Chapter Text
You were not happy about this.
You'd finally gotten a job in LA and your first apartment lease- but the girl who was supposed to have been your roommate had backed out. As in, backed out the very day you were supposed to move in, leaving just an email and vanishing, and now the entire rent was up to you- and while through diligent saving you had enough to more or less comfortably pay your own rent, there was no way you could afford the rent of two people and still pay off your loans on time, and oh yeah, eat meals and buy toothpaste and luxuries of that nature.
You sat slumped in the hall against your apartment door, key in hand and phone in the other, reading and re-reading the email, trying to convince yourself there was a way it'd be okay; a box of stuff at your feet, the rest of your possessions waiting in the van downstairs (which you only had for today)- you didn't even have anyone to help lug your mattress to your room.
As you snuffled and tried to ignore the tears that were sneaking out and threatening to drip on your phone, you noticed the vague noises of talking from the apartment across the hall grow louder; you'd been too in your head to pay attention, and you couldn't hear any words as it wasn't at the volume of yelling, but somebody for sure sounded upset. You were considering going into your apartment to feel less like a peeping (hearing?) tom when the door across the hall suddenly swung open, a scruffy, fluffy-haired brunette man wearing jeans and a t-shirt exiting. He whirled around and grabbed the door as if to slam it, but seemed to think better and closed it softly before sliding to sit against the door in a mirror image of your own position, his face in his hands (one of which had a phone, no doubt he'd been talking to someone moments before), still and silent.
You snuffled a bit more, still trying to stem the crying (more tears were falling as you'd been startled by the man's presence), and the brunette raised his head, noticing your presence and your similar state of despair.
His face softened as he took in your wide eyes and wet face. "Not a good day today, is it?" His voice was deep and raspy, sounding just a bit tight, as if he was tempted to join you in tearing up.
"Not for either of us, i'm guessing," You replied, smiling a bit as you dried your eyes on your sleeve. "Fighting with the in-laws?"
He gave a sudden laugh, smiling back at your attempt at humor. "Thankfully not, my current relationships are solely in the realm of family and cats- but I am now homeless, apparently. Whomever lives directly above me has for some reason or another left every single tap on for several days straight, and this morning their kitchen landed in my living room." He looked bitter but also gave a chuckle at the strange situation. "Crazy college kids, right?"
"Sure sounds like it."
"My roommate's staying with his girlfriend in the meantime, and they were talking about moving in together so that's probably where he'll stay.....and it's up to me to take the Los Angeles beggar community by storm!" He exclaimed the last part, sweeping his arms around in fake showmanship and smiling brightly when you giggled at the antic.
"Well I might be joining you in that- i'm just your stereotypical broke LA dreamer, came here to find work, romance, adventure- and work I did, but my roommate backed out of the lease and there's no way I can afford to pay rent for this place by myself. I haven't even moved in yet." You sighed, pulling your box of possessions closer to your side.
"Well- forgive me if this is forward, because I know it is given that I don't even know your name- but if you're out of a roommate and i'm out of a room....I mean, i've been working in the city awhile, i'd be happy to cover your missing roomie's rent plus both the security deposits and any repairs, I guarantee it's all cheaper than a fallen ceiling no matter what- I know I have a loud voice but i'm pretty quiet most of the time, I don't drink or smoke, I can cook pretty well and i've got two cats- but I can keep them sequestered to one room if you don't like pets-"
"I love cats, actually...." and you were very tempted by his offer, something falling into your lap in a time of need like this just seemed like a sign.... "But y'know, my mom DID warn me specifically about sweet-talking guys in LA..."
"Mine too!" He joked, but then changed to a very serious demeanor. "And that's very reasonable. I'm happy to get a background check, and if you want a written privacy agreement through the landlord or to put up cameras to monitor the apartment i'm okay with all of that- "
"Gotta make sure you're not stealing my shampoo somehow!" you joked, though you were reassured that he was so open and acquiescent, not at all affronted or defensive in the face of your very reasonable fears.
"Oh if anything you're gonna want to take mine- which, help yourself to, it smells like a cabin in the mountains. But seriously- I'm not saying any of this to pressure you, feel free to say no, I just thought i'd put the offer out there."
You debated for a minute- life tended not to be this easy, it felt like a trick- but what was the catch? His name wouldn't even appear on the lease for the first month, or even as long as you chose if he paid rent directly to you- so you could kick him out or even call the cops for trespassing at any time. You decided you would be sure to notify friends and family of the situation as well, just so people were aware- but even if this was just for a few months, until you could hunt down a proper replacement, it would help so much in terms of the bills....
"...Would you help me get my stuff up from the van downstairs? I'll help you get all your stuff from next door?"
"Of course!" He excitedly jumped up, "And I don't need to move much over from my place to start, I can do that- literally just the mattress and some clothes, I mean I still technically live there so I can grab everything else along the way."
"And bring your cats! What are their- wait, okay, tell me your name first and then your cats' names!"
He reached down and took your hand, helping to pull you up. "Of course, of course- i'm Damien. And my cats are Zelda and Freyja."
"Hi Damien- and i'm so excited to meet them!"