Prompt: "We got caught by this awful storm and now we're waiting for it to calm under the roof of a café, want to go inside and have a coffee in the meantime?"

Pairing: Rosenwalker (Brian Rosenthal – Joseph Walker)

Background info: Brian and Joseph are roommates for about a year. Brian still attends college, Joe is already working. Brian is crushing on Joe, even though he knows he never could feel the same way.

Brian was hanging out in the living room, watching some kind of Asian tv-show. He didn't know what made him stop and watch this particular program, especially because he didn't understand a word they were saying; but he found it funny to think of what the hosts were commenting. If his roommate Joe would be here, they would make fun of it together.

He glanced towards the clock, Joe could be home any minute now. The weather forecast had warned people of a heavy storm during the evening and most of the night. He would feel more at ease when Joe was home. Not that he couldn't handle being home alone during a thunderstorm, but he would feel safer when Joe was around.

Joe worked at the gym a couple blocks away. His working hours didn't always match Brian's hours in school, so sometimes it took them a while before they saw each other. Tonight was no different.

The front door swung open and Joe ran inside, soaking wet.

"Five minutes in the pouring rain and I'm soaked," he laughed, but Brian could tell he didn't find it funny at all. He stood up and went to Joe to take over his things.

"Go put on some dry clothes, I'll make you something so you can warm up," he suggested. Joe smiled thankfully at him and headed for his bedroom.

Brian walked into the kitchen and started searching the cupboards for soup.

After a while he heard Joe coming out of his bedroom, so he yelled without looking up, "Hey Joe, did you see the pack of soup I got last week? I can't seem to find it…"

"Ow yeah… I'm sorry, I got really hungry yesterday so I kind of ate that already," he heard Joe saying while entering the kitchen.

Brian took his head out of the cupboard but before he could give Joe a piece of his mind, his eyes widened and he seemed to have lost his voice.

Before him stood Joe in nothing but his sweatpants, rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

"It's… it's f-fine," he stuttered. "I'll just… I'll just go to the store and get some… some soup." He felt his cheek flush and he wanted nothing more than to disappear as quickly as possible.

Before Joe could say anything , he grabbed his coat and keys.

When he opened the front door, lightning struck and a thunderclap was heard. Brian swallowed hard, but he had no choice.

Joe appeared right behind him.

"You want to go through that, just for some soup?" he raised one of his eyebrows.

"Yes…" answered Brian, but it sounded more like a question.

Joe rolled his eyes. "I'll go with you."

Brian didn't protest, even though he knew he should.

By the time they were almost at the store, the heavens opened up and the storm erupted at full force. They took shelter under the roof of a café.

"That's the second time today I'm all wet," Joe grumbled.

Brian started to quiver, he was cold and honestly terrified. Joe noticed, but didn't say anything.

There were more people that gathered under the roof and they were forced to stand closer to each other. A thunderclap made Brian jump up and he whimpered before he could stop himself.

"Alright, that's enough," Joe decided. He grabbed Brian by his shoulders and steered him towards the entrance door of the café.

"What are you doing?" Brian wondered.

"We're obviously going to be here for a while and you really need to get out of the storm, so we might as well grab a coffee while we're here," Joe explained while opening the door.

The café was loaded with people, all taking shelter from the storm. They found a free table in the back and Joe went to the counter to get them some coffee.

Brian looked at Joe and the barista, who was obviously flirting with him. He couldn't blame her really, Joe loved working out and that showed. It didn't help he liked wearing tight shirts to accentuate his muscles either. Not that Brian complained, on the contrary.

Joe came back with their coffees and a piece of paper. He folded it and used it as a coaster for his cup.

"What's that?" Brian grudgingly asked. He knew what it was, but he wanted to keep talking.

"The girl gave me her number, you want it?" Joe asked.

Brian laughed. "No, thanks. But why don't you want it though? She seems nice." Not that anyone would ever be good enough for him in my opinion, he thought.

"Nah, she's not my type," he sighed and sipped his coffee.

"So… what is your type actually? We never talk much about girls, maybe I can hook you up with someone," Brian suggested.

"Oh…" Joe said, but kept quiet after that. Brian feared he may have gone too far, but eventually Joe went on. "I don't have a type really… I just know what I want and when I see someone, I just go for it once I gathered enough courage. It's not that easy you know."

Brain snorted. "What?" Joe raised an eyebrow.

"Like it's hard for you?" Brian asked. "Is that what you're saying? You're the one to talk, mister Deity-Incarnate!"

Joe's laugh boomed through the café.

"So does that mean someone's caught your eye?" Brian asked hesitantly. He didn't know if he really wanted to hear the answer. If Joe would get a girlfriend, he would spend less time at home… with him. Or worse, she would move in too and he could walk in on them and… he shivered.

"You're still cold?" Joe asked. He felt Brian's cheek with the back of his hand.

The gesture surprised Brian, but he didn't say anything. He shook his head.

"But… to answer your question. Yes. Yes, there is someone that has caught my interest." Joe said, not meeting Brian's eyes.

Brian swallowed loudly. This was it… he thought. I'm about to lose him to some gorgeous girl. He wondered if he would know her.

"So… are you going to tell me or are you keeping it a secret?" he pushed.

Joe rubbed his face. Did he look… nervous? Brian had never seen Joe nervous before. This was new.

"I swore I'd never tell anyone. I thought these feelings would pass but they don't. I… I can't tell you Brian, it would change everything."

"Joe, are you serious? Come on, it's me! You can go and tell Brolden, Joey or one of the girls, but at least you know I wouldn't make fun of you," Brian tried. "Wait… it's one of the girls, right? That's why it would change everything…"

Of course… Brian thought. It all made sense. That was even worse… he would be reminded of them every single time they hang out with their friends.

Joe nodded and Brian's hopes and dreams just shattered right before his eyes. He needed to get out of here, he needed fresh air. But when he tried to get up, he felt a strong hand on his arm.

Joe looked up at him but didn't speak.

"It is someone in our friend group…" he began. Brian closed his eyes, he really didn't want to hear this. He heard Joe mutter something like 'Oh, the hell with it," but he wasn't sure.

"But it's not one of the girls..." he whispered. "It's you."

Brian's eyes snapped open. Could it be true? Did Joe really said that or did he just heard what he wanted to hear?

"Please say something," Joe begged.

Brian cleared his throat, trying to swallow the lump that formed.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for you to say that…"

Outside the wind died down and the heavy rain was reduced to soft drizzle, but the two boys in the back of the little café didn't notice. They only had eyes for each other.