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Paul Dirac was in love.
It took him a little bit to realise that was what it was, but once he found himself reading an entire 8-volume set about Britain's naval history for the past 250 years, it struck him like a warhead. He was deeply enamoured with Patrick Blackett.
He had been fascinated with the famed experimental physicist for years, ever since his time as an undergraduate, but now that they are working side-by-side, he started to feel something... more.
Whenever the man worked, Dirac stared in entranced silence. He felt sick when Blackett accidentally brushed his arm, or bumped into him.
He wished to converse with the kind man more, but they did not have many things in common, and Dirac was not exactly proficient in small talk.
This is how he found himself curled up in a corner in Cambridge University's library, reading those books. He did it all at once, 36 hours straight. He regretted it afterwards, as he forgot to take care of himself, but Blackett was worth it, he decides.
There is a beautiful symmetry with the two of them, he thinks. Theorist and experimentalist.
As he finally emerges from his metaphorical cave, he has an uncharacteristic wide, crooked grin on his face and a warm feeling in his chest.
He takes one of the history books and puts it in his bag.
When he sees Blackett tomorrow, he will pull the book out in front of him, hoping to bait him into conversation, because he certainly will not be initiating it. That's hard on its own, but with BLACKETT of all people..? Oh...
His heart skips a beat at the thought, and he crosses his arms over his chest, as the butterflies in his stomach are growing.
He is briefly glad it is such an ungodly hour, as he does not want anybody to see him with such a flustered look on his alarmingly red face.
He almost wishes he was in undergrad again so he can fall in love with Blackett's lectures all over again. Oh, how he envies Oppenheimer right now...
He sighs as he returns home and gets into bed.
---
He wakes up strangely giddy, eager to please. He barely slept due to excitement, and yet he did not seem tired at all.
As opposed to a leisurely walk, he ran quite fast to the university.
"Hello, Paul!" Oppenheimer calls out to him, but Dirac ran past him, not even acknowledging.
Robert was not offended, though. He knew how Dirac was, and the sight of him being so excited about something made him happy.
He must have come up with a solution to an equation, or theorised a new particle, Robert assumes.
He sees Dirac headed to Professor Blackett's lab, so he must be sharing his theories with him.
Wonderful.
---
Dirac splashes some water on his face to make sure he looks slightly less flustered. He does not want Blackett noticing right away.
He knocks on the door, and the handsome man opens with a warm, regal smile. Dirac feels ill, his legs like jelly. He trips as he walks into the room.
"Dirac! Always a pleasure to see you. What do you have to share with me today? I always enjoy fleshing out your theories. Anything new with your... holes?" He smirks, drawing out 'hole' in a very arrogant way, trying to put as much emphasis on the innuendo as possible, in hope Dirac would pick up on it. The effort was in vain, but alas.
Dirac smiles awkwardly, before making a big show of opening his bag, pulling out a physics textbook, and placing the book about naval ships on top of it. He looks down in slight embarrassment, pretending to not see the book, and pretends to rummage through the bag further. He's anxiously hoping Patrick takes the bait.
Blackett's eyes light up when he sees the book. "Oh! Paul, I did not know you were interested in the navy! I was in the navy, you know! I was a sailor! What a time that was..."
Dirac feels his face go hot again. "Y-Yes..."
He hopes it wasn't obvious he only learned about it just for Blackett.
He starts nervously rattling off a bunch of different kinds of ships and random facts about maritime warfare, Blackett watching intently, not really listening to what he was saying as he instantly clocked what was going on, and besides, it's not like Paul was telling him anything he did not already know. He was highly flattered by Paul's attempt, though.
The young man was genuinely stunning on so many dimensions. Beautiful facial structure, gorgeous dark curls, a beautiful physique, brilliant mind, multifaceted talent. Blackett had seen few like him.
He feels the slightest blush materialise on his cheeks as he watches the nervous theorist in front of him keep going on and on about anchors and uniforms and U-boats. Dirac learned all this about a topic he clearly did not have any genuine interest in just for him.
Blackett reaches out and strokes Dirac's face. He stiffens, flooding with embarassment. Blackett giggles.
He grabs Paul's arm and leads him to a soft bench by a window, and beckons him to sit next to him.
Dirac starts trembling nervously. Blackett was so beautiful, so brilliant, so strong... the list can go on.
"Paul."
Dirac whips his head up and squeaks out a barely audible "y-yes..?"
"It is obvious you are attracted to me. Do not protest. It is not a problem."
Dirac's eyes widen. "I- I'm so sorry. I do... I find you very lovely... I have had horribly shameful thoughts about you."
Blackett grins. "Paul. I am well aware. What I am trying to say is... Never mind. Let me just..."
Dirac's eyes widen as Blackett unfastens his belt buckle and leans in slightly closer to him.
---
Dirac exits the laboratory around an hour later, face flushed and yet his eyes are quite calm. He feels quite pleasant. He learned a lot of new things just now, including things he did not know that an Erlenmeyer flask could (or should) be used for.
Blackett was an excellent experimentalist in multiple senses of the word, he supposes.
He walks away with a jaunty bounce in his step, happier and feeling more alive than he has in a while.
He is grinning again, and he waves at a bunch of random people, quite confused as to why the famously elusive Paul Dirac was being so friendly.
He stops when he sees Oppenheimer in the hall.
"Paul, you're quite giddy! I take it your time with Blackett went well?"
Dirac nods enthusiastically, his foot bouncing in excitement.
"Great to hear! It must've been really good, this is the happiest I've seen you in... ever. Did you discover something new?"
Paul nods slowly, eyes narrowing.
Robert is confused as to why the response was more hesitant this time.
"What happened? I thought it went well!"
Dirac shuffles his feet. "I-It did... it went v-very well..." His face reddens.
Oppenheimer squints. "Paul..."
"Wh-What..?"
"What happened back there?"
"NO-NOTHING!" He puts his hands behind his back and turns around defensively.
Oppenheimer is giggling.
"Paul. Be honest."
"A-ABOUT WHAT??? NOTHING HAPPENED! I DID NOT!"
Oppenheimer snorts. "I never said you did anything. So, what happened?" Although, at this point, he's pretty sure he knows.
Dirac is starting to sweat. He cannot respond now. He's too embarassed.
"Paul."
Dirac slowly turns back around.
"Paul, did you sleep with Blackett?"
Dirac jumps. "WHAT..?"
"Paul. Did you fucking sleep with my professor?? In the fucking lab??"
Dirac's face says everything, he does not even need to respond.
He bolts away, not wanting to be in public anymore.
When he gets to his home, he sees a small package at the door.
He carries it inside as he opens the door, before tearing it open.
There's a very gorgeous tan suit inside, which looks horribly expensive. He feels hot inside.
There's also a note, which he unfolds.
"To a lovely new beginning, just for us. -PB"