Work Text:
Josh arrives home after a long day at the hospital. He performed a few surgeries today and had a lot of paperwork to finish. He is excited to arrive home and get the chance to finally see Oliver today. Oliver had to leave early in the morning and they didn’t get to see each other at the hospital today. Josh just wants to snuggle up against him and fall asleep.
Josh makes his way up to their bedroom and sees Oliver on the laptop. This is strange behavior for Oliver, he typically only uses any form of modern technology at the hospital for work, or to send a text. What is he doing? Josh thinks. “Hey, babe.” Josh says.
Oliver looks up and his eyes widen, he immediately shuts the laptop, That was strange. “Um, hey, I didn’t hear you come in.” Oliver says.
“Yeah, just got here. You never use the laptop, what were you doing?” Josh asks.
“I umm--I was just looking at some stuff for work.”
Josh can tell he is lying, he just doesn’t know why. “Okay, I’m gonna go take a shower. Do you want to join?”
Oliver looks down at the laptop then back up at Josh. “No, I already showered.”
“Okay.” Josh walks over to Oliver and kisses him on the cheek.
Josh can’t help but think about how strange that was. Oliver using modern technology, him belatedly lying to Josh’s face. What is going on?
Josh finishes his shower and goes back to their room. He is hoping to talk to Oliver, but when he opens the door the light is off and Oliver looks to be asleep.
When they wake up in the morning they do their usual routine of Josh making toast and Oliver making coffee, only this time it is weird. Usually they would be talking and laughing and just enjoying the morning together, but Oliver is barely speaking and when he is it is awkward.
*
For the next week Oliver continues to act strange in Josh’s presents. Josh hates this, he wants things back to how they were. Despite the fact that he sees him everyday, he misses Oliver a lot. He feels like he hasn’t actually seen him all week.
After Josh arrives at work he immediately goes to Carol’s office and shuts the door. “Oh, hi Josh.” Carol says.
“Okay, I understand Oliver is your best friend. I get that if you had to choose you would choose him over me, and that is fine. I don’t care, but please if you know something, tell me. Is Oliver planning on breaking up with me?”
Carol looks shocked, “What? No, why would you think that?”
“This last week he has been acting strange and is hiding stuff from me. It feels like he is being distant.”
“Oh. I swear to you, Josh, he hasn’t said anything to me, but I don’t think he is going to break up with you. He loves you so much and that he has told me. Just talk to him, I am sure everything will be fine.”
“He really hasn’t said anything to you?”
“No, he hasn't, I promise. But seriously, just talk to him. You know Oliver, sometimes he acts strangely and it is typically solved with a conversation.”
“I know, but we have been together for three years now, does he not know by now if something is bothering him he can come to be and I will be there.
“I’m sure he does.” They are quiet for a moment. “You know maybe he is keeping a secret from you for a good reason.”
“What good reason is there for a secret?”
“I don’t know, but you know how you can find out?”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. I will talk to him tonight.”
“Good.”
Josh leaves Carol’s office and spends a good chunk of the day figuring out what to say to Oliver. At around 3 pm he looks at his phone and sees a text from Oliver.
Oliver
Hey, babe. Sorry I have been acting a little strange lately. Wanna get dinner after work? I got us a reservation at a nice restaurant.
Josh looks at the text and wonders if Carol talked to Oliver about what Josh said to her or if he is just aware of how he has been acting. Either way he wants to see his boyfriend and have a nice meal with him so he is happy to go out to eat together.
Josh
Yes, I would love to get dinner tonight.
Oliver
Great. {address} Meet me here at 8. Love you.
Josh
See you there. Love you too.
The restaurant Oliver sent is fancy. They don’t typically go to nice places like this. Why did he make reservations there? Josh wonders.
*
Josh arrives at the restaurant. Oliver is already sitting at their table when he arrives. Oliver stands and kisses Josh on the cheek. “Hi.” Josh says.
“Hi.” Oliver says.
The waiter comes over and takes their drink order. “How was your day?” Josh asks.
“It was good. I had a very interesting patient today. How was your day?”
“Also good. I didn’t do any surgeries today, just paperwork.”
Josh notices that Oliver is visibly nervous. He looks like he is sweating and hasn’t stopped tapping his foot. Eventually the waiter comes over with their drinks and then takes their food order. “Oliver, is everything okay? You seem nervous.”
“Okay, I wanted to wait till dessert to do this, but honestly I don’t think I will be able to.” Oliver reaches across the table and takes Josh’s hands in his. He looks at Josh with loving eyes, “Josh you have given me so much. You have shown me so much love and support the past few years. You have shown me that I can be the guy you choose, that I deserve love. I never thought I could be capable of being this happy. I never thought it was possible to love another person this much.” Oliver gets down on one knee and pulls a ring out of his pocket. “Josh, will you marry me?”
Josh is tearing up. He can’t believe what is happening. “Yes, of course I will marry you.” Josh says. Oliver puts the ring on Josh’s finger and stands up. They kiss and the other people in the restaurant clap. “I love you so much Oliver.”
After they sit back down Josh can’t help but look at the ring. It is simple, just a silver band with a small diamond on top. Not too flashy, perfect for Josh. “Is this why you have been acting so weird?” Josh asks.
“Yeah. I picked up the ring yesterday, and I was planning on proposing next week, but Carol told me you went to her thinking I was going to break up with you. I am sorry, I didn’t mean to be that distant. It’s just that you are so amazing and I wanted everything to be perfect and I was terrified I might let the secret slip. I mean I didn’t even tell Carol I was gonna propose. But anyway after she told me what you said I figured I should do it now, so you don’t dump me for being a terrible boyfriend.”
“I would never dump you Oliver. I was just worried and jumped to the worst possible conclusion. The proposal was perfect by the way. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Josh pauses and looks at the ring again. “I am glad I was wrong. Also I am so happy this is what ended up happening.
Oliver smiles, “Yeah me too.”
“I mean I get a nice meal with the hottest man ever and now I get to marry that man too. What could be better than this?”
“Absolutely nothing could be better. I love you.”
"I love you too."