Work Text:
It's a Friday after Joe gets off work and he's immediately headed to Milwaukee to see Andy. They both got time off work and Andy has his own place, so Joe is willing to make the drive to have alone time with him. He has about an hour left of driving when he gets a call from Pete. Great, he forgot to tell them where he was going and now, he's going to have to make up some story to him and Patrick. He grabs the phone to answer, reluctantly.
"Hey Pete, what's up man?" Joe says, trying to pay attention to the road. "Dude, where are you? Didn't your shift end an hour ago?!" Pete sounds kinda mad, Joe's not too sure why Pete cares so much. "Uhh yeah, I did. I am gonna stay the weekend with a friend to see some show, he's up in Wisconsin." Joe is trying to lie, okay? He is doing his best, he's not the best liar. That's also why he couldn't seem to lie about going up to Wisconsin, where Andy lives. "What? Why didn't you say anything man, we got worried!" Pete sounds a little upset, maybe because he was hoping to do something with him this weekend or something. Joe's not sure but he hopes Pete forgives him, he didn't mean to make him upset, this time.
He doesn't get why this isn't the best news ever to Pete, him and Patrick started dating last week and now get the apartment to themselves?! Sounds like a dream come true if you ask Joe. I mean that's the reason he has to drive to Andy instead of the opposite, he'd rather Andy come to him it's harder for Joe to get time off work.
"I'm sorry man, why do you sound so upset, you and Patrick get the place to yourselves for the weekend?" Joe can vaguely hear Patrick tell Pete something in the background, but he can't make out what he's saying. "Patrick is going to his mom's place this weekend to go spend time with her. Trust me, if he was going to be here and you weren't I'd be pumped, no questions asked where you are. Now I'm all alone here." He can't see Pete's face, but if he could he'd be pouting like a sad puppy.
"Look, I have to be home Sunday night, so I'll see you then. Don't you know like, everyone! Go ask Chris to hang with you or something, man." Joe can hear Pete sigh on his end, clearly excepting his fate. "Yeah, you're right man. We can hangout Sunday night or something, but this won't happen again." Pete sounds kind of serious and stern. "You are not going to leave me in the apartment by myself, again." Joe doesn't love that idea now that he thinks about it. He's surprised Patrick isn't concerned about Pete's possibility to burn the apartment down while they're gone.
"Well, I'm gonna go man, I'll see you Sunday, okay?" Joe can hear Pete looking through the fridge-that's probably empty- for food. "Yeah, okay man. See you Sunday." He hangs up and throws his phone to the passenger seat and sighs.
He can't believe Pete barely questioned him about where he'd be. He's glad though, he doesn't want to explain where he'll truly be quite yet.
Joe continues to drive for another hour until he's finally pulled up to Andy's apartment. He grabs his bag for the weekend and heads upstairs. He's been here a few times before, so he knows exactly where to go. He gets to Andy's door and knocks. Joe isn't sure why he's nervous he's done this once before. Is he worried about getting caught or what if Andy doesn't want him here anymore? No, Andy wouldn't do that, Andy's one of the nicest guys he knows. It's one of the reasons Joe loves him so much. With the whole "getting caught" thing, Joe doesn't have much to worry about. Pete and Patrick are together now, and Joe didn't freak out about that! So, they shouldn't freak out about him and Andy, right?
Joe's pulled out of his anxiety and thoughts when then door flies open. Joe looks up to see Andy, grinning wide, clearly happy to see his boyfriend after about 2 weeks without seeing him. They haven't been able to book any shows lately and because of that, Joe has to double up on shifts at work, killing his free time.
"You gonna come in, Joe?" Andy asks, still a sweet smile on his face. Joe could stare at it for hours. "Yeah, yes! Sorry, I don't know what's up with me today, I've been all up in my head." Joe scratches the back of his neck as he walks into Andy's place. He takes a deep breath, breathing in the familiar smell of Andy. Joe sets his stuff down on Andy's couch and walks over to Andy, grabbing his face gently to kiss him. It's sweet and loving.
Andy pulls back after a minute, "Hey, you hungry? I made some food if you want some. I know you just got off work to get here. I thought I'd make us some food." Joe is so happy he loves his boyfriends cooking. Andy is vegan, but he can cook unlike himself, Pete, and Patrick, so he will gladly accept an actual meal, rather than the junk he's usually stuck with eating. "Yeah, that sounds great. I'm starving right now, long shift." Joe sighs, flopping down on Andy's couch. He watches Andy grab them both a bowl and scoop whatever meal he made into the bowl.
"Here you go, honey." Andy smiles, handing Joe the bowl and sitting next to him. It's some kind of pasta with vegetables in it, like a stew in a way. Joe's not picky, he will eat whatever Andy hands him, he trusts his boyfriend.
"I'm glad you're here and we get to spend time together." Andy says breaking their silence, "I'm happy we are together. I never could have imagined you loved me back." Andy smile is so wide Joe could think that Andy is the creator of happiness and love. It sometimes feels like Andy couldn't ever have a bad bone in his body and Joe loves it.
"How could I not, you're the most perfect man I've ever met." Joe responds as he leans into Andy to kiss him. It's not a very long kiss but it's full of all the passion and love the pair have for each other. Joe couldn't imagine it any other way. He adores Andy.
"I'm going to clean up my bowl. Are you done with yours too, dear." Joe asks. Andy nods and hands Joe his bowl and Joe can see how Andy looks at him like he's the most important and beautiful thing he's ever seen. Joe knows that to Andy, Joe is the more important and beautiful thing he's ever seen. Sometimes Joe wishes he could understand, he lets Andy talk about whatever though. Joe grabs Andy's bowl and head to the sink to wash the dishes.
When Joe gets back Andy is already comfortable into the couch, waiting for Joe's return. He tries to cuddle into Andy, but It's not always the easiest thing when he tries to be the little spoon since he's taller than Andy is: But when he can Joe sure does try. Andy is flipping through TV channels, trying to find something good on TV. He settles on some random cooking show and when he looks down toward his side, he sees Joe fast asleep, lightly snoring. Andy smiles down at him and cuddles him as close as he can without waking him.
"I love you." Andy says, resting his head on top of Joe's, smiling. Andy is so happy he can do this. he can lay with the man he is over the moon to call his boyfriend. When he met Joe, he didn't totally expect this is where they'd be. Pete introduced the 2 awhile back and Andy just felt so drawn to him. Joe was loud but also one of the chillest guys he knew, Andy couldn't help but try to get closer to him. You can imagine his surprise when a few months ago-while Pete and Patrick were out at a local show- Joe kissed Andy and told him he loved him. It was unexpected but Joe took the shot of his life, it worked out that Andy loves Joe too.
It was now around 11:30pm and Andy decided it was time to move to an actual bed rather than the couch. He gently nudges Joe till he wakes. Joe doesn't wake up but rather rolls over and gets more comfortable. Andy finds he doesn't have much of a choice but to pick Joe up. He hasn't tried doing this before, but he is pretty sure he can pick Joe up, at least long enough to carry him to his room. He successfully gets Joe in his arms and starts to walk to his room.
Joe opens his eyes and sees Andy's face, but they are moving and they are no longer on the couch. "Um, where are we going and why am I in your arms?" Joe asks, his voice kind of groggily from just waking up. "To bed, it's late and I'm tired. I tried waking you on the couch, but you were out." Andy replies, smiling down at Joe, he puts him down on the bed and lays right next to him.
"I wish we could do this all the time, I should move in with you." Joe says while he gets all cozy in Andy's bed, taking in how much is smells like him. "We both know we can't do that, as much as I'd like to. We will get a place of our own one day and we also can't do that till Pete and Patrick know." Andy starts stroking the side of Joe's face affectionately and smiles sweetly at him. Joe could look at Andy's face like that forever. he can't get enough of it. "I know, we will soon. What if you come back down with me and we'll tell them? Patrick comes back the same night as me and you can sleep over that night, with me. Please, consider it?" Joe pleads, he sounds desperate, because he is. All he wants is to just bring Andy over and annoy Pete and Patrick about how much he loves HIS boyfriend. Pete hasn't shut up about Patrick since they got together, that's saying a lot considering Pete never shut up about Patrick in the first place, them getting together made it worse.
"That could be a good idea, I want to tell them." Andy smiles at Joe. "They should know, I don't like lying to our best friends." Joe doesn't either, he doesn't know why they have kept it a secret for so long. They would never judge and now that they are together, they definitely can't judge. Joe kind of liked Andy being his little secret, something that's all his.
"Let's go to bed, dear. We will talk more about this in the morning." Joe nods and cuddles into Andy's chest despite being the taller of the 2. Being in Andy's arms makes him feel safe, loved. Something he always yearned for. He has it now with Andy and couldn't be happier. They fall asleep shortly after, close in each other's arms. They wouldn't have it any other way. Because Joe loves Andy and Andy loves Joe. They'll tell Pete and Patrick soon enough, for now they will be each other's secret.