Within the Mist- Maylor

Hints

Since that day where they first introduced themselves to another properly, things had been looking up. Brian finally got the attention from Roger that he'd been wanting since he started working there, no longer being ignored. Now, anyone could've acting the same way towards him, but with Roger, it felt different, nothing like anyone else. It puzzled him but he wasn't about to doubt his happiness. Roger had grown used to Brian, setting him off of the pedestal he'd put him on, seeing through his success to be left with the comforting fact that he was a normal person, just like him and everyone else. They hadn't spoken all day, work was slow today as usual and William wasn't about to let him leave, despite the circumstances. He put Brian on full time as well, no breaks until he had at least 5 hours outside. Crazy stuff.

"Ro, I'm leaving for sometime, don't you dare do anything stupid, got it?" Will ordered him.

How he loved that nickname but hated it coming from him. Ro, what his father had always called him now being an annoyance to him. 

"Yes sir."

Giving him a stern look of approval, he was out and to who knows where. Roger was left there, all alone, with an empty store, the sight he'd gotten so used to. Someday that would change, he knew it. He just didn't know when, probably when dickhead Will was out, that was one thing that was certain. Nothing else to do, except stand there for all eternity at that point. Mind zoned him out of the scene, not paying attention to anything else other than the sight outside the window. Rain drizzled down it, drops streaking throughout where they pleased, consuming the entirety of the dark skies. It didn't faze him, rain was pretty much the only type of weather he knew in England, snow was bound to come soon as it was the start of winter, but it wasn't showing up today. It didn't come to him at the moment, but when it did, it snapped him right out of his cluttered thoughts. Brian. He was out there and it was raining, oh no. Not waiting another second to take action, he went over to the door and looked for the familiar sight of Brian. At the first glance of him he didn't hold back.

"Oh fuck," Brian mumbled to himself, looking up to the skies above him, rain pouring down. Ready to be drenched to no tomorrow, he was pulled into a grip and directed back to the store. Going inside, Roger yanked him closer to him but he underestimated how far Brian would go. Nearing his face, their lips were mere inches from touching. They stopped in their tracks, meeting eyes with one another. Oh god, he'd almost kissed Brian, what the actual fuck was he doing? There wasn't anything else to do but freeze, staring at him for what seemed like forever. This went on for a few seconds before Roger pulled back, taking the time he needed to recollect himself. Going over what he could do, the perfect idea came into mind and he was out of sight, on his way to the back room that had what he needed. Brian stood there in silence, confused as to why Roger left. He wasn't about to leave, still looking around for him when he came back around again, with a towel in hand. A smile made its way onto his face as he took ahold of it, wrapping it around him. Shivers shook him, the cold touch of the rain that drenched him sending shivers down his spine. A feeling that he hated. Taking a seat, he wrapped it tighter around him in an attempt to make the shivering stop. Not knowing what came into him, a great idea came to mind.

"Here, I have a little gift for you."

Roger became attentive at his words and before he could see it coming, water was flinged at him from Brian's rained on self.

"Brian!" He backed away from him, putting his hands in front of him so that he couldn't get anymore water on him. Being a soaking mess wasn't his plans for the day. Brian laughed while Roger responded with a smug grin, fueling the moment between them.

"Come here, bookie," he said in a sweet voice.

Yet another name, how many more to add on? It wasn't like Roger could complain though, he loved whatever Brian could think of to call him.

"So that's my new name now, huh?"

"Yup."

He went over to where he was, taking the spot next to him. Brian loosened up the other end of the towel, wrapping it around Roger, the damp nature of it being a rather unpleasant sensation. Letting the silence of the room get to them, they sat back and got lost in their own worlds, each of them wanting to know what the other was thinking about. Breaths being the only sound there was, and sitting so close to one another. There was nothing else left to do than enjoy the moment to themselves.

---

One week and no changes so far. This had been the 2nd time Roger had gotten Brian his desperately needed coffee and he wasn't tired of it, not one bit, since on occasion Brian would return the favor. He didn't mind at this point, it became sort of the routine for him, and not doing it would be odd to him. He didn't know why this was but he wasn't about to complain. Going back to where Brian was, he reached his side sooner than expected after coming back from his trip to the coffeeshop.

"Here," he said, holding his drink out. Before he could hand it over to him, he pulled back, looking around the place. Roger stood there in surprise, confused as to what Brian was doing.

"What do you say we go somewhere else? Just the two of us."

It came as a surprise to him, but he pushed the doubts away and was left with every good feeling there was. This was more than perfect.

"Sure, that sounds great."

And that's how they ended up behind one of the buildings that neighbored the bookstore, drinking their coffee in the stillness that filled the atmosphere. Roger stared off into the distance while Brian took account of something and an idea on how to lighten the mood in a fun way came to mind. Taking the mascot head off, he took the first chance of Roger being distracted to do it. Roger sat next to Brian when his whole world closed in and was surrounded by mostly darkness, barely being able to see out of the two small openings that were left.

"Ah!"

Brian laughed at what he had done all while Roger peeked out from under the costume head, his gaze landing on Brian. He took note of it and reached over, taking it off of him and once there was nothing else to do, they stared at one another like they were idiots, giving one another smiles that were the goofiest ones yet. Before the moment could get any more awkward than it already was, Brian broke the silence between them.

"You were so scared!"

Roger hated to admit it, but it was true, but he wasn't about to let him know that. Embarrassment struck him at the slightest and he laughed a little, trying to steer away from the fact that he'd scared him. They sipped at their coffee and laid back against the brick wall, taking in what the scene had to offer, going back into the silence that they were in before. Ready to say something, Brian beat him to it, yelping a cry of pain. Roger jumped at the sudden sound of his yell and then followed by the loud crash of something falling to the ground. Whipping around, he was faced with the sight of Brian rubbing his sore head, face scrunched in discomfort.

"Are you alright?!"
Looking over the place, sight landed on a stone that laid on in the distance. Something wasn't right, picking it up and taking a closer look at it, an imprint jumped out to his full dreaded attention. He never wanted to go back to it, but in that moment, every single dark feeling and memory from that night came back within seconds, one after the other. The night his father died. The first time that he saw the symbol. It never left his mind, not even after all the time that had passed since the incident, it stuck with him from then on to now. He needed to know more, what could have—

"What's wrong?" Brian's voice spoke in his ear, bringing him out of his state of confusion and concern. Before he could say anything, a shout from the other side of the building interrupted him, ruining the chance for him to explain things.

"May! Taylor! Get your asses back to work right now!"

William. That fucking bastard. He hated just the sound of his voice with a burning passion and would do anything to shut him up forever. There was no use complaining now, he had no power over him and didn't want to risk anything.

"We should go now before we get into more trouble," Brian added.

Roger nodded at his words and they were out, walking back to the hell hole that was work. Leaving the scene, Roger threw the rock back to where he found it, along with pushing his disturbing thoughts of the night away.