Jack and Brock had ended up finding a small restaurant not far from where AIM was. Though English was fairly common, Jack was extremely grateful for Brock's French. Not long after, Jack found them a hotel and they began to get settled in for who knew how long.

"Does it still hurt?" asked Jack as he threw his bag beside one of the twin sized beds.

"What do you mean?"

Jack almost picked up his bag again just to throw it at Brock. "Please don't deny it. I could see you wincing every which way you moved at the restaurant and you're still doing it."

"Well it doesn't hurt as badly," Brock muttered. He pushed himself up and got onto the bed. Stripping off his jeans, he finally took time to examine his legs.

Looking over, Jack finally saw what they looked like. The sight didn't disgust him in any way, partially because such a thing didn't matter to him and also because he'd honestly seen worse. "You look like Robocop, except you're still more man than robot."

"Like what?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "You really need to broaden your horizons."

Brock just shrugged, concentrating more on what he now looked like for the foreseeable future.

"So what's the plan?" asked Jack.

"What do you mean? We're staying until I get my strength up," Brock replied.

"Alright, I just thought you'd rather not affiliate with anyone so quickly."

"They gave me my legs back. I may not stay with them long but I owe them something. Besides, it's easier to gain your strength without having to worry about running for your life. Anyways, AIM is open and has the ability to gain information that would be much harder gained on our own. They'll be useful for us as well," Brock responded.

Before Jack could reply though, he saw Brock freeze up suddenly and quickly ask, "Why? Were you thinking of leaving?"

"What? God no, I just wanted to know. Whatever your decision I'll follow you," Jack promised. "Unless it's like following you into a volcano or something. In that case you're on your own."

Brock smirked as the tension in his shoulders eased. Jack suspected the remaining tension was from the pain.

"Come on, you should probably rest now," Jack said. "Tomorrow we can figure out crap like plans and whatnot."

"Fine," growled out Brock.

Jack waited to see if Brock needed any help but was pleased when Brock was able to situate himself in the bed by himself for the first time in a long time. Jack threw off his shirt and then pushed himself underneath the bed sheets. "If you need help with anything don't hesitate to wake me up."

"I'll remember," replied Brock.

Letting out a sigh, Jack tried to let himself fall asleep but upon finding himself unable to, he got up. Checking on Brock, he saw he'd already passed out so he grabbed his shirt and shoes again and headed out of the room, making sure to keep a key card in his pocket.

The place was nice enough that there was a bar downstairs open until two in the morning. Jack ordered a beer with some strange name and remained there, sipping occasionally and mostly thinking. If he wanted to get piss drunk he would have gone to a "proper" bar for that. But no, he just needed some time to himself, to decide what he was going to do.

Of course he was staying with Brock, that was obvious, but his whole life was officially over now. Not only was he a wanted criminal for the US government but his own people would like to believe him dead now as well. He also had a completely different organization with a completely different set of rules running things.

Or at least somewhat running things. It appeared that AIM would allow much freer range than Hydra ever did if they kept their word.

But that meant more free time. It meant the chance of a life. It didn't sound that bad honestly but he couldn't help but wonder how Brock was going to adjust to that in the end. All his life it had been do this and do that. Having nothing to do for a few days, weeks, maybe even months on end could drive him insane. Jack could just imagine the man throwing something through the TV after watching the same reruns for the fifth or sixth time.

He knew the man would start out by working out and then suggest going somewhere to drink and maybe get a bite to eat.

But what about reading? Movies? Museums? They were in Paris fucking France after all! Even Jack, who wasn't big on culture, would feel guilty if he didn't go to one historical site. And there was music, parks, and plays. Videogames even! Jack doubted Brock had ever played a videogame in his damn life. There was just so much the man had missed out on and actually having time to be introduced to all of it so late in his life might be difficult. His life had been his team, Hydra, drinking, and sex and all in that order.

As such thoughts flew through Jack's head, the bartender finally asked him if he needed anything else but Jack shook his head and paid for his drink. Going back upstairs, he stripped once more and slipped in under the covers.

On his side, Jack could see the dark outline of Brock. Every few moments he saw Brock's body shudder but he never cried out, nor did he awake, and finally Jack fell asleep. The night yielded no memories and upon waking up the next morning, Jack could say with certainty that he wasn't surprised when he saw Brock working out on the ground.

Brock's eyes had flashed open, a small tinge of fear still in his heart, but he knew where he was and the fear quickly melted. With Jack still asleep, he went right to working out. Just stretching was difficult but he kept at it, pushing himself to the max.

When Jack woke up, Brock glanced over and saw that the man really wasn't surprised. He also looked like he wanted to interject but he let Brock do his thing. In fact, Jack let him do it for four days straight.

It was on that fifth day that Jack woke up before Brock and forced him awake saying, "We're going out."

"What?"

"You have been doing nothing but working out, eating, and sleeping. It's about time we actually see this city."

"We can see it once I'm better."

Jack sighed, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Just moving around at this point will be good for you. You don't have to work yourself to near exhaustion. If you're trying to prove a point then you've proven it. 'Kay? You're capable. Soon you'll be outrunning me again but for now, resting is just as important as exercising."

Brock kept the sour look on his face.

"We are leaving this hotel and that is the end of it. Now go take a shower. You reek," Jack said as he threw a fresh outfit at Brock.

Resisting the urge to fight the matter, Brock did as Jack asked and was soon out with both pants and shirt on. He clambered over to the wheel chair and collapsed into it. After taking a short rest, he bent forward and started putting on shoes. As he did so, he asked, "So is this like a date or something?"

Jack hesitated, a small frown appearing on his lips. "Why? Do you mean it to be?"

"Do you?"

"No. Why?"

Brock looked up and the smile Jack saw both confused him as much as it pleased him. "Just curious honestly. I mean, if I dated anyone at this point it would be you. I trust you more than anyone I ever met now. Besides, I don't think adding sex could really complicate what we have any more than how it already is."

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course."

"Then it's a date."

"What are we doing then?"

"It's a surprise."

Letting out a snort, Brock muttered, "Of course it bloody well is."

As Jack turned around to finish packing a bag, he rolled the wheel chair up behind him. Grabbing onto Jack's shirt, he used it as leverage to pull himself up.

"What—"

"Will this make you tell me?"

Brock could feel Jack freeze from shock underneath his touch but eventually his lips moved as well, slowly and cautious. When Jack did finally pull back, he said, "I'm still not saying where we're going."

"Damn it! And I thought for sure that would work," Brock chuckled. However, his voice still shook enough for Jack to catch it.

"Hey," Jack began as he supported Brock more, "are you okay?"

"Yeah, just hard holding myself up is all," Brock replied.

Brock was sure that Jack didn't buy it but neither did he push the issue as he helped him back into the wheelchair. Brock hadn't quite meant what he said. Of course sex would complicate matters! That kiss had been on a whim and hell! It already complicated matters. Calling it a date complicated matters! Yeah, Brock wasn't a psychopath or anything, he had loved Hydra, his STRIKE team. He loved a cold beer on a warm day and, at a time, had loved his mother as well. But this was different. This was loving another person, that wasn't related to him and having someone never leave. Jack was someone who would always be by his side. He would never wake up with the other side of the bed cold.

But why not date Jack? He was attractive, had proven himself numerous times, and had already expressed his attraction to Brock. It still scared the hell out of him, the fact that if he did this, that kiss wouldn't be the last. He'd also be putting someone before him. He'd done that with Hydra and, in the end, been betrayed despite his efforts.

Was he willing to risk that again?

Remaining silent and deep in thought, Jack and him made their way to the lobby and then outside to the car. After Brock pulled himself into the car and Jack put the wheelchair up, Jack asked, "You hungry?"

"Starving actually," Brock admitted. He looked at the people and stores as they passed, noting how carefree they were. His eyes lingered a little longer on some of the couples when he could. He knew he could never be like that. It just wasn't him and it wasn't Jack but just maybe…

Suddenly a thought popped up and Brock asked, "So what are we going to do about money?"

Jack snorted. "Well, while you were working yourself to death, it appeared that we had bank accounts made up. I contacted AIM. The head guy, the doctor, said that it was simply an incentive. Also created new identities for us to make public transport easier." Reaching across to the glove compartment with eyes still on the road, Jack pulled out a passports and IDs. "We have several different countries there just in case."

Flipping through them, Brock asked, "How did they get our pictures?"

"Pulled them from security cameras in their department and then manipulated them to look like passport and photo IDs."

Brock shook his head at that, very impressed with the realism of it all. Looking back up, he asked, "So where are we headed for breakfast?"

"Tuck Shop, looked pretty neat and a good choice," Jack responded.

Brock gave a small nod and then continued to watch the streets. He tried to calm his nerves down just a bit and actually enjoy what was in front of him. He wanted to get better as quickly as possible but Jack had been right. He needed to get out of that hotel and actually see the world around him.

The place they arrived at was quaint and certainly not something he would normally go to. Nevertheless, Brock enjoyed himself and the food was good. With a sigh, he sipped his coffee and leaned back. "So, where to next?"

"Well I actually didn't have anything specific planned—"

"So kissing you to try and get information out of you was pointless?"

"Now, I wouldn't say pointless…"

Brock laughed and the feeling was nice. It made him feel more alive again. "How about we just wander? No plans, nothing. Just go where we feel like it."

"Whatever you'd like."

Rolling his eyes at that, they finished up and got back into the car, heading towards downtown. Once he found a parking spot, they got out and just started going in the first direction they were facing. Brock made sure to keep all doubts and fears in his head but he couldn't help but analyze the situation.

They actually fit! He and Brock had their attention grabbed by similar things, and they laughed at stuff that only they would find funny. They argued like hell over all sorts of crap as they went and it worked! Sometimes Brock would even hit Jack when he got pissed, Jack usually hitting back, and it really didn't change anything in the end. It was actually quit frightening.

Brock wondered if he could've had this with anyone else or if it was just Jack that he stuck with so well. If he hadn't been so caught up with Hydra could he have made something like this sooner? But he threw those thoughts away. His head was already to crowded and he needed to concentrate on the future, not what could have been in the past.

Eventually, they made it to the park. It was past lunch time but that idea had passed right over their heads, both to caught up with the surrounding area.

People jogged, ran, and walked passed them. A few kids skipped, babies were rolled or carried, and dogs wagged their tales while barking at real and imaginary objects. Seeing a shop on the other side of the street at the edge of the park, Jack said, "I'll be right back."

"Right back? Where the hell do you think you're going?"

"Just hold on, okay?"

Brock frowned but watched him go and noted the store was a book shop. As he waited, he rolled over to a park bench, not because he needed to but just to get out of the way of people. When Jack finally did come back, it was with a bag full of books. It was honestly amazing the bag didn't break or the books didn't just overflow.

"I'm guessing they're closing shop now seeing as you just bought everything in there."

"Funny," Jack responded, sitting on the bench. "I figured these might help keep you preoccupied. They're all in French but I'm guessing that won't be a problem for you?"

Brock smiled at that. However, he didn't start looking through the books, preferring to continue and talk. "What did you exactly pick out?"

"Well about half of those are probably American novels translated into French, the others the clerk suggested to me."

"Thank you."

"Did Brock Rumlow just say thank you?"

"Shut up you sarcastic little shit," replied Brock but he kept smiling, for once not getting easily pissed off.

"Sarcastic shit, maybe but little? I don't think so?"

"Shut up."

Brock looked away, suddenly self-conscious at how normal this was. Jack was being nice as well, which really wasn't different than usual, but it was just something Brock would probably never get use to. He was use to people taking an interest in his personal life, not like this.

He opened his mouth to say something, only to realize that he didn't know what to say. Neither did he need to interrupt the silence. Glancing over, Brock saw how content Jack was and decided not to upset that. Instead, he followed the other's line of sight, simply watching the people move past them.

When he turned back to Jack, he realized the man was already looking at him as well.

Brock watched as Jack opened his mouth, but then came to the sudden realization that Brock had not to long ago. He turned away and Brock would have mimicked him except Jack had turned back to look at him.

The movement forward, the hesitation, Brock quickly realized what Jack was thinking of doing. He could pull away, shake his head, do anything he wanted to stop the situation but he saw how Jack hesitated. This wasn't just some dump dream come true for the man. He was cautious with the entire situation and clearly didn't want to go to far if he wasn't welcomed. That made Brock decide to close the gap.

The kiss was a little less shocking than the one in the morning for both parties. Brock reacted to Jack's movement and vice versa but before it could become anything more, Brock pulled away and he was surprised when Jack let him. Of course, Brock was sure there was some disappointment there but Jack didn't express it. Instead he simply allowed a small smile to show which had Brock more flustered than he would have liked.

"Wanna head back?"

"Sure."

The silence that followed soon moved back into their consistent chatter that occasionally led into rash arguments. Any awkwardness between that and the kiss and been short and Brock wondered if that meant they could easily turn to just kisses being a casual thing, like a slap on the back or a handshake. Once again, it seemed almost to normal but Brock stopped questioning it and simply focused on the conversation between him and Jack.

They took a different path to the car, getting lost only once, and went out to eat before finally going back to the hotel.

Once there, they both got ready for bed. Jack was already in his which made Brock feel slightly bad for asking but he did anyways. "Would you…care to sleep beside me?"

"Not at all."

Brock waited until he could the other slide in beside him. He could feel Jack's chest against his back and after some hesitation, he felt Jack wrap his arms around him. The feeling was nice, comforting.

Brock fell asleep quickly but a nightmare appeared soon after the darkness took him. When he woke up screaming, Jack didn't let go until Brock was able to calm down. He didn't say it out loud but coming back to reality was so much easier with Jack beside him.

AN: This was way later than I planned! Hopefully the fluffiness of it helped appease anyone.