Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2021 21:29:44 +0000 From: Diego Blue Subject: Night Rain - 2 Night Rain Chapter 2 Diego Blue ***** Friendly reminder: Always practise safe and consensual sex. Reach out to a friend, family member, or person in your life if you ever need to talk. You matter. :) Donate to Nifty if you can please! Donations can be made here: http://donate.nifty.org/ ***** The rest of the weekend had passed without much event. Chris was sat at his desk at work. He wrote pieces for the entertainment section of The Queer Post, and LGBTQ+-focused newspaper. It was an enjoyable work environment, especially because everyone in the job was queer, which made it feel quite safe and supportive. He was currently writing a review of the debut of a local band. "A timid offering that is somehow lifted with fresh sounds," he typed. He pursed his lips, feeling hesitant about his harshness. As he pondered over how to rework it, he saw his boss leading in a man to the office. "This must be the new guy taking over the sports section," Chris thought. He was a tall burly man, dark-haired, bearded, and looked like he was in his 40s. He was handsome in a rugged, older way, but quite the opposite for Chris' tastes. He preferred his men younger, slim, smooth, and shorter than him. Plus, Chris was purely a top and as built as Chris was, he couldn't see himself topping a large muscular man like the new guy. "Everyone," Tom, their Editor-In-Chief, called the team's attention, "this is Nick. He's starting today; he'll be working on the sports stories." Tom introduced Nick to the team, "Kate is on lifestyle; Jane is on business; Fred and Amy are on news; and Chris is on entertainment." Everyone greeted Nick, shaking his hand and welcoming him to the team. Nick made light-hearted jokes and laughed as he bantered with the others. When it came to Chris, his large hand grasped Chris's. Chris wasn't frail by any means so he was surprised the large man's iron grip. His hand felt like it could break his own. "Sorry bud," Nick chuckled as Chris winced in pain. The larger man had clearly gripped Chris's hand harder than any of the others. Maybe it was some sort of power play, throwing his weight around in his new job and trying to show others who the top dog was. Chris wasn't impressed. He decided he didn't like this Nick guy because of that little stunt. "No worries," Chris replied, trying to put a touch of venom into his tone to show he wasn't a fan of him. Nick, however, just smiled, flashing his teeth at the others who all seemed quite won over by his charm. "You'll be sitting here," Tom showed Nick to his desk as everyone returned to their own desks to get a start on their days' work. Nick's desk was right in front Chris's so they were facing each other. "Great," Chris thought, holding in an eye-roll. "Perfect, right across from my bud," Nick smiled. "Why does he keep calling me bud?" Chris thought. "He's way to chipper; this is going to get exhausting." Chris pulled a fake smile and avoided looking at the Nick. He knew his face would crack if he looked at Nick directly. **** Chris was working away on a movie review for new rom-com that had been surprisingly impressive as Nick had been setting everything up on his computer and getting used to the systems. "So, how long have you been here?" Nick asked. It took Chris a few seconds to realising Nick had been addressing him. "About two years," Chris replied, keeping his answers curt so Nick would get the hint he didn't want to speak to him. "Wow, that's impressive. You look like you could be fresh out of college," Nick laughed. "But I guess young people are more career-driven these days." Chris had to bite his tongue. He was being called a young person even though he was in his mid-30s and also being told that he looked like he was fresh out of college. Nick was really good at making him feel emasculated. It was one of the things that annoyed Chris the most in life. He preferred to avoid men who did that as it only led to heated arguments. But how could he avoid the man sitting across from him? "Smile, it might never happen," Nick laughed. Chris hadn't replied but instead had been looking glumly as he tried to calm down. "Did I do something wrong?" Nick asked. Chris didn't feel like getting into a shouting match with the new guy on his first day, and he knew his feelings of emasculation were coming from a place of immature insecurity. He breathed in deeply and tried to take the higher road, "no, I'm sorry. You're being really friendly and I'm being rude. Must be the Monday blues, am I right?" "Don't worry about it, bud, we've all been there," Nick smiled. "Tell you what, let me get you a coffee; wake both of us up," Chris grabbed his wallet. He wanted to show Nick he was sincere by running out and buying him a coffee rather than just brewing some coffee from the nasty office supplies. "Thanks, bud," Nick smiled. Chris ignored the nickname that Nick had clearly settled on for him. He'd deal with one thing at a time. For now, he just wanted to be on good speaking terms with his new colleague. "This is going to be hard work," Chris sighed as he left the office.