Title: Hypothetically
By: Serenity
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Summary: Nick goes to see a movie, and ends up with more than he bargained for. Written for the movie challenge, movie used is Brokeback Mountain (which I haven't seen yet) Unbeta'd, so all mistakes are mine.

Nick cast a nervous glance around the movie theatre, making sure that there was no one he knew nearby before stepping up to the ticket kiosk. He cleared his throat and leaned in close to the Perspex booth. "One for Brokeback Mountain please." he said in a half whisper, his eyes flicking from side to side to gauge the reactions of his neighbours. He relaxed slightly when no one seemed to mind his choice of movie. He pulled a few crumpled bills out of his wallet and passed them through the gap, taking his ticket and walking quickly to the concession stand. The queue in front of him was moving slowly, so he killed some time by studying the posters for the upcoming movies.

The young girl serving behind the counter popped her gum loudly to get Nick's attention, and he realised it was his turn. He got a cola and some popcorn and turned to make his way to the screen that was showing the film. He was so absorbed in trying to balance his huge soda and the tub of popcorn so massive that it probably could have sustained a small family for at least a week, that he didn't realise that the person in front of him had stopped until he bumped into them, sending the topmost popcorn kernels flying into the air.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, grasping tightly to his burden. Once he was satisfied that he wasn't going to drop them, he looked up to meet familiar brown eyes. His heart sank while his brain raced with plausible explanations as to what he was doing there.

"Oh, hey Nick." Greg raised an eyebrow at the feast bundled in the Texan's arms. "Hungry?"

Nick blushed, hoping that Greg couldn't read the print on the ticket that was jammed between his knuckles. "I like to eat when I'm watching a movie." he admitted.

Greg stole some of the popcorn and tossed it in his mouth. "What are you here to see?" he asked between chews.

Nick hesitated for a moment. Finally his brain kicked in and he mumbled the name of some mindless action movie that he'd seen the poster for as he was queuing. Greg nodded and grabbed another handful of popcorn. "Mmm, you got the sweet stuff. S'good." He swallowed it down. "Well, don't let me keep you, I think that movie's already started."

Nick stood his ground. He didn't want to walk into the theatre with Greg standing there, as 'Brokeback Mountain' was emblazoned in red lights above the door. He didn't need Greg knowing that he was going to watch that particular movie. He didn't fancy having to explain its appeal.

"What are you here to see?" Nick asked, hoping to hurry Greg along to his own film. Greg pulled out his ticket and unashamedly announced "Brokeback Mountain. I'm just hoping that it stays true to the book. I'd better head in, it's about to start. See you at work later, yeah?"

Nick groaned. He could either leave and miss the film, or bite the bullet and admit that he was going to see the same film. He cleared his throat.

"Actually, to be honest with you Greg, I'm going to see that film too. I didn't say, because... well, I didn't want you to get the wrong idea." Which would be very much the right idea. "I'm a fan of Ang Lee, is all."

Greg shrugged. "Do you really think that straight guys can't come and watch this film? There's no 'gay' pre-requisite. It's for anyone."

Nick smiled, relieved. "I guess so, I mean, you're here after all."

Greg gave him a look that he couldn't decipher. "Yeah.... I'm here."

Greg pulled open the heavy door and let Nick walk through first. Nick scanned the room looking for a seat by himself. He walked all the way to the back and sat down, arranging his food around him. He looked down at Greg, who was still deciding where to sit. He tried to figure out what would be more odd, letting his friend sit separately when they both knew each other was there, or inviting Greg to sit beside him while they watched the movie. He decided to leave it to fate. If Greg found his own seat, he wouldn't say anything, but if Greg looked at him again, then he would indicate that the young man should sit with him.

Within seconds the choice was made for him. Greg turned and caught his eye, so Nick waved him over. Greg smiled and climbed the steps to the back row and sat down.

"I'll never eat all this by myself." Nick indicated to the popcorn by way of an explanation for his invitation.

He tried to ignore the heat of Greg's knee pressed against his own, and tried to stop himself inhaling deeply as Greg leaned across him for the soda. He smelled so good, Nick didn't recognise the brand of aftershave, but it really suited Greg.

Suddenly it occurred to him that there were a lot of male couples sitting together in the audience. To anyone entering the room, it would look like Nick and Greg were also a couple. He swallowed that thought down as soon as it entered his head.

The lights dimmed and Greg shifted in his seat to get comfortable, making the space between them even smaller. Nick willed himself to ignore the warm body beside him and concentrate on the movie.

~~~

Nick squinted against the brightness of the foyer as they left the dark theatre. He'd really liked the movie, and was actually glad that he'd run into Greg. He'd enjoyed Greg's whispered snippets of information about the movie and the book that inspired it. Usually he hated people talking to him while he was watching a film, but with Greg it was different.

"Do you want to grab something to eat?" Greg offered.

Nick laughed. "You ate most of my popcorn, how can you still be hungry?"

Greg shrugged, his eyes twinkling. "Fast metabolism. Fancy a hot dog?" Nick nodded, and they left the movie theatre to find a hot dog stand.

~~~

They walked along the strip for a while, chatting about the movie until they came to a hot dog vendor. They found a bench and sat down, quietly watching the weird world of Las Vegas all around them. Greg finally broke the silence. "So... hypothetically...." he said as he munched on his food. "If you had to choose between Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, who would you go for?"

Nick swallowed down his own mouthful and shook his head. "Not even getting in to that."

Greg punched him playfully on the shoulder. "Come on, we're all friends here, no one is questioning your masculinity. Who would you choose? I'll answer if you do."

Nick sighed and tossed his napkin into the trash can beside them. "Hypothetically..... I guess I'd go for Heath. OK, so what about you?"

Greg raised his eyebrow and polished off the last bite of his food. "I like dark hair, so I'd pick Jake. Hypothetically, of course." he added with a grin.

"Yeah. Hypothetically." Nick echoed.

Greg shifted until he was crossed legged on the bench. Nick looked down at him, marvelling how limber he was. He quickly shook the connotations of that thought from his head. Greg was leaning in to whisper, almost conspiratorially. "So... still purely hypothetical. If Heath was here and he tried to kiss you, what would you do?"

Nick pulled back slightly. "Have you been drinking, Sanders? I think we're taking this game a little too far."

"Come on, it's all make believe, no repercussions. You wouldn't do it, even if it was just to see what it was like? I'd kiss Jake if he was here, and he offered. Just so I could say I'd done it. How often do you get to kiss a Hollywood star, male or female?" he declared.

Nick sighed heavily, knowing that Greg wasn't going to give up until he'd got an answer. "OK then. Hypothetically...... no, I still wouldn't. I'm not gay, the thought of kissing another guy makes me feel ill, so can we drop this please?" he lied, desperate to change the subject.

Greg pulled a surprised face and sat back quickly. "Sorry, it wasn't my intention to piss you off. It was only supposed to be a bit of fun. But I saw you in there, you loved that film. You cried at the same bits I did. Are you seriously saying that you enjoyed it so much because of it's cinematography? The cute guys making out didn't have anything to do with it?"

"Is that why you liked it, then?" Nick challenged, hoping to twist Greg up in his own accusation.

"Would you have a problem with me if it was? You do know what homophobia is usually masking, don't you?" Greg answered, surprising him. He'd expected Greg to concede defeat and agree with Nick's excuses. He studied the man before him in silence, the chocolate brown eyes were wide and searching, his face pale as if he'd just made a huge confession to his friend.

When Nick didn't answer, Greg stood up again. "I gotta go, I'll see you in work later. Lets forget this conversation ever happened. I wouldn't want to make you feel ill or anything.." He shook his head and began walking down the strip.

Nick watched the retreating figure, his head full of conflicting thoughts. Had Greg been fishing for information on Nick's sexuality? Was he trying to tell him that he also liked men? Perhaps that he liked Nick? Or was he simply berating Nick for his implied homophobia? He needed to find out.

He leapt off the bench and raced after the young man. "Greg!" he called. Greg continued walking as if he hadn't heard him. Nick sprinted the last few steps and grabbed hold of Greg's wrist.

"Hey, G'... stop!" he panted.

Greg sighed, his shoulders slumping before he relented and turned to face him. "What do you want, Nick?"

Nick moved both hands to his upper arms and pulled him away from the sidewalk and into the shelter of a store window. "I wasn't being entirely honest with you before. But we're friends, aren't we? And I can trust you?"

Greg nodded, so Nick continued. "OK, this is it, I'm laying my cards on the table here. Hypothetically...." he breathed, his heart pounding in his chest, "Yes, I would kiss Heath. In reality...." he swallowed hard, "In reality.. I would kiss you. If you wanted me to."

Greg was looking at him as if he had sprouted an extra head. Nick realised that he was still holding on to his arms, so he let them go, his own hands dropping to his side. Greg wasn't making any moves that could be interpreted as wanting Nick to kiss him. He'd confessed his feelings for nothing. He felt his stomach drop to somewhere around his knees. He'd really screwed up big time.

"I guess I misread the situation, hey?" Nick stammered, blushing. "Listen, I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, I hope this doesn't mess up our working relationship." He took a couple of steps backwards, mumbling more apologies. Greg was still looking at him as if trying to work him out.

Nick laughed nervously and shrugged his shoulders, but inside he felt like his heart was slowly shrivelling into hardened black carbon. "I just wanted you to know that I'm not homophobic.... OK? I guess I just picked the wrong way to do it."

"Oh my God." Greg said softly. "You're serious."

"I'm deadly serious, Greg. I'm really sorry about what I said earlier. You were getting too close to the truth and I freaked out." He moved forward, back into the space of the store window. He felt as if they had created this impenetrable bubble, separate from the outside world passing by. Time seemed to slow down as Greg tentatively reached a hand out and gently rubbed the pad of his thumb across Nick's slightly opened lips.

"Do you want me to kiss you?" Nick asked, breathless at the touch.

"People will see...." Greg said hesitantly, withdrawing the hand.

Nick leaned forward, making the gap between them even smaller. "Do you want me to kiss you?" he asked again, firmer this time.

Greg could only nod, his eyes fluttering closed, his breath coming in short gasps. His soft red lips opened subconsciously, revealing a hint of pink tongue hidden inside. The sight made Nick squirm. It was something he'd imagined many times, but he never once thought that he'd ever be this close to getting his fantasy.

He brushed his lips softly over Greg's, inhaling deeply that wonderful scent that he'd noticed earlier. It was like a spicy cinnamon, and reminded Nick of Christmas. Greg responded beneath him, opening those delicious lips a little more. Nick took the kiss deeper, the tip of his tongue tracing the inside of Greg's top lip, behind his white teeth and finally, with a shock of electricity, touching Greg's own tongue.

They pulled apart, Nick reluctant to lose the warmth from the body in front of him. Greg took a few steadying breaths before opening his eyes. "OK, you've proved your point, you're not homophobic and you will kiss a guy. I get it."

"No you don't." Nick smiled, running his hand through Greg's soft almost-curls. "I won't kiss just any guy."

Greg's perfect mouth opened in a small 'O' and Nick took the opportunity to steal another kiss. "So..." he said when they pulled apart again. "What do you say we call this our first date?"

"Bit sure of yourself, aren't you?" Greg teased, but his eyes were shining in agreement.

Nick checked his watch and groaned. "We should be making a move. We'll need to get ready for work soon."

Greg cleared his throat. "Can we just stand here for a minute?" he asked shyly. Nick realised that his body was shielding Greg from the outside world, and a quick look down revealed the reason why he wanted to take a moment.

"Oh." he grinned, pleased that he'd caused that response. "Take all the time you need."

Greg nodded, shifting uncomfortably. Nick watched as those beautiful, kiss swollen lips curved into an embarrassed smile.

"So... hypothetically..." Nick licked his lips and traced a hand up and down Greg's arm. "Where would we go on our second date?"