Chapter Text
Tay had had a long day at work. Between the dozens of emails, phone calls, meetings, and friendly arguments with Lee, he felt like he had been extremely productive today and that made him happy. Getting things done, checking things off his list, feeling like he was accomplishing something, those were the things that made him feel alive. Feel like he was a part of something bigger and was doing his part.
He was the complete opposite of New. He smiled as he remembered his “best friend”, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel of his car as he drove into the parking lot of their building. He knew he had been working too much the last few weeks, and this annoyed New, no matter how much he pretended that it didn’t. As a kid, his best friend had always felt alone. He had a family and friends, but he knew New didn’t open up to people easily, didn’t let them in, always kept his guard up.
Nobody understood him, until Tay came into his life.
It made Tay feel special too. New was a complex person, so to be able to feel needed by someone like New was an amazing feeling, and Tay would be lying if he said that wasn’t a part of the attraction. Growing up, he had always felt loved by people around him and thus never needed to look for love anywhere else. But the older he got the more he found himself wanting someone special in his life. Initially it wasn’t even about romance or love or physical intimacy. It was about having a partner by his side for the rest of his life.
It took him a while to see that that partner had been in front of him for so long. And it had taken both of them even longer to acknowledge that.
Now they spent their days happily in their “friendship”, together and alone in their own world. Now Tay didn’t need anyone else for the rest of his life.
He hopped out the car and grabbed the bags in the passenger seat. New’s favorite food from his favorite pork restaurant. It wasn’t Tay’s favorite food but New loved it so he’d have to manage. It was his way for making up for the long nights he had to work, leaving New alone at home with his thoughts, which was never a good thing. New needed almost constant affection and affirmation. Not that Tay minded giving it to him. It was dysfunctional. Beautifully dysfunctional. But it worked. They were stuck in this together.
He had lied to New this morning about working late again tonight. He just wanted to do something special and surprise him because he loved seeing New thrown off his guard. It was a brief moment of vulnerability, when he looked his most beautiful. When it was just him, no walls up, no pre-planned responses, just an honest reaction.
He head up the elevator to their floor and wondered if New was home from work yet. Sometimes he’d have such long days that he wouldn’t be home till midnight. Other times he’d spend the whole day working on his blog at home. That’s one thing they both shared - the drive to work hard on their projects. Both took their careers very seriously.
He unlocked the door to their condo and saw all the lights were off, meaning New wasn’t home yet. Perfect. Now he could set up all the food and pretend like he got home early to cook it all.
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“Just give me my shirt now so that I don’t have to see you again.”
“How can I take off this shirt in the elevator, New? People could be watching.” Joss lifted his arms up and covered his chest. “There are cameras everywhere. Please behave yourself.”
New rolled his eyes. “You didn’t have a problem taking it off earlier at the studio.”
“That was for work!”
“Oh so you’ll do it for the right price?”
“Of course. Always.”
“How much do I need to pay you to get my shirt back?”
Joss grinned and shook his head slowly. “It wouldn’t be with money, New.”
New pursed his lips into a thin line and walked towards the other boy until they were standing toe to toe. He had forgotten how much taller Joss was than him, and for a second he felt himself almost looking away shyly, his face heating up and heartbeat suddenly quickening at their proximity and how he felt oddly comforted being this close to him. But as quickly as those emotions came, he suppressed them even faster, making sure to shove them so far out of his mind and heart that he could never remember them again.
“Keep the shirt.” He said calmly, making sure to keep all emotions out of his voice.. “It’s not worth it.”
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Tay stood back to admire his work. The food was spread out across their small table in the kitchen, two candles standing tall at the center. He had (naturally) burned a finger trying to light them, but it was worth it to see how great they looked. Definitely the romantic vibe he was going for.
He checked the time on his phone. New should be getting home any minute now. He had texted when he left the studio and Tay knew it was only a short ten minute drive from here. He ran to the closet to change into a more comfortable shirt. Shuffling hangers around, he found the one he was looking for - a light pink shirt that New had brought for him after their last fight. Tay smiled, remembering how they hadn’t talked to each other for weeks during that fight. He couldn’t even remember what they fought about now, but he definitely remembered how they made up.
He looked down to grab some comfortable shoes and saw that New’s side of the closet had a few hangers and shirts thrown across the floor. Frowning, he bent to pick them up and hang them again. How weird, he thought. New was usually very organized, even when getting ready in the morning. He would always make sure to put everything back in its place and tidy up before leaving for the day.
Maybe he was actually running late for once. Tay laughed as he cleaned up New’s side of the closet and headed back out to the kitchen. Serves him right for always nagging Tay about being late to everything.
Walking past the long mirror hanging on one of the walls, he caught sight of his reflection. Messy hair that New loved to run his hands through, pink shirt that New had gotten him, and shorts to show off the legs New loved to touch. And of course, New’s slippers, which Tay was happily wearing on his own feet. He knew nothing would annoy New more than Tay wearing his slippers. Which was perfectly fine with him, because making New angry always led to fun times in the bedroom.
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New walked out the elevator but was stopped short by a warm hand on his wrist.
“I’m sorry. I was just kidding.” He heard Joss say softly behind him.
He sighed and pulled his wrist out of the other boy’s hand. Turning to face him, he crossed his arms across his chest and said “I know. It’s okay. Maybe I overreacted. It’s been a long day.”
“Aha, yeah, tell me about it.”
They both stood there in awkward silence for a few seconds before New finally waved and turned towards the door of his condo.
“Hey!” Joss said suddenly. “Do you…………wanna maybe come over? I just got the job offer today and I’m really happy and want to celebrate with someone but………..kinda don’t have anyone.”
New knew he should say “no” right away. But he had texted Tay earlier that he was heading home and Tay had promptly responded he was still stuck at the office. There would be no one home anyway. What would it hurt to celebrate with Joss tonight? He clearly needed a friend right now, and one of New’s biggest weaknesses was seeing someone in need. He just always wanted to help. He didn’t care to ask others to help him when he was down, but it always broke him when those around him needed a shoulder to lean on. Emotional and mental health were very important to New.
He would know, he was constantly fighting everyday just for happiness.
But he had also promised Tay he would go home and cook tonight, since Tay couldn’t do it. He wanted to make him his favorite dish since he was working so hard the last few days. Plus, he really felt like they had become distant recently, and he wanted to make things right. New would often close himself off whenever he’d get busy with work or just needed some space to breathe. He wasn’t a big “people person”. In fact, when he and Tay had made the decision to move in together not too long ago, it had taken him some time to get used to having someone constantly in his space. Gradually, Tay learned to give him some breathing room. New was an introvert, so it was important that he get time alone to himself.
Turning once again to face Joss, he frowned and shook his head. “I’m sorry, I really wish I could celebrate with you tonight, but I promised Tay I’d cook dinner.”
A fleeting look of disappointment cross over his handsome neighbor’s face, but it was only for a split second. Joss suddenly smiled and waved his hand. “No worries, totally understand.”
New nodded and gave a small smile back in return, then turned to unlock the door to his condo.
“Tay’s lucky to have you.” Joss said as he walked towards his own home. He laughed quietly as he opened his door. “You both have………a great friendship.”