Brian paced restlessly through his apartment. Ed would return, would he? His thoughts went in endless circles until he suddenly stopped. He just stood there, staring into nothingness.

Ed had let him call her from his phone. He had her number. She had the enzyme. One and one…

He grabbed his phone, called her. An eternity passed until she took his call.

"Hello?" he asked in a low voice.

"Hey." Silence. Then he could hear a soft sigh. "I am sorry I snapped at you. But you mentioning Jane. Ugh. I think I went mad after that." She sounded sad. So sincere once again. Silence followed.

"So… you didn't kill your boyfriend?" he could hear laughter through his phone. "No. I loved him."

Brian bit his lower lip. He hadn't done that since he was a teenager. There was a thought in his mind. Was it possible… that both said the truth? Piper, normal Piper, wouldn't ever have killed her boyfriend. She loved him. But NZT Piper was a different story. NZT Piper saw everything. All those connections. NZT Piper, the moment she had decided to betray Morra, knew, he would hunt her loved ones down. What if she killed her boyfriend? To protect him from greater pain. He stared blankly at his TV. The things we do for love. NZT Piper knew that Piper wouldn't accept that story as true. So, she had… could someone on NZT forcefully forget something? Maybe she had done it during a blackout like Ed had suggested. Then her brain would take care of the rest.

He blinked the thought away. "Piper. You must leave wherever you are. Now."

"Why?" she sounded surprised. Brian closed his eyes, sighing deeply. He felt his heart ache.

"You remember the number I called you from earlier? Was his phone."

There was one second of eternal silence. The one moment she needed to process what he had just said. Then she screamed. In terror. "YOU DID WHAT?!" He could basically see how she jumped up and started to pack her stuff together.

"Brian. You are on speakers. Why did you…?"

Brian took his time not answering. He considered… but he was done with lying. For tonight at last. "I love him." There was sudden silence on her end of the phone. He had shocked her that deeply, that she had stopped packing. "You do what? He is a psychopath, you know that, don't you?" Brian chuckled. "Believe me, I know what he is. He just scared me to death. But. You know. If he isn't mad he isn't that bad at all. He is… actually kind of sweet." And caring and lovely and hot. But he guessed she didn't want to know that. Silence from her. A long silence. A dragging silence.

"When? How?" Brian shrugged. Remembered that she couldn't see him and went for speaking. "Doesn't matter. Happened. You have to leave. And… don't call me. Please. I took sides." She was silent once again. Then she resumed packing. "He is using you, you know that? He just used you to get to me. I don't think he loves you. Just playing a game." Brian smiled sadly. Her words were so true. True in a way it hurt. Badly. "I know. I am not stupid, even though people tend to think that." He sighed softly. "But you don't know him. I think he loves me." Silence. She didn't know what to say to that. "Well. Good luck Brian." A moment of silence. Then she giggled. "You actually suck his dick, don't you?" Brian blushed deeply. "No." Not yet. She could hear her burst into laughter. "Yeah, whatever. Thanks for warning me." And with that, she hung up. Brian stared blankly at his phone. Then he sighed and let himself drop onto his couch. Now he had to wait. Ed…

A ringing doorbell ripped him away from an uneasy sleep. He sat upright on his couch and looked around bewildered. What. When. How. He blinked. Doorbell. Getting up he opened his door. Waiting. It had to be Ed. Please.

His silent prayers had been answered when his love came to a stop in front of him. He wore a sad expression on his face. "I'm sorry." And then Brian found himself in a loving embrace, pressed against his chest. Brian closed his eyes and started to relax, wrapping his arms around Ed in response. He could feel his fears disappear. His worries fall from his shoulders. It would be okay. A moment passed like that. Then he pulled his lover into his flat and closed the door behind them. They looked at each other for a long moment. Silence embraced them. It was Brian, who broke it.

"I am sorry I sneaked around behind your back. Won't happen again. Without your knowledge." He chuckled softly and sighed deeply after that. He could see a tiny smile on Ed's lips.

"I am sorry for threatening you. I…" but Brian interrupted him. "It's okay. You scared me to death but I see why you did it. Just…" he hesitated a moment. He had thought about that while running around in circles earlier. "Just… let's be honest to each other, okay?" He looked at Ed. Expectantly. A long moment passed. His love sighed softly.

"Okay."

They looked at each other kind of embarrassed. Brian took it onto himself to open Ed's coat, pull it off. Let it drop to the ground. A moment later, he hugged him. Buried his face in the crook of his neck. Inhaling his scent. He could feel Ed's arms around himself. He felt secure. Like he always felt in his arms. Like he was meant to feel in his arms. A moment later Ed took a step back and slid to the ground, pulling Brian along. Brian ended on Ed's lap, surrounded by his arms, pulled against his chest. Ed leaned himself against Brian's door, his gaze resting on his lover. They had definitely selected the most comfortable place to cuddle while sitting.
Minutes went by in silence. Brian had snuggled close, enjoying their closeness. This weird state of embarrassment, sadness and relief. Then he decided to test his lover.

"You will hunt Piper down." It was stated as a fact. No question. It was a fact, after all. He could feel how the embrace, which held him, tightened for a brief second. He could hear Ed's steady breathing. "Yes."

Brian finally rose his gaze, looking at Ed. He looked calm. Determined.

"I figured that out too. I called her. Gave her a fair warning. I told her to not call me again. I know whose side I'm standing on."
Ed looked at him for a long moment, then he smiled. It was a sad smile.

"I think that's why I fell for you. You care. For all." He paused. "Even though I have to admit it's annoying when you warn my enemies." Brian chuckled softly, snuggling close once again.

Silence passed. "Did you kill Becca's father?" he once again rose his head, looking at Ed. His lover had closed his eyes. He frowned first. Then opened his eyes, looking at him. "Who?" he asked, looking at him puzzled. "Becca's father. A year ago. When the streets were flooded with NZT."

He could feel Ed's gaze on him. He looked at him for a few seconds, thinking. "No. I did buy every single pill of NZT I could get my hands on, but I didn't kill anyone. As soon as NZT isn't available anymore, people usually get killed over it. Like your friend Eli. Or they die to sudden side-effects because they can't maintain the dose. Either way, no reason to dirty my hands."

Brian looked at him for a long moment. He seemed to have said the truth. "Why did you think that long about an answer?" he teased him. "Who did you kill a year ago?" he asked mockingly. Ed broke their gaze, exhaled slowly. "Some people?"

Brian stared at him. Blinked. And shook his head. "You really are a psychopath walking around murdering people." He was silent for a moment. Ed sighed softly. "I don't enjoy it. You can at least cross the psychopath." Brian frowned. "Then… why are you doing it?" Ed looked at him. Calm. "Necessities?" They stared at each other for a long moment. Brian sighed. Alright. Change the subject.

"Why did your ex-employees call you anyway? Are they that scared of you?" Ed surprised him with a laugh. "Hell, no. I am an awesome employer. Fear goes a long way, but it's useless in getting people on your side permanently. They… I don't know. Think highly of me?" Brian looked at him, tilting his head. Something bothered him about that sentence. He just couldn't figure what.

"You didn't say it back." Brian stated after a long while, pouting. Ed blinked, looking at him. A naughty grin appeared on his lips. "I'll wait for a moment you expect it least. Wanna see your face." Brian intensified his pouting. "How should I ever be sure you love me until then?" he asked mockingly. He wanted to hear it. Now. Ed looked at him intensely. He liked that look. It let to goosebumps. "Well…" Ed said slow, with a seductive tone underneath. "I can think of a way or two." Brian felt the arm on his back move, press against him.

Ed changed their position, supporting himself with his other arm. Brian found himself on his back, with Ed hovering above. His love closed the gap between them, pressing his lips on Brian's. It was a soft and slow and loving kiss. Brian could feel his heart beat faster. He rose his hands, caressing Ed's neck gently. Their kiss lasted forever. He wasn't sure if he had ever been kissed like that. The kisses he knew were soft and gentle or passionate, but this…? While their kisses grew more passionate Brian couldn't stop but wonder. How did his life lead to this moment? Him on his own floor, a man towering over him, them making out.

Brian stared into his mirror. He looked terrible. He had slept one or maybe two hours. It felt more like five minutes. One moment he closed his eyes, the next he was kissed awake by Ed. He had taken a quick shower. Put clothes on. But he still looked terrible. And he looked fucked. Literally. The face of his lover appeared beside him in the mirror.

"Why the hell do you look that charming?" he growled at him darkly.

He could see how Ed turned his face, looking at him. "Natural talent?" he answered mockingly, continuing to check his appearance.
Brian frowned. They had had sex yesterday. In different locations. He knew make-up sex was great, but, hell, none he ever had could compare to what they did yesterday. He could feel warmth run through his body while he thought back.

"You don't look thoroughly fucked." He whined while Ed resorted to nibbling on his neck. Brian watched him in the mirror. It was kind of hot to see his lover kiss him. Some moments went by until he could feel Ed suck on his skin. "Are you giving me a hickey?" he asked incredulously. Ed answered with something that sounded like "Mm mm." while never letting go of his skin. He was giving him a hickey. He could stop him. But he didn't want to. Instead, he watched how Ed finally let go of his skin and pressed a gentle kiss on his going to be love bite. Afterwards, he adjusted Brian's shirt, hiding the mark in the process. A moment later he had his arms wrapped around Brian, pulling him back against his chest. Brian leaned into the hug and against his lover.

"You shouldn't worry that much about your appearance." Ed stated softly, pressing his face against Brian's neck.

Brian rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, you can say that."

"I am serious. Your apartment will give you away anyway." Brian looked at him for a few long moments. His face went from 'what are you talking about' to pure horror in the span of a few seconds. Fuck. Of course. You could smell sex. And his bodyguards entering this place... He guessed he needed to get early to work today. Before anyone could pick him up.

Ed smiled innocently while Brian's thoughts tackled other topics. He turned his lover around and engaged him in a passionate good-bye kiss. "See you on Wednesday?"