Vincent Charbonneau stood in the dim light of the kitchen, his hands trembling as he meticulously arranged the lemon slices on the dessert plate. The rest of the kitchen was silent, the dinner service long since over. He should have been relieved that another night had passed without incident, but the tightness in his chest refused to ease. The dessert had to be perfect. It had to be.
He glanced up, his dark eyes flickering towards the door. Rody would be back soon. The thought made Vincent's heart race, a mixture of anticipation and dread coiling in his stomach. Rody was everything he wasn't-warm, confident, charismatic. People were drawn to Rody, like moths to a flame, while Vincent always felt like a shadow, lurking in the background, unnoticed unless someone needed something from him.
"He's too good for me," Vincent muttered under his breath, fingers fumbling as he placed the final lemon slice. It had taken him hours to prepare this dessert, a delicate lemon tart that he hoped would be enough to make Rody smile, to make him stay.
The door creaked open, and Vincent straightened, wiping his hands on his apron as Rody walked in. The waiter looked tired, his auburn hair tousled, his green eyes weary but brightening the moment they landed on Vincent. Vincent's heart ached at the sight, the familiar pang of fear that Rody would one day look at him and see nothing worth staying for.
"Hey, Vince," Rody said, his voice soft but carrying the warmth that Vincent desperately craved. He walked over, placing a gentle hand on Vincent's shoulder. "You didn't have to wait up for me. You've been working hard all day."
Vincent shook his head, forcing a small smile. "I wanted to. I... I made you something." He gestured to the dessert, nerves fraying at the edges as he watched Rody's reaction.
Rody's eyes widened slightly, a genuine smile curving his lips as he looked at the carefully crafted tart. "You made this? For me?"
Vincent nodded, swallowing hard. "I wanted to make something special. I-I hope it's good enough."
Rody's smile softened, and he reached out, cupping Vincent's face in his hands. "Vince, it's perfect. You didn't have to do this, but I'm really glad you did."
Vincent's breath hitched, the warmth of Rody's touch flooding through him. But underneath it all, the familiar doubts gnawed at him. What if it wasn't enough? What if Rody saw through the façade of perfection he tried so hard to maintain and realized how inadequate Vincent truly was?
"You don't have to try so hard, you know," Rody murmured, his thumb brushing against Vincent's cheek. "I love you, Vince. Not because of what you can do for me, but because of who you are."
Vincent's eyes stung, a rush of emotions threatening to spill over. "But I'm not... I'm not enough. You deserve someone better, someone who can-"
"Stop," Rody interrupted gently, pulling Vincent closer until their foreheads touched. "You're more than enough for me. I don't need anything else. Just you."
Vincent closed his eyes, leaning into Rody's touch, his hands gripping the fabric of Rody's shirt as if he were afraid to let go. He wanted to believe Rody's words, to let them seep into the cracks of his fragile self-worth, but the fear was always there, lurking in the shadows of his mind.
"Please don't leave me," Vincent whispered, the vulnerability in his voice almost unbearable. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Rody's arms wrapped around him, holding him close. "I'm not going anywhere, Vince. I promise. We're in this together, okay?"
Vincent nodded, the tension in his chest slowly easing as Rody's warmth enveloped him. He clung to Rody, the only person who had ever made him feel truly seen, truly loved. Maybe, just maybe, he could start to believe that he was worthy of that love. But for now, all he could do was hold on to Rody, hoping that it would be enough to keep the darkness at bay.
Rody's embrace was a lifeline, grounding Vincent in a moment of clarity he desperately needed. As they stood there, Vincent could feel the steady rhythm of Rody's heartbeat against his chest, a comforting reminder of the love he feared he didn't deserve.
The silence between them was filled with a quiet, unspoken understanding. Vincent had spent so much of his life pushing people away, believing that his own insecurities would ultimately drive them off. But Rody had always been different-steady, patient, and unwavering in his support.
Eventually, Rody pulled back slightly, his green eyes meeting Vincent's with a mix of concern and affection. "Why don't we sit down and share this tart? I'm starving, and I want to enjoy it with you."
Vincent managed a small, grateful smile. "Sure, that sounds nice." He led Rody to the small dining table in the corner of the kitchen, a space they had shared countless times before. It was simple, with just two chairs and a small lamp that cast a soft, warm glow over their faces.
As they sat down, Vincent carefully cut the tart into two pieces, his hands still a little shaky. He placed one piece on a plate in front of Rody and the other in front of himself. Rody's eyes followed Vincent's movements with a tender gaze, as if savoring the effort Vincent had put into making the dessert.
"So," Rody began, taking a bite and closing his eyes in appreciation. "This is amazing. You've outdone yourself."
Vincent's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and relief. "I'm glad you think so. I've been experimenting with the recipe for a while. I wanted it to be perfect for you."
Rody reached out, gently touching Vincent's hand. "It's not just the tart that's perfect. It's everything you do for me. I appreciate it more than you know. But remember, Vince, you don't have to go above and beyond to prove yourself. I love you just as you are."
The sincerity in Rody's voice made Vincent's heart ache. He had spent so long trying to be the best, trying to earn love and acceptance, but here was Rody, offering it freely. Vincent swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "I just... I don't want to lose you. You mean everything to me."
Rody squeezed Vincent's hand gently. "You won't lose me. I'm not going anywhere. We've built something special together, and that's not something I'm going to walk away from."
Vincent took a deep breath, letting Rody's words sink in. Maybe he could start to let go of the self-doubt that had plagued him for so long. Maybe he could begin to accept that he was deserving of the love he received. For now, he focused on the present moment, savoring the warmth of Rody's presence and the simple joy of sharing a meal together.
As they finished the tart, Rody leaned back, a contented smile on his face. "You know, we should do this more often. Just us, enjoying each other's company."
Vincent nodded, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time. "I'd like that. A lot."
They sat together, finishing their dessert and talking about their day, the conversation flowing easily as it always did. Vincent's fears were still there, lurking in the corners of his mind, but for now, they were overshadowed by the love and support he felt from Rody.
As the evening drew to a close, Rody stood up, pulling Vincent into another embrace. "Come on. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow's another day, and we'll face it together."
Vincent nodded, feeling the weight of his worries lighten just a little. "Thank you, Rody. For everything."
Rody kissed him gently, his warmth a reassuring balm against Vincent's insecurities. "Always, Vince. Always."
With that promise echoing in his heart, Vincent allowed himself to believe, just for tonight, that maybe he was enough. And as he and Rody settled in for the night, he held onto the hope that their love would continue to be a source of strength and solace, guiding them through whatever challenges lay ahead.
