Work Text:
27 days
That’s how long Jason has been sleeping over at Roman’s place. Sometimes while lounging on the older man’s oddly large couch, he’d ask himself why he doesn’t just go home. If he couldn’t afford an apartment back then, he could definitely get one now.
“So why are you here, again?” Roman asked. Jason seriously thinks this guy is reading his mind.
“I- uh- was just leaving, yeah?” Jason rubbed the back of his head, trying to figure out the answer himself, why he was still sticking around. Roman wasn’t treating him the best per se… so why was he here? “You know, at first I thought you felt like you were being forced to stay,” Roman paused to flip the page of his book, “I’m not forcing you.”
So why is Jason here?
“I don’t know, maybe I like being around you?” Jason spoke as if he didn’t recognize the words coming out of his own mouth. Was he slowly starting to “like” Roman’s presence? No way….
“I feel like there is more to that.” Roman hummed; it sounded as if he was holding back something. Jason grit his teeth; was this all some scheme to get Jason to admit something that wasn’t true?
“You like being around me? I don’t know… people normally don’t tell me that.”
Jason honestly didn’t know how to respond to that. Should he… insult him? Yeah, that always works… maybe that’ll kill the sappy vibes.
“I don’t know, do you normally force them to eat fancy paper towels?” Jason snickered. The sudden response caused Roman to drop his book. “You seriously won't let that go, will you?”
Jason laughed, “Of course not? I swallowed a fucking paper towel for you, Roman!”
“Why did you comply?” Roman asked as he went to pick up his book. Was he not uncomfortable with the conversation like Jason? Does he really enjoy talking about this stuff?
“Look dude, I don’t fucking know why I stay, why I do every ridiculous task you ask of me even if it bruises my fucking ego- y’know maybe I enjoy doing this for you, ever thought of that? Maybe I LIKE this because maybe just MAYBE I’m getting something out of this weird exchange we got going on. And MAYBE I might actually like you, and I’m scared that if I spend any time away from you I’ll stop liking you.” Jason's eyes began to water; he forgot he was capable of crying. Jason didn’t like this foreign feeling.
“Cute.” Was all Roman could muster up. Jason began to see red; is he fucking serious right now? “C-cute? Is this cute to you? Y’know what fuck this, I’m OVER it.” Jason got up and grabbed his jacket.
“Don’t go anywhere,” Roman spoke without looking up at Jason, eyes still focused on his book. It was clear to Jason that Roman’s mind was focused on him. “I know you like me, or something along those lines of whatever you said. I just wanted you to admit it so I knew it wasn’t my ego getting to me again.”
Jason cackled, “You and your fucking ego, man.” He sat back down, this time much closer to Roman than he was before. “So… why are you here, Jason?” Roman asked once again as if he was looking for the right answer.
“Because I like you,” Jason said softly, closing his eyes.
Silence filled the room, and for once, Jason felt okay with it. For once, he felt like he didn’t need a response or a reaction from the other man. He felt his head drop onto the other’s shoulder.
“Maybe I like you too,” Roman mumbled into Jason’s hair.