Chapter Text
“You should ask him out.” Dorian glanced up at Rudy as his colleague plopped down on the couch. “You should.”
“Thank you for the advice, but I can think of several reasons why that would not be the best decision.”
“Such as…”
“He might not be into guys. He might not appreciate being hit on at work.” Dorian looked back down at his laptop and purposely away from the handsome man at the counter. “And, if he says no, then we’re going to have to find a new coffee spot.”
“There is always the one on campus.” Rudy suggested.
Dorian raised an eyebrow, “The place you swore to never set foot in again? The one swarming with students?” He shook his head. “Things are fine the way they are.”
“My friend, even I can tell you’re smitten with Yonder Kennex. You didn’t even ask who I was talking about. And if I can tell, then I’m sure he can as well.” Rudy’s pocket beeped. He pulled out his phone. “Although now would not be the best time. We have to head back. The program finished compiling.” Rudy rubbed his hands together in excitement. “Time to test it out.”
Dorian closed and packed up his computer, glanced one last time at the counter, and walked out the door.
~~~
“You should ask him out.” John quickly looked back down at the cash register. He really need to stop watching Dorian. He gritted his teeth and turned to Val.
“No idea what you’re talking about.” Denial was definitely the best choice here.
“Bullshit, John.” She walked over and leaned against the counter. “We crashed and burned a year ago. You haven't show the slightest interest in anyone since then, except Mr. Roboto.”
“I thought Mr. Roboto was Rudy.”
“John.”
“Oh look! A customer! Guess I should get back to work.” John smiled at Val, and completely ignored everything she had said. Val hmmed. John knew this wasn’t over, but he had won the battle for now.
~~~
The next day, Rudy decide to try a new tactic. He refused to go on a coffee run until Dorian “made a move” on John. Dorian smiled as he pulled open the door. The joke was on Rudy. He didn’t realized was that getting out of the dark lab was fine with Dorian.
“Hey Dorian. The usual?” Valerie asked as she punched in his order.
“Yes, and Rudy’s double espresso, too, please.” Dorian walked up to pay. Val nodded and added it to the total and handed John the cups.
“John. How’s it going?” Dorian handed over the cash without needing to hear the total as John filled the order.
“Fine. How are the robots that are going to destroy us all?”
“That would be Danica’s project. Mine are helpful. And they’re fine. How’s the leg?”
“Still titanium. You still making the new student’s weep?”
Dorian sighed. “That was one time. And he was much happier as an English major anyway.”
“Yeah, yeah, you still made a student cry.” John smiled as he turned back to grab Dorian’s drinks.
“Thanks. See you tomorrow.” Dorian grabbed the two drinks and headed back out into the cold.
“What?” John turned to Val. She was smiling again.
“You two are cute.”
“Uh-Huh.” He turned back to the machines.
“John. You really need to ask Dorian out.”
John turned on the coffee grinder. “What? I can’t hear you.”
“I wrote your number on Dorian’s cup!” Val shouted over the noise.
~~~
Dorian sat at his desk and stared at the coffee cup. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
“Waiting for it to do a trick?” Rudy asked. He slid into the chair opposite Dorian.
“What? No. Just-” Dorian shrugged.
“Did you get rejected? I’m sorry. Look, we’ll go out tonight. I’m sure we can find someone who would be willing to take your mind off of your troubles. If you know what I mean.” Rudy channelled his inner Monty Python.
“One, you are still banned from ever going to a bar of any kind with me. Two, I still haven’t asked him out.”
“Then why the long face?”
“He gave me his number.” Dorian turned the side toward Rudy. It read “John 410-555-0148”
“Wow, he has surprisingly neat handwriting.” Rudy looked back up at Dorian. “I’m sorry, is this a bad thing? This is a first move. Unless you are not actually interested and stare at him for no real reason.”
“It’s not that. It’s- I don’t know, man.” Dorian sat back in his chair, deflated. Rudy and he sat in silence for a moment.
“Dorian. Are you nervous?” Rudy ventured. Dorian looked down at his hands.
“Are you 12?” Rudy asked. “You are a brilliant, attractive man, who has to beat them off with a stick. Why are you incapable of calling a man you like? Who has given you his number? The worst that could happen is he says no, and you find a new place to get your caffeine fix. I heard there is a new place opening downtown.”
“No, the worst that could happen is that I could really fall and then he-” Dorian couldn't get the words out.
Rudy paused. "I can’t promise you won't be betrayed again, but I do know that John’s life will be better with you in it. My life is. And I don’t love you.” Dorian looked up at Rudy with a small smile. “Well, I mean, I do. But as a friend. Not, that you aren't a handsome man, but- Just call him, will you?”
Dorian took a deep breath. “Yes. Especially if it will keep you from declaring your undying love for me.” He picked up the phone, and started to dial. Five digits in, Dorian stopped.
“You know.” He hung up the phone. “I’ll just talk to him tomorrow. Face to face is better. Less misunderstanding.”
Rudy nodded. “Fine. Good. What do you think Danica is up to?”
~~~
The next day, Val arrived for her afternoon shift and found John sitting on his stool, arms crossed, in full pout mode. “I see he didn’t call.”
“No. And now, thanks to you, we may have lost one of our best tippers.”
“Maybe he just didn’t see it. I’m sure he’ll be back in today.” Val looked up at the sound of the bells on the door. “Speak of the devil. I’ll be in back, counting cups.” With a smile and a wink she disappeared. John did a surprisingly good imitation of his “everything’s fine” face.
“Dorian! The usual?” Without waiting for an answer, John punched in the order and started to make the coffee.
“Um. Yes, thanks.” Dorian shifted his weight, unsure how to proceed. “John, um,” The sound of steam drowned his words.
“How are the killer robots?” John asked, not looking up.
“Good.” Dorian shifted his weight again. He cleared his throat. Now or never. At that moment, another customer walked up, and Dorian lost his nerve. “Thanks,” was all he managed to get out as John handed him his coffee.
“Good job, John, you shoulda just let him reject you.” John mumbled to himself. Then he plastered on a fake smile and turned to the new customer. “What can I get you?”
~~~
After, what happened earlier, Dorian went from 3 trips to the coffee shop a day to no coffee at all, not even the sludge in the office coffee maker. Finally Rudy had had enough of an incredibly cranky office mate. With all they had coming up, Dorian needed to have his head on straight. As Rudy entered the coffee shop, he nearly sighed with relief when he saw John was not behind the counter.
“Rudy. We have to talk” Val crossed her arms. Rudy glupped.
~~~
John sat in a crowded theater, not entirely sure what had happened. Val was supposed to be here, but had yet to arrive. He looked down at the program. What the hell was soft robotics anyway?
As the lights began to dim, his phone buzzed. Sorry. Got held up. Say Hi to Dorian for me. Val texted. Great. Trapped and about to be bored to death by a lecture that he wouldn't understand.
Some lady had taken the stage and droned on about Dorian Ealy's accomplishments and what he ment to the field of robotics. This was going to be a long night. John clapped as Dorian walked on stage. At least there was something pretty to look at.
Then Dorian started to talk. John was amazed. Dorian was passionate. His lecture walked the fine line between accessibility and depth that was so hard to master. John hadn't caught on until just this moment how brilliant Dorian was. His opening act had undersold him.
As the talk came to an end and the lights went up, John stood, trying to decide if it would be better to make a run for it, or to tell Dorian how much he had enjoyed listening to him. As John was convincing himself to leave, Rudy appeared next to him.
"John! Glad you made it. Did you enjoy the lecture?" Rudy was all smiles.
"Yeah. I thought it would be over my head, but I think I understood most of it. Are you guys really working on artificial limbs?"
"That is the dream. But you should talk to Dorian. He's the mastermind behind it. I'm working on a project based on an elephant trunk. You see the idea is that-"
"John." Dorian walked up to him. "Glad you could stop by."
"I am too." John smiled. "I really enjoyed it. Not my usual thing, but you made it really accessible." Dorian smiled back. For a moment, the world was still.
Then Rudy coughed, bringing them crashing back to earth.
"I have to go to a reception. There is a donor I’ve been enlisted to shmooze." Dorian looked over his shoulder. "Would you care to join us?" he asked John.
"Thanks, but I should get going." John took a couple of steps back. "Again, great talk. Um, maybe next time you stop by we can talk about robots." He then turned and walked out.
"You really should have called him." Rudy said next to Dorian.
~~~
"And then you sprinted out?" Val couldn't believe it. John had the perfect opportunity to cozy up to Dorian, and he blew it.
“I didn’t sprint, I-”
"How many chances are you guys going to waste before you finally get together." She crossed her arms and gave John a hard look.
"What?"
"You declined hanging out at the reception. Dorian didn't use your number. Not to mention the countless times you two have flirted openly. The next step is for me and Rudy to-" Val stopped. "Wait that might be a good idea."
"Whatever it is, no. Wait," John turned to face her. "You've been working with Rudy?"
"You two are incapable of acting on your mutual attraction. You both needed a push."
"So he wasn't just being polite?"
"Have you listened to a single word I've ever said to you?"
"Not really." Val punched him lightly. "I guess I really should ask him out."
"Whatever. Do what you want." Val smiled at him.
Despite John's new resolution, Dorian didn't appear that day. Or the day after that. One week went by without any visits from Dorian.
~~~
Dorian ran his thumb across John's cheek, and pulled him down for a kiss. Warm lips caressed his as John pulled him close. Dorian wrapped his arm around John's neck as his other hand ran down his side. As he began to feel the hem line of John’s shirt, John said his name. Dorian paused. No, the pitch was wrong. So was the accent.
Dorian woke up, head on his arm, and not in a good mood. Rudy stood nervously in front of him. "You've been burning the candles at both ends. Go home, get some sleep. Actual sleep."
"It’s candle and I'm fine."
"Dorian, go home." Dorian raised an eyebrow. “I mean it.”
"I don't think you can actually-"
"Well I am. Get out of here. I don't want to see you in this lab until tomorrow. No, better yet, until Monday. I am requiring you to take a weekend." Rudy crossed his arms. He didn't look threatening, but Dorian began collecting his things and heaved himself up. "And don't let me find your login in the system either."
"Fine." Dorian called back. “I'll just use yours."
Dorian didn't want to go home. Nor did he want to go to the Library, where Rudy probably had spies. Dorian paused. His first instinct was to reject the idea of going to the coffee shop, but that had the coffee he so desperately need, Wi-fi, and the added perk of not being home. Dorian checked his watch, then stopped. So what if John was there? Dorian could face him. Things might be weird now, but if they both ignored the weirdness, things would go back to the way they had been, and everyone would move on.
Dorian set off for the coffee shop.
~~~
An hour until closing and John was bored. Very few people came in at this time of night, especially since a new 24-hour place had opened two blocks over. They had good coffee, but nowhere near as good as his shop. And college towns needed plenty of coffee to go around. Maybe they should start making sandwiches, or something.
The bell signaled someone coming through the door. John looked up from the book he had been staring at.
"John, How've you been." Dorian looked like death, with bags under his eyes and shoulders slumped.
"Good. Still making student's cry?"
"Lately, they've been making me cry. Hey, nice! I'll tell Rudy you're reading his book."
"Please don't. I don't understand half of it. The usual?"
"No, thanks, I need the hard stuff tonight."
"Long night?"
"Yeah, mind if I set up here for a bit. I know you close soon-" Dorian looked uncertain.
"Sure." John smiled. "Stay as long as you need. I'll just clean around you."
Dorian took up his usual spot on the couch, and, after delivering Dorian’s coffee, John went back to his book, and then cleaning. Eventually, John looked up and realized there was nothing left to do. The time had come to kick Dorian out. He walked over and sat in the chair next to Dorian's camp. John laughed when he realized Dorian was quietly snoring.
"Dorian." He called quietly. "Dorian?" Dorian mmmed in response. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty, you need to wake up. I got to go home." Dorian snapped awake.
"Damn, sorry, man." Dorian rubbed his eyes and stretched. John tried, and failed, to not watch where his shirt rode up as Dorian arched his back.
"John, what the hell?" John's eyes snapped back to Dorian's. "You should have kicked me out an hour ago."
John let go of the breath he had been holding and smiled at Dorian, "Guess I had a lot to clean up. Besides, you're so cute when you snore." Dorian rolled his eyes and put his books in his bag. "If you're so pooped, why didn’t you head home?" John asked.
Dorian made a face. "My roommates are... intense. I didn't have much choice when it came to housing options, but they're not pleasant to live with."
"What makes them unpleasant?"
Dorian dropped his notebook in his bag and sat back. "I got my college degree later than most and had to work really hard to get where I am. But they aren’t as impressed with my work as you, or the dean, are. In their minds, my work and I are outdated and unimpressive." Dorian laid his head against the couch. "When Rudy ordered me off of campus, I honestly couldn't think of anywhere else to go."
"Well that makes me feel warm and fuzzy."
Dorian laughed. "You are significantly superior company."
"Well," John swallowed. "If you need a quiet place to study, I live alone. It's quite there. Which, now that I've said that out loud, sounds a little creepy. What I- I mean is, if you need a place to study, through reading or osmosis, my place is available to you."
Dorian smiled. "Thank you, John. I-" Dorian took a deep breath. "I would love that."
Later that night, after a long talk, John decided Dorian really was kind of cute when he snored.