"Kind of?" Alex looked at the man rather confused as he shifted from foot to foot. He wondered how it could merely be that Andrew 'kind of' still bother him. Biting his lip though he wondered if Ashley would rather not tell him and didn't say anything further. A smile twitched at his lips when Ashley called him his friend though.

Alex's cheeks reddened some, understanding Ash's meaning right away and he looked away.

"Mmmh... you can use my laptop if you want. It's got internet and a dvd player on it, or you can watch tv too... Try not to worry about waking me." He shifted to lay on his side os his back was towards Alex, closing his eyes and it was only minutes before he was out like a light.

He woke later when his alarm sounded for him to get up for work, groggily crawling over to the dresser and smacking the device, knocking it right off the surface to the floor, but it stopped going off, and that was all he cared about.

Still half dressed, he crawled out of bed and found a clean shirt to slide on, dressing fairly casually once more, a loose shirt and jeans with tennis shoes as he looked to Alex. "I'm off to work now." He stated gently, taking the key this time. "Uhm... if you leave, you'll have to leave the door unlocked. I'm going to take this and get a copy made for you. If you want to unpack anything, go ahead and put things where you want--just not on the desk. That's my workspace, it looks like a mess, but it's really organized." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he braced himself against his crutch and searched for his phone, pocketing it.

Alex nodded some and through the night watched television. Even though the man had said not to worry, he'd left the volume low and sat on the floor to hear it better. He jumped at the sound of the alarm though, and looked back at the sound of a crash. He'd tried not to laugh but a small chuckle escaped him. Biting his lip though he looked away as Ashley got ready for work.

Looking up as Ash spoke to him, he stood up finally from the floor. He gave a small nod though. It wasn't as if he had anywhere to go though, or that he would want to go anywhere at the moment. "Have a good day.."

"You.. Uhm, You too." He smiled a bit as Alex said that, patting his shoulder as he passed him to head for the door. "See you." Ashley didn't bother with breakfast, going down the road and stoppng at the blacksmith to get a key made.

He got up to his office when that was done, both keys in his pocket. He sat down and dug through his little fridge for something good for breakfast, throwing a few things away that had gone bad. Once he had a sandwich together, he got up again and made his way towards Andrew's office. He was very early, but maybe the other man would be in early as well? He didn't feel like working quite yet, glancing into the man's office curiously as he took a bite of his sandwich.

Without Ashley distracting him after he woke up in the mornings Andrew did get to work early and was sitting at his desk looking over things. He looked up when he spotted movement of someone else at work early curious to see who it was seeing as they were now at his door. He smiled at the man standing there, turning away from his desk to greet the man properly.

"Ash! Good morning," Andrew said in a calm voice, trying to keep the awkwardness that was around them the day before out of the atmosphere this morning.

He smiled, purring a bit at himself as he ate a little more of his sandwich. "Morning." He replied, sitting against the edge of the man's desk so he could look at him curiously. "How's your uhm... Yeah." He gestured to his own bruise, though it was very faded now, looking curiously at Andrew's wounds, furrowing his brow faintly. He still felt bad Jacob had gone after him, but he tried not to let things get t him now. He dind't want to make things weird again that day, he just wanted them to be friends.

"If we don't get too swamped today, you want to go grab lunch? Just as friends--but i need to go over some ideas with you anyway."

Andrew still had a faint smile on his lips as Ashley drew closer, it was only a friendly smile the longing he had was locked away tight. His dark eyes looked up at Ashley's bruise as he questioned him about his wounds and he gave a small shrug. "They're on their way to healing.. Not long enough to be as faded as yours yet." At the same time he didn't blame Jacob he wished the man hadn't found out. Pushing away the depressing thoughts he kept the resolution to not make anything weird.

"Yeah, of course." Andrew said with a small nod, a brighter smile finding it's way to his lips, one that couldn't be held back.

"Good. You... might have to come drag me out of my office when lunch hits though. You know how lost I get in my work." He laughed a bit, feeling far better than the day before. It was nice having a friend in the work place now, a bit comforting really.

"Hmm I guess... I should get to work. I think we have a meeting at 10 am and one at 5 this after noon; it might keep us late, but they refused to schedule another time." He sighed and shrugged a bit. He supposed he should try and remember to call later so Jacob would know he'd be late. He didn't move to leave yet though, he didn't really want to work, this job wasn't as nice as it used to be. But he didn't think he'd make nearly as much money anywhere else, and he needed the money.

"Don't get annoyed when I drag you out then," Andrew replied, perfect teeth flashing in a grin as he leaned back into his chair looking up into those dual colored eyes with his own amused ones. The mention of work and the meetings to come made him nod though he watched Ashley remain and another smile twitched on his lips. "Is there anything you need?" Andrew teased with the reasoning if Ashley remained when deciding to get to work there was something he wanted.

"An excuse to not go to work?" He chuckled softly, rubbing his neck, just under the collar he was wearing. His skin itched, he wasn't used to having anything against his throat, it was still a little strange feeling. "Sometimes I wish I could find a better job than this." He muttered, sighing as he pushed gently off of the desk. He didn't want to go back to his office, it was going to be one of those days.

"Mm.. sorry I can't think of one, I think I'd use it myself otherwise," Andrew replied with another amused smile as he watched Ashley, his eyes lowering down to the collar that told Ashley was off limits to him. The smile flickered but he pushed it away and stopped focusing his eyes on it. "Is it bothering you?"

"Ah? A little... kind of itches, but I've never worn anything around my neck before... I expected it to feel funny for a while." He blushed faintly, smiling at Andrew gently. "Uhn, I suppose I really should get to work, see you at ten." He chuckled, stretching befre he leaned on his crutch a bit and headed back to his office with a wave.

Andrew nodded. He'd worn a collar once in his life, though he'd gotten used to it it was the reason he hated ties, they almost reminded him of wearing a collar still. "See you then.." Andrew said waving a bit at Ash as the man left and returned back to work. He still glanced up hoping to see the man return to the office even though he knew he wouldn't, he had to stop being awkward with talking with him.

As lunch time drew closer Andrew set his work aside and stretched wincing as bones popped in his spine and stiff muscle protested the aches from the fight piping in. Licking his lips he stood and headed towards Ashley's office knocking on the door as he leaned against the door frame looking in. "Lunch time m-" Andrew stopped himself saying 'my darling' in time, the words had come to his mouth unbidden and wouldn't help the awkwardness between them.

Ashley had hardly noticed the time go by, blinking when he heard Andrew speak to him frm the doorway. He looked up a smiled a bit, having heard the 'm', a beginning f unfinished words he wished he could hear, but he wouldn't press for more. "Did you have anywhere in mind for lunch? I didn't really plan anywhere specific." He said as he grabbed his crutch after putting some papers away and got up to walk over to the man waiting for him.

Andrew smiled down at Ash as he approached, he shifted though turning to lead the way to the elevator sliding his fingers into his pockets as he did so. His shoulders raised and dropped in a shrug as he thought about the restaurants in the area once more. "I've no preference.. Anything you'd prefer?"

"Hmm... Do you like fish?" He asked as they waited for the elevator, stepping in as it opened after everyone in it had gotten out. "I did an ad campaign for this Japanese restaurant not too long ago, the owner invited me to try some of the food and it's good--a little expensive though. Sound good?"

"Love it," Andrew replied leaning against the wall of the elevator on the way down as he watched and listened to Ashley. "Sounds like a perfect spot for lunch." He conceded as he stepped out of the elevator to lead the way to his car looking sidelong at Ash as they went. He was still rather curious of the man, the more he learned of him in the passed little while the more intrigued he got with the man. He was having a hard time figuring out if it was a good thing or not.

Ashley nodded and walked with him to his car, getting in carefully so they could get going after he'd told Andrew where the place was. He'd noticed that Andrew looked at him on the way to the car, but he tried to keep his urges to say anything awkward to the man. He didn't want things to be strange between them. He just wanted to be friends for now, he didn't want to mess that up.

Setting the car in gear he pulled out of the parking lot heading in the direction of the place. He chewed the inside of his lip, uncertain what to say the drive was silent awkward in a way Andrew didn't enjoy as much as the scene they had yesterday. He'd started it all with Ashley without meaning to truly find he had feelings for the man, it was a way to get laid with someone he was attracted to. He hadn't thought it would be quite so daunting to find out he'd begun to care about the other man, it hurt that Ashley was with Jacob and he couldn't do anything about it himself.

Pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant he shut down the engine and looked at Ashley once more. He wanted to be friends with the man though, he'd make sure they succeeded at that. Getting out of the car before he had a look too much in the almost private space of the car he waited for the other man before leading him into the restaurant.

The car ride was indeed awkwardly quiet, but he was just glad to spend time with Andrew outside of work in an environment he felt was safe from any accusations from coworkers that it was much outside of friends or business. He'd never expected Andrew to tell him he liked him, or to ever apologize for their rough past, and he'd definitely never thought he'd develop feelings for Andrew in return. It was confusing, feeling something for two different people.

When they got there, he got up and out of the car with his crutch a bit slowly, his cheeks coloured faintly at his thoughts. He was very content with Jacob, but seeing Andrew every day was a bit taunting for him. It was hard to ignore the urges to advance on the man, or draw him in now. He walked in with Andrew and settled down when they were seated and given menus. "Mmm.. It smells good in here, doesn't it?"

"It does," Andrew agreed, his nose in the air to get a better whiff before he found his dignified self and acted as normal as he could as he looked down at the menu reading what was available to him. This place was safe enough to be there as friends, but if the mood were different it could almost seem date-like. He bit inside of his lip once more tasting the coppery taste of blood as the skin gave way to his teeth this time.

"How are things?" Andrew asked cautiously finally, he didn't want the entire lunch be in silence.

Ashley blinked and his cheeks coloured a little mre than they'd been, looking at Andrew from ver his menu before setting it down enough that he wasn't hiding behind it from him, smiling a little bit.

"Things... are good right now. I mean uhm... yeah." He was blushing even more as he thought about the previous night. He wanted to admit to Andrew that it was hard not thinking about him, that rught that moment he wanted to kiss him and he wasn't sure exactly if he should feel bad for it or not. He knew he was Jacob's, and he'd chosen to be Jacob's, but whenever he was around Andrew, close enough to smell him and sometimes feel the warmth of his body, it just drove him up the wall. It was briefly evident on his face.

Andrew's features softened and it ached to see those feelings flitting across Ash's face, many of them mimics of his own. He couldn't blame Ash for staying with Jacob, the man was good looking and sweet when you didn't get him angry; as he himself could testify the man's reactions. Licking his lips he looked down at the menu again, he wanted the friendship to work out if they couldn't be lovers. He was Jacob's first long before the collar had been put around that pale neck, he understood Ash did have feelings for the man. It hurt to know though that part of Ash did actually want him as more than a friend and he couldn't act on them.

"That's.. good," Andrew said finally, responding to the words if not the feelings that had laid bare for him to see for that brief moment. A part of him wished that somehow it could all work out so the three of them could get along and have some sort of resolution to the haywire feelings that all of them shared. Perhaps he'd be able to look passed the whore Jacob is to care for the man.

"So... um... What do you think you might have? I'm not sure what sounds the best, it all kind of sounds good." He was mulling over his thoughts too much. He wanted a kiss at least, but he knew he couldn't ask for it. "Hmm I might have some takoyaki--have you ever tried it? Hmm perhaps with some rice and steamed veggies." He was thinking aloud now. He wasn't too hungry, but that sounded good to him.

"Everything does sound good.." Andrew agreed a sigh escaped him and he continued to focus on the menu, uncertain if it was a sigh of relief or of disappointment even to himself. Licking his lips he read over the menu items slowly. "I've tried it once, but now that you mention it.. that does sound good." Andrew was having a hard time deciding on what to eat but the mention of it sounded good enough and if Ash didn't mind, he'd be copying the man's meal.