Work Text:
“It’s just a phase. Boys don’t fall in love with other boys.”
That was what Ryan had always heard his father say since he told his parents he had a ‘boyfriend’ in elementary school. And even if he had been still very young; those words were printed in his brain.
In high school, Ryan had his very first actual crush. The boy was in his class and was Ryan’s best friend. The crush was gone quickly when the guy kissed the most popular girl in his class and they started dating.
See, it’s just a phase .
Ryan was 19 years old when he actually fell in love for the first time. He met the guy in his favorite coffee bar. The barista was 20 years old, was openly gay and was the funniest guy Ryan had ever met. Could it be more cliché? But one day Ryan went in to buy a coffee and the guy wasn’t there anymore. He was heartbroken, but he made himself believe he was over the guy pretty quickly.
It’s just a phase.
Ryan’s first kiss was with a girl. He was 20 years old and he had met the girl in his favorite bookshop. Ryan really liked her. She was pretty, they shared a lot of interests and his parents loved her. They were together for almost two years, until she left to travel Europe on her own. He was heartbroken.
It’s just a phase.
But now he looked at his best friend who was typing away on his own desk at the precinct. They were the only ones there. His breath caught in his throat. He’d known Javier Esposito for about 6 years, but suddenly his head cleared up: he was in love with his best friend and had been for as long as he could remember.
“Hey, Espo?”
Esposito looked up and shot Ryan his most beautiful smile. “Yeah?”
“Do you want to go out on a date on Friday night?”
Esposito couldn’t mask his surprise, but answered quickly: “Yeah, I’d love that.”
Ryan smiled widely and looked back at the papers on his desk.
Not a phase. This is not a phase.