Thread: We Were Meant to be Broken [El & Juno]

Here you go. One espresso from hell. Mm. With service like this, it's no wonder you're doing so well. Brady didn't respond right away. He merely glanced around at the surprisingly busy coffee shop with a rather blank look on his face. It was actually kind of nice working the late shifts. It just meant he could avoid the lunchtime rush and all those eager Pace students who needed their caffeine fix after listening to professors drone on and on about much of nothing. The location was ideal for Lou but for someone who was ready to gnaw his own hand off from exhaustion, Brady almost resented it. He glanced back at his 'customer'. It was a face he recognized well enough. Hell, he saw it every day. He lived with that face. A pair of soft brown eyes stared back at him with a hopeless longing that might have made him uncomfortable in the past. Sadly, he was used to it by now. Good ole Ben. What are you doin' here anyway. No hot date tonight? He was leaning against the counter, his cane within arm's reach but the pressure on his ankle wasn't quite severe enough for him to make use of it. Ben laughed a good-natured laugh and even Brady couldn't help but feel a slight tug to the corner of his mouth. That was one of the many things to admire about Benjamin Stein. His laughter was always genuine and contagious as all fuck. I don't always have a date. Even I have my off days, you know. Gotta take a break from being super. Brady snorted and grabbed a rag, absently wiping down the already spotless counter. It gave him something to do. Now if I only I could take a break from being me. That'd be giving everyone a break. Ben frowned a bit and Brady knew why. For the second time in the span of a few moments, he felt a strong affection for his friend that almost saddened him. He had never thought it possible for someone to care for him as much as this kid did. For someone who had devoted his life to science, it was difficult to step out of that realm and accept Ben's love for what it was love . There was no explanation and no answer. All he knew for certain was that Ben loved him and would probably go on loving him till he died. It was frustrating beyond all belief but truly tragic at the same time. To Ben's credit, he did go about his days to the best of his ability but that longing never lessened, never left him... Sometimes he'd read something so strong in his friend's eyes... Such fierce devotion, such a strong ache that it almost hurt to look at him. He had spent several sleepless nights questioning it. Pondering. Theorizing and he always came up blank. The fact of the matter was, he wanted to end his friend's pain but he knew he couldn't. To give in would be the cruelest thing he could do. He couldn't love Ben. Not the way he wanted him to. It was simply the way things worked out. Sometimes the outcome was favourable but more often than not, life could kick you where it hurt most. Go on, get outta here, Brady urged, his gaze wandering past Ben to the newcomer. His eyes briefly widened in recognition before he turned back to his roommate, Now they're following me. Ben briefly glanced over his shoulder, taking note of the strapping man before giving Brady a sympathetic stare. At least he's hot. Brady dealt Ben an exasperated look. Ben smiled that winning smile that had half of Pace in and out of his bed. All right, I'll leave you to it. There's leftover lasagna so if you aren't totally beat when you get home, heat it up. Later. Brady nodded and watched Ben leave before fixing his eyes on the detective. Thankfully, Brenda had just gotten off her break and wandered back inside and he motioned towards the detective. Go please him before he locks us all up. The petite brunette followed his gaze, her eyes sparkling with interest. Consider it done you lazy ass. Brady rubbed a hand over his face and watched Brenda disappear and reappear in the matter of moments. He wasn't all too surprised to see her wander over to the ole detective's table with an extra swerve in her step. He could read her like a book. He was certain she'd do that god-awful thing where she tucked a strand of hair behind her ears and sure enough... Brenda favoured the detective with a slow smile, fingers playing along her brown hair. What can I get you?