Tom was a bit nervous. He always was before a convention because you never knew what kind of people you would meet and what sorts of questions they would ask... but this time, there was also another reason that made his tummy a little queasy.
This time, Jason would be there too.
And as they would attend panel discussions and events on two days of the convention, they would share a hotel room.
It would have been a bit weird to insist on a single room when Jason had made that suggestion, and also: it was so tempting, too...
Not that he knew what to do about his feelings.
As the days had gone by and he and Jason had talked nearly on a daily basis over the phone, Tom had realised that this wasn't just some crazy idea born out of a bad heartbreak: he really wanted to be with Jason. But he had no idea how Jason would react if he knew about those feelings. Would he be weirded out by him? Would he reject him? Would he try not to spend any time with him anymore?
Tom didn't want to imagine any of those things happening.
He just put on a poker face and hoped for the best, like most times in his life.
"Er, on Isaacs, I guess."
"Oh, yes, Mr Isaacs, welcome to Leipzig. Your father has already checked in."
"He's not my father," Tom chuckled, awkwardly, and scratched the back of his head.
The receptionist gave him a short, irritated look, then she chuckled awkwardly too and smiled at him all the nicer. "Mein Fehler, sorry. Your autograph here, please, and here's your card. Your room is at the second floor. I wish you a nice stay."
"Thanks," Tom replied, signed the paper and then headed towards the lift. They had room number 247 and Tom couldn't help but grin as he pulled his card through the lock.
"Aah, there's my boy!"
The moment he was in the room, Jason jumped up from the chair and caught him in a crushing hug that turned into a very soft and long one when Tom let go of his suitcase, wrapped his arms around the other man and nearly broke his glasses when he pressed his face against Jason's black-T-shirt-clad shoulder.
Oh god, how he had missed him.
"Missed you," he mumbled. Shamelessly.
"I missed you too, love," Jason replied and gently stroked his back before he slowly let go of him again. "It's wonderful to see you again," he smiled widely, "How was your flight?"
"Long," Tom laughed, "But worth it."
"How are you?" Jason wanted to know then, and Tom immediately realised what he meant.
"Alright. I had lunch with Jade on Tuesday," Tom smiled and felt really proud.
He was a bit irritated though when Jason's wide smile shrivelled a bit, but carried on: "I'm glad we can still talk like civilised people. I mean, that I can talk to her like an adult. I'm... I'm over her," he smiled and made a pause, longer than he had intended to. What was he expecting? That Jason would tell him he had waited for that moment for over ten years and suggest he could be his boyfriend now?
"I'm glad you feel better," Jason replied and squeezed his shoulder, "It's nice that you're still on speaking terms and that it didn't end in a big fight. How do you like our room?" he added.
Tom looked around for the first time. (Jason had been more interesting.) There really wasn't much space: Six feet between the two beds, maybe. And a desk next to the two windows. "I like it."
