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]

"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.

[thesupersmeller]

It's questionable how Juliet feels about it - but really, nobody gets in the way of their friendship. Not even them.

Leaning a little more heavily than he normally would on Shawn, he lets his best friend lead him toward the taco bar for another awesome round of meat and cheese goodness.

"That was pretty fun, Shawn... I gotta give you that."

[psyched_you_out]

Juliet knows full well that no one's ever going to come between them. (As for the "mistaken for a couple" thing, he has a feeling she sometimes finds it amusing.)

"We are all about fun tonight, Gus."

And he'd better not forget it.

[thesupersmeller]

"You got that right."

He digs into his second plate of tacos and halfway through his third 'man-sized' margarita things are pretty warm. And spinny. And nice.

"You know what, Shawn - I'm glad she's gone." He attempts to focus on Shawn's face and ends up finding a waitress that's a little easier to follow. "I don't need to be scared of her no more."

[psyched_you_out]

Shawn's halfway through his own taco when he realizes Gus is trying to focus on him. He waves a hand in front of his face.

"Over here, buddy."

He takes a sip of his virgin pina colada. Mmm. Refreshing.

"Scared of who?"

He doesn't like the sound of this.

[thesupersmeller]

"I'm all right, man..." He stays focused on the girl a little longer, muttering; "It's all right, baby... I'll catch you after work..."

He chuckles under his breath as he looks back to Shawn.

"Aww, you know man..." He hisses and makes a claw face that totally makes sense in his head.

"Last time that was just too much for me, I mean I'm a nice guy, right? I can't be all like that."

[psyched_you_out]

The claw face actually almost makes sense to him. Which kind of says a lot about how drunk Gus is.

"Ohhh, you mean the... yeah."

This conversation is sliding quickly towards awkwardville.

[thesupersmeller]

"Yeah, well forget her. I wrote her off. No more playin' with my heart, you know? I don't need that tough guy thing..."

Even if she did make him feel like a real man.

Even if the sex was amazing.

"Demeter's right, I gotta find a girl like me... Like I met this guy, right?"

He stops mid-thought to take a long tequila laden sip and chases it with chips and salsa that could put hair on Dr. Evil's cat.

[psyched_you_out]

... Yep, definitely awkward. He pats Gus on the shoulder.

"Hey. Good things are gonna happen for you, man."

It feels like kind of a lame thing to say, but he's certainly due for them.