Jin picks up Hwoarang's tab in a bar, with some interesting results. Yaoi: m/m relationship (Jin X Hwoarang.
R for language misuse, implied illegal action, & possible explicit sex later.
Author's Note: I've never played any other Tekken game but T3, so I'm going to pretend that none of the others exist anymore. And Hwoarang did not join any stupid army! snorts at the absurdity of the idea That would really ruin my story.
Author's Note 2: I don't own Tekken or its characters, so don't sue me, but I can damn well ignore the parts of both that I don't like since I'm not even writing this for profit! crosses eyes and sticks tongue out
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Author's Note 3: Short chapter. Edited (with thanks to reviewer "amarettoandcoke" for informing me about wine,
I'm more about the cheap vodka myself P). See footnote.
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Jin grinned to himself as he carefully selected several good cheeses and wine from the shelves of the overstocked liquor store. "You really should be more careful with those bottles, sir," whined the fussy attendant, hovering about like a nervous hen. "Those bottles of strawberry wine are extremely breakable, and the white zinfandel just can't handle being shaken about-"
"Is that so," Jin mused, feeling oddly mischievous. He considered showing off his juggling skills again, but didn't want to risk breaking the bottles. He winked cheerfully at the merchant, who was sweating in expectation of some true alcohol abuse. "You really should have more faith in your loyal customer, Gerry," he chuckled. "How many times do I have to put on a display for you?"
The man shook his head, wiping at his sweat-beaded face with a silk handkerchief. "It's not that I distrust you, it's that I hate to see good wine mistreated," he muttered. "You know that well enough, you just enjoy making me twitch!"
"Of course." The secretive smirk Jin sent his way only confused the youngish clerk further. Too bad, he's sort of cute, even if he is fussy, thought Jin with an inward chuckle. "I'll take all of these, and a bottle of that hand-crafted White Shards stuff, if you have any left."
The man looked around nervously, and leaned toward Jin as though imparting a wonderful secret. "Very well, sir… They're selling for eighty per bottle now, you know. And we only have a wizard's dozen left…" Gerry knew that here was a true connoisseur of wine, but he almost went into cardiac arrest every time the young artist started flailing those bottles around. He barely hesitated to think of his customer as young, though the clerk was only five years older at most.
"I'll take them all," Jin replied blithely. The salesman's eyes bugged promptly.
"But- that's already a total of one thousand and forty dollars, not even including the other things! You're really willing to pay that much for…?" Although this particular customer had a thing for ordering massive quantities of alcohol every now and then, just to keep a fine selection handy, he'd never made such a spectacular purchase before.
Jin nodded with a wide smile. "I hate to deprive your other customers, but I think it's my favorite drink- and I have a guest at my home whom I think will appreciate it as much as I do. I'd nearly run out of things to go with it though. Perhaps," he mumbled, frowning as he strode down the candy aisle, "chocolates…" He picked up an assortment of mint chocolate after a moment. "Now," he said, smiling, "ring me up."
He's crazy, the clerk thought to himself, as his fingers flew across the register's keys. "Your total comes to eleven hundred forty-five dollars even. Would you like to keep our arrangement, and we will deliver your twelve of White Shards at your home?"
Of course, same as always... he must really be out of sorts today. Jin pulled out his checkbook and wrote it left handed, then passed it and his alternative ID in the process although it was hardly necessary. He was a regular customer here. He picked up the paper bags of wine bottles in one hand and flashed a smile. "The usual arrangement on the White Shards will be fine. Just make sure they get there on time and in good condition, but I have plans tonight. Not that I have any doubts! Thanks, Gerry, I'll see you around."
The clerk watched as he walked out of the store, wondering as usual if Jin's parents were rich or something. He barely remembered to call out a "Good day, sir" before the sliding doors closed.
The spike-haired fighter enjoyed his stroll down the street in spite of the weight of his purchase; he had decided not to drive to Grapespot Liquors since it was only three blocks from his apartment complex, and he'd thought he could use the slight workout. He was just glad the sun was already below the artificial horizon the tall city buildings created; he'd forgotten to wear sunglasses. He hummed quietly to himself, listening to the faint clinky sound of the wine bottles rubbing against each other. At the end of the third block, with the apartments looming above him and eight flights of steps yet to traverse, he thanked his martial arts training and active lifestyle for the ease with which breath came to his lungs. He wasn't exactly proud of it, but he was in good shape and enjoyed being reminded of his accomplishment. It only made his spiritual side seem weak in comparison, however, since his meditations had been sporadic and erratic of late...
And whose fault was that?
Footnote: The reference to "delicate" bottles of strawberry wine was originally meant for the glass itself, not the contents... we assume that Gerry knows his customer's quirks well enough to expect a little "alcohol abuse" of that kind.
(You may notice the stated size of the apartment building has doubled: eight flights of steps. It was what I intended originally, but I was counting the stairs wrong.)