Rosenwalker Oneshots

Different As Can Be

Joseph Walker was many things: funny, confident and unbelievably hot. He was however a nervous train wreck whenever he was undeniably and painfully in love with someone. That someone being a certain Brian Rosenthal. It had come on so unexpectedly that Joe had not known what to do with his growing fondness for the younger man. It had however also been 4 years of dealing with it in silence and he had decided to take the step to let his love be known.

He chose to venture into the unknown, he chose to face rejection and disgust from one of his closest friends. He chose to make the move.

Brian Rosenthal was many things: a cinnamon roll, cute, clumsy, shy and talented. His flaws seemed to be amplified by 200% whenever he was near his crush though. He was totally, completely, head over heels in love with one god like Joseph Walker and it was killing him. It had been too many years to count though and he knew he had to do something about the crush before it ate him from the inside.

That's why he chose to make the plans with Joe. To confess his love, as much as a mistake as it may have been and to be with the man that he loves more than life.

The two young men met up at a local cafe at 5 o'clock. Joe dressed in a simple outfit that was carefully picked, a denim jacket, black jeans and his pink spiderman t-shirt. Brian was dressed in a painstakingly thought out outfit, a pair of black skinny jeans, his yellow 'Keep Calm and Save the World' t-shirt and a cotton, zip up jumper. They were both wearing converse from previous shows and eagerly awaiting each other. Love was an uncharted volcano ready to erupt.

They both arrived at ten minutes to the hour and chortled at how they were both as prepared as the other. The first 30 minutes were spent in either awkward silence or were willed with talk about how either man was doing in his musical career.

Then this happened...

Joe's POV

I've sat making idle small talk with Brian for what seems like forever, I know that I have to make my move soon but everytime I want to confess my love I make the mistake of looking at the beautiful man seated across from me. It makes me wish that I wasn't so stupid as to have a crush on my best friend, I will tear our relationship to pieces with my confession and with the inevitable rejection comes a new lack of self confidence all over again.

I just wish I wasn't so selfish.

I have to do it though, and I would make a grand gesture but that would surely scare off the timid man in front of me. I have to do it now though, before I never do.

"Hey Brian..." it's not the strongest of conversation starters but, my mind is racing and it seems a lot better than just outright professing my love to him.

He looks up from his caramel latte and gives me one of those looks that undoubtedly means that I can carry on, so I do.

"I asked you here tonight 'cos I wanted to ask you something, it's something that I need to tell you, and if you hate me for it, I completely understand but I just need to get it off my chest. So here goes nothing"

He seems to sense my self doubt though and sends a reassuring smile my way. This man is way out of my league, I'm going to turn his life upside down.

"You know that we've been friends for a while right? And I've been feeling something for a while now and I need to tell you, I know that you will hate me for what I'm going to say but I need to tell you or else I will just hate myself even more than I do with these stupid feelings I have towards you. I like you Brian, a lot. More than as friends, and it scares me, it really does because, I think I may have fallen in love with you."

Brian's POV

Joe actually just said that. He likes me. Maybe even loves me! It's the thing that I've wanted to hear for years and yet I can't seem to able to form a coherent sentence to save my life. I like him too, so much that it hurts but I can't seem to tell him. I can't seem to do much right now. It's like my bodies just stopped functioning, I can't speak, can't move, can't breathe.

I'm just sitting, still, gawking at him. He looks worried,  I don't know if he's noticed the absence of my breathing or if he's just scared that I hate him. Oh, please don't be the latter. I do like him. Love him. I try to form a sentence from my mouth, a word even, but a weird sputtering sound just leaves instead.

I want to tell him that I love him too. I want to. I just can't, I just can't, can't...

Joe's POV

He's just been sat there, I don't know if the words have been digested yet but he's been awfully still anyways. I was worried at first that I'd ruined our friendship but now I'm just scared of the absence of the occasional rise and fall of his chest.

"Brian..." I try to make him look elsewhere than just straight forward but his eyes stay unfocused, wide and blown like a deers.

I get up and walk around the table so that I'm kneeling at the same height as Brian. I shake him slightly, he begins to stare but still nothing like a normal person would. Sheesh, I think I've broken him. I try to coax him into breathing by muttering random thoughts but it still doesn't seem to be the most successful attempt. So I do the first thing that comes to mind.

I hold his hand.

It's a stupid decision given that he's only like this because I said I liked him but it works. It works! He takes a few small  shallow gasps before they even out slightly and he turns to face me. He looks scared, lost and yet when his beautiful brown eyes find mine, they seem to soften, seem to be at peace, seem to be, found.

He's silent for so long again that I get scared all over but then he does something that I hadn't expected, he smiles and takes my other hand. I just stare dumbfounded for a minute before grinning at him. He doesn't seem to be able to say it, but I know that he likes me back.

"Are you okay?" I ask, genuine concern lacing my tone.

He takes my hand tighter and gives me the biggest shit eating grin he can muster before answering.

"Wonderful"

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I needed something to get me through lockdown and I figured writing offers me a chance to be someone that isn't confirmed to the space of four walls so here we are. Requests are accepted.

🎶 See ya my beetles🎶