OOM: Boys Night Out (It's not a man-date, Shawn)

[thesupersmeller]

After a little bit of time to think at Milliways, Gus slips back through the locker door and instead of going home he boots up the computer and gets to work on the expense report from the rare coin theft they'd wrapped on. Try as he might, he couldn't forget about what he'd told Demeter when he got to visit her again - how half of what was on his mind wasn't about the Devil and it wasn't about being alone... it was about missing Shawn. And their office of all places is probably the worst place to get that sort of revelation when every time he opens his eyes there's a little piece of what they've built over the years.

Not that his apartment is much better.

On a whim, he takes a break from Excel and sends Shawn a text:

Busy tonight?

Comments

[psyched_you_out]

He's not even Whitney.

"Random is always a viable option."

[thesupersmeller]

If he were Whitney, they'd have both been a hell of lot less single a hell of a lot sooner in life. Just sayin'.

"I am not singing anything embarrassing. I've had a enough shame lately... I'm not gonna look like an idiot in front of drunk - potentially cute girls."

[psyched_you_out]

Well he does believe the children are our future.

"Relax, man, you totally get veto rights."

That's how much he loves you, Gus.

[thesupersmeller]

"I better - and you'll tell me if I get stupid."

Which is in itself probably a bad idea, but it's better to have Shawn as a monitor than no monitor at all. He's pretty sure that he won't run into any ladies quite as bad as The Devil, but he's not taking his chances on possibly getting killed again by picking up a woman in a bar.

"Don't let me go home with anyone but you."

[psyched_you_out]

"You know I've got your back."

Always. Even if he shows it in some rather odd ways.

[thesupersmeller]

"Yeah, we'll see about that..." he doesn't mean it as rough as it comes out, he's just been feeling pretty abandoned lately.

Thankfully, the hurt is promptly replaced by the "Taco Bar is: OPEN" sign in the window as they pull up to a meter.

"I'm thinking T-N-T, Shawn."

Tacos and tequila.

[psyched_you_out]

"You know that's right."

He holds up a hand for a fistbump as they park.

[thesupersmeller]

After only a second of consideration, he couples the fistbump with a wide grin. "You mind driving home tonight? I won't have much, but a couple margaritas would not be a bad thing tonight."

He's already unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car - the open taco bar awaits like a lover in the night. He is not about to disappoint her ten feet of tex-mex flavor. Like a true gentleman, he intends to take her slowly, gently... savoring each flavor until he can't wait to get his pants off at home.

[psyched_you_out]

"Dude, I told you I'd drive."

... Gus would so be getting the side-eye right now if Shawn could really read minds.

[thesupersmeller]

Like he's not thinking the same thing. Everyone knows gastronomic goodness is almost better than sex and a lot less likely to get you in trouble.

Gus smiles as he comes around the front of the car and sets the alarm. "You're a good man, Shawn... thank you."

[psyched_you_out]

That depends on what you've been eating.

"No problem, man. Let's go get our taco on."

... That sounded less awkward in his head.

[thesupersmeller]

He's been eating some pretty damn fine meals, but honestly sort of holding out on Shawn... hey, he gets the girlfriend, Gus is keeping the chef for himself.

"And on, and on... hello heartburn, I brought my Tums just for you."

Grinning wide, he pushes open door to the busy restaurant and makes sure they're both hooked up with large trays and enough tacos to feed a small village.

[psyched_you_out]

Shawn flags down a server and orders drinks - non-alcoholic for him, decidedly not for Gus.

"Dig in, my friend."

[thesupersmeller]

And dig he does, tucking a wide napkin into his collar before picking up a heavy bean/cheese/spicy chicken/avocado/sour cream/cheese behemoth.

Two massive tacos, a churro and a one margarita in a glass as big as Gus' head later - he's playing with the oversized paper umbrella while he takes a breather.

"Hey, it works..."

[psyched_you_out]

Shawn grins at him from behind his third overstuffed taco.

"Amazing what they can do these days, isn't it?"

[thesupersmeller]

"I'm keeping this umbrella, Shawn."

He might be a little tipsy - they're pouring 'em really heavy in that kiddie pool of tequila and limeade.

"You wanna take a break and hit the machine before the college guys get a shot - or eat another taco and wait for them to make fools of themselves in front of that table of bachelorettes?"

[psyched_you_out]

"As much as I'd enjoy that, I think I'm ready to get my groove on. You?"

[thesupersmeller]

"Oh you know that's right," he grins wide, already pushing up out of his seat as he eyes the machine.

"Light it up, Shawn - let's do this."

[psyched_you_out]

He holds out his fist as they get ready to take the stage.

"You ready to hit that Random button?"

[thesupersmeller]

Gus meets the bump with slightly tipsy glee and steps up the stairs, holding a hand out for Shawn as he taps the randomizer with an elbow that in his mind would make the Fonz proud - but really only looks kind of dorky and awkward.

"Oh, there we go..." he points to the monitor and pair of microphones as the title cues up. "You got a friend in me, Shawn."

[psyched_you_out]

"Perfect."

The karaoke gods are smiling on them. He grabs his own mic with a rather dorky move of his own.

[thesupersmeller]

Because they're awesome like that.

Gus takes the first line, letting them go easily back and forth, grinning as he slides an easy arm against Shawn's waist and sings; "When the road looks rough ahead - And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed..."

Every time he hears them, they pull at him just a little bit. The last six years make it hard to believe that Shawn had been gone so long and then just like that - it's like he never left. Shawn doesn't know that he thought about his best friend every damn day (even when the guys ribbed him for it).

"You just remember what your old pal said - Shawn, you've got a friend in me."

[psyched_you_out]

He casually slings an arm around Gus's shoulder as he takes the next verse. It really is true - no one knows him and understands him like Gus does, and he'll always be grateful for it. He just hopes Gus understands that.

"Take it home, bro."

[thesupersmeller]

Warmed with their friendship - and probably a good fair amount of tequila - Gus leans even harder against Shawn's side and smiles wide as he sings.

And it's true, the one thing he can be sure about is no matter how insane Shawn makes and how much they really truly hate each other sometimes - nobody will ever know him like Shawn does. And he'll never love another person in quite the same way.

"And as the years go by - Our friendship will never die (because you won't let it)." He shakes his head as he brings the microphone closer to his mouth for a somewhat lower tone; "You're gonna see it's our destiny, Shawn. You've got a friend in me."

Squeezing him tight, Gus leans on him with a warm flush and sheepish grin as the crowd whistles and shouts and he's pretty sure the bridesmaids think they're a couple, but whatever. It's all Randy Newman's fault.

"You owe me another margarita, man."

[psyched_you_out]

It's not the first time they've been mistaken for a couple, nor is it likely to be the last. Shawn is sort of okay with it.

"Sure thing."

He keeps a hand on Gus's shoulder to steady him as they head offstage. It's not very high, but Gus is tipsy enough to warrant the concern.