"He's been doing it ever since I've known him," Mort explained. "We were college roomies, by the way, that's where we met. Well - basically." He chuckled; like everything else involving James, it was complicated. "It's a straight-up Sherlock Holmes... thing. He read the books as a kid and started practicing, and apparently it actually works. If you're as interested in people as James is. He can deduce stuff like--" He frowned and waved one hand vaguely, trying to think.

"Like whether somebody's going to drive or fly on a cross-country trip?" James asked mildly from behind him.

"Whoa!" Mort jumped. He hadn't even seen or heard James approach.

"Sorry! Sorry." James set down Joy's latte and Aaron's tea - the coffeeshop wasn't very busy at this hour. "Sorry, I thought you'd seen me. Really, though, you're one to talk, Mortimer. I've never deduced anyone's planned method of transportation with a slide rule." He grinned and leaned down for a kiss.

Mort kissed him crookedly on the side of the mouth. "That was different," he said. "I know you."

"Still impressive," James said, not straightening up. His eyes said, Still the goddamn luckiest thing that ever happened to me in my life - you deciding to come along and play guardian angel. Letting me know you cared.

Mort felt his ears turn hot. He coughed and nodded toward their guests. James, not the time.