"You probably think I'm boring now, don't you? But I can't stop wondering... if I didn't get lucky, if my Dad didn't find me, I would've had the same fate. Most people love to say it's about choices, yet what choice would I have had when all of them were bad? If I had limited options and the cards were stacked against me?" Joaquin's fingers tighten around his mug as if pursuing warmth. "I got lucky. And I... I feel like I owe everyone I left behind."

Julian shakes his head vehemently. "No, you're not boring. You're brave and incredibly empathetic," he sighs. "And hearing you talk like this... I feel like an idiot."

"Idiot how?"

"I don't know anything. Not about you. Not about the world. I've had it easy."

"Julian—"

"Sorry, I'm making this about me, but don't tell me I'm wrong. If there's one thing I'm sure of, I'd been born lucky in ways I haven't truly appreciated. My father is gone, but my mother is the best person I know. And my step dad treats me well even if I'm not his kid."

"You don't have to feel guilty about anything."

"And so do you," Julian says as he reaches out and places a palm over Joaquin's. "But thank you for telling me. I want us to always be real with each other."

Joaquin's shoulders relax, and he inclines back in his chair. "I've thought about telling you several times, but it feels like I'm dumping my baggage on you. For the nth time. I don't want you accommodating me anymore."

"That was my mistake. You're not someone I have to accommodate. You're someone I care about, and we'll figure things out together." Julian smiles. "Joaquin, that's what I want. All of you, and not just the easy parts."

******

The rest of Julian's work day passes in a haze, Joaquin's words in a constant loop in his mind. He'd said it in such a manner—calm and reflective—that had shown how much he'd been resilient. How much he'd been stitching himself back together.

But a whole new level of respect isn't the only thing Julian has acquired. Beneath it all is a revival of outrage. Why did Joaquin have to endure so many unthinkable things as a child?

Every layer of Joaquin's past unfolding brings a fresh ache to Julian's chest, paired with an undying thirst to punch something. Or someone.

He exhales, pausing his typing. Perhaps all he can do now is stand by him and support him in whatever way he can.

"Hey, Julian." Mimi, the office's self-proclaimed queen of gossip, who had spread the stories about Joaquin, pops into his cubicle uninvited.

This can't be good.

"Mimi, hi." He forces a courteous smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Nothing, just checking in..." She grins, her fake lashes batting rapidly like a warning signal, causing Julian to instinctively back off. His office chair rolls away, banging into the desk behind him with a thud.

"Seems like you've got lots of friends from the tenth floor, huh."

"Oh. Not really."

Mimi raises an eyebrow. "Not really? I saw you walking with Chavez!"

Julian should've seen this coming. His lips flatten, his expression carefully blank. "We just had coffee."

She steps closer, ensnaring Julian, who's struggling not to shove her away for invading his space. "So, you guys friends? Does he have a girlfriend? Or is it that blonde woman?"

Julian's lips gradually twitch into a scowl. He's not in the mood for this.

Seconds away from saying something he'll regret, and conceivably earn himself a trip to the HR, Myka appears at the door. "Lunch time?"

And next to him is Joaquin, casually waving a hand, his blazer slung over one shoulder like some kind of model on a runway.

Predictably, Mimi and her friends swap a flurry of speculative glances with each other, but Julian pointedly ignores them, picking up his bag and joining the pair without a word.

The floor's gossip mill is getting out of hand.

"You didn't have to come to pick me up."

"It's a good workout," Joaquin says.

"You? Needing more exercise?"

"Exactly. You've bulked up, Joaquin. Your pecs are practically in my face. They're attacking me!" Myka teases, then fires a sly look at Julian.

Julian suppresses a laugh. Oh, if she only knew how he just had them inches away from his face. Literally.

The elevators scrape open, and they saunter to the cafeteria, queuing up for lunch. Joaquin gestures for Julian to go ahead. Myka squints at the menu overhead, too busy to notice.

As they settle at one of the long tables, Myka asks, "By the way, what's with the vibe on your floor?"

"The usual. They're bored. Looking for tea to toss around."

Joaquin cocks his head sideways. "What tea?"

"About you. Whether you've got a girlfriend. Because, you know... Katie." Julian inserts a spoonful of rice and fried chicken into his mouth. 

Joaquin massages his forehead, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Katie's gonna flip. We've been trying to clear this up for a while now, but it doesn't seem to be working. Plus, she hates being linked to men. Doesn't matter who." He sighs. "Anyway, it's up to you, Julian."

Myka holds her hands up. "Whoa. What's up to Julian?"

Julian shifts, lowering his voice as he cups her ear. "We're, uh, seeing each other."

"What?!" Myka exclaims, jaw dropping. "Since when?!"

"Uh, last night?"

"Damn," she utters, smiling. "About freaking time! But how did I not catch this?"

"It was after the exhibition."

She leers at them. "Sorry, but I also need the deets. Not to spread around, of course. Purely for my own enjoyment."

Julian chuckles. "I'd like to keep this lowkey. I don't want the spotlight on the both of us. It's already complicated because it's a workplace relationship. Adding that it's two men?"

"Again, your call," Joaquin retorts, nodding. "I wouldn't push you to do something you don't want to do."

Myka crosses her arms dramatically. "Love this energy. Love the character developments. This calls for—"

"Celebratory drinks?" Julian chimes in, snickering.

"You got it!"

"I'll have to take a rain check," Joaquin says apologetically. "I have a filing due tomorrow."

Myka sneers, giving him the thumbs down. "Boo!"

"Boo? You and I have the same job."

"And? Still deserves a boo."

After lunch, Julian dreads returning to the eleventh floor, bracing himself for the onslaught of follow-up questions. Sure enough, his co-workers, led by Mimi, corner him. He waves them off with a cautious smile, explaining how they all graduated from the same university (true), and that Joaquin is in a relationship with someone (true), but he hasn't met his partner yet (false). The last bit finally gets them off his back.

Relieved, Julian resumes working on his reports.

By 4:30 PM, Julian's phone buzzes with a text from Joaquin: Take care on your way home.

He glances around. His colleagues are leaving one by one. Typically, he would be out the door like them, but somehow, he feels a pull to stay a little longer. It wouldn't hurt to check in with his boyfriend first.

Boyfriend—his heart trips over itself. How painfully cliche, yet it still sends a shiver through him. Joaquin is back to being his boyfriend! His cheeks warm as he compels himself not to let out an embarrassing squeal.

Julian lingers at his desk, packing up as slowly as possible, and when the office has cleared out, he picks up his phone and texts Joaquin.

Julian doesn't hold back a high-pitched squeal, stomping his feet on the carpeted floor like an overexcited child. Unbelievable.

And Julian's the depraved one?!

Julian exits the office, mentally weighing his options. What would be good tonight? Chinese? Pasta? Japanese?

Another text message.

Steam pours out of Julian's ears as he walks out of the building along with other residents, all blissfully unaware of how close he is to a raging boner.

Joaquin is out of his damn mind. Sending provocative texts when he's supposed to be working? He should be thankful Julian hasn't given in for his sake... although he really, really wants to!

Julian returns to the office, carrying two sets of bento boxes and sodas. As he ascends to the associates' floor, he realizes he hasn't been to the tenth floor before.

Hesitantly, he puts one foot in first, then gingerly pokes his head around the doorframe.

No one's at the front desk. Some lights are off.

Julian walks down the hallway and notices a few doors open. A conference room, a few rooms with three cubicles. Then, he finds Myka's nameplate. He wonders what her space is like. Probably filled with booze.

"Julian."

He pivots, his eyes twinkling as he sees Joaquin, gesturing for him to come over.

"Hey! How'd you know I was here?"

"I smelled something good." He sinks his fingers into Julian's hair fondly. "You."

Julian shushes him. "Can you tone it down?"

Joaquin chuckles, opening the door for him. "I've been saving all my flirting for you, and now you're telling me I can't use it?"

"You can, but don't announce it to the world."

"But you didn't respond to my texts either..."

"You should be grateful for that."

They sit in the client chairs, and Julian arranges the food on the coffee table, looking around. He spots the picture with Alexander's daughter, and he can't resist wincing at his previous mistaken assumption.

In hindsight, it was absolutely ridiculous.

Julian shakes it off. "It's still pretty early. You can work. I'll wait."

"I don't mind eating now if you're okay with it. I normally eat before six."

"What? Don't you get hungry at night?"

"Not really. If I do, I will find something light. Like fruits or beef jerky."

Julian gapes at him in disbelief. "I don't understand, but I guess it works for you."

"I still think you should join me when I go to the gym. Or better yet, try my mixed martial arts class. It'd be good for you to pick up some self-defense skills." Joaquin suggests opening one of the boxes and nudging it over to Julian. "Come on. Just try it."

"Fine, fine. I'll go," he concedes.

"Perfect. This weekend?"

Julian rolls his eyes. "Yeah, sure."

He's already regretting it.

After dinner, Joaquin tidies up, while Julian takes the opportunity to explore his office. He examines the books on his shelf. Law books and a few other non-fiction titles.

"I might have to work a couple more hours," Joaquin admits guiltily, plopping down on his chair and rifling through his tower of papers around him. "I can book you a ride if you want to head back first?"

Julian waves his hand lazily. "Ignore me. I'll watch something."

"Are you sure?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Thank you."

Back in a chair, Julian plugs in his earphones to stream a TV show. Joaquin glances up at the sound of a muted chuckle, catching Julian trying—and failing—not to disturb him.

And although Joaquin's oblivious to what is so funny, his lips stretch into a soft smile.

For once, it feels like he's finally winning at life.

******

A/N: Get ready for some well-deserved fluff chapters because I've punished you guys long enough. Plus, I do like showing relationship dynamics as much as I enjoy slow burn.

Happy Valentine's Day! Unfortunately, the Valentine's chapter is coming a bit late! xx