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It had all started on that rooftop after Brian's refusal to betray Rebecca. The rooftop where Senator Morra had said the words that were now, weeks later, still stuck in Brian's head. "I do need a partner." A partner. In what world would senator Morra need Brian as his partner? "Well, maybe he meant as a powerfull ally?" His imaginary self argued. Yes, but Morra was the reason he held any power in the first place. He gave him the shots, he set him up in the FBI. Why him?
"Brian!" Rebbeca shouted as she hit him on the shoulder. He replayed the past few minutes in his head and realised that she had been calling his name for the past minute. "It's time for your pill." She handed him the tiny clear pill. Right. He had work to do, thoughts about senator Morra could wait. He threw the pill into the air and easily cought it with his mouth.
Even though he had a lot to do he couldn't help his mind drifting back to senator Morra. Why him? What makes him a good partner? What did he even mean by partner? "Are you ok Brian?" Rebecca asked for maybe the 5th time today. Wait, sixth. He really was getting distracted. Yeah I'm freaking out, because the man who essentially controls my life told me he wants me to be his partner and gave me drugs for my own use. He couldn't say that, so instead he went with: "I think it's going to be beer o'clock after work!" At least it would give him some time to think of what to say to Becca, while keeping who he's talking about and why.
After clocking out Brian felt his phone buzz with a ringtone he's sure he's never used for anyone. Interesting. The number wasnt saved on his phone either. The message was an adress and a time: Vagon street 21, 21:00.
This just keeps getting more and more interesting. As he's texting Rebecca that he'll have to cancel their beer o'clock, he's also trying to figure out who it could be. The address is an address to a bar. He went there once with his collage buddies, cool place, had some nice techno music and one of his buddies got blacked out and took of his shirt, getting banned. That's why he never returned to the place. He's assuming that the text sender is probably either Sands or Morra. On second thought, it's probably not Sands, this kind of bar isn't really his scene. So Morra? But why? He usually uses Sands for communication. "Maybe it's something to do with the partner thing." Says the imaginary Becca. She's wearing a space suit this time. Brian's brain feels like it might blow up and go to space at this rate.
By the time he gets to the bar the NZT has worn off, it doesn't stop his brain going 200 miles per hour though, even if it isn't getting anywhere. His thoughts only stop when he locks eyes with the man who called him here. All of a sudden the world stops and all he can focus on are those blue eyes. Had he ever noticed how blue they were before? What was going on behind them? What was this man thinking? What did he need Brian for? What did he mean by partner? Brian pinched himself to snap back to reality. It worked.
He walked towards senator Morra trying not to stumble. He was still looking at him. Why was he still looking at him? Was there something on his shirt? "Hello, Brian." The senators words immedietly snapped Brian back to reality. The possibility of a stain on his shirt forgotten. He tried to remember what he wanted to ask before he forgot again. He was way too stressed for this. As if he had read his thoughts senator Morra held out his hand "Relax, this is a purely... personal meeting. You're not in any trouble Brian." And then the future president smiled. At him. Brian wanted Morra to smile at him more. The smile looked really good on him.
"Would you like a drink?" Morra asked putting Brian's brain back on track. Why was Morra distracting him so much? "Yeah, Yeah! Could I get a beer please?" Morra added: "For me too. Thanks."
As the bartender started to pour their beers an awkward silence started. At least it was awkward for Brian. He was 90 percent sure that Morra was on NZT and could likely end his discomfort at any moment, but he seemed to be enjoying just watching Brian squirm. "So... if I'm not in trouble..." Brian made quotation marks with his hands on the word trouble "... Why am I here?" Morra gave him a look that Brian couldnt decipher. "Simple. I just wanted to get to know you better." Morra replied easily, smiling even more widely. How was that even possible? Noticing Brian's discomfort he continued "There's really nothing to worry about. There is no other reason. Here, as a show of my good will." And he takes Brian's hand and leaves a single, very familiar, clear pill in it. The senators hands are so warm and soft and they retract too soon in Brian's opinion, even if they seem to linger a bit longer than necessary. He takes a second to register the NZT pill that was now in his hand. Huh. So maybe there really wasn't any alterior motive. Though Brian was pretty sure that Morra would be smarter than him anyway, even on NZT.
Either way he took the pill just as their beers came.
While the pill was kicking in he started to slowly sip his beer.
The feeling of NZT kicking in was always pretty interesting. It felt like the world suddenly was more saturated and that everything made more sense. With his heightened sensed he looked at senator Morra again.
He was sitting in a relaxed position while still looking powerful. His suit and hair were immaculate as always. He seemed even more perfect than usual, which was wierd? He seemed dressed less like a politician and more like someone who was trying to look good for someone else. Interesting. Maybe he has a date after? At that thought Brian felt a sting. He decided to analyse that feeling a bit later. He had bigger things to do.
Morra smiled at him again as he sipped his beer. There was a certain look to him that he hadn't seen Morra give anyone else. Was it because they were both on NZT? It was the kind of look that made shivers run down Brian's spine. He decided to break the silence.
He took a sip for courage and asked "So... have you decided if you're gonna run for president?" Morra tilted his head at him a bit and replied: "Not fully, but I'm leaning more towards yes. There's a lot of good I could do as president." Brian thought that Morra would probably make a great president, possibly one of the greatest. Brain would for sure vote for him. "Have you decided what you're going to do in the future?" Morra asked. Brian thought for a second and replied: "Not really, I sort of really like my job at the FBI. The team is great and I feel kinda like a superhero."
All of a sudden a clatter came from towards the enterance. Both men looked towards the source of the sound. It was Mike, who had dropped his phone. He hadn't seemed to notice them. What was he doing here? Then Ike emerged from behind him and Brian looked more closely. They were on a date. They had both dressed up and had that nervous energy that people usually have during a date. Sort of like he felt now.
No.
Stop.
He is not on a date.
This cannot be a date.
Senator Morra would not want to go out with him.
He put those thoughts away. He was glad for Mike and Ike. He wasn't blind he had seen how Ike had been looking at Mike since the beginning and how Mike started to look at Ike after the whole Ike getting shot incident. He was truly happy for them.
Truly.
He's going to ignore the jealousy building in his stomach.
He looked back to Morra, who was still looking at him. "Maybe we should go somewhere else?"
Brian thought that Mike and Ike noticing him together with the senator would probably not be the best outcome.
"Sure. Where would you like to go?" Morra asked back, smiling again. Why were his smiles so fucking distracting.
Either way Morra had already finnished his beer and Brian chugged the rest of his. And they both exited the bar.
Even on NZT Brian still felt not as well put together as the senator who looked completely unbothered.
"So. what would you like to do Brian?" If Brian wasn't on NZT he'd probably short circuit, but luckily for him his brain quickly came up with an activity. "What about a game?" He offered with a smile.
Morra looked thrown off for a milisecond, but he recovered quickly. If Brian wasnt on NZT he wouldn't have noticed.
"What kind of game?" Brian decided that if this night really won't have that many consequences then he would make it his goal to get Morra off kilter again. This could be fun.
"Come with me and you'll find out." Brian replied holding out his hand. Morra took it. Brian tried to ignore the fact that his hand felt like it was being branded. He dragged Morra along the familiar path. His brain leading him through the streets to the old town.
They stopped in front of a building. A sign reading: players club xl was displayed above it. "An arcade?" Morra looked surprised for a second again. Brian savoured the moment. "Yes. You up for a game of ping pong?" Brian said as he dragged Morra into the club and paid for their tickets. They were still holding hands even while Brian paid. They only let go when they got to the ping pong table. Brian missed the contact immedietly.
As the game started Morra got the first point. Just as Brian thought he would. Unfortunately for Morra, Brian now knew his moves so the next point went to him.
After the first game (Brian's win (even though Brian is pretty sure Morra went easy on him)) they got some more drinks and then some more.
Alcahol mixed with NZT really weirdly. It didn't make him any dumber, but it did curse him to making worse decisions. He assumed that it made Morra do the same, since, after the 4th game of back and forth wins, he offered Brian a deal: whoever won the next game could ask one thing of the other.
All of a sudden Morra was a ping pong machine. Brian had never lost so badly at ping pong before, if he thought about it it was really hot, so he decided not to think about it. At least it confirmed his theory about Morra going easy on him before.
After the last point Morra came to the other side of the table and stood right next to Brian. Being this close to the man made Brian feel dizzy. He decided to say something before his brain completely shut off from the proximity. "Soooo what reward would you like esteemed senator?" Morra smiled at him. His smile looked even more beautiful up close.
All of a sudden the senator leaned in and kissed Brian. Even on NZT Brian froze.
He had not expected that.
He had really not expected that.
It appeared that Morra also realised that he had not expected that and he took a step back. "Was that not okay?" Morra asked. Brian finally unfroze. "No! No, no. no... I just didn't expect that. Sorry, can we do that again?" Morra smiled and leaned in again. This time they kissed untill they couldn't breathe. Had kissing ever felt that good before? When he had had one night stands before, trying to escape boredom it had never felt this good. Is it because they were both on NZT?
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Morra looking at him with those big blue eyes. He finally figured out what that look meant. It was the look he had seen Ike give Mike and Rebbeca give stacey.
Longing.
Huh, so maybe the senator liked him back.
At least to a certain degree.
Wait was this a date? Was he on a date with the soon to be president of America, the great senator Morra? His confusion must have been visible on his face because the senator in question chuckled and asked "What's got you frowning so much?" "Is this..." Brian hesitated. "...A date?" Morra stopped for a sec and started full on hollering at him. After looking up at Brian he noticed his unsure look and said: "Yes Brian I meant this to be a date, did you not want it to be?" And he looks at him with those deep blue eyes. "No.. No! I mean yes, yes I want this to be a date." The senator gave him possibly the most beautiful smile of the night.
"Wow. You have the most beautiful smile. Did you know that? I'm guessing you probably did, but you do. I would say you should smile more often, but you already smile all the time." Brian was rambling, he knew that, but Morra didn't seem to care and the consultant needed a sec to get his thoughts in order and readjust to his new reality.
So he was on a date with possibly the most powerfull and popular man in America. Huh. He had really not expected his day to go like this. He didn't really mind though.
He had been on dates before, but those were mostly with women. His attraction to men had been a rather recent development, or more so a very recent development. A development that started after a certain incident involving a shot that gave him so many opurtunieties and a threat to end his life in a more painful way than he can imagine said by the very same blue eyed man who was looking at him now. He still had so many questions, but he decided to ask: "You up for a video game?" Instead. "Sure" Morra replied as they made their way to the couch with the console.
They ended up deciding to play f1 and Brian ended up winning, even though judging by Morra's smile he had probably let him win. That made him feel all warm inside. After trying all the games in the club they decided to head out and walk around the old town.
It really was a very beutiful old town. Brian remembered going on an excursion here as a kid and using the power of NZT memory he started telling Morra all about it. He was pretty sure that this was all information Morra knew, but he didn't seem to mind Brian's tour giving.
They mostly stuck to the small streets, since people seeing them together would likely spell trouble. After getting into a rather secluded alley Morra grabbed him and pushed him to the wall, finding his lips as they both crashed into the ancient stone wall. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this for Brian." Morra said in-between kisses.
Brian decided that this was probably as good as a chance as he'd get to ask his questions "Why me?"
The look Morra gave him was so soft. He'd remember it forever. "The answer is obvious. Because you're special Brian"
He took his weight off of Brian and took his face in his hands. "So many people would use the power of NZT for their own gain, while you... you used it to save people.
To save your father and to solve a murder. Most other people would not do that." Once again Brian found himself at a loss, so instead of saying anything he kissed Morra again. The senator didn't seem to mind.
Now Morra started taking him places and explaining the history. Sadly they couldn't hold hands, what with Morra being one of the most famous people. Getting cought on a date with a guy could be detrimental to his career. It still made Brian a bit sad though.
Morra seemed to notice and took them down a less populated area and took his hand. Brian looked at him and Morra smiled back.
They kept walking around the old town for a few hours untill Brian looked at the clock. It was 5:00 am. He needed to be back home before 6:00 so Mike and Ike don't freak out. "It's getting late... and I kinda need to be back before 6 so the police don't start a manhunt... again..." Morra chuckled and gave him a look. "Again?"
He pulled out his phone and continued "I guess that's a story I'll have to hear another time.
Come I'll take you home Brian." As he took his hand again, pulling him along. He pulled them through the smaller streets untill they came up to a car. He pulled him into the backseat.
"Were free to talk in here, the driver won't say anything." Morra said. The car took him to Brian's house.
Morra got out with him. "Thanks..." Brian looked to the ground. "For the date I mean."
Morra pulled his face up and kissed him again. "Does that mean I get to take you on another one?" He said with a smirk. Brian felt his face form into a grin.
It seemed that that was all the reassurance Morra needed as he got back into the car and drove away.
Brian stood there untill the car was out of view.
He went upstairs and the moment he got changed there was a knock on the door. It was Ike, who'd come pick him up. "Well you look terrible." He said as he came in. "You look like you're glowing on the other hand. Did your date with Mike go well?" Ike froze.
"Dont woooorry I won't tell anyone. Could we get some redbull on the way?" Brian continued. "Sure." Ike replied, still a bit stunned.
As they exited the house Brian's phone rung again with the same, now familiar ringtone, it was another adress and time. He smirked, just as Ike said "Oh I love that song" Brian looked up from his phone and asked: "What's the name again?" "It's my type by saint motel, how do you not know."
The audacity to put that as his ringtone.
That bastard.