#bwuchapter1

Marshal did what he did best, and that was shut up and try to forget everything he'd done wrong. TV only did the trick for so long, so he eventually got up to go start the laundry he'd been meaning to start since... last Thursday. Yikes.

Marshal stopped outside Renee's door on the way to his own room, unsure why he continued to try to apologize. "Hey man, I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking," Marshal spoke. "I just, I thought you liked me and I think I was making up these imaginary signs and... yeah. Sorry. It won't happen again."

There was a long silence from the other side and just as Marshal was about to walk away, the man replied.

Renee didn't say another word the entire walk back to the apartment. He took the stairs two at a time and closed the door firmly behind him. In fact, it wasn't until he was at his perch in front of his monitors that he began to think about what happened.

Marshal had kissed him, had taken control of him for just a moment, and he didn't like that. It wasn't about sexuality either, oh no, it was much deeper than that. 

"What the fuck?!" Renee exclaimed, shoving Marshal off of him before swiping his arm over his mouth.

"I'm sorry!" Marshal gasped, feeling tears burning up the back of his eyes. "I was just- I thought maybe- Shit!"

"Marshal, I like you okay, but not like that. Seriously, did I give off the vibe that I wanted to kiss you?"

"N-no I'm sorry I-"

Renee frowned, anger subsiding. He picked up the bag Marshal dropped, kicked his spilled drink aside, and looked back at his friend.

With a sudden burst of courage, Marshall finally acted like the kind of person he wished he was. He finally acted on impulse and threw his cares (and the dog food) to the wind. He grabbed Renee by the fabric of his coat and jerked him in close, planting a kiss on his icy lips.

"Hey, Renee?" Marshal asked as they came out of the corner market. "I'm really glad you came with me tonight."

"Yeah, no problem. I've been meaning to get out anyway," he replied, taking a drink from the soda he bought on the way out.

"There's this person I really like... but I'm really shy. I don't think they even know I'm interested."

"That sounds like some kind of anime bullshit. Don't wait for someone to notice you, just fucking open your mouth."

"What if that doesn't, you know, go well," Marshall swallowed.

A month passed. After Renee showed up on his doorstep, Marshal went from counting every penny to splurging on things he didn't need. Renee kept to himself, rarely left his room, but he paid more than half of the rent.

Sure, Marshall didn't know where the money came from, but he didn't care. He was so caught up with breathing easy and having fun, that nothing could bother him. Nothing seemed strange.

Despite the weather that cold afternoon, Marshall convinced Renee to go out with him to the shops. They needed a few groceries but besides that, he really wanted to get ideas for what Renee might like for Christmas.