#ace evan

Unfortunately for him, one of his coworkers was a little too invested in everyone else's lives. He sauntered up to Evan's desk and leaned against the wall, completely ignoring the 'Don't fuck with me' vibes Evan was giving off.

"Come on, Rosier, you've got to have some great stories with that boy of yours."

Evan knew why he would think that. Barty had a reputation for getting around. They worked for the same company but in different departments. Usually Evan would have more of an idea about how Barty was around him, but they had only been together for a little over a month and hadn't even talked about sex yet, which Evan was surprised about, given Barty's reputation.

Honestly, Evan was dreading the conversation. He really liked Barty, but he didn't know what would happen when he found out that Evan had no interest in sex, like at all. Sex repulsed him to the point that he would leave the room anytime it was brought up if he could. Now, was not one of those times where he could.

"That's private, if you don't mind," Evan remarked dismissively as he continued to make himself appear busy.

"Oh, come on," he replied with a slightly whiny tone. "I just wanna know if the rumours are true."

Evan gritted his teeth before turning towards his coworker and glaring at him. "I said it was personal, now fuck off so I can get back to work."

His coworker put his hands up in surrender and backed away from his desk with a shocked expression. Evan didn't usually lose his temper while at work, but at least it got him to back off and he probably told the rest of their coworkers not to approach him, given the looks Evan was receiving now. The rest of the day was surprisingly calm as far as people getting in his business was concerned.

~~

Barty was lying on the couch when Evan walked in the door of their shared flat. Most people would assume it was too early to move in together, but they were roommates before becoming a couple. He glanced up for a second before setting his phone on the coffee table and walking over with a concerned expression. Evan hated that he hadn't schooled his features before coming inside. Honestly, he was still annoyed about the conversation at work.

"What's wrong?" Barty asked, reaching out but not quite touching.

"Nothing," Evan murmured and Barty raised an eyebrow in disbelief. He sighed. "It's just work."

Barty stared at him for a few moments before shaking his head and stepping closer. "No, it's not," he said simply. "This is more than just annoying people at work. It's different. What happened?"

Evan's shoulders deflated as Barty rested his hands on them. He really didn't want to have this conversation, despite knowing each other and living together for years, Evan's sexuality never came up. Barty's had since he always brought people home, but Evan's hadn't. So sue him if he was dreading talking about it with his newish boyfriend.

His eyes dropped to the floor as he took a deep breath. "It's really nothing, Bee. Just… it's just people being intrusive, that's all."

"Whose ass do I need to kick?" Barty nearly growled, making Evan snap his head up at the sudden heat in his boyfriend's tone.

"What?"

"Nobody has any right to pry into your life. So whose ass do I need to kick?"

"It's fine, Bee. He backed off when I told him to."

"And yet, you're still upset by it," Barty replied, his tone softer now. "If you really don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I just hate seeing you upset. Maybe I can help."

Evan despised when Barty got all considerate when he was trying to avoid a conversation. There was a reason Evan always changed the subject anytime the topic of sex and sexualities came up. But he supposed that now that he was an adult with a boyfriend who seemed to actually care, it was inevitable. He just didn't want to lose Barty because of it. There was no way someone whose life practically revolved around sex would be okay with not having it.

"I don't want to lose you," Evan whispered, refusing to look Barty in the eye.

"Why would you lose me, Rosie?"

They still hadn't moved from the entryway and Barty was still hanging onto Evan, which he was grateful for since it kept him grounded even though the only thing he wanted to do was run away. Evan took a deep breath. As much as he was dreading telling Barty, he figured he might as well get it over with and deal with the fallout. They hadn't been together that long, so hopefully it wouldn't hurt as much when Barty dumped him.

"I'm asexual," Evan mumbled under his breath while still looking at the floor and hoping Barty didn't hear him.

Barty dipped his head so he could look in Evan's eyes. "What? I didn't quite hear you. I think I know what you said, but I need you to repeat it."

He had a gentle teasing smile tugging at his lips that told Evan that he had heard him clearly and was just being a dick about it now. Evan snapped his head up to glare at him.

"You clearly heard me," he gritted out.

"And it's not that big of a deal," Barty responded with a shrug, successfully short-circuiting Evan's brain.

"What?" Evan asked confused.

Anytime he had mentioned that he was ace to a partner, they would make him feel bad about it. Claiming that he led them on or that he just hadn't found the right person yet. Or they would try to force him into it. Evan stared at Barty dumbfounded. How could he say it wasn't that big of a deal?

"Who cares if you're ace," Barty declared with a half-hearted shrug. "I'm aro. Do you think that's a big deal?" Evan shook his head. He thought Barty might be on the aromantic spectrum, considering he never stayed with the same person for long, but didn't know for sure. "So why would you being ace?"

"But you want sex all the time, and I don't want it at all."

"Okay." Barty shrugged nonchalantly. "Is that why you've been avoiding this? You think I'm gonna care that you don't want to have sex?" Evan nodded, his mouth slightly agape as he tried to register what Barty was saying. "Evan, I'd be happy if you're just in the same room as me. I don't need sex and if I get the urge, there are other ways I can take care of that without involving anybody else."

"And if I decide that I might want to?" Evan questioned curiously.

He had never felt the urge before, but just talking to Barty now, he could see that it might be possible in the future as something started to swirl in his gut. Even though, he always claimed to be repulsed by it or at least that's what he thought. He still wasn't thrilled about the idea of sex. It made him feel icky, but Barty made him feel something else.

"Then I'll be happy to go on that journey with you, and if you decide you really hate it then we never have to do it again," Barty replied sincerely.

"Okay," Evan whispered.

Barty let his hand fall to Evan's hand, interlocking their fingers with a gentle smile.

"Come on. Let's go cuddle," he said, tugging Evan's body forward. "You look exhausted."

Evan let out a huff of laughter. "You hate touch, and especially cuddling."