Work Text:
It's a rainy September morning when Tim Stoker meets Jonathan Sims for the first time. He has arrived at the institute earlier than usual in his excitement to meet the new coworker that would be coming in. It was rare for the research department to get any new faces. He'd even made plans with Sasha to meet up before work, but then she'd ended up running late. So Tim stands under the overhang of the institute and takes his first smoke break of the day. Many people find the old building imposing, but he thinks it's quite beautiful. He's about to light his cigarette when a man comes to stand next to him and his lighter goes out.
"Sorry." The man mutters and then fishes out a lighter from the pocket of his coat and passes it to Tim.
"It's fine, I just bought this one-" Tim tells him, but gives up when it becomes clear the lighter won't turn on. "Thanks."
The other hums and lights his own cigarette. He is the most mysterious person Tim has ever seen and his curious mind demands to know more about him. He thinks he'd like to see him smile.
"Do you work here? I've never seen you around."
"Just starting."
"Oh! You're the new guy in research!" Tim feels like he has struck gold. "I'm Tim, one of your new coworkers."
"Nice to meet you." The other does not offer his name but Tim is no longer in a hurry. Now that he knows this mysterious man will be sticking around, he's content to stare at the rain in silence a little longer.
"You are all going to die here." The man says out of nowhere and the way he sounds so certain of it makes Tim feel like the ground beneath his feet has disappeared. He doesn't turn around, in fact, he is completely still, save for the motions his hand makes to put the cigarette to his lips.
"We're all going to die one day." Tim attempts to sound lighthearted but it doesn't really land.
"Not like this." The man turns to look at him, but it seems like he's looking somewhere above Tim's head. He then looks at the time on his phone. "Time for work, I guess."
Work is the last thing on Tim's mind in that moment. His entire being feels like it has shattered, so he decides to focus on one thing at a time and follows his new coworker into the building. The shining black eyes don't leave his thoughts for quite some time.
***
Tim meets that Jon again half a year later. He has been seeing Jon every day since, except he never brings up their first meeting again, or says anything remotely as weird as what he said then. Tim has almost succeeded in gaslighting himself that he hallucinated that conversation. But then he'll see him stare just above's people's heads in the way he did that first morning, and he'll know it was real. Still, Jon has mostly integrated himself with the research staff, meaning that he doesn't really talk to anyone except Tim and Sasha, but the rest of their coworkers aren't bothered by it.
It happens on one of their drink nights. Sasha couldn't make it, but Tim and Jon still went to their usual place. Tim kind of regrets it, especially when he drinks himself into a state where he can't hide the fact that he's been having a terrible day. Jon's holding him up while he just says whatever comes into his head. Eventually, they end up on a park bench. Tim's head is on Jon's shoulder and he is feeling some type of way. He wants to say something to tell Jon how much he appreciates him.
"My brother died." He says instead and wants to slap himself.
"Was he nice?" Jon asks and Tim who was about to accept his condolences with a practiced fake 'thanks' has to stop and blink.
"He was the best." Tim says and then doesn't stop talking. Jon listens to the whole story. He never says 'sorry' and Tim thinks he is the best person in the world in that moment.
"I know everyone has to die at some point but-" Tim can't finish his rambling, but he thinks Jon gets it anyway.
"No one deserves to die like that," Tim doesn't respond, because he's had this thought too many times. "Sorry, that probably came off as rude-"
"It didn't."
Jon is silent for a bit.
"I know when people are going to die. I know how."
"That's fucked up." Tim says and Jon snorts.
"Yeah, it is." He pauses before he speaks again. "I'm sorry I can't help you."
Tim feels like he did the first time they met. He doesn't ask. He isn't drunk enough, could never be drunk enough to ask the question. He thinks Jon appreciates him keeping quiet.
"Will you be there?" Tim asks instead.
"I have no way of knowing that. But... I will do my best."
***
Things don't really change between them after that, except for the fact that they're that little bit closer. Sasha asks Tim if they're dating and he doesn't know what to tell her. They're not together, but Tim feels that they could never be separate either. He decides to try his luck. In fact, he asks Jon on a date a few days later, but when the day comes, he gets that pensive, mysterious Jon instead. Except, there is no mystery to him anymore, not to Tim at least. He's learnt that's how Jon gets when he sees someone whose death date is approaching soon. So he sits across from him in the little cafe he chose for their date and holds his hand, waiting for him to speak.
"The Archivist will die soon."
"Gertrude? She sure looks like it's almost her time."
Jon is silent for a bit again.
"There are very few things that can change someone's death. Only a powerful person could. Someone like the Archivist."
"Are you not powerful?"
"Not enough. It would be... impractical, I suppose, for someone who can see deaths to be able to change them."
"It's not like you'd be preventing them, though. People always die in the end, don't they? And besides, how can Gertrude be more powerful than you?"
"It's complicated." Jon sighs and twists the hand Tim is still holding, so he can return the grip. "I'm at a crossroads. I could gain the power to save you, but by doing so create every circumstance needed for you to die."
"You want to save me?" Tim blurts out, shocked. "Didn't you just say you're not supposed to do that?"
"No, I am not. But who could stop me? There are only two outcomes. Either you die as I see it now, or you don't." Jon scrunches up his nose after his own words. "I'm sorry. You invited me out and I've gone and made it quite dreadful."
"Good thing I'm already used to your antics, huh?" Tim laughs. "I'll listen to anything you want to share, Jon, even if it's about your side gig as the world's most depressing fortune teller."
That gets an offended splutter out of Jon, which breaks the tension between them. The date goes on much like their outing together usually do, which Tim is grateful for. But he doesn't forget Jon's words.
He vows to keep a closer eye on things at the institute.
***
Gertrude 'goes missing'. Jon gets hired as the archivist. Tim, Sasha and that guy from the library, Martin, follow him into the basement, amid the messy stacks of files. Tim observes all of this keenly and notices things. Things like Sasha's smoke breaks increasing in number because the basement makes her claustrophobic. Things like Martin's insecurity about not fitting in in the already established dynamic between the three of them that know each other.
Things like his boyfriend suddenly becoming a workaholic. Jon starts coming earlier and leaving later, always reading statements in the small head archivist's office or going out to 'do research'. Tim decides to intervene before it's too late. He stays behind one evening when Martin and Sasha leave and immediately makes his way into Jon's office when they're gone.
"Wanna grab dinner with me when you're done here?" He asks lightheartedly.
"You should head home, Tim, I'll be here a while yet." Jon responds, gaze fixed on the file in front of him.
Tim sighs and goes further inside to sit on the chair next to the desk. It's usually meant for the statement givers, but it suits Tim just fine as he reaches across the desk and grabs a file.
"So, what are we looking for, boss?" Jon finally looks up at him, eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
"What are you doing, Tim?"
"I'm trying to help you. And don't say you don't need me to. I want to."
"Let's go to dinner then. It's not a real date if I don't tell you something depressing on it."
"That's what I like to hear!" Tim grins as he grabs Jon's coat for him.
The restaurant is a bit crowded, but the chatter does well to hide their conversation from any curious ears. Tim has the courtesy to wait until their order arrives to start asking the hard-hitting questions.
"So, what's up?"
Okay, maybe not that hard-hitting. But Jon, like always, knows what he means without him needing to say it.
"I'm looking into some things. Trying to find what got Gertrude killed."
"I'm sorry, Gertrude was killed ?!"
"You already knew she was going to die."
"Not like this! Is that why you've been so off lately?"
"Yes, I suppose it is. But I'm close to an answer, Tim, I'm sure of it. And when I find it, you'll be the first to know. I promise."
"Fine. But I'm still making you take breaks!"
***
The answer comes to Tim in the form of a 3 AM phone call from his partner.
"Have you ever set a building on fire?" Jon asks instead of a greeting. Tim's brain wakes up immediately.
"No."
"Do you want to?"
"Obviously I do. I'm bringing hair spray for a DIY flamethrower."
"Wonderful. I'll be waiting for you by the back door of the institute. Be careful."
Tim always thought the institute's building was beautiful. He finds that it is even more so when it's burning to ash before his very eyes. He turns to his side and looks at Jon. His gaze is fixed a little above Tim's head and he is smiling wide and true like Tim has never seen him smile before.
It suits him, he thinks.