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[aphelionix]

The two days had come and gone since Locke stayed over at Weiler's. He was tipsy when Weiler had called that night and made their two day check-in rule - not that he forgot, but he couldn't stop the nagging feeling that something was off when he went to bed that night.

On the morning of the third day, he remembered.

The rule was to get out. He tried calling Weiler once, in case he had forgotten his own rule, but Locke was sure by now that it wasn't like him. It was all the sign he needed when the call went straight to voice mail. He headed right out the door of his room, only gathering his pistol and communicator. Through the bustling of the soldiers' morning routines, he managed to keep himself fairly blended in. No one seemed to be looking on him any differently. Locke was on the last stretch of the emergency escape route of Gladsheim's base - for Circle members, that was - when someone called his name.

His real name.

Comments

[tactician]

Because it was clear that Locke was using his name in retaliation, Weiler only laughed more. "Sounds strange, hearing you call me that - but fine, fine, Princess. I won't spill your dirty little secret about how you moonlight as an agent of free love in your spare time."

He held out his hand and beckoned Locke to him. "On one condition."

[aphelionix]

Before Locke could frown and deny just that, he was caught by the gesture, staring down. With a soft sigh, mostly just exhaustion, he sat back down near Weiler's middle, minding his leg as he did.

"What?"

[tactician]

With a grunt, Weiler pushed himself up, threading his hand around Locke's neck as he did so for leverage.

"Compensation," he announced before kissing the other man soundly if not lazily before dropping back onto the bed, looking nothing but smug. "Your secret's safe with me."

[aphelionix]

Rather than seeming comforted by his safe 'secret', Locke looked surprised, and maybe a hint confused. Part of him didn't know when to take this man's gestures seriously, but another part of him knew that there was no one to fool anymore.

Locke bent down, returning the gesture, if a little more chaste. When he pulled away, he seemed to have trouble looking at Weiler. "I trust you."

[tactician]

Weiler just chuckled, clapping Locke hard on the back. It wasn't often that he saw a grown man being this painfully shy, and not to say he was sadistic, but there was a streak in him that made it almost irresistible to tease. "Likewise. I trust you to wake me up when we get there."

[aphelionix]

"Really?" he asked, thoughtful. "I was just going to leave you. Carrying you is a hassle."

[tactician]

"I'll walk on my own," Weiler pointed out, half-muffled in pillow. "You just be a convenient alarm clock, ya?"

[aphelionix]

Locke rolled his eyes as he stood up again. "So that's your motive."

[tactician]

"Clear as crystal," Weiler agreed, smiling with his eyes closed, clearly already drifting. "It's all about trust."

[aphelionix]

He gave Weiler one more glance, and a soft pat on the shoulder.

"Sleep well."

Locke left the small room, glass doors sealing shut behind him. He took the seat closest to it, strapping in and leaning back. He would've taken the bunk, but he knew his knee wouldn't allow him to. Out here, too, he could get some air. Well, so to speak - there were quite a few things to think about now, but with all of it weighing on his mind, it just made it easier to sleep.