plate_builder | [Open Post]

"Sometimes it proves useful." He does move to the coffee machine then though, filling Reeve's mug before bringing it back and setting it on the desk in front of him.

"Your department is one of the more interesting ones in the building." Becqause they're surprisingly loyal and close-mouthed as a rule, although drinking does tend to loosen tongues.

"Although the other department heads tend to look past you."

Once there is coffee, black and pure like he prefers it, he frowns as he considers the other man.

"Forgive me, Tseng, but that strikes me as a bit of a non-sequitur. What do you mean by interesting department? And I would appreciate it if more heads looked past me."

"They're very committed to their work." It's mild enough, Tseng picking up his own mug, his gaze turning back to Reeve as he lifts it to his lips to take a drink.

"...Not all of them though, I've heard." It's quiet, Tseng setting his cup down. "Or more specifically, you have a rather intense interest in one department head in particular."

"Everyone in Urban Development is committed," Reeve counters. He'd include himself in that listing as well, and he sips at his coffee. Nice quality, Tseng, he approves.

But then he processes that second comment and wonders just what Tseng means. The only thing he can come up with makes him recoil in horror.

"Whatever Scarlet is intimating about us is an absolute lie. The woman thinks that if she suggests that we're sleeping together we will actually do so!"

"I'm not referring to Scarlet. I wouldn't have called you here if it was related to her." Scarlet was good at her job, but that didn't mean he had any interest in interacting with her beyond the required minimum.

"And I know that's a lie, whoever else chooses to believe it." Tseng set his cup down. "This particular situation isn't nearly as well known as her need to spread gossip around the building."

Okay, then what could he...

Oh. Oh. Reeve manages not to blush. He does manage, for the moment, not to blush. Instead he twists the mug in his hand.

"So you're here to discuss rumors with me? That hardly seems like a good use of my time, Tseng."

"It's only a rumor if there's nothing to substantiate it, Reeve." He shifts to his feet. "And given it's after hours, I'm not using company time to address the issue." Although he does plan to address it, if not in the way Reeve likely assumes he will.

"Are you sure you don't want something stronger than coffee?"

After hours for the Turks and after hours for Reeve's department are two VERY different things. He's still planning to go back to work.

"Some people," Reeve says after a moment and another sip of coffee, "do not like themselves when they consume alcohol."

"A valid point." Tseng concedes quietly before he exhales a breath, gaze on Reeve a moment longer before he moves. "I limit my intake to one to two drinks at a time when it's called for, so I do understand the need for self control."

But self control isn't exactly why he's called Reeve here, either, and while this isn't something he makes a habit of, for obvious reasons, his observations of Reeve have given him enough reason to trust his discretion.

So when he leans in to kiss Reeve, he's relatively certain it won't be something everyone in the building knows by morning.

Well, if the building knows anything in the morning it is that a very young, and relatively healthy young man passed away in the night of a heart attack. And this was definitely a possible cause. Good thing his brain and body have disconnected here. His brain is just like 'uh what'? And his body? It knows what to do when being kissed. Which in this case is his hand coming up to curl in Tseng's hair, keeping the man close as he presses back against that contact.

The response is encouraging, Tseng taking the invitation to deepen the kiss, tongue slipping past Reeve's lips as he shifts into a more comfortable position, adjusting the angle, one hand settling on Reeve's shoulder.

And when he finally breaks the contact. "Does that clarify matters for you?"

Oh dear, this was a thing that had happened. Tseng pulls back and Reeve licks his lips and looks anywhere but at Tseng.

"That sort of behavior could get you a report to HR. Not that they can do much about men in your department."

What is even going on here? His heart is racing and he should be pursing the man, but he can't.

"If I thought there was a risk of that, I wouldn't have even attempted it." Not a total lie, but they do tend to operate outside the bounds of the standard HR protocols. Still, Tseng straightens, gaze returning to Reeve's face.

"And I was relatively certain you wouldn't be averse to the attempt, although if you're truly uninterested, you're of course welcome to leave. I don't pursue relationships with anyone I deem untrustworthy though, Reeve."

Relationships? his heart skips a beat. That doesn't... Is that a thing? He wants to, so bad, but, can he trust it? Oh dear.

"I don't understand. I mean, not that I'm not flattered. And intrigued," his eyes even flicker to Tseng's lips because he wants those again. "But you're just a very... distant man?"

"In my line of work, I have to be. You know the kind of people we work and what my department does, Reeve. Likely better than anyone else here, if we're being honest. What happens in my office, stays in my office and the same goes for anything that happens when we're away from the Tower." Tseng leans against the desk, watching him.

"Are you interested or should we pretend this meeting never happened?"

He's interested. Beyond it. Reeve licks his lips briefly and looks at Tseng. And then away. This was something he'd wanted. But not something he'd expected to have a chance at.

"And here I'd thought we were both the sort of men who barely existed outside of the Tower. That our mistresses were the work."

"That's the image we project, yes." There might be the faintest hint of amusement behind the words. "There are no standard working hours for my department and I'm aware of the fact you tend to sleep in your office more often than not." There's a reason he kept spare clothes in his office, beyond the rigors of the job, after all.

"..So is that a yes, then?"

Okay, Tseng can't know that Reeve's couch is actually a fold out bed, right? Maybe? Right? Please don't know that.

"My apartment is really far away from here, and it's not like I have reasons to go back there often."

Is it a yes? Of course it is. But he's still... trying to process this.

"Why?"

"I know exactly where your apartment is, Reeve." Tseng counters quietly before picking up his coffee to take another sip.

"As for why, maybe it's because you're so different." He sets his cup down. "Does the why matter so much?"

Okay, that is slightly creepy and he doesn't know what to do with that information. At all. Except for wonder if Tseng's every been in there when Reeve wasn't.

"It matters when I've been fli-" oh no, don't say that. "No, I suppose it doesn't."

"..Finish the first thing you were going to say, Reeve." Because he wants to hear it, even if Reeve doesn't want to say it.

Reeve sighs and considers Tseng for a moment.

"Flirting. I've been flirting with you. But also trying not to. Because I definitely did count as a superior and thus it is HR areas there."

"My department doesn't fall under HR's umbrella when it comes to that sort of thing."And with good reason given the things the Turks do in their line of work. Tseng watches him for a moment before continuing.

"And I was aware. I just didn't reciprocate because I needed to know the risks before I made a move that could potentially open a can of worms that I'd have to deal with later. You know how the interoffice political machine works, not to mention gossip." And with him being relatively new to his position...

Well, he had to be careful.

"If you come back around midnight, we can share a meal."

Well, now this is just an interesting situation going on, isn't it? Reeve raises an eyebrow and takes a sip of his coffee again. It's very good. And it's a nice barrier that lets him think. And think a lot. When he lowers the mug he nods.

"You're a beautiful man, Tseng, and an intriguing one at that. As reluctant as I was to draw attention to myself, I still... held my breath I suppose. That being said..."

He smiles softly, a bit more contemplation in his eyes.

"I suppose I don't even have to tell you what I'm allergic to, do I?"

Shellfish, of course.

Something shifts in his expression when Reeve speaks and his posture changes, relaxes in a way it rarely does before Tseng leans forward again to kiss him, one hand curling around the back of his head this time.

Because he's been patient and watched too long to let himself not savor what's right in front of him when he's allowed. And this kiss is demanding, hungry in a way the first one had been, Tseng taking control as soon as Reeve allows him access.

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