Joey didn't like to think when it came to Chandler. He just found himself looking for words he didn't know and feeling things he couldn't express. It came naturally around Chan anyway, so he didn't dwell on it.
He wished they had a word for it though, when he thinks about the different shades of blue in his eyes. And again when Chandler out his name after Phoebe asked who he'd date.
They should have a word for that.
Nothing happened when Joey's dad's mistress slept in Chandler's room. Chandler would never dare try anything, even if Joey slept in the nude. Joey thought the whole thing was awkward, so he pretended to fall asleep sooner than he actually did so Chandler would relax and fall asleep. Joey knew how tense he was without touching him. If he had actually been asleep, he wouldn't have felt Chandler's fingertips brush over his cheekbone and trace his jawline. In the dark, he heard Chandler. "Could you be any more beautiful?"
Joey finds the word he was looking for too late. He organizes his thoughts too late. He has a confession ready too late. He realizes the word he was looking for,
After Chandler said "It was a one time thing"
After it became a two-time thing
After "We should stop."
After London
After he started dating Monica
After he said he couldn't
After he had a girlfriend
After he proposed
After the wedding
After the twins
After the happy couple moves to the burbs
After years, he finds the four letter word.
"This" He gestures to the both of them, "does not mean I'm my father."
"I know" Joey cups the side of his face and leans in "you don't have the right legs for dresses."
"You've never experimented?"
"You have?"
"How is that possible? You went to an all boys school!"
"People already thought I was gay but thanks, Joe."
"It doesn't mean you're gay, Chandler."
"I know I just," he gestured vaguely.
"It's okay."
"I..."
Chandler said it back, later, his lips against Joey's.
"It's okay"
Joey read the dictionary. When Chandler was working late or the girls were out or he was waiting for Estelle to call, he read the dictionary. He liked to watch Chandler's face when he used big words. Ethereal was his new favorite.
When Chandler came home from work and grabbed Joey by his shirt collar before he even made it through the door- ethereal.
Chandler never expected this. The fact that he was dating his gorgeous Italian roomate was not surprising. What he didn't see coming was Joey breaking up with him. Joey telling him he couldn't do it. Joey telling him he has too many issues. Too much pent up about his father. He never expected Joey to break his heart.
Joey Tribbiani was a fool.
Chandler told him,
"This isn't happening."
The first time.
The second time,
When they were both a little drunk,
He said
"Don't tell the others."
Joey thought, eventually,
He'd want a date.
A dinner
To announce it.
To announce them.
He didn't need Chandler in the pride parade,
he just wanted to tell their friends.
He should have known it would end with,
"I can't."
"Her."
"Monica."
He should have known,
but Joey Tribbiani was a fool.