Work Text:
Greg is sitting at the bar, a couple of pints in already, in a quiet pub after a long day.
"You look about as miserable as I feel." He says to the younger man sitting a few stools from him. He reaches out his hand towards the other man, "I'm Greg."
"Arthur."
Greg moves over to sit next to Arthur.
"So, Arthur. Work or love life?"
"Both."
"Oof. That's rough. Well let's start with work problems, those are usually easier to solve."
"The work problem is that I work with him."
"Ohhhh. I see. We're gonna need a couple more rounds to get through this." He motions to the bar tender for another round. "Now, what's the problem exactly? You work with the bloke you fancy?"
Arthur nodded.
"But he doesn't fancy me back." Arthur says tearing up.
"No, hey now. No crying. We're not drunk enough to already be sad drunks." Greg put his arm around Arthur's shoulders, "Tell me what's going on."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He says wiping his eyes, "Well I'm a steward for an airplane. And he's the pilot. Skip. And he went away for awhile to fly a different plane. And he was going to get married. But now he's back and he's not getting married. Which is good. But it's not. Because I can hear Skip talking and he misses her sometimes and he's sad, which makes me sad and I want to do something to make him not sad, and then I would be not sad, but I don't know what to do to make him not sad because he doesn't want to have sexy sex with me, so he's still sad and I'm even more sad."
"Woah. That's... rough. I understand how it feels to like someone like that and not have them like you back. It's like your heart beats faster every time you see them, and then it completely stops when it's made clear, once again, that your feelings are going unrequited. Christ. We need something stronger than beer. What's your favorite alcohol?"
----
A few hours later, Greg fishes out the phone from Arthur's trouser pocket as he lies passed out on the bar. Greg thinks he'll call the last person Arthur texted.
"Mum. Probably best to not. Okay next is..."
Greg presses the call icon and puts the phone to his ear.
"Arthur. Where have you gotten to then?"
"Hi, this isn't Arthur. My name is Detective Inspector Lestrade."
"Oh my God, what's happened?"
"Oh no. I'm sorry. I should'nt've lead with that. Force of habit. My bad. My name's Greg. Is this Douglas?"
"Yes," Douglas sighed. "And you might want to work on your phone etiquette."
"Yeah, sorry. We've had a bit to drink. You wouldn't be in or near London, would you? Cause Arthur here is passed out and I don't know where to take him."
"Technically we're only visiting. But yes. Alright. Where are you? I'll come get him."
----
Greg was leaning against the bar next to the slumped Arthur when a man approached him.
"Are you the drunk inspector?"
"Greg. And I'm not that drunk." He says, sticking out his hand and almost tipping over. "Okay, maybe a little. But I still couldn't just leave him. Not after all we've talked about."
"And what have you two talked about, if I may ask? Alright, Arthur, up we go." Greg and Douglas grabbed an arm and got Arthur to his feet and out of the bar. They hailed a cab and once inside, Greg answered Douglas's question.
"We met tonight. He looked miserable. I'm miserable. So I asked him what's wrong. That's when he told me about how he wants 'sexy sex' with some bloke he works with, Skip."
"You don't say..."
"And the bastard doesn't like him back. Poor sod." Greg patted Arthur's head where it rested on his shoulder. "And in return I told him all about my own unrequited love. I'm not sure if it really did any good. But it was cathartic, you know. Drinking, wallowing about love. Ain't it the way."
"Yes, it really is."
----
Before their flight the next morning, Douglas sees Arthur as they make their way to the plane.
"Arthur, you're looking less than your usual cheery self. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you look hungover."
"No no. Definitely not."
"Carolyn isn't here yet."
"Oh then yes, definitely yes. The peach schnapps might have been a bad idea."
"Yes, might have. And did you meet a new friend?"
"Oh yes. Greg. Wait, how do you know about Greg?"
"Well last night after you passed out at the pub, your new friend used your phone to call me and then helped me get you back to the hotel."
"Oh. Yeah, Greg was really nice."
"He also mentioned some of the conversation you two had. About how you wanted 'sexy sex' with a certain Skip."
Arthur's face drained of any remaining color
"Douglas, please don't say anything."
Douglas was going to argue, but the despondent look on Arthur's face stopped him.
"Fine, I won't say anything. But you should. You never know."
----
Douglas and Martin sitting in the cockpit
"Well, Martin, what's say we play a game. I know! How about truth or dare? I'll go first. Truth."
"You want to play truth or dare? You know that means you have to actually tell the truth?"
"Yes yes yes. Go on ask me something."
"Alright. Um. Is there a new future ex-Mrs. Richardson on the horizon?"
"Nope. Alright your turn. Truth or dare?"
"Dare."
"Oh," Douglas says disappointed, "alright. Um, I dare you to ignore Carolyn and only answer by talking to Arthur."
"Have you gone mad? She'll kill me."
"Well if you want to lose another game..."
"No no, I'll do it. What if Arthur isn't around? I can't very well call through the cabin just to answer her."
"Fine, if Arthur isn't nearby, you can answer through me. Now my turn again. Truth. Since it is rather difficult to come up with many good dares while we are flying an aeroplane."
"True. Alright, how about... Oh! Why haven't you applied to fly for a major airline again?"
"What? And give up all this?"
"You wanted to play the game, you have to answer."
"Oh alright. I'd miss it. Happy?"
Martin nods.
"Right then, back to you. Truth or dare?"
"Alright, truth I guess."
"Do you fancy anyone?"
"What?"
"Do you fancy anyone? Well, since you've called off your engagement and have come back, I was just curious if there was anyone who... struck your fancy."
"Well I... I-I- I mean- Well I-"
"And all of your stammering certainly suggests that you do, in fact, fancy someone"
"I'm not stammering. I just..."
"Coffee gents," Arthur says as he comes into the cockpit. "What's wrong with Skip?"
"Nothing, Arthur. We're playing truth or dare" Martin answers.
"Oh I love truth or dare. It combines two of my favorite things. Telling the truth and dares. Can I play?"
"Sure." Douglas says turning towards Arthur, "But playing means you have to tell the truth."
"Oh sure I love telling the truth."
"So are you choosing truth?"
"Yes. Truth."
"Alright, Arthur. Do you fancy Martin?"
"Douglas what- why-?" Martin sputtered.
"You promised." Arthur said just above a whisper as his face fell.
"I know. But all you have to do is tell the truth. Do you fancy Martin?"
"Arthur, you don't have to answer that. Douglas, why are you doing this? Why-"
"Yes!" Arthur interrupted before quickly leaving the cockpit.
Douglas looks at where Arthur was standing then turned towards a stunned Martin.
"You both are idiots."
"Douglas could you take over for a bit? I think I should go talk to him."
"Yes I think you better have."
Martin leaves the cockpit to find Arthur in the galley. Arthur wipes his eye as Martin approaches.
"Arthur. I didn't... Douglas was.... You fancy me?"
"Yes," Arthur answered, hiding his face.
"So... would you... maybe like to go to dinner? Or see a film?"
"What?" Arthur sniffled.
"Well I just... I mean if you fancy me too.. well I just thought maybe-"
Arthur leaned forward and kissed Martin. The kiss was short and chaste, but they both still felt it deep in their bones.
"Does that mean yes?"
"Yes," Arthur smiled.
"Well," Martin began to smile, "brilliant."
"Brilliant."
They shared a few longer kisses.
"I had better go before your mother sees us and chucks me out of Gerti."
"Alright."
"We'll talk more when we land?"
"Brilliant."
"Brilliant."
Martin leaned in for one more kiss before heading back into the cockpit.
"So...?" Douglas asked seeing Martin's smile as he sat down.
"What? I'm not the sort to kiss and tell."
"Good for you two."
"Wait. Is that why you were going on before? How long have you known?"
"About Arthur, only since this morning. Though after seeing all the times you get flustered around him, it wasn't that hard to figure it out that you had a bit of a crush on him. So what have you two discussed?"
"We're going out. We haven't talked about the what and when yet, but-"
"What and when of what?" Carolyn asked as she came into the cockpit. "Douglas, give me a bing-bong," she takes the intercom as the chime sounds through the cabin, "Ladies and gentlemen, due to the chance of turbulence, the captain has now illuminated the 'fasten seatbelts' sign. Please return to your seats and stay there." She hands the intercom back to Douglas and flips the switch.
"We're not expecting any turbulence," Douglas says.
"No but the passengers keep getting up and trying to talk to me."
"Oh dear. And they're still alive?"
"For now. Now what and when is what?"
"Carolyn. Um. Well..." Martin starts.
"You might as well tell her since you will be picking him up from her house after all," Douglas interrupts.
"What are you and Herc doing?" Carolyn asks.
"It isn't Herc we're talking about," Douglas answers.
"Arthur? What are you and Arthur going to do?"
"Um... Well... We... Uh," Martin continues to stammer.
"What my colleague is so brilliantly trying to say is that Arthur has just agreed to go on a date with him."
"Oh?" Her face a mixture of intrigue and murder as she turns to Martin "And just whats makes you think you're good enough to date my Arthur?"
"Well I am an airline captain."
"Yes and we all know what that really means."
"Carolyn, not that I don't too enjoy belittling Martin, but I just spent a great deal of effort going through the ordeal of getting these two buffoons to admit they fancy each other. So why don't we let the first date happen and see where it goes from there, hmm?"
"I want him home by 10:30," she says still eyeing Martin.
"He's a grown man."
"10:30."
"Yes, ma'am."
----
After landing, Douglas is doing the post landing check and goes up to Arthur.
"So are you going to be mad at me for not keeping my word?"
When Douglas is closer, Arthur reaches out and hugs him
"Thank you, Douglas."
"You're welcome, Arthur. I'm glad I could help."
----
A few days later, while out on their date, Arthur decides to call his new friend Greg.
"Hi Arthur."
"Greg! Greg! Guess what!"
"I couldn't even imagine. What?"
"Skip and me are going out. Actually we're out right now. Say 'hi' Skip."
Arthur pushes the phone towards Martin.
"Um hello."
"That was Skip," Arthur says, moving the phone back to his ear.
"He sounds lovely. I'm happy for you, Arthur."
"Listen, Greg. I think you should ask out your Skip."
"Why would you tell him to ask me out?" Martin asks Arthur.
"Not you Skip. His Skip, Skip."
"Arthur, just because you and Skip worked out doesn't mean that Mycroft and I would. The situations are different."
"But how do you know unless you tell him the truth?"
Greg paused. How would he know? What if?
"I'll think about it. Okay, Arthur? Have fun on your date."
----
Greg couldn't stop thinking about what Arthur had said for the rest of the day. All he would have to do is tell Mycroft the truth. The worst he could say was 'no'. Well, that's not true, but Greg didn't want to think about the actual worst someone like Mycroft could do. Nonetheless, Greg resolved that he would ask Mycroft out the next time he saw him. And as chance would have it, that happened to be that evening.
----
As Greg stood at the crime scene, he saw the familiar black car pulling up. He walked over as Mycroft stepped out.
"Good evening, Inspector."
"Evening. And to what do we owe the pleasure?"
"I'm merely checking up on my brother. Plus it annoys him, which I find an added bonus."
Greg laughed. "Well we're actually just about done here. Criminal caught. Sherlock gets to prove his genius. You know, the usual."
"Indeed," Mycroft says with a bit of a smile. "Well I suppose I'll be on my way then."
Mycroft's face begins to slip back into his neutral expression as he reaches for the handle of the car door.
"It's now or never," Greg thinks to himself.
"Would you..." Greg says, causing Mycroft to turn back towards him. "I mean if you're not doing anything tonight, maybe we could get something to eat. We really are just about finished. I could meet you somewhere."
"Is there something we need to discuss regarding Sherlock?"
"No, I was actually hoping we could talk about anything other than your brother."
"I see. That would be... that would be... lovely," Mycroft say, the smile returning to his face. "Shall we say The Wolseley in an hour?"
"That'll be brilliant," Greg smiles. "I'll see you in a bit."
Mycroft gives Greg another smile before getting into the car. As the car drives away, Greg stands watching it in almost awe.
"Brilliant."