exactly.“
“Is that what you think?“
“What do I know? Judging by all the young alien women rumour has it you have slept with over the past months...“
“And I'd really have expected you to be jealous of Riza.“
A shy shrug and a glance to the side. “You said it's over with her, I believed you.“ So that wasn't wholly of the table either just yet. Well, H'd have to deal with that later and now go with what he got.
“But you don't believe me when I tell you that there was no romantic tension between me and M whatsoever?“
C had a conflicted look about himself. “Convince me.“ It was a plea more than a challenge and H flinched in the realisation that in the old days it would've been a challenge and he'd gladly have taken it.
H sighed. “She was a great agent when the world needed one and a friend to me when I needed one, but nothing more. She doesn't have any passion for anything but this job, no life besides it.“
“Many agents don't.“
“Well yeah, but she's....like a machine programmed to live for this only. She doesn't like emotions and prefers always listening to rationality - she has never even been in love!“
“She told you that?“
“Oh my god, yes, she did. We were in a desert together, nobody around anywhere except us and were working on fixing some alien technology. We happened to talk to each other. Sorry.“
A moment's silence. Then, C sighed again. “I believe you.“
H felt a wave of relief wash over him. “Thank you.“
C nodded at that. Then his expression turned thoughtful. “Are you going to stay in touch with her? Besides the job?“
H hesitated. “A little, yeah? I mean, I wouldn't mind... If we find the time and she is interested... She is fun to work with, you know.“
C nodded again, still thoughtful, but apparently satisfied with the answer. “Yes, I believe so... Well, she is an excellent agent. It'll be a pleasure to be working with her.“
H shook his head in disbelief. “I can't believe you thought I would fancy her,“ then a thought came to him. “You didn't really not know her name, right? Come on, you can't fool me! You know every agent's name and current occupation!“
C smiled shyly and shrugged awkwardly, but didn't say anything and H's voice gained a worrying note. “You will be alright, right? Working with her when it's necessary, I mean...“
“Of course I will,“ C smiled reassuringly. “I'm a professional. I wouldn't let my personal feelings stand in the way of my job. Also, I'm confident that I can overcome these very specific personal feelings. After all, she is quite likable and I have no real reason to be jealous.“
Another wave of relief. H wouldn't have liked it if there'd been an uncomfortable tension between Molly and C simply because of him. But then H felt the worry rush back in and he had to swallow thickly before asking the next question.
“And what about us?“ C gave him a questioning look and H forced himself to go on, “Will....will we be alright?“
“Working together, you mean?“ C spoke so softly that H could hardly hear him, like the agent was afraid a single word spoken too loudly or too confidently might break the thin and fragile something that had been building up between them over the course of this conversation.
H found himself shifting in his seat yet again and he had to concentrate to stop. “Yes,“ he said hesitantly,. “Yes, that, too... But I also meant....otherwise?“
He held his breath and refused to look at the other one, but his head shot upwards when he heard the other silently whisper to himself. “Oh thank goodness.“
His eyes found C's and the look the other gave him was so full of both relief and insecurity that it very nearly broke his heart. C gave him a sad smile. “I didn't think you'd bring it up. Honestly, I was so afraid I'd have to,“ C admitted and H felt his heart ache in his chest. “Well,“ he forced himself to say, voice more hoarse than expected, “What do you think?“
C took a few long moments, breathing and and out, his eyes always on H who felt more out of place by the second, but forced himself to return the gaze, inside praying to any potential higher power there was for this to end well. Just when he realised that he'd been holding his breath for this entire time and tried to shakily inhale without making so much noise that it would weirdly break the silence, C spoke. “I have given that a lot of thought, you know,“ and of course he had, C gave everything a lot of thought, H nearly wanted to comment on it, but one of the higher forces he had been praying to must've been gracious after all and stopped him before he could interrupt C. “And to be fully honest, I don't know.“
H's heart missed a beat. That was not the answer he had hoped for. Not at all. So much for a gracious higher power. But before he could say something pretentiously cool with it to lighten the mood, or rather ruin the potential of this situation, C yet spoke on. “But really, considering everything we've respectively been going through over the past months and all that's happened in these past days, well... It seems to me it would be foolish to think it impossible. Actually, I soundly believe that if we take the time and commit to it, ....it could really work out, work out very well even.“
A smile bright enough to lighten the room appeared on H's face, he knew it was there and he knew just how ridiculous he had to look and how unprofessional compared to the very composed and controlled agent in front of him, but he couldn't help himself. When he saw C raise an eyebrow with a small smile himself, though, he blushed and coughed, regaining control over himself and fighting his grin down, trying for serious again. “Well,“ he said, mood more light now, as if he were speaking about everyday matters, “That I am glad to hear. Should we....maybe get coffee then? Our respective shifts have been over for half an hour or so, so...shall we?“
He meant to get up, but was interrupted before he could move. “No.“
He froze in surprise that quickly turned to confusion that quickly turned to panic that he quickly tried to fight down in order not to lose his composure twice within a minute. “No,“ C repeated. “I don't think that would be...good.“ He gave H another small smile and confusion was back in the game. “Don't get me wrong, I do want to do this. I just want to do it my way this time. I might bring by coffee tomorrow morning.“ And with that he got up and straightenend his suit. “We'll see from there,“ he added and gave yet another genuine little smile that confused H as much as it made him feel giddy,. “See you tomorrow, boss.“
And with all the non-chalance in the world, C gave a short nod and left the office and an immovably baffled H behind. Oh well, H thought to himself when he was capable of thinking again, we will see from there, then. And he sat waiting for his legs to work again so he could close the office and go home for the night. He had a next morning to wait for after all.