"...if she comes back alive I'm not going to tell her anything that I'd mind Michael knowing, that's for sure."

“...Fair enough, I guess? If she comes back and there ends up being anything we know that she doesn’t and it might save her, I’m telling her, I don’t care if it gives information to Michael. But right now I honestly don’t know that we do know that much, so... that’s fine, I guess.”

"I realize I'm the person who tried to talk to the Watchful Thing but you should be more paranoid."

“I have considered how paranoid to be, you know! And you might be mind-controlled and Sasha might be mind-controlled and there are things I wouldn’t tell either of you but if it will save your life I am going to say them anyway! Deciding that I am willing to take this risk in extreme enough circumstances and making sure that we’re both clear on when I will take that sort of risk doesn’t make me naïve!”

"Oh, right, I forgot, you're a good person."

He melts a little at that. “For all we know, Elias might be talking to Michael, too. Just—different risk tolerances. Maybe we should both be more paranoid. Or maybe we’re both being overdramatic and all this is unnecessary. Really hope it’s the latter, if I’m being honest.”

"...no, I think our risk tolerances are pretty similar or I'm even more risk-loving than you, I just... don't really care that much if people I don't know well die. --I also hope we're being melodramatic, but uh." He gestures to the gloves he wears on his hands. "I'm used to being melodramatic."

“I guess that’s fair.” Shaky laugh. “Also I know Sasha and Tim better than you do. ‘Specially Tim, I think, we were actually pretty close? We haven’t been talking as much recently, but, uh, yeah.”

"...you should talk to him more maybe? I don't want to--" He gestures vaguely.

“Dunno that it’s you so much as the worm lady that stole his phone for two weeks, but yeah, I’ll reach out to him sometime.” Quick cheek kiss. “I should probably do any actual work today? Even if I can’t get fired. Is there anything you want me researching or?”

"New non-digitizable statement. Ancestor of Gerard Keay. Also if you can figure out anything about Michael that would be great but, uh."

“Yeah, kiiiiinda not expecting to get anywhere on that. I could check his description against anyone without a name, maybe? But I think the only other Michael who’s showed up is Mike Crew. Which, maybe they’re the same, I guess, I don’t know, but.”

Gosh, Martin is really cute!!!!! He had not previously adequately appreciated how cute Martin is.

He gets very little work done this afternoon and does not worry about Sasha nearly as much as he should.

If he stays late he’ll get to see Sasha stumbling back in, bleeding from a wound in her shoulder and generally looking a bit exhausted! (It’s not very deep, but it’s definitely noticeable.)

Unfortunately for Lev's ability to know what's up with Sasha he starts dragging Martin back to their apartment at 5:01 pm exactly.

Martin very obligingly lets himself be dragged! As soon as they’re out of the building he says “I love you.”

"I love you, you're really hot."

Flushing and smiling! “—what? I mean. Thank you? You’re also incredibly hot, don’t get me wrong, just—what brought this on all of a sudden?”

"I was thinking about it."

Why are they not home. They should be home so Lev can rip Martin's clothes off and suck his dick. --So Lev can explain that he's trans and then rip Martin's clothes off and suck his dick.

“You’re really cute.” They should be home, why are they not home yet. 

Well, very soon they will be home and then Martin can sit on the bed and Lev can sit in his lap and put his face on Martin's shoulder. 

Oh good! Lev should get his forehead kissed. 

........oh no it turns out that hitting on people is really embarrassing even if you are almost entirely certain they will say yes. 

Lev tries looking up at Martin adorably to see if Martin is capable of telepathy and he doesn't have to say things with his mouth. 

Unfortunately for Lev, Martin is not capable of telepathy! 

Lev bites his lip and looks down. "I like it when you tell me what to do." He pauses and he hopes Martin likes it when people are nervous. "Sir."