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What if I'd rather hold something else?

[They pretty much did. Hopefully one of them doesn't manage to screw it up. Right now, Nick seems to be the top contender.

His brows furrow at Monroe's response.]

Wait, what? What're you-

[And then his eyes widen, because shit.]

No, that's not what I - crap, I knew I should have waited longer. Last night didn't have anything to do with this. I bought you the truffles for exactly the reason I told you, nothing else, and I got you the steaks because - I thought you'd like them. I slept over because I wanted to Monroe, not because I thought it'd make you more okay with this. Shit, I'm not that terrible of a boyfriend.

I'd be alright with that.

[Except that he won't be in a minute.

Monroe crosses his arm stubbornly and frowns at Nick.]

Dude, you brought up wanting to tell me this work thing yesterday right after the truffle and right before dinner and the other stuff.

Good. Then I think I can make it.

[Damn it Monroe.]

I know. Because I wanted to let you know I needed to talk to you about something, but I didn't want to think about it last night. Last night I just wanted it to be us, no network or work stuff.

[He reaches out to put a hand on Monroe's arm.]

I'm sorry, man. I realize my timing is terrible.

[Monroe just grins at Nick before moving forward to kiss him.

Damn it Nick.

Monroe is ready to stay mad but then Nick puts his hand on his arm and his resolve disappears. The apology seals it. He lets out a long sign.]

Alright man. I get it. Just not used to the wining and dining thing. I figured there had to be a reason. Won't happen again dude.

[Good, don't be mad at Nick. He wants to go back to the flirting and kissing. Nick's already regretting bringing this up, but he knows he has to. He's not going to do it without Monroe knowing about it, and agreeing to it.]

Of course there's a reason, but the reason's just you. And that just makes me want to do it more, you deserve wining and dining.

[He falters there.]

If - you still want to. I know what I want to do is dangerous, well, a little more danger than we're already in, anyway. But I won't do it if you don't want me to, or if - if you'd just rather not be around while I do it...

[That was a lot better then this. Maybe Nick shouldn't have come up with crazy idea. Then they could keep doing that.

Monroe ducks his head in response but stays quiet. At least for that part.]

What? No. That's on the other end of the spectrum of what I want man. I don't want you gone no matter what stupid thing you do.

[Hey, it's not crazy. ...well, maybe just a little. But why can't he still have flirting and kissing?

Of course he stays quiet for the part Nick likes talking about.]

Oh. Okay. Good, because I don't want to be gone, and I would have really hated that option. I'm not sure how good I would have been about sticking to it.

[But then hey. Wait.]

It's not stupid. It's... a little crazy, and dangerous, but it's also the best way I can think of to actually find out what the hell is happening. We can't just keep ignoring this, it's only going to get worse. They're just going to keep coming up with more ways to get to us.

[Nick doesn't get flirting and kissing after dropping a bomb shell like this.

Consider it payback for being an ass.]

We both know how good you'd be at it. Terrible.

[No wait. This part he doesn't like talking about.]

Yeah they will. And they'll do that without you walking right into their hands.

[Ever? Because that's really going to suck.

Not fair at all, man. He's not trying to be an ass. But he smiles, just a little, at that.]

I can't help it if you're too good to want to be gone from.

[And then the smile fades, and Nick pushes his hand through his hair.]

I don't want them to get you, Monroe. I don't want them to get Yuji, or Kotetsu, or Alex, or John, or Ryan - or Lyall or Derek or Karl or Toni or Akito or hell, anyone. It was easier when I didn't know, before I realized how deep this was, how bad it was going to get. But I'm a cop. I'm supposed to help people. We're supposed to help people, and they're using that to hunt down innocent people. Me, they're using me. If I ignore this, they're using me.

[He takes Monroe's hand, threading their fingers together almost tentatively, because he's not sure that Monroe'll let him.]

I won't be walking into their hands. I'll be careful. But you're - really important to me, okay? If you don't want me to do it, I won't.

[No, not ever, but at least for the next ten minutes.

Monroe smiles back. He's doomed when Nick smiles at him.]

Yeah yeah yeah.

[Shit it's getting serious again, and he knows he's not going to be able to convince Nick now. Not when he's being all noble and crap. Monroe lets Nick take his hand, but he focuses on the ceiling. It's a lot easier to be pissed at Nick when he doesn't say this kind of thing. He sighs and looks back at Nick.]

You know it's really hard to stay pissed at you. Yuji can't stand it. If you're doing this there's going to be some conditions. The first is you always let me know when you're going off alone with these guys. And where.

[...okay. Ten minutes he can handle.

Nick's smile grows when Monroe smiles back at him, because he's a little bit doomed, too.

No, Monroe wouldn't be able to convince Nick that this wasn't the right thing to do. He'd be able to convince Nick not to do it, just by asking him, but Nick would still think it was the right thing.]

Let's hope that's still true for him, because I have to tell him next.

[He lets out his own sigh, leaning in to rest his forehead against Monroe's. Nick can do conditions. He likes conditions, actually, conditions means Monroe's in on this with him.]

Yeah, okay, agreed. I'd want to do that anyway, have someone I trust know where I am. Anything else?

[Stop trying to do the right thing all the time.]

Just ask him about his boyfriend. He keeps trying to talk to me about him but he keeps saying I say the wrong things.

[Save him from your partner Nick!

Monroe bops his nose against Nick's.]

Be careful. I mean it man I am going to be pissed at you if you do something stupid over this.

[He can't. It's in his nature, apparently.

Nick just chuckles slightly at that, pressing a kiss to his temple.

Monroe can be... really endearing, sometimes, but Nick isn't exactly sure now's the best time to say something like that. Instead, he just bops back, brushing his nose over Monroe's.]

I'll be careful. I'll be more than careful, I'll be paranoid. I'll go one further - if it's possible, I won't do anything before discussing it with you first. And you and the others will be the first to know about anything.

[So? It's in Monroe's nature to eat people but you don't see him doing it.

Monroe isn't complaining about the kiss but does this mean Nick will handle the Yuji boyfriend thing? Because Monroe is kinda done with this.

Monroe sighs.]

Alright, but I'm still going to worry so you're just going to have to deal with that.

[That's different. That's a different kind of nature, man, and the fact that Monroe's fighting it so much says it's really not in his nature to do it. Besides, Nick doesn't know about that.

Yeah, yeah. That's what it means, man, don't worry about it.]

I know. Trust me, man, I'm going to worry, too. But I'll do everything I can to make you worry less.

[Monroe really wishes that was true.

Good.]

Alright. I trust you.

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