Thomas was sitting on a stool in his favorite bar drinking a whiskey and looking pissed. It was late and he playing with the border of his empty glass. He only had that glass in the last three hours and he was only halfway through it.

Thomas wasn't there just because he wanted to be there, he needed to stay away from home. He was angry and tired. He walked there fuming and asked for the drink he currently had on his hand.

"You okay, big boy?" the bartender asked. He looked young and was cleaning one of the multiple glasses they had.

"Do I look like I am?" Thomas said in a harsh tone before sighing. "Sorry... I just had a fight with my partner".

"I should've known you didn't come for only for a drink, you've had that glass for what? Three hours?" He said 

"Yeah... I don't actually want it, but I need to buy something so I won't feel weird." Thomas said.

"I understand, and why you and your girlfriend fight this time?" He asked looking at him.

"Uhm... he's not a girl", Thomas said getting ready to be judged.

"Oh... I see," he said putting the glass on its place before looking at him. "And why did you fight with him?"

Thomas looked at this bartender, John something, and started his side of the story.

For quite a while he had been working a couple of extra hours in his work because he was working in a project even though he wasn't a huge part of it so he could left whenever he wanted. He was getting home really late at home and usually ignored the dinner his boyfriend left him since he arrived extremely tired. 

Eventually, his boyfriend James started to grow more worried about him and his well being, and that only make Thomas more tired since he hated when people worried about him. 

James felt helpless and grew insecure. Thomas knew that in his last relationships James got cheated a lot and was insecure about getting in the now 4 years relationship with Thomas, who was a heartbreaker before he started a relationship with him.

That particular night Thomas returned earlier since he left earlier with one of his coworkers. He and Sally, the new girl in the office and kinda shy, decided to go for a coffee after spending the afternoon together, and she accidentally left a mark of lipstick on Thomas' shirt when she kissed him to say goodbye since she was too short.

When he arrived, James was cooking dinner and was surprised to see Thomas at home. He hugged him when he realized the mark on his shirt and the sweet smell of Sally's perfume on him.

They started fighting, James screaming at him letting his insecurities flow, as Thomas let go his frustrations on him. James ended up slapping him and ran to his room crying his heart out. Thomas just grabbed his coat and went to the bar. 

"So here I am," Thomas said sipping his whiskey and looking at John.

"You sound like my boyfriend. He hates when people care about him, overwhelms himself with work, and is kinda a dick when he's stressed out" John said. "And why are you working so hard in that project if you can left when you want'"

"It's for the reward. We're going to get some extra money, money that I need" Thomas mumbled.

"May I ask why?" John asked.

Thomas sighed and pulled a small box from his pocket. "Our anniversary was a few days ago and I wasn't able because we had a last minute reunion. He was asleep when I arrived. I don't know if he wants to stay with me anymore, I acted like a moron."

John looked at him. "Listen, I have this fight with him once. I thought he was cheating on me and I understand why your boyfriend is upset. It's hard to believe in someone else when you get your heart broken like that. I know that you hate when people care about you, Alex is like that, but as you said, he's insecure about you because he loves you and he can't help it but cares."

Thomas nodded feeling down. That's when he heard someone calling the name of the bartender. It was a man, he was smiling and sat next to Thomas as he and the bartender kissed. When Thomas looked at his hand he had a ring on it. 

"I came to pick you up, you promised to have dinner with my friends," he said smiling. 

"In a moment, just let me get my stuff. Just a minute," he said kissing his cheek and walking out.

"That's my fiancee... we've been together for 5 years." He said playing with the ring as he noticed Thomas' box. "Oh, you want to propose to someone I see".

"Yeah... but I don't know if he even wants to see me. We had an argument and I screw it up," Thomas said.

"Well, what did you do?" He asked.

"I went to the mall with one of my coworkers to get his ring and I didn't notice the mark of lipstick she left accidentally on my shirt when I arrived. We got mad at each other and I said that we shouldn't get together. I didn't mean it, I am an idiot... he slapped me and I came here"

"Damn, you did fuck up..." he said before smiling. "I feel you. I told him the same before going to stay with one of my friends. I felt miserable for the week we weren't together and I apologized profusely when I saw him again. We reconciled and he proposed to me during my birthday... I barely know you, but if I ever learn anything all these years is that you have to apologize before you regret it more"

Thomas looked at him. He seemed like a good man and his advice sounded honest.  He looked at the ring paying attention to the details. It was a gold ring with a small aquamarine, James' birthstone. 

John walked back with his thing and wearing a hoodie that matched with the other man's hoodie. The smaller one pecks his cheek and started walking along with him to the entrance. Before leaving, John turned around and said with a soft smile "you should get home and talk to him. The secret of a healthy relationship is always communication".

Thomas watched them go and waited for a couple of minutes before grabbing his box and rashed back at home.

--------------

James was curling in the bed after crying for a couple of hours and laying for the past two. He was using all the pillows he had so he couldn't feel alone. A few he had Thomas' cologne and was currently in one of Thomas' sweaters when he heard the front door being open. 

He didn't move and just snuggled against the pillows as he heard him calling his name. He heard the room's door opened and closed before listening to Thomas walking toward the bed but not sitting on it. 

"We need to talk..." he said crouching so he was on his level.  

"We have nothing to talk about. You were clear. I'm just a burden for you" James said sighing and felling small.

"No! I was tired and I didn't mean it... I love you more than anything. I just... I don't know... I was an asshole to you..." Thomas said trying to reach out for him but James moved.

Thomas sighed and looked at him. "James, I'm really sorry about how I've been acting lately. This project has taken the best of me, and I know that you want to help me, it's just... I hate when people worry about me. I just hate it... I don't know how to describe it... "

James rolled so he was looking at him. He didn't look mad but he looked hurt. 

"Listen... I love you...and I know that what I said was straight up bullshit and I don't blame you if you don't want to talk to me. But I want to tell you that I actually left earlier to pick something at the mall... it was supposed to be your anniversary's gift but arrived late because they almost lose it... Do you want to see it?"

James took a moment to snuggle with the blanket and nodded. Then Thomas pulled the box from his pocket and smiled softly as he saw James' face. "I was working in that stupid project so we had some money in case you said yes..."

James set the pillows and blanket aside and jumped to his arms. Thomas fell to the ground as James cried on his chest. When they calmed down, Thomas explained why he had the mark on his neck as he slipped the ring on James' finger and shared a small kiss.

//I've been sucking with timing, but I'm doing some courses to get into college so yeah... btw, if this turned sloppy it was because I'm running in three-four hours of sleep and caffeine, but hey! I'm graduated!