Lio Fotia's magenta-colored eyes shot open, and he blinked a couple of times, allowing his vision to adjust to the small beam of sunlight that was shining through the curtains—ones that he did not recognize. Actually, his hotel room had blinds covering the windows instead. They were broken and dirty, and just didn't work at all. The bed also wasn't this comfortable! It felt like he was laying on top of a cloud. The blanket that he was all wrapped up in was very warm, too, and smelled absolutely amazing. At first he was trying to figure out where the heck he was, and how he ended up here in the first place. Had someone kidnapped him? If so, then what happened afterward?
After sliding his hands over his body, he noticed that all of his clothes were still on. That sure was a good sign, and such a huge relief at the same time! If anyone had taken advantage of him in that way, then he would downright burn them alive. Him and the other Burnish don't kill others without a reason, but damn it would that give them the perfect excuse to end someone's life.
As he slowly sat up from the bed, he grabbed a fist-full of the warm blanket that had practically turned him into a Burnish burrito. He took in the color, and how soft it was. There were no stains on it, nor did it reek of cigarette smoke. Not only that, but he couldn't find a single hole or tear in it either. He ran a hand through his disheveled blonde hair, and sighed. It was an odd feeling waking up, and not being sandwiched in-between his two best friends. This made him wonder where they were, and what they were doing.
"I see you're awake!" A voice cut in.
He visibly flinched at that, and turned his head in the direction from where he heard it. There standing before him, was the handsome bartender himself—dripping wet, and with a towel wrapped around his waist. Blue hair was slicked back, with water droplets falling from the ends. Lio swallowed hard at the sight. 'Oh that's right. I came over here last night for a dinner date. But I never planned on staying here for so long…' Somewhere in the midst of all of that, he somehow managed to fall asleep. Why couldn't he remember more? It was almost embarrassing.
"Uh, yeah. Guess so," he mumbled. How was he going to explain this to Gueira and Meis? Knowing them, their minds were going to automatically go to a very dirty place, and he just didn't feel like dealing with any of that right now.
Galo just smiled at him, and then turned around to start rummaging through his dresser. His bed head was cute! "I hope you didn't mind me tucking ya in! It's just that you looked so peaceful when I came back from the kitchen. Don't worry though, I took the couch! I mean, you drank quite a bit of wine, but not to the point where you were drunk." It still would have worried him, had he drove home in the state he was in.
That made him feel slightly better about the situation. So what, he had this entire bed to himself? God when was the last time he was able to sleep all by himself like this? His gaze remained glued on the mostly naked male. If he bends over in just the right angle, you would be able to see everything. And don't even get him started on his back muscles! They were absolutely incredible. "I still wish you would have woken me up. Now I have to deal with Gueira and Meis," he responded with another sigh.
When he pulled his phone out, sure enough there were missed calls and messages from them both.
After pulling out a pair of black-colored boxers, he made his way over to the closet next. "Well why don't you invite them over for breakfast? They can't stay mad at ya then! Give them a call real quick, and then go hop in the shower," he suggested all too cheerfully. Someone sure was a morning person…
Lio's couldn't believe what he was hearing. Did this guy seriously just offer up his apartment to two more people that he barely even knows? That requires giving out his address, which is something he was trying to avoid for the time being. His lips twitched. "So you're giving me permission to not only use your shower, but for my buddies and I to eat your food?"
The bartender shrugged his shoulders, all the while pulling out a pair of grey-colored sweat pants. "Why not? I have secured a second date with ya, so it only makes sense for me to get to know your friends more. They wanted to join us for dinner last night anyways, so I doubt they will turn down the offer. Plus it'll give me a reason to cook again!"
Good point. They really were going on another one, weren't they? "I suppose. They're total gluttons, and will eat anything that is placed in front of them." To be fair all of the Burnish were like that, including himself. Normally he doesn't eat breakfast, unless the hotel they are staying at offers it with the room. However, that doesn't happen very often since they can't afford to stay at the more nicer ones.
There is a reason why all of them were so small.
He threw the heavy blanket off of him, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The shower was way too tempting to turn down, even though part of him felt hesitant about it. Hey he wouldn't have offered it if wasn't alright, and would be rude of him to decline! "I will just.. leave you to get dressed then—" If only he could stick around and watch. He desperately wanted to see what was underneath that small towel. At the same time he didn't want to make things awkward.
Galo chuckled at that first part. "Nothing wrong with that! Maybe I should challenge them to a pizza-eating contest. Although if I can beat Varys, then those two don't stand a chance against me!" He huffed with pride, while jabbing a thumb into his chest.
"Only if you're paying," the Burnish mused. Of course his friends will accept. How could they possibly turn down more free food? And to be honest, the pizza he had the other day was very delicious. He went to pat him on the arm as he walked by, but froze right before making contact with the skin—marred with scars that he had received from one of his people. Does it hurt to touch him there? Is it highly sensitive? Or does he not have any feeling in it anymore? As much as he wanted to ask this, he decided against it.
This went unnoticed by Galo, especially since the blonde didn't make it too obvious—just continued walking toward the bathroom. "Heh, that's fine! I'd be eating the most anyways!" He beamed with a wide grin. If this does end up happening, then his friends were going to roll their eyes at him. Although Lucia might want to record it, just to show everyone. As soon as the door clicked shut, he yanked the towel from his waist, and tossed it into the laundry basket. There was already a clean one folded, and sitting on the edge of the sink for the blonde. He anticipated that he would be taking a shower as well, since he spent the night and all. Might as well freshen up before leaving, right?
After putting his boxers on, he slipped into the sweat pants next. Due to their thick material, he chose not to wear a shirt with them. This will prevent him from overheating, given as how he is now cooking breakfast for four people instead of two. Before heading off into the kitchen, he went back over to his dresser and pulled out a white sleeve. Once pulling it up and over the scars on his arm, he secured it with two black straps—one reaching across his chest, and over the shoulder. Lio already knows the story behind them, but the other two do not. It is just something he does not want to discuss. Besides, he really did want to learn more about the others, rather than focus on himself so much.
As for Lio, he made sure to send Meis a quick text message before doing anything else. Part of him just didn't feel like sitting on the phone for a good ten minutes, while both of his friends bombard him with a bunch of questions. He made sure to let them know that he was doing okay—that he accidentally fell asleep after eating, and for them to get their asses over for breakfast. Oh, and he made sure to send another one containing Galo's address. Then he simply turned the volume down, chucked it onto the counter, and began to strip of his clothes. 'Even though the bed was more than big enough, he still chose to sleep on the couch. Didn't think gentlemen like him existed anymore,' he thought with a small smile.
This guy really was too good for him after all.
Once everything was off and set aside, the Burnish walked on over to the shower. The inside was soaking wet since it had just been used, but other than that it looked pretty clean. Instead of a curtain there was a sliding glass door, which is something he has never used before. None of the hotels he has ever stayed at had these. Probably because they were too cheap to add anything nice to the rooms. 'His scent is so strong in here…' Feeling a bit flustered by this, he yanked the nozzle back to turn the water on. Right away he was hit with cold water. Shivering, he immediately turned it all the way over to the other side. And by the time he fully stepped inside, it was just the right temperature.
Steamy hot.
A moan almost slipped through his lips at the wonderful sensation. On the rare occasion that they do get hot water, it is never enough for three people. Here he can take as long as he wants to, and not have to worry about running out, or saving some for the next person. For the first few minutes he just stood there underneath the water—bright magenta eyes closed, as his thoughts ran wild. 'They might still think we had sex. But we definitely did not have sex. Yes I would fuck him in a heartbeat, but that isn't the issue here. I'm afraid if we take things that far, then my feelings for the idiot will grow.. And I don't know if I want that to happen. Our relationship would be doomed to fail, wouldn't it?'
Lio sighed heavily, and reached over to grab the shampoo bottle. "Orange creamsicle?" He mumbled. After flipping the top back, he brought it up to his face to take a quick sniff—the sweetness only making him feel more hungry than before. Simply shrugging it off, he squeezed a good amount of it onto the palm of his hand, and then worked it into his hair. 'How am I going to tell them about Kray? I still can't believe how close that bastard is with Galo! I just want to burn that stupid photo, and forget I ever saw it in the first place,' he thought bitterly.
Maybe he should wait a little while before dropping that bomb shell on them.
While he worked on washing himself up, Galo was already working his magic in the kitchen. In his grasp was a large bowl of eggs that he was whipping together. There was some set aside in a separate container, but that was for something entirely different. Once he added some salt and pepper, and made sure it was thoroughly mixed in, he went over to the fridge to pull out a container of strawberries. 'I have no idea what those three like,' he thought with a sigh. All he can do, is hope that whatever he puts together will be good enough.
After washing the strawberries, he began slicing through them at a steady pace. No one has ever slept over at his place before, so it was exciting to be spending his morning with others for a change. Normally he would be sitting at that table all by himself, while eating something quick and easy like a bowl of cereal. If he knew it was okay to share the bed with Lio, then he would have for sure done it. However he didn't know how that would make the guy feel. They have only been on one date so far, and he really didn't want to push things by getting too close too fast. This is someone he doesn't want to lose, all because he made some dumb mistake.
And Galo already makes his fair share of mistakes as it is.
"Ah! I almost forgot—" He snapped his fingers, and hurried on over to grab the apron he wore last night when making dinner. Yes he may not be wearing a shirt for him to dirty, but he was still going to be dealing with hot grease. It is never a pleasant feeling to have that splatter all over your chest. Once that was tied in place, he smoothed his hands over the front. The color really didn't bother him at all. Who says pink can't be manly? Apparently to Lucia, it pairs perfectly with his eyes—something about pink and blue just blending so well together. But on the other hand, she made her fair share of jokes about it.
Also didn't help that it resembles Aina's hair.
Not that there was anything wrong with that, but still. It didn't help the situation.
Once all of the strawberries had been cut into thin slices, he set those aside and grabbed three pans, lining them up on top of the stove. Then he pulled out a package of thick, pepper-coated bacon, and started cooking those first. When he went shopping for the ingredients needed in order to make last night's dinner, he ended up getting some extra stuff to have on hand—this being one of them. He figured that this was something he could make sometime in the next week or so whenever he wasn't feeling so lazy. Well now he had a much better reason to use it. It already looks good, and it wasn't even cooked yet!
As soon as the pieces were laid out in the one pan, he spun around to grab a loaf of bread. And just as he was about to open the package, he heard a few impatient knocks at the front door. Blinking, he walked over to poke his head through the entryway. "Come in!" He shouted, before going back over to the stove. If he doesn't time everything just right, then things won't turn out properly. When he heard them enter his apartment, he cracked his neck. 'Okay you got this! There's nothing to be afraid of!' That is what he kept telling himself, in hopes that it would calm his nerves a bit.
He hasn't seen these guys since that night, so it has been a little while .
"Boss?!" Gueira came flying into the kitchen, his eyes quickly scanning the room to see if he was in there. Nope. Neither of them got any sleep last night because of how worried they were. So of course when the blonde sent that text message earlier, they immediately hopped on their bikes and headed over here in a flash. Needless to say, red lights meant absolutely nothing to them.
Meis placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder. "Lower your voice. I'm sure he's fine," he cut in while brushing his ponytail back with the other. It was tied back neatly to avoid getting in the way. His gaze flickered to the other male then, and he took a moment to examine his appearance. What in the world was he wearing? The sweat pants were fine, but what was the purpose of wearing an apron if you are shirtless? The color also stood out like a sore thumb.
He snorted.
Since he could feel their intense stares, Galo glanced back to flash them a bright smile. "Good morning! It's nice to see you guys again! Please, take a seat at the table while Lio finishes up in the shower." He made sure to gesture in the right direction when saying this.
"Want anything to drink in the meantime? Coffee? Orange juice? Milk? Or you can just have some water. Your choice!" Despite being a bartender, he wasn't about to offer up any alcoholic beverages this early in the day. He would rather not worry if any of them got home safely. Although a nice Mimosa would be fantastic right about now!
That caught their attention.
"Damn. He gets a shower too?" You could hear the jealousy in Gueira's voice, but he was in no way upset. This is something their boss deserved, so who was he to complain? From what he could gather, the guy was already living like a king here. It surprised him that he even wanted to leave so soon. Why not take advantage of the hospitality here?
"Morning Galo. Thank you for inviting us over for breakfast. And we could use some coffee," Meis responded. They were running on no sleep, and could use the pick-me-up. He push the redhead over to where the table was, and took a seat. The whole jealousy thing was warranted, and even he felt some of it. The Burnish never get any of these luxuries. On the other hand he was happy for him. This whole time he has put everyone else before himself. Now he was finally getting the chance to put his needs and wants first. How can any of them argue against that?
That comment left Galo feeling somewhat confused. Why was he all bummed out over the whole shower thing? Were they not allowed to have one? Perhaps it was broken? Maybe he was looking too far into it, and there was no real reasoning behind it. In the end he just shrugged it off, and reached up to grab four mugs from the cupboard. If he wasn't so busy trying to cook, he would have poured theirs out for them. Instead he set everything down onto the table. This way they can control how much they want. And he made sure to add some cream and sugar, along with spoons to stir it with. Hey everyone drinks theirs differently. Some like it black, while others like it sweet.
"It's the least I could do! When Lio fell asleep so suddenly, I had no way of contacting either of you. Felt bad because I knew you guys would be worried about him, ya know? Waking him up was not an option either, because damn does he look peaceful! It would have been a crime to disturb him-" he rambled.
Gueira snatched the pot of coffee, and poured himself a full cup of it. Unfortunately he did not leave enough room for the cream and sugar, and so when it was time to stir it all together, some of the hot liquid ended up spilling over the edge. It ran down the sides, and pooled on the wooden tabletop. This didn't bother him though, as he brought it up to his lips to take a careful sip. "Yeah we're giving you our number in case something like this happens again," he huffed out.
God this coffee was glorious.
"Our boss can take care of himself, but we are still weary of him hooking up with strangers." Meis was more careful with his coffee. He made sure to save some room at the top for the added ingredients, and even stirred it more slowly. Giving their numbers to him was the best solution here. And really, it wasn't the end of the world.
Galo nearly dropped the spatula in his hand—his face becoming almost the same shade as a tomato. "N-nothing happened between us! I left him alone in my bedroom for ten minutes, and by the time I returned, he was already asleep! My stuff is still on the couch, so…"
His reaction sure was something else.
Meis was smirking as he sipped at his coffee. This was different than the sludge they were used to drinking at the hotels they stay at. All of them serve the cheapest stuff they can find, it appears. "Oh come on Galo, we're not stupid. You want to sleep with our boss," he pointed out matter-of-factly.
"Yeah it's obvious you have the hots for him," Gueira added. This doesn't mean he approves of them being together. It is merely something he had to agree on, and nothing more. He has nothing against this guy personally. If anything, he is just very protective of the blonde. They have been hurt and betrayed by his kind way too many times.
How could he possibly trust another person after everything they have been through?
What did these people take him for anyways? Galo actually felt offended at what they were saying. "Well duh I'm attracted to him! How could I not be? He's gorgeous! But that doesn't mean I'm in this just to get in his pants! Like, I really care about him. When he walked through that door that night, I couldn't tear my gaze away. There was just something about him that drew me in." There was a fondness in his eyes when saying this. It was safe to say that he will never forget their encounter.
"I enjoy listening to him talk. His voice is so deep, yet soft, that it relaxes me. And have I mentioned how incredible his hair is? It's like cotton candy! I like the way it bounces with even the slightest of movement, and the way it shines in the sunlight. I have also never seen anyone with eyes like his before. They're big, sparkly, and have such a nice color to them," he continued. When turning his head to grab the bowl of strawberries, you could see that a smile had graced his lips.
"Lio is a mysterious person, but that just makes things all the more exciting! Each time he opens up to me, the closer I feel to him—the stronger our bond becomes! And deep down I know that I will never meet anyone like him again. To be honest, Gueira, Meis.. If he were to up and vanish from my life, it would really suck," he admitted quietly.
No one expected him to go off like that.
And neither one of them were prepared for it.
Meis cleared his throat, and slowly set his mug down. "Does he know any of this?" He has no idea what they talk about when they're alone. However, he has a feeling that this guy in particular wears his heart on his sleeve— which by the way, why was there one on his arm? This made him wonder what he was trying to cover up. Just what type of accident did he have, that he felt the need to hide it from others?
Gueira was giving the bartender a strange look now. He had paused in taking a sip of his coffee when hearing all of that. "Dude, are you serious? I think you've been reading too many romance novels…" He couldn't believe the way their boss had just been described in such detail. There was no denying any of it, though. Everything that he said was spot on! Only a fool would think otherwise.
"Don't bully the person feeding us. Also no, I did not know any of this. But do go on, Galo Thymos. I would love to hear more." It was Lio himself, who had been standing there long enough to hear everything. It was probably wrong of him to eavesdrop, but what else was he supposed to do- just walk away and pretend that they weren't talking about him? No, that wasn't an option. His usually fluffy blonde hair was wet, and flat as it stuck to the sides of his head. He took it upon himself to use the comb that sat on the counter. It's not like his date had lice, or nasty dandruff.
A second later he was suffocated by the arms of his friends.
They had pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, and refused to let go.
"Boss! Damn it, you had us so fucking worried!" Gueira scolded. It was one thing to receive a text message, and another to actually see him in person. At least now he sees that he is doing well, which gave him such a huge relief! That he believed him to be hurt or anything, but still, it helps.
Meis chuckled, since he just felt happy to see their leader again. How can he yell at him when they are all finally together? Their little group felt whole again, as it should. "We're giving your boyfriend our numbers, so that this doesn't happen again."
Lio playfully rolled his eyes, and wrapped each arm around them to return the embrace. "So now he's my boyfriend?" He mused with a chuckle of his own. They had never established what kind of relationship they were in, but that would make the most sense. However it wasn't official yet, since they haven't discussed it privately themselves. It was still funny though.
"I apologize for worrying you guys. If Galo had your numbers, then he could have let you know that everything was fine. It won't happen again," he vowed- especially since he didn't plan on falling asleep in his bed a second time. It was his fault for making himself comfortable in the first place.
Galo was already embarrassed that his date heard everything that was just said, and then to be called his boyfriend on top of it made him blush like crazy. 'He would be mine, and no one else's…' Not to sound possessive, but the thought of losing Lio to someone else would crush him. He didn't want to share him with anyone. The sight of those three hugging it out was indeed precious, but it was also distracting. He had to remind himself that he was in the middle of preparing breakfast for them, and had to quickly whirl around to check on the food. Thankfully everything looked fine. In fact when he flipped the French toast, he saw that it was done perfectly.
"Someone pour Lio a cup of coffee. I'm going to start plating everything," he instructed. In no way was he trying to boss them around. It's just that he can't get to the table if they're standing around it. Now that it was all coming together at the same time, he was literally rushing to get out the proper amount of plates.
The smaller Burnish blinked, and glanced back at the pot of coffee that sat on the table. It was half full, which meant that the other two already poured themselves a cup. He licked at his lips, and pulled himself out of the group hug. "I have two hands, Galo," he said with a smirk.
Gueira laughed at that comment, and went over to sit back down. "Oh come on Boss! I would totally pour it for you," he winked. They do stuff for him all the time, so how was this any different?
"And I wouldn't? Look at the mess you created," Meis scoffed, as he pointed at the small puddle on the table. His own spot was nice and clean. It is clear who was the messier one of the two.
The redhead pouted at this, and he reached over to grab a napkin from the holder. And he used it to wipe up as much of the spilled coffee as he could. "There! Are you happy now?" He said, while shoving the soggy napkin right in his face. There was a shit-eating grin on his face when doing this.
As soon as he felt the wetness being pressed against his cheek, Meis's eyebrow twitched. He picked up his own mug, and let it rest above the other's head. "Two can play at that game—" But before he could finish that sentence, he was interrupted. And when he noticed the look on their leader's face, he gulped.
"Behave yourselves Gueira, Meis. I don't want either of you causing a mess," he warned. They were in someone else's home for crying out loud! Can't they act civil at least once in a while? And this wasn't just anyone, either! 'I knew this was a bad idea. I'm sure he's getting annoyed with them.' His gaze slid over to the bartender, and watched as he began throwing food onto all of the plates. Although, was he even paying attention at all? He seemed to be in his own little world. The last time he saw him this focused, was when he was preparing drinks at his workplace.
Well he is damn good at what he does.
And then he remembered the conversation from before. 'Would he really be that devastated if I were to leave and never come back? Galo…' They haven't known each other for very long, but even he would hate to never see him again. When they are together, he just feels so at ease. Plus he could also go on and on about the things that he liked about him, but he just chooses not to. He wasn't the type of person to do that. When he saw him heading toward the table, he shifted in his seat. "…"
"The great, almighty Boss himself gets his food first! Sooo here I prepared some strawberry cream cheese-stuffed French toast, peppered bacon, and scrambled eggs!" Galo set down two plates in front of the blonde, and then retrieved some maple syrup from the cupboard. Only a small amount was missing from the bottle, since he rarely makes anything like this for himself.
Gueira's eyes practically bugged out of his head when taking it all in. His mouth instantly watered at both the sight and smell of everything. "Fuck," he breathed out. Were they really going to be served the same thing? It was almost too good to be true. But sure enough, a moment later both him and Meis were seeing the exact same thing being placed right in front of them. His hand twitched as he reached for his fork.
Lio's French toast was literally swimming in syrup by the time he was done pouring. The cheesecake filling was just oozing out of the middle, and the sliced strawberries on top were starting to slide off. "You have outdone yourself again, Galo Thymos." He didn't even need to taste it first, before knowing just how delicious it all was. Unlike his friends, he has already tasted his cooking, and knows what he is capable of.
Before joining everyone, Galo made sure to grab some hot sauce from the fridge first. When he was able to finally sit down and relax, he unscrewed the lid, and poured it all over his eggs. "Well I gotta impress my boyfriend and his friends, right?" He said, gently elbowing him in the side.
Meis blinked a couple of times, a look of shock now on his face. "Your mouth is going to be on fire," he mumbled. You couldn't even see the eggs with how much hot sauce he had dumped on top of them. It was a bright red color, which indicated that it was going to hurt both going in, and coming out. He cringed at the mental image.
Galo just waved it off, and shoved a forkful of the spicy eggs into his mouth. "I love things that are hot!" In the midst of chewing, he grabbed the coffee pot to pour himself some. He was the only one among them that didn't add any cream and sugar, since to him the French toast was going to be plenty sweet. If he consumes more than that, then surely he will make himself sick. And to be honest, he didn't want to work tonight with an upset stomach.
Gueira nearly spat his food out, and had to actually throw a hand over his mouth to prevent that from happening. He shot the blonde a look. By now he was already three quarters done with his French toast, and had been munching on a slice of that glorious bacon. When food is this good, it is impossible for him to slow down. Besides, he has never had the best table manners anyways. "…-"
"Is that so?" Now it was Meis's turn to look at their friend- staring directly into his eyes to try and get his attention. He scooped out some of the cheesecake filling, forked a couple of strawberry slices, and plopped them into his mouth, all the while keeping eye contact.
Boy were their stares intense.
The Mad Burnish leader looked between them, and arched a blonde eyebrow. Guess everyone's mind went there, huh? But they were the only ones who could possibly understand. He grabbed the hot sauce bottle then, and put some onto his own eggs. After a few good shakes he was done with it. "You must enjoy a lot of bonfires with your friends then," he replied.
There was a brief silence.
When Galo spoke up, he was nervously rubbing the back of his head. "Never attended one, actually. I'm uh.. not exactly a fan of fire…" He has been invited to some in the past, but he always politely declined—saying that he already had plans. It only got worse after receiving those scars on his arm. And there was always alcohol being served at these bonfires. What if he were to get drunk, and get burned again because he fell into the fire pit?
That wasn't the response Lio wanted to hear. It really shouldn't come as a surprise to him, and yet it still made his heart sink. 'Of course he hates fire. It disfigured his arm. Why would he want to go near it again after that?' It wasn't his fault for feeling this way. However, does that mean he will leave him if he were to find out the truth about himself and the rest of his people? Will he look at him with fear and disgust, rather than love and joy? If he can't accept that part about him, then they will never work out as a couple.
He can't exist without it.
This conversation sure did take an unexpected turn. The atmosphere was so thick, that you could cut through it with a knife. Meis decided to step in to try and lighten the mood a little. "You're missing out on a lot of fun. Now that I think about it, we are hosting one ourselves this weekend. Why don't you pop on over?" He offered.
Lio's eyes grew wide. What was he thinking?! That is most certainly not the place for someone like Galo to be! It won't just be them. There are going to be many other Burnish at that party, and so what if someone slips up and reveals their true identity? He angrily stabbed a piece of his French toast. "I thought that was cancelled." The tone of his voice said it all. There is no way he will be able to relax if an outsider is present.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Gueira muttered under his breath. What were the others going to think about this—having someone who isn't a Burnish at their get-together? It made him feel uncomfortable just imagining their reactions.
Yes this could end in disaster, but wasn't it also worth risking? Meis was only trying to help here. And if this isn't just some fling to the big oaf, then surely he will accept their boss just the way he is—regardless of his feelings when it comes to fire. "Nope! That was just a false alarm. Anyways, everyone is just bringing their own food and drinks. I can send you the location once we give you our numbers," he explained.
Galo stared at him for a long minute, before turning his attention to the blonde himself. Getting someone to take his shift was easy, so that wasn't an issue. Does he shove aside his fears and go? Or should he just say that he can't, because he is working? 'Serving drinks to strangers, or hanging out with Lio and his cool buddies?' If he takes that day off, then won't they have to go on their second date? That means going in to get that piercing they discussed last night. Damn it, did he really have to give a response right now?! He placed a gentle hand on his back, and gave him a soft smile.
"Do you want me to go, Lio?" He wanted to hear the words come out of his mouth, not anyone else's.
The feeling of Galo's big, warm hand on his back made his eyes close slightly. However as soon as he saw that smile on his face, he felt his face flush. They were so close to each other. The only reason why he didn't want him there, was because of how dangerous it could be. Other than that, he knows it would be even more fun with him around. Even though he should have said no, he just couldn't bring himself to do it. Deep down he wanted to sit by a fire with him at his side. "If.. if you can, then yes…"
That was not the correct answer.
Teal eyes softened, and the smile that was already on his face grew. That is all he needed to hear. "Count me in then! Guess it'll give me an opportunity to show off my new piercing, right?" He said with a wink.
It took a couple of seconds for Lio to process that, and as soon as he did, his eyes widened. "You're choosing that day to get it done?" He asked in disbelief. Sure he was free to take him, but he just wasn't expecting it to happen then. It caught him off guard. Wow this was all happening so fast.
Galo pulled his hand away, and shrugged his shoulders. "Well I said on my next day off, didn't I? We can get that done, and then run to the store to pick up some stuff for the bonfire. How does that sound? Since I'm actually doing this, I wanna try a s'more!" He huffed with a cute pout. For that he will need to get the necessary items in order to make one of those.
Gueira slapped a hand on the table. "You better buy enough for us to have some too!" It wasn't really a demand, but oh did he want some. He still thinks this is a bad idea, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. Might as well make the most of it.
The bartender tossed his head back, and laughed. "I'm not gonna just eat them in front of you guys. I can tell you all have a huge sweet tooth anyways." He picked up the container of sugar, and pointed at the amount that was left inside of it. Between the three of them, the thing was nearly empty!
Meis paused in drinking his coffee, and sweat-dropped. Perhaps they did have a sugar addiction. Either way, this was giving him the boost that he so badly needed. It no longer felt like he got no sleep from the night before. "It should be a crime that you have never had a s'more." Nothing better than nicely-toasted marshmallows, and some melty chocolate mashed together with graham crackers.
"Good thing it isn't. Don't think I'm cut out for the prison life!" Galo joked.
Lio clicked his tongue when hearing that. 'Why? Kray would just bail you out,' he thought. It was meant to be a joke, and he gets that. However that doesn't change the fact that, if he were to get in trouble with the law in any way, then he would step in to prevent him from being thrown behind bars. Him and the other Burnish on the other hand? There would be no hope for them whatsoever. Again, this wasn't his fault. He is just still upset that those two know each other, and are practically like family. "…"
"Anyways! I'll pick up a case of beer too—maybe even some hard apple cider for you sugar fiends," he snickered. Clearly this amused him. Making French toast really was the right choice after all, paired with coffee that was probably rotting away their teeth.
Glad he could satisfy everyone.
"Beer and s'mores? Okay maybe I can accept you. But that is a hard maybe," Gueira muttered, narrowing his eyes at the bartender
"Don't forget to include the breakfast he made us," Lio cut in firmly. He didn't have to invite them over, but he wanted to out of the kindness of his heart—which was fucking huge by the way! This guy opened up his home to them without any hesitation, which is something he really admired about him. Being as sneaky as possible, he allowed his gaze to roam over his broad chest—making its way down to his small waist, and then his stomach. You could already tell that he was built like a rock before, but now that he was shirtless?
What did he look like with nothing on?
Good lord.
His eyebrows scrunched together, and he quickly looked away. "He was going to send me off with leftovers from our dinner.. for you guys to have." This wasn't being said to make them feel guilty. They should know just how kind and generous Galo really is.
Gueira folded his arms across his chest, and huffed. "So we didn't get delicious pasta because you fell asleep?" Part of him was a little salty over that, because it would have been better than what they actually had for dinner—which was canned beans. And they weren't even the good kind!
Galo held both of his hands up, and nervously chuckled. "You guys can still take them. I shoved the pasta in the fridge, and put the garlic bread into a bag. Just gotta heat everything up." He slid his chair back, and slowly got to his feet. After giving the blonde a pat on the head, he went over to gather everything.
"Just leave your dishes on the table. I'll throw it all into the sink to soak," he instructed. Once everyone leaves, he will probably take a nap on the couch while watching tv. There was nothing in particular that he wanted to watch, but it was just nice to have as background noise. A lot is going on at his workplace tonight, and he wanted to be well-rested for it. After setting the container of pasta onto the counter, he left the kitchen to retrieve the backpack he had dug out from the closet.
Meis was chuckling now. "That was quite the look you were giving him, Boss. I'd say you were undressing him with your eyes, but he's already half naked." They were seated right across from them, and could see everything that was going on. This made it impossible to miss anything.
"Well have you seen his muscles? Dude is ripped! I would show my body off too if I looked like that," Gueira sighed. Instead he was tall and lanky—something that has always bothered him for as long as he can remember.
There was nothing wrong with the redhead's body. Why he dislikes it, Lio will never understand. Wouldn't it only get boring if everyone looked the same? He gave the other Burnish a hard stare, all the while sipping at his overly-sweet coffee. "We're going to discuss what you just pulled once we get back at the hotel," he said in a deep tone of voice. Oh no, he wasn't going to let this go.
"And yes, he is very nice to look at," he added with a small smirk of his own.
Just then Galo came back into the kitchen- backpack in hand and already unzipped. "I'm gonna put everything in here, since you all rode your bikes." He carefully placed the container of pasta in it first, and then went over to grab the bag of garlic bread. There was still half of the loaf left, which was plenty for them to enjoy. These people were in a biker gang, so of course that is how they got here so quickly.
Lio was the only one still eating at this point. Not only was he trying to show some manners, but it was also a lot of food to take in. If he doesn't finish everything on his last plate, then won't that be wasteful? But if he continues to push himself, then he might actually become sick. He was pushing around what was left of his eggs and bacon with the end of his fork, contemplating on what to do. "You sure did think ahead."
Seeing as how the blonde was struggling to finish what was in front of him, Gueira leaned forward slightly. "Boss, can I have the rest of your bacon?" He whispered. Who knows when they will get to eat this stuff again. It would be a real shame for it to be thrown away.
The Burnish leader didn't even hesitate to push his plate toward him. "Knock yourself out," he mumbled. Curse his small stomach! He did, however, lick the access maple syrup off of his fork. That was the best breakfast he has had in his entire life. 'I should spend the night here more often.' It may have been just a thought, but Galo would happily allow for him to stay here whenever he wants to.
All he needed to do was ask.
And that was probably the case for just about anything.
Galo made sure that all of the pouches were zipped shut, and then headed back over to the table. "Are you guys able to stop in sometime this week? Lucia created this really cool drink that will blow your minds away! And I'll even give ya the Galo special!" He said, grinning brightly.
The Burnish trio looked at each other, and after a few more seconds of silence, responded.
"Mad Burnish will be leaving Promepolis first thing tomorrow morning. There are some.. business matters that need to be taken care of. If we somehow manage to get back earlier than expected, then yes." They can't postpone this any longer. And as much as Lio enjoys spending time with him, his people still come first.
Despite feeling disappointed that they were going to be gone, Galo also felt curious. Where exactly were they going for a couple of days? If only he could go with them. On the other hand, he wasn't even a part of their gang. Just because he has their patch sewn onto his brand new leather jacket, doesn't give him the right to ride with them. Maybe he was slightly jealous of the fun they will be having—traveling outside of town, and getting to do cool stuff together! When was the last time he went anywhere beyond the city? It never crossed his mind to plan a trip with his friends, but now that he thought about it, man did he want a vacation!
"Well don't get into too much trouble! Yeah it sucks you can't stop by and see me at work, but there will be other times!" He playfully punched the blonde's shoulder, flashing him one of his dorky grins. Moping around isn't going to change anything, and he understands that fully. So instead he was going to look forward to the day when he gets to make him another drink. Until then he just needed to be patient.
Another smirk formed on Lio's face, as he laid a hand over his shoulder. "I can't make any promises. Us Mad Burnish love to live on the dangerous side. I hope you haven't forgotten that we are a gang. I get that you're so infatuated with me, but don't let that blind you," he teased.
Hearing that made Galo pout, and his cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. "N-no I haven't forgotten! How could I? Just figured that you were, I dunno.. one of the good gangs that are out there?"
Magenta eyes widened in shock. Why would he assume such a thing like that? His heart really is too big for his own good. "You're so naïve," he chuckled quietly. It wasn't meant to necessarily insult him. It was one of the many things that he liked about him. He thought it was cute, if anything.
After taking the backpack from him, Meis stood up and swung it over his shoulder. It wasn't either of their places to say anything regarding what they really are. Until the truth is revealed, they need to remain silent about it. "Thanks for the food! Boss sure is going to be spoiled dating you."
Hearing it being said out loud like that made Galo feel all warm and tingly on the inside. "W-well that ain't a bad thing, haha! Now let me just get your guys' number here—" He mumbled, pulling his phone out from his pants pocket. It was a newer model, but already had a cracked screen. That is what happens when you're reckless with your things—or in his case, accidentally step on it. How was he supposed to know it fell on the floor, until he heard a loud crunch beneath his boot? Paying to get it fixed wasn't the issue here. It was making the time to go in and have it done.
Basically, he was just being lazy about it.
Lio sighed, but still smiled slightly as he watched them exchange numbers. Seeing the state of his phone made him want to laugh, but he held it in. Give it to someone like him to break something so expensive. 'I already feel spoiled as it is,' he thought. Right now he smelled like a giant orange, but he wasn't hating it. As a matter of fact, it was taking everything in him not to sniff his damp hair. The scent was growing on him, needless to say. And don't even get him started on the bodywash! He probably took more than needed, but oh well. This was the only time where he didn't have to ration anything, for the sake of saving some for his friends.
Galo tucked his phone back into his pocket, and clapped his hands together. "Okay! I'm guessing everyone is done then? And Lio, don't push yourself. They're just eggs anyways. Like, they are really cheap! So don't worry about it! It would be awful if you had to pull over because you got sick. Just make it home safely, alright?" He said that last part more softly, as he gazed directly into the blonde's eyes.
The Burnish's heart thumped hard against his ribcage, and he silently nodded. Of course. Why would he ever think that this would be an issue? Clearly the guy makes enough to waste a small amount of eggs, and then-some. "I will send you a text message once we get back, letting you know that we survived the bike ride home," he mused.
That would actually make him feel a whole lot better. "Please do. I get that you guys do this for a living, but you never know. There are crazies out there who don't look where they're going." A lot of accidents happen here in Promepolis. And, well, no one is invincible. Even the most skilled bike rider out there could wipe out, or get hit.
Anything was possible.
"Uhh, let me walk you guys to the door!" He offered with an awkward smile. When you rarely have guests over, you don't really know how to see them off. It just felt like the right thing to do for some reason. He even gestured for them to get in front of him, patiently waiting as they all left the kitchen. As he followed behind, he stuffed his hands into his pockets. It was a quick breakfast, but to be honest? He still enjoyed himself. Hopefully the others felt the same. They all ate so fast, so it is no wonder why. It was like they were swallowing their food without chewing first. Well no one choked, so that is a plus!
All four of them stopped at the front door, and just stared at each other for a minute.
That is, until Meis decided to break the silence. "We'll meet you downstairs, Boss!" He grabbed onto Gueira's shoulders, and pushed him out of the apartment. And to no surprise, he began to protest against this. His hold on him only tightened at this, as he proceeded to head toward the elevator. 'They need to say their goodbyes, and I would rather not get stuck in the middle of that.' Trying to stop whatever was going on between them was kind of pointless. This is what their leader wants. Not only that, but seems genuinely happy about this. Who were they to deprive him of something like this? For now they just needed to be there for him, and support whatever is going on.
That is what friends are supposed to do.
Must he be so obvious with his actions? It was so embarrassing. Lio turned his body to face the other male, and flicked a strand of blonde hair back. "Still have no regrets inviting them over?" Not to sound harsh, but he sort of did. Because of Meis and his big mouth, now he has to stress over a non-Burnish being at their bonfire this Saturday. There is no way he will be able to enjoy himself because of this. The only bright side to this, was going on their second date. How the heck is he going to keep everything a secret, when they will literally be surrounded by his people? Unless he tells them in advance to be careful. Everyone knew better than to go agaisnt him, since he is their leader.
That earned a chuckle from the bartender. "I think that went great! And they anihilated everything on their plates, so I did a damn good job impressing them if you ask me!" He said with a rather large grin. Some comments were made, yes, but he didn't hold any of it against them. They were just looking out for their friend, who so happens to be the leader of Mad Burnish. What was wrong with that? You need people like that in your life.
"Yeah, we have a habit of inhaling our food…" That is to be expected when you can't afford to eat properly. Looking down, he brought his hands forward to pull Galo's much bigger ones out of hiding. That is when he noticed just how warm they really are, and felt his eyes soften at the feeling. The skin on them was a bit rough, but that didn't stop him from interlacing their fingers together. 'So it wasn't just my imagination after all. This guy is naturally this warm…'
How was he going to bring himself to ever let go now?
Galo gulped, and took a step closer. His beautiful teal-colored became half-lidded, as he gave his hands a gentle squeeze. "Lio," he whispered. Was it too soon to kiss him? Their first date was a success, and were even excited about their next one. So, did that mean it was okay to take that next step? 'I don't want to freak him out by taking things too fast.' There is also the fact that he has never kissed anyone before. Shit, what if he messes it up? It was such an easy thing to do, and yet at the same time, still seemed so complicated. He has never been put in this position before, and it shows.
Then, out of nowhere, he ducked his head to place a kiss on his cheek. "I had a nice time last night, and.. I can't wait for Saturday when I get to see you again," he murmured. It is going to be a long week, but at least this gave him something to look forward to. It will make their next meeting all the more sweeter.
Why was this man so cute? Honestly though, Lio couldn't get enough of him. Of course he went and gave him such an innocent kiss. Guess he really is a gentleman after all. "You continue to amaze me, Galo Thymos." His own eyes were closed, and he wore a gentle smile when saying this just as quietly. 'Even if this is just temporary, I'm glad I get to spend this time with you,' he finished in his mind. Who knows how long this will last.
Staying together forever was just a fantasty, and he knew that.
But was it so wrong to still want it?
Once his deepest secret is revealed, can he really walk away from this?
Can he give up the one person who makes him feel the happiest?
Lio pulled his hands away, but only so that he could wrap his arms around him. The thought of losing him at all was depressing. Why did they have to live in two separate worlds? It would have been so much easier to catch feelings for another Burnish, and yet that didn't happen. Instead he got stuck falling for this himbo right here. If they can manage to make this work, then it was going to be the biggest miracle. "…"
Was he stalling? If so, then he was in the same boat. He didn't want him to leave either. Galo returned the hug—wrapping his strong arms around the blonde, and pulling him in even closer. "You smell nice," he beamed.
The Burnish leader snorted, only burying his face deeper into Galo's chest. "I smell like you, that's why," he retorted. Yes he just admitted to liking his scent. It was very nice, so where was the shame in it? This is the closest they have ever been, so he never really noticed until now. Letting go wasn't going to be easy, but just for this moment he wanted to stay like this.
Meis and Gueira can wait a little bit longer.