Work Text:
Joseph pulled his car into a parking space as close as possible to the doors across the street. He watched Caesar gather his bag from the footwell into his lap and double check he had everything.
"Thanks for the ride. See you later."
Caesar instinctively leaned over the center console and gave Joseph a peck on the cheek.
Joseph froze. He kept his mouth shut, knowing anything that would come out of it would be completely stupid and ruin this very important progress that had just happened. With eyes wide, he watched Caesar reach out for the door handle. Was he just going to leave like nothing had happened!? Like he hadn't been dropping hints for months without any sign of reciprocation and then out of nowhere Caesar kisses him like it was nothing? Like he'd been doing this every time Joseph dropped him off at work!?
Caesar stopped suddenly, hand hovering over the handle. He whipped his head around to face Joseph, eyes just as wide and white as his.
Shit shit shit! Be normal. Be cool. For the love of God don't call attention to it.
"Uhh," Caesar breathed, more of an escaping convict bolting through an open gate than an actually formed word.
"See you after work!" Joseph chirped, ignoring his voice cracking.
"Uhm, yeah."
"Five-thirty?" He didn't know his heart could beat this fast, he was practically vibrating out of his skin.
"Yeah."
"Kay. Have a good day!" Joseph tossed him a tense smile that he hoped looked real. Get out of the car before I explode, dude!
Caesar responded with an affirmative sounding grunt, numbly opened the door, and stepped out. He shut it with barely enough force for it to latch.
Caesar slung his bag over his shoulder and vaguely walked in the direction of his job.
After he moved in, he'd imagined what their first kiss might be like. If it would ever happen at all. He knew he liked Joseph, but the desire to kiss him just hadn't been there. He was starting to wonder if he'd ever get there. That maybe he wasn't as gay as he thought he was. The doubt slowly creeping in around the edges of his vision, infecting every thought and action with Joseph.
But for it to happen like this? In such a casual setting? He hadn't thought about it, hadn't planned it out. His body just responded. Like he was finally able to relax.
And that was it, wasn't it? He could relax. He didn't need to hold himself back. Joseph sure didn't and he loved every bit of that dumb idiot. His heart squeezed at the thought of Joseph patiently waiting around for Caesar to catch up, to be comfortable enough to let him in. How long would he have waited?
A loud whoop pulled Caesar's attention back to reality. He turned around to see Joseph cheering and rocking his car from side to side, clearly having forgotten he'd rolled down the windows. Caesar caught his eyes and smiled. Joseph, realizing he'd been caught, slammed his forehead on the steering wheel and groaned loud enough Caesar could hear it from across the street.
Caesar smiled deeper, the heat rising to his ears and cheeks. He opened the door, more excited than he'd ever been to get through the day to see Joseph again.