michael.

Christmas wasn’t that special to Michael, certainly not enough to do something like that just because he had spirit. He did enjoy the atmosphere of the holiday season though, and wasn’t about to put someone else down about it. One of the best parts of winter was how many people loved it; how many were genuinely brought closer together because of their holidays. Michael simply chuckles a little instead.

“Ah, don’t worry.” He replies, glancing down at Apple when she starts licking his hand. “I get nosy too.” Truthfully Michael likes hearing about other people. He liked it when he could feel useful in making someone feel better or even if he was just focusing on someone other than himself. On the other end of the spectrum he was also used to small talk, answering basic questions about himself be it for either form of work he did or because whoever he was passing time talking to wanted to make things fair and ask about him.

”It is.” Michael agrees, glancing up in time to catch Blaine’s wince. “You’re fine, Blaine. I don’t mind questions.. and no. I was still in Illinois for a year or so before I finally decided to leave the state altogether. This just ended up feeling like the best place.” He explains, finding himself smiling a little more just a second later as he gets Blaine’s own tale, and Michael has to say that it was entirely fitting based on what he’s seen of the other so far. He was never particularly into musical theater or the like himself, but he most definitely appreciated the work that went into it. “Sounds like you’re already on your way to yours then. Congrats. What’s the show about?”

As long as Michael didn’t think he was honing in on him and getting too personal, Blaine was simply curious about his story. One of the best parts of the city he loved so much was that you could meet people with such interesting tales to tell if you gave the world a minute and sat down to listen. A stranger could open up a whole new world in a matter of a subway, or in this case dog friendly coffee shop, conversation. People had no clue what they were missing out on if they only rushed from Point A to Point B and never stopped to listen.

“Thank you. I’m glad I’m not the only one.” He smiled appreciatively at Michael putting his mind to ease and paused to rattle off his order. A tea with some honey and lemon and a blueberry scone. Then waited as the red haired waitress turned her attention to Michael and jotted down his choices before promptly excusing herself (after a small fuss about Apple cause who could resist that face).

“New York City is the best place, in my opinion. But I’ve been here so long I might be a tad biased,” he grinned lightly toying with the dog eared corner of his paper napkin. “What’s your favorite part of living here so far? I’d have to say mine is the culture. Living in a place like Westerville, Ohio for eighteen years really makes you appreciate a place that’s about as opposite from it as you can get. Not that life there was horrible. It had it’s good parts.

“I’m glad I get to call here home.” A brow quirked up and he felt his cheeks and nose warm up. “Yeah. I think I might be. It’s taking a lot of work to get there but it’s worth every minute. The show? It’s a rebirth of an old musical. How well do you know your theater,” he grinned not wanting to sound pretentious but assuming rattling off the name of a musical and expecting someone to know what the hell he was talking about was even worse in his book. “I know it’s not everyone’s thing so I thought I’d ask first.”

michael.

It wasn’t that Michael pretended he was something he wasn’t or had any interest in doing so. He wasn’t bothered by his work so much anymore to begin with. It was what it was, what worked best for him in his situation. He just didn’t want to tell a kind new stranger what he did at night the first time they meet. By the time he has something to say however Blaine was telling him about his friend during Chistmas time.

Michael looks up from the little menu at that, pursing his lips in an obvious attempt not to laugh until he looks back down. “I shouldn’t laugh. If I got the chance to be paid for that I’d absolutely take it.” Closing the menu he leans back in his seat and pats Apple’s head. “As far as stories go though, it’s not exactly glamorous.” He says with a shrug of his shoulder.

“The dream was to get a scholarship and either become an architect or a structural engineer, but I left Chicago when I was sixteen. I’m just trying to pay the bills and shove the rest in a jar for now.” It was probably going best after he started the dog walking out of these past four years. His savings weren’t what he wanted them to be yet but he was getting there. Now if only he knew what exactly he was saving for. “What about you? Where is Blaine the dog lover going?”

“She managed to talk two other people into it at the same time she was doing it, so there’s more than one person and you who would do that if they were paid. I think I could be talked into it,” he grinned sheepishly before he threw caution to the wind and let his grin stretched into a full on cheeky smile followed by a huff of a laugh, “Who am I kidding? I love Christmas so much, I’d probably do it for free. The money would only be an added perk.”

Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Their soon-to-be-waitress waved as she took the order from the table next to them, signalling she would be there next. “Stories don’t have to be glamorous. I don’t think we’d be very real if there weren’t any ups and downs or parts where glamorous would be the least likely word to describe what we’re going through. But? I do get it. No pressure.” His gaze darted over Michael’s, head tilted to the side. “I, sometimes, ask more questions than I should when someone makes me curious. Sorry about that. Bad habit. I guess I’ve always enjoyed talking about other people more than I like talking about myself.”

“That’s not a bad dream to have. I hope you get there and that jar keeps filling up. Sooner rather than later. That’s pretty young to be on your own. Did you come to New York City right away, or?” Catching himself slipping right back into the asking too many questions habit he just apologized for, Blaine tucked his chin towards his collar and grimaced his apology this time. “Me? I..uh. I’m in a show a few blocks that way,” he thumbed over his shoulder towards the window indicating the direction of Broadway with a tug of the corner of his lips upwards. “I write music, too. Or. I’m trying to. We all have our dreams, yeah?”

michael.

‘A guy like you’ he says and Michael doesn’t catch himself to stop his snort in response. Blaine made it sound like a compliment. He meant it as one too, Michael is aware. He was simply also aware of another, truer meaning to that sentence and the ridiculousness of such a compliment directed towards himself. A guy like him certainly didn’t need help meeting people; he worked in a different area at night, closer to the gay scene to find more customers, and he had been right to move his business over there. During the day however Michael wasn’t attracting attention like that, like what Blaine thought. Either that or he was seriously missing the signals(as possible as it was, he couldn’t help but doubt it)

After he tug on his sleeve Michael follows easily to the table Blaine had his eye on, pausing with one eye on the other as he stops to say hello himself. A more curious expression settles on his face to the eased greetings, wondering why he’d be here so often if he didn’t even have a pet of his own. What stood out more was Blaine pulling out Michael’s seat first, however. A gentlemanly gesture that he both wants to be fond of an annoyed at simultaneously.

Regardless he doesn’t react in either direction and takes a seat with Apple on his lap. She stands, tries unsuccessfully to turn around and face the other way before giving up and laying down on the young man’s legs, sated for the time being thanks to the constant contact. “It sounds like you do, if I’m being honest. Can’t say I’m much better though. If I could stick it in my arm I would.”

Blaine watched the tiny dog attempt to make her circles before she just flopped down and got comfortable. Smiling warmly down at her, he resisted the urge to reach out and pet her. Little awkward seeing as how she was seated on her walker’s lap and that was a little too close for just-met-you contact. One menu was slid over towards Michael. Blaine didn’t need to open his to decide what he wanted to order. But he did it anyway.

“You and me both. Too bad they haven’t invented a convenient IV drip. I’m sure it’d make a mint,” he chuckled and relaxed back into the chair. “So.. Do you do anything other than professional dog walking? I’d imagine that’s a pretty in demand business. Especially in this area of town. But is it your only job or is it funding a bigger dream? Not that it has to. Just.. A lot of people do that here. I guess I’m just curious about your story.”

He didn’t mean what he asked as any insult towards Michael’s job. Or doing what made him happy. Blaine was genuinely curious if he was working like a lot of people, he himself, knew when they moved here. Waiting tables, weird feminine product commercials, Santa’s Helpers In Christmas Hell, etc. Until their dreams came true. “One of my best friends was a Christmas window display once. Never knew that existed for human beings until she got the bright idea.”

michael.

It’s ridiculous sometimes the way things come back to him. It’s been long enough now, he’s so used to the life he leads, small things shouldn’t make him think of the past at all anymore. They don’t always, in his own defense. It was always though when happiness was involved. Or more likely, the potential of it. Michael had a way of looking for every silver lining and when things turned out to be positive he thought of the things he missed, as if looking for a reason to be disappointed regardless. Nothing could stand up to the more pleasant memories of his past, people that he longed to see again in the back of his mind.

When he was younger, even back before their mother died, Lincoln would hold the door open for him almost everywhere they went and at least once that day say ‘ladies first’ jokingly as Michael walked past him.
And thus he instinctively begins to ruin coffee with a perfectly pleasant stranger. He didn’t have to let it though, did he? He wanted to enjoy the little things.

“Thank you. I think I’ll take my chances as they are. I meet enough random guys as it is.” He replies as smoothly as before as he walks into the cafe. “I appreciate the positive attitude though.”

Blaine eyed Michael’s back with a bewildered look as he let him walk by. He met enough random guys? Well. Looking like that, Blaine could imagine Michael didn’t need much help from puppies to meet as many men as he wanted. The guy was handsome, well spoken and gave the impression that he was sincere. Anyone would appreciate meeting, much less spending time with a guy like that. Still, he teased him a little as he let the door close and took a step to stand beside Michael and checking for an empty table. “Ah. Sorry. A guy like you probably doesn’t need any advice on how to meet more people,” he grinned up at him, “You’re welcome for the positive attitude though.”

Ah! They were in luck! A couple vacated a table by the bakery counter and Blaine gave Michael’s sleeve an tug to get his attention. “Let’s grab it before anyone else can,” and with a tick of his chin in towards their seats–Blaine was off to claim their table grabbing two menus off the countertop on his way past.
The barista paused and smiled at Blaine’s grateful wave and smile, went back to taking the next walk up order–stopped and looked back chirping up with an ‘Hello, Mister Anderson’ to which she received pursed lipped ‘hello back! smile and a lift and tilt of the menus in her direction.

“Sometimes I wonder how I’ve managed to miss winning some ten thousandth customer award in the string of coffee shops lining this street and a block over. You’d think with how much I’m in them, I would by now.” Blaine joked as he pulled out a chair for Michael before taking one beside him. “Maybe I have a small caffeine problem..”

michael.

“Well, she has proven to be a bit of a walking hazard.” Michael replies lightly, gaze turned briefly to the fluffy dog held to his chest as her little head comes to rest on his shoulder with a little huff. Princess indeed. His smile sweetens at that just before his gaze flicks back to Blaine as the man continues speaking- just before a wholehearted chuckle is prompted from him. A day of firsts sounded about right, he thinks as he considers just how hard it would be to teach this dog to trip handsome strangers.

Michael remembers once being told by a girl whose boyfriend apparently had been a customer of Michael’s in the past that his laugh was the only pure thing about him. He certain hopes he had that left, but mostly he wonders how on earth she’d been so pleasant talking to a hooker her lover once took into a back alley. Either way looking at the way Blaine’s smile lights up his face, Michael is fairly certain he’s just been beat.

“While she probably could learn tripping on command, I don’t think she’d be able to spot the handsome ones from her vantage point.” It was a bit bold for him during the day. Michael on his own truly wasn’t much of a flirt, not when he spent all night doing that, and certainly not when he knew perfectly well how bad it could turn out behaving in such a way around the wrong people- but a friendly spoken compliment to a friendly man, intent as lighthearted as it can be, should be safe enough.

“She has, hasn’t she? Serial tripper in the works. Better keep an eye on her,” his nose scrunched, eyes squinting like he was sharing some secret warning, “You know? In case it starts becoming a habit. Watch for warning signs. All that stuff.” Just when he thought the tiny, fuzzy ball of cute could make his heart melt anymore than it already had, Apple nuzzled into Michael’s neck and Blaine’s entire face softened into a look of utter ‘awwwwh!’. Problem was? When he got that look? Apple had her work cut out for matching Blaine’s level of puppy dog eyes.

However, abrupt laughter made them wrinkle at their corners as Blaine stepped around a woman standing directly in the path of oncoming foot traffic chatting away on her phone. Someone couldn’t do two things at once! Thankfully, Blaine could and avoided an embarrassing collision with someone much bigger than Michael’s tiny companion.. Olive cheeks were flush with color thanks to the compliment.

“Maybe just letting her run into random strangers and taking a chance with fate might be a better idea? Who knows who you’ll meet. Or where you’ll end up. Speaking of which?” Blaine nodded towards the door of a brick front with a weathered white wooden door and several silver dog bowls sitting on the sidewalk out front. “Here we are. You first,” he held the door open and motioned for Michael and the puppy to go ahead. Then snuck in a rub to her nose as they passed by.

michael.

“Nope. Her owner’s out all day, just like basically all of them. Second perk to the job is I can basically do it whenever I want so long as the dogs get exercise at some point.” Still Michael always took them all in the earlier half of the day, making sure they’ve eaten, gone to the bathroom once or twice. The second job of the day was easier when he had a few hours of a nap beforehand. Not that much made it easy per se but given how used to it he was, the extra sleep couldn’t possibly hurt given how late he would be out for it.

Apple paws at Michael’s leg and he finally takes his eyes away from the other man, lifting the small dog and despite just how easy it would be to carry her with one hand he holds her to his chest with both as if she were an infant, even going so far as to pat the pup’s back lightly a few times when she licks the side of his face.

Attention caught again, Michael gives a softer smile to the explanation going along with the other’s offer. “Sure.” His initial guess that he was holding up someone in a rush seemed to be so far off base Michael might be embarrassed if he had been speaking his thoughts aloud. Glad to keep that one to himself, he stands upright all the while scratching Apple behind the ear for a moment to appease her constant need for attention. “Don’t think anyone’s bought me a coffee for tripping them with a dog before.”

Seeing Michael standing in front of him, holding the dog the way he was, Blaine couldn’t help the way his smile wobbled into something more bewildered and adoring. Michael was an attractive guy. You’ve have to be completely blind to not notice. But. Well. Heck. Watching him cradle the dog and give her a pat on her back? That was beyond adorable in so many ways that the stupefied look happened before he could shut it down. Good job, Blaine. And there came the telltale warmth over the bridge of his nose that told him it was, definitely, time to head to the coffee shop before he thought about making it stop before it spread further over his cheeks only to have it backfire and make it ten times hotter.

A lean of his shoulder in the direction of where they were going later, Blaine continued down the street with Michael and Apple at his side. Laughing at the comment, he shrugged and watched the lines in the pavement passing under his feet. “First. I think it’s hilarious that you’re supposed to be walking the dog and seeing the princess that she is,” his attention went back up to Michael and Apple, “you gave into carrying her the rest of the way there. Second? I don’t think I ever bought coffee for anyone who tripped me with a dog before. Today’s a day of firsts for both of us. Maybe Miss Apple too.”

Or has she almost splattered someone on the sidewalk by running under their feet before?” His eyebrows shoved together forming a wrinkle of mock suspicion on his forehead. “Wait. Did you talk her into that? Because I would have got you a coffee if you just let me spend five minutes snuggling the fluffball.” Smiling bright, Blaine lit up as he teased the taller man finishing with a huff of a chuckle and a shake of his head. “You didn’t have to go that far.”

michael.

With a soft chuckle, Michael nods and agrees. “Only reason I haven’t tried to make that work is I can’t get as sweet of a deal anywhere like where I’m at.” That deal being no one legally on record renting his apartment. He had no social security on him, hadn’t yet memorized it when he left home. Even if he could get his hands on a fake ID there was much, much more paperwork that went into even just renting a home. One of his wealthier clients some time ago had known a few. Michael didn’t ask what her job was so long as her connections helped him even if the woman’s main motivation was herself- more specifically her plaything for the month being clean and well-rested. She got bored eventually but he kept the deal with the owner of the property so long as he kept quiet and paying the bills.

Suddenly the other man was looking at him in sync with Apple and Michael felt the need to try and stifle a laugh then and there. He does his best, not wanting to have to explain what was so funny to him. “Don’t worry, I’m not on a schedule or anything.” Even if he were, this was the sort of meeting he didn’t mind taking the time for, not when no schedule that he did have would ever be strict. There were no proper hours to either the dog walking or the street walking.

“You aren’t?” Blaine felt a furry butt wiggling against his belly and gave Apple a scratch behind one ear. Michael’s eyes were bright, on the cusp of a laugh, but Blaine chalked it up to them both being content to be where they are. All three of them, actually. And that was that. Though Michael’s apparent contentment made his own bubble up and soon enough he was smiling so big that the corners of his eyes pinched together and he gave the dog a hug just because.

“Great!” Apparently his happiness radiated to the dog who jumped off his lap and went back to her walker, lifted up her front paws and batted at his leg. Someone wanted up. Blaine didn’t move much. Just enough to take a sip of the coffee he sat beside his leg and forgot about until he was dog free. “Can I buy you a coffee? You brightened my day with her,” he blurted out of the blue, only turned a teeny bit crimson over his nose and cheeks and thumbed over his shoulder. “I.. I don’t think they let dogs in but the coffee shop a block up does. It’s the least I can do for you indulging me.”

Standing up, FINALLY, he brushed his hands on the hems of his pants legs and bent down to pick up his cup, looking up at Michael with a quirk of a brow. “The company would be pretty great. I don’t have anywhere to be until later.” Rehearsal could start without him. It wasn’t like Rachel would mind singing her heart out until he was there.

michael.

He can’t recall the last time he met a man so care free. No matter how young he can’t help but see traces of burden on too many shoulders. Even the loud, obnoxious children he could roll his eyes at only behave as such because their parents don’t listen. A little boy repeats the word ‘mum’ ten times rapidly and she still doesn’t look up from her phone to address him. In anyone there were small signs to anxieties or other stress, frustration, possibly even fear. No one was without their burdens, their demons.

This man would surely be the be the same as anyone else but in this moment he was bright and calm and going on about nothing but how much he loved dogs. His smile becomes infectious, brightening Michael’s own as he watches and listens. “This is my second walk with her but her owner’s building is just down the block from mine, only local one that allows pets so it’s full of them. If you ever feel like borrowing a dog it’s definitely the place to go.” He explains lightly, despite his motives being slightly less innocent than that. He liked the animals, truly. Sweet things sometimes frustrating but all simply needed to be taught and loved on. He wishes from time to time that he could have one of his own but when walking as many animals as he was and still on the street at night it didn’t take a genius to know that he couldn’t afford another mouth to feed.

“Where is this place and can I get an apartment there,” he joked lightly as the furry ball of sweetness climbed up onto his lap. Blaine let her stay there because..how could you chase her away if you have any sort of soul? Fur covered pants weren’t really much of a bother. Not when it was the small price to pay for getting a lap full of pure, simple dog love. He was pretty sure he had a lint roller somewhere at the theatre. If not? Then some tape would do. “Kidding. I don’t think I can up and move but wow that is a temptation that’s hard to resist.”

The cold press of a nose against his neck drew his attention to the side. Apple’s nuzzle was beyond words but his facial expression said it all. Matching her puppy-eyed stare with one of his own–Blaine melted and would’ve handed his soul over to the tiny cutie if she asked for it. The tip of his finger scratched the bridge of her muzzle and she was back in his lap, tail wagging and her stupid, giddy face stared up at Michael in perfect unison with Blaine’s gaze returning back up at him. Both sets of wide eyes read across Michael’s expression. Blaine only just tuning into the fact he was probably holding him up long past the polite fuss any dog lover would welcome being given to their baby. And she wasn’t even his to want it for. Oh boy.

“I’m sorry. Got caught up..,” his nose wrinkled from a cringe, “I’m keeping you, aren’t I?” His smile wobbled on the oops! side of embarrassment before he carefully started to uncross his legs so he could stand up and let the poor man escape if he needed to.

“Easy come, easy go.”

lyric starters: bruno mars @ofanescapist

Barely one sip from his coffee and Blaine was forced to watch helplessly as his cup went flying through the air and collided against the sidewalk. No amount of fumbling to catch up to in with the stupid hope that he could Neo it out of the air like some Matrix superhero was going to save him from the inevitable. The lid went flying up, coffee defied any logic of gravity and was now soaking the bottom legs of his navy blue dress pants and the bare ankles sticking out above the lips of his very grossly soaked brown leather loafers.

And the guy who knocked it out of his hand via slamming against his elbow was looking at HIM like HE was the devil!

“Sorry..,” Blaine’s apology was as low and fake as the conviction he tried to pack behind the word yet failed to. He didn’t take his gaze off the spilled contents of his cup to deliver it either.. His day barely started and this is how it was going to go. He was half-tempted to go back home and try to start over. Or at least change his pants and shoes?? Until he heard a voice that sounded familiar coming up beside him. Easy come, easy go.

Michael..?

A ray of sunshine broke through his flustered, scrunched together expression. The sight of the man he’d met just days ago brightened his eyes, smoothed out his forehead and his smile was back with a vengeance. “Oh..hey..hi. I..,” he motioned to the mess on the ground and pouted right before a laugh turned it cheerful. “I hope your day is going better than mine..?”

ofanescapist.

He was far beyond the point that much could embarrass him per se, but he has to admit there was a certain amount of discomfort that came with comparing his own slightly tattered appearance to the other man’s. He was clean and put together- though admittedly he did seem rather tired as well. Michael on the other hand was in jeans so old that the ends of each leg and the knees were beginning to wear away, his shirt with a band logo from the 80s on it likely originated from a grown man’s closet before ending up at the Good Will Michael got it from, and the mess of curls on his head was just barely tamable.

“Not really.” Mentally Michael shakes his head at himself for comparing to a stranger to begin with, even if it was no more than a moment of his time. At least the other didn’t see to be thinking the same way that Michael did, instead doing the one thing that could get the small dog to stay in one place; petting her. “Apple. Not my idea, for the record. I just walk her.” Though he did think it was cute, in complete honesty.

Blaine didn’t seem to notice how different he and Michael were put together. Honestly, it was because it hadn’t. It was the dog he noticed. Obviously. Because she nearly tangled his legs up past the point of any sort of graceful untying he could’ve done even with Michael’s help. AKA. On the ground with his legs a mess trying to salvage his pride because a tiny furball took him out. Well. It would be a lie to say he didn’t notice anything about Michael. His smile was sweet. And his help freeing him from his little new best friend was endearing because he was so concerned over absolutely nothing. His clothes? Or their differences? Didn’t really register.

“Apple?” His heart melted. Who names their dog Apple? However. Two seconds of looking back at her and he couldn’t imagine anything better. Soft eyes brightened with a spark that didn’t seem to want to fade as Blaine laughed and decided to sit down on the sidewalk (he could waste a little more time..why not? he’d just rush to catch up later.) beside the fluffy cutie and let her paw at his lap. Coffee put to the side, now both hands were free to rub her head and give her ears a scratch. “I think that’s about the cutest name I’ve ever heard How long have you been walking her? And, God, how do you give her back? Maybe this is just a sign I really need to get a dog…,” he mused with a hum, “I keep thinking about it but never took the plunge and just live vicariously through strangers on the street. I think I’m going to get the reputation of creeper-dog-petting-guy soon. Serial Dog Lover? Is that a thing? I might make it one if it isn’t.” Queue more lighthearted giggles as he met Michael’s gaze and shrugged helplessly.