Chapter 6

Tom hated mornings and loved breakfast. Therefore he had enough motivation to get up and actually go to class on the first day. Most of the beginner coursework did not seem frightening at all.

Tom worked with plants very intimately over the last three years. He might not have known the Latin names or any of the really scientific stuff but the boy, now man, had a green thumb that most nurseries would murder to obtain.

His roommate on the other hand, however, was a bunny. It had only been a couple of hours but Tom's fuse was slowly but surely beginning to ignite and run short. Bunny, as Tom now nicknamed the boy, was pouring over the morning newspaper on his iPad.

There was already two cups coffee and a coffee machine set on one of the flat surfaces of the room. His roommate did not look up from the screen but gestured over to the two cups. Tom was suddenly hit with the revelation that he might be able to live with the man after all.

Anyone who made coffee in the morning was easily a good roommate. Tom drowned the bitter, black coffee. It tasted amazing, better than the traditional coffee shop stuff.

"You a barista or something?" Tom asked.

His roommate smiled, "Nope, just another rich kid trying not to show the world I am completely dependent on my trust-fund." His smile looked amazing. Tom took a moment to look at his roommate. The pictures had not done the young man any justice.

Although his roommate was twenty with an amazing love for philanthropy. One of those rich people who always went to places and helped. It started because they young man had nothing better to do with his life and now became a passion he wanted to fulfill.

"Leonidas," Bun- Leonidas said.

"Tom," the younger man replied in turn. "So any plans of what you want to do?"

"Everyone has a plan they just haven't realised it yet. Business major, daddy dearest wants me to take over his empire and you."

Tom looked up into those grey eyes and wondered why it was always so hard to keep a conversation flowing. It had been three years since he had anyone his own age to talk too. Even on his missions, he could not stop the awkwardness from seeping into the room when he talked to people his own age.

"Biology major, nothing crazy about that. I just like plants."

There it was the awkward pause that neither of them could fill.

"Have any favourite books or movies?"

"No, not really," Tom cringed at his own answer. What the hell would this guy be thinking about him.

"Same here. I hate it when people gush about those things to make conversations." There is was again that easy, friendly smile.

Tom looked around the room. He had to keep talking but he could not reveal what he did know without his roommate thinking he was another one of those stalker types.

There. Bingo.

"Where was that picture taken?" Tom inquired. He indicated to the picture behind Leonidas. There were about a dozen kids of varying ages in the photo and Leonidas had his arms around as many of them as possible. His brown hair a mess and his head thrown back in laughter along with the children.

"That was taken two weeks ago. I was in the Congo working at one of the local schools there. It makes me think how much more those children deserve."

The lost smile that graced Leonidas face captivated Tom once more. Now Tom was not gay or bisexual. If his stashed porn had any say, Tom was very, very straight. He liked the way woman looked. He appreciated long legs and even longer hair with large double D cups when possible. Like any other warm-blooded male he jacked off every once in a while to that girl who bought the tiny cherry blossom trees for someone special but never had anyone's smile made him feel this warm.

"That is so cool," Tom gushed. He honestly thought it was.

"Just wanted to know is 'Tom' short for something?" Leonidas actually looked interested in Tom's answer.

"Unfortunately not. My parents seemed to like simpler names. Not that yours is bad or any-"

There it was the laugh in the picture. Unguarded and easy to fall in love with.

"No offense taken," Leonidas said through the laughter. "I am convinced my parents never loved me enough to hook me up with a simple name. Leo is what everyone calls me. Unless you are uncomfortable with that and want to use my whole name."

"Leo," Tom tested it on his tongue. It was not the first time he had used the name but this time it tasted different. The weight of it on his tongue seemed to be different somehow.

"I got to go to class," Leo said standing up and grabbing a think textbook and a bag from the floor. "Nice to meet you Tom. I'll get pizza tonight before we have to suffer from awful cafeteria food."

"Sure, have fun," Tom said in a cheeky voice.

He was going to probably get along really well with his roommate. Tom waited for a moment before taking out his phone. The room was not lined with any cameras but there was still thing such as tiny bugs to worry about.

Tom opened a specifically designed app on his phone and began to scan the room. A ping indicated the room was clean of any bugs. He then plugged his phone charger onto the wall. The electric field from the charger acted like a net and its ability allowed Tom to find any conversation or search that the students in his building did. He had to be aware for this mission. His best friend's life might be on the line this time.

Tom knew Alex was oblivious to it all. Nile had warned Niko about that much when he approached Tom with this mission almost a year ago. His only job was to keep Alex safe and calm. His best friend deserved a slightly normal life even if it was only an illusion.

He had to get that smile out of his head. That glorious laugh that made Tom want to laugh as well. The smell of cologne that lingered in the room made Tom want to rub his face on it. Tom never had hots for any guy before but he was glad that if he did have one it was with someone he could admire up close.

Tom sighed before sending a short text to a number that would not exist a week from now. His life as an agent only started but Tom already wanted out. Three years of training and a perfectly good teacher was something he could appreciate but Tom never had the experience of falling in love and knew that now it was almost an impossible task.

Never drag family into any of this. Never make the mistake of making a friend and if you find someone to love and they love you back with just as much strength leave them. It is not wise to allow anyone you care into this life. It is your own and it is one you have chosen.

Those were Niko's words and Tom could not help but think they were unfair.

A/N: I probably love writing Tom the most he is a struggle to write sometimes but if I feel the flow the words just tumble out.