Cigarettes and Sass (reupload)

Chapter 1

"Man I gotta say, you are looking especially fine today." Gerard looked up and blushed deeply, a small smile tugging at his lips as he came face to face with his colleague Brian Haner. "Is that shirt new?"

"No. And you know it isn't." Gerard pointed out quietly, going back to his drawing as Brian leant his elbows on his desk and grinned cheekily at him. Gerard tried to ignore him but it was difficult, and though he bit his tongue hard he couldn't stop himself from smiling.

"Brian you're in my light."

"Sorry man." Brian obediently moved out of the way so that his shadow wasn't resting over Gerard's storyboard and came to stand beside his chair instead. "This is looking really good." He complimented, his hand coming down to touch Gerard's shoulder and squeeze gently.

"Thanks..."

"So..." Brian walked his fingers over Gerard's shoulder before toying with the collar of his black shirt, stroking the tip of his finger along the expanse of Gerard's skin that was on show. "What's got you all suited and booted huh?"

"I'm going out with my grandmother after work." Gerard replied softly, his tone somewhat distracted as he worked on his storyboard. "I haven't seen her in a while so I'm treating her to dinner."

"Cute." Brian scoffed, sighing and turning to perch his butt on the edge of the desk. He gazed intently at Gerard as his artists hands sketched relentlessly over the page. He was such a hard worker, The Breakfast Monkey was the current project taking up all his time. Sometimes Brian wished he could be as motivated as Gerard... but mostly he just got irritated that the older man still wasn't noticing him.

"You had your lunch yet?" Brian sighed, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah I took it early so I could work on this all through the afternoon."

Brian sighed and rolled his eyes, not surprised at all. Gerard always took his lunch early when he was working hard on something. Brian always tried to have lunch with him, but Gerard was somewhat of a recluse. Though he was pleasant enough, always friendly and polite, he just preferred his own company and often got awkward when he had to pay full attention to someone. Brian didn't care though... The artist was gorgeous and everyone working for Cartoon Network wanted a piece of him, whether they were male, female, straight or otherwise. No one had managed to get Gerard's attention yet, but Brian was determined.

"What about a cigarette break? When you due one of them?" Brian swung his legs softly as he gazed intently at the older man, Gerard seeming to think about it for a moment before he shrugged.

"I don't think I'll have one today."

"Are you kidding?" Brian scoffed, frowning slightly. "What? Are you quitting now or something?" Brian didn't mean to sound whiny and childish but this was just ridiculous. All he wanted was fifteen minutes with Gerard's undivided attention. He just needed the guy to look at him and he knew he'd be able to get him hooked. Brian was gorgeous, he was playful, he was flirtatious... he had never failed to get who he wanted. And he wasn't going to fail now... even though he had already wasted three whole weeks trying to get Gerard to notice him.

Brian had never taken this long to get his man.

"I'm thinking about cutting down." Gerard shrugged casually in response to the question about the cigarettes. He kept his head down, concentrating on his drawing though he was fully aware Brian was staring at him. It was making him feel a little uncomfortable though he tried not to show it.

"Well... What about a coffee break then?" Brian persisted, determined to get Gerard out of his office and taking a break somehow. Gerard chuckled a little at the younger mans stubbornness and finally looked up to meet his gaze. Gerard's eyes were gentle, his smile delicate as he laid down his pencil.