Chapter Text
Jason had been curious to see how things might change between him and Clive after their activities a few days back and their subsequent conversation, but for the most part, things had carried on as before.
He kept an eye out for chances for them to speak, but when they were in the same room, there were always others present. The team definitely knew something was going on, but Jason wasn’t about to put a spotlight on whatever this thing between him and Clive was just yet. They still had some untangling to do.
Eventually, he managed to catch Clive alone.
The team had just finished eating. Clive had settled onto a couch in the corner of the common room, perpendicular to Jason’s seat. A notebook lay over an open book in his lap. One hand moved steadily as he made notes; the other flipped between a few pages of his book. Jason watched from across the room, smiling to himself and making no sudden movements. Clive was far too absorbed to notice the others drifting out for the evening.
Soon, it was just the two of them.
With the coast clear and Clive still oblivious, Jason crossed the room. He came up behind the couch and leaned over Clive’s shoulder, peering down at whatever had captured his attention. At the top of the page, neatly written:
Resonant Behavior of Concentric Ritual Circles on a Subject: Iteration 2.
“Ohhh? What do we have here?” Jason murmured, his voice inches from Clive’s ear.
“Wha– ?” Clive jerked upright from his hunched posture, startled.
Jason reflexively hopped aside, then vaulted over the back of the couch, landing seated snugly beside him.
“I said,” Jason repeated, grinning as he leaned into the newly opened space between Clive and the book, “what do you have there?”
Clive recovered quickly, attempting to cover the page with his hands while Jason continued to peer at what remained visible.
“Clivvee,” Jason drew out, “Does that say iteration two? Is this your second draft of the fun we had?”
Finally remembering he could, Clive simply closed the book, trapping the notes inside.
Jason sat back but didn’t move away, their sides still in contact.
“Yes,” Clive said, glancing in Jason’s direction without quite meeting his eyes. “But it’s not ready.”
“Oh, come on. I’m sure you’ve already spent plenty of time on it,” Jason said, smiling.
Clive shifted subtly, making their closeness that much more noticeable.
Jason leaned in again, lowering his voice. “Can I get a hint? What compromising position are you putting me in this time?”
Clive’s cheeks flushed. It was, frankly, adorable.
“I really do need more time,” Clive said. Then, after a brief pause, added with careful composure, “We didn’t complete the full process last time. There are key components at the end that I realized I omitted in the first version.”
His tone was perfectly steady.
His face was not.
“Ugh.” Jason rolled his eyes and finally leaned back into the couch, giving Clive a bit of breathing room. “You are no fun,” he said lightly. “Maybe I should go find Belinda. She seemed pretty interested when you invited her in last time.”
Clive’s head snapped toward him, a flicker of sharp panic rippling through his aura, before it softened as he caught sight of Jason’s unmistakable smirk and felt the playful intent rolling off him instead.
A contemplative look overtook Clive’s face. Jason let the silence stretch between them while Clive worked something out in his head.
“Alright. How about this,” Clive said at last. “I’ve read that people who engage in similar… activities… sometimes do something like this.” His eyes flicked away from Jason, dropping to the book in his lap.
“If you can complete certain tasks to my satisfaction over the next few days, then we’ll run the test at the end of the week.”
Jason’s teasing smirk grew. “Oh? Certain tasks? To your… satisfaction?” His eyes gleamed. “And what, exactly, would be to your satisfaction, Professor?”
“That’s– that’s not what I meant. It’s not… that…” Clive sputtered.
“It’s not what, Clive?” Jason asked, leaning in just enough to crowd his space. “I’m not sure I understand. Maybe you could be more explicit?”
“I mean benign tasks,” Clive said quickly, pulling himself back together. “Things that are already part of your regular activities. I’ll simply ask that you approach each task with a particular intent.”
“Okay.” Jason leaned back, giving him room to breathe. Clive was taking the teasing better than expected. Best not overwhelm him this early. “Give me an example.”
Clive exhaled, visibly grateful for the reprieve. He drew one leg up onto the couch and turned fully to face Jason.
“Tomorrow we have a team meeting to prepare for that upcoming contract,” he said.
“Yeah? And?”
“During the meeting, treat it seriously. No jokes. No underhanded comments. And don’t encourage anyone else to derail it in your place.”
Jason gasped, affronted. “What? Everyone loves my perfectly timed comedic interludes.”
“Yes. Sometimes they do,” Clive said. His gaze lifted, steady and intent. “But this time, I’m asking you not to.”
“Jason, will you be good for me?” Clive asked in a tone Jason hadn’t heard before.
He shifted, pulling his legs onto the couch, closing the space between them just a little. He held Clive’s eyes.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I think I can be good… for you.”