Work Text:
The kitchen is dark and quiet. Joe could’ve sworn it was brighter before. The sound of the water running into the sink reminded him of the gentle chatter he had been hearing just hours before. He wondered if his guests had taken the last of the light with them when they left, the dim glow of candles on the dining table being all that remained. The almost silence was interrupted by Donald coming into the kitchen.
“We should do that again sometime.” He said, loosening his red tie and hanging it over the back of a chair. Joe didn’t look at him. “I’m sure those can wait until morning.” Donald stood behind him, putting his hands on his boyfriend's shoulders. Joe flinched away and turned off the water.
“Joe, hey,” Donald said, his voice soft. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing,” Joe dried his hands with a towel. “It’s fine.” Donald stepped closer.
“Joe,”
“I said it’s fine!” Joe slammed the towel on the counter, unrolled his sleeves and headed for the hallway.
“You’re clearly upset, I want to help you.” Donald followed and grabbed him by the shoulder. Joe turned around revealing the tears filling his eyes. Donald softened and placed a hand on Joe’s cheek. “Joey,”
“Donald, don’t.” Joe hissed, wiping the tears from his face. “You’ve barely looked at me all night. I get that you wanted to talk to your friends but I…” He turned away. “I didn’t know anyone. I don’t like feeling like a… a stranger. I don’t like feeling alone, Donald, you know that.” Donald stood silently trying to think of a response.
“Joe, I’m-”
“Don’t even try, Donald.” Joe grabbed his coat off the wall and opened the door. The rain poured onto the lamp-lit street. But that didn’t stop him. Joe stepped into the dark and headed towards the other side of the street.
“C’mon, Joey, I’m sorry! Come back inside!” Donald yelled. Joe didn’t seem to hear him. He looked up at the black clouds in the sky and groaned. “Damn it.”
Joe ducked his head into his collar in an attempt to protect himself from the rain. He didn’t know where he was going, all he knew was that wanted to get away. He could hear quick footsteps behind him but kept going. As the footsteps got closer, a voice came with them.
“Joe! Joe, come on! Come back home!” Joe sighed and stopped, letting Donald catch up to him. “Come back inside, it’s freezing out here.” Joe kept his head down. “Joey, I’m sorry, okay, I wasn’t thinking about you. I was so focused on my friends, I wasn’t thinking about how you felt. I was stupid. I love you, Joe, and I’m so fucking sorry.” Joe didn’t know what to say. Tears flooded his eyes again as held Donald’s face and kissed him gently. The two men stared at each other for a moment before kissing again, rain falling around them.
“I’m sorry, Donald.” Joe whispered. “I overreacted, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“No, Joe, don’t say that.” Donald held his face again. “Now come back home, you’re soaking wet.” He ran his fingers through Joe’s hair and Joe gave him a playful shove.
“I wasn’t the one running, you know you get more wet when you run through the rain.” Donald laughed.
“That’s not true.”
“It is! I’m telling you!”
“Alright then.” Donald wrapped his arm around Joe’s shoulder and pulled him closer as the rain came to a stop.