Terrified

If there was one word Ray could use to describe the feeling in his gut as he sat across from the enemy, sipping a latte with a smug grin on his face, that would be it. Joel, gorgeous as he was, was definitely the enemy.

He didn't come on this little rendezvous for fun, there was no doubt he was here on strict orders. Probably to get close to Ray.

Though that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy it, right? They were using one another, Ray wanting information about the weird organization as much as Joel wanted to know about him. And if he could get the Cockbite between the sheets, that would definitely be a bonus.
"So, can I ask why you wear the glasses?" Joel murmured as he blew the hot steamy wisps away from the surface of his coffee, startling Ray from his thoughts.

"Oh well, Y'know. I could easily adapt my eyes and have better sight, even superhero ability, but I like it better this way." He pushed the item in question further of the bridge of his nose with his forefinger fondly. Joel looked bewildered at this.
"Why the fuck would you like bad vision better?" He narrowed his eyes and Ray smiled warmly.

"I dunno. It just makes me feel more... Human. Before I learned to control my powers better, I had needed glasses just like my dad. It was one of the features that made us look just alike; and even after I had the ability to fix myself, I didn't want to. It felt right and it makes me feel more like... Me." He finished lamely, a light blush touching his cheeks for the first time. He had no idea why he shared the pointless story to Joel, but it had just seemed important.

Judging by the look of confusion and warmth in the older man's dark eyes, it was.
"That's.. Odd." He breathed out, mindlessly twirling a straw around in his light brown brew. Ray puffed out his cheeks. Maybe it was a little strange, but he didn't think Joel had a right to say that yet. He took in a deep breath, choosing instead to question the man.

"So why does a gorgeous man like yourself work for the stiffs?"

Joel stared out the window at a van parked on the curb. Ray eyed it suspiciously. "Family business." He muttered, and his tone was absolute.

"Alright. I know when to drop a subject. I'm curious though; what do you guys even do? Kidnap me for no reason?" Ray frowned. He never really bothered to think what the Cockbites were, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't wondering.

"I'm afraid that's classified, Mr. Narvaez." Joel seemed to have closed in on himself and Ray didn't like it,

"I'd like to get into your classifieds." Ray flirted, leaning closer and making Joel smirk.

"Mr. Narvaez, I'd like to remind you that this is a purely professional meeting." Joel scolded, but his tone didn't exactly shoo him away.

"Look me in the eye and say you really believe that." Ray fixed him with a heavy stare and Joel returned it, dark eyes on darker.

There were several moments of silence before Joel broke the eye contact, a faint blush on his cheeks. Ray smiled brightly. "Thought so. Since that's the case, how about we get to know one another better, hmm?"

"I will not answer anything too personal." Joel warned and Ray rolled his eyes.
" I get it, you got that sexy mysterious thing going on. What I'd really like to know is how much you enjoy video games." Joel's head snapped up and it wore a lazy grin. "More than breathing."

The next hour was filled with laughter, deep conversations about games and movies, and, at least in Ray's opinion, a faint air of sexual tension. It was turning near evening, the sun creeping it's way down the horizon, when Joel's wrist comm gave a barely audible beep, signifying it was his time to leave.

"How about you come home with me, prettyboy?" Ray teased as they left the cafe.
"Mr. Narvaez, I hardly believe that is appropriate." Joel wanted to hit himself as yet again he could feel his cheeks heating up.

"That's the idea." He winked, being met with a scowl. "Okay, okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"You're really giving me a lot of work for the little information I'm getting out of you." Joel sighed, running his hands through his already crazy hair.

"You act like this is hard." Ray fake-pouted.

"You act like you enjoy having me try to pick your brain." Ray moved his head closer and Joel tensed, expecting a strike of some sort. Ray only rested his lips close to Joel's ear, his hot breath tickling the older man's lobe.

"Who says I don't?" He whispered, and then he was gone, leaving a flustered and stiff Joel standing alone in the street. He let out a loud groan before making his way to the van that had never left. He crawled into the back as his wrist comm chirped out a happy tune.

"You're doing well. Subject 00012 is still suspicious, but he is gaining your trust. He believes you enjoy being around him." A voice crackled through, the boss's voice. Joel nodded before pressing the end button.

As the van jumped over a curb, Joel wondered if he was pretending anymore.

-

Ray rushed around a corner with a bag in his hands, breathing heavily. He reappeared, blood running from his nose. He wiped it away with one arm, wincing at his heavy migraine.
He had went to steal a nice outfit (that May or may not have been to look good for Joel) when he had gotten stuck behind a group of people crowded around the exit, forcing him to strain to keep invisible. He had finally pushed several people out of the way, leaving them with shocked and confused expressions as he ran off.

"Fuck!" He yelped out, rubbing his head tenderly. When he got migraines from over-using his power, there was no way for him to make them go away, much to his annoyance.
The outfit had been worth it, he thought as he slipped it on, patting the front down and observing himself in the mirror of his apartment.

Ray was donned in a white button up shirt with a black vest, complete with skinny jeans and his favorite pair of checkered shoes. Oh yeah.

He was looking hot.

It was weird to him, this while situation. While he would have no problem telling Joel everything about him, he knew he couldn't do that without telling all the other Cockbites.
He had no clue what they would do with that information, nor how it would affect him or any other Adapters (he only assumed their were more, if there was an organization and name for them). He could single-handedly doom them if he wasn't careful, and the thought made him shudder. He brushed it off, choosing instead to focus on the other thing that was bothering him.

Ray liked to think about his problems, unlike others that pushed them away, and he had a major one in the shape of a suited figure called Joel.

The feeling in his stomach when he managed to make the Cockbite was... Unsettling at the least, perfect at best. It was dangerous, he knew, getting this close to someone so quickly. He busied himself with cleaning the kitchen counter as he thought.
So what if he had feelings for Joel? What could happen?

Joel could not like him back, but if Ray was any good at reading people, he didn't see that as the case.

Joel could use him. They were on opposite sides, from what Ray could see, like a Romeo and Juliet thing...

Ray took a moment to entertain that fantasy before shaking his head to refocus.

Okay, what else? He continued to work through possibilities, each getting more ridiculous than the last, before noticing the time. It was 5:30 in the evening and Ray figured that was an acceptable time, checking to see if anyone was around before hopping out of his apartment window, falling the three stories to the ground before landing gracefully, smoothing down the edges of his vest.

Some people would see the action as unnecessary, but he never missed an opportunity to show off, even to himself.

After that it was only a few blocks to the construction site, long since abandoned, and to where Joel was waiting patiently.

"Hey Joel!" Ray piped up, taking a seat across from him at the same table. The only difference that instead of a glass of soda, there now sat a wooden mug of apple juice for him. He took an experimental sip before further relaxing.

"Hello Ray, it's nice to see you again." Joel's eyes darted down to look at Ray's outfit, and the Adapter grinned as he saw the dark eyes rest on the patch of exposed skin where Ray had purposefully left a button undone.

"Aww you missed me." Ray cooed, making Joel give him a familiar grimace.

"Anyways, I was wondering if we could talk about your childhood today." He seemed much more business-like today, and Ray wondered if he had gotten in trouble for being so casual the day before.

"I'm not sure when you became my therapist, but sure." Talking about his past certainly wouldn't jeopardize and Adapters, considering it wasn't all that special.

"Why don't you start from the beginning, and if I have any questions I'll stop you, okay?" Joel pulled out a clip board and Ray fidgeted.

"If you start treating me like a mental patient then sure." Ray narrowed his eyes and Joel blushed, throwing the clip board to the side.

"It was their idea; not mine." He admitted, relaxing his stance.

"Chill out." He flashed Joel a reassuring smile before shifting forward.

"Okay, let's see. Well, my parents were immigrants from Puerto Rico, but I was born in New York. I started realizing I had weird abilities when I was in second grade."

"And how did that happen?" Joel questioned, leaning closer.

Ray's smile turned bitter as he recalled.

"My dad got touchy when he was drunk.. In more ways than one." Ray chucked, but it sounded sad. The noise broke Joel's heart.

"Anyways, once I figured that out, I started using it against bullies. I made it stop hurting when they hit me. Then I started pushing myself with little things, like gills, fireproofing, stuff like that."

"So, you've had to build up your.. Powers? You didn't just have all of it immediately?" Ray shook his head at this.

"Nah man. Think of it as a muscle. You work it out to make it stronger. You can't just walk over and pick up a two hundred pound weight like it's nothing, right?" Joel was impressed with Ray's explanation.

"And what are the extent of your abilities to date?" He cocked an eyebrow and looked up to see Ray smirk.

"Ah now that is a secret, Joel." He accentuated the Cockbite's name and Joel sighed.
"Fine. Is there anything else?" Ray's lips turned up more.

"About my childhood? Maybe. Tell you what, if you go to dinner with me tomorrow night, I'll tell you more."

"Okay but it's not a d-"

"Oh, and it's a date." Ray added and Joel's mouth fell open.

"I.. Um, but.." Ray winked at him and Joel groaned internally. He was probably going to regret this.

"..Deal."

"Lovely. Dress nice, okay? My treat." And the Ray was off, leaving Joel once again blushing furiously and feeling confused.

He left for the headquarters soon afterwards, planning to actually get some shooting in. He was the best shooter in his Sector and it calmed him quite a bit.

A large object hit him and he bounced back with a soft oof.

"Oops! Sorry Joel." A British voice spoke and Joel knew who it was before he looked up.

The new recruit had made quite an impression on everyone the past week and they had grown attached to him quickly. "Oh hey Gav. Why are you rushing off?" The golden-haired boy bounced up and down happily, as if standing still was a task.

"I have a date with Michael tonight and I want to get ready well before then." He giggled happily, his greenish eyes alight with excitement. "Well, see you around!" He dashed off around the corner and Joel chuckled, thinking to himself fondly.

"I have a date, too."