Identity Theft [James]

[Vincent Verax]

Chase was a lot more fun lately.

It was completely normal for Vincent to do everything he could to annoy the piss out of his trainer, but Chase always had an ace up his sleeve. Vin called it cheating, Chase likely thought of it as evening out the playing field. If he started to get too out of control, a simple "sit down and shut up" from Chase ruined all the fun.

Recently, Mr. Kilbourne was lacking that punch. Sure, he tried to get Vincent to behave, but he was no longer making him do so. And Vincent was taking advantage of it as often as he could. From drawing rude pictures on the white board to setting off firecrackers, Vincent's antics generally went on uninterrupted.

Today, he had stolen his trainer's phone and bolted out the door. Chase shouted after him, followed him for a bit, but Vincent was far too dedicated to let himself get caught. He had trouble-making to do, dammit, and he wasn't going to let anything stop him... not even his inability to spell.

Once he was sure he had escaped Chase, Vincent started going through the messages on the phone, but the latest one from James was the one that caused a manic looking grin cross his face. Yes, that's his equivalent of a light bulb.

Jamie Campbell

Hey, I can't stop thinking about you.

It took him nearly ten minutes to type and send the message, namely because it involved proper spelling and the use of capitalization and punctuation, which was not something Vin knew about. Thankfully, autocorrect was there to offer helpful suggestions.

[Dr. James Campbell]

James was working, reviewing medical reports of a twelve-year-old who had gone to get boosters on her immunizations when her skin broke every needle in the clinic's office. It was going to be a fairly straight-forward recruitment, since she was only in New Hampshire, and it looked like she had an uncle who was a Hammel alum. He'd give her to Mii; it was only one overnight, if that.

When his phone buzzed, the recruiter picked it up right away. People rarely sent him texts while he was working, so he assumed it was one of the recruiters checking in. When he saw Chase's name on the screen, his heart sped up a little. The trainer usually visited if it wasn't important... but the message made him smile. Good, so long as nothing was wrong.

To: Chase ICE
Come by then, after your class.

[Vincent Verax]

Vincent had waited eagerly for the reply. For a moment he worried that James would just know that the text wasn't really from Chase, but as he read the response he giggled. Furiously his thumbs slid over the keyboard, his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth as he focused his entire brain cell on the task at hand.

Jamie Campbell
I'd rather have you now.

[Dr. James Campbell]

James was surprised when Chase sent him another text, and was even more surprised at the content. He might have blushed a bit, but since no one was in the office or walking by his open door, no one would be able to confirm it. Still, it sounded like the Chase from a few years ago, before all the shit that went down the past year.

To: Chase ICE
Well, I'm working right now. You'll have to wait for tonight.

The recruiter smiled as he sent the reply. If this is what it took to get Chase to open up again, he'd gladly play along.

[Vincent Verax]

There was a mini celebration in the hallway that Vincent was currently inhabiting when the phone buzzed again. He knew James was smart, maybe not Eli-smart, but still towering over him in the IQ department. It shocked him that he hadn't been called out yet. Maybe all the years he had spent making Chase's life miserable were finally paying off.

Jamie Campbell
You're the boss, couldn't you take a break?

[Dr. James Campbell]

James just smiled and shook his head before replying. Whatever had encouraged this--admittedly, a little unusual--behavior from Chase was nice. Though he'd sometimes jokingly complained, he really did miss the times when his husband had goofed around like this.

To: Chase ICE
I could, in theory. But you've got at least one more lesson today. Besides, what would we do at school?

[Vincent Verax]

When he heard footsteps, Vincent hustled down the hallway, heading towards his new favorite place to lurk: the Library. No one would think to look for him there and he didn't want to give up on this little ruse yet. It was too much fun.

Jamie Campbell
It's only Verax. I can get rid of him, then the classroom will be empty.

Vin had been kicked out of class often enough to know that such a thing certainly wouldn't be out of the ordinary.

[Dr. James Campbell]

To: Chase ICE
Well, if you want privacy, I have an office, and you know where it is. And make sure Verax doesn't know who you're texting.

They hadn't joked like this since before they were married. It was just... nice. It was only recently that they'd realized how much they missed the intimacy that Underwood had stolen from them. And slowly, they had been trying to get it back. (It also had to be a good sign that it was Chase initiating it this time.

[Vincent Verax]

Vincent was observant enough to notice the changes in Chase's mood, however he'd had his own problems recently that had kept him from trying to snoop into his trainer's personal life. (Though his methods generally just included asking him questions nonstop.) He had no idea about what had really happened, he was just being mean.

Jamie Campbell
Is that a yes, then? I already have over five reasons to kick him out.

Sure, he was supposed to be quiet in the library, but he couldn't stop laughing. He couldn't believe he'd managed to suffer through the agony of proper English this long.

[Dr. James Campbell]

To: Chase ICE
Sure, should I clear off my desk then?

Of course, James knew Chase wasn't actually going to come until after the class was over, and they certainly wouldn't be doing anything inappropriate at the school. But even though he was blushing a little harder now, he would play along with the joke.

[Vincent Verax]

Vincent was now seriously debating showing up to knock on James' door. He figured even if worse came to worse, he could outrun the recruiter. (And really, what are the chances that Sean could think of a punishment that actually worked?)

Jamie Campbell
Yeah, I can't wait. I miss you.

Okay, that was it, he had to see James' face when he learned that it wasn't his husband he'd been texting all this time. Vin just had to make it to his office without being caught.

[Dr. James Campbell]

Yeah, the whole thing was a little out of character for Chase, at least the Chase of the past few months. But he'd said "I've missed you." a few times before, every time they took another step towards getting things back to the way they were. James smirked a little and shot back another text.

To:Chase ICE
Then get your ass over here, love.

[Vincent Verax]

Jamie Campbell
On my way!

And he was, back out the way he came and sneaking down the hallways pretending to be a ninja. It was hard enough trying to keep from laughing as he pictured all the faces that James might make when he finds out, but his heavy boots weren't helping either. Thankfully his trek across the school was uneventful and Vin arrived at James' office safely. He leaned against the wall next to the door and he just had to send another text.

Jamie Campbell
Guess who.

Vincent knocked on the door, covering his mouth with his hand to smother his laughter.

[Dr. James Campbell]

James didn't reply to the texts, he just grinned and waited for Chase to show up. The knock on the door couldn't come soon enough, and the recruiter had a smug smirk on his face as he got up to open it. If Chase was in the mood for teasing, this could be drawn out until they got home...

What.

The recruiter looked at Vincent--who was holding his husband's phone--reading the mischief in his face, in his eyes...everywhere. Vincent was made of mischief, and James had fallen for it. His eyes went wide behind his glasses, and again his heart rate sped up. He'd sent suggestive texts to a student. "Oh...oh no," the recruiter choked out before he slammed the door shut. Okay, time to hyperventilate now.