Chapter Text
The cleanup was too easy, if Jon was honest.
The original, real Elias Bouchard had to be rushed to the hospital, and later sent a letter that said, "Don't let the Institute ever contact me again," before he disappeared.
Tim had been talking to Jon, about some kayaking trip, "Which we should all go on! Jon, it'll be fun-" before he had paused and left the table without a word.
He came back with a letter that simply said:
I quit.
goodbye! :)
Jon had promptly quit as well, along with Martin and Sasha.
When they had passed other employees, Jon had stopped for a millisecond.
Should he tell them?
Would he?
But then, Martin touched his shoulder lightly. "Jon, they... they wouldn't believe us."
Jon sighed. "No, no they wouldn't."
So they all left, never looking back.
the next few years were quite easy, to be honest, for both Jon and Martin. It was possibly the best time in their life.
For Tim and Sasha as well.
When they all first left, they hadn't quite said goodbye to each other. Instead, after realizing they had no way to pay their bills because Elias had never technically paid them for their second month, they'd rifled through Elias' computer and office.
They left with a good 10,000 dollars and a key to one of his flats.
It would make do for now- the flat they had borrowed wasn't the one to first come up, so they assumed it was more of a "last-ditch hiding place," instead of "evil eye flat."
Thankfully, that assumption was correct.
Inside, Tim fell against the expensive bed and laughed. "We're living in the LAP OF LUXURY, AREN'T WE!"
Sasha giggled and followed him. "I mean, he does have quite an extensive fortune from years of... living, I guess. Pillow fight?"
"Sash, you read my mind."
Meanwhile, Jon and Martin were out on the balcony, resting against each other's back, staring at the night sky.
the sky was blue, and, somehow, a couple of stars were visible.
A miracle for the foggy London night sky.
Jon gazed up at Martin's face.
"You... you alright?"
Martin's face relaxed, and he pressed a light kiss to Jon's forehead. "Yeah. For once, I really am."
"Good." When Martin lifted his face, Jon intercepted with another peck to his lips.
He really loved Martin, didn't he?
He was... in love with Martin, wasn't he?
Hell.
"I... I love you Martin."
Martin tensed up.
Wait, had Jon said the wrong thing? "Well, I mean, you don't have to- It's just-"
"Jon," Martin said slowly, "I had a whole declaration planned up!"
Jon froze. "what."
"YEAH! I was going to make you a whole dinner, and then we'd watch a movie, your favorite, before going out on a walk! Then I'd say I love you! But NO, you needed to say it now."
Jon bit his lip, stifling a laugh. "Martin... you're mad because I said I love you at the wrong time?"
"I mean... yeah!"
Jon let the laugh fall out.
God, Martin.
Jon shifted so that his arm and a part of his back were resting on martin, while they sat up against the wall.
"Martin, are you going to say it back?" Jon said with a smile.
Martin gave a huff. "I mean... yeah, I guess. I love you Jon."
"Well, I guess I love you too."
"I-that's not- JON!"
Jon cackled, and a thought appeared:
He'd never been this happy before.
Maybe with Georgie, but...
Never like this.
Martin frowned. "Jon, you- you alri-"
But before he could finish, Jon kissed him.
"Yes Martin, I'm more than alright."
Matin softened. "G..good."
Jon looked back up at the stars, and that tiny, tiny part of him that had always been so tense, so wound up, settled.
Like what was said earlier, the next couple of years were the best part of everyone's lives.
For about a year, they stayed in Elias' old flat.
Jon felt strangely that this was what college was supposed to be like- having dorm rooms with friends, going out most nights, but still working.
That entire time, they were working on a way to get some jobs.
But it wasn't nearly as important as hanging out together.
They also worked through most of the issues Elias had implanted, what with Mr. Spider and Martin's confrontation. They'd found a therapist who rolled well with the details Martin, Jon, Tim and Sasha wouldn't share. By the end of the year, things weren't.... perfect, because therapy takes far longer then one year, but they were better and that was all that mattered.
However, by seven months, Sasha had found, funnily enough, a different archival job- one with an archaeologist firm.
Fortunately, it was close to the flat, so Sasha simply moved across the street.
Then, Tim found a job in publishing.
Martin had laughed at this at the breakfast table, while holding hands with Jon. "how?"
Tim shrugged, grinning. "Guess they never looked at my CV properly. You know a bit about that, right Marto?"
"I... I mean yeah."
Unfortunately this time, where Tim now had to live was farther away, so soon he was halfway across London.
Jon and Martin were now alone, in the flat.
Friends close, but now they were alone.
Together.
Like a real couple.
The next year and a half passed in a haze of domesticity and early mornings and late nights and JON's and MARTIN'S that never were a threat, more of an endearing reminder.
However, at about the end of that, Martin finished his college courses.
He started to look for a job, and found it remarkably quickly.
It was for a little place in the Scottish highlands, with very few people and so many, many cows.
Martin and Jon left as soon as possible.
After saying their goodbyes to Tim and Sasha, which were slightly teary, no matter how much everyone denied it, Martin and Jon left.
The years after that weren't the best, simply because they weren't right after some of the worst times of their lives.
The years after were, essentially, perfect.
And one night, while eating mac and cheese, (something Martin had learned to cook with even breadcrumbs! Jon, they use breadcrumbs in mac n' cheese!), Martin and Jon were talking about before.
"you know, the night at the bar," Martin said with a chuckle, "I thought you would've instantly avoided me after I'd helped you."
Jon frowned. "Why?"
"Well, I mean, when we first met at the Institute-"
"Wait, hang on," Jon interjected. "When did we meet at the Institute?"
Martin blinked. "You don't remember?"
Jon shook his head.
"Oh. Well, so basically..."
Martin gave a heavy sigh.
What were these documents even saying?
Whatever. He needed the money.
Martin gave a sign to the documents, glancing at the clock.
Oh hell it was 11:52 at night.
Martin sighed again, picking up the papers and shoving them into the turn-in bin.
He then got up, walking to the tiny kitchen they had.
He needed a tea.
However, before he could move to make any, he saw a man.
The man, was half asleep, standing against the counter.
Their eyes were closed, and....
oh god it was slightly adorable.
"H-hello?" Martin shook the man's shoulder.
The man blinked his eyes open blearily. "Oh Christ did I fall asleep?"
Martin nodded mutely.
the man gave a sigh, getting up and brushing himself off. "Right. Sorry about that."
"No it's-it's fine, don't worry."
"...right." The man glanced around the tables, before seeing the cup of tea Martin had brewed. "I- I have to take a train home, and I need to stay awake. May I...."
Martin nodded quickly. He could always brew himself another cup.
The man didn't... smile, per se, but his face relaxed and his eyes lightened.
He walked over and took a sip.
Confusion settled across the man's face.
"Oh, uh, what's wrong?" Martin asked, ignoring the sinking feeling in his stomach. He'd done something wrong, it was his fault wasn't it fuck-
"N-Nothing, just... it's very good tea. I appreciate you letting me share it."
Oh.
The train track of doom that was Martin's brain stopped, and he relaxed.
"Thanks."
The man gave a nod. "You... you're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to leave."
"Right. Goodbye."
"Bye."
The man shut the door behind him, and Martin felt something stir in his stomach.
Jon's eyes were wide by the end of Martin's recounting. "You liked me... just because I said your tea was nice?"
Martin started to rub the back of his neck sheepishly. "I... I mean- yeah? You just seemed like someone who didn't like to compliment others, and I'd had a long day, so I mean.... yeah."
Jon started to laugh.
"JON!"
"I'm-I'm not laughing at you, Martin, just- it's kind of hilarious that the first time we met I don't remember it at all."
"Oh yeah. Wait, why don't you?"
"I... may have gone drinking with Sasha and Tim," Jon said with a heavy sigh.
"Wait, THAT'S why you were so kind to me? You were still drunk?"
Jon gave a shrug. "I mean... maybe? I think it's more likely that along with being a bit tipsy, I'd also lost all my energy from keeping Tim and Sasha out of trouble. But yes, if I had remembered that, I probably would've avoided you at all costs."
Martin gave a chuckle and they went back to eating their dinner, not a care in the world bothering them.
fin.