Chapter Text
1 x 1 - Two people discussing their growing feelings for another
It was a lot, after therapy, to acknowledge that something new was happening to him. It wasn’t like he couldn’t. It was just…a lot. It wasn’t like he couldn’t love a man; he’d loved a lot of people over his life, male and female, despite what he’d been through.
But a married man? A fellow chef? Someone who didn’t live in the same state as him, even? Okay, that last one was irrelevant, but he has a point. He always had a point nowadays.
“I can practically see the steam coming off your head.” A voice commented from next to him, Andrew rolling over his shoulder to blink at Alton on the other side of the couch as the older man continued. “You’re starting to look like a hard-boiled egg. What in hell are you thinking about in that brain of yours that isn’t the wine in front of us or how American democracy has fallen?”
Andrew couldn’t help but snort, a smirk revealing itself on his lips and covering up the minor sexuality crisis (listen, he’s bi; he’s automatically allowed, like, several sexuality crises a year, like a ticket punch system - buy 5, get a midlife for free!) he was having, rolling his eyes hard as he took a forceful sip of said wine, glass making a soft sound as he deposited it back on the tastefully decorated table. “It’s good wine.”
“Come on, spill the tea, baby.” Alton grinned, clearly watching as Andrew flinched a little, clutching his fists under the table unknowingly. “You got something on your mind?”
“Maybe.” Andrew couldn’t meet his gaze, his eyes sliding between the dishes as the silence stretched between them. “Just some video ideas that I haven’t written down, bothering me.”
“Boo.” He couldn’t help but look up as Alton blew a raspberry, shaking his head, glasses somehow still perched immaculately on his nose as he clicked his tongue. “That is not something that would make you do your best impression of a hot coal at a Korean barbecue spot. It’s something else. You’re looking at me as if I’m going to eat you.”
Andrew swallowed hard at that, a dozen obscene images floating around before he could shove them away into a box and bury said box in the back of his brain. Seems Alton could see that as his expression changed and he sat back in his chair. “Huh.”
“I…I just-” Andrew floundered before he suddenly felt Alton’s ringed hand grab his under the table, thumb stroking the back of it as Andrew’s heart thundered in his chest. “It’s alright, sweetheart, I get it. Big feelings, nowhere to go. Trust me, it’s happened before.”
Andrew felt breathless. “What did you do about it?”
“Well, my wife knows I have casual flings with people She’s fine with it.” Alton shrugged vaguely, looking Andrew up and down. “I also have it on good authority that I’m a good eater. In several ways.”
The restaurant around them hummed as the latter’s mind cycled. Shit. Is he really…? Should he even…? Could they…?
There was a beat, several in fact, before Andrew exhaled. “Please.”
Of course, Alton paid for the bill.