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]

Gus, you charmer.

"Yeah.... glad it went okay, though."

The age gap is pretty significant, to say nothing of Nancy's other responsibilities, but he's pleased to hear things went as well as they did.

[thesupersmeller]

It was kind of nice to not feel any kind of pressure on a date for once.

"I don't know..." he shrugs; "I don't think she's really... you know, like you know."

It makes sense in his head. "I think I'm just gonna lay low for a little bit, wait it out until Luci's out of my system."

[psyched_you_out]

"No spark, huh? At least you're meeting new people."

He takes another sip of his drink, which is almost as comically large as Gus's, though entirely less alcoholic.

"So tell me more about this amazing cook."

[thesupersmeller]

"You know it is;" he shrugs; "I wouldn't say no spark... just... problematic."

Gus considers his tacos, briefly considering just what said cook could do with them, and then quickly realizes that even drunk that's a little too weird for him.

"Um... he's pretty good. Kind of sad, though... you know? He can't go home."

The thought curls an even tighter ball in his gut than it did the first time he heard it, though it might be the t-n-t talking.

[psyched_you_out]

"Is he stuck there, or can he not go home for some other reason?"

[thesupersmeller]

"Stuck," he replies quietly, shaking his head until the room's just a little too wobbly to keep doing so.

"Door won't open, and he's got a girl he misses real bad. I mean... can you imagine not being able to come back to me or Juliet?"

The thought alone's enough to make his voice crack slightly.

[psyched_you_out]

He really can't.

"No. Man, that'd be awful."

[thesupersmeller]

Gus sniffs and nods into his taco, tapping down a piece of lettuce apparently bent on escaping it's shell.

"You're tellin' me. Man, I'd probably die."

[psyched_you_out]

He scoots closer to Gus, half leaning and half holding him up.

"I wouldn't let that happen. If we got stuck, it would have to be together."

... Don't ask how he'd make that happen, realistically.

[thesupersmeller]

Gus frowns and shakes his head, letting it rest easily on Shawn's shoulder. Maybe that was a little too much margarita.

"Yeah, but what about your girl? I mean, the three of us for ever and ever - I think that might be even worse."

He doesn't mean to make it sound like it does, and he'd never admit it without the liquid assistance, but he sighs into Shawn's shirt no less.

[psyched_you_out]

Shawn adjusts him slightly so he can get an arm around his shoulder.

"You wouldn't like it being just the three of us?"

Sad voice is sad.

[thesupersmeller]

Gus groans and half-shrugs; "It'd get pretty lonely being your third wheel forever." Not that he isn't pretty sure that'll be the case anyway.

He picks up his drink only to find it empty after a big slurp of his straw against the last bit of cold slush. "Wanna do another song? Or are you good?"

[psyched_you_out]

"You know neither of us thinks that, right?"

He pokes at the sad remains of his own taco.

"You know I don't know what I'd do without you around."

[thesupersmeller]

"Yeah, sure." He nods, rolling his head a little too far before letting out a sigh; "Whatever you say, man."

Shawn can't help it, Gus knows it's not Shawn's fault... he just just can't help but feel more single and alone than ever whenever he's around them together. Still, Shawn means well.

Forcing a smile, he says; "We should get outta here while I'm still ambu... amble... walking."

[psyched_you_out]

Shawn just wishes he could make him feel better.

"Yeah, sure." He holds out an arm for leaning-on purposes.

[thesupersmeller]

Leaning against Shawn's warm shoulder, Gus sighs against his ear and murmurs; "Thanks, man... you're a good friend."