Work Text:
Jonathan Sims does not like being noticed .
He never has. He learned quickly as a child, learned exactly how to balance normalcy with disinterest at the perfect levels to keep everyone else disinterested in him. Jon knew how to hide his meltdowns, to mask his fidgeting, to measure his eye contact so that he was completely unremarkable. He had books, not friends, and he excelled in school. Eventually, he excelled in work, too.
Jon liked working at the Magnus Institute. The only kind of seen he felt was for his work, and he was fine with that. That was exactly how he liked it.
And then he got promoted .
He got promoted, and he met Martin Blackwood.
Jonathan Sims hates being noticed, and it seems like Martin Blackwood does nothing but notice.
He notices how Jon takes his tea, notices when he skips lunch. Notices when he’s having trouble with a statement, notices when he stays late, notices when he comes in early, and when he does neither.
Jonathan Sims hates being noticed. But he doesn’t hate perfect tea arriving on his desk, or blankets draped over his shoulders to stave off the cold that permeates the basement at night.
He hates the way Martin’s eyes search him for discomfort or flaws. He doesn’t hate the smile that lights those eyes like the sun when he finally starts to say thank you.
Jonathan Sims does not like being noticed… unless Martin Blackwood is the one noticing.