“My shower’s broken but I’ve got a date tonight could I possibly use your shower please?” “Oh sure (neighbour that I’ve been crushing on for the past six months) of course you can use my shower to get ready for your date (fuck fuck fuck) for either reddie or stanlon, because, yet again, i am a coward
Heyyyyy I finally finished this! I went with Stanlon and Mike being a big dork.
Read here on AO3
Rated T, 2362 words.
Mike hummed along to the music while he made dinner, his way of unwinding after a long day at work. He loved his job as a research librarian but there were days when the requests felt like someone was pulling a prank on him. Like today when someone asked him to research about a specific land law that had been repealed in the 1800’s. There wasn’t much about the law but the woman had insisted that he wasn’t looking hard enough. It had taken several hours to convince her that no, there really weren’t any articles or cases about it, and then she had been upset with him for not finding it. It was exhausting.
But that was behind him. Now, he just had to focus on stirring his risotto and not burning the bread. It was shaping up to be a good night.
His reverie was broken by a knock on his door. Glancing at his food he decided that it would be okay for a few minutes so he walked over to the door, checking his peep hole. The sight on the other side surprised him. It was his neighbor, Stan, clad in a bathrobe with dripping hair.
He and Stan had been neighbors for a few months and constantly ran into each other. It had lead to a casual banter between them and a definite crush on Mike’s end. He liked the deadpan way Stan delivered his jokes or the rueful way he rolled his eyes when Mike made a bad pun. There had been a few times that he thought Stan felt the same- a touch that lingered too long or an offer for dinner that was never followed up on. Mike had wanted to ask him out from day one but decided that it would be weird, they were neighbors and he didn’t want to make things awkward. But now he was knocking on Mike’s door at 5pm on a Friday.
Opening the door, Mike got a better look at him. His hair was sudsy, bubbles mixed with the damp curls, and he seemed to not be wearing anything under the robe. “Yes?” Mike asked, swallowing and making himself focus on Stan’s face.
Which was in an expression of displeasure. “Hi Mike, odd question- can I use your shower? My piece of shit one broke in the middle of my shower and I have a date in-” he glanced at Mike’s clock. “Forty minutes.” Mike didn’t answer and Stan gestured at himself. “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent.”
“I- sure.” Mike said, ushering him in as the words sank in.
“Thanks.”
Mike watched as the other man padded into his apartment, dripping on his floor. Stan had a scar on his left calf and Mike focused on that, not on the nearly naked man in front of him. “Anything special about it?” Stan asked, pulling Mike out of his thoughts.
Mike shook his head, “Should be the same as yours, just intact.”
Stan laughed, a short chuckle that warmed Mike’s lovesick heart.
“Thanks, I’ll be quick.” Stan said, shutting the door. Once he did Mike slumped against his counter, cursing his luck that this was the circumstance that brought the cute, curly haired, blue eyed neighbor that Mike had admired from afar for months to his door. A date with someone else. Whatever Mike had hoped they had, he was clearly wrong. He went back to his beer, taking a deep drink and reminding himself not to wallow. He had no one to blame but himself.
“Mike?” Stan called, popping his head out of the bathroom. “Your shower is newer than mine- which I’m definitely complaining about- can you show me how it works?”
Sure adorable neighbor boy who’s wearing next to nothing, Mike thought, walking over, I’ll show you how to work my shower so you can go on a date with someone else. Sounds awesome.
When he entered Stan was standing on the far side of Mike’s small bathroom. “Sorry to be a pain.” He said, playing with his bottom lip. Mike wanted to pull it out and kiss it.
Instead he said, “You’re not a pain.” Then moved his shower curtain, gesturing to the shower. “Hot, Cold, off, on.” He said, indicating the directions with each word. “You’ve got to pull out to turn it on.” Glancing back he saw that Stan had walked closer, his chin nearly on Mike’s shoulder. Mike could smell his shampoo. “Does that help?” He asked, wanting to get away from the proximity.
Stan nodded and Mike was again hyper aware that Stan was only wearing a robe, especially as the end of it brushed his back. “It helps.” Stan said, his voice nearly in Mike’s ear, a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks again.”
For a second, Mike let himself envision pushing the robe off Stan’s shoulders and kissing him, sinking to his knees in front of Stan in his bathroom and convincing him not to go on that date.
But he shook his head, reminding himself that Stan wasn’t his. “Great.” He croaked out before leaving the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
Once he was alone again he rubbed his hands over his face, telling himself to get it together. He plated his meal, grateful that nothing had burned in the time that he spent with Stan.
Stan emerged a few minutes later, back in his robe, his hair slicked back. “That smells fantastic.” He said, eyeing up Mike’s food.
“I’d invite you to join me but-” Mike didn’t finish the sentence, instead giving a small shrug.
Stan nodded, giving him a small smile. “Duty calls. Thanks for the shower.”
“Anytime. I hope the date goes well.” He thought he saw a flash of a frown on Stan’s face but instead he just nodded then left. Mike ignored the jealous that curled in his chest.
He spent the evening playing video games, he was in the middle of battling an orc when there was another knock on his door. Pausing his game he stood and went to the door. Again, it was Stan, fully dressed this time.
“Did you need to borrow my oven or something?” He asked, opening it.
Stan shook his head, looking almost embarrassed. “I wanted to say thanks, for earlier. I barged in on you and you were much nicer than you had to be.” He held out of a bottle of wine. “So, thanks.”
Mike accepted the wine and watched as Stan shifted his weight. He wasn’t someone who normally seemed embarrassed, it was one of the things Mike liked about him. Stan was confident, maybe to the point of hubris. Seeing him like this was odd. So, making an impulse decision, he asked, “Do you want to come in? We can open this, maybe watch a movie?” He licked his lips, hoping that Stan wasn’t going to reject him.
To his relief, Stan nodded, his curls bouncing slightly. Mike saved his game and turned on netflix, letting Stan pick a movie while he poured them wine. He sat on the couch, far from Stan, and looked at his selection. The Babadook.
“I didn’t peg you for the horror movie type.” Mike said, handing Stan his wine and letting their fingers brush.
Stan shrugged, “I’ve wanted to see it and you had it in your list. Is that okay?”
Mike nodded and started the movie. “How was the date?” He asked, needing to say something. Otherwise he knew that he’d keep staring at Stan from the corner of his eye. At least this way he could openly turn and watch him.
Stan took a long drink of wine before responding. Then he spoke, keeping his voice even. “It wasn’t… great. He wasn’t like he’d been described. We didn’t have a lot in common.” Mike could tell that Stan wasn’t saying something but didn’t want to push.
“I’m sorry.”
Stan sighed. “Me too, a bit. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date.”
“Why?” Mike asked then cringed. “It’s none of my business, you don’t have to-”
But Stan waved him off and explained, “I was dating someone, for a few years. We broke up a few months ago. My friends think I should get back out there. Back in the saddle, as it is.”
Mike nodded. “But if you’re not ready-”
Stan shook his head. “It’s not that. It's that I don’t want to go on stiff first dates. I hate them. I don’t want to sit with a table between us, picking at fancy bread. It’s miserable.”
He nodded again. Mike got that. He felt the same. It was fine at first, to go out and meet new people but a large part of him just wanted this, someone to come home to and drink wine with.
“Dating sucks.” Mike said.
“I’ll drink to that.” Stan said, raising his glass and clinking it with Mike’s. Both smiled at each other.
The pair fell into comfortable conversation, Stan asking Mike what he did for a living. Mike asked Stan about his hobbies. They complained about the building manager and gossiped about the neighbor who seemed to be running an illegal ferret breeding operation. Mike didn’t remember the last time he’d laughed so much.
As they talked the movie delivered it's first jump scare. Stan leapt so high that Mike was surprised his wine didn’t spill. He also let out a small squeak that Mike found adorable.
“Why did you pick this again?” He asked, teasing Stan.
“I wanted to see it! I’m just not great at actually watching the movies.”
Hesitating for a just a beat Mike made another impulsive decision. “Come over here,” Mike said, patting next to him. “At least then you can squeeze my hand.”
Stan looked at him, caution in his eyes, “Are you sure?” Mike nodded, grateful that Stan quickly scooted over, nestling into Mike. He held his hand out and Stan slipped his own in. He decided that this was both his best and worst idea yet. He liked having Stan curled up next to him, head barely resting on his shoulder. But his heart was also hammering so loud he was sure Stan could hear it.
But the next scare Stan squeezed his hand and buried his head in Mike’s shoulder and Mike decided that it was a brilliant idea. “Stan, it’s okay.” Mike said, rubbing his thumb over Stan’s hand. “We can turn it off.”
“No,” Stan looked up at him and Mike was overwhelmed with how close they were, he could easily kiss Stan now, barely even moving. Stan’s cheeks were flush with the wine and his hair had escaped the gel he’d used. He looked gorgeous. Mike nearly reached out to stroke his cheek. “I want to finish it.” Mike nodded, not, about to argue.
They talked more through the movie, making jokes and talking about how the villain from this was, supposedly, dating another supernatural villain and about whether they would make the same decision as the protagonist. It was the best date Mike had been on in a while and it was over far too quickly. Stan stayed next to him the whole time, his head eventually falling onto Mike’s shoulder.
“I should go.” Stan said as the credits started. He didn’t sound like he really wanted to.
Mike nodded, feeling a chill as Stan moved away from him. “Thank you for the wine, and the company.”
“Thanks for the shower.” Stan said, standing and walking to the door.
“Anytime.”
Mike’s reply came a beat too late. Stan was already out the door and Mike was alone in his apartment. He groaned to himself, wondering if he should have done something- kissed him or asked him to say, anything. He wondered if he missed his chance.
But then, as he was thinking about standing up and rinsing the wine glasses, there was another knock on the door.
Mike opened it and, for the third time that day, Stan was behind it. “Did you forget something?”
Stan sighed at him, annoyed. “I don’t get you. We’ve been flirting for weeks. I came over today to use your shower. Then I brought wine.” Stan threw his hands up and looked at Mike. “Do you not like me? Am I reading this wrong?”
“I-” Mike was surprised and trying to think of a response.
Stan took it as rejection. He deflated and started to turn back to the door. “Fine. I guess I did..”
“No!” Mike hand reached out, grabbing Stan’s wrist to stop him.
“No?” Stan asked, turning around, eyebrow arched. “Mike it's fine, I won’t make it weird. I promise.”
“No I do like you.” Mike huffed and tried again. “I like you. But you came over here talking about your date and I wasn’t - I didn’t-” He took a breath. “I’m not going to hit on a guy who’s going on a date.” He explained. “Even one who shows up in a slightly too short bathrobe.”
Stan smirked then asked “What about a guy who holds your hand and and brings wine?”
Mike shrugged, not bothering to hide his smile. “I guess I could hit on him.”
Stan laughed, quick and short but earnest. “Good.” He looked at Mike. “You’re still holding my wrist.”
“It’s part of hitting on you.” Mike answered easily, bringing Stan’s hand to his mouth and kissing the inside of his wrist. He didn’t miss the sharp intake breath from the other man. Then Mike asked, “Come here often?”
The sides of Stan’s mouth quirked up and he gave a quick eye roll. “That’s a terrible line.”
Mike shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve got plenty of better ones though. You can hear them all if you let me take you out.”
“Smooth.” Stan said, smiling now. He nodded. “I’d like that, a lot.”
Can I be added to your ‘broken shower’ taglist please? Love the story so far
hi! so sorry for the confusion, but Broken Shower is a oneshot!! i was taking prompts last night, and that was the first one! what i meant by added to the taglist was being added to the general taglist! really sorry for the confusion, but i’m so happy you liked it!! someone else could continue it if they would like, i wouldn’t mind it!
