Sephiroth fiddled with his drink. Tseng watched those long fingers curl against the glass and come away wet, only to press in again. It was entrancing.

“I didn’t exactly post my face,” Sephiroth said. “And the image was small.”

“Regardless.” Tseng put his tea down and let the warmth seep between his fingers. When he looked up, he caught Sephiroth’s eye. “We are in a bit of an awkward position now.”

“Is it…” Sephiroth looked around the cafe for the words. Sephiroth wasn’t in sales or customer service: he lacked diplomatic grace in conversation. But he made up for it in his determination to get a point across. “Is it awkward because we want to date?”

That was part of the problem, wasn’t it?

They hadn’t just matched on the website, they had really connected. It wasn’t soul searchingly deep, but Tseng had been intrigued by the brilliant person on the other side of the screen. In their exchanges, Tseng had glimpsed someone he could imagine spending his time on: to listen to, to debate with.

“Or is it awkward because… we don’t.” Sephiroth finally focused on Tseng again. The way Sephiroth looked at him almost made Tseng believe he had learned how to read a face. Almost. The kicked cat expression still trumped everything else.

Tseng looked into Sephiroth’s eyes and thought about it.

“We’re coworkers.” Tseng stated simply. That in itself should have been enough of a deterrent.

“Yes.” Sephiroth let the word drop like it didn’t need to be said. Just a few hours ago they had been in a meeting room: a long and frustrating meeting about deliverables, project deadlines, and just whose team would be handling what. Sephiroth frowned and took another drink of coffee.

“We work closely with each other.” Tseng looked for any other reaction. “If we were to pursue this, our working relationship will be impacted.” That Tseng enjoyed working with Sephiroth, he felt went without saying. Sephiroth always delivered, and when he raised had concerns they were valid, and their conversations were always pleasant.

Dating a coworker always caused problems. Drama where there didn't need to be any, petty rivalries that distracted from work. Tseng hadn't made the mistake himself, but he had seen others bumble into it.

“This is true. But Shinra…” Sephiroth thought about phrasing for a second. “Shinra is a global entity. I know more people in committed relationships with Shinra coworkers than from anywhere else. Why… is there a reason we can't try? Aren't we compatible according to the algorithm that matched us up?”

Tseng didn't know how else to explain.

“I enjoy working with you.” Tseng finally said.

“I like working with you as well.” When Sephiroth looked up the uncertainty was gone from his eyes. “I also liked chatting with you when we set this meeting up. If we work well together, we might also date well.”

“Potentially.” Tseng really disliked mixing his workplace and personal affairs.

“Tseng,” Sephiroth fiddled with his drink. “I… wanted to meet the man who liked poetry and going to museums. I don’t think… it’s not...  just because we’re coworkers doesn’t mean I can’t meet him, can I?”

Tseng looked at Sephiroth and remembered. The man Tseng had wanted to meet was the one who had never gone hiking but always wanted to, who enjoyed discovering new tea blends, the one who was unintentionally familiar with the play-book-and-movie Loveless to the point of being able to recite each version word for word. That person had sounded interesting, whose story Tseng wanted to uncover.

Just because that person was Sephiroth, did it mean that Tseng had to stop wanting to meet him?

Tseng thought, too, about how close he was to his own team. Some might say he was uncomfortably close. They had events outside of work, at each others apartments, at least once a week. Sometimes watching movies, sometimes playing games, and sometimes just talking about nothing. True, it had been a slow and insidious creep into his personal life. But they were as much family as they were coworkers.

It was more than a little hypocritical to say that attempting to date Sephiroth was somehow more significant than that.

Sephiroth had been silent this whole time. But Sephiroth’s eyes had been flicking across Tseng’s face like emotions had poured from it.

The tea was warm in his hands; there was a draft as patrons left the cafe; the steamer hissed as the baristas worked. Tseng was at a cafe, on a date with a man who was attractive, patient, and just a little odd.

“No.” Tseng took another sip of his tea. “I don’t see why you can’t meet him.”

Sephiroth smiled. It was different than the ones he had at work; it was more endearing than any Tseng had seen before.

“Well then.” Sephiroth reached a hand over the table. “My name is Sephiroth.”

Tseng laughed then. His hand met Sephiroth’s sweaty one. “I’m Tseng. A pleasure to meet you off the clock.”

“And in such lovely rain.” Sephiroth’s smile was infectious. The time sped away from them: they kept chatting even as they went back to work.