Chapter Text
Talloran looked up from their work when they felt someone's presence. They were sitting in the cafeteria all by themselves, writing some reports while having a cup of coffee. They certainly did not expect anyone to bother them and were ready to bitch at whoever dared to interrupt their peace.
-"Hey, mind if I take a seat?", a deep, fairly intimidating, yet somehow still kind voice asked.
It took Talloran a while until he looked up far enough to see the man's tired, soft green eyes that were hiding behind a pair of black glasses. Damn, this guy was tall..
-"Dr. Kondraki? Oh, I-I mean, sure!", Talloran smiled.
Benjamin didn't wait for any longer before he sat down on the chair in front of James. He too had nothing but a cup of dark, bitter coffee.
-"What 'ya working on?", he asked absentmindedly, clearly not actually caring about the paperwork.
-"Eh, it's nothing really. Just some documents on some SCP. You know how it is"
-"Aha cool, cool"
Benjamin took a sip from his coffee. As he did so, he made sure to inspect every little feature of his fellow researcher. They seemed focused on whatever they were working on, but now that he was there, somehow their hands started shaking a little, and their voice sounded a little uncomfortable.
-"Is there, ehm… Is there something you want from me, doctor?", Talloran eventually asked, putting their pen to the side as they leaned back in their seat with a forced, nervous smile.
Benjamin almost chuckled when he saw their shaky hands fidgeting with the coffee stained sleeves of their labcoat, but he was not someone who just smiled at anyone. Not in this early hour of the morning that is.
-"I've been meaning to ask you something, ehm... Talloran, right?"
The researcher nodded, trying to ignore the loud, painful beatings of their heart. They watched Kondraki take out a small container with some sugar inside, as well as a bottle of water from his labcoats pocket - It was a surprise to everyone who knew him for long enough that he was wearing one. He started mixing the substances together, which prompted half a dozen green butterflies that were hiding on his back to appear. Talloran wondered how a man can be so intimidating, yet so...attractive at the same time. It made him feel a little tingly in his stomach.
-"Ask away, doctor!", they smiled, trying to sound as normal as possible - probably failing in the process.
-"Do you, by any chance…", Kondraki looked up to the ceiling, searching for the right words.
-"...swing the same way?"
Talloran felt his jaw drop a little and eyes widen. That was… an odd question for sure.
-"I-"
-"Or wait, you're not a guy right? How do I say it then..? Are you interested in men?"
-"Sir, I.."
Benjamin looked up from the butterflies, who were feasting upon the sugary water, raising an eyebrow while James struggled to get any words out.
-"Listen, I-I really respect you, Dr. Kondraki", they stammered eventually.
-"But ehm...d-don't you think it would be a little...ehm...risque? I-I mean with our ages and all"
Talloran wouldn't admit it, but in reality they found the idea of them in a relationship with someone so much older and more experienced than them a little...tempting. Hot even. And heck, they were sure as fuck not the only person who found the idea of a relationship with Dr Kondraki a little sexy. They'd argue they were the one who deserved him the most. Why? That was a good question. But that didn't stop Talloran from fantasizing about what may be inside those pants..
-"What"
Benjamin raised an eyebrow.
-"Are you sure we are on the same page?"
Talloran paused for a second. They started to replay the conversation in their head, trying to see if they misunderstood something, but they couldn't think of anything they might've missed.
-"I...think so?"
Benjamin turned around, looking left and right, as if to make sure nobody was listening, before leaning closer.
-"Listen up, Talloran", he whispered, his voice much raspier and more quiet (and hot, in Tallorans opinion) now.
-"Do you know Draven?"
Talloran was silent for a second.
-"Agent Kondraki?"
-"Yes, him. My son"
-"I-I saw him around a few times...what about him?"
Kondraki sighed, clearly unsure as to what to say next.
-"Well you see, he seems a little...interested in you", he explained.
Suddenly it klicked in James' head and they felt their face flush into unimaginable shades of red. Did they seriously just embarrass themselves…?
-"O-Oh…"
-"Yeah…"
-"So...what were you trying to ask me, doctor?", Talloran said, trying to distract the man from what he said previously - and maybe even themselves from their weird, sinful fantasies involving their coworker.
-"I tried to get him to ask you out, but he is a little nervous, you know? So I thought maybe I should go ask for him and spare him the embarrassment"
Talloran looked down at their paperwork, their bangs covering their red flushed face.
-"I-I see.."
-"So?"
-"Well, I got nothing to lose, right?"
-"He'd probably take you out to dinner or something. You see, he never had a long term relationship before, so he isn't very experienced in this, but ya know…I thought I might ask"
-"That is fine, don't worry sir! I'd love to ehm...go out with your son. I mean, why not, right?"
They laughed a little, still desperately trying to forget what they said previously.
-"Perfect. Thank you, Talloran"
Kondraki leaned back again before getting up and slowly walking away.
-"This kid's crazy", he mumbled under his breath, slightly disturbed by what the fuck just happened - and maybe even a little worried for his sons taste in people.