It was another dreary, rainy afternoon in London, England. The morning had started off sunny enough, but, unsurprisingly, dark clouds had rolled in and proceeded to fill the city with a misting rain that, slowly but surely, soaked everything. Caught in this dismal weather, Alfred, Toris, and Feliks huddled under an entirely useless umbrella as they made their way along the sidewalk.
"So much for a day of seeing the sights of London," Al muttered, peering out at the dim gray world he found himself in.
"It was such a nice morning." Put out, Feliks could only lean into the arm Toris had around his shoulders.
"We'll think of something else to do," the brunet assured his lover. "Something fun."
In the drizzle, the small group stopped long enough to gather their bearings. The city was, in general, unfamiliar to them, but Al at least somewhat recognized the buildings.
"Isn't this near that restaurant we had lunch at after the photoshoot?"
"The one where you tormented Arthur and made him horny?" Feliks ignored the daggers Alfred glared at him. "Yeah, I think so."
"It is." Toris' attention was on the sign at the corner. "I recognize the street name. Is it time for lunch? We could go there again.'
Glancing at his watch, the shorter blond continued his oblivious ignorance of his companion. "Close enough." Together, fairie and nymph moved off down the sidewalk as a moody incubus trailed after.
Inside the restaurant was blessedly cool and dry compared to the humid mist of the outdoors. It was almost like stepping into another world, and all three friends visibly relaxed as they moved farther in.
"Hello!"
Three heads turned. Feliks smiled, an expression that Toris and Alfred immediately recognized. Arched eyebrow, cat-like smile, hooded eyes—it was the same bespectacled, buck-toothed boy as the last time they'd visited, and the nymph was clearly pleased to see him.
"Hello." Abandoning the other two, the green-eyed blond approached the boy and leaned against the greeter's stand. "Nice to see you again." He stressed the "you," and the boy's smile turned shy.
"Thank you, thir," the waiter was flustered, which only made Feliks' smile grow.
"Sir? Mm…I like the sound of that."
"Feliks," stepping forward, Toris touched his mate's shoulder then looked at the embarrassed teen apologetically. "I'm sorry. He just can't help himself sometimes." The look he shot the nymph was stern, but Feliks only smiled innocently and kissed the brunet's cheek.
"I was just having a little fun, Tori. I wasn't hurting anyone." Green eyes landed on the boy, hooded again. "He knows I wouldn't hurt him." There was no denying the suggestive lilt to his tone.
Still standing a few steps back, Alfred watched Feliks continue to flirt with the waiter as Toris pretended to try to stop him. Eventually, flustered and overwhelmed, the teen led them to a booth by the windows and gave them their menus, and Feliks kept up his game.
"When's your lunch break?" His chin propped in his hand, the blond smiled invitingly. "You should come sit with us."
"Oh, I, it'th, uh," the boy looked at his watch then back towards the greeter's stand, hesitating. "I don't uthually go until after the lunch ruth."
Feliks' lower lip stuck out slightly. "Aw, we're too early. That's too bad."
With his arm around the nymph's shoulders, Toris smiled reassuringly. "We can come back another day for a late lunch. Then maybe our young friend would be able to join us."
"Yeah!" Brightening at the suggestion, Feliks sat up straighter. "What days do you work? Or, here," the blond pulled his cell phone from his bag and tapped the screen a few times, "give me your number and I'll text you so you can let me know when we can come eat with you." Expectant green eyes watched the embarrassed surprise that flashed over the waiter's face.
Rapidly, he blinked, freckles standing out against the red in his face. "…really?" It was hopeful disbelief rather than confused that raised the pitch of his voice slightly.
"Yes, of course." Feliks was smoldering now, giving off waves of heat and lust that made Alfred entirely uncomfortable. The incubus in him stirred, sparked hunger at the back of his mind for the first time in days. He was used to Feliks acting this way, since it was a favorite game for him and Toris, but still, it was frustrating.
Tearing his gaze away from the nymph, Alfred held back a low growl.
Damn it, Fe.
It'd been nearly a week since his last feeding and he'd really hoped he'd be able to go a bit longer. Feeding off Arthur was great, entirely satisfying, but the Brit wasn't there and now Feliks had triggered his appetite. The damn nymph was sitting two feet away, all of his attention on that poor, awkward teenager, and Toris was eating if up. If things went their way, that boy was going to become their pet for a day, or a week, maybe the rest of summer if they liked him well enough. Alfred really hoped the kid wasn't a virgin—he'd be completely overwhelmed and essentially helpless compared with the experience and abilities Toris and Feliks had.
Holy hell this was making him hungry. If they kept it up for too much longer, he wouldn't be able to make it through lunch.
Frowning just slightly, Alfred stepped on Toris' foot under the table to capture the fairie's attention. As soon as their eyes met, Alfred knew that Toris understood the situation. All he had to wonder about now was if the brunet would take pity on him or allow Feliks to continue his game.
"Fe," Toris picked up the blond's hand and laced his fingers through Feliks', "you've got his number, now let him go back to work before you get him in trouble."
Oh, thank whatever gods there are.
Though he pouted a little, Feliks said goodbye to the waiter and promised to text him later in the day. Still flustered by the attention that had been put on him, the bespectacled brunet went back to his greeter's stand to help a new group of customers that had sought refuge from the weather.
Green eyes turned on Alfred, unhappy. "What gives, Incubutt?"
"You were making me hungry."
"You could've taken him to the bathroom for a snack."
Alfred rolled his eyes at the suggestion. "Or I could not cheat on my boyfriend."
"Is it cheating if it's purely for food?"
"Yes."
Feliks looked like he wanted to argue with him over it but Alfred stared at him until the nymph huffed in defeat.
"Fine. Sorry."
The three were quiet for over a minute, their attention focused on the menus they'd been given, and Alfred tried in vain to quell the hunger Feliks had incidentally started. He didn't really know why he was bothering. In all his years as an incubus, calming himself down and ignoring his hunger never worked for anything other than putting it off for a little while. He was going to have to feed when they got back to the hotel, and he needed a distraction until then.
Without having picked anything off the menu, Al pulled his phone from his pocket, paused just long enough to decide what he wanted to say, then tapped out a text and hit Send. He probably wasn't going to get a response right away, but that didn't matter. Just knowing he would, at some point today, be making plans to see Arthur again would help distract him.
"Who're you texting?"
The question had Alfred lifting his head, his mouth already open to answer, until he saw the knowing looks on his companions' faces. Immediately, he scowled. "Ha ha." Feliks laughed and Toris gave a soft chuckle.
"How's Arthur doing?" It was a genuine question this time, but Alfred kept his scowl in place.
"I assume he's good."
"Why only assume?'
"'Cause I haven't heard from him yet today."
"Oh."
Feliks wasn't satisfied with that exchange. "Are you seeing him again soon?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Still not satisfied, Feliks sighed and slumped in his part of the booth, arms folded over his chest. "You two need to, like, get a move on."
Alfred rolled his eyes. "I don't know what you think I should do."
"Claim him as your mate."
"We've been over this, Fe," the bespectacled blond sighed, dropping his chin to his collarbone. I'm not gonna do that to him. Becoming a mythical sucks, and what if he's not even my mate? I'd just be ruining his life for nothing."
"It wouldn't ruin his life to not be human anymore."
Scoffing, Alfred looked out the window rather than at Feliks and Toris. "Wanna bet?"
The other two exchanged looks but didn't say anything, and Al kept talking. "I'd rather just date him for a while and be happy with that than change him. He deserves better than me, you know? Better than someone' who'll use him for food and can't…really…be with him…" Trailing off, he swallowed and breathed deep through his nose, held it for a few seconds, then let it go. His emotions were getting the better of him and that really wasn't what he wanted right now. Not in public, not in front of Tor and Liks. It was just that he hadn't let himself think about it before, what would happen if he had Arthur and lost him or had to let him go because of what he was. Sure, he'd argued with himself about why he shouldn't get involved with the Brit in the first place, but he'd clearly ignored his own advice. Losing him now, after taking the risk, would be even worse.
Well, at least he wasn't so hungry anymore.
"How are things going with him?" Toris asked, breaking the silence that had fallen when Alfred stopped talking. The genuine interest in his tone was the only thing that made Alfred answer with more than a shrug.
"All right. He apparently bought some stuff for us, but he won't tell me what." He was relaxed again, not as much as he'd like to have been, but more than he was a moment ago. "He needed to know my favorite color."
"Really?" No longer put off by Alfred's sudden bad mood, Feliks leaned forward across the table, his eyes lit with keen interest. "I bet it's something sexy."
"What? No." Alfred immediately dismissed the idea, for his own sake more than anything. Imagining what sort of sexy things Arthur might've bought definitely wouldn't help keep his appetite under control, so he didn't let himself. "Arthur's too reserved for that." That was a lie and they all knew it, but Al said it anyway.
"Just you wait, Incubutt." Smug, Feliks went back to surveying his menu. "That British boyfriend of yours is going to blow your sex-demon mind."
"You're not helping," Alfred growled, eyes narrowed behind his glasses. One of Feliks' slim shoulders lifted in a noncommittal shrug.
Asshole.
Leave it to a nymph to make things worse.
Annoyed and still hungry, Alfred looked over his menu with little actual interest. This wasn't what he was hungry for, but he'd still get something. With a metabolism like his, he had to eat. Unfortunately, nothing looked at all appetizing. All he wanted right now was Arthur.
Damn it…
His annoyance turned into frustration and Alfred sighed heavily. This was fucking ridiculous. What was he? Some two-hundred-year-old incubus, infatuated with a human to the point of being pathetic. Yeah. Pathetic.
Wow he really couldn't decide what he wanted.
"Fe," he dropped the menu on the tabletop, "order for me."
"Mmkay."
The nymph was a little too comfortable with leading his friend's life. Still, it let Alfred relax a little, and he took the opportunity to check his phone. No reply from Arthur yet—he must have his lunch break a little later. They were eating kind of early, anyway.
Busy staring out the window as the drizzle became rain, Al didn't fully notice when a waiter came to their table to take their orders. Since he'd given control of his meal to Feliks, it didn't particularly matter, and he didn't pay any more attention once the waiter left again. He was so focused on watching the water droplets gather and slide down the glass that his phone buzzed, and he didn't register it for over a minute. But the thought that he should check it nagged at him until he tore his gaze from the window and clicked his phone to life.
Arthur had responded.
No, but I'll wager you've got something in mind.
Alfred didn't even try to keep from smiling.
You know me so well.
Lunch break?
Yes. Are you going to tell me what you want to do this weekend?
Maybe.
Is it a surprise?
Well, no, he hadn't planned it to be, but it sounded like a fantastic idea now that the thought about it. Corny and cliché, definitely, but also really, really fantastic.
Yep!
Why do I feel like your surprises can only lead to trouble?
That's hurtful, Artie.
He could imagine the look on Arthur's face, how he'd raise those bushy eyebrows of his then smile a little, shake his head or roll his eyes or both before replying. It was just a shame he didn't actually get to see it.
Hasn't anyone ever told you that the truth can hurt?
Hey, if you're not nice to me then I don't have to take you on the incredibly romantic date I have planned.
I don't believe that for a second.
Why not?
Because I also get the feeling that you want the opportunity to prove what an excellent boyfriend you are.
Naw, I don't have to prove that.
No? What a shame.
Wait, what? Shame? What shame?
What's that supposed to mean?
Nothing, nothing.
Oh, that little…
He was doing this on purpose just to try to throw Alfred off. Unfortunately for the blue-eyed blond, it was working.
"Something wrong?"
"What?" Distracted, he only half-glanced at the men across the table from him.
"You were grinning a second ago and now you look worried. Is it Arthur? Did something happen?" Toris was concerned and Alfred shook his head, frowning at his phone.
"He's teasing me."
The brunet's expression turned to mildly surprised amusement. "Oh. I see."
"Yeah." But his focus was entirely back on his phone now. What did Arthur mean? What was a shame? That he wasn't showing himself off as the perfect boyfriend? He could do that, he supposed, if he really wanted to. If Arthur wanted him to.
So are we on for Saturday?
He wanted to snark at Arthur for acting pretentious but didn't let himself. It would probably have started a fight or something, and he just knew the Brit would call him immature or childish or something along those lines. Ignoring the teasing entirely was a much better idea.
I suppose so. Is it ever going to be my turn to plan one of our dates?
You can plan one whenever you want.
Really? Hm. I'll have to come up with something good.
You do that
Are you sure you aren't going to tell me what you've got planned for Saturday?
100%
I suppose I can wait and see, then.
Yeah, but I don't wanna wait until Saturday to see you.
Then come have lunch with me tomorrow.
Tomorrow? Lunch? It was sooner than he'd expected but that was definitely a good thing. He'd mostly thought that Arthur would tell him he was just going to have to wait for the weekend. Meeting the golden blond for lunch was a great idea.
I'd love to.
Good. I'll send you the name and address of the café. Meet me there at 12:15 tomorrow.
You got it!
"He's smiling again," Feliks commented.
With his arm around his mate's shoulders, Toris watched Alfred interestedly. "Arthur must have stopped teasing him."
"I'm having lunch with him tomorrow." Victorious, the blue-eyed blond set his phone down and grinned at his companions. "And we're going on a date this Saturday."
To his and Toris' surprise, Feliks' face fell and the nymph sighed in defeat.
"What?"
"There goes the shoot I wanted you to go to."
Any concern he'd felt for the nymph evaporated and Alfred raised an eyebrow. "When were you gonna tell me about that?"
"Saturday."
"So you were just gonna wake me up and talk me into it like last time."
"I was going to let you bring Arthur again!"
Okay, having the Brit along would've made it better, but that didn't change the fact that Alfred sort of hated when Feliks sprang things on him like that. "No deal. I'm taking him on a date. You'll just have to go to the shoot without me and check out the competition, or whatever it is you do at those things."
Feliks was starting to pout. "That's nowhere near as fun as putting you in the shoot."
"Well, that's too damn bad, Fe. I'm not going."
"As your boss, I could make you go."
"Or I could just quit being your dress-up doll."
The two blonds stared at each other in a silent war, until Toris shifted closer to his lover and whispered into his ear. Immediately, Feliks' expression lightened and he nodded.
"Okay. You're off the hook, Incubutt. Tori's got something better than a shoot."
Thanks to his acute hearing, Alfred had caught most of that, and he wasn't surprised in the slightest that Toris had taken that approach to get Feliks to give up. "Good." So he was still kind of hungry, but he was in a great mood compared to the rest of the day so far. Hopefully, the weather would be clear this weekend, but it wouldn't be terrible if it rained—the date he had planned would work out either way. And he was going to have lunch with Arthur tomorrow. Things were working out better than he'd expected.