Work Text:
A cold night in Torrance, on top of a rooftop two friends chatter amongst themselves before setting up at a spot with a clear view from a park with a large gathering forming a few miles out.
"Why did Robert choose us for a stealth mission, aren't we the opposite of stealth?" Flambae states while leading back in the chair he brought with him.
"Probably because he wants us to get better." Prism still looking at their assigned location through her binoculars.
"I just think Bob-Bob wants to torture us, probably still mad about what happened at the meeting."
Prism leaned back and moved the binoculars away from her face to make eye contact with her friend.
"Babe, this is like the ultimate snooping activity. Are you really not interested in any of the business going on here."
"Not really, if anything it's frustrating. I had plans tonight. It's fucking ruining them."
"Of course you had plans tonight, you've had plans after work for last couple months."
As she says this Prism goes back to focusing her attention at the gathering ahead. Flambae raises his eyebrow, her tone tells him everything he needed to know. So much so that he's unable to stop the defensive question that spills out of his mouth.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, it doesn't mean anything."
"No, it definitely means something if you're bringing it up."
Prism stays silent as she continues to look out her pair of binoculars. She trying to focus on what Robert sent them out to do, but more importantly she knows staying quiet will get her what she wants out of Chad sooner rather than later.
"Fine, don't say anything then, fuck."
Flambae mutters as they both sit in silence. It seems to go on forever while they look out at the gathering a few miles out from their vantage point. They see a car pull up and a man steps out of the car. Flambae seeing he chance to say something.
"So, is that our guy?"
"No."
There's another long stretch of silence, Flambae tries breaking it once more.
"Is there something you want to tell me or are you seriously going to give me the silent treatment all night?"
"Not talking to you until you tell me who you're seeing."
"You can't be serious."
Prism continues to stay focused on the task at hand.
"I'm not seeing anyone." Flambae huffs.
"I know when you are lying, doofus. Just look at yourself." Prism replies quickly not even bothering to look in Flambae's direction.
Flambae takes offense to the comment immediately.
"How do you know when I'm lying? For all I know you're just telling me that so I get angry and say something."
"Well, is there something to say?"
Prism asks out right, giving a small glance. Flambae looks away from her, his tone no different than a teen being teased by their parents.
"No, not a damn thing, I just wanted to go home. This shits been killing me, seriously, haven't seen the fucking guy we are supposed to be looking out for."
Prism scoffs but doesn't say another word, it's not worth arguing with him any longer. They both continue looking out for their John, who still is nowhere in sight. Flambae tries again making small talk.
"Guess, he isn't in the mood to party. I could kill for a shot or something."
Prism stirs a little, Flambae feels a little weight lift off his shoulders. But it returns quickly once he sees she's on her phone. Frustrated with the current events, one more question won't change anything.
"How much longer til we can call it?"
"Messaging Robert right now." Prism replies coldly and quickly.
"Good." Flambae sighs.
The silence is back and Flambae stews in thought.
If this continues Alice will be pissed for a VERY long time. Not being able to talk with her for days on end, it's something Chad doesn't want to dwell on. He tries saying something, maybe this time she'll lay off.
"Why don't you believe me? I'm old can't I look forward to having a bath or something."
Alice finally looks over at him,
"Because I know how you are! You been wearing that damn cologne that smells like burning pine wood or forest smell. You only ever wear that when you go on dates."
"Can't I just want to smell good! I got a new one to try, I want to finish the old bottle."
"You sound stupid right now. Really out of the whole time I've known you have you never done something like that!"
"Can't I be a changed guy! My therapist said one must change to grow. I'm choosing to use more of my cologne."
Alice huffs, if it's gotta be this way so be it.
"Fine, explain why you been hanging out Waterboy."
Chad nearly dropped the binoculars in his hands.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't start that shit again! You don't think I haven't noticed? Come on, you guys have been way too buddy buddy."
"I'm buddy buddy with everyone on the team."
"That's not what I mean and you know it. You been canceling plans with me to hang out with him."
"Just say your jealous then." Chad saids in the most smug voice possible.
Alice get up from her spot and starts to walk away, Chad knows he just fucked up. One chance to fix it now.
"Fine you're right. I don't want to talk about it here."
Alice turns back around, from the looks of it, she's definitely trying to play it cool.
"Yeah, Roberto said we're done here. Where to next?"
"Let's go to the car."
--
Chad drives his car while Alice sits in relative silence, the radio is playing some trashy pop song while they make their way over to her place.
Chad puts the car in park while walking up to her apartment Alice takes of a hit of her vape. As soon as they make it up the few flight of stairs, Alice opens the door.
"You got any wine still?"
"Yeah, a few bottles."
"Good, still in the fridge?"
Alice nods in response as Chad gets to work on grabbing wine and ingredients.
"Anything you want me to make?"
"No, but I want it done when I come back out here."
"It will be."
---
After the dinner is eaten and two bottles of wine, Chad finally speak up.
"I haven't felt like this about a guy in a long time, but he's so much younger then me. I feel like a old gay pervert. "
"Chad, he's a grown adult, he can make his own choices, like I don't know, dating an old gay pervert."
"Thanks, you know that really makes me feel so much better." Chad replies sarcastically.
Alice rolls her eyes at the reply, but she continues.
"Aren't some guy really into that shit anyways? Besides, he's probably thrilled a guy hot as you is into his scrawny ass."
Chad stays silent for a moment. Alice is waiting what he has to say next, but what comes out of his mouth genuinely surprises her.
"I'm sorry I haven't told you sooner. We weren't ready for the team to know what's going on."
"Chad, most people at work already started making bets." As she gently puts her hand over his hand
"Oh yeah, what's got the most money in it?" Chad smiles widely. Alice returns it.
"Within the group or with the whole office?"
"Fuck, you can't be serious."
"With the group it's you and Waterboy," Alice pauses, trying to figure the best way to say the next part, eh beating around the bush never does any good. "But the office believe it or not you and Robert."
Chad is quiet and Alice thinks that she should have kept that part to herself until Chad starts laughing so hard to the point he starts coughing.
"What's so funny?" Alice is a little frustrated, this was never that funny.
Chad tries collecting himself, he takes another sip from his cup. The look on his face completely changed, Alice was surprised he could be this serious looking.
"Well, you HAVE to promise me this stays between us."
Alice pressed her lips together, on one had already the group bet is in the triple digits but Chad is rarely this vulnerable.
"Okay, I promise."
Chad is silent for a moment as if contemplating on something important, he leans in, Alice is fixated on his next move, she moves in a little closer to Chad as they lock eyes. As soon as Alice thought Chad was going to say something, he quickly grabs the bottle of wine of the coffee table and chugs it.
"Babe, what the fuck."
As soon as Chad puts the bottle back on to the table he quickly spills his well kept secret.
"We've got a throuple thing going on with Robert. That's why we're keeping quiet on the whole thing."
"WHAT! Hold on, hold on. You, Robert and Herman are dating? Each other. No bull shit?"
"No bull shit."
"Chad, if you don't tell me how this started-"
"Remember when we went to that drag bar. With the really cheap drinks."
Alice nods her head when recalling the memory.
"Everyone got so trashed. Really, I don't even remember how I made it home."
Chad drinks another full glass of wine and loudly exclaimed.
"Imagine us waking up in my apartment in my fucking bed naked."
"Damn, do you think we were drugged?"
"I think we were just being stupid, I think I alone had two bottles of vodka."
Chad pauses pressing his lips together, then he clicks his tongue as he he continues.
"Maybe three bottles worth. Anyways, at first we thought about ignoring what happened. It just got awkward to quick."
"That week were you guys weren't talking to each other much."
"See, you remember."
"Bitch if you don't tell me more."
"Herm was the first one to crack, him and I got to talking and we just clicked. Robert still avoided us for a while, HR violation or whatever. "
"What a lame excuse."
"Right? I just think he's never been in a situation like that before."
"You telling me you woken up with more than one naked man in your bed before?"
"I get around, just never coworkers before."
"So, when you're stuff with Herman start, what did he say to convince you to keep seeing him?"
"About 2 weeks after that happened. Stupid bastard gave me flowers."
---
"O-or if you don't like, want flowers, I can grab, give you, something else. "
Chad doesn't know how to respond, frankly none of his dates or hookups never give him flowers, this was a first.
Herman unable to read Chad's body language, makes him assume the worst. God, he must hate them and him. Stupid Herm, why would you pick flowers.
"D-do you not like the flowers, I can take them back."
Herman starts reaching to take the flowers out of his hands, Chad yanks them further away from Herman. Chad is aware his nearly crushing the bouquet, but Herman isn't taking them back.
Both men stand still after the small scuffle, Chad moves the flowers from his face, Herman blushes immediately upon seeing the other man's face.
Damnit, blushing like school girls.
"I fucking love them, in fact you should give me more. Since, you made me crush these ones, with your stupid nonsense."
"Y-yeah, Yes I should. "
---
"Oh my God, that's why you have fucking flowers and vases around your house now."
Alice can see the embarrassed look and blush action Chad has going on his face, he's practically steaming. She reaches out and touches Chad's hand as she clarifies her thoughts on the matter.
"Hey, I think that's really sweet. If you guys break up maybe I'll date Herman next."
"Honestly out of the two, I think I would drop Robert first, he's got issues."
Alice finishes her glass and waves her hand.
"Of course he as issues look at him! So does he own anything besides that damn work shirt or is he that broke?"
"Unfortunately, he is that broke."
Chad pours more wine in his glass and takes a long sip before continuing.
"It's apparent that he's never been in any long term relationships in his entire life. Also, he just says out of pocket things, that brings down the mood."
"Really? Thought he was the more suave type."
"No, no what I mean more is more like, he thinks the things he says isn't bad or pathetic."
Chad thinks for a minute,
"Okay, like a few weeks ago Herm and Rob came to my place, I made dinner and I was trying to make small talk, I said something like-"
---
Chad drops down three plates on the table each dish having variously different serving sizes, the smallest goes to Herman, the largest goes to Robert, while his would be considered a modest portion.
"Bet you guys never eaten food this good." Chad gloats before digging into his food.
Herman smiles really big after having a bite, "Not in awhile my grandma is sensitive to a lot of spices. This is really tasty, delicious."
Robert takes a bite and another before answering with his mouth partly full,
"Same here, haven't had anything this good since my mom died."
---
Alice feels her jaw drop at the retelling of events.
"Ain't no way he thought that was okay to say."
"Oh, he tried defending it too. Something like, 'What, my dad wasn't home to cook and Chase didn't like too.'"
"Oh, my fucking god."
"Telling you, Robert is fucking pathetic."
Alice sighs loudly.
"And you made me promise not to tell anyone, Chad."
Chad laughs once more as he thrilled to finally tell his best friend everything he's been holding onto for the last few months.
---
Chad opens the door to his apartment after a long night with Alice. Robert is the first one to acknowledge is presence.
"How was your shift with Alice?"
Chad drops his entire body weight onto the couch. Robert bounces up with the fall.
"Fine, she know about us now."
Herman walks over with two cups of water he had just grabbed from the kitchen.
"O-oh, so like, me and you or-"
Chad makes a circle gesture. "Us, us."
Robert puts his head back and loudly sighed.
"So, is she going to tell anyone?"
"Don't get your balls twisted Bob, she won't say anything."
Chad shrugs he's shoulders
"At least, I hope not. I trust her. We're fine."
---
Alice waves Chad off as he gets in a cab, he'll pick up the car in the morning or afternoon like plenty of times before.
She closes her curtains and hits a number on speed dial. The line picks up after 2 rings.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, Bruno. You are not going to believe this, but I need you to keep your mouth shut."
"You got it baby, so what's up?"