#micheoff

He hadn’t expected Geoff to pick him as his ‘date’ to case the museum and the exhibit. Certainly Jack would have been a better pick, or even Gavin who was more familiar with the security layouts and would probably benefit from being inside. But no. Geoff had picked him of all people. Just saying that he would like a day alone with him.

He couldn’t refuse. Not when his boss wanted him to go, anyways. So Michael, Jersey street kid and scum of the gutters, was standing in possibly the most beautiful and classy place he had ever been in. He follows Geoff closely, unsure of how he should act in a place like this.

Geoff chuckles at his anxiety. “Relax,” he hums. “We need to check out the exhibit upstairs, but nothing says we can’t enjoy ourselves first.” His hand gently brushes Michael’s and the boy turns a bright red. “Take in some culture,” he teases. “I think you fucking need it.”

“Don’t be a dick, Geoff,” Michael retorts a bit awkwardly and they start to wander in and out of some of the more permanent exhibits. He can’t help but admit that he’s taken aback a bit by some of the pieces. Every time he catches Geoff’s expression out of the corner of his eye, the man seems... fond. Which makes Michael uneasy, but he can’t dwell on it, because around every corner there’s something more... magical.

He can’t explain what the feeling was. Just that this place - with a bunch of art, most of which he only cared about the price tag - was doing something to him. It wasn’t really the art. While pretty, it was just something to look at. Or it would be if they stole it.

However, the positioning, exhibit designs, interactives... It was washing over him from every direction and soon - like a kid with hyperactivity - he just felt the need to continue bouncing, continue exploring. Geoff follows along, warmth blooming in his chest. 

“Michael,” he asks after stopping the man’s diatribe about how the blood was painted incorrectly on a painting of a murder, “have you ever been to a museum before?”

Michael pauses, a bit taken aback. “No,” he admits with a touch of pink. “Is that obvious?”

Geoff laughs. “Not really. I like it though. You’re so excited.” He wraps his arm around his shoulder. Michael leans in a bit despite himself. The feeling is so warm and genuine and he likes how well he fits in the crook of Geoff’s arm. “I want to do this more with you. There’s some other museums in LS. We don’t have to be stealing from one to go check it out.”

Michael’s ears turn crimson. “... you asking me on a date, boss?”

Now it’s Geoff’s turn to become a bit pink. “Not a date, Jones.” There’s a bit of a pause and Geoff doesn’t let go. The unspoken words hang in the air between them. Not unless you want it to be.

Michael glances around. It’s late in the afternoon on a Wednesday, before the work crowd releases. No one else is in the room with them. Michael’s heart thumps wildly in his chest. Geoff... his boss was such a pillar. Someone he respected more than anything in the world. But...

Geoff releases his arm around his shoulder and brushes some of his flyaway hair off his face. “It would be fun as dicks,” he finally says with a bit of a smile. “But we can worry about that some other time. Come on, we have the third floor to visit and we need to focus.”

He turns and starts walking, leaving Michael flustered and waiting in the middle of the exhibit hall. Michael can watch Geoff’s mannerisms turn back into Ramsey with every step. Colder, more detached. And with every step away from him, Michael feels something tear inside his soul - some small bond that was forming between them that had the potential to become so, so much more.

“Geoff, wait!” he calls, taking a frantic step forward. Geoff turns around, raising his eyebrow, as if to ask what?

“I’d... I’d like to go,” he says quietly. “To another museum with you, that is.” He bites his lip. It’s not an admission he’d like a date. He’s not quite sure how to even ask that, especially not of the boss of the criminal empire he was trying to join.

But the smile that erupts on Geoff’s face makes it all worth it. It’s warm and large and genuine enough that it makes Michael smile sheepishly back. He takes a few quick bounds back over to Michael .. it’s Geoff again, not Ramsey, just the warm happy-go-lucky man that only a few get to see.

“Really?” he hums. “You would?”

Michael nods a bit wordlessly, taken aback by the smile on Geoff’s face. It twists his stomach into knots, but good knots. It’s something he thought he would steal every piece of art in here just to see again. Geoff squeezes his hand warmly and without hesitating, leans down and brushes just the briefest of kisses on Michael’s lips.

There’s an electrifying pause and Michael’s eyes are as wide as saucers when they break apart, his heart thudding a million miles a minute as his body processes what just happened. But before he can say anything, Geoff is turning away. “Come on, now,” he hums. “We have work to do.”

Like he didn’t just kiss his newest hire in an art gallery.

Michael manages to kick his body back into gear just as Geoff was disappearing through the door, running along behind him. Work now, for sure. He could do that. But later....