"Always looking out for me," Zane sighs happily, a flutter in his chest at the sight of Darling just as excited as him. This is going to loosen him up, hell he's already riding the wave.
After all. It is a date. Zane tugs on the other's cardigan a second time.
"Let's get going! Wouldn't want to miss it." And Zane wants out of this damn building.
A date. He gets to have a date. Tom gently grabs the other's wrist to tug him along to where he assumes the exit is.
"Italian and a movie... so few things are as tried and true!"
"Yes yes, all right -- sorry, to the left, actually." He's trying very hard not to laugh as Tom drags him along, but it's difficult to keep a straight face when Tom's being so very enthusiastic.
"I've gone here a few times," he explains as they walk (or as he's led, really). "Since it's close by, it works well when I absolutely have to get out of the office. Good pizza, decent pasta."
"So you do leave the offices!" Zane's pleased words sound more like crowing as he follows instructions without missing a step--there's no point in hiding how happy he is. This is a date. This is a date with Darling.
"On occasion, I do go outside. I'm still human, I do occasionally require sunlight." Although he's not quite aware how important or romantic Tom considers this outing, it's still fun to be able to go out and spend time with someone outside of the office.
When is the last time he had fun? Genuine, non-work-related fun. Far too long, really.
Once they're out of the building, Darling takes Tom by the elbow to guide him in the right direction. "Just a block and a half this way, and then to the right. At least it's a nice enough day for a walk. It would be terrible, to have it rain on your day out."
Everything is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air to Zane. And as Darling points out, there's clear skies. It's not nature--and Zane misses that, the woods, the lake, the source of inspiration as much as his muse is--but it's something. It's not the Bureau.
He'll never understand why someone like Darling can willingly shackle himself to a place like that. His dedication is fascinating, but how much of that is him, and how much of that is Trench?
Zane finds himself slowing down considerably, taking everything in. Breathing low. When he stops walking together, his hand moves from Darling's wrist and slides down to his hand, holding it.
"Darling." A polite request to wait for a moment. Zane doesn't let go of the other's hand as he closes his eyes and just listens.
It's the work, really. He genuinely does love his work, and his research, and tends to lose himself in his projects more often than not. Part if it is to try and impress Trench, because of course he wants to impress him, but it's not just Trench.
Working with parautilitarians as a regular, boring human being is trying, at times. Trying to replicate through science what others do as easy as breathing. It's disheartening.
He's pulled from his thoughts when Tom takes his hand, so gently. But he pauses, watching Tom curiously as he goes still. Trying not to think about how lovely he looks, quiet like this.
Zane grounds himself. Has a moment. Inspiration strikes--or it's an old poem, and he's forgotten in the tizzy of being free, of being near Darling, of being mundanely intimate like this.
"To find a long lost doorway home Or be led to parts unknown And forever disappear beyond this veil?"
He opens his eyes, smiling softly, pleased, and when he starts to walk again he keeps Darling's hand in his, lacing their fingers together. Almost there.
"I want to know how you grew up. I want to know everything about you."
The poetry catches him a little off guard. Despite Tom's artistic nature, he wasn't expecting him to just -- recite a poem like that.
"That was lovely," he says, quietly stunned. "Did you -- oh." But they're walking again, and Tom is still holding his hand, and Darling isn't sure why he doesn't pull away other than it's nice.
"I'm not that interesting, I promise. Just an odd kid who grew up reading books about unexplained events who was able to turn it into a career."
"I think that's very interesting," Zane counters, and that same small, gentle smile is on his face. He wants to encourage the other as much as possible. If not for his own good, than because Darling's much more cuter when he's stunned because of Zane and not being humble.
"I also think you're entirely too hard on yourself."
"Too hard on myself?" He'd never thought of it that way before, but he frowns a little at the idea. Is he? Maybe so. He's always pushed himself, but that's just having a good work ethic. Isn't it?
"Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe you're just too easy on me."
"Are you calling me easy?" Zane asks, blue eyes wide in mock indignation. A hand moves to his chest, tapping it in a quick, dramatic fashion before he's wiggling his fingers.
Darling groans, but it's good natured, and he shakes his head at the comment. "I do keep walking into those. Shame on me.
Oh -- " They reach their turn, and without thinking too much about it, he tugs at Tom's hand to move them in the right direction. "This way, we're nearly there."
There it is. That smile. Slowly but surely, Zane is coaxing that out of him. The softness that the other tries and fails to hide. He's never met someone who wears a closely guarded heart right on his sleeve before, but here they are. There Casper is, with bangs that curl and a cute little goatee, gently ushering him to take the right turn with a gentle nudge of his hand.
He'd done the same thing to Barbara when they first met, ushering his long time crush out of the snow and into a bustling Cafe. But this is different. This is distinct. Zane smiles widely.
"I've been thinking about you," he confesses. "About why you're the head of research and not someone else."
Darling does tend to keep himself at an arm's length from most people, but it's out of necessity rather than desire. It's a dangerous job, and he tries not to get too close to people. But, oh, he wants to be able to, more than anything. So today, just for the day, he'll allow Tom in a bit. It seems safer to do, out of the office.
"Ah! Well, a fair question. The Director and I worked closely together on a few projects, back when he was just an agent and I was working in the lab. Trench became Director, and a few years later, my predecessor Dr. Ash retired. So the Director recommended me to take over as head of the department. A position which I happily accepted. Though it's hard to believe sometimes that I've held it for almost twenty-five years, now."
"A very fruitful 25 years," Zane supplies, and tries very hard not to think about the whispers about someone called P6. The tragedy in the mystery of it all. Poetry in motion and whatnot--they slow down a little, nearing what Zane is assuming is the restaurant.
"And your workers love you. You have a fanclub, are you aware? Darling's Darlings."
"Oh -- yes, right here." He does let go of Tom's hand to open the door for him, at least, his fingers brushing briefly over Tom's lower back to gesture him inside. Their conversation is put on a brief hold while Darling goes about getting them a table, stealing shy sideways glances at the other man while they get settled.
"Sorry, we got interrupted before I could accuse you of lying about my alleged fanclub. I don't know where you heard that. Darling's Darlings, really?" He tries not to look too pleased at the idea that people might actually enjoy working with him, instead of feeling obligated to.
"Really," Zane says, still grinning. It widens, eyes flashing with even more delight the moment the smells and the sight of a waiter passing by with a bottle of wine for a table near the entrance.
Darling had touched his lower back. Darling knows this is a date, he's positive. This is utterly divine.
"Why would I be lying when I'm a card carrying member? So intelligent, so funny, so cute."
"Oh, I see." He tries to ignore how badly he's blushing by studying the menu intently, absorbing not a single word of it.
It's not a date. It shouldn't be a date. It's just dinner out, because he promised Tom he'd have at least a little freedom. With supervision, of course, and that's what he's here to provide.
"Is that an important part of being a department head? Being cute?"
"No, but it's a nice plus. The competency is what made you department head, although I do think there are a few of your underlings who linger a little too long on your ass."
Zane casually opens up the wine menu, pulling it so it's vertical and winds up hiding his face.
"It's the only thing relatable about your worker bees, if I'm being honest. You've got a great one. The whole secretly buff thing really works."
Darling lets out a nervous laugh, bordering on a giggle, which he's fairly certain he hasn't done in decades. Not before Tom Zane, anyway.
"I like to keep active, I think I've said. But I don't -- I'm not -- " He sputters a little, squinting to try to make the menu focus better. "No one is looking at my ass."
Darling jumps a little at the very enthusiastic response, studying the look on Tom's face for a moment. He rubs his hand over his chin, trying to formulate a response, but all he can come up with is --
"Why don't you pick out something for us to drink, Mister Zane?"
"Please. Tom is fine. Or Thomas. Whatever you prefer--but not mister."
if Zane looks like he's looking at Darling like a piece of meat, that's very much because he is. He shouldn't, but--well. He can't help it.
"I'll promise not to break your bank," he assures. He knows wine. He knows alcohol, really--yes, he's a binge drinker, and he probably has several problems. If he wasn't a parautilitarian it's very likely his liver would be crying out for help, but it's not, and he's here, and he does have taste. He orders a dry red, something he thinks Darling will like specifically.
"So. Can I finally peak behind that labcoat? Maybe talk to the real Darling?"
Darling is more sneaky about his drinking, usually. Late at night, when he's in the office alone, or when he finally makes it back to his house on the rare occasions when he does go home. But a three in the morning glass of whiskey next to whatever take-out is still open at that time is not something he really wants to own up to.
He is surprised, however, to find that Tom's choice does look rather good.
"Of course you can. I'm an open book." Which isn't entirely true, but he's found that he's willing to be a little more honest with Tom than some of his other colleagues. "What do you want to know?"
"I was just wondering if you enjoy the way you lie to yourself," Zane says casually, and--ooh, breadsticks. He hasn't had them in years, the fat little American dough cylinders. Tom helps himself, leaning on the table with his elbows, gesturing as he continues to speak through his mouthful.
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After all. It is a date. Zane tugs on the other's cardigan a second time.
"Let's get going! Wouldn't want to miss it." And Zane wants out of this damn building.
A date. He gets to have a date. Tom gently grabs the other's wrist to tug him along to where he assumes the exit is.
"Italian and a movie... so few things are as tried and true!"
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"I've gone here a few times," he explains as they walk (or as he's led, really). "Since it's close by, it works well when I absolutely have to get out of the office. Good pizza, decent pasta."
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It's been so, so long.
"I was beginning to wonder."
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When is the last time he had fun? Genuine, non-work-related fun. Far too long, really.
Once they're out of the building, Darling takes Tom by the elbow to guide him in the right direction. "Just a block and a half this way, and then to the right. At least it's a nice enough day for a walk. It would be terrible, to have it rain on your day out."
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He'll never understand why someone like Darling can willingly shackle himself to a place like that. His dedication is fascinating, but how much of that is him, and how much of that is Trench?
Zane finds himself slowing down considerably, taking everything in. Breathing low. When he stops walking together, his hand moves from Darling's wrist and slides down to his hand, holding it.
"Darling." A polite request to wait for a moment. Zane doesn't let go of the other's hand as he closes his eyes and just listens.
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Working with parautilitarians as a regular, boring human being is trying, at times. Trying to replicate through science what others do as easy as breathing. It's disheartening.
He's pulled from his thoughts when Tom takes his hand, so gently. But he pauses, watching Tom curiously as he goes still. Trying not to think about how lovely he looks, quiet like this.
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"To find a long lost doorway home
Or be led to parts unknown
And forever disappear beyond this veil?"
He opens his eyes, smiling softly, pleased, and when he starts to walk again he keeps Darling's hand in his, lacing their fingers together. Almost there.
"I want to know how you grew up. I want to know everything about you."
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"That was lovely," he says, quietly stunned. "Did you -- oh." But they're walking again, and Tom is still holding his hand, and Darling isn't sure why he doesn't pull away other than it's nice.
"I'm not that interesting, I promise. Just an odd kid who grew up reading books about unexplained events who was able to turn it into a career."
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"I also think you're entirely too hard on yourself."
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"Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe you're just too easy on me."
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"Only for you, maybe."
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Oh -- " They reach their turn, and without thinking too much about it, he tugs at Tom's hand to move them in the right direction. "This way, we're nearly there."
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He'd done the same thing to Barbara when they first met, ushering his long time crush out of the snow and into a bustling Cafe. But this is different. This is distinct. Zane smiles widely.
"I've been thinking about you," he confesses. "About why you're the head of research and not someone else."
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"Ah! Well, a fair question. The Director and I worked closely together on a few projects, back when he was just an agent and I was working in the lab. Trench became Director, and a few years later, my predecessor Dr. Ash retired. So the Director recommended me to take over as head of the department. A position which I happily accepted. Though it's hard to believe sometimes that I've held it for almost twenty-five years, now."
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"And your workers love you. You have a fanclub, are you aware? Darling's Darlings."
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"Sorry, we got interrupted before I could accuse you of lying about my alleged fanclub. I don't know where you heard that. Darling's Darlings, really?" He tries not to look too pleased at the idea that people might actually enjoy working with him, instead of feeling obligated to.
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Darling had touched his lower back. Darling knows this is a date, he's positive. This is utterly divine.
"Why would I be lying when I'm a card carrying member? So intelligent, so funny, so cute."
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It's not a date. It shouldn't be a date. It's just dinner out, because he promised Tom he'd have at least a little freedom. With supervision, of course, and that's what he's here to provide.
"Is that an important part of being a department head? Being cute?"
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Zane casually opens up the wine menu, pulling it so it's vertical and winds up hiding his face.
"It's the only thing relatable about your worker bees, if I'm being honest. You've got a great one. The whole secretly buff thing really works."
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"I like to keep active, I think I've said. But I don't -- I'm not -- " He sputters a little, squinting to try to make the menu focus better. "No one is looking at my ass."
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"I absolutely look at your ass."
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"Why don't you pick out something for us to drink, Mister Zane?"
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if Zane looks like he's looking at Darling like a piece of meat, that's very much because he is. He shouldn't, but--well. He can't help it.
"I'll promise not to break your bank," he assures. He knows wine. He knows alcohol, really--yes, he's a binge drinker, and he probably has several problems. If he wasn't a parautilitarian it's very likely his liver would be crying out for help, but it's not, and he's here, and he does have taste. He orders a dry red, something he thinks Darling will like specifically.
"So. Can I finally peak behind that labcoat? Maybe talk to the real Darling?"
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He is surprised, however, to find that Tom's choice does look rather good.
"Of course you can. I'm an open book." Which isn't entirely true, but he's found that he's willing to be a little more honest with Tom than some of his other colleagues. "What do you want to know?"
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"About how happy you really are, I mean."
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