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Gertrude wasn’t surprised that Elias and Peter were sleeping together, she had watched from the sidelines as Peter walked Elias to the door of institute, morning after morning. Elias would just smirk at her as Peter walked away unaware that she’d been viewing them from the shadows.
“So what is it Elias?” She asked. “Business or pleasure?”
“A bit of both really, this is a good way to keep an eye on him, and he isn’t terrible in bed,” Elias drawled.
“And that’s as much as I want to know about your love life,” Gertrude sighed.
She didn’t think feelings were involved, after all one of them was the meat puppet on Jonah Magnus and the other was avatar of the Lonely. Anyhow, this kept them from interfering with her actual job.
No feelings, until Peter went away on his boat. She noticed the slight drag in Elias’s steps and the down turn of his lips. He was more subdued and a touch melancholy perhaps? It didn’t mean he was sleeping alone though, if anything he had ‘lunch’ in his office with more ‘friends’. She dismissed it, besides she had more important thing to do.
When the Tundra returned, he didn’t go to the docks, not the first time anyhow. Then the gifts came: a bouquet of orchids and Calla-lilies in his office, signed P. Lukas, the new silver cuff links and tie clip. She watched them together. Peter got expansive and Elias was listening to him, leaning into Peter’s side and looking at him with such…dopey infatuation.
Of course he’d deny it, They both would. This would be of course an advantage she held over them. She told Emma as much and Emma agreed. Being together not only made them vulnerable but lessened their connection to their respective patrons. Gave her time to do real work making sure Elias wasn’t looking at her, she put out a few watchful eyes. For Peter it was good blackmail material, she might have a few favors she needed from him.
When they had the first serious row, she heard it, because it was during lunch break everyone in the building did she kept her laughter to a minimum. Peter didn’t storm out, he merely vanished into the lonely as Elias scowled, back turned.
She also heard them making up in the office no less a week later. My Elias was loud.
~~~~
Elias didn’t bother hiding it either, she caught them holding hands on a stroll and Peter promptly turned red, stuttered and left.
Elias glared at her: “You ruined it.”
“Aren’t worried about being with him, it could be quite a stumbling block,” She tutted.
“I don’t see how, nothing nicer then a bit of a distraction, besides two heads are better than one, besides it’s nice to know someone cares,” Elias smirked.
“What do you mean?” She quizzed.
“Well, better than going it alone, Gertrude,” He sniped.
“I don’t have time for that sort of foolishness,” She said.
“Mores the pity, but when will you ever?” Elias said and strolled off to find Peter.
She watched his retreating back, she would after she was done with him and his cursed archives. She’d have her happiness but that was so far away now.