Adam looked around at the familiar interior of the Club; surprised when something inside him relaxed. He knew his place here and he knew exactly what was expected of him. Pressing close to Mac as people milled around them, Adam was pleased to notice his boss didn't tense at the contact. Either it really wasn't a problem or Mac was amazing undercover. Adam followed as Mac led them to a booth in the corner. It was perfect. It had just the right viewpoint of the entire bar but at the same time afforded them a little privacy. This would cover up for any problems Mac or himself had transitioning into this world together. Mac sat at the booth. He touched Adam's arm before he had time to kneel.
"Go get us some drinks," Mac spoke loud enough for only Adam to here, and he nodded his understanding. Turning, Adam kept his eyes down as much as he could while walking to the bar. He could feel so many eyes on him and it scared him a little. Somewhere in this crowd could be a murderer. When Adam got to the bar he put in his order of one non-alcoholic beer and a cherry soda. He knew Mac wouldn't want to be drinking, but for the sake of the cover it had to seem like he was here to relax. Taking the drinks when they were ready, Adam offered a small smile to Rick who had served him. He knew a tab had already been set up and Rick was going to be serving them all night to guard against drugging.
Adam got back to the table in short order, placing both drinks on the table before falling easily to his knees beside Mac. One hand went immediately to Mac's ankle, ready in case he needed to alert his boss of anyone suspicious. Adam almost jumped when he felt Mac's hand settle in his hair but he relaxed quickly into the touch. It may have just been for the cover but Adam had the feeling Mac was trying to soothe him a little too. They stayed like that for quite a while; Mac gently stroked Adam's hair as both men kept a lookout for someone who may be their suspect. After a while Adam realised he hadn't been concentrating for some time. Somewhere along the way he'd become focussed on the hand in his hair and the warmth of Mac's leg against his side. Adam gave himself a mental shake just in time, as a new pair of legs appeared in his line of sight.
"What a beautiful boy you have." Adam felt Mac's hand tighten in his hair and he couldn't help the small smile it caused. The man attached to the legs had a deep voice that held a clear undertone of caring to it.
"You're alone," Mac noted and Adam knew it was partially for his benefit, since he couldn't see much.
"Not quite," The man replied. "My girl is over at the bar. Flirting with a waitress." Adam heard the interested 'oh?' Mac answered with, followed by a warm laugh from the mystery man.
"She likes to tease me," He explained, sitting in a nearby chair. His legs slipped out of Adam's eye line. "She thinks I don't know what she's doing."
"And what's that?" Mac asked.
"Trying to make me jealous. She's insecure, you see. She likes to see how much I want her. It's a little juvenile for my tastes, but if it makes her happy…" Adam could hear the fondness in the man's voice and apparently Mac picked up on it too.
"You love her." It wasn't a question. Another laugh from the man followed.
"She does test me," He spoke with affection. "But yes, I love her. That girl is my world; if only she'd believe it." Adam noticed in the back of his mind that Mac had started stroking his hair again. When the mystery man spoke again his voice held an edge of knowing.
"Of course, I don't need to tell you…" Mac didn't reply and Adam belatedly noticed he was leaning into Mac's leg more and more. Mac wasn't answering because he didn't need to. Adam was talking loud enough for the both of them.
"I just stopped by because I see you're new here," The man stood as he spoke. "If you ever want some company, just wave us over. My name's Bill, by the way."
"Mac," came the reply.
"Good to meet you, Mac. Now if you'll excuse me; I have some amateur dramatics to put on." Mac chucked softly as the man walked away towards the bar. Mac took a drink from his glass before taking Adam's cherry soda off the table and holding it in front of the younger man. Adam simply wrapped his lips around it, and Mac got the message. Carefully, he tipped some of the liquid into Adam's mouth. Adam swallowed, and Mac replaced the drink on the table. Leaning forward, Mac used his hand in Adam's hair to tilt the younger man's head up. This afforded them the ability to talk, while still seeming to an outsider that Mac was in control.
"You see anything suspicious?" Mac asked softly. Adam forced himself to focus on Mac's eyes as the older man spoke.
"Can't really see much of anything," Adam answered quietly. Mac nodded his understanding and stopped to think for a moment. Moving his hand to Adam's arm, Mac used it to pull Adam up and situate him in his boss' lap. Adam moved easily but the question in his eyes was easily readable.
"Better view for you," Mac spoke into Adam's ear and the tech had to stop himself shivering. "And nobody's the wiser if they're looking." Adam nodded his understanding and wiggled into Mac's embrace; resting his head on Mac's shoulder and subtly surveying the room. He could see so much more from this position and if having so much of his body connected to Mac was making his stomach flutter, well he just had to keep a lid on it. Mac's arms came to wrap loosely around Adam and the younger man couldn't help relaxing as he looked around the room. This close Adam could smell Mac's skin and it made his heart leap. Mac reached out for his beer, a little surprised at how easy this was. Having Adam in his lap felt as natural as could be and the steady heartbeat he could feel against his chest was greatly calming. So when that heartbeat rapidly increased, Mac had to look at Adam. The younger man's eyes were wide and fixed on someone in the crowd.
"Adam?" Mac asked softly, instinctively tightening his grip on Adam.
"I know him," Adam whispered, eyes still fixed. Mac followed Adam's eye line to see a stocky man coming through the crowd towards them. "From before." Mac didn't need to ask to know that 'before' meant when Adam came here with his ex. The look of fear on Adam's face made Mac think this man could be one of the reasons Adam didn't come here anymore. Mac straightened as the man stopped in front of them; Adam's burrowing further into his side didn't go unnoticed.
"Can I help you?" Mac asked, gaze steely. The man simply smirked and gestured towards Adam.
"Just thought I'd offer a friendly warning. That sub you got there is damaged goods." Mac felt Adam's breath hitch at the words. Tightening his hold on Adam, Mac offered the man a dismissive smile.
"Is that so?"
"I'm friends with his old Dom; the kid can't take orders. No discipline." To the surprise of both Adam and the man, Mac laughed.
"I think that's where your friend went wrong," He explained lightly. "I don't order Adam to do anything. I simply ask things of him and he does them, without question, because he loves me." Adam's chest tightened at the truth he heard in the words but he had the presence of mind to press closer into Mac; proving the older man's point with the action.
"Make him go away," Adam spoke to Mac, loud enough for the other man to hear. Mac almost laughed aloud at this.
"No offence, but my boy really doesn't like you so I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." The shocked look on the man's face made Adam chuckle softly, which in turn caused Mac to smile. The man's expression darkened at this.
"You believe him over me?" The man seemed genuinely incredulous and Mac couldn't understand why.
"Do I trust the person I share my life with more than a random stranger?" Mac asked, as if he were speaking to a child. "Yes, I do. Now please leave." Despite the 'please' Mac threw in the man could clearly see he wasn't welcome so, with ill grace, the turned and left. Adam let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding and Mac looked at him carefully.
"You alright?" He asked lowly. Adam nodded but the movement was jerky. Mac sighed a little, looking around the room.
"Maybe we should call it a night," He offered.
"No," Adam shook his head emphatically. "The victims weren't killed until after 10, it's only 9:30. We can't go yet." Mac couldn't help smiling. Even in his present condition, Adam still had the job first in his mind.
"Ok," Mac conceded. "But if it gets to be too much, you tell me." Adam nodded. Mac tilted the younger man's chin, making him look into sharp blue eyes. "You tell me," He repeated.
"Yes, Mac," Adam almost whispered and Mac noticed the same something he'd seen swimming in those eyes before they left the apartment. With a soft, approving smile Mac let go of Adam's chin and turned his attention back the crowd. Adam, however, didn't stop looking at Mac. He couldn't. His attention was eventually pulled away by the sight of an apparent Dom forcing a young man through the crowd.
"Mac," Adam whispered. Mac looked in the direction Adam was looking and saw the couple.
"You think he's in trouble?" Mac asked discreetly.
"Hard to tell," Adam replied. He looked at Mac, a little worry in his eyes. "Follow my lead?" Mac nodded wordlessly and Adam slid off his lap. Taking Mac's hand, Adam led the older man through the crowd. The Dom in question was heading towards the emergency exit, young man in tow. Stepping back, Adam pulled Mac's arm around his waist, and Mac quickly got the idea. Taking control, Mac pressed into Adam; walking the younger man towards the exit. They followed the suspect couple out and Adam visibly relaxed the moment they got outside.
"Adam?" Mac asked, confused at the change in demeanour.
"Tattoos," Adam whispered and Mac looked up at the couple. The Dom had what Mac now believed to be his own sub up against a wall. Their hands were linked above their heads and Mac could clearly see the matching tattoos on their wrists. Their conversation alerted the Dom and Mac's hand instinctively tightened around Adam's waist. The Dom gave a small smile and stepped away from his sub a fraction.
"You like to watch?" He asked Mac, who offered a smirk of his own.
"He does," Mac replied. Adam was surprised at how good Mac was at thinking on his feet.
"What do you think, baby?" The Dom asked his sub, pulling the young man away from the wall to face Mac and Adam. The young man made a keening noise in the back of his throat; clearly too far gone for any decision making. The Dom raised his eyebrows playfully before leaning into his subs ear.
"Would you like them to watch?" He asked, loud enough for Mac and Adam to hear. "Would it get you off if I let these strangers see you; stretched out and begging for me?" The sub made a desperate noise. Mac almost felt sorry for him.
"On your knees." The sub dropped immediately and his Dom left him there. The sub didn't move at all as the Dom approached Mac and Adam.
"Hey," He whispered, making sure his sub couldn't hear him. "I don't mean to be a tease, but I'm really not into the exhibitionist thing." Mac smiled understandingly.
"Just using it to rile him up?" The Dom nodded and Mac nodded in return. "Not a problem. Have a good night."
"You too," The Dom smiled widely and Mac turned Adam back towards the wedged open exit.