Just Called To Say (Damien)

[Damien Tremblay]

Josef might not have thought it through, but that really didn't seem to matter much to Damien. He was still reeling from the sheer idea of it. Living with Josef was just... it sounded almost unreal to him. It both excited and terrified him. How long had it been since he had shared space with another person? God, years. What if he did things to get on Josef's nerves? A tiny amount of panic fluttered in the base of his stomach, but the excitement seemed to overrule it.

He was going to be living with Josef.

The stammering made him smile. His boyfriend really wanted to live with him. Running his fingers through his messy hair, he leaned against the counter as he listened. "No, no, it's fine. I get it. I already have a place and it's no use making Hart deal with the both of us." Hell, how was he the confident sounding one all of a sudden? "As long as you aren't going to take offence at cat hair over everything you own." He was trying to make the situation a little lighter, mostly to mask his nerves.

Josef's reaction made him grin. "How could I say no? Between you and Charlie, I'll have the perfect security team," he teased. God, he was so happy at the moment he didn't even see the cat leap back onto the counter to investigate dinner again. "But seriously, yes. You have no idea how much this means."

[Josef Muller]

Josef managed a laugh, although it still came out a bit strained and nervous. He stopped his fingers from drumming a pattern on his desk. What was he doing? They hadn’t been together for that long, Josef still wasn’t sure he was ready for commitment as such…

But he liked Damien. All right, he loved Damien, even though that wasn’t something that you admitted over the phone. And he wanted to do this. It would be…well, he would like to come back to Damien’s face every day. It would feel…good. So no, he didn’t regret this at all.

“No offense taken,” he said, and this time he sounded more…sincere. Secure. And definitely a wee bit on the giddy side. “Well, you know, not the PERFECT one as it takes me about a half-hour to get up out of bed. I figured you should be warned ahead of time, you know?” Now he was just being silly.

[Damien Tremblay]

Despite the suddenness of this, Damien was still happy. Scared, sure, but happy. The idea of coming home to Josef night after night, or waking up with him... it put a vaguely childish, happy smile on his face. He hadn't tried this in a long time, but the idea of it alone was making him feel... well... wanted, in a weird way. As in Josef wanted to be with him, and not just in a dating fashion anymore.

That was more than enough for him.

Finally catching Charlie's movement out of the corner of his eye, Damien stood up properly and grabbed the cat, tucking him under his arm. Charlie just flicked his tail and purred, his usual 'I didn't do it' look on his face. Damien rolled his eyes and set him back down on the floor. "Still better than the current system. Gypsy would show them around, while Charlie slept through it all." He had to laugh as he reminded him. "And I've seen you in the morning. I know. I can deal with it." He was teasing right back, because he didn't mind. "I promise I'll make coffee to bribe you out of bed. Alternatively, you'll just end up with a cat in your face."

[Josef Muller]

Yes, Josef did want to be with him. And even though the thought of that made him nervous—what did you do when you’d been hurt, a lot, but still wanted to give it a try anyways?—he thought he could get used to it. Maybe eventually.

Probably faster than he’d thought, actually. But he wasn’t going to complain about that.

He laughed as well at the statement. “Fair enough.” Besides, it was Pilot Ridge. The most they had to worry about were student pranks, that was it.

“Cat in the face is probably the best way to wake me up,” he said wryly. “Although I gotta say, I can see Charlie getting food much later if I’m the only one in the house. I don’t wake up for much—not even a cat. But bribery…” he smiled slightly, enjoying the image. He knew it was silly, but being woken up by Damien with coffee sounded pretty pleasant. And Josef didn’t like getting up early. “I’d take that. Thank you, by the way. For not minding me inviting myself into your place.”

[Damien Tremblay]

Josef wasn't the only nervous one. Damien hadn't lived with anyone since... oh Jesus, since college. Things just hadn't been that serious for him in a long time. Yes, this was somewhat sudden, but also... exciting.

He wasn't really worried about break ins, and having someone else there to help deal with it. It was just being silly, and he was fairly certain that Josef knew that. What he'd be more grateful for was the company.

Because, as much as he kept telling people that Gypsy and Charlie were all the company he needed, well, Josef had changed that.

"You'll change your mind on that when he does it at six in the morning begging for food," he teased. Charlie as a kitten had figured out that he got food right when Damien woke up. So, cue him waking him earlier and earlier, until Damien had changed tactics and fed him last out of his things to do in the mornings. "He'll live, I promise. He'll just protest." Loudly, probably, but Josef could learn that for himself, he supposed. "You're welcome. And I really don't mind. It sounds... well, nice." There, that wasn't difficult.

He glanced at the clock and pressed his hand to his neck. Dinner prep really wasn't that far into things. He could put everything away and leave the animals to their own devices. "If you still want help with the files, I can be there in ten minutes with coffee and some dinner. We can talk about this some more?" He hadn't forgotten Josef's reason for still being at work in the first place, and right now he really, really wanted to see him.

[Josef Muller]

Josef laughed at the tease. “Oh, I don’t think so. Let’s face it—I’m not the most alert in any situation. What makes you think I’d wake up for a cat? It takes one hell of an alarm to get me up in the morning.” Even a scream wasn’t very good at waking him up, which wasn’t a good trait for a guy who was extremely protective. But he’d gotten used to it, gradually. But a loud protest would probably wake him up eventually.

In the meantime, Charlie might have to learn to wait longer for his food.

Nice. Damien thought it sounded nice. He bit back the insecurities that welled up at that, just reminding himself that Damien hadn’t said no and seemed excited at the prospect, and smiled instead at the offer. Yeah. This was going to work out. He knew it would.

“I’d like that.” And maybe—maybe he could tell him. Eventually, at least. “A lot. See you in ten? I lo—um, look forward to it.” Josef hung up quickly before any other slips, then leaned back and laughed quietly at himself, rubbing his hand over the stubble on his chin.

Well. He didn’t know how much paperwork he’d be getting done. He’d probably be spinning in his chair like a loon when Damien arrived, but he couldn’t make himself care. He was happy, and he’d be damned if he didn’t enjoy that for a time.

((Wrap!))