Joel

[nola_steve]

Backdated to V-Day 

It was Valentine's Day, which he remembered pretty much only because he'd made heart-shaped pancakes for anyone who'd wanted them that morning. Otherwise? For Steve, it was just a day like any other.

It wasn't that he turned his nose up at commercial holidays. He was a straight-up sucker for Christmas. It was just...this was a day all about romantic love, and that was a bug that had never managed to bite, no matter how many friends tried to set him up. So he wasn't exactly paying attention to what was going on around him until he headed into the campus cafe to grab lunch and realized the entire place was packed.

Also? They'd gone out of their way to make it look cozy and romantic, with candles flickering at each table.

"...huh," Steve said, looking around for somewhere to sit. He'd already gotten his food ordered and had his sweet tea in hand, but there didn't appear to be a single clear table in the place.

Before he could turn back and cancel his order (maybe try somewhere a little less quaint?), one of the waitresses caught his eye. "We're asking people to double up tables, if they don't mind," she explained, making a sheepish face. "We already got a few people to agree. Here," she added, grabbing a chair at a small two-seater table. A vaguely familiar young man sat in the other seat. "Sit here."

Steve stepped forward, then cocked his head as the man looked at him. "You sure you don't mind?" he asked with a friendly-yet-rueful smile.

Comments

[nola_buckybarnes]

The thought of Williams being so...domestic made Joe's heart constrict a little. "That sounds really nice, though—I bet they look forward to it." The idea of a family member bothering to make a fuss, even a small one, over a B-list holiday was sweet, actually. That's now how things were done in his childhood home.

[nola_steve]

"It's tradition by now--I've been doing it since we were kids, one way or another. I feel like the world needs those, you know?" he added, tilting his head slightly. "Traditions. They don't have to be old, and they don't have to be restrictive, but the little things that let us tell each other hey, you matter....those are important." He studied Joel, caught briefly by those pretty dark eyes. Which was a completely inappropriate thought to have, but, well. No denying he'd had it. "What about you? Any traditions?"

[nola_buckybarnes]

There was something about the way Williams looked at him, so earnest, that sparked something deep inside Joel. It felt like recognition, but what he was saying wasn't familiar to Joel at all. Yearning, maybe? "My grandparents give me a gift card to Kohls on my birthday and Christmas," he finally said. "Does that count?"

[nola_steve]

"If it makes you happy, that counts."

Funny, that he wanted to think this guy he didn't know was happy.

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel looked a little confused, like he's never considered it that way. "I mean, it's useful? I buy clothes with it, which I need. So I guess that's close enough."

[nola_steve]

"Who else do you have around here? Good friends? A partner? I'm being nosy," he admitted, "and you can tell me to buzz off."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"It's okay," he said. It didn't feel nosy. In a way, he felt like he knew Professor Williams, as creepy as that might seem. "I'm not from here, so I just have friends. My dorm roommate. And I date, but it's casual. It's not bad." Though after hearing about the professor lovingly making heart-shaped pancakes for his siblings, it sort of seemed superficial in contrast.

[nola_steve]

"You're a student?" He felt ashamed for being disappointed. "That's great. What's your interest?"

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Wait, wait, wait," Joel said, tilting his head and giving Williams disbelieving smile. "You didn't realize I'm a student until just now?"

[nola_steve]

He could feel himself flushing. "Guess I'm bad at judging," he said.

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel was delighted by this turn of events. If he had to give up creeping into Williams' classes, at least this was a silver lining. "I thought you were making polite professor-student talk," he said with a widening smile. "But this whole time we could've been talking about kids today and how much grading sucks?"

[nola_steve]

"I-- You-- There is no dignified way out but through," Steve finally said with a laugh. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. No way was he going to admit there was a part of him that had actually been hoping Joel was a new professor or staff member. Jesus, a student: he should be ashamed. "Yes, those whippersnappers, etc."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"With their snappy chats and sex texts," Joel added, things he'd heard his grandparents' friends actually say. "When will they learn the value of dignity?"

[nola_steve]

"All right all right," he grinned. "I'm ancient and you're not. I get it."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Nah, you're not old—I mean, have you seen Dr. Lucerne?" Lucerne was legendary among the student body for being ancient, possibly even a revenant.

[nola_steve]

"Spritely," he said, straight-faced. "Effervescent."

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel raised his eyebrows. "Absolutely, for someone who remembers where he was the day Lincoln was shot."

[nola_steve]

"Great memory on that guy," he agreed easily. "Good sign of a very young brain."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Professor, he comes grave dust."

[nola_steve]

Professor! He was Professor. He was Professor, and he was definitely crushing a little on this kid, and he was going to hell.

"Well, now, that's just hurtful."

Hell. Hell. Hell.

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel smiled sweetly. "I bet that's what Dr. Lucerne says when it happens."

[nola_steve]

"And then, lo, he rises like a magnificent phoenix from the ashes to shake his fair plumage at quarterly faculty events."

[nola_buckybarnes]

"Am I making fun of your work best friend? Sorry."

[nola_steve]

"You should be. Shameful, youths today." He propped his chin on his fist, grinning, eyes bright. Utterly relaxed despite the butterflies playing pingpong in his chest.

[nola_buckybarnes]

Joel would give up going to Williams' classes, all classes, just to have that smile directed his way. It was all worth it. He was speechless for a long moment, but finally managed to say, "Shameless Youths is my band name."