'We'

Chapter Thirteen

Erik tapped gently at the work-tablet sat on his desk. Absentmindedly he pulled out his phone from his pocket, checking the time before putting it away once more. Felix had done that to him. He never brought his phone out until people started texting him.

Work today was harder than usual. It had been a few weeks since the night that Felix had come back to his apartment, and Erik was almost disappointed at how little had changed in his daily life. From what he had heard, he thought being in a relationship would have made everything so much better.

But here he sat, struggling to read and missing Felix.

He sighed in frustration like he did most days, counting the seconds until his lunch break. He had been going out with Seb more frequently, and now he was used to the familiar tap at the door signalling it was time to have a rest. Today, however, the minutes seemed to be dragging on like they never had before. He wished Seb would hurry up already.

Although he didn't like admitting it to himself, he knew the reason he was so down was that he hadn't seen Felix for a couple of days. They had called, but this feeling growing in Erik had to be quenched somehow. He was greedy, and he knew it.

Finally, the knock came. Erik all but leapt from his chair, not bothering to tidy the papers on his desk. The door was flung open to reveal his friend, casual as always, smiling back at him. He found the look of surprise amusing.

"That was quick," Seb stated, raising an eyebrow. "Something up?"

"No! Just ready for a break." Erik stepped out of his office, closing the door behind him quickly. Seb waited for him silently, then set off towards the entrance.

"Where are we going today? How about that new pizza place in town? I heard-"

"Can we…" Erik began, aware of his own selfish desires. He knew exactly where he wanted to go. "Coffee?"

Seb looked him over, lips tightening in an expression of curiosity. Erik was almost afraid that he would reject the idea but thought better of it. He managed to keep his confident posture.

"The one we went to before?"

"Yes. We haven't been there recently."

"Any particular… reason?"

Erik could not reply.

Without questioning further, Seb led the way out if the front door. He stepped aside, allowing Erik to lead them, and the pair began their journey. The black-haired man was sweating with nerves, his hands tightly clenched into fists. He held his head upright, searching for the first sign he could see if Felix's workplace.

Of his lover's workplace.

The word still felt weird. He had yet to properly adjust to this feeling. Never in his life had he felt the need to enter into a relationship, and never in his life had he suspected he had been anything but heterosexual, but Felix did things to him that he couldn't explain.

Erik jumped, realising with a jolt that he was standing outside the door to the coffee shop. Seb was staring at him curiously, well aware that something was up. Erik averted his eyes, pushing the door to enter.

The place was busy as usual. He looked desperately over at the counter, released at the man he saw working. Absently, Erik joined the queue. Seb followed behind him, the same intrigued look on his face.

"What?" Erik finally built up the courage to ask, still not making eye contact.

"Oh, nothing," Seb replied, smiling wryly. He pointedly looked over at Felix, who had turned to prepare a drink. Erik chose not to respond.

After what to Erik seemed like hours, they were finally in front of Felix's grinning face. The taller man stares at him silently for a moment, and his lover simply grinned back. This really was blissful. Seb elbowed him in the side.

Jolting both men back into life, Felix slid a cup of what could only be apple tea across the counter towards Erik, before turning to Seb to take his order. The black-haired man picked up the cup, turning the lettering to face him. His brows furrowed.

"What's this?"

Felix glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, preparing Seb's coffee. Instead of his name - or at least Felix's variation of it - were two neatly written words: 'Meus amateurs'

"It's Latin."

"I can hardly read English. How do you expect me to understand this?"

Felix turned his head towards Erik, afraid he had really upset the man but was greeted with an amused smile.

"I'll help you read it later."

Seb coughed, staring intently at his half-brewed cup of coffee.

"Can you flirt in your own time? It's getting cold."

Felix turned back to his job without another word, and Erik's face quickly turned a deep shade of red. He cupped his drink in both hands, awkwardly waiting for Seb to receive his drink. As they walked away to find a table, Felix slipped him a wink.

Once the two friends had sat down comfortably, both having taken a sip of their drink, Seb glanced back over at the barista.

"So you lied to me?"

"What?"

"About your relationship."

"No. Look. It's not what it looks like."

"So you're not dating?"

"No... I mean, we weren't at the time."

"But you are now."

Erik sipped his tea.

"You don't need to look so guilty," Seb responded, soothing his friend. "It's not my place to decide who you date. For the record, I think he's a pretty solid choice."

Erik blushed intently, raising the cup to his lips to cover his cheeks. Seb was staring at him still, and it was very off-putting. He scowled back at his friend, then turned to glance at the still-working Felix. The sight relaxed him, and he took a deep breath.

"How's work?"

"You're not small taking your way out of this situation," Seb insisted, placing his cup down. "I want to know all the details."

Erik rolled his eyes, cheeks reddening once more.

"There aren't any details."

"There must be some."

"Can you leave it?"

"I just-"

"You're making him uncomfortable," Felix suddenly spoke from behind Erik, placing his hands on the other man's shoulders to lean against him. Erik flinched in surprised, turning his head back to make eye-contact with his smiling lover.

"He knows I'm just teasing him," Seb defended himself, sticking out his tongue with a laugh.

"I'm still on shift," Felix explained, sitting in the empty seat next to Erik with a sigh. "But you came at a quiet time." Erik nodded silently, noting the lack of a queue. He felt Felix's hand settle on the back of his own where it rested on his knee and smiled.

"So when did this happen?" Seb questioned Felix, having given up on his friend.

"A week or two," he responded, turning to make eye-contact with Erik. He squeezed the taller man's hand lovingly. "It was all very romantic. I had a fit."

"Oh," Seb replied, his confusion clearly visible. Erik couldn't help but smile. "Uh… congrats?"

Felix opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by the door clicking open. He turned around, ready to get back to work, however, paused. He stood stationary as the young couple entered, walking up to the front desk. Erik was filled with fear at the look of utter helplessness on his lover's face. The couple looked around, trying to locate a worker. Suddenly, the man made eye contact with the barista.

"Felix," he commented cooly, but the brown-haired man did not react. "You're looking well."