The rain is sweet this time of morning, while the sun shines and the puddles form.

Brendon has coffee in hand as he steps out of his car, making way into the tall building he sees nearly every day of the week. He crosses his arms tightly over his chest, coat thick and scarf covering his mouth so the rain couldn't pester him too much.

January weather is odd.

He sniffles when walking inside, pulling his scarf down and taking another sip of coffee as he waits for the elevator.

Thankfully, no one comes in with him this time.

Brendon does, though, feel his phone vibrate. He knows who it is, it's the only person who texts him regularly.

He smiles, slipping his phone out to read Josh's message.

Hey! I was wondering if you might want to grab lunch with me today. Tyler would come, but they're busy.

Pretty please.

Brendon bites his cheek, sighing. He always wants to spend time with Josh, but he only gets half an hour for lunch, and it's in the breakroom. He would have to ask for a longer lunch, and stay past hours if he really wanted to go.

He does.

I'd have to ask for a longer lunch but I'm sure I can figure out.

Where at?

The elevator stops. He walks out, never looking up from his phone as he passes all the cubicles. He knows where he needs to go.

I'm feeling Chinese.

Brendon doesn't eat Chinese often unless he's stoned, and really craving takeout.

We can go to that one buffet?

That sounds awesome.

He doesn't care much about the food, he's just happy knowing he'll get to spend time with Josh. It hasn't even been a week but his smile is contagious, and his heart is warm. Brendon enjoys being around him.

I'll text you in a bit. I've gotta see what time I can get.

Alright. I'll be here.

He slides his phone back into his pocket, sitting his coffee down and beginning to take layers off because it's warm enough inside. He lays his coat and scarf on the back of his rolling chair.

"Morning, Brendon." Lukas says.

The latter keeps his smile. "Good morning." He sits, scooting back to see him over the wall in between their areas. "I don't think I'm going to be here for lunch today."

Lukas fake frowns. "What's tearing us apart?"

"I think I'm, uh, meeting up with someone." Brendon shifts.

This isn't bad news, not at all. The frown disappears and instead is replaced with a smirk.

"Ooh, I see." Luke does a small dance with his shoulders, playful and supportive. "I get it. I'll be fine, in the breakroom, without you, all alone, eating my ramen." He lets out a dramatic sigh, the back of hand pressed against his forehead.

"I'm sorry." Brendon chuckles quietly.

"It's okay." Lukas shrugs, rolling his eyes. "Just don't make it a habit. I don't think I could last more than a day."

"I would never."

"I know." He laughs, ending the conversation there by rolling his chair back.

Brendon doesn't have to think about it much anymore, he and Luke are definitely friends. He's happy with that, too. Maybe he's not nearly as close to him as he is Carina, but it didn't matter, those kind of relationships took time.

He's just glad to have another friend.

***

Brendon is thankful for having a boss who is relatively easy-going. Yes, he is stern, which is how a boss should be, but he also is flexible.

Brendon doesn't get an hour, he gets nearly two for lunch today.

Meet you there at 12:15?

He has another half hour of work before he could leave. He's having to work overtime. It's alright, he thinks. Getting to spend time with Josh will be nice after a considerably hard weekend.

You've got it.

Brendon bites the grin off his face, deciding to get as much in as he could before leaving.

***

At twelve, Brendon slips on his coat and wraps the scarf around his neck. He knows it's still raining outside, and he'd rather not meet Josh with soaking wet hair and uncomfortable looking clothing.

"Tell me how it goes when you come back, yeah?" Lukas says quietly as he's walking past, it's been fairly quiet today.

Brendon hesitates, but nods anyways.

He hasn't told him about Josh.

Clearing his throat, he doesn't dwell on it too hard, only heading to the elevator to leave.

By the time he's outside, he shivers. The sun is out, and so is the cold. He doesn't have coffee with him this time to keep his hands warm, he only has the speed of his legs to get him into the car faster. His hands tremble to unlock it. He lets out a huff of relief when getting inside, quickly turning the car and heat on.

Brendon warms up before backing out of the parking space.

He feels bad for leaving Lukas alone to himself for lunch, knowing full well no one else in the workplace was going to sit with him.

He's too new, he hasn't fully settled.

At the same time, though, Brendon's been working there for six years and no one had ever sat with him until this month.

It's disheartening.

He's grown so accustomed to being by himself that being with others has become unusual, naturally.

He's lost all social skills he's ever gained throughout recent years.

Brendon's hoping to change that.

The drive to the Chinese buffet isn't very long, he goes the whole ride without listening to music. He gathers his thoughts in the meantime, scarf making his neck too hot with the heater this strong.

The parking lot is almost completely empty when he pulls in, which isn't surprising.

Most people come here for dinner.

Brendon takes a deep breath before getting out of his car, composing himself. He isn't sure wether his knees feel weak from the cold or if he's feeling anxious, maybe even both.

He opens the entry door and sees a small fountain with coins in the water, he hasn't been here in so long he nearly forgot the scenery. It's nice. The lights are dim inside, the smell of food makes his stomach grumble, and it's warm.

Brendon looks up from the fountain, seeing Josh waiting inside the actual restaurant.

He pushes the next door open, Josh looks up.

They smile at one another.

"Hey." He says, tucking his phone away and standing up from the bench.

"Hey." Brendon's grin is almost cheeky. "You haven't been waiting here long, have you?"

"No, I got here just a few minutes ago." Josh assures.

Their conversation ends, they get a table. It's a booth beside a window with sun barely peaking through the blinds. More intimate than the coffee shop and definitely much more secluded, Brendon can feel his hands mimic the flustered motion of his heart.

A waitress comes to ask what they'd like to drink, which Brendon says water while Josh wanted coffee.

Brendon pulls an ugly face, nose crinkling.

"Coffee and Chinese food?" He asks once the waitress walks away.

Josh shrugs, chuckling. "I didn't get any this morning."

Coffee and Chinese food is just wrong, Brendon thinks.

"Let's get food, c'mon." He stands, Brendon scooting out of the booth slowly. They make their way to the buffet, grabbing a plate and scanning their eyes over all the food. There's more than Chinese food, there's pizza, there's jello, there's fruit.

Brendon gets a bit of everything, while Josh sticks to noodles and sushi.

He waits until he's done, watching carefully as sweat nips at the back of his neck because of the heat coming from all the food and his scarf.

Josh finishes, looking over to Brendon and nodding his head towards their table.

They'll definitely come back for seconds, he already knows. The dessert is too good to pass up.

Josh sits down, Brendon stays standing, unbuttoning his coat and unraveling his scarf before it becomes unbearable.

"Damn," Josh mutters as he takes a seat.

Brendon has puppy dog eyes. "What?"

"You look really good." He smirks.

Cheeks aflame, Brendon looks down. "O-oh." He swallows. "Thank you, uh, it's just dress code for work."

Brendon doesn't think he looks that great; he sees himself like this constantly, watching his tie lose color and shoes grow scuffs on them.

Compliments don't come regularly.

Josh's smile is more than cheeky. He takes a bite of his sushi. "How's your day been going?"

Casualty, Brendon figures he's sly.

"Just the same as every other day." He lifts his shoulders, blinking and poking at one of the grapes on his plate. "I'm glad I got to come for lunch."

"Me too." Josh takes a sip of his coffee, Brendon cringes. "It would have been shitty eating alone." He laughs.

Again, Brendon thinks of Luke.

"What's Tyler doing?"

"They're finishing a commercial."

Brendon nods, popping a grape into his mouth. He doesn't exactly understand everything a script coordinator does, but it seems really interesting. He guesses it's very time consuming, from what Josh tells him and how much Tyler works.

"They wouldn't stop talking about you after the dinner." Josh mutters, smiling into his mug.

This comes as a surprise.

"Really?" Brendon's brows furrow, then lift.

His heart takes the news more vividly, loudly, emotionally.

"Yeah." He sets his cup down. "They like you a lot."

Brendon's sheepish, smile the same.

Although taking his coat and scarf off, he's still hot. Maybe even more hot than he was before.

He almost can't believe it, he isn't sure why. He's too insecure. It's evident Josh and Tyler would like to be with him, and that's the whole reason they're trying to pursue the relationship in the first place, so why is it hard to believe Tyler does enjoy his company?

They show no expression, most of the time.

They're monotonous.

"Josh, can I ask you something?" Brendon says feebly.

"Of course, what's up?"

"Why doesn't. . . Why don't they smile around me?" He hasn't used Tyler's pronouns outloud very often, it feels different coming from his mouth.

Josh pauses momentarily from eating, biting his lip instead. He's having to think about it, deeply, and Brendon knows it's because there's a lot to it. It's clear. He wants to know, though, he wants to understand.

"There's a lot of things I shouldn't tell you, because they should." Josh admits, avoiding eye contact by looking over Brendon's shoulder. "There's so much." He breathes, running a hand through his curly hair.

Brendon frowns, he hopes he wasn't pushing.

"We've been with a lot of people. A lot. And most are just fucking assholes, really." Josh begins, finally looking into Brendon's mind. "I think they've started acting that way because they don't want to get hurt."

Brendon plays with his feet beneath the table.

"Acting like they don't care means they don't, right?" Josh quizzes.

Silence falls over them for a moment, Josh sighs, this topic must upset him a lot.

"There's more to it, I just can't tell you. They need to." He's gracious with honesty.

Tyler is divergent, in the simplest of terms. Brendon will be patient with them even if so, because they're doing the same for him.

"That's okay." He pipes up, eating more of his food. Of course it's okay, who is Brendon to judge? He's not perfect either, he has his faults, and so does Tyler, even if they're trying to ignore them completely.

"I know I already told you this, but it takes them time. They'll open up soon." Josh reassures him. "Their smile is so nice." His face is soft at the mention, rosy, even.

"I bet." Brendon mumbles.

He can't help but wish Tyler was here.

"Your smile is nice." Josh then says.

It's the second compliment, it's the second time he's flirted.

Brendon isn't used to this, his chest feels heavy in a way that has never occurred before. He hides his face into his hands, head shaking, and he embarrassingly titters.

"Stop,"

Josh laughs lightly. "I can't help myself."

Brendon is well aware, he witnesses it constantly.

"You know, I just said your smile is nice and now you're covering it up." Brendon's blood rushes, watching Josh reach for his hands. He pulls them away from his mouth, holding them as they reach the table.

His touch is delicate.

Brendon breathes out heavily, blinking, and blinking, then blinking again.

They smile together for a moment, grins slowly faltering.

Josh is resting his hand on Brendon's, brown eyes darker in a captivating way under the dim lights. It's quiet between the two of them, their heart beats roaring loud, it's like a bass drum in their ears.

They examine every feature of each other's face, the way Josh's nose is pierced with a slight bump and the fact that Brendon's lips are so full, so tempting. Josh has faint freckles, Brendon has pink cheeks.

"I'm so glad we've met you." Josh finally utters, pulling his hand away.

Brendon rubs one thumb over the other. "So am I."

Tyler wouldn't have touched his hand yet, but Josh did.

He can't help thinking about that.

Josh bites his lip, excitement overwhelms his face. He eats more sushi.

***

By the time they're finished with lunch and dessert, Brendon starts putting his coat back on. He just finished eating chocolate ice cream, the sweetness settling in on his tongue.

He's upset having to leave Josh and go back to work, he doesn't have any other choice, though.

The three of them need to make plans.

He wants to see Tyler.

He wants to see them when their walls fall down, he wants to see them when they trust Brendon, he wants to see them when they smile.

Josh stands up with him, they walk to the front.

"I'll pay." He says.

"Josh, you already--"

"I'll pay, Brendon." Josh insists, tall in front of the checkout.

Brendon sighs, feeling bad. Josh paid for his coffee the first time they met, too. He can pay for the both of them, so why doesn't Josh let him?

He keeps his head low until Josh is finished paying.

"Stick your hand out."

Brendon's eyebrows furrow, nonetheless, he does as told.

Josh places a fortune cookie in the palm of his hand, grinning ear to ear. Brendon chuckles. They make their way out of the restaurant and stop at the fountain, there's too many coins to count.

"Wanna make a wish?" Josh asks.

"Yeah." He's certain.

Josh hands him a penny, while holding a dime for himself. His eyes close, lips going crooked in thought, while Brendon knows exactly what he wants, he's been thinking about it since Tyler was mentioned.

He drops his coin in, Josh following afterwards.

Brendon watches it sink down to the bottom, mind at ease.

"What'd you wish for?" Josh leans in.

"It's a secret."

A wish won't come true if you tell someone.

Josh hums, him and Brendon walk outside after this, the rain much lighter than before. They stop for a moment, the both of them having something to say before departing. It's tender, in a way.

"Can we see each other again this Friday? With Tyler." He questions. He's desperate.

Josh laughs, nodding. "Definitely." He slips the fortune cookie into his pocket. "I'll text you about it later, yeah?"

Brendon is content. "Yeah."

They stand there, face to face. He licks his lips, trying to focus on something else besides the awkwardness in his stomach.

"Can I hug you?"

Brendon's Adam's apple bobs. "Yes."

Josh moves closer, carefully, pulling Brendon in by the waist. This comes as a suprise to him, his chest flushed against Josh's. Eyes blown and hands tense around his jacket, he welcomes these avid emotions, nose slowly tucking into Josh's neck.

Josh holds him tighter, Brendon breathes him in.

He smells like absolute virility, the scent shakes him.

"I'll see you on Friday, okay?" Josh whispers into the shell of his ear, fingers running through the back of Brendon's hair.

"Mhm." It's small. It's happy.

Josh snickers, breath hitting his neck. "Bye, Brendon."

"Bye." He loses his grip on Josh's jacket and backs away, smiling meekly.

They walk separate ways, the cold trailing along with him to the car.

Brendon is warm from the tips of his toes to the top of his head, internally as well. The heat at his cheeks and chest make up for the cold weather, he thinks about this as he sits inside his car.

Today is the first day in ages he's hugged anyone besides Carina. This hug wasn't from just anyone, though, it was from Josh. Josh, who smiles like tomorrow will never come and flirts so shamelessly. Josh, who tells Brendon what he needs to hear, and not wants to hear.

Josh, someone who Brendon already trusts.

It's such a scary thing to be aware of. He knows, though, that trust is exactly what Josh deserves.

Tyler too, he just hasn't gotten there with them yet.