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[grimmopedia]

This is Monroe, no time piece is too big or too small. Leave your contact information and a description on the time piece and I'll get back to you.

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Comments

[action]

[detectivetroll]

[Since he's at the house, Nick doesn't bother texting back. He just lets himself in and heads to the backyard, coming up behind Monroe and pressing a kiss to his shoulder in greeting.]

I tell you I want pantsless yoga to be a thing, and you say you're only going to do it when I'm not around? Totally cockblocking yourself, man.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Monroe can hear and smell Nick coming so Nick coming up behind him is no surprise. After Nick kisses his shoulder Monroe turns and gives Nick a proper welcome.]

I can go do pantsless yoga right now.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[See, what did Nick tell him about those eventually being useful? Not to mention that Monroe can probably tell that Nick is pretty interested in that pantsless yoga offer.]

Really? Cause I'm all for that, don't go breaking my heart here.

[It's obviously teasing, said in an almost sing-song voice reminiscent of the song. But that reminds him of something, and he reaches into one of the shopping bags to pull out a heart-shaped box of chocolates, offering it to Monroe.]

Speaking of hearts, here. I, uh, got you this.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Yeah yeah yeah Nick is right. Is Nick happy?]

Dude, really?

[Monroe's mocking is ruined slightly by the grin he's currently sporting. But then there's a heart shaped box in front of him. Which is confusing. Monroe has to think back. They aren't having an anniversary are they? Monroe takes it.]

Thanks? Uh, am I forgetting something? Because I didn't-

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[Nick is very happy, man. And he's grinning widely, too.]

Yeah, really. Did it work?

[No, their anniversary isn't for a week or two, but don't worry. Nick's got something planned for that.]

You're welcome. And no - well, yes, technically, but we both forgot it. It was Sweetest Day Saturday. I've never celebrated it before because it's not really a thing back on the west coast, but these were half price and I thought of you, so I figured why not?

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Well at least Nick has a nice smile. That make it a little better. But only a little.]

No.

[Actually it did but he's not going to admit it. He'll just not bother to hid that it worked at all. And wait they have an anniversary? Since when?]

Half priced? Sweetest Day?

[Oh crap they do that stupid holiday here. All he ever remembers it as another time of the year where people rub his being single in his face. And the one year he wasn't single he forgot about it. Damn it.]

Shit. Man I'm sorry. I'm not used to celebrating that. I'll- I can make us dinner. Accept we're already doing that. I'll make us dinner some other time. Next day you have off.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

Liar.

[He's teasing, but yeah, he can tell that Monroe's just not admitting it. And they have an anniversary since they started dating?]

...uh. Yeah, I probably should have left out the half priced part, shouldn't I?

[But then he grins a little at Monroe's rambling, and leans in to kiss him.]

I'm not used to celebrating it either, it's cool. Let's have dinner, and we can go upstairs and do some real celebrating. Then tomorrow you can make it up to me by putting up with me running something work-related by you.

[And by work-related, he means a potentially dangerous plan that probably won't go over so well, but for the moment, he doesn't want to go into it, so he keeps everything light-hearted.]

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Monroe just grins back. Yeah he knows. And he's still good with naked yoga. Oh right. Yeah that would make sense.]

You think?

[Monroe is good with kissing. Even after Nick's whole half priced fiasco.]

We could always skip dinner.

[Except he won't because by now he knows Nick needs to eat. Damn it. So Monroe makes him dinner, pour the wine, and shares his half price chocolates. Which pretty much makes them even cheaper. Way to go Nick.]

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[They're turning into one of those couples who can communicate just by grinning at each other, man.]

Would it help if I mentioned that even half price, they were more than I've spent on chocolates for anyone before?

[Hey he's said he's terrible at relationships, man. But good, Nick'd be cranky if Monroe wasn't good with kissing.]

No way, man, I bought those steaks special. Grass-fed organic beef, the best they had.

[So of course they're having dinner. And it's an awesome dinner, because of the food and wine, and because of the company. Then they move upstairs, and, well - Nick's pretty sure Monroe won't fault him for finding that a hell of a lot better than dinner.

Nick has the day off the next day, so - he spends it all with Monroe. For a number of reasons, the main one being that he wants to. But he's also both stalling on what he has to say, and trying to put enough distance between that and the first time they slept together that they won't be immediately associated.

It's night time again, and they've finished leftovers and are sitting together on the couch, when Nick brings it up again.]

Remember when I said I had something work related to run by you? Well, it's network related, too.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Damn. Now Monroe has to hate them a little. No offense.]

It would but you're not suppose to tell people how much you spent on someone. Besides spending five bucks on me isn't anything to preen about.

[He's kidding man. And the teasing grin hopefully clues Nick in on that. He doesn't want to accidentally cock block himself again tonight.

Well now he's impressed. Nick go them grass fed organic beef. There's no way they're skipping dinner.]

I'll start the grill.

[Those are the best left overs ever. Mostly because Monroe's getting to eat it twice with Nick. Which means he didn't scare him off yet.

Monroe has to actually think back for that. Oh right Nick told him that when he brought him the half priced chocolate.]

How is work related to the network now?

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[It's cool, Nick will a little, too. ...but he'll also really like it.]

Okay, you can't follow up that first comment with the second, because now I really want to tell you how much they were.

[He's kidding too, though, and the grin really does let him know. See, they are becoming one of those couples.

Of course he did. Nick was trying to be romantic. And no, Monroe hasn't scared him off. Nick'd say he doesn't think Monroe could do anything to scare him off, but that sounds a little too sappy. And he doesn't want to tempt fate.

Especially when he might be about to do something to scare Monroe off.]

Because the police are hunting down network people, and they don't even know it. And I want to go undercover to find out why.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Monroe too, but they can never admit that out loud.]

You can man. Those are the rules.

[And now he just wants that to bug Nick. Evil boyfriend.

Good call not tempting fate. Monroe might be able to scare him off when he starts wanting to eat people.

Nick isn't going to eat anyone. They should be good.

Monroe stares at him as he tries to process what Nick is saying, but he must be missing something.]

What?

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[Never. It'll be one more of those unspoken things.]

What if I want to be a rule breaker, just this once?

[It's bugging him. Thanks for that. But also, now Nick's flirting a little, so it's not bugging him too much.

That probably should scare him off, but it won't. But they'll worry about that when it happens.]

...that's not a promising reaction. Come on, man, you know about the sniffer dogs and the water contamination drug cover and how everyone on the network thinks they can't trust the police. And they're right, at least when it comes to the sheriff and Detective Sherman. The only way to stop them is to figure out what they're up to, and the only way to do that... is for them to trust me enough to tell me.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[Good then-wait so they have another thing they have silently communicated to each other? Damn now they are really going to have to hate themselves.]

You can't start being a rule breaker on the first month anniversary. You're supposed to wait until at least the year mark man.

[So Nick should stay with him for that long. Not that Monroe really realize that that is what he implied.

Thanks for the vote of confidence that Monroe will manage to not try and kill someone. Appreciated man.

Monroe is silent while Nick tries to explain. But that's a horrible explanation. He can't do this. There is no way Nick can be this stupid. Except apparently he is. Nick's planned this out, thought it through. He should have known things couldn't stay good for this long. Which makes more sense. No wonder things were good last night. He snorts humorlessly and mutters.]

Timeo danaos et dona ferentes. Should have known.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[They apparently have a lot of those already. But at least it means they're a good couple, even if they have to hate. themselves a little.]

Isn't that just another rule? Fine, at least I'll just have to consider it something to look forward to.

[Nick doesn't realize it either, otherwise he might be freaking out a little.

Hey, that was a vote of confidence. He said wanting to eat people wouldn't scare him off. That's partially because he knows Monroe won't actually do it.

Nick stares at Monroe, looking for any sign of his reaction. What he sees isn't encouraging, even if he can't quite figure out what Monroe's thinking. ...or saying, apparently, and Nick frowns a little. It's absolutely not a pout.]

I have no idea what you just said. What should you have known, that I'd come up with a potentially dangerous but really important plan and want to run it by you, because you're really important to me and your opinion matters a hell of a lot to me?

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[They'll try to keep the hate to a minimum.]

Exactly man. Just hold strong.

[Did they just agree to stay together for at least a year?

Alright it sort of is.

That is the other reason for him to be angry. Way to dig yourself deeper Nick]

No, well yes! I should have known that after last night you must have been planning something bad for today. No body pulls that kind of shit unless they're trying to make up for something. I'm not just going to be cool with this because you slept over.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

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.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

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.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

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.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[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.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[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...

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[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.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[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.

[Action]

[grimmopedia]

[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.

[Action]

[detectivetroll]

[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.