Gueira and Meis were absolutely furious! Just an hour ago they were informed of their boss's dinner date. Why it wasn't brought up beforehand, they had no idea. Did it really never occur to him to mention it at least once, while they rode their bikes throughout the city all weekend long? Or did it just slip his mind? Whatever the reason may be, it would have been nice to receive more of a warning. There was no denying the fact that both him and that damned bartender really connected the night they met, but it didn't mean he could be trusted so easily! Straying outside of the Burnish can potentially be dangerous, and most of the time it just wasn't worth the risk. Those "outsiders" could never understand a thing about their gang, and the struggles they go through on a daily basis.
On the other hand, shouldn't they trust their leader despite not approving of the situation? Sure what he is doing was pretty dumb, but who were they to judge? And if he gets hurt in the end, then it will just be another lesson learned. What makes this even worse, is the fact that neither one of them knows where this guy lives. Following him there was just out of the question, since he would be able to sense them nearby. What were they supposed to do for the time being, sit around and wait for him to come back home? But what if he decides to spend the night there? If so, then that would only mean one thing.
Hopefully he has enough sense in that big head of his to not cross that line.
There was nothing wrong with having some fun! There is a lot of responsibility behind being the Mad Burnish's leader, and sometimes things can get too overwhelming for him to bear. Still, he holds it all in for the sake of his people, and not wanting to be viewed as "weak". Where was his much deserved break? Everything falls onto him, and so once in a while he would just like to take some time for himself. Was that really too much to ask for? Can he really not go out, and explore new places—new people? It is but a mere home-cooked meal, prepared by a total idiot. What could go wrong with that? Well, more like an insanely attractive idiot at that.
Was this excitement that filled Lio Fotia's very core? It was almost as if he couldn't get to this guy's apartment fast enough. As he sped down the busy streets of Promepolis, he made sure to check back every so often just to make sure that he wasn't being followed. As much as he loves his best friends, now really wasn't the time for them to be tagging along. He swerved in between vehicles that were going too slow for his liking, and then took a sharp turn. Better to arrive early than late, right? Maybe once this is done and over with, he can come up with a proper apology for how he went about this. Even he knows that saying something sooner would have been better, rather than throwing it onto them at the last minute. However, part of him just didn't want to give them the chance to try and talk him out of it. This is something he, surprisingly, really wanted and looked forward to all weekend long.
Upon arriving at his destination, he parked his bike and hopped off. His fluffy blonde hair bounced when pulling the black helmet off, and he tucked it underneath his arm. This was a nicer part of the city, so he already felt a bit out of place. It should have been expected, what with the amount of tips his date makes at his job. It's not like he was rich or anything, but he wasn't exactly poor either. He just has enough to live comfortably is all—more than he himself has ever had. 'Why do I feel so nervous? This is just a dinner…' He examined the complex one last time, before walking up to the front doors. Thankfully he didn't need to be buzzed first in order to step inside. And he felt especially grateful to actually see an elevator there instead of stairs, because apparently this guy lives on the third floor.
Meanwhile…
"Ahh! They're not done yet." Galo slid the tray of garlic knots back into the oven, and set the timer for another five minutes. Serving undercooked food was not an option! Other than that everything was coming together smoothly. His place smelled incredible, and he only hoped that everything tasted just as amazing. His blue mohawk was pulled back into a ponytail, despite this being his day off. It helps to keep it out of his face while in the kitchen like this, and to prevent any strays from getting into anything. And to avoid any splatters from getting onto his clothes, he wore an apron that was given to him by Aina herself. It was a bright pink color, but that didn't bother him in the slightest. This was a gift from a friend, so you're damn right he was going to wear it with pride!
Who says men can't wear pink anyways?
After having busted his ass off these past few days, it sure was nice to finally be off. It was a little disappointing that he didn't get a special visit, but he understood that it wasn't a for sure thing to begin with. Still, it would have really brightened his night when things were so hectic at the bar. At least they were back to having a full staff again! Now that Lucia has returned to work, it sure has been a huge life-saver. The regulars missed her as well, and were very happy to see her behind that counter making drinks once more. Both her and Galo were probably the most outgoing of the group, and the others have acknowledged this. Without them, they wouldn't get the amount of business that they currently do. Being friends with each other plays a huge part in everything too.
After throwing a lid on top of the pot, he turned the stove on low to keep the pasta warm. Then he flung the cupboard doors open above to search for the right bottle of wine. Well it's not like he had a collection of them just sitting in there! Just a couple of different kinds, in which he ended up choosing a Merlot for tonight's meal. To be honest, he can't remember the last time he even drank this stuff. "This should do!" He beamed, and set it down onto the counter so that he could grab the glasses for it. Those were also a gift from Aina, since she noticed he didn't have the proper drinkware when visiting him a while ago. When it is just himself, he really doesn't care what type of glass it goes into. It all tastes the same, regardless of what the liquid is poured into. But they do come in handy for the rare occasions he does have company over—like today.
"Do you always leave your door unlocked? How bold of you, Thymos," the deep voice mused. It was enough to make the bartender jump a little from where he stood. Thank God he had a good grip on the two glasses in his hands, or else there would have been an accident to clean up. When he whirled around to face the blonde, his large blue eyes widened. His choice of attire was simply beautiful, and he couldn't usher out the right words to form a compliment. For the time being, his mind had quite literally gone blank. He had on an all-white bellamy shirt, that was tucked into pitch-black regency fall front trousers. And wrapped around his thin neck was a black velvet choker, accompanied with knee-high boots, with buckles at each side. As usual, he had on those exact same gloves that just barely covered his small hands.
His poor heart.
A smirk appeared on the Burnish's lips, as he took in the other's appearance. "Nice apron. It suits you." This was said in a joking manner, but deep down it seriously looked great on him. His sparkling magenta eyes took in the surroundings, and noticed that this was a decent-sized kitchen. There is enough room for them both to be in here without feeling squished. Not that he knew how to cook or anything. He wouldn't even need his flames to start a fire, if he so much as attempted such a thing on his own. Yeah, he really didn't want to burn this guy's apartment down.
Finally after gathering his thoughts together, Galo was able to respond. His thick, muscular arms folded across his broad chest, and he huffed out rather loudly. "Well I knew you were on your way. Figured you could just invite yourself in, which I see you did. And what is that supposed to mean?!" He was only slightly offended by that last statement. It felt like forever since they last saw each other, so he couldn't help but also feel happy.
It still wasn't safe to leave your door unlocked. But then again, who was stupid enough to break in with an owner like this? Talk about asking for a death wish. Lio had to tear his gaze away from how the sleeves of his t-shirt strained against his arms, and cleared his throat. "It means that you are a.. colorful person," he answered.
Galo tilted his head, and blinked. There was still some confusion written on his face. "Oh…" So that was a compliment then? Shrugging, he reached behind his neck to untie the first set of string, and then worked on the other one that was wrapped around his waist. This wasn't needed anymore, since everything was done being prepared. Once it was fully off, he walked over to hang it back up on the hook where it belongs. It was a little dirty, but he can just throw it in the washing machine tomorrow when he does the rest of his laundry.
"Go sit your pretty butt down at the table! I'll pour ya some of this bad boy right here," he said while swiping the bottle of wine from behind him. In the other he carefully wrapped his fingers around the stems of both glasses. From there he raised them into the air with the biggest grin on his face.
Lio raised a brow at this, and eventually, let out a quiet chuckle. It is official—he is attracted to idiots. "Are you in that much of a hurry to get me drunk?" He teased. It wasn't hard for him to see the good in people. It was a sort of natural talent for him, so to say. Because of this, he wasn't one bit worried about being intoxicated around this guy. Even if by some chance he were to try and hurt him, or take advantage of him in a state like that, he would be quick to regret it. When sitting down at the round wooden table, he leaned back against the chair, crossing one slender leg over the other.
"And do you always call other men 'pretty'?" His lips twitched when asking this, as he tried to fight back another chuckle from escaping. 'Now that I think about it, his place is clean and well organized. Definitely not what I was expecting…' For some reason he viewed him as being a slob, so seeing how he really lives was shocking.
As soon as Galo placed those items onto the table, he had to go and retrieve a wine opener. How else was he going to get that thing open? While digging through one of the drawers, he paused to look up at the blonde. "Uh, no. I said there was gonna be wine, didn't I? Unless you plan on drinking the entire bottle yourself.. Which I will not allow, because you gotta make it back home in one piece! If anything happens to ya, then those friends of yours are gonna beat my ass to a pulp!" He has only met the two, but even he knows that there were others in the Mad Burnish. It is a biker gang, after all.
A gang that a lot of people seem to dislike.
"I don't find any other guys to be pretty, so nope! It's just a Lio thing," he winked. It took some more digging, but he was able to find the wine opener underneath a pile of junk. This goes to show how long it has been since he last used it. Again, he normally doesn't drink this stuff. It is mainly here for whenever he has guests over, or in this case, a date.
That last comment almost made Lio blush. How true was that? There are plenty of attractive people out there. However, what he said about Gueira and Meis was priceless. Was he really that afraid of them? Or was it just out of respect? Either way, he found it to be absolutely adorable! As he sat there relaxing in his claimed spot, he watched as the bartender effortlessly popped the cork right out of the bottle. "That would really boost their egos. They so desperately wanted to come here tonight, but obviously you don't bring your friends along on a date." There was more to it than that, but he didn't want to ruin the mood by discussing how truly upset both of them were over this. It was for the best to leave certain pieces of information out. Technically he wasn't lying—just choosing not to say certain things.
There was no harm in that, right?
Galo filled the glasses about a third of the way, before setting the bottle aside. "I can give them the leftovers. I'm sure they'd still appreciate that!" He can only imagine how hard it was for him separate from those two. They must really enjoy being together at all times. If you ask him, that was pretty sweet! Having such a strong and close friendship like that is so precious. It made him wonder what the other Burnish were like.
No time was wasted in picking up the glass of wine, and bringing it up to his full lips. Lio doesn't get to drink liquor very often, so he was going to cherish every sip of it. 'They would love a home-cooked meal more than anything,' he thought while tilting his head back, allowing the warm liquid to slide down his throat. The taste was actually quite nice, and that is why he immediately went in for a second swig. "You are too kind," he said quietly. Part of him was being serious when saying that. Just how many people have taken advantage of his kindness already? He didn't even want to think about it.
By now Galo was already opening the oven to pull out the garlic knots. Each one of them had a nice golden brown color to them, which meant that they were done cooking. Once setting those aside, he took the lid off of the pot that sat on the stove. The aroma wafting from it made his mouth water! "I hope you like spaghetti carbonara!" He pulled out a pair of tongs from the drawer beside him, and clamped them together a few times while looking back at the blonde.
Lio's gaze drifted down to the bartender's ass, as they were being nearly suffocated in those dark blue jeans. It shaped the lower half of him so deliciously, that he couldn't help but lick at his lips. "Never heard of it." Yes he was still listening. It's just that he couldn't help but appreciate what was in front of him in all of its glory.
That caught him by surprise, and Galo had to take a moment to fully process it. "You haven't?! Man, you really must be living under a rock! No worries though! I'm sure you're gonna love this masterpiece." He scooped a mountain of it onto their plates, and then placed three garlic knots around the bottom. And then, as carefully as he could, slid his hands underneath each one to bring over to the table. From there he walked straight over to the table, plopping them down onto their spots.
"…." Wow that sure was a lot of food. What with having to live off of canned foods that you can barely afford, Lio never gets the luxury of eating to his hearts content like this. It made him feel guilty in a way. How come he got so lucky, compared to the others who were probably rationing out their dinner as they speak? Should he really be here enjoying himself—stuffing his face with a home-cooked meal, while the others are struggling? It felt like he abandoned them, as silly as that sounds. Up until now they did everything together, and yet here he was, enjoying himself with a non-Burnish. The others were going to disapprove of this just as much as Gueira and Meis do.
One by one he took his sleek black gloves off, and laid them out on the chair beside him. "So, you made all of this yourself? I'm impressed." Everything looked fantastic, despite it being slopped into a giant pile in the center of the plate. But really though, he had no right to complain about presentation. As long as it tastes great, then that is all that truly matters! He picked up one of the garlic knots, and brought it up to examine. It was hot to the touch, but overall had a nice texture—soft and squishy. He sank his teeth into the dough, and ripped off a small chunk. Instantly the flavor exploded all over his tongue, and his eyes widened. Clearly these weren't store-bought.
Just how much time and effort went into this dinner?
Galo was grinning rather proudly, as he reached over to pick up his wine glass. He sloshed the liquid inside of it a bit, before taking a small sip. "Judging by the look on your face, I'm gonna guess that you like it?" He glanced up and into those magenta eyes with a piercing stare of his own then—lips still pressed against the rim of the glass.
'Why is he looking at me like that?' Lio thought, just as he was about to take another bite. Instead he pulled it away from his mouth, and set it back down onto his plate. Then he grabbed the fork that was sitting on top of a perfectly-folded napkin, and stuck it into the messy pile of pasta, twirling a good amount of it onto the end. "Can you wait until I have tried everything first?" He asked, all the while staring right back at him with an intensity of his own.
Okay he wasn't expecting that. Galo smiled nervously, and brought his hand up to rub the back of his head. "Eheh. Sorry about that! Got a little impatient there," he mumbled. A light blush spread across his face in embarrassment. It isn't often that he gets to cook for someone else, so it was hard to contain the excitement that he felt.
Lio just shook his head, the faintest of smiles gracing his lips at that. Give it to someone like this big dork to be on the edge of his seat over something like this. "Obviously." He stuck the fork-full of spaghetti carbonara into his mouth, chewing slowly so that he could savor all of the flavors that mingled together. There was a lot to take in— the salty pancetta, and melty parmesan cheese that was grated on top really stuck out to him the most. Not only that, but the noodles were done just the way he likes them. And the sauce! It was so creamy, and decadent! It is a real shame that he hasn't had this stuff until now. Just how much has he been missing out on? What else can this guy make to impress him?
That would require more dinner dates, though.
He swiped the napkin from beside his plate, and used it to wipe away any sauce that got on his face. Yes, even someone like him has table manners. Although the same can't be said for the pig in front of him, who was just shoveling everything in like there was no tomorrow. His cheeks were stuffed like a chipmunk's! A blonde eyebrow twitched, and he sighed heavily. 'He's going to choke.' Now that would be an awful way to end a date. He made it a point to poke both of his cheeks at the same time, hoping he would get the hint. "I don't see the point in living off of pizza, when you can cook this good…" It must be sheer laziness. That is the only explanation that came to mind.
This is how Galo always eats, especially when he is very hungry. It was like he couldn't get it into his stomach fast enough. Thankfully he has never choked on his food—yet. Upon feeling those warm fingers on his cheeks, he leaned back to cover his mouth with his hand. He took this chance to chew all of the food in his mouth before swallowing it, making sure that he didn't miss anything that could get lodged in his throat. How awkward would that be? "Pizza is life, okay? It's cheap, super delicious, and doesn't require any cooking!" He responded with a huff.
And then it all came together.
"So you like it then?" He asked in an all too cheerful tone of voice. His gorgeous teal eyes were dazzling, as he loomed over the table with a smile that spread from ear to ear.
What the heck was this? Lio stared, wide-eyed, at the handsome bartender in complete awe. The way his heart trashed about inside of his chest was a bit concerning, but he tried to play it cool regardless of the uncomfortable feeling. "Yes," was all he managed to get out. His gaze fell to the arm riddled with scars, and it almost made him frown. 'It must have been so painful…' Knowing those were created by a Burnish only made it worse. How can someone be so forgiving over something so severe like this? If he were in his shoes, he would still be angry. But getting burned like this wasn't a possibility for him and his people. They can literally stick any part of themselves into a fire, and not feel a thing. It definitely comes in handy when consuming hot food and beverages.
He pressed his fingertips against one of the scars, and very slowly, trailed the outline of it. 'These don't look that old.' If only he knew who caused them! Although, what would he even do with that information? Punish them? It probably wasn't even their fault, since it is hard for them to control their flames at times. "…."
Galo laid his hand over the other's, and smiled softly at him. It felt nice to be touched in such a gentle way like this. "I can put my sleeve on if ya want! Don't wanna make you feel a certain way when looking at these," he suggested. It's just that when in the comfort of his own home, he didn't want to put anything over his arm. No one else up until now was around to see it, and he figured it wouldn't be a problem with the blonde. But maybe he shouldn't have assumed that in the first place?
This motion made Lio tense up for the first couple of seconds, before allowing himself to relax a little. He did, however, withdraw his hand before responding. "No, that is not necessary. I just didn't expect them to be so.. so…" What was the word? Last thing he wanted to do, was offend the very person who did so much for him. He lifted his glass, and chased down the rest of his wine.
Well as long as it wasn't a problem, then he won't worry about it. Galo grabbed the bottle of Merlot from beside him, and poured some more into the blonde's glass. "Accidents happen, Lio. Does it suck that I have to cover it up all the time? Sure! But do I let it bring me down? Of course not! I'm alive and healthy, so what more can I really ask for? It could have been much worse, and that is something I can't ever forget."
Large, doll-like eyes stared at the dark liquid while taking all of that in. What he heard made absolute sense! But that still didn't make it any easier to accept. "If you ask me, that person didn't seem human. What if that really was the case? Would you still be forgiving of the being who scarred you so badly?" He asked a bit too seriously.
Where was all of this coming from? Was he really affected by this that much?
Blue eyebrows furrowed together at the sudden question, and it took Galo a solid minute for him to come up with an answer. "Eh? Not human? Like.. as in aliens?! Well this conversation took a weird turn," he muttered. For some reason he was oddly interested in it, though. That is why he continued without further hesitation. He spun an enormous amount of noodles onto his fork, and brought it up to his lips.
"I mean, would that really make a difference? Even if she was some sort of spooky alien from another planet, she seemed genuinely kind. And I could tell that she didn't want to hurt me in the first place. I dunno, both good and bad exist in all species. At least, that is what I like to believe," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. It all depends on each individual.
Okay, so maybe he wasn't a total idiot after all. Lio picked up the same garlic knot he bit into, and squished it a good few times. "You're telling me you wouldn't be afraid in the slightest? You don't know what that girl is capable of. For all you know, she can be a killer. It would be for the best if you stop trusting everyone so easily!" Why was he getting upset over this? There was no hiding it in the way his voice sounded, either.
Galo blinked. Yes, his date's behavior was strange indeed. Why was he getting so invested in this? "I don't wanna go through life feeling afraid of everyone, Lio. If this chick is somehow an evil alien who wants to abduct me for human experimenting, then I will just find out the hard way." It just sounded so insanely absurd, that it made him want to laugh.
This wasn't meant to be taken as some sort of joke, but perhaps it can't be helped. Lio should stop himself before he says too much. He clicked his tongue at the bartender's response. 'Let it go. He has no idea what he is talking about.' Deep down it actually meant a lot to him. The fact that this guy can welcome just about anyone with open arms was truly heartwarming. Never has he met anyone like this before—someone so completely and utterly accepting, sweet, and forgiving. If only his friends could see this, because then maybe their views on him would change drastically. Unfortunately it would take a lot of convincing, and even then that won't guarantee anything.
"Fair enough," he quietly said. Living in fear really is exhausting, and he would hate for him of all people to experience such a horrible thing. If only himself and the other Burnish could escape it. However as long as they all live here, that feeling will never go away—they will never fit in.
Now the atmosphere felt all funny between them, and Galo hated it! This wasn't how he wanted his first date to turn out. And just like that his face lit up, and he snapped his fingers loudly. "I know! Wait right here—" He bolted right out of his chair to disappear into the living room. It was probably rude of him to give the blonde no chance to say anything first, but oh well. It's not like he planned on being gone for very long anyways. As a matter of fact, he ended up returning just two minutes later with something draped over his arm. There was a proud grin plastered on his face while approaching the table.
He removed said article of clothing, but only so that he could put it on. After sliding his arms through each of the sleeves, he adjusted the black leather jacket to fit him better—straightening it out in all the right places. It was a little tight around certain areas, but overall comfortable enough to wear on a daily basis. "What do ya think? And look!" As he spun around, he used both of his hands to point at the dragon patch that had been sewn directly in the middle. Also no, he didn't own one of these before. This meant that he had to take a special trip to a clothing store, which was sort of difficult to do during his hectic weekend.
Lio nearly choked on the noodles that he had crammed into his mouth, just seconds prior to this unveiling. A part of him always knew that this guy would look incredibly hot in darker clothes like this, but damn! His appearance literally took his breath away. Needless to say, leather definitely suited the guy! And to see the Mad Burnish's patch on it only made things ten times better. When he turned back around to face him, he felt his stomach flop. 'Fuck,' he immediately thought.
And oh did he want to fuck him.
Once taking a sip of wine to help wash down his food, he rubbed at the side of his face. "You really did it, Galo Thymos. You put another gang's patch on your own jacket—a jacket that you specifically bought for this alone, might I add. You're nuts…" No one else does this sort of thing. It was so bizarre and just unheard of, that he began to chuckle. He is lucky that the Mad Burnish won't go out of their way to harm him. That is, as long as he doesn't give them a reason to. Even he wasn't stupid enough to do something like that.
What was so funny about this? Albeit a little confused, Galo still appreciated hearing the blonde's angelic laugh nonetheless. "Keh! I'm just supporting someone who I find to be very cool, and interesting! What's wrong with that? Honestly, you should be flattered that I'm advertising the very gang that represents itself as a giant dragon made out of flames! It's so different—so unique!" He shot back.
Lio smacked his hand against his face. Was he being serious right now? "There is a much deeper meaning behind that patch. And I chose those colors for an equally deep reason," he pointed out. If the others see this, what will they think? How will they feel? Maybe he made a mistake in giving it away. This guy was just blindly following the Mad Burnish, not knowing what they stood for, or how they formed.
"I'm sure there is! But you have to admit, it's pretty cute! I love the shapes and vibrant colors that were used to make it. And well, it gave me an excuse to buy a leather jacket! I always thought these were badass, but wasn't sure if I could pull one off." Galo sank back down into his chair, and chugged the remaining wine in his glass. Yup, it still tasted horrible.
Said Burnish ran his fingers through soft strands of blonde hair, and held his hand in place while staring directly into the other's eyes. "I remember a certain someone making fun of me for the amount of leather I wear. I wonder what has changed their mind," he said with a amused smirk.
Galo tossed his head back and laughed. "Oh come on! I never meant any of that in a bad way! It anything, it looks great on ya!" His eyes flickered down to meet with the blonde's stare, and he smiled warmly in response to it. 'Although what he is wearing now looks fantastic on him,' he added in his mind. Those poofy sleeves, and high-waisted pants fit his small frame wonderfully.
That smile sure was dangerous, huh?
It felt like he was staring into his soul.
Damn it! Lio couldn't help but notice how warm his cheeks were growing, and cursed under his breath. It wasn't often that someone incites this type of reaction out of him, and oh how frustrating it was! He snatched the bottle of wine, and poured his glass halfway full. Maybe he can just blame his blush on the amount of liquor he has consumed? Yeah, that sounds like the perfect excuse. "It looks great on you too, Thymos," he mumbled out. That isn't the right word he would use in this situation, but he already felt embarrassed enough as it is. No need to add more fuel to that.
Hearing that compliment just now made Galo blush hard. And here he was, all worried that it wouldn't look good on him. Turns out it had the opposite effect! He stared at the food in front of him, whilst scratching the side of his head. "Really?"
God his bashfulness was infectious! Never has Lio wanted to kiss someone so badly before. Drumming his fingers impatiently on the wooden tabletop, he sucked down the entirety of his wine. Once it was completely empty, he sort of slammed it back down with too much force. However, after a few more seconds passed by, his facial expression slowly softened. "Yes, really. Are you going to pierce your ears next?"
Galo blinked. And then he blinked again. Did he hear him correctly just now? Surely he did. There is no way he was drunk already. It takes more than just some wine to get him into that state of mind. "Eh? Pierce.. my ears? W-why would I do that?!" He grabbed both of his earlobes when saying this, as if to protect them from being punctured. Yeah, it was pretty stupid of him to do.
That reaction was gold, and Lio found himself chuckling because of it. He squeezed one of his triangle-shaped earrings in between his fingertips, just toying with it as he sat there. "Why not? Don't tell me you're afraid of needles, Galo Thymos," he said in a sultry tone of voice.
What an absurd thing to say! Why would he of all people be scared of a tiny needle? Galo began to subconsciously fidget with his ponytail, while deep in thought about this. What was the right way to answer that? Did he even have a good enough excuse? "I'm not a fan of wearing jewelry," he blurted out. In a way that was true. It just gets in the way of things. Besides, what type of piercing can he pull off anyways? There were so many you could get, so how can you just choose one?
Lio playfully rolled his eyes, and scoffed. That wasn't the dumbest excuse he has heard, but it sure was up there. "You don't even know the earrings are there most of the time. I think an industrial bar would look good on you," he made a gesture with his thumb and index finger, showing exactly where it was placed on the ear. For that to be his very first piercing might be a tad too much, though.
The way he played with his own earring made Galo gulp. What he would give to reach across this table, and touch them himself—to tuck his soft blonde hair behind his ears, and graze his fingers along perfectly-smooth skin. "I-is that what those are called? Well I learned something new today," he muttered. Those looked especially painful to get though, because the barbell itself was thicker than your average stud. It also requires you getting it pierced twice. Surely that doesn't feel very pleasant.
"What is wrong with just a normal earlobe piercing? I'd be willing to get one of those.. maybe," he continued. This is something he has never thought of before—was never interested in getting. Is it something he needed? He doubts it.
The Burnish arched a brow upon hearing this. "Oh? So you're not totally against getting one, I see." That was better than nothing. And no it may not be a necessity, but damn it was he a sucker for piercings on attractive men like him! It felt like he could pull off just about anything, to be honest.
Galo shrugged. "Guess not. If I decide to get one, will you come with me?" Not that he needed his hand to be held or anything, but rather, he just really didn't want to go alone for his first time. He wanted someone with experience to be by his side, and help him make all the right decisions. And knowing his luck, he would choose some shady place to get it done. That was just asking to get a nasty infection right there.
"Is that your way of asking me out on a second date?" How interesting if that really is the case. Lio isn't the type who needs to be highly impressed when it comes to dates. If so, then they wouldn't be eating a home-cooked meal inside of this apartment. Instead they would be at some expensive restaurant enjoying a dinner he could never afford himself. It would actually make him feel weird to be put in that situation, since he wasn't used to it at all. 'Will the others let me go on another one? Or will they try to stop me?' Yes he was having a great time right now, but will that really matter to his best friends? To the rest of the Burnish?
Maybe if they all got together to hang out, then everyone would learn to get along.
Red bloomed across the bartender's cheeks and nose, as he was quick to look to the side. Was that how it came out just now? Well this was very unexpected. He can't deny the fact that it would be nice to go on another date with him. It would give them an excuse to spend some more time together, which is something he has been craving a lot lately. "And if it is?" He replied, deciding to play along.
Lio's eyes softened at how much the other was blushing. There was no hiding what he truly wanted from him. He brought his hand forward to lightly tug at his ear then, another smirk spreading on his lips. "Alright. You have already impressed me with this one, so why not? I will take you to the same shop where I got mine done." The tattoo parlor was owned by a fellow Burnish member, so he felt more comfortable going there compared to other places.
This is actually happening, and there was no way that Galo can back out of it now. If so, then that means the whole date will be cancelled! And only an idiot would do something so utterly stupid. "I wonder which side will look better," he said to himself. Or does that even matter? 'I should just be happy that he didn't reject my offer. There is still so much that I don't know about him…' He glanced back over at him, taking in the very color of his magenta eyes. It was so easy to get lost in them due to how absolutely stunning they were!
After taking a couple more bites of his food, Lio dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. This is a dish he would happily eat every single day, and he just knew that the other two were going to love it just as much. He can't wait to see the shocked look on their faces when receiving it. That is, if they don't refuse to try it. The possibility of that happening was uncomfortably high. They are all stubborn in their own ways. "The right one. Unless you want to do both.. But otherwise that is the side people usually choose to do first."
Galo slipped out of his leather jacket, and laid it over the back of his chair. It was starting to get too warm with it on, and he would rather not start sweating now of all times. He then flashed the blonde a bright smile. "Let's just start with one, and see how it goes from there. Also, no telling my friends either! They'll just give me shit for it until I get it pierced." Not only that, but they would also want to come with and watch the procedure get done. Surely there was a limit to how many people you can have with you in the room, right? All he needs is one person.
Holding his hand didn't sound so bad after all.
"I.. sort of wanted to get a tattoo done a couple of years ago.. But then I went off to college, and then got a job right afterward. So I guess it just, I don't know.. slipped my mind? Not even sure where I would put it." It will be on your body forever, and that is why it was crucial to pick an area that you won't regret having it on. When would he get the chance with his busy schedule? How will he be able to bartend with a fresh tattoo? There was a lot to consider.
This piqued the Burnish's interest. After swallowing the food in his mouth, he straightened his posture some more. "What kind of tattoo did you want to get?" He asked, voice filled with curiosity. Both piercings and tattoos were equally hot to him, and so he wanted to hear more on this.
That immediate response warmed Galo's heart. It was nice to see just how interested he was in something like this. "I guess it was technically two tattoos—one for my father, and the other for my mother. I like the idea of having their names somewhere on me, and below that a timeline from when they were born, up until they passed away. I was only a small boy when I lost them, so they were still fairly young…"
Well that certainly caught Lio off guard. And here he just assumed that he was living on his own, because he is a grown man—not because he actually lost his parents a long time ago. "I'm sorry to hear that. May I ask how?" For someone who went through such a huge loss at his age, he sure did turn out to be an amazing person. There are kids who never recover from something like that, and end up rebelling because of it. Or maybe he did have a rebellious stage at some point in his life? It was just hard to imagine, but didn't mean it was entirely impossible.
Galo's eyes saddened only a little. Even after all of these years have passed by, it still didn't get any easier talking about this. He ran his own hand over the scars on his arm this time, and let out a heavy sigh. "It's weird, Lio. First I lose my parents in a random house fire, and then I later on get burned by those same colored flames. I'm starting to believe that my third encounter with them will cost me my very life. It's like.. I can't escape this fate of being burned alive, ya know? Obviously I don't have any luck with it. I just wonder when it will happen…" He trailed off.
"….!" The fork in Lio's grasp fell onto the table with a light thud—his eyes becoming glazed over, as he stared at nothing in particular. The Burnish are supposed to take great pride in not killing anyone without a reason. And this whole time he thought that they had gone this whole time without ending another life—only to find out that two were lost in one night. This shouldn't have happened! Who the heck committed this crime? In doing so they betrayed their own people—broke the rules, and went off to destroy a family. Was it worth it to them? Or did they even know that there were people trapped inside? His jaw was clenched so hard, that it started to actually hurt.
Knowing that he has encountered a Burnish's flame not once, but twice, really was something else. It sure was odd how it managed to find him that many times. Just why? Why him of all people, who didn't deserve any of that crap to happen to him? It angered him—made his blood boil! Now he was starting to second-guess going on another date. Would it be wise to continue this, after having found all of this out? It's not like he was the one who murdered his parents, or severely burned his arm. But still, it was one of his people that caused all of this pain and suffering. That is something he just can't overlook.
His appetite has vanished.
He pushed his plate forward, and clasped his hands together as they rested in his lap. From there he took a minute to concentrate on his breathing, as he tried his hardest to remain as calm as possible. 'I won't let them hurt you again. I can promise you that much!' He vowed in his mind, because saying it out loud would only confuse the poor guy. There was no way he could tell him the truth now. Not that he planned on doing it in the first place. It just made this decision more final, if anything. "I am so deeply sorry to hear about your parents, but Galo.. please don't talk about dying in such a horrific way. Just because you had these incidents in your life, doesn't mean they are going to come back to consume you completely. No one knows how they are going to die—just that it will happen someday. No one lives forever, and that is a fact. But don't look at those scars, and think that you are going to die the same way." His voice was so soft and quiet as he said all of this, since this was a rather touchy subject to talk about.
And when he shifted his gaze back up at Galo, he laid a gentle hand over his arm. It trembled slightly, but he continued. 'I'm sorry my people did this to you.' Again, these were words he could not allow himself to say. It sure does suck having to keep him in the dark over something so huge like this. "Just focus on living in the present, and what you want to accomplish in the future, okay? Worrying over a silly death like that will only make that blue hair of yours turn gray."
Galo brushed aside a few strands of hair that were hanging in front of his eyes, the sadness in them slowly disappearing—becoming brighter than before. "Thanks, Lio! You really do know how to comfort someone when they're feelin' down. Guess you're so much more than just the tough leader of Mad Burnish!" Despite saying that just now, this has always been the case. There is a lot left to discover when it comes to the blonde, and he was excited to peel back each layer one-by-one.
"And yeah, you're right about that! No sense in stressing over somethin' I'm not one-hundred percent certain about! Thanks for the advice, by the way! I don't really have any goals set in place yet.. But I'll think of something!" Well he has already gone to college, graduated, and got the job he was aiming for. What else should he be looking forward to? He removed Lio's hand from his arm, and instead of letting go of it right away, he examined just how thin his fingers were—how delicate, and amazingly soft they were. His fingernails had black nail polish on them, and there didn't appear to be a single chip or mark anywhere. They were long, but not to the point where they looked like claws. Everything about him was just so beautiful.
Lio silently watched as this dork played with his hand—a part of him that produces those same flames that destroyed his life. In an instant he too, could end up hurting him just as badly, if not more. It really wouldn't take much at all. He panicked, and quickly pulled it out of his hold, pressing it firmly against his chest. It was just way too easy to lose control. "You will think of something, Galo," he murmured. If not now, then eventually he will.
That was reassuring to hear. Galo snorted at the way his date was acting, and waved his hand in the air. "Did I just make the leader of Mad Burnish feel all uncomfortable with my loving touches?" He leaned forward to wriggle his fingers right in front of his face, just mere inches away from actually touching skin.
Why in the world did he have to go and word it like that? Honestly though, what is he going to do with him? Lio blankly stared into large teal eyes, while mentally facepalming over all of this. He just had to be attracted to himbos. "I wasn't uncomfortable," he retorted with a huff.
Galo let out a hearty laugh at that comment. "Surrrrre you weren't! Look at that pout—" He carefully pinched one of his cheeks, since sometimes he has a habit of forgetting just how strong he really is. As if he wanted to accidentally give him a bruise, and on an area that you can't hide. Talk about pissing off his buddies with that one.
"I'm not pouting, Thymos! And stop with those bulky hands of yours!" Yup he was embarrassed—cheeks all flushed, and heart pounding roughly against his ribcage. Or maybe it was something else causing all of this? Whatever it was, he just wanted it to go away. After successfully shooing him away, he leaned back against his chair to put some more space in between them.
This was just too much fun! How often do people get to see this side of him? 'I wonder if he's ticklish, and if so, where. Hmm…' There was really only one way to find out—a way that could quite possibly be inappropriate to do on a first date. It was like he could already picture his reaction, and boy was it adorable. He just imagines him with the most angelic giggle, as he squirms underneath him—his cotton candy blonde hair all over the place as he tries to fight him off. He just wanted to rake his fingers through it, maybe even fluff it up real good to make it appear even bigger than it normally is. Basically, he just really wanted to play around with it.
And no, that wasn't the only thing Galo wanted to touch.
He held both of his hands up then, still snickering a bit. "Okay! Okay! I'll stop.. for now." One thing he absolutely refused to do, was make any promises. That is how you get yourself in trouble. It definitely doesn't help that he does things without thinking first. Knowing his luck, he can just see himself accidentally breaking said promise because of this very reason. So yeah, he would rather try and avoid that altogether.
Not even his two closest friends knew whether or not Lio was ticklish—partly because they were afraid to risk finding out. It also just never crossed their minds. 'I called his hands bulky, but in reality they felt very nice…' He thought this, all the while standing up from his chair. The dinner was pretty much ruined for him at this point, taking as how his appetite was completely gone and all. Maybe he can bring his own leftovers home too. "I'm curious to see what your bedroom looks like." So far he has only seen the kitchen and living room. There was obviously much more to this apartment than just that.
Maybe he wanted to learn more about him as well.
That was a great idea! Galo jumped out of his seat, and walked around the table to get alongside him. "Tour time!" He announced, and gestured for the Burnish to follow after him. Since this was only a one-bedroom apartment, it didn't take long at all to get there. The door was already open, so all he had to do was flick the light switch on. After doing so, he made sure to step out of his way. This was to allow him the chance to fully process everything. It isn't often that he gets company.
"…." Lio glanced up at him one last time, before stepping inside. The first thing his eyes landed on, was a queen-size bed situated in the middle of the room. A thick, red-colored comforter was tucked perfectly into the corners, while six pillows lay evenly at the head. Why he needed that many pillows was beyond him, but he wasn't going to question it. It overall looked very comfortable to sleep in. 'I can't imagine having something this big to myself…' Again, he always has to share one with his best friends. And somehow he always ends up in the middle, being squished by them both. It is probably because he is the smallest one of their group, but still, it would be nice to switch things up every once in a while. Why can't anyone else be the spoon?
His bright, magenta eyes traveled up to a poster that hung on the wall before him. It was a group of firefighters posing—one with a hose in his hand aimed at the guy beside him, and the other flipping his hat into the air. The expressions on their faces indicated just how much fun they were having while taking it. 'How interesting…' For someone who has such shit luck with fire, this only amused the blonde. At least these guys had all of their clothes on, unlike those calendars that you can buy where they're either completely naked, or just about. Although, would that really be such a bad thing? Most of the time those guys are pretty ripped—just like Galo himself.
Too bad he wasn't one of those firefighters…
What he saw on his nightstand, however, made Lio stop dead in his tracks. His hands twitched as they rested at his sides. Sitting propped up next to a lamp was a framed photo of Galo, who appeared to be a small child at the time—being held in the arms of the man who he despised the most. He had on a police uniform, but appeared to have ditched the hat that was supposed to go with it. They both looked happy, which only irritated him further. "How.. do you know this man?" He asked slowly.
Galo blinked, and loomed over him to see who he was talking about. "Oh! You mean Kray? He was a friend of my parents. When they passed away, he was the one who helped take care of me. But because of his job, he wasn't around that much.. Which is totally fine! Being a cop is stressful enough as it is, and add a kid on top of it all? Yikes! What matters is that there was always food in the fridge, and a roof over my head thanks to him." He smiled fondly while picking up the photo. It felt like just yesterday all of that happened. A lot has changed since then, and he plans on paying that man back somehow now that he is in a good place in life.
Well that didn't sit well with Lio at all. From what it sounds like, they are basically family! This further complicates things between them. 'He probably did it to make himself look good,' he thought bitterly. If his mood wasn't shot before, it definitely was now. What was he even supposed to say to all of this? It's not like he can give his honest opinion on the jerk, and of all the crimes he has committed. That would require having to spill his true identity, and he just wasn't ready for that. "…."
The silence was a bit unnerving, and he wondered if everything was alright. Galo set the photo back down onto the table, and placed a gentle hand against the blonde's shoulder. Now that he thinks about it, he didn't even try to finish his food. "Do you need to sit down for a few minutes?" He offered in a soothing voice. Maybe he just wasn't feeling well, and didn't want to say anything in case it ruins their date.
This just pissed him off to no end. Why did he have to associate himself with that crook? Does he really not see through his bullshit? Lio shrugged away from his touch then. "Sure," he breathed out. This isn't one of the things he wanted to learn about the bartender—not at all. He lowered himself down onto the edge of the bed, and kept his gaze on the floor. A lot was going through his mind right now, and he was just trying to process it all the best that he can.
"I'll uh.. go throw the leftovers into some containers! Don't worry about getting them back to me right away. So, you just sit here and take it easy!" Whatever was going on with him, Galo just hopes that he will be fine driving back home. It could also be from the amount of wine he drank, too. He watched him dip into that bottle a few times. So then should he drop him off, knowing he was slightly intoxicated? But he was walking around just fine, and wasn't slurring his words. Something else must be going on with him. 'I don't think I upset him…' What would he have said or done to make him feel that way? He shook his head, and whirled around to walk out of the room.
Now that he was left alone, Lio let out a frustrated sigh. God he just wanted to chuck that photo out the window—to stomp all over Kray's face, and then spit on it. If he had known about this beforehand, he most likely wouldn't have agreed to go on this date in the first place. Now what was he supposed to do? Can he really go on another, knowing how close he was with the same man who has murdered his own people? Or can he try to ignore that part of him? 'Just why? Galo…' The other Burnish would have a field day with this one, if they were to ever find out. And then his friends would really go ballistic on him for going through with this date, and then agreeing for a second one.
But Galo lost his parents, and even got severely burned by a Burnish.
He fell back against the mattress, and closed his eyes, gliding his hands along the soft comforter—smelling strongly of the idiot himself. Was that cinnamon that filled his nose? It was a scent he thoroughly enjoyed, and wanted more of. His body was becoming more relaxed, as the minutes seemed to tick by. He was also taking this opportunity to appreciate having some alone time. Not only was he in here by himself, but it was also completely silent—something he never gets to experience, especially when combined like this. This was the break he needed all along! And oh was it going to be a pain to get up and leave this blissful state. He honestly didn't even want to think about it. For the moment he just wanted to lay here, and not have a single worry in the world. "…."
After filling up three large containers with the spaghetti carbonara, Galo dumped the rest of the garlic knots into a gallon-size Ziploc bag. As delicious as this meal was, he was also more than happy to share it with the blonde's friends. "Hmm…" There is no way this was going to work when riding a bike of all things! Even if he puts it all into a bag, that will still get in the way of things. For a good few minutes he just stood there in the middle of the kitchen, rubbing his chin as he tried to think of where to go from here. Guess he should have thought ahead when suggesting this, huh? This is something he was guilty of doing all the time, actually. His friends like to make fun of him for it, since it happens that often.
That is when an idea came to mind, and he clapped his hands. "Okay!" Why didn't he think of this sooner? It was brilliant! He left the kitchen, and headed straight for a small closet that was located in between the living room and bathroom. After swinging the door open, he crouched down to dig through some of the boxes that were packed with miscellaneous items. These were just things he never got around to after moving in, and have been sitting here ever since then. Well he rarely goes in here to begin with, so that was a huge factor in it. Despite it being a little messy, he was able to find what he was looking for fairly quickly. He wound up pulling out a black backpack that he forgot he even had, and then stood back up.
Yes, this was totally going to work!
When carefully stacking everything inside of it, he made sure to throw in some napkins just in case. Nothing worse than trying to enjoy your meal, and then having nothing to wipe your hands and mouth with! Once everything was neatly packed in, he pulled both of the zippers up to close it. "There we go! All done!" He proudly stated, while lifting the backpack up with one hand. Maybe it was just him in all of his brute strength, but it honestly didn't feel that heavy. Too bad he couldn't shove a bottle of wine in there. He knows for a fact that Gueira and Meis would highly appreciate it. And now he couldn't help but imagine the three of them getting drunk together, and acting like a bunch of fools. Such thoughts made him chuckle quietly to himself. It would be great to get to know them all better.
Now that he was done in here, Galo decided to check up on the blonde and see how he was doing. He shoved his hands into his pockets, and casually made his way back into the bedroom. The closer he got, the faster his heart pounded in his chest. Well that was odd. Not thinking much of it, he poked his head into the room. "….—" This whole time he just thought that he was quietly sitting in here on his phone, or looking out the window at all of the beautiful city lights. Instead there he was, laying on his bed, while making himself at home. It was actually really cute, and he found himself smiling fondly at the scene. 'I hate to disturb him…' He must be lost in his own thoughts, hence why he wasn't moving. That is something he does from time to time as well.
As he approached the bed, he saw that this was not the case at all. As a matter of fact, his date had managed to fall asleep in the time it took him to put everything together. He peered down at his sleeping form, taking in the way his blonde hair was sprawled out beneath his head, and how his small hands rested on his chest and stomach. Does he dare wake him? 'I guess he was just tired…' That would explain his strange behavior from before. The wine must have played a big part in it, too. Keeping this in mind, should he really disturb his peaceful slumber? It probably won't look good to have him spend the night, but what else was he supposed to do?
It really doesn't help that he doesn't have Gueira or Meis's phone numbers, either. There is always the option of digging through his date's pockets, and then going through his phone to find them. But there again, that would be an invasion of privacy. He would rather not do any of that. It would also make him feel like a creep to touch him in such a way without his permission. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. This situation was going to be a mess, no matter what he decides to do. Might as well do what he believes is the right thing, and worry about the consequences later on.
Making sure to be gentle, he slid his hands underneath the blonde's body, and slowly lifted him up. Then he moved him over toward the middle of the bed, where he carefully set him back down. "Have fun sleeping in that," he added with a pout. Those clothes did not look very comfortable to sleep in, and will probably be all wrinkly by the time he wakes up in the morning. Oh well. A simple ironing job can get rid of those. 'He's so beautiful. I wish I could hear his voice one last time before going to bed…' He sighed at this thought, and tucked him in snuggly within the big red comforter. This night took an unexpected turn, but there was nothing wrong with that. They still got to enjoy a lovely dinner together, and that meant a lot to him!
"Now I have to put your food in the fridge!" Galo scoffed out. But as he sat there and stared at the Burnish's face, he felt his lips turn into a smile. In no way did he feel annoyed, or upset over this. If anything, he was glad that he crashed at his place—here where it was safe, warm, and inviting. And he will gladly offer up his bed whenever need be, just as long as it keeps him happy. As much as he wanted to crawl in next to him, he understood just how wrong that would be. This was their first date, and they were still getting used to each other. Instead he grabbed a pillow, and stood back up. For the time being he will have to make due with the couch, which is fine. He falls asleep on there all the time anyways.
He brought his hand down to pat Lio on the head, letting the tips of his fingers linger atop the soft strands for a few long seconds. "Goodnight, Lio," he whispered.