Work Text:
Archive was quiet. even on the busiest days, when there was noise in the rest of the institute, this place seemed to be enclosed by an invisible wall that did not let in any sounds. sometimes it made him uneasy, but Jon diligently pushed away such thoughts, in the end, silence was a great advantage as it was easier to concentrate on work. the only sounds breaking this silence were the voice of the archivist and the quiet rustle of a tape recorder.
"End recording." he rubbed his neck tiredly, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. it was half past eleven, apparently, he would not get home todaу. this thought no longer made him sad, Jon was used to the fact that he often had to stay at the institute overnight, even though it was quite unpleasant. How does Martin manage to live in here?
The door opened abruptly and a guy in a stretched T-shirt flew into the room.
"Jon, do you have peroxide?" he was panting, apparently out of breath from running, his disheveled curly fringe fell over his eyes.
speak of the devil...
"Martin, oh god, how many times I have to tell you to put on trousers? You're not at home after all."
"But it's the middle of the night everyone has left long ago, well, except for you, of course...so, peroxide, I cut myself, the blood doesn't stop and I don't know where the first aid kit is here, but you should definitely be aware, I mean, sometimes it seems to me that you know everything here like-"
Jon sighed heavily. usually the incessant chatter was annoying, but this time he didn't even have the strength to get angry. without a word he got up from the table and walked over to one of the many cabinets standing against the wall. Martin was watching him go. he put his cut hand to his mouth, trying not to splatter the floor with blood, otherwise Jon would definetly give him a reprimand.
"Come here." the archivist put a small first aid kit on the table, taking out peroxide and cotton wool. Martin shuddered, torn out from his thoughts and hurriedly approached the table. he held out his wounded hand to the man, on what he raised his eyebrows.
"I didn't assume it's so deep." Jon glanced at him, "How did you manage?"
"Oh, well." Martin awkwardly chuckled, looking away, "It's a long story."
"We have plenty of time, I doubt that the blood will stop soon." Jon applied the already soaked cotton wool to the cut, the peroxide hissed, and Martin involuntarily winced.
"Listen, I can handle it myself, seriously, I just needed a first aid kit, and there's nothing complicated, you better go home, you look so peaky, do you sleep at least sometimes?"
"Martin, calm down." quietly but emphatically said the archivist, "my wellbeing shouldn't bother you."
"But-"
"You'd better tell me where you were able to earn this considering that you're sitting at the institute all the time." he interrupted
Martin sighed.
"I would say that you will laugh, but knowing you, you would rather just cast a judgmental or disappointed look," Jon glanced at him quizzically, "and don't act like you don't know what I mean. I literally have never seen you laughing, sometimes it seems to me that you are not even capable of such a thing."
"Martin, you're getting off topic."
"Right, sorry. after that incident, I mean when I moved here, I began to really fear for my life. But you know, it's probably logical, considering all the circumstances and... in general, I decided that it would be better to have at least some kind of weapon with me", he paused for a couple of seconds gathering his thoughts, "I bought a hunting knife. And didn't find a better place to store it other than under my pillow."
"Not surprised."
"Jon! I knew you'd come up with something offensive." said Martin frowning.
"No, no I'm not judging you." Jon smiled softly "it just was very much your style."
"Still hurtful, though."
"And, if I'm not mistaken, you accidentally grazed it while you was sleeping?"
"Sort of, yes. Woke up from the sharp pain, almost stained everything with blood."
Jon finished bandaging and was putting everything back in the first aid kit.
"Thank you." Martin experimentally tried clench his hand. the movements appeared to be predictably shackled.
"Don't make unnecessary movements, otherwise it will open." the archivist closed the cabinet doors and turned around, "it would be better to put stitches but let's hope it will heal anyway."
"Yeah...hey, listen" Martin raised his eyes, "would you like some tea? maybe.. I just- I doubt that I'll be able to fall asleep soon."
"Me too" Jon looked at the clock, "Alright then, I'll go put the kettle on" he went out of the room closing the door behind him. Martin was left alone in the office. he glanced around. it was the same as always: small room with cabinets along two walls, a table with a tape recorder and paper on it, chair and a narrow black couch opposite the cabinets with a coffee table in front of it. He pursed his lips and frowned a bit going over everything he wanted to say in his head. It was the perfect opportunity, he might have never again had it, but something was stopping him. He tried once again to form a sentence but nevermind how accurately he was choosing the words it still didn't sound right. Finally he gave up and came closer to the table skimming the statement that was lying there. When he was on the middle of the story, the door opened and John came in with two full cups in his hands.
"Found something interesting?" the archivist asked putting cups on the small table in front of the couch.
"What? Oh, no nothing unusual." Martin turned away from the papers and came to the sofa. He sat down and took his tea. Jon did the same thing, settled back and closed his eyes. Martin started fidgeting get himself comfortable and finally ventured:
"Can I?" he paused for a moment thinking again if he should do this. the cup of hot tea was still in his hands and he looked at the steam hesitantly.
"What?" Jon gave him a puzzled look and put his cup aside. "What is it Martin?" he repeated still not fully understanding what Martin was going to say. The dim light was falling on his face revealing the uncertainty in his features.
"No. It's just..." Martin took a deep breath and grip on his cup tightened until his knuckles went white. "You know, I mean of course you know, how much our.. friendship I think I can call it friendship right? how much this means to me and I'm sure you noticed that something changed a bit in my behavior and I-I don't know how you explained it to yourself but-but I might-" he trailed off trying to compose himself but the attempt appeared to be futile.
The archivist was still looking at him, not sure how to react.
"I don't think I understand what you mean." he said finally and Martin flinched slightly at his words. He exhaled and tried again:
"Long story short, I really value you as a person and I'm not sure if it's strictly platonic feeling" he blurted out and turned away so that Jon didn't see his blush. the man narrowed his eyes as the cogs in his brain started to turn and finally the realization stroke him
"Is this a confession?" Jon asked with doubt and the slightly pink colour on Martin's cheeks went pure red.
"Sort of...yes" Martin forced himself to say and found the courage to turn back on Jon waiting for him to respond.
"I see", said the archivist and awkward silence filled the room.
"Seriously?! "I see?" that's all that you'll say?" Martin couldn't restrain himself tossing aside his cup of tea and standing up from the couch, raising his hands in indignation.
"What else you expect me to-"
"I literally said that I have a crush on you!"
"You have a what?"
"A crush! On you! I fell for you I thought that was obvious but since you seem to be really bad at understanding other people's feelings, no offense, I decided to tell you directly and goddamned "I see" is all that I get?! You...you're unbearable"
He slumped on the couch deflated, put elbows on his knees and digged fingers in curly hair, slightly shuddering from all the emotions.
"Martin, I'm sorry" Jon said putting his hand on the other's shoulder and squeezing it a bit. "You were right I mostly don't", he paused " don't understand what other people feel and, yes, I admit that it's hard for me to express my own emotions, and," Martin raised his head to face him, "I have to tell you that your feelings are reciprocated" he finished.
At first Martin thought he was hallucinating.
"Wait really?" he straightened up, glanced at Jon hopefully "I- oh god I didn't- I, oh my god if so, can I... kiss you?" Jon tensed up when answering "You can."
Martin felt his heart dropping somewhere near his stomach. he turned more and carefully took John's face in his hands. after a moment of hesitation he leaned closer and pressed his lips against the other man's closing his own eyes shut. he almost immediately felt respond as Jon wrapped one arm around his neck his other hand buried in Martin's brown hair.
Martin honestly didn't even assume that he'd once will find himself in such situation but he felt literally blessed when the other man got the upper hand forcing him lay down on the couch so that his head was on the armrest. Jon pulled away looking in his eyes finding there a pure adoration. It might seemed that the archivist himself was completely calm and coolheaded but his heart was beating in an unimaginable pace he didn't even think he was capable of.
Martin hold his breath tracing the man's cheekbone with a knuckle of index finger.
"I love you so much, you know that?"
Jon chuckled. "I guess I know now." he responded leaning for another kiss. This time he parted Martin's lips letting his tongue inside his mouth. for the moment Jon was afraid that he was pushing too hard, that maybe Martin wasn't ready or simply didn't want this kind of closeness yet but Martin willingly answered to the kiss and Jon calmed down on that point. after a few seconds or so he pulled away again and sat up on the sofa. He cleared his throat before asking:
"So is this the reason you're still staying in the archives? notwithstanding constant fear for your life, the need to literally live in the institute and other..disadvantages of this job?"
Martin laughed shortly, "No, I mean, yeah, this is one of the reasons but not the only." he raised too and got his leg under him, looking in the green eyes of the other man,
"But I promise the biggest one." he said with a genuine smile.