day 2 (morning)

[antietam]

[ Adam is quiet as he leads Luke away from the crime scene and all the people. There's no part of him that wants to be around all of them right now but he does actually have something to talk about with Luke, something that was on his mind as soon as he was able to comprehend the murder.

He only knows how to survive. It's instinct like in every human. Adam doesn't even know what he's surviving for at this point but he's not going to give up like this.

They finally end up in the bathroom, and then Adam opens the door to the sauna. He motions for Luke to step in. ]

Miss it? [ The sauna. ]

Comments

[chiseler]

[He doesn't seem to notice (or care) the way Adam reacts to the word but he doesn't bother pulling back. It's easier to read Adam this way and if they're going through with this, well, they'll have to be used to being this close. However, he blinks in surprise when Adam ups the ante and he chuckles to himself.]

That might be the harder part. [He's. Probably joking.] You realize you're asking me to pretend to be monogamous with you. Isn't that a relationship? That might be a little bit of a harder sell.

[antietam]

[ He raises his eyebrows like he really doesn't care that any of this might be harder. ]

That's the point. If you start going around with other people, no one's going to take this seriously. [ This apparently being them. ] How would a relationship be harder to sell? It starts off with attraction and it goes from there. People start dating for lesser reasons all the time.

[chiseler]

[He rolls his eyes.] And just how many people have you actually dated in your life? [But okay, this is fair and he seems to think about that.]

...if the situation was reversed and somebody else was doing this, what would they have to do to convince you they were dating? [A pause.] You know the other thing is that we have to be careful this doesn't bite is later for being too biased toward each other. It's a balancing act.

[antietam]

[ That makes him frown and he pulls away, crossing his arms. ] I've dated.

[ And that's all that comes from him on that subject. His girlfriend broke up with him like, a few days ago. It's sore. ] I don't know, act like it in public? Do what couples do. Are you going to have a problem with that? [ Pretending like he doesn't have a problem with it... ]

I don't think that'll be an issue. Innocent kids would want to see killers come to justice. If we thought our sweetheart could really be a murderer, we wouldn't defend them.

[chiseler]

[His lip curls into a smile like he doesn't quite believe it, but sure Adam.]

"What couples do." If you're asking me if I'm going to have a problem pretending I'm swapping spit with you on a regular basis...[A shrug. That's not an answer and he knows it.]

That's a good point. If you actually killed somebody I'd out you immediately to stop it no matter how much I liked you. It's just about convincing everybody else that that would be the case. For the most part though...sounds like we're on the same page.

[antietam]

[ He flusters a little at Luke's lovely description. Even his last girlfriend didn't want to kiss him... ] Well? Might as well air all your grievances now. Is it going to bother you?

[ Mostly he just wants to know. He raises his eyebrow when Luke says he would out him if he killed someone. Adam, personally, doesn't care as long as Luke doesn't kill him. ] We're going to have to prove ourselves in the trial, then. Make it look like we really care about justice being done.

[chiseler]

[Aw, that's cute.] The only way it's going to bother me is if you're a bad kisser. Is that something I'm gonna have to worry about? [It's still not really an answer, but it's Luke goading him anyway.]

As for the rest...I absolutely care about justice or whatever. [That's reassuring.] Or, at least, I care about not getting myself killed and that's probably close to the same thing. Trust me. I can prove myself just fine.

[antietam]

I haven't had any complaints before. [ Well. It's true. He seems even more nervous about it. What if Luke is unimpressed? Why does he care? ]

That's why I think you're a good pick, anyway. You have something to get back to, don't you? You're going to do whatever you have to in order to get back.

[chiseler]

I've also got some high standards. [He's teasing most, not bothering to take this seriously for now.]

...but I do. I've got a job to do and I'm not letting something like this get in my way. Don't you? You have things to get back to and your magical trees to protect, right?

[antietam]

Yeah? I bet you're not that much of an expert yourself. [ He's not sure but stop poking at his insecurities. ]

I'm sure they'd like me to get back. [ He's not sure if it's something he actively wants. Still, he wants to be alive. ] Whatever you have to do to get that, I'll help. Least I could do, right?

[chiseler]

You'll find out soon enough, I'm sure. [He even lifts a hand to wave him off.]

...okay. [He considers again before nodding slowly, getting to his feet.] I think we've got a deal. We shouldn't stay in here for much longer though. We can work out the rest of the details later.

[antietam]

Guess we'll see if we're compatible enough to be a good fake match. [ He gives him a quick smile and it's somewhat appreciative because this is kind of a lot. But it'll probably work out.

Then he steps away from Luke to leave the sauna. ]