Friends Oneshots

Smoke

Author's note: I am in no way endorsing nicotine addictions, this is merely a plot device. Also, I did not mean for this to be as depressing as it is. My bad.

Chandler smokes and it drives Joey nuts. He's quit various times, usually managing to do good for a while. Until he goes into another one of his states. It's hard for him not to turn back to cigarettes, and Joey gets it. Chandler has had a rough go of it. He's lonely, Joey can tell. He wants more than anything to comfort him. He can't, because of one of Chandler's other issues. Chandler is homophobic.

He has no issue with gay stuff; unless the gay stuff involves him. If they go to a bar together and some drunk guy starts flirting with him, he freezes up. He gets all flustered and awkward and Joey usually has to step in (totally not out of jealousy) and tell the creep to back off. Chandler tends to attract a specific kind of guy. Flirtatious, suave, and handsome. It's a little intimidating.

Last week a girl Chandler had been going steady for a while with broke up with him. Chandler was heartbroken; he was rambling on about how he would always be alone and no girl could ever really and truly love him.

He left their apartment about ten minutes ago, saying he was going to get some fresh air on the roof. Joey knew he was going up to smoke. He knew Joey didn't like seeing him smoke. He considered going to bed, leaving the poor guy alone. Then he decided that wasn't very him.

The roof was illuminated by fairy lights, casting a dim glow across the cement dotted with potted plants. Stars were barely visible in the sky past the severe light pollution, but some still shone through bright. Chandler stood on the cement ledge, cigarette between two fingers. He kicked out his foot, letting it dangle over the ledge precariously. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and released a puff of smoke. The light made him look soft, delicate. Which he was, not that he let anyone see it. Joey saw it.

Chandler waves the cigarette around a bit, then swings his leg back onto the steady ground. He watches as Chandler walks the length of the ledge, balancing like a tight-rope walker. He occasionally sways back and forth due to the light breeze and high altitude. Joey chooses to make his presence known, despite having been standing out in the open, just as Chandler takes a long drag from the cigarette.

"You aren't thinking about it, are you?" He breaks the peaceful silence. Chandler jumps a bit, choking on the smoke he had planned to exhale. The man looks a bit afraid for a moment but hops down so he is no longer on the ledge. Joey releases the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and adopts a sad smile.

"No... no. I just... do you ever wonder what would happen? Would it be like sleeping? No problems? Would there be heaven? Could you have everything you wanted?" Chandler pauses, looking wistful. "What if there was hell?"

"That's not at all depressing," Joey says. "I prefer to live in the moment."

He sits on the bench underneath a small tea tree. It smells lovely. He doesn't think they're supposed to grow here, but someone in the building must have an extremely green thumb. Chandler sits next to him, criss-cross-applesauce. He looks hesitant as he takes another puff on his cigarette, watching Joey for a reaction. He doesn't react, he just watches him.

"When did you start again?"

"... tonight."

"Can I ask why?"

Chandler is quiet for a second. "Same reason as always."

"And what's that?"

Chandler responds by taking a long drag on his cigarette. Joey thinks he might answer after that, but he just sits there looking distant.

"Can I?" He gestures toward the cigarette between Chandler's fingers.

"You don't smoke...?" Chandler questions.

"What? You think I've never done it before?" He counters.

Chandler shrugs. He offers the infernal piece of paper to his friend. Joey shakes his head.

"You first," he insists.

Chandler complies, looking confused. He inhales and starts to exhale. Joey scoots closer to him as he finally releases the puff of smoke. Joey inhales the smoke, a few inches from Chandler's face. He exhales it again. The smoke makes any anxiety he had dissipate and he suddenly understands why Chandler has a hard time quitting. It's lovely, somehow more lovely because of the smoke's source.

Chandler stares at his friend, wide-eyed. There's a thick screen of smoke between them, giving the moment a sense of fantasy. It seems dreamlike.

Chandler takes another hesitant drag, taking his time to exhale. Joey breaths in the smoke, closes his eyes, exhales. When he opens his eyes he sees Chandler, completely awestruck. He hasn't been shut down yet.

They repeat the process, which they both appear to be enjoying. But Joey decides to take the opportunity he's been given. Instead of inhaling the smoke, Chandler exhales, he waits a moment. Chandler looks at him a bit fearful. Which is honestly unjustified considering Joey was the one who initiated this odd bonding ritual. But it does give Joey the confidence to go for it.

He slowly, tenderly, places a hand on his friend's jaw. Chandler's eyes become wider if that's even possible. He opens his mouth like he's going to say something, but Joey slams their lips together before he can ruin the moment with his defensive humor. He takes advantage of Chandler's mouth being slightly ajar, slipping his tongue in. He tastes every hint of nicotine left in the other man's mouth.

He backs away a moment, afraid he may have overstepped his boundaries considering Chandler was as stiff as a board. Chandler takes another drag on his cigarette, then to Joey's excitement, hooks a hand behind Joey's neck and pulls him back in. He feels Chandler's hand migrate slowly towards his hair. One of them makes a small noise of pleasure which deepens the connection even further.

To think that all this time he tried to stop him from smoking.