fic: The Little Things
Title: The Little Things
Author: mrsmarit
Rating: PG
Pairing: Zach, Gabe (zach/shaun implied)
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, only the words
Words: 1,244
Written for the smallfandomfest prompt of Shelter Title: Gabe, how did he find out about Zach and Shaun? Hope you enjoy and comments are always welcome.
Zach asked Gabe when he had known, figured out that he and Shaun was, you know a thing. Gabe smiled at Zach and asked him you mean when you guys realized you were in love with each other or when did I realize you two were in love with each other. Zach looks at Gabe shocked that he was so easy to read, that what he had been trying to hide from everyone including himself had been way more visible than he had ever expected. Sighing Zach asks Gabe to explain, to tell him how he figured it out all of it, from how he and Shaun felt about each other to the fact that they had gotten together.
Gabe smiles at this request and tell Zach that it was the little things, the sideways looks at Shaun whenever he entered a room, the way he tried to worm as much information out of Gabe as he could about what Shaun was doing, the hurt in his eyes when Shaun brought home his first boyfriend. He also tells Zach about how he noticed that Zach would always try to sit near Shaun to make himself as close to the older man as he could without being totally obvious, and how he would light up when Shaun paid attention to him how his whole demeanor would change.
Gabe continues and tells him that there were two big events that led Gabe to believe that his best friend was in love with his brother. Zach cocks his head to the side and shyly asks what those two things were. Gabe looks at his best friend grabs his hand and tells him, well the first was that day, you know the one where we made the stupid skateboarding video. Zach gives a wistful smile at this remembering the day that had fueled so many fantasies for years to come and asks him to continue. He reminds Zach about how he hurt his knee and how Shaun insisted on fixing it up for him and seeing Zach come out of the bathroom later that day looking dazed, confused and completely aroused (well if the tent Zach had been pitching had been any indication.) Zach looks at Gabe horrified by the statement but shakes his head at Gabe’s innocent expression knowing that his friend isn’t saying this to be malicious, just stating a fact.
Looking at Gabe again he asks him what the other big event was and Gabe replies simply about the book, without any further explanation Zach knows exactly what Gabe is talking about. When Shaun’s book had come out Zach had bought it the day it had come out, he had been saving his tips so he could afford it and not take money away from the essentials and he had read it in one sitting and how he had gazed at Shaun’s photo on the back. About how he had read it at least once a week since then and had caressed the picture so much that he had almost worn the paper out. Gabe notices that Zach is blushing at the memories that this conversation is bringing up.
Zach asks Gabe to tell him how he knew that Shaun was into him, he never noticed all those years and can’t believe he missed it when Gabe obviously noticed it. Gabe looks at him and tells him that Zach didn’t notice because he was so busy trying to hide what he was feeling for Shaun and Zach realizes that this makes total sense, how could he see something in Shaun that he was ignoring in himself. Zach sighs and asks Gabe again to tell him what he hadn’t seen in all of those years.
With this request Gabe continues and tells him about all of the looks Shaun would give Zach when he thought no one was looking, the looks of longing and want. About how Shaun would ask Gabe questions about Zach, how he had come home for the weekend when Gabe had mentioned that Zach was having a hard time picking out his work to submit to Cal Arts so he could help Zach since he was “creative and all” according to Gabe. Zach smiled as he remembered that weekend, surprised at seeing Shaun and secretly really pleased that Shaun wanted to help him with something so important to Zach. Zach asks Gabe if there was anything else and Gabe smiles and tells him that Zach wasn’t the only one who was a little affected by the they made the skating video and Shaun had patched up Zach. Gabe sees the shocked look on Zach’s face and remembers seeing that dazed look on Shaun’s face pretty much the rest of that weekend.
Zach prods Gabe some more and asks him to tell him how in the hell he figured out that Zach & Shaun had gotten together. Gabe cocks his head and tells Zach it was pretty obvious and Zach asks him how it was obvious when Gabe was how many hundreds of miles away. He informs Zach that he hears things, about how Zach was hardly ever around that no one ever saw him, how when he talked to Tori she told him that Zach and Shaun were spending a lot of time together. Zach nudges Gabe and tells him that there had to be more than that, he knows Gabe is a smart fucker but he couldn’t have known about how close he and Shaun had really gotten. Gabe smiles and tells him it was really three things that had let him know that things had progressed with Zach and Shaun finally. And those were Zach prodded, Gabe replies well I came home that day your Jimmy was in the driveway, Shaun’s door was locked and later you were wearing his shirt how much more obvious could they have been? Gabe points out that he had bought Shaun that shirt for Christmas in Cabo so of course he had recognized it and Zach starts to blush again remembering when Gabe had come into the diner and mentioned the shirt. Gabe also points out that Zach and Shaun seemed awfully close when they went out surfing, even though Zach was pushing Shaun away Gabe could still that something had happened between them.
Gabe goes over and hugs Zach and reminds him that they are still bros, that his relationship with Shaun hasn’t changed anything in fact it has made Zach something that Gabe has always wanted him to be. Zach looks at Gabe questionably and Gabe tells him well now that you are with Shaun that like makes you my brother in law so we’re finally family. Zach returns Gabe’s hug and then Shaun walks into the room and asks if he should be jealous. Zach scoots away from Gabe blushing again and Gabe tell Zach that but no offense he’s not really his type. Zach smiles and says he knows what Gabe means that Gabe isn’t his type either and he goes over and kisses Shaun with tongues and teeth and Gabe hops off the couch and heads outside muttering about people needing to get a room. He hears Zach and Shaun chuckling as he closes the door and Gabe lets loose a little chuckle of his own and is glad that Zach and Shaun finally saw all the little things in each other that he had been seeing for years.