Cameron fidgets in his seat.<\/p>\n
Next to him, Mark is staring intently at the menu, and Eduardo is staring intently at Mark. Tyler is glancing between the both of them, before kicking Cameron under the table and giving him a sort of what the hell is going on?<\/em>\u00a0look.<\/p>\n Cameron doesn\u2019t blame him, but doesn\u2019t really know what to do. This whole situation is his fault, anyway\u2014trust his boyfriend to be the wild card in all this. Mark is still reading the menu like he\u2019s not particularly happy with any of the choices, even though this is a restaurant on Mount Auburn Street and Cameron has taken him here plenty of times before. Mark always gets the tuna salad sandwich. He has a one-track mind.<\/p>\n Finally, Cameron clears his throat. Eduardo doesn\u2019t remove his gaze and Tyler doesn\u2019t look any less insistent, but at least Mark lifts his head up. \u201cWe should order,\u201d Cameron states, diplomatically.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To his relief, Mark nods. At that moment a waitress comes by like she\u2019d been waiting for them\u2014and in all honesty, Cameron can\u2019t blame her (though it probably has something less to do with the time and more to do with that this is the entire Facebook crew at one table)\u2014and says, \u201cWhat can I get for you?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark lifts his menu up to her. \u201cTuna salad sandwich,\u201d he says, rehearsed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron can\u2019t help himself from smiling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo huffs and finally pulls his gaze away from Mark. \u201cGive me a minute,\u201d he says to the waitress, who nods.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler leans over, farther than his shoulder, so he can talk to his ear. \u201cGet the reuben, babe, it\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHm.\u201d Eduardo\u2019s gaze drifts over the menu. \u201cHow about the broccoli soup, too? How\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI mean, I\u2019ve never tried it, so you\u2019re on your own there.\u201d Tyler\u2019s pulled back, smirking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo returns the expression, prodding Tyler\u2019s side with his elbow. \u201cYou\u2019re totally trying it with me,\u201d he says, before ordering both the soup and the sandwich for himself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron and Tyler don\u2019t need to give their orders\u2014being a member of the Porcellian has its benefits like that\u2014and then they\u2019re left alone again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In companionable, or otherwise, silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Mark says, before glancing between Cameron and Tyler. \u201cDo you guys want to know how the site is coming along?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron is drinking his water, so he chokes and can\u2019t respond in time. Meanwhile, as Mark absently rubs a soothing hand over his back, Tyler splutters, \u201cNo\u2014of course not, we\u2019re on a date<\/em>, Mark. This is no time to be talking about Facebook.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark blinks at him. \u201cAll our lives practically revolve around Facebook right now, I\u2019m pretty sure any time is time to be talking about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And then, before Cameron can formulate a response to steer the conversation elsewhere, he adds, \u201cAnyway, we\u2019re<\/em>\u00a0not on a date. You\u2019re on a date with Wardo,\u201d and he looks pointedly across the table, \u201cand I\u2019m on a date with Cameron.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAnd your ability to point out the obvious never ceases to amaze me,\u201d Cameron says, shooting him a look.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark looks at him this time. His eyebrows are furrowed, which is a good sign: he realizes he\u2019s slightly off track. But Cameron is kind of weak to Mark when he looks anything short of confident (and, okay, he\u2019s also weak to Mark looking confident, he\u2019s just generally weak to Mark) so he sighs and tangles their fingers under the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark\u2019s lips quirk into a smile. It\u2019s hidden in the corner of his mouth, like maybe not even Eduardo nor Tyler can see it. But it\u2019s there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe weather\u2019s nice today,\u201d Eduardo comments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n This time it\u2019s his side being elbowed. He laughs and says, \u201cHey,\u201d and Tyler pokes him again. Eduardo headbutts his shoulder from the side and Tyler cuffs him lightly, like he might send Eduardo into a headlock. But all he does is run his finger down Eduardo\u2019s neck and Eduardo lets out this happy noise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron glances at Mark, to see Mark has just turned to look at him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cPublic displays of affection are gross,\u201d he states plainly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron wants to sigh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler beats him to it, though not quite with a sigh. \u201cWeren\u2019t you just holding hands with my brother?\u201d he asks, because Cameron knows that he knows he\u2019s predictable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark shrugs, finally training his gaze on Tyler. \u201cNot in public<\/em>,\u201d he says, and lifts up their still joined fingers just an inch from under the table. \u201cWe have at least a modicum of grace.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo snorts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark says, \u201cWhat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYou,\u201d says Eduardo, rolling his eyes. \u201cCaring about grace<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark bristles. Sometimes Cameron wonders why he and Mark like each other, of all people, but Mark cares about things he doesn\u2019t do\u2014things like grace. Cameron is actually kind of good at getting Mark to do those things, nudging him from the back when Mark won\u2019t move when he\u2019s in someone\u2019s way, touching Mark\u2019s elbow to remind him to thank the cashier in the lunch line. It had started out with talking, at first, back before they became\u2014all this, but now Mark doesn\u2019t really need cues anymore to do what\u2019s socially acceptable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You kind of need to know what\u2019s socially acceptable in order to run a social networking website, after all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Anyway, Tyler just adds fuel to the fire when he says, \u201cYeah, Cam, don\u2019t you want to teach him how to be a gentleman of Harvard<\/em>?\u201d and both he and Eduardo snigger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron is at a loss for what to do. Mark\u2019s ears have turned pink and says, \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with that?\u201d and Eduardo nearly buckles down over his empty plate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A while ago, Cameron thought Mark might\u2019ve had something for Eduardo, though he had never been entirely sure. Seeing Eduardo laugh openly at Mark across the table is making Cameron feel more secure, though Mark\u2019s ears are getting pinker. (And, anyway, when he had mentioned it to Mark, Mark had rolled his eyes and said, \u201cWardo? I mean, he\u2019s not bad looking, but\u2014Wardo<\/em>?\u201d and then proceeded to kiss all the worries and daylights out of Cameron.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They\u2019d joked, later, about Tyler maybe saying Eddie<\/em>\u00a0or Wardo<\/em>\u00a0in bed, even though Cameron doesn\u2019t exactly enjoy thinking about either of them in sexual situations. But having Mark snort into his beer had been enough.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe,\u201d Tyler says, through his gasps, \u201cthat there\u2019s someone on this godforsaken planet who takes my brother\u2019s gentlemen of Harvard<\/em>\u00a0thing seriously, and it\u2019s\u2014\u201d he gestures to Mark, who has settled back into the booth with his arms crossed over his chest \u201c\u2014Zuckerberg<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me that,\u201d Mark says shortly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He\u2019s let go of Cameron\u2019s hand. Cameron reaches over to run a hand over his waist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cReally, Ty, that\u2019s enough,\u201d he says sternly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler holds up a hand, clutching at his face. Eduardo is hiding giggles into his palm; evidently Tyler had told him about Cameron\u2019s \u201cgentleman of Harvard thing\u201d too. Even though it\u2019s not a thing<\/em>, it\u2019s a very important social status. Of course neither of them understand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cGive me a second bro,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI will give you nothing.\u201d Cameron, because he doesn\u2019t have any other choice, reaches into his drink and pulls out an ice cube. He throws it at his brother.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhat\u2014hey, that\u2019s cold!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s ice,\u201d says Mark. \u201cOf course it\u2019s cold.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler takes a second to shoot a glare in Mark\u2019s direction, before chucking another ice cube across the table at Cameron. Cameron squawks and goes for another, but Tyler says, \u201cEduardo, cover me!\u201d and ducks down as the ice cube hits the back of the booth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler brings his head up, barely reacting when Cameron gets a third, getting the side of his head. \u201cYou didn\u2019t cover me,\u201d he says petulantly to Eduardo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo sends him a side smile. \u201cMaybe you deserved it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler huffs and says, \u201cLet\u2019s see who deserves what,\u201d and starts for his glass of water\u2014<\/p>\n<\/div>\n All three of them are surprised when an ice cube hits Eduardo\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron swivels around to Mark. Mark still has his arms folded across his chest, but there\u2019s something pleased about the line of his mouth. Cameron\u2019s eyes trace down to Mark\u2019s fingertips, which are rubbing up against each other. He brings his palm underneath them. They\u2019re wet and cold.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo doesn\u2019t buy Mark\u2019s facade either, just exclaims, \u201cMark!\u201d as Tyler looks between them, not sure whether to be offended or laugh.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark shrugs. \u201cYou deserved it, too,\u201d he says to Eduardo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo pouts, and Tyler seems to have made a decision. Cameron watches with astonishment as Tyler just laughs at him, and then he\u2019s digging up ice cubes from his own water, saying, \u201cYeah, Eduardo, see how much you deserve it,\u201d and Eduardo is laughing, half-heartedly batting Tyler away from his three piece suit as Tyler teases them against his neck, before dropping the ice cubes to the floor and kissing him. Eduardo kisses back, enthusiastically, and kicks the ice under the table. Cameron hears one skid against someone\u2019s shoe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark kicks the ice cube back to Eduardo\u2019s feet. He turns to Cameron and rolls his eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThey are so gross,\u201d he says, without a lot of heat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron cups his hand around Mark\u2019s, smiling as Mark returns the favor on top of their legs. \u201cThey are,\u201d he agrees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n *<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Afterward, Cameron and Tyler have said goodbye, retreating to their suite in the Porcellian as Mark and Eduardo head back to Kirkland. Cameron remembers the offensive way Mark had laughed when Eduardo kept insisting they put advertisements on Facebook, and couldn\u2019t bring himself to reprimand him because Mark was right and he also had a wonderful laugh. Tyler was slightly more defensive, trying to argue Eduardo\u2019s point, before Cameron had cut in and said that wasn\u2019t what Facebook was about.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The look Mark had given him was nothing short of grateful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They understand each other, is the thing. Back when he and his brother had brought up the idea of Harvard Connection with Mark, Mark had said yes before turning their back on them. Tyler insisted that they try to physically detain him, but Cameron had refused, and bothered Mark enough both over text and in person until Mark relented and said he was working on something else with someone else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron had offered his ears, let Mark brag about Facebook, and then agreed that it was a better idea than Harvard Connection. It had only been a matter of time before Eduardo (Mark\u2019s apparent partner) and Tyler (disgruntled, but stubborn at Cameron\u2019s side) got roped in, and met as well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron understands Mark, and Facebook. Better than Eduardo, he might even admit, though the Mark part remains to be seen. He knew Mark would say yes if he proposed a double date, because Mark trusts him almost as much as he does to the point of neuroticism.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He is not surprised the next day when he picks Mark up from his systems class, Mark looks up at him and states, \u201cThat went well.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe date?\u201d Cameron nods. \u201cYeah, it did.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark coughs a little. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure what to think of your brother,\u201d he says. When Cameron casts him a questioning look, he adds, \u201cBecause he\u2019s dating Eduardo. His taste.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cOh.\u201d Cameron lets out a crow of laughter. \u201cWhat about me, then? What does that say about your taste?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYou\u2019re different,\u201d Mark says defensively.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron gets a little happy at that, and he squeezes Mark\u2019s upper arm, because that\u2019s the closest he can get to any sort of relative public display of affection. \u201cThanks,\u201d he says, doing his best not to make it sound sarcastic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark rolls his eyes. But he squeezes Cameron\u2019s hand quickly before they head into art history together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Later, Cameron walks into the lounge of the Porcellian, to see Tyler slouched on the sofa, phone in his hands. Cameron drops his bag on an armchair and asks, \u201cWho\u2019re you texting?\u201d He heads to the bar to get a snack.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler makes an impatient noise. \u201cEduardo,\u201d he says. And then, after a minute, \u201cHe thinks yesterday\u2019s date went good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t it?\u201d Cameron lifts his head up, offering a beer to Tyler. Tyler makes a grabby hand motion and Cameron tosses it to him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler barely catches the bottle by its neck. \u201cZuckerberg and I were arguing the whole time,\u201d he says, looking a little put out. \u201cHe thinks there\u2019s no redeemable quality to hair gel. Hair gel<\/em>, Cam.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThere is no redeemable quality to it,\u201d Cameron points out.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler huffs and returns to his texting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBesides,\u201d Cameron says, after taking a swig of his drink. \u201cMark likes you. He thought it went well, too.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler looks up at that. \u201cHe likes me? What, is that what you do with him all day, fight?\u201d He rolls his eyes. \u201cThat little prick is such a\u2014no offense, Cam\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cNone taken,\u201d Cameron says honestly. He\u2019s pretty sure Mark would take it as a compliment if he heard. \u201cAnd no, but that\u2019s what he likes about you, you know. That you\u2019re easy to rile up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler rolls his eyes. \u201cGee, what a compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron pauses for a minute. He likes crew because he likes team sports, the stress on his muscle, the feeling of being good at other people and winning\u2014that\u2019s partially why Mark likes coding. The being at better than other people, at least. Tyler\u2019s always been more of a physical guy, wanting to try different sports, team or not, even\u2014<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHey,\u201d he says, across the room. \u201cDid you know that Mark fences?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n *<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And that\u2019s how he finds himself standing next to Eduardo, watching Mark and Tyler engaging in a particularly violent fence-off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know you could be that aggressive when you\u2019re not touching someone,\u201d Eduardo states, arms crossed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron shrugs. \u201cYeah, I don\u2019t get it either.\u201d Their foils are clacking loudly in the gym. Other people have turned to watch their match. Cameron hasn\u2019t really seen Mark fence before, because usually he\u2019s working his brain out of his ears on Facebook. This is good for him, probably.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo hums next to him. \u201cI knew Mark was good, but\u2014\u201d When Cameron steals a glance, Eduardo\u2019s eyes are glazed, looking mesmerized. \u201cTyler is really<\/em>\u00a0good.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re getting turned on by this,\u201d says Cameron, because he\u2019s been dragged to too many of Tyler\u2019s fencing practices in the past to really care, \u201cplease don\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo just chuckles and watches some more. \u201cI was afraid, you know,\u201d he confesses, through the swords\u2019 clanging. \u201cDuring the date, I thought Mark wouldn\u2019t have liked Tyler. But\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cMark\u2019s weird like that,\u201d Cameron says. \u201cHe could probably like everyone if he positioned them in the right light or the right angle for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Eduardo makes a surprised noise his throat. \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d he says, and laughs. \u201cYou\u2019re right, I didn\u2019t even think about that before.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Cameron shrugs. He and Eduardo exchange grins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The battle comes to a stop when Tyler prods Mark\u2019s suit. The referee ends the match but it doesn\u2019t matter, because they\u2019re both already tearing off their masks. Tyler raises his arms in the air and hoots victoriously, as Eduardo runs over to kiss and congratulate him. Cameron has his arms crossed and rolls his eyes, walking over to Mark.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark is sweaty and red-faced and his curly hair is everywhere<\/em>. Cameron kind of gets Eduardo earlier, because he looks fantastic. Cameron can\u2019t help dropping a kiss to the corner of his mouth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Mark says, \u201cCameron<\/em>,\u201d but he looks kind of pleased with it when Cameron pulls back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler comes up to them then, saying, \u201cOne-zero, Zuckerberg, suck it<\/em>!\u201d Eduardo laughs, glancing at Cameron kind of warningly, beginning to tug Tyler away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But Mark just marches up to him and grins, eyes bright. He likes a challenge and it\u2019s nothing like the way he looks at Cameron, sometimes, knobby and splayed beneath Cameron\u2019s crew-cut body, but\u2014it\u2019s good, Cameron thinks. He flashes a thumbs up at Eduardo.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI want a rematch,\u201d Mark declares.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Tyler lets out a whoop of delight. Eduardo smacks his ass and ducks away from Tyler\u2019s responding hand. Cameron can\u2019t wait to kiss Mark redder and sweatier after all this is over. He joins Eduardo back on the sidelines, the sound of aluminum clacking filling their ears, and they watch, side by side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cameron and Mark and Tyler and Eduardo go on a double date.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[51],"fandom":[511],"rating":[675],"ship":[591,598],"relationship":[606],"minorfandomships":[],"class_list":["post-308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-default","tag-canon-divergent","fandom-tsn","rating-teen","ship-cm","ship-te","relationship-slash","series-eventually-we-find-our-way"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/308\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fandom?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"rating","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rating?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"ship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ship?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"relationship","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/relationship?post=308"},{"taxonomy":"minorfandomships","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aroceu.com\/fic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/minorfandomships?post=308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}