Brian looked around carefully while walking down the alley. Did Mike or Ike follow him? Or Becca? Anyone from the FBI? Well, they should not have any reason to monitor him. He had been a good boy lately. Not that mean to his two bodyguards. Not too annoying to Becca and Boyle on NZT. Not too… much things. But maybe that had been suspicious. Too obvious, that he hid something. He closed his eyes for a second while he walked down that alley. He could hear the low wind. Feel the falling temperature. Hear the chatter of people a few blocks away. The smell of alcohol on the ground. The buzzing of insects in the nightly air.

Opening his eyes, his brain went to work, thinking of all those possibilities, that night could go wrong. The first and most obvious: His love wasn't at their meeting point. Hadn't made it. The second: His love was there and started to laugh when he showed up 'Sorry, goddamn, that all was just a joke!' No no… that wouldn't happen. Maye someone did follow him. Would see them both. For the hundredth time, he stopped, turned around ever so slightly, and stared into the night surrounding him. No. No one had followed him. He would know if someone did. Fooling an NZT accelerated brain wasn't easy. And yet he was going mad. No one was allowed to know about them. He meeting Edward Morra... would raise questions. Questions better never asked.
He sighed lowly, massaged his temples and started moving again. His second self stood there for a second.

"Relax Brian, everything will work out." Yeah, that he had easy talking. He would not live with the consequences if it didn't. Or he would because he was he. Or… damn it! Relax Brian.

After another five minutes of sheer overthinking everything, he arrived where he wanted to be. An old street lamp illuminated the scene in front of him. Insects buzzing overhead. He was deep in the Central Park. At one of those corners that were avoided after sunset. For good reason. And there, on a bench, he was. His love. Gaze fixated on his tablet. Silently tapping on it, doing what-not and more.

A few seconds passed until Edward Morra rose his gaze. A tiny smile on his lips. He wore his usual black coat to shield himself from the cold night. His face was barely lit by the old street lamp, weird shadows dancing on it. A moment later he stood, walking to Brian and pulling the younger one closer, uniting their lips in a soft kiss. Brian could feel the coldness of the night on his lover's lips. The warmth of his breath on his face. He could smell the sweat of a hard day, the Eau de Cologne underneath. He could feel the heartbeat of the body being pressed against him. For a moment he imaged the blood, which was pumped through that very same body. He could feel his own heart switching to overdrive. And a sudden emptiness in his head. Then their lips parted. A tiny flush appearing on his cheeks, while Ed just smiled.

"You are late." Edward stated, turning off his tablet and grabbing Brian's hand. Then he pulled the younger one along.

"Where are we going?" Brian asked even though he knew, following calmly.

"I thought a hotel room. One of those without video surveillance or ID checks." Of course. Their relationship was quite very hidden. Why else meet in Central Park at night? Well, for a walk, but…

"I thought…" Brian hesitated. Very rare when you are on NZT.

Edward realized that and came to a stop, turning around and facing his lover. "You thought?"

Brian remained silent for a moment. Why had he said something? Hotel room was fine. Hotel room was safe. And hotel room was so… "We could go to my place?" impersonal. He wanted to change that.

Ed looked at him for a few seconds. Eternity in NZT time. "Are you sure? We could be watched."

Brian's heart went a pace up. "I checked my apartment. And double checked it. No surveillance. No surveillance in the corridor leading to my apartment either. Mike or Ike don't show up until six." if there was no important emergency meeting. "So we have…"

"Five hours and a bit." Ed smiled while talking. His eyes remained on Brian for a moment, then he pulled his love along again, his eyes on the path in front of them. He would see Brian's apartment. Were they taking that relationship thingy to the next level? Apparently…

30 minutes and a car drive later they were at Brian's place. A moment later they were in Brian's place. Brian waited calmly until Ed had taken his shoes and coat off, then got rid of his 'too much' streetwear and followed Edward into his little FBI sponsored safe house, erm, apartment. He watched Ed, knowing that he checked for surveillance himself. He would probably do the same if he was in his place. After a few moments and a few steps into his living room, he remembered…

"Can I get you something? A drink?" manners. Good manners.

"I'll take a water." And with that Brian was gone, off into his kitchen to fetch a bottle. When he returned Ed was sitting on his couch, looking casually around. "You have seen the entire place with one gaze, why look around?" Brian asked, handing his love his drink while sitting down. Ed laughed softly. "Politeness?" was his evasive answer while he took a sip from his drink. In front of them was a low couch desk. In front of that the TV. Shelves surrounding it. A music collection on a desk in a corner. Some 'paintings' from IKEA on the wall. A plastic Bonzai. More plastic plants. One real orchid. To their right a door, most likely leading to a bedroom. To their left an open kitchen. Brian was right, he had seen everything already. After another sip of his drink, the bottle ended on the desk in front of them. Then he turned slightly, facing Brian.

That very same Brian already went mad once again. WHY had he taken Ed to his apartment? Mike or Ike could storm in at any second! Or Becca. Or ANYONE! Or… his trail of thoughts was abruptly interrupted when he felt Ed's lips on his own. So soft. Warmer this time. Then he was pulled into two strong arms, pulled against a muscular chest. He could feel the warmth radiating from Edward's body. Then there was the low voice of his lover.

"You spaced out. Thought I should bring you back." A low chuckle. Warm breath stroking his ear.

"Dumbhead." Brian murmured, before rising a bit. Only slightly, to be able to kiss Ed. His love. The kiss started like the last one. Gentle and soft, but turned more passionate by the second, until their tongues were playing with each other. Brian could feel, how Ed pulled him closer. He could feel those strong arms wrapping around his body. Hands running along his back, through his hair. And those lips. Oh, how much he loved those lips. Their kisses were always… kind of special. Gentle and steamy at the same time.

After a lot of kissing and catching breath and more kissing his face rested on Ed's chest. His cheek pressed against the soft dark-blue fabric of his pullover. He wished for that piece of cloth to be gone. He wanted to feel skin. Warm and soft(?) skin. But not today. Or today? Inviting someone to his place… oh shit! His eyes widened when he remembered the oldest rule of "Do you want to come to my place". Sex! He… he didn't want to sleep with Ed! Not now! It was too early for that! Far too early! Then he heard a soft chuckle from the man below him.

"What the heck are you thinking about? Your pulse just jumped up to 140."

"I.. erm… eh…" Brian stuttered. "I… erm…" "We…." "My place…" "You.." he could see, how his love rose an eyebrow. Then he started to laugh. Really loud. If he wouldn't laugh at him, Brian would like that sound. Ed laughed far too less. But like that, the younger one grumbled and rose to a sitting position, attempting to hide his face. God, that was embarrassing! After thirty seconds or so Edward stopped laughing. Only chuckling once every while. Then he could feel fingers under his chin, gripping his face, turning it. Forcing him to face the senator.

"We won't have sex, don't you worry. I am excited enough to be invited." And for the first time in a while, Brian could see the slightest blush on Ed's face.

"You know, I can see that you take that relationship thing serious. By inviting me here. Of course, it could just be a trap, to lure me into weird photographs, destroy my rep, end my campaign" oh, hello NZT "but I don't think you are that type of guy." Edward finished his sentence.

Brian could see his slightly red face. How blood had brought that color. Ed was excited to be here. He was happy. He was… this time it was Brian, who leaned forward and crushed their lips against each other. A long and hot kiss followed. By its end, Brian's hair was a total mess.

"I am happy, that you came along." He whispered, then snuggling close to Edward once again. His pulse was around 120. A smug smile appeared on Brian's face.

"Your heart is beating so fast, what's wrong?" those words only earned a laugh and a moment later he felt those strong arms again. Surrounding him. Protecting him. And to the sound of Ed's heartbeat, he fell asleep.