Offroad POV
Offroad was tired and exhausted by the time he had gotten to his apartment building. He wasn't just exhausted physically but also mentally. He tried very hard the rest of the evening to try and see why Daou was so upset but he had made himself more tired. Did he feel guilty that Daou was missing out on the money? Yes, who wouldn't? But he hadn't reached out to Tad because of that. Daou was smart and a hard worker and after reading his business model Offroad was impressed. If the business model would have sucked he would have helped Daou revise it and had not even bothered to send it to Tad. Was he supposed to tell Daou that? Like would that have made the situation better? Offroad had informed Tad that he would no longer be working with Pond this morning via email along with his boss as well. Offroad didn't provide them any details just that he thought it was best considering their personal friendship.
Pond had been trying to contact Offroad since but he just kept ignoring him. The text messages and voicemails ranged from being extremely apologetic to screaming and cursing him out, all of which Offroad has become accustomed to over the years. Offroad was tired of making excuses for Pond's behavior, they were not in college anymore they were adults and Pond needed to grow up. The elevator dinged, the doors opening on his floor to his apartment, and Offroad froze. There sitting on the ground next to his door was Daou. Daou looked up at him with a mix of emotions displayed on his face.
"I'm tired," was all Offroad could say. Daou nodded, signaling he understood.
"I don't want to fight," Daou responded.
"How long have you been here?" Offroad asked as he approached his door to unlock it.
"An hour or two," Daou answered as he got off the ground. Offroad pushed the door open to his apartment walking over to the table dropping his keys and bag on top of it.
"Are you hungry?" Offroad asked as he walked towards his closet, stripping his pants as he went.
"No, I am fine, thank you," Daou answered as Offroad kicked off his pants opting to just stay in his briefs, and grabbed a clean shirt, folding the one he had borrowed from Daou.
"Here is your shirt," Offroad said, placing it on the table before moving to the fridge to get something quick to eat. He had grabbed a container with leftovers in it, popping it in the microwave to heat up before grabbing his old dirty containers from his bag and taking them to the sick for a wash.
"You can keep the shirt, that one always fit me weirdly,"
"Okay," Offroad responded as he started washing the dishes. It was only a few seconds later when he felt arms around his waist and Daou buried his head in his neck. "Ou," Offroad sighed.
"I'm a jackass, an idiot, a moron," Daou said into his neck. "I have a temper that is going to get me in trouble more times than not. I acted without thinking, I'm sorry." Offroad sighed and relaxed back into Daou.
"I didn't give your business model to Tad because we are seeing each other, or because of what happened with Pond," Offroad explained. "I gave it to him because it was genuinely good, if it would have been horrible I would have helped you with it and help send it to other investors."
"Thank you," Daou said, kissing Offroad's neck, and holding him tighter.
"I believe in you, but I'm not going to set you up to fail." Offroad sighed, "If Tad called you it's cause he genuinely also likes it as well. I told him and my boss this morning I am resigning as Pond's accountant and trustee," Offroad said, cutting off the water and placing the items in the rack to dry.
"I love you," Daou said into his ear, and Offroad just wanted to cry. His body had been so tense all night and hearing those 3 words just made it all melt away. Offroad felt one of Daous' hands on his stomach under his shirt, his rough fingertips leaving goosebumps as they went.
