#mephsation

She picks up her bowl of what appears to be Chex Mix and heads for the exit, her gaze never leaving Ryan, eyes comically wide and eyebrows raised as some kind of hint. She hits the edge of the doorway on her way out and laughs again as she turns to leave properly.

Shane looks over at Ryan, expecting to hear an explanation, but Ryan turns to the fridge behind and grabs a soda instead.

He waits until Ryan shuts the door before asking, “Can I get a mango water while you’re there?”

Ryan blows out a frustrated breath that sounds a lot like a wheeze of laughter, but he does actually listen, opening the fridge again to grab Shane a drink. He passes it over with a roll of his eyes.

“I don’t know why I — ” he starts, but stops, pulling his hand back.

Shane’s fascinated by the whole thing because he sees Ryan uncomfortable and on edge a lot while filming for Unsolved, but not in the everyday office setting. He’s a confident extrovert and — much like Shane — doesn’t feel the pain of humiliation. Shane cracks open his drink and slurps at the fizz that spills into the rim of the can. Ryan watches like he can’t help himself and Shane raises an eyebrow at him.

“Remember,” Shane says lightly, “just do it.”

He takes an actual sip of his drink and Ryan lets out a noise of annoyance and takes a step back.

“You don’t even know what that means.”

“You could tell me,” Shane points out. “Then I’d know.”

“No,” Ryan immediately retorts and his eyes go shifty.

“Just do it.”

“Shane, I swear to fucking god. Say that one more time and I’ll end you.”

Shane laughs and opens his mouth to say exactly what Ryan doesn’t want him to. Ryan already seems to know because he reaches out and slaps his hand right over his lips.

“Don’t,” he warns and Shane laughs again, muffled from behind the warmth of Ryan's palm.

When Ryan finally pulls his hand away, apparently trusting Shane to know the joke won’t be funny a second time, he fidgets with the tab of his soda, pinging it like a tic.

“All right then; keep your secrets,” Shane quotes, and it makes Ryan laugh as intended.

“Resorting to Lord of the Rings lines?”

“Well, you have the monopoly on Nike slogans. I gotta take whatever’s left.”

“There are a million better movies to steal from,” Ryan argues and Shane shrugs.

“That’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

Ryan laughs again, reaching out to shove him gently. “You’re the worst, you know that?”

“And yet you continue to work with me.”

“I’m forced to at this point,” Ryan jokes and Shane huffs a laugh.

“Sure, whatever you need to tell yourself to sleep at night.”

Shane turns then, ready to head back to his desk because he figures he’s harassed Ryan enough for one morning, but Ryan reaches out suddenly, like he’s thinking about grabbing Shane to stop him.

“Hey, Shane?” Ryan asks and Shane turns back expectantly.

“Yeah?”

He can see Ryan warring with himself, but eventually Ryan takes a breath and swallows.

“Are you free for dinner sometime this week?”

Shane knows what it’s like for Ryan to ask if he wants to grab dinner, because it happens most weeks. Usually, it’s preceded by Ryan complaining about having to go to the grocery store and then talking about tacos or hot wings for long enough that they both end up with cravings. Sometimes it’s Shane that suggests they grab something after work, but most times it’s Ryan, who will lean over and nudge at Shane’s headphones until he tucks them back and looks at him expectantly.

This isn’t one of those times. This is Ryan asking him to dinner because that’s what he wants, and Shane doubts the food even factors into it. This is Ryan building up the courage to ask him on a date.

Shane’s stomach flips, a thrill of something going through his body as Ryan watches him carefully, like how Shane reacts will either make or break him. Shane isn’t cruel enough to keep him waiting, so he slowly lets himself smile, unable to help the way his eyes crinkle with his delight.

“You did it,” he says, hit with the realization that this is exactly what Jen was talking about. She was urging Ryan to do this. All of the shared looks suddenly slot into place.

“Is that a yes?”

“How about tomorrow?” Shane replies, because he figures that’ll give Ryan a clue that it’s definitely a yes.

Ryan’s whole body seems to loosen as whatever weight was resting on him finally lifts.

“Really?” he asks and Shane laughs.

“I can change my answer if you’d like?”

“No!” Ryan quickly interrupts. “No, tomorrow is good; tomorrow is great.”

He looks at Shane, a smile on his face that’s brighter than anything Shane’s seen recently.

“Quick question, though,” Shane starts, waiting until Ryan nods in acknowledgment before continuing. “Do you think Nike will sponsor us?”

Ryan laughs, clearly caught off guard, and Shane finds himself laughing in return.

“You’re such a fucking idiot,” Ryan complains. “I don’t know why I like you.”

“Maybe one day we’ll figure it out,” Shane tells him and Ryan blows out a breath and shakes his head.

“Doubtful,” he says, but the look on his face says he’s probably willing to try anyway.