Today's line: "The herb garden's looking a bit dry. 'Erb, herb. Which sounds better?"
-"They both sound weird. Rip it out and plant a geranium instead."
As promised, Oliver meets Aidan at the Hinkypunk's Lantern in Dublin at one, sagging into the wall of the Apparation point with the exhaustion that comes from two hours of negotiating around Howard in a stubborn mood. Aidan is waiting for him at the point, and loops his hand through Oliver's arm, levering him upright with a gentle kiss on the cheek and a whispered, "Didn't go well, then?"
Oliver sighs. "It took them half an hour to decide that we couldn't have a fancy-dress party because Danny wouldn't be dressed for it, it being a surprise party." He shakes his head in despair. Aidan snickers.
"You sound like you need a pint."
They drink for too long considering the time, bathed neatly in the pink light of the pub, and then when Aidan gets up, hauls them both back to the Apparation point and squeezes them into a well-lit hallway that Oliver can only assume belongs to his Dublin flat.
He stumbles into the wall, pulling the older man into him until he's pinned. "Whoops," he says quietly.
The Seeker laughs. "Whoops indeed," he says gleefully. Then he slowly arranges his limbs until he has the balance to clamber off Oliver, who shakes his head to clear the spinning motions from his ears. "D'you want the tour?"
The tour ends up being relatively short; Aidan pulls him at breakneck speed around most of the house with a hurried call of 'kitchen' and 'bathroom' as they half-run past the rooms, then stops on his way through the living room. "I'm quite proud of this."
This turns out to be a balcony with a perfect wire surround at chest height. Oliver can't help his awed expression as he steps out onto it, watching the sparrows peck around the garden below them. "How much of that garden is yours?" he asks quietly.
Aiden slips his arms around Oliver's waist and leans them against the wire. "About half," he answers, just as softly, his Irish lilt a seductive hum in Oliver's ear. "The begonias, the pansy bed – Katie likes pansies. The herb garden's looking a bit dry." He pauses for a moment as though considering. "'erb," he purrs into Oliver's cheekbone. "Herb. Which sounds better?"
Oliver turns his head to capture the Seeker's lips quickly. "They both sound weird," he admits. "Rip it out and plant a geranium instead."
The former Slytherin snorts. "I think the landlady would murder me." Oliver feels him shift against his back and pull his wand out of his pocket. "Aguamenti," he whispers, controlling the jet of water until it lands neatly in the herb garden.
"Have you finished housekeeping now?" Oliver asks when he finally lets the stream end.
Aiden laughs. "Sorry," he says softly, taking his earlobe into his mouth by way of apology. Oliver makes an involuntary noise in the back of his throat and forgives him. The blond turns him around and kisses the corner of his mouth, just in case. "Will you let me make it up to you?" he asks quietly.
Oliver smirks. "If you like," he says.