The Weekend Arrangement

A Very Sturdy Desk

Jon takes the long way back to the Archives, hoping that somewhere in his spiralling thoughts he'll hit on a solution.

He couldn't expect- wouldn't ask - Martin to put himself at any risk for this, for him. Jon didn't want to ask Martin to commit to only weekends. That feels like something casual, the sort of loose, no feelings arrangement Tim would be fine with but certainly not anything Jon would want.

He isn't even completely sure what he does want beyond a nebulous, imprecise desire.

He wants strong arms and steady, gentle hands at night; easy laughter and pancakes in the morning. He wants spicy scented soap and soft lips, tousled curls and smiling eyes and a person handing him a perfectly made cup of tea exactly when he didn't even know he needed it. Jon wants someone who cares for him and whom he can care for in return.

He's forced to admit to himself his desires aren't at all imprecise-he just wants Martin.

Between Elias being out of the office for the bulk of the day and the oddly congenial meeting with Melanie; it's nearly five by the time Jon finally makes it back to the Archives. Tim is already gathering his things, and Sasha is nowhere to be seen. Martin is still there, chewing idly on a pen as he considers something on his desk, and Jon's heart clenches at the thought of what might happen. Maybe they would be able to carry on in secret, but away from the heady intoxication of the weekend, Martin could easily decide the situation was too perilous; as devastating as it might be- Jon would have to be prepared to let this go.

"Martin. My office. Now ." Jon is trying for the low grade anger he's honed to a fine point; it is frighteningly easy for him to find. Mostly though, he's hoping Tim will think he's in a mood and clear out quickly. This is not a conversation he wants Tim to hear.

"Jon?" Martin's head snaps up; Jon had definitely talked to Elias, and the news most certainly was not good.

There was a decision to be made, and Martin knows Jon is going to leave it up to him. It makes sense- Jon comes from money, has an Oxford degree and a year as Head Archivist. He'd have far less trouble picking up the pieces were the two to be discovered.

People liked to laugh about Jon's general hostility, but there was a deep vein of hurt underneath all the ill temper, and Martin cannot believe Jon would willingly put him in a high risk situation without his agreement. He gets up and makes his decision in the few short strides it takes to get into the office proper. He thinks this decision was one of the easiest he has ever made in his life. In a very real way Martin thinks this decision was made for him the moment Jon hesitantly kissed him on a sofa in Kensington.

Martin closes the door behind him, and turns to see Jon already at his desk, his head in his hands. He wants to go to him, gather Jon up and hold him close, reassure him that things will be okay even though he has no way of knowing that. What he does know- know with a certainty as plain and solid as the ground beneath him is that he isn't going to let that bastard Bouchard take this away. Not when the 'this' is a chance to have something with Jon.

"I don't care, Jon. Elias said no, and I don't care. Maybe... maybe that will change, for one or both of us; but for right now? I refuse to let him take anything from me."

Jon looks up at him, his face cautiously hopeful.

"Martin- I. I can't put you in that position. That isn't fair."

"No. It isn't fair. It isn't at all fair. And I. Don't. Care."

"This could be so dangerous for you, Martin. This might be a terrible idea. You shouldn't risk anything for me."