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“Just breath, Cooke.”
Francis takes a deep breath, holds it in for two seconds, then exhales slowly, all the while looking at his reflection in the mirror.
“This is only the fifth organization that you’ve applied for, and only two of them had rejected you right away.” he says to himself out loud, trying and failing to stay composed as he gulps down excess saliva forming in his mouth. “You’ll... Y-You’ll be fine!” The man blinks twice at himself in the mirror before proceeding to wash his hands.
Despite wanting to stay locked in A.R.D.A.’s toilet, the scientist walks out back into the long hallway. The place reminded him of a hospital in a way - a long hallway with many doors and rows of three plastic chairs scattered around every five meters or so. The only light provided was from the opposite end of the hall which had one giant glass window from top to bottom. All the walls were light gray and it was dead silent.
Francis couldn’t even hear his own footsteps from the carpeted floor.
He was debating whether he should pocket his glasses or not - he just needs them for reading, anyway. The man was dressed in a white longsleeved button down (all buttons done up of course) and denim pants with a dark brown leather belt. He didn’t want to look too formal nor too casual. Now, he was reconsidering his choice of clothing, too. Maybe he should go back for the blue tie in his car...
‘You look fine. Focus!’ the voice in his head supplied and he nodded, trying to ground himself. In his hands, he carried a thick sort of book containing his cv, details about some of his past experiments and other possibly relative documents. The man skimmed through them, making sure he had everything, even though he had already double-triple checked at home and in the car, both before leaving and upon arrival.
Suddenly, a door opened just in front of him which made him jump and release a squeek of surprised fear. Fortunately, he had managed to stop just before running into it, but that didn’t prevent him from accidentally dropping the papers in his hands. Of course, they all ceremoniously flew through the air before scattering on the floor beneath him. His eyes went wide in horror.
Just his fucking luck...
“Are you okay!?” a head poked out from the other side of the door, sporting a worried expression.
Francis dropped down into a squat, already picking up the papers frantically.
God, this isn’t helping his nerves at all.
“I-I’m fine.” he stutters out, hands shaking a bit, desperately trying to pick all of it up. “I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t see you!” the scientist barely paid any mind to him. “Let me help you, please...” the man says and he could see him squatting down from his peripheral and scooping up his papers into a pile. “I-It’s alright.” Francis tried to assure, on the verge of his mental breakdown. “There’s... T-There’s really no-”
As he reached for the final piece of paper, a hand covered his own. He looked up to meet the eyes of the stranger who had caused all of this, only for the words to die on his tongue. His mind went blank for a moment, face turning a light shade of pink. The man in front of him had the most gorgeous brown eyes that the scientist had ever seen. “...need...” he all but whispered the last part of his sentence.
The man quickly removed his hand, probably realizing that they had stayed like that for a couple minutes now. He cleared his throat, looking away and sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. “Here.” the stranger regained his senses and handed him his own collected pile. Francis stared at it for a brief second, not knowing what to do. “Thanks...” in the end, he took it, refusing to meet the other’s eyes again.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” the man’s hand appeared on his shoulder now, effectively making him flinch up from surprise. He was forced to look into those beautiful eyes again and... were they sparkling or was he going insane? At this point, he didn’t know. Not trusting his voice, the scientist only nodded as a reply to his question. Francis swallowed thickly, suddenly feeling very dizzy.
Maybe he wasn’t fine after all...
Attempting to stand up quickly only resulted in him dangerously swaying. “Wow, easy there.” the man’s hands were around him again in a second, carefully holding him steady by the biceps. The scientist’s first thought was that the, still, stranger had strong but gentle arms. And oh, he was really losing it now... Slowly, he was guided to sit on one of those plastic chairs just a couple feet away. The other crouched down in front of him.
The folder was taken away from his hands and had been put away to the spot next to him. “Do you need me to get you medical assistance?” the man’s voice softened. How was this man even real? The audacity...! “Really. I’m fine.” Francis managed to croak out without stuttering this time, heart pounding through his chest. “I’m sorry, but I have an interview. I-I really need to go.”
The scientist attempts to stand up, but the hands only push him back down just as he’s gotten his ass out of the seat. “The interview can wait. I will personally escort and excuse you to whoever you’re meeting with.” the stranger says seriously and fuck, how is he supposed to argue? “I assure you - the door did not hit me. I was just a bit...” Francis struggles to find a decent enough word. “...flustered...”
“Your hands are still shaking.” the man says, having completely ignored what he’d just said.
And he was right.
The scientist’s hands were indeed still shaking lightly because of how nervous he was...is.
“May I?” the man asks softly, hand hovering over his own.
Francis hesitantly nods, fearing he might start stuttering again. Carefully, the hand slowly drops down on his own. At first, there’s just a light probing touch, then two hands gently cup the side of his own. He massages his hand for a moment before simply holding both of them in his own. All the while, the man’s gaze is fixed to his eyes, searching for any visible discomfort in them.
The scientist is surprised that he can even breath properly anymore. It’s not that he was uncomfortable, quite the opposite, but it was just too much all at once. “I’m Tobias, by the way.” the man’s voice startles him. “Francis...” it took all of his willpower not to stutter there. Why was this man making it so difficult for him to function!? He wasn’t even sure what made him more anxious between the two events.
Somehow, the rhythmic tender squeezing managed to calm him down. “Thank you.” he says quietly. Honestly, it felt like that was the only thing he was saying... The man, now known as Tobias, nodded seeing that his hands weren’t shaking anymore. He retracted his own and stood up, moving out of his way. Francis stood up as well, now composed and the man handed him his book with the papers back.
“I... should really be going now.” he glanced down at his wristwatch. All that was left to feel now was embarrassment which hit him full swing. “I still have two minutes... so there’s no need for you to accompany me.” the scientist added, referring to his previous promises. “Oh, alright then...” Tobias smiles gently, rubbing the back of his neck again and an awkward silence sets in.
“Well, good luck with your interview!” the man suddenly breaks it, extending his hand to him with a grin. “Thank you.” Francis smiles in return, accepting the handshake. The two stare at each other still hand-in-hand for a bit longer than what was considered ‘normal’, before parting in unison. Tobias is the first to take his leave for both their sakes and the scientist follows through, heading the opposite way.
And if they both steal a glance back at each other when the other isn’t looking - it’s no one’s concern.
***
Francis had forgotten about the whole ordeal, if he was honest.
Something about selective memory loss and repressing emotions, blah blah blah...
A week later, the scientist was sure that the interview had been another bust when later that evening he received an email from the company. Finally, something went his way - he was accepted! He made himself comfortable at his desk the next day, not that he had many personal trinkets anyway. No one had bothered with showing him around, but he frankly didn’t mind it.
What he wasn’t expecting however was to see that man, Tobias, walking into the office moments later. Obliviously, he walked next to his desk and over to what Francis assumed was some sort of maintenance closet, took a peak inside, closed it then walked away. Just before he passed his desk, the man quickly spun around and the scientist could see in his eyes that it had just struck him, too.
Tobias chuckled in disbelief. “It’s you again!” a massive grin bloomed on his face. “So the interview did go well. Heh, I was wondering how that ended...” the man talked with himself for a moment before looking back at Francis. “I’m the maintenance manager here. You’re a scientist, right? Has anyone showed you around yet? Why am I even asking, of course not... Come with me!”
The man practically drags him off before he even gets a chance to open his mouth. His heart was pounding again, much like it did the last time, but he wasn’t sure why since he didn’t have a reason to be anxious now. Though Tobias was a lot chattier than Francis was used to, he actually didn’t mind it and from what he could tell, the man liked him as well. Maybe he could listen to him talk again some time after work...
Little did they know this was only the beginning.