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"Come on Obes, you gotta live a little.”
"How about no. I have a lot of work to do."
"You're not gonna get anywhere if you keep staring at your thesis research like this. The bar I like has trivia nights and karaoke nights. And tonight is trivia night. You'll do amazing with that!"
Obi-Wan sighed. "But I have deadlines." Both knew his resolve was breaking, and that he did desperately need a break.
"One night won't hurt if you're not behind."
"Why is this such a big deal to you? You're not usually so pushy."
"Well I uh..." Quinlan tried to come up with anything to say but could only look away.
Obi-Wan closed his laptop, grinning. "Oh? Do you have a crush on someone who will be there and want my support?"
Quinlan grumbled. "Sometimes I hate that we're brothers. Yes, okay? He's in some of the same courses I am, but for a different focus on his masters in education, his brother owns the bar with a partner I guess, and he works there to pay them back for helping him with money."
Obi-Wan patted his shoulder. "Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"Of course when it's for me and a crush he'll drop the PhD work, but not for his own mental well being needing a break," Quinlan muttered, a little irritated. "It's a bit embarrassing, okay?"
"Not your usual type?"
"...not at all."
"Well, can't hurt to try, can it, Quin?"
"Why are you so excited?" Quinlan asked.
Obi-Wan shot him a look. "We were in the same shitty foster homes for years despite not actually being brothers because we always ended up in the same ones."
"'cause you were the only one ever willing to room with me," Quinlan pointed out sullenly. Despite therapy, he still didn't like revisiting those memories and how much they hurt.
"Point is, I know you Quin. You always went for the ones that were exciting... that made you feel needed, wanted. Loved. But then they'd lead you down a bad path until you got yourself out." It had been a pattern that started when he had his first relationship at fourteen.
Quinlan winced. There was a reason he was only working on his masters while Obi-Wan was onto working on his PhD. Not that he was certain he wanted a PhD in teaching.
Obi-Wan gave him an understanding look. "You are a wonderful person, Quin. You deserved so much more than they gave you. And you never acted like this with them. A lot of times, you didn't have feelings before they showed you any affection. And yet, here you didn't say anything about what this person has done for you."
"I... can you not do the psychoanalyzing stuff?" Quinlan couldn't help but whine.
Obi-Wan was studying psychology, with a focus on childhood abuse and experiences in the foster system, hoping to help others who were in a similar situation to them.
"That's just me knowing you, no science knowledge needed. Now, I think I'm ready."
Quinlan looked him up and down and rolled his eyes. "You couldn't leave the sweater at home?"
"I don't get out much. I like the security of it." Obi-Wan crossed his arms self consciously. It was a sweater that made him look a decade over than he was, especially coupled with his glasses.
"How about one of my hoodies instead then? Less professor serious vibes."
"Oh, fine. I'll change. Anything else?"
"Nah, that was my only nitpick."
"You're not going to try to set me up with anyone, are you?"
"Nah, I know how important studying is for you. You're not going to have time for a relationship until this is all over next year."
Obi-Wan nodded and went to grab his favorite of Quinlan's hoodies. It was a hoodie for a shared favorite show. And it was the most comfortable.
Quinlan grinned at him. "Okay, ready?"
"Sure. What about food?"
"They got pretty decent bar food, honestly. I wouldn't worry. And there's always popcorn."
"Of course," Obi-Wan chuckled. "Now, I'm ready."
They left.
.
Rex leaned on the counter. "Who's that you keep looking at, Fox?"
Fox jumped and cursed under his breath. "Just... Quinlan, he's in some of my classes. He's studying education as well."
Rex hummed, glancing over the man. He looked rather fit. "PE?" he guessed. Quinlan looked to be that sort of jock type.
"No, I think he's got middle school and high school theater, music, math for some reason, and special education, with a focus on behavior? I don't know how he's pulling all of that off, that's a lot of focus. He's got the credits for it, though. Might be how he got the math in there, lots of math. Good with the kids." Fox went back to wiping down the counter.
"So the social studies teacher is interested in the drama teacher?" Rex teased.
Fox groaned. "Maybe? I don't know. He's... hard to explain and he can be a lot, though he's good at toning it down for the kids while keeping up with their energy."
Rex hummed, then the man next to Quinlan caught his eye. "And who's that?"
"Oh, I've seen him on campus... some PhD student. I think he and Quinlan grew up in the foster system together or something from what Quin said."
Rex raised an eyebrow at the shortened name but didn't comment. "Never met him?"
"Never had a reason to. Not like I hang out with Quinlan."
"That's too bad. I'd like to know more about him... Look at Cody."
Cody was watching Obi-Wan with an intrigued expression. He was the one asking the trivia questions, as he loved trivia. Obi-Wan was keeping up with the questions so far and getting quite a few points. What Obi-Wan didn't know, Quinlan was usually able to fill in.
Fox looked between Cody and Obi-Wan. "Really? He hasn't looked at anyone besides you like that in years not since..."
"Yeah. I can see why he's interested, though. Not sure that man is trying to flirt but he's certainly getting Cody's attention."
"I'm not sure either, Quin seems far too amused every time he says anything to Cody."
"Fascinating..." Rex murmured. "So, you going to ask Quinlan out?"
"Don't change the subject, what are you going to do about it?"
"We've talked about trying to have another partner again, so I'm will to give him a chance. Anything to bring Cody's smile back more consistently. I'll probably talk to him later. Now... are you going to ask Quinlan out or not?"
Fox groaned, glancing at Quinlan before focusing back on his work. "I don't know. We're both busy studying for our masters, and I think he has a job, and I do have to work here. Dating is not going to really work with our schedules."
"You can still be friends. Are you going to try for that at least?"
Fox sighed. "...maybe. I might. I hope he at least wants that... he's got a wicked sense of humor and he's so good at..." Fox caught Rex's amused expression and ducked his head in embarrassment to focus on his job some more.
Rex chuckled and decided to leave Fox alone for now to go hang out with Cody. Everything was running smoothly, he didn't need to be behind the bar for now. He still kept an eye out on everything.
Cody smiled at Rex briefly before continuing with the trivia questions.
Rex leaned on him and watched. Yes, that stranger certainly seemed interesting.
Eventually it was time for a break. Cody kissed his cheek. "You were teasing Fox earlier."
"He's got a crush. Quinlan, in the booth over there. One of the ones who started coming a lot recently. Apparently he's also going for a masters in education. The one answering all your questions is a PhD student."
"Huh. He knows a lot of random facts for a PhD student."
"Maybe he just likes learning like you do?"
"Maybe, though he also knows a lot of geeky trivia too... So Fox actually has a crush on someone. I was starting to wonder if he would ever be interested in someone. Fully expected him to come out as asexual or aromantic or both one of these days."
Rex snorted. "Me too. Seems we were wrong. Now let's talk about your developing crush."
"I don't have a crush."
"Even now you keep glancing at that PhD student. You should talk to him after trivia is done."
"Why would a PhD student be interested in us?"
"I don't know. But it can't hurt to check it out."
"Why do you always have to make sense?" Cody grumbled.
"Because sometimes you get too caught up in logic and don't go with your feelings nearly enough."
Cody huffed. "You're right. Unfortunately."
Rex kissed his cheek. "I better get back to work. Talk to him."
"Fine, fine. I'll give it a go." Cody shoved him away, smiling. He started up trivia once more.
As expected, the duo won.
Cody took the opportunity to talk to them. "Hey, good job."
Quinlan grinned at him. "Hey Cody. Thanks, but it's really thanks to Obi-Wan. His mind is a sponge."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Shut up Quin. Nice to meet you, I'm Obi-Wan. I take it you've already met my annoying brother?"
Cody looked between them. "Brother?"
"It's a long story." Obi-Wan glanced at Quinlan who shrugged at him. "We ended up in the same foster homes a lot."
Cody didn't know what to say to that. "Ah... well, it's always nice to see new faces around here. I hope you will come to the next trivia night?"
"We'll see." Obi-Wan smiled at him.
Cody smiled back. "Great."
.
Obi-Wan found himself going to trivia night again and again. And then he decided to add karaoke. He brought the simpler assignments to work on those nights. He could get them done despite the distractions the bar offered, and then he didn't have to worry about them the rest of the week.
Each time he went, Quinlan teased him about taking time off. Each time he went, he teased Quinlan back about wanting to even glimpse Fox. And each time he went, he found himself having a short conversation with Cody or Rex. Sometimes both.
Obi-Wan settled in his usual booth with his homework and hummed over the essay topic before he got started.
"This surely can't be the best environment for studying." Rex's voice made Obi-Wan look up.
He smiled to see both Rex and Cody with his usual order. "I don't mind. I have studied in far less enjoyable circumstances. This is but a simple essay. If I get it out of the way tonight, I do not have to worry the rest of the week and can focus on my thesis further."
"Ah, well. I can't argue with that logic." Cody sat down. "What are you studying? I don't think you ever mentioned."
"Psychology. My focus is on childhood abuse, foster care, and adoption."
"Oh, wow that is intense. So do you know our deepest secrets?"
"No, I try not to analyze those I know. Diagnosing you even in my head would be unethical."
Cody gave him a curious look. "I never thought of it like that. So... what are you comfortable telling us?"
"I never reveal my secrets."
Cody grinned. "Oh, really?"
.
"Do you ever have days off?"
Cody blinked. That was an unexpected question. "Of course. But karaoke nights and trivia nights are big nights for us, so I make sure I'm working those, and Rex does too. We alternate which of us is working otherwise."
"You don't take vacations?"
"Not usually. We sometimes train others in for that but well... last time we did that it was a disaster and we haven't been willing to try."
"Pity. You seem tense. Overworking yourselves?"
"Maybe a little," Rex admitted. "But we're doing okay. Could use maybe a little more help but doesn't matter. What about you. You managing the workload and coming here alright?"
"Better to stress about it here than at home where I work myself into an anxious spiral and lose even more time."
"Anxious spiral?"
Obi-Wan winced and looked away. "Yes, I overthink a lot which is not the best combination with anxiety."
"Oh. Well. I have anxiety too," Cody admitted.
Obi-Wan looked at him, tilted his head. "Ah, those were signs."
"Most people miss any signs," Cody said quietly. "I've always been good at hiding them. Being the oldest, well, I had to stay in charge and not show how anxious I was... couldn't let my siblings know I was falling apart or anything."
Obi-Wan winced. "Bad parents?"
"Single dad. He tried but... he wasn't the greatest, but he's doing better for the youngest two, who are eight, than he did for me and the others who no more than five years younger than me... probably because we're all out of the house so he has less to worry about."
"That is unfortunate. I'm sorry you had to deal with that."
"What about you? You mentioned foster homes?"
"I did. I do not like talking about them because Quinlan and I are open about having been in the same ones. And anything I say about those homes, also says something about what he dealt with, aside from my last two years in the system."
"That's understandable. I wouldn't tell anyone and I'm not sure I would have thought of it, but it makes sense you want to protect his privacy."
Obi-Wan smiled. "Not many are so understanding."
"Then you keep finding the wrong people."
"Would you two be the right people?" Obi-Wan asked, then turned bright red when he realized what he had said. He took a sip from his drink to attempt to hide his embarrassment.
Rex almost choked on his water.
Cody stared, then cracked a smile. "I'd like to think so. But we can wait for trust... and less schoolwork."
Obi-Wan stared between them. "Oh... I.. see..."
.
"I can't believe I said that to their faces!" Obi-Wan groaned then screamed into a pillow.
"I think you got it bad Obes. I should've known when you started going to every trivia night, and definitely should have pieced it together when you added karaoke night too."
"Shut up, I'm having a crisis."
Quinlan laughed. "It's okay, Obes. I'm sure it's fine. Sounds like they're open to it?"
"I guess... I hope so... I don't know. They're both great, okay?"
"Oh I figured, it's not just anyone who catches your attention."
Obi-Wan glared at him over the pillow. "And what about Fox, hmm?"
Quinlan sputtered. "Th-that's different!"
.
"He's perfect."
"Rex?"
"Obi-Wan is perfect. But why would he ever accept us?"
"Why are you freaking out about this?"
"I only ever wanted you to be happy. I was... never fully into our attempts to bring a third in before. They never clicked... which may have contributed to how disastrous they turned out to be."
"Oh... Why didn't you say anything?"
"Because I was doing my best to ensure that was one less thing for you to sacrifice. I know how much you lost growing up being the oldest of your siblings, and I refused to let you sacrifice things that made you happy. I thought I could learn to love them, and in some cases I did..."
Cody frowned at him. "We're going to revisit that. But... I am glad that you like him too. He does sound interested... And you're right, he's perfect for us. Sounds like he's got his own flaws but that's okay. It'd be more concerning if he didn't have any flaws."
"True... so you want to ask him out?"
"Yes, we just need to figure out how to trust someone with the bar for a few hours instead of having one of us there at all times."
"Good point. I think we can do that... Fox probably could do it if we gave him enough warning. We know he's trustworthy. Not sure I'd trust the others yet."
"Maybe one day. But first let's wait until Obi-Wan has graduated... I want to let him have as little pressure as possible. He seems so stressed, even if he does relax when he's talking with us."
"That works for me.... gives us a chance to work through things we probably should have thought about sooner."
Cody eyed him then nodded. "It does. I wish you had told me your feelings earlier."
"Me too. It was dumb. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I'll work on not taking responsibility, how about that."
Rex laughed. "I don't know if you know how to do that," he teased.
"Oh sure I can!"
.
Years later, when Quinlan and Fox finally got married, Obi-Wan made sure to give Quinlan's crush on Fox all the credit for him finding his own spouses.
"Who could have known that would have led to me getting married before Quinlan while he continued to pine away for Fox? We had to conspire to make them dance together to get them to actually talk about feelings. If it weren't for that who knows if they would be getting married right now."
Obi-Wan could say more but he didn't want to make Quinlan actually suffer. Besides, he knew Cody had plenty more to say about how Quinlan and Fox's crushes on each other contributed to them getting married. He never would have contributed to getting them to dance together otherwise, after all.