Chapter 37
"Why haven't we yet heard from Captain Rogers?" the general asked Black Widow. The screen glaring at Diaval's eyes as he watched the television set that they provided him with. Steve and Sam are both by his side, their room not provided with one and wanting to see her well-being.
"I don't know what's left for him to say. I think the rock in the middle of the Potomac made his point fairly eloquently." Widow said.
"That's our Nat." Sam mumbles, Steve only nods in agreement. Draco munches on his toast watching with adoration. The Crow-man rolls his eyes at him, could he be more obvious about his hero worship.
"Well, he could explain how this country's expected to maintain its national security now that he and you have laid waste our intelligence apparatus." The general demanded, more flashes could be seen.
"HYDRA was selling you lies, not intelligence." Natasha said.
"I agree with her, from what Shield and Draco gathered, nothing's a secret anymore." Sam continued, being the only one who needed some kind of chatter in the room. Steve was content in watching the meeting and Diaval wanted to make sure that the Widow was safe, he did not take an electric voltage shock just for her to end up in prison. Draco was too enthralled by her to even listen to him.
"Many of which you seem to have had a personal hand in telling."
"Agent, you should know that there are some on this committee who feel, given your service record, both for this country and against it, that you belong in a penitentiary, not mouthing off on Capitol Hill." Scudder said.
"You're not gonna put me in a prison. You're not gonna put any of us in a prison. You know why?" Natasha said bravely, daring them to answer. The teen leans a bit from his bed, this was all like a drama show, and Natasha was the heroine.
"Do enlighten us."
"Because you need us. Yes, the world is a vulnerable place, and yes, we helped make it that way. But we're also the ones best qualified to defend it. So if you want to arrest me, arrest me. You'll know where to find me." Natasha said before getting up and leaving everyone, the council feeling defeated. She ignored everyone trying to get answers from her.
"You go girl." Draco yells, they all looked at the laying teen with a sharp turn to their heads. Draco waves sheepishly. His companion, care taker really now that they all thought about it, shook his head.
They all laughed before getting up and getting ready. They had a meeting to get to.
0o0o0
"So you've experienced this sort of thing before?" Draco looks up to find none other than Fury in civilian clothes and sunglasses. He puffs a laugh as he walks slowly to their way.
"You get used to it." Steve said smiling, looking back at the grave stone. Col. Nicholas J. Fury was written on it. The man looks at all four of them.
"We've been data-mining HYDRA's files, along with the ones you brought over." He looked at Draco when he said the last part. "Looks Like a lot of rats didn't go down with the ship. I'm heading to Europe tonight, wanted to ask if you'd come."
"There's something I gotta do first." Steve said. Fury turns at Sam. "Sorry sir, I'm more of a soldier than a spy."
"Nope, too connected in that part of the world. I've got a job and reputation that will grow, better stay clean as long as possible. If you're in England though, I can help out." Draco said grinning. "You know where I live."
"That I do, well …" he said and shakes Steve, Sam and Draco's hands. He then continued to pet the head of the crow on Draco's shoulder.
"If anyone asks where I am, tell them I'm right here." He said pointing at the grave yard before leaving them.
"That's as close as a thank you as you can get." Natasha said, making a surprise appearance. Draco grins at her, making her smile back. Steve went to talk to her, and so leaving Draco with Sam.
"So you're still following him?"
"He's a good guy. He reminds me of my old partner Riley." He said, smiling fondly. The crow caws as if agreeing with Sam's statement. Draco was pretty sure that in his mind, Diaval was replacing him with Reily, and himself with Sam. The discussion between Steve and Natasha has ended. He looks up and finds the woman walking towards their direction.
She sent a fond smile to Draco before kissing his forehead.
"I am glad you are fine ребенок."
"I'm glad that I am as well Natasha. So … you're leaving too? Everyone's pretty much leaving. Sam and Steve are leaving, even though Steve still has a place in Stark tower. You have a place there too."
"Дракон, I may have a place there, but that doesn't mean that I should accept it. Stark is a special kind of frequency that needs other specific frequencies, like you, Banner and Potts. Others need a few accommodation to get well with him."
"You're telling me, I'm the one who needs to block his mind from myself. Usually people are silent when I don't try to read them, but Stark." He shivers. "His head spouts information so fast, and there's too much for me to really hang onto and read lightly. I don't know how I manage without Pepper or Bruce there. Happy is great too, I wonder how he even survived Tony pre-ironman."
"Those are the real greats." She agrees before ruffling his hair. "You take care Дракон, you as well Diaval." She told the crow whom cawed at her before leaving. He looks around and found himself alone in front of Nick Fury's tomb stone.
He wonders then of his own, and how it will look in the future. He shook his head. Diaval flew off his shoulder and turned into his human form. Already wearing his new favourite garment, a black peacoat.. It was either that or a very long and heavy rain coat. The man seems to favour them. Diaval grabs his arm and locks it with his own as they left they left the grave. The only sound following them was their footsteps and Draco's cane.
"Where to?" His trademark question. After a long time of thinking, Draco knew that he should take time off from adventuring. He should probably cut off from the avengers or Shield for a while. Every time he was in contact with them, a new adventure starts. Something entirely chaotic that he knew he has no deal with, yet his life always ends up with him involved anyways.
He breathes in. He really only has one thing, he was planning on the release of new potions, so going back to business was his top priority. Not to mention the fact that his face is now known, he doesn't want a stroll in public with everyone staring at him.
"Home?" he asked.
"Home." Diaval agreed as they walked away in the busy street.
"I'm just glad that Shield has no idea that I'm Houdini, Fury found out late, so no information connecting me with him. I don't anymore reasons to be similar to Tony."
"He's an interesting man, but I see why you do not fancy that thought."
"Yes, add to that is the fact that shield had some future potion plans that I had. The medical field, and some of the public, are now interested and want me to continue. High expectations is really irritating."
"Very much so, I agree." He said, Draco noticed some stares, he was sur that they were online and read about him. Once again, he cursed shield. He then continued to curse himself for not asking for Jarvis to delete everything they have about him. Already there were people criticizing him for providing shield with his potions. He was glad then that he wasn't the only genius or business Corp that shield was interested in and other files were just bloated black mail materials.
"Do you think that my cane is cursed? I keep returning to use it."
"That may be, not everything that shines is gold. Your cane may be powerful and effective, but it doesn't mean that its old good. Maybe it is … what was the term wizard used? Jinxable?" Draco laughed at the man.
"Jinx prone."
"Yes, that."
"I'm glad that I found you."
"Sometimes, I think we were destined to meet." Diaval thought as a reply, this surprised Draco a bit. He didn't mean to read the man's mind, but it seems that his thoughts were so sincere that it couldn't be contained. Or that his powers were getting stronger, but he liked the former reason much better.
0o0o0
"So I'm free of Shield's watch for the time being, since they are trying to rebuild. I even managed to get them in debt for me, with the potions and all. On the other hand, I am now hiding from the public's sight." Draco informed. He was in Wiltshire for once. His whole schedule was planned, and Draco continued to plan it, including with emergency plans, so that he could still have free time.
The public was now suspicious on the fact that isn't a well-known division for scientists, the reason he gave them was that he didn't want any of them to be targeted. He did however started to build a team for that. People who are working for new cures and medicine, right in the old area where Diagon Alley used to be and his new building was built.
Like he planned before, only people with certain pins can enter. The pseudo security system was a magical entry gate that was disguised as an advanced security entry that only lets people with their pins enter them. Anyone who joined his cooperation needed to go through a medical assessment where the staff would take your blood along other things. The blood would be entered in the system, and when the staff member would enter the area using the biometric system, it would also check your blood to see the validity using a complicated magical array.
That he invented, he was quite proud of that.
The gate also casts a spell that would keep any guest or staff member quiet of anything that occurs here, some people did wonder why they never mention their job, the older staff that worked on the gardens and robots would tell them that it was normal and not to be bothered by it. They could certainly mention moments of their day and such, but they could never mention what they worked at.
In addition, the Caterwauling Charm was added to the gates. It's a charm that would let a high pitched excruciating screams when an unauthorized personnel tries to enter. It already caught a dozen before it was known that trying to sneak in Malfoy Cooperation was likely impossible.
The new team would be working on every possible project once they get their approval from him. He would however see through it before deeming it worth the work. He would join them sometimes and add his own knowledge to help speed the work.
He also opened a new division for mechanical and electronic works. He would give the ideas to the R&D department and let them work out how to make it. Of course all of it could be possible by magic, but he was adamant to keep that a secret, meaning any magical affects must be replicated using science.
The very first assignment he gave them was an air modification system that could be paired with the ventilation system in any building. Any air going through the ventilation would be easily modified. He gave the arithmancic version of the bubble head charm and watch as they decoded it to work with their computer programs. He was suddenly glad to write that Arithmancy guide for Shield before the merge, as he gave it to his workers.
He was content with the fact that once they successfully replicated the charm with a device, a lot of people will buy it, fearing any gas or poison attack using air as a delivery point. Not to mention that it gives fresh air to the place instead of the polluted tinged one or the sterilized air-conditioning one.
The whole project was dubbed by Diaval as the prefect device for the paranoiac individual.
The second assignment was a companion to the bubble-head device, he intends to sell it to green houses or indoor gardens around the world. It was a simple weather modification device. Again, the arithmancy guide and codes were given to the team to decode it.
The bubble head charm only gives fresh air, but plants needs CO2 in a balanced amount, not oxygen.
After the second assignment, people thought that he loved puzzles, as Arithmancy was considered one to them even with the guide that he provided it to them. Some even started calling him eccentric. When an employee asked as he went through his rounds to the buildings, he would say that he honestly can't think but in that code format, for it was easier for his mind.
He could have given them the computer program of the spells, but he was finding amusement in the R&D department's agonizing time trying to decode everything. Additionally, they needed work. He would also say that his passion was botanic medicine or potions, not electronics and mechanics, as an excuse. That was more Stark's field, not his.
To add more to the medical theme of his company, he prepared a third team that would try to build a device which would replicate the effects of a cheering charm. It would be in low level strength of a cheering charm, the device would be provided to rehabs and therapy centers. It would also help some suicide centers. That was the reason he wanted it to be in a low level strength, for if it was in full strength, the patient would be too dependent on the device. The whole idea of the device was that it would lend help to them, not make it a cure.
He also admits that when he gave the arithmancy codes to the third team, he laughed loudly at their glum expression. It sounds like the news of his eccentric ways has been spread around the department, more likely the whole company. He wonders if that would put him in a bad light if the media found out.
He found that he didn't care.
The head of R&D named Arthur Norwell came to him and had a meeting concerning the codes, or the hell, that he puts the staff and scientists through. It was a long winded discussion that bored the teen, to the point of tears, he ended the meeting by saying "If they can't solve these codes, then they don't deserve to be hired by him in the first place."
He played the bratty demanding card easily, and did. Poor Arthur looked put off but sighed at his lose. Draco felt guilty for a moment before deciding to raise his pay, leaving the man confused.
"At least you had the guts to tell me about it, and anyone else would really leave it in fear of getting fired or put through embarrassment. You Arthur, had no reason to talk about this but the fact that you care about who's in your division, or the speed in which you can develop these items. So how about this, I'll provide a much better guide to the codes. Truthfully, I could have given you the idea and left you guys to figure out everything," he said grinning, Arthur looked horrified at the thought.
"But I didn't. I want these thing fast, so that it could be useful. I also want it to be impossible to be tampered with. That is why I am giving the extra hand. It seems that this was done with error. You don't need these codes for everything, you could invent a better method to build the devices, I wouldn't be angry. Actually, I'll be downright excited, so that I can see where my calculations could have been better." Arthur was still left speechless by all of this, Draco grins and shakes his hand.
"Not to mention the fact that I wrote those codes for people that I didn't agree with. Shield. I bet you know most of what I'm talking about."
"Y-Yes Sir, I'll leave and watch over the projects." Arthur yells getting and leaving the bizarre conversation. Maybe he wasn't used to talking with young geniuses.
His fourth assignment was on a stand point, the other three were a priority. He was hoping in replicating the magical effect of the portraits, like the ones in the magical world. He only wanted that project so that in the future, anyone can see the portrait of his parents without suspicion or questions, hoping that by that point of time, moving and talking portraits would be the norm.
Morgan Noble, head of medicine came to him one day asking for all list of components that was provided to them. Draco was surprised that he never gave them, and is astonished with how far the department went without any of the magical animal parts that they had access of. He gave Noble everything, he then questioned where these animals even came from, as some he recognized as extinct. Draco only grinned at him never answering, only telling him that they weren't illegal and rightfully owned.
His father – in the portrait of course – was delighted of his accomplishments, and how he was managing to trick all the muggles of this world with them. His mother was only happy that he was doing well. They took a liking to Diaval, since he was a magical animal and not a human at all. Draco wasn't sure at this point, was he a magical animal? Or can he be considered human? He honestly didn't know. Diaval fashioned himself as a magical creature, ones like werewolves or Veelas. He was also a unique one, which added to his silent ego that Draco never witnessed but was sure that it was there.
After telling his parents everything, he went to his room.
0o0o0
"Come on, you know you like going out like this." Diaval said, his hair in a high pony tail that was charmed blond. Draco stomped in his seven year old body. "I hate the fact that I need to walk around like a child to be ignored. Not even then would I be ignored, woman will coo at me. Disgusting." The teen ranted, only to be carried by Diaval to be settled on his lap.
"It's only till we reach their house." They were invited to Jane's house, Thor wanted them to celebrate. For what? He doesn't know. He couldn't manage to get the captain out of his search party, he also wouldn't be joined by Sam, unfortunately. Draco liked the man, he wasn't born with wings, he still managed to fly. That was what he called determination, even if he didn't build the means.
Tony was coming, and Bruce isn't, Clint and Natasha will. It was like a half reunion? He would have declined if it weren't for Diaval. They finally reached their destination, they knocked on the door and Jane answered.
"Um…"
"Not to worry lady Jane, I am Diaval, Draco's escort to the festivity. He is now in the form of a child to hide from publicity's eyes. May we enter, please?"
"Prove it hot shots, because I ain't believing who you are." A wild Darcy appears, Draco thought. As usual, she is a beauty, one that if you touched would be badly burned. Ian is a very lucky man, or unlucky depending on how you see it. She crossed her hands and stared Diaval down, making the man squirm, resulting in Draco giggling.
"It's me fire spit." He quipped, she rolled her eyes.
"Neutron." She retorts before opening the path for them. Jane looked lost but decided to ignore it. "You're tinier than before squirt." Darcy chirped, Draco wanted to silence her.
"Whatever."
"Hah! Weakest reply ever punk."
"Crackers."
"Did you just call my girlfriend crackers?" Ian appeared all of a sudden, and in Draco's state, he appeared larger than he should be allowed to. Draco gulps and nods. "Cool, you are when courageous man. I would never get away with that."
"That's because the squirt actually knows how to talk back." She said patting Ian on his chest before pushing him back to where he came out from. "Now bake, I want to eat that cake and it needs to be flawless." She told him as she followed him inside.
"They got even more intimate." Draco croaked, how is that possible?
"Yeah, its surprising isn't it. Do you need a place to fix up your …" she pointed at him. he rolls his eyes before charming Diaval's hair back to normal. The man sets him down on the floor.
"Yes thank you." He said before going inside the bathroom. He heard footsteps leaving the room, whatever Thor planned, it better be worth it. When he finished wearing his clothes, he heard someone coming in.
Poking his head out of the bathroom, he found Erik looking through the drawers.
"So this is your room?" the man jumped from shock before taking a few breathes. He turned around and gave him an unamused expression. The teen grins before coming out and greeting the man. It involved hand shaking and ended up with a hug. "You haven't grown a bit."
"I think my magic is stronger than before. The more magic you have, the slower you age." He explained awkwardly as the man let go of him.
"I don't envy you that. I had my life, and I can honestly say that I can die happily. Living for a long time isn't that …"
"Exciting?"
"That! That sums up my whole thought. Did anyone tell you why we're doing anything here?" he asked as he pulled the teen back on the chair. It seems that whatever he was looking for was a sharpie. He took out a card and wrote on it. The teen shook his head.
"Not a clue."
"Good, I mean- You don't really want to know whatever Thor's thinking now would you?" He laughed from the thought, Draco shook his head in agreement. "We're still playing along with him aren't we?"
"That we do." They elapsed into silence, but it was a comfortable one that Draco didn't mind. After a while, he remembered something.
"How come you knew me? Tony asked a bunch of people before and he told me that you didn't know me?" He asked, remembering the time he came back, precisely when the merge happened. Tony asked a bunch of people, and he remember Erik unable to remember him. Erik stills for a moment, but continued to write.
The teen stayed silent, waiting for an answer.
"I'm surprised you don't remember me. I met you once, when you were about seven." He started, Draco blinked, this wasn't what he expected. "What?" he blurts out. The man smiled seeing his point being proven.
"See. I met you before, I met your parents. I was there to barrow some books from them, since they were the only ones who owned it and could actually part with it. They wanted a favour though, that I followed through with it."
"W-What is it?"
"You have to understand Draco, your parents were involved with things, things that if they weren't careful, or were unlucky, would get them killed. They told me if anyone asked about you, about them, or your house, I would answer with a negative."
"You thought Tony was a bad guy?"
"At that point I thought anyone asking for you is a bad guy. There's also the fact that I … my memories feel a bit jumbled, but I remember you with Agent Coulson. I don't know how, but I do. When I read your research papers though, involving multiple dimension theories, I understood that those were memories that are probably from an alternate world."
"You thought that you were receiving memories from another dimension?" Draco questioned in a monotonous tone, one eyebrow raised.
"After what we went through last year, when all the nine realms were lining up, I would believe everything now, to a point." He clarified, and Draco didn't blame him. "Point of the matter is, I … cared for you."
"… What happened, when we met?" he asked, the man smiled in a way someone does when they feel nostalgic.
"You were actually cute. You told me that it was silly of me to research the idea of other realms to confirm it, when I should have searched for a way to reach them. You were sure even back then that there are other realms. I of course, asked how you even knew what I was studying. You gave an adorable sneer, you were trying to be like your father I thought back then. You then continue to say that people should never let strangers in their houses. So you searched all about me so that I wouldn't be a complete stranger." Draco was wide eyed. How many encounters did he have that he knows nothing about?
"You then walked out to play with a flamingo. Do you still have them?" he asked, Draco slowly nods.
"I'm …"
"Surprised? Don't be it's been ten years since that happened. I'd be amazed if you even remember." Which he should have, he should remember everything but things keep turning up saying that you experienced it, and you didn't!
"I guess. Thanks, for answering I mean. People don't always give straight answers."
"You're welcome Draco. Now let's go to the kitchen, everyone's probably camped there to eat."
"By everybody, you mean Thor and Jane … hey did everyone else arrived?" he asked as they went to the kitchen. Erik didn't answer until they reached the door. Once he opened them, Draco jumped from the yells that were ensued.
"Happy Birthday!" everyone yells. He was wide eyed for a while, looking at everyone with shock and a gaping mouth.
"Birthday?" he finally squeaked.
"Yup, totally forgot, pay up Stark." He heard, it was Darcy, and Tony grumbles as he took out fifty dollars and gave it to her, she looked like a happy cat.
The room was decorated to fit a birthday, that was for sure, maybe a child's birthday. Everyone was wearing party hats but Natasha, Erik joined in the moment he opened the door for him. Diaval was grinning madly, apparently they were able to find a crow patterned party hat with a purple background. Ian looked apologetic when he brought a cake that had been obviously licked on the side.
"Hawkeye did it." He told him as a way of explanation, Clint was still licking his hands.
"I … didn't know it was my birthday." He finally admits, he took out his phone and truly to what everyone believed, it was June the fifth. Unbelievable, how did he forget this day?
"I'm not surprised, Jane forgets all the time, Erik doesn't even care much about it. Thor is ancient and isn't privileged to have one, you're the only kid around us." Darcy said smugly bringing out a knife. Only now did he notice the go pro on her glasses. "You have to be kidding me."
"Black mail material dude, you're too strong for this world, too untouchable." Ian explained as he took the knife, not trusting his girlfriend with it and then placing it in his hands.
"Now cut that cake Howser, we only got half a day."
"You're not even CEO anymore Stark." Clint commented, now pulling Draco's hands to the cake and urging him to cut it with puppy like eyes. Draco laughed at his expression before Thor yelled out. "I thought Midgardian costumes inclined everyone to sing the feast song."
The room fell into silence. Draco started to grin, as he took Dracy's glasses and wore it himself.
"Yes everyone, please sing me the birthday song! No one ever did, my parents never indulged me with it, it was muggle after all! Please?" he said in a begging like voice. They either groaned or grimaced.
"Black mail materials Yankees!" he cackled.
"You get this round punk." Darcy mutters before they all started singing. Thor of course had difficulty with the grammar, before starting to sing in Asgardian as defiance to their snorts. Diaval saw that started singing in French. Tony realizing this sand in Italian smirking madly at Draco, making the teen scowl. Seeing the scowl, he added Spanish and Latino to the mix, somehow succeeding.
Ian started singing Gaelic, Natasha in Russian, Clint in a Texan accent. Darcy being herself, sang like she was in a rap battle, Draco just looked at her with a dull expression. Erik was alternating between laughing and singing in a Scandinavian language, Draco never learned them and was putting off till later. Poor Jane looked at everyone before puffing her cheeks and started singing like she was in an old pub party in England.
"I hate you all." He said after they repeated the song for the fourth time. Everyone laughed at him.
0o0o0
"This book seems nice." His body guard told him, Draco stared at it for a while before looking back at the man. "That's another French play. Are you trying to send me a sign or something?"
"I just mess home other French people. Have I ever told you about the prince who tried to get Princess Aurora? Didn't seem like a prince, I was perturbed knowing he kissed her in her sleeping." He said sniffing a bit then took another bird encyclopaedia.
"You never really told me, you just told me that you helped looking after a princess when she was a kid."
"She was marvellous, if what you call a charm could be personified, it was her. She could charm even the darkest hearts … she actually did! Maleficent was such a dark depressed soul until she met her personally. I had to make sure she was being fed when she was a baby, her caretakers were idiots." He kept reminiscing, even as they checked out with their books. Draco smiled as the man kept talking and talking.
Then he felt a hand on his arm, grabbing him. Draco slowly turned to look at him, a bit surprised that someone was trying to grab him. It's been a while since someone tried to mug him, Diaval being a great body guard. Instead he found a foreign man.
They were in japan, for a meeting with a family that ruled over a huge part of medicine here. Once they finished they started a pseudo vacation, mostly attracting some eyes because of both their equally pale skins.
When he looked at the person, he had the most uninterested and i-am-so-done face he could muster.
"That's rude." He complained, the guy that was looking at him was gaping before shutting up still staring. This unnerved Draco, making him fidget a bit. Diaval seeing this, decided to intervene. "Do anything and you will find yourself in an unplanned arrangement." He warned, the man snapped himself out of his daze before shaking his head and straightening his back.
The man was, Draco had to admit, a very handsome guy. He was a tall brunet with short hair, styled in a way that screamed I'm rich. Big nose, big lips, thin eyebrows with high cheek bones. He looked like he plays sport, something that could be absolutely denied if someone described himself.
"I am sorry, I just couldn't help myself. The moment I saw you and-" he cut himself not believing what he was about to say, and Draco suddenly understood why everyone was staring. He felt like a total idiot, letting his allure run wildly like that! He felt like he needed a hut to the head or some kind. It was only now did someone have enough courage to stop them.
"I would like to take you out on a date."
"Right, look mate. You're British? Not Australian?" the man nods still fascinated by Draco to get affronted. "Look, we just met. I was enjoying a vacation after finishing my hard work. I will not be dragged around by another person if I had the choice."
"I won't drag you around!" the man sounded offended.
"Even if you don't, I don't even know your name." he retorts, and took a step back when he found a card right on his face. He took it glaring at the man.
"Charles Hesketh."
"Why do you have a card that only retains your name?" Draco questioned taking the card off of him, he kept staring and decided to make a card of his own. "In case senarios, which I am glad for today." He said trying to look charming and – Draco's eyes twitches – seductive.
"I don't like flirts." He shot down, making the man blanch for a moment before collecting his cool back. "Then a flirt you will not get."
"Do you hear yourself man? You're trying to ask another man to be your date, doesn't your parents disapprove or something?" he shot once more before twisting and continuing his walk down street, Diaval on tow. Charles followed him. "They don't, and most of my guests are," he paused smirking a bit. "Wicked."
"Hmm, then I'll give them a reason not to like me." Draco told him and entered a store filled with joke materials. "That will be impossible."
"No such thing as impossible Charles."
"You have me at disadvantage, you know my name, what about yours?" the man asked smoothly. Draco groans, he looked at Diaval sending his orders by Legilimensy. The man nods before grabbing the man by the scruff of his shirt and lifting him off ground, surprising everyone by his strength.
"You will leave me alone Charles Hesketh, and my name is Draco Malfoy." He said, the man's eyes widens before he was thrown out of the shop. Diaval stood by the door looking menacing just to stop him from trying to come back in. That taken care of, Draco returns to his shopping.
0o0o0
"Sir, there's a man by the security gates." The woman, third secretary this season, came in looking a bit dishelved. Draco looked up from his paper work and sent a questioning look.
"He wouldn't give a name, he said that he knew both you and your body guard."
"Diaval? Then he must someone I know." He mumbled as he finished the last paper, signing it with a flourish. He nods and thanks to the woman and walked to the lobby, his body guard already by his side. Reaching the gates, he groans, loudly.
"It's the posh bloke." He called, the man looked hurt for a moment before plastering a smile on his face. "I wouldn't give up that easily." He pronounced, trying to assure him.
"We were in bloody japan, you should have given up by the time you rode your plane."
"Not until I make you like me." He said happily and waited for the teen to cross the gates. The teen rose his hands, making all the body guards relax. He turned at the other teen and sent a mildly annoyed look.
"I was signing papers."
"You shouldn't, come now, you can go out on a small date, relax a bit."
"I am working Charles."
"One date?" he asked, and finally took out the flowers he tried to hide behind his back vainly. Not one to refuse a gift, Draco slowly took it and looked at them. Roses. This really sounded cliché.
"I don't like red."
"Did you set it as your personal mission to shoot me down?"
"Yes."
"…" Charles was silent for a moment, Draco gave a what-do-you-think look. "At least you're honest and anticlimactic. Usually, people who dislike usually shoot me right in the balls."
"Well, I make it a point to be entirely polite and only ever kill someone with my words." That was actually literal in his case, he could kill with words, unlike normal humans. He only meant as in the form of embarrassment or insults.
"Fine." Draco accepted, giving the roses to one of the desk setters in the gateway building. The woman looked startled but took the flowers off his hands. "See it checked, put it in a vase, and bring it to my personal lab."
"Ah, a place where you could always watch it. I like your sense of decoration." Charles commended, Draco rolls his eyes before turning around and finding out that his body guard has left and come back with a cardigan. The teen looked at him with a betrayed expression. He took the thin jacket and wore as he whispered angrily. "I could have gotten away from him."
He then turned around to go back to the conversation he was having with the other teen.
"Yes, the lenses for the scope well give me a lot of time to look at it."
"Why would you …? You're going to study it?"
"Of course I will, I'm a botanist, flowers are simply things for me to study."
"Then I'll bring you a better gift later. Something fun."
"I don't like sweets." Draco retorts as they left the building, Diaval also brought his shades and gave it to him before giving them space. The man was smiling far too much, he was enjoying this, that man. He will make sure he'll get revenge on him once he gets back.
"Then dark chocolate."
"Dark chocolate are notorious for being bitter. Are you trying to imply something?" the man looked out of his depth, making him want to giggle. He was obviously a lady's man, or a man for both parties, and he was too used to getting his way around partners. Unfortunately for the man, Draco truly wasn't interested in that way.
"Nothing, you just said you don't like sweets!"
"Oh don't puff out, I was only checking if you were going to poison me later. Some poisons are bitter to replace the repulsive taste. When some people suggest things to me, they mostly imply a death threat."
"I …" Bingo, Draco hasn't spent two minutes with the man and already he made him lost.
"That's horrible, who would want to do that to someone like you?" he wailed, surprising the teen. He titled his head innocently before answering. "I was kidnapped and tortured at fourteen Hesketh, I assume everyone wants to harm me."
"I don't."
"Left side, biker in thee, two-" Draco counted, and true to what he said, a biker almost hit Charles's right side, almost clipping his palm. Draco was however surprised to find that Charles dodged the biker easily, with perfect reaction timing. Not even a yelp, which he had hoped for. This caused the teen to narrow his eyes at his date.
"What?" Charles exasperated, Draco turned his narrowed eyes to a glare before returning to his blank expression. "Nothing, I thought that I knew the biker." He lied smoothly before turning around. Charles sighs but after walking a street, he decided to call a cab.
The man opened the door for him.
"Are you going to abduct me?"
"Dear lord Draco, I'm trying to take you to a fun date. I'm not going to drug you or anything." Frustrated, Charles tried to answer that with sounding annoyed. Draco smirked before getting inside the cab. "I'm a man by the way, so it was a needless gesture to open the door for me. Not to mention that Diaval would have a hard time following us."
"You are not getting rid of me easily Malfoy, I'm going to make you enjoy this date, and you are going to admit that it wasn't as half bad as you originally thought. Then you would look up to for a second and third and so on."
"I doubt it."
"Are you like this with everyone?" he in irritation but calmed himself down, giving the address to the cabby. Draco grins, if the outing wasn't fun, at least he made it up by ticking Charles nerves.
"So how did you manage to find me through countries?" he started, the man puffed his chest looking proud as he answered "Well I searched all about you, that's how."
"So you stalked me?" the man gave up, looking down in defeat. "It's like talking to a tabloid writer, taking the context and twisting it in a way that you couldn't possibly fix it." Charles said.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't meant as a compliment."
"I'm shocked Charles, shouldn't a gentleman always compliment his date?" it seemed like he has hit a nerve with that comment. The man smiled awkwardly before nodding. "Well you weren't being a gentleman at all now were you?"
"You asked me on a date, gave me flowers, I was assuming I am the lady in this situation." They continued with inane conversations, mostly Draco frustrating Charles while sounding innocent along the way. Charles started to enjoy this and started to banter with him back, trying to get him but ultimately failing. Draco was surprised when the cab stopped, Charles opening the door and letting him out.
Once getting out, Draco had to stiff a laugh. Of course this will be his first ever date, he wanted to laugh at the irony.
"Is this some kind of special cruise, for couples?" He questioned getting down the docks Charles grinning in tow. "It was hard booking for a ride, but the service is excellent and you wouldn't feel a thing, and we wouldn't be bothered much." Draco nods as he stared at the boat.
"What is it? You don't know how to swim? Because if that is, I'll save you." Charles told him seductively, putting his hands on Draco's shoulder and bringing him close in a sort of hug. Draco slowly turns to look at him, his smile looked pained.
"You booked a ride through the Thames on a very expensive trip for one night?" he asked, the man nods. "I made sure that there would be a stop near Malfoy Corporations so we wouldn't need much to get you back."
"This is very sweet, and impressive Charles, I'll give you that. It's only that …"
"What?"
"I almost drowned in the Thames once."
AN:-
Arthur Norwell and Morgan Noble are OCs. On that not, Cameron 'Ronny' from the last chapter isn't. Oh yeah, Charles Heksen isn't an OC, he's not a marvel character either. Don't worry, he won't be permanent, but can we imagine how Draco will be in a real date for once, doesn't he deserve the experience?
I have finally started writing ahead! Yay! And I am going to be the first to tell you that yes, there will be concentrated angst.
Any questions? That doesn't involve giving away future plots.
On the side note, THE FORCE AWAKENS!