"My life flashed before my eyes! Razor blade lips and daggers up in your eyes! Baby, your love is a crime- danger by day, but you're evil in the night!"

"Wow…"

…

February 1st, 213X

…

"Thank you very much," Papyrus said with a bright smile to the bartender as she left a can of orange Fanta before him. His amber gaze soon returned to the stage to his left, where a tall, slender man with slightly feminine curves and a gorgeous face and a perfectly-shaped mop of black hair sang and swung his hips in time with the beat while seemingly dancing with the microphone stand. He tossed his hair and Papyrus heard a few whoops and hollers when the performer fixed the audience before him with a sexy smirk and a piercing gaze from his strange amethyst eyes, striking a pose. He belted out a perfect, sustained note a few lines later, earning more cheers and several people tossed bills up on the stage.

Papyrus had been a little put off, even a little jealous the first time the first time he'd come to see Mettaton perform when they'd started seeing each other. But now, he was excited that Mettaton was such a hit. It meant Mettaton made plenty of money- he lived mostly off tips, after all- and he would be requested back to perform again because it was so good for business. Sure, he was the opening act for a strip club's main show tonight, but it was a good gig and Mettaton himself didn't have to strip. Though, if Papyrus knew him at all, he'd probably tease the crowd by ripping his shirt off just for fun.

And just as Papyrus expected, the tight-fitting magenta tank top came off right before the last line of the song.

"Bombs over Broadway, fire in the sky!" The club exploded with applause and Mettaton flung his shirt toward a particularly loud table, a kiss blown in their direction for effect as the last notes of music died. "Thank you all, darlings. I'll see you again soon, just look for my gorgeous face on the front door!" Mettaton left the microphone behind and a couple shirtless men in black jeans ran out to gather up all the money on the stage for him between acts. Papyrus was practically beaming watching Mettaton swing his hips as he went back up the catwalk. But before he could slip behind the curtains- just like every time Papyrus came to see him perform- Mettaton paused and his gaze settled on Papyrus at the bar, giving him a little wink and crooking a finger at him to come to his dressing room.

Papyrus took a drink from his soda and slipped from the barstool to scamper down the bar toward the door to the backstage area, flashing his ID and backstage pass to the bouncers on his way past. He trotted down the hall toward the door with a swirly star marked 'Guest Performer' with Mettaton's name hanging on a plaque underneath. But halfway down the hall, Papyrus stopped short so not to plow into a couple of the girls who usually performed in the club.

"Oh, hi, Papyrus," both said to him cheerily as they adjusted their corsets and costumes. Papyrus was so terribly innocent and completely naïve that they treated him like a little brother rather than a bothersome man creeping around backstage. "Is Mettaton's set over?"

"Yup!" Papyrus chirped. "He was really amazing, I wish you could've seen it! He sang one of those Adam Lambert songs!"

"Oh, his voice is perfect for those. We'll catch him on video later for sure." One of the girls kissed his cheek with a smile and they both headed the opposite way to finish getting ready. "Bye, Papy!"

"Bye, Dana! Bye, Piper!" Papyrus watched them go with his usual bright smile. It grew suddenly nervous when he felt familiar fingers catch the back of his belt, and a lean form press against his back. Perfect, slender arms snaked about his middle and cool hands with lovely, manicured nails in black pressed to his lower chest and dangerously low on his stomach. "H-Hi, Mettaton," Papyrus stammered, feeling a heat creep into his cheeks that only grew hotter when two black-painted lips pressed to his neck and left a perfect lipstick print.

"Hello, darling," Mettaton purred, his chin resting on Papyrus' shoulder while his fingers gently skimmed over the fabric of Papyrus' black turtleneck under his brown leather coat, leaving little tingling trails on Papyrus' skin beneath. "Come join me." Mettaton's fingers caught the edge of the jacket, and he pulled Papyrus along toward the dressing room. He was still shirtless, Papyrus realized with wide eyes. While he'd seen Mettaton in just swim shorts before, he'd only rarely been up this close while Mettaton was so lightly clad. Normally Mettaton was performing when he was shirtless or even nearly naked, aside from the few times they'd gone swimming. Mettaton wasn't a stripper, he was a singer. But he liked to wow the audience and he knew he looked damned good.

Once the door was shut behind them, Papyrus raked a hand back through his slightly-shaggy, short black hair. "Uh-" His dark amber eyes grew wide when Mettaton turned around and suddenly kissed him like their lives depended on it. Before Papyrus could even think to lean into the kiss and wrap his arms around Mettaton, the older man pulled back with a smirk and a little lick of his own black lips, and Papyrus was left staring and speechless.

"Did you like the show, baby?" Mettaton asked, wandering toward his makeup chair and picking up a hairbrush even though his gorgeous black hair was already perfect.

"Uh… um… y-yeah. Yeah, it was great," Papyrus answered, slowly getting his chipper attitude back through the shock. "You really got them tonight. They went absolutely wild!"

"Oh, thank you, honey." Mettaton smiled at him in the large mirror before picking up a makeup wipe to fix a little smudge of lipstick. "I'm done for tonight, no closing number. Have you eaten?"

"Just some fries at the bar," Papyrus shrugged.

"Good, because I'm starving and I want to take you to a place out on Halverson Boulevard. It's got fantastic seafood, and a lobster alfredo to die for."

"Great! Do you want me to go warm up the car?" Papyrus asked, ever the eager gentleman.

"I've got to get my money and I'll meet you out there, okay?" Mettaton turned in his chair. "But I wanted you to come in because I got you something."

"Something for me?" Papyrus tilted his head. Oh, he was just so cute, Mettaton thought.

"Of course. It's a little bit of a gift for me too, but I think you'll like it." Mettaton leaned down to pull a shopping bag out from under the makeup table. " Take off your jacket and close your eyes, Papy."

"Uh… okay!" Papyrus shrugged off his jacket and hung it on a hook on the wall beside Mettaton's wool coat, closing his eyes before facing Mettaton again with a big, goofy grin.

Papyrus felt Mettaton take his arm, guiding it into a sleeve of some kind of jacket, and then the other. Mettaton fiddled with the sleeves and collar and buttons on the front for a few seconds before guiding him toward the mirror. "Okay, open!"

Papyrus opened his warm amber eyes and gasped to see a handsome double-breasted black wool coat. It ended about mid-thigh, was nice and slim to fit to Papyrus' lean and powerful body, and the collar was high on his neck, making his shoulders look even more robust and angular than they already were. "Wow…" was all he could say.

"I remember how much you liked mine, and you said you wished you could have one like it. I couldn't find the same brand in your size, so I asked Toriel if she could alter a different one to fit you." Mettaton grinned into the mirror, loving the way it made Papyrus look so sharp and handsome- more so than he already was.

"Really? Wow… I didn't think you'd remember something so simple like that." Papyrus turned to face Mettaton, tucking his hands into the pockets with a huge grin.

"Of course I remembered. You remember little things like that all the time for me. I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it." Mettaton smirked at the opportunity before him and took it, tangling his fingers in the angular lapels and pulling Papyrus into another kiss. Papyrus' hands came back out of the pockets, his arms slowly wrapping around Mettaton's bare midriff. "Mmm…" Mettaton hummed, pulling back to give Papyrus a devilish little smile. "You taste almost as good as you look, Papy dear."

Papyrus chuckled nervously, his cheeks flushing again. "It's just orange soda…"

"You always taste lovely," Mettaton assured him, leaning in for another kiss and draping his arms over Papyrus' broad shoulders. When Papyrus couldn't bring himself to pull back from the kiss again, Mettaton welcomed him to stay as long as he liked, pressing in tightly until their hips were flush together and Papyrus tensed with nerves. He was so innocent, so terribly cute… so very handsome and alluring, and he didn't even know it.

When Mettaton finally pulled back for Papyrus' sake, realizing the younger man had forgotten to breathe, both chuckled and held each other a little tighter. Papyrus nuzzled against Mettaton's neck and breathed in the sweet, faint perfume still left on his skin. "You taste nice too…" Papyrus dared to murmur, and Mettaton's fingers laced through Papyrus' short black hair in appreciation.

"I try my best to stay appetizing to you, dearest."

"You'd have to try pretty hard to not be attractive to me," Papyrus told him with such honesty that Mettaton's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh, you absolute gem, you're so sweet…" Mettaton pressed a kiss to his neck and finally pulled away. "But before you charm me out of my good sense, I'm starving. Go on outside and I'll meet you at the car."

"Okay, I'll bring it up to the door." Papyrus gave him a cheery smile, but before he could grab his leather jacket and open the door, Mettaton caught his collar for one last kiss, and finally sent him along.

Papyrus skittered outside and started up Mettaton's sleek black Mercedes, flipping on the heat to warm the cold interior and defrost the windshield. After a good five minutes of skipping around the radio and finding a couple good songs, Papyrus saw Mettaton emerge from the club in a navy ribbed sweater and slim black jeans and his favorite harness boots. He was just pulling his coat on and adjusting it on his shoulders when another, taller man came out of the club behind him. Papyrus couldn't hear what passed between the two, but he could tell the man had given Mettaton a compliment by how Mettaton put on a kind smile and thanked him. But the man didn't leave right away. He continued to speak and Mettaton remained polite until the man took a step toward him. Papyrus was out of the car the moment Mettaton edged backward and the man kept advancing.

"Hello!" Papyrus said with a bright smile to the man. "Are you a friend of Mettaton's?"

"Uh…" The man fixed Papyrus with a confused look until Papyrus stepped between Mettaton and the stranger. "Excuse me, we were talking."

"We were just saying goodbye," Mettaton corrected him, trying to remain cool and calm.

"I had a couple more questions for ya, beauti-"

"I'm sure I could answer anything you're curious about. But I'm sure Mettaton's getting a little chilly. Why don't you get into the car, dear?" Papyrus asked Mettaton, his expression remaining bright and happy. Mettaton slowly stepped back and he opened the car door, getting in quickly once he saw the stranger take another step and Papyrus calmly place a hand on the man's chest to stop him.

Mettaton cracked the window just the slightest bit to hear them, but he'd hit the door locks too. Papyrus held his ground, and Mettaton saw a change in Papyrus that was… unsettling. He leaned forward slightly, looking up at the man with an even wider grin from under his handsome brows. "Now… what did you want to ask?" He asked slowly, and the tone of his voice made Mettaton shiver. It felt… dangerous. "Not to be rude, but Mr. Taylor is rather busy."

"Listen, buddy, I don't want any trouble-"

"Neither do I, friend. I have a dinner date to get you, and I believe you have to get home, don't you?"

"Uh… yeah. Yeah, I do."

"Better hurry along, then."

"Yeah… yeah, I should…" The stranger backed away and Papyrus watched him go, hands planted on his hips still in a friendly and open posture. But his dark smile was all the stranger needed to turn around and quickly walk away. Once the man disappeared from view, Papyrus straightened his new coat and walked back around to the driver's side of the Mercedes, Mettaton unlocking the door for him with a press of the electric switch.

Papyrus slipped into the leather seat and fastened the seatbelt, his smile bright and happy and innocent again. Mettaton was left staring at him, lost, until Papyrus glanced over and chuckled, reaching across Mettaton's chest to pull the seatbelt across, fastening it for him. "Yes?" Papyrus asked, and Mettaton was just floored at how quickly Papyrus had gone from chipper to threatening and back to chipper again.

"What was… that?" Mettaton murmured, and Papyrus raised an eyebrow.

"What was what?"

"That little… altercation. What happened to you?"

"Nothing. I just talked that nice gentleman into going along on his way and leaving you be. You are very busy, after all." Papyrus put the car in drive and steered out of the lot onto the streets of New Home. "Where was that restaurant?"

"Um… H-Halverson."

"That's off Bridge, right?"

"Yes…"

Papyrus glanced briefly at Mettaton as the car smoothly glided down the slushy Roan Avenue. "Are you okay? You seem a little confused. Did that man scare you?"

"He made me a little nervous, but… You came right to my rescue." Mettaton gave him a little smile. "I didn't know you could be so intimidating."

"Well… you know I don't like to fight. So one of the first things Undyne ever taught me was how to avoid fights. Intimidation works when redirecting doesn't, most of the time. So when he wasn't put off by me getting between you two, I knew I needed to be a little more authoritative."

"I think I like seeing that dark and dangerous side," Mettaton teased, rewarded by yet another blush from his incredibly innocent boyfriend. "You're always so happy and adorable. I guess I didn't believe you could be so… forceful." He reached out a hand to lay on Papyrus' knee, and Papyrus chuckled nervously.

"Please, Mettaton, not while I'm driving."

"You know I have a hard time keeping to myself when you charm me."

"At least until the car is in park again," Papyrus insisted with a little shake of his head, grinning to himself.

"Okay… I'm patient." Mettaton crossed his arms and then his legs, watching the road before them with a little smirk as Papyrus steered carefully over the ice and slush. He was such a good driver, Mettaton thought. Or perhaps he was just extra careful with Mettaton riding. Either way, he was a perfect gentleman at all times and Mettaton was endlessly impressed and smitten with the absolute goof next to him.

When the car came to a stop in a parking space near the restaurant, Papyrus barely got his seatbelt off before Mettaton crawled over the center console to straddle his lap and kiss him like there was no tomorrow. Papyrus froze on the spot, less from the kiss and more from the very intimate position they were suddenly in. He was startled when Mettaton reached down and pulled a lever on the side of the seat, making it tilt back suddenly until Mettaton was laying against Papyrus and kissing him again, completely overwhelming him with this new position.

Papyrus couldn't even think straight, his eyes eventually drifting closed and his large hands instinctively resting on Mettaton's lower back. When Papyrus pressed back into the kiss properly, taking over and surprising Mettaton, the slimmer man let out a soft moan against Papyrus' lips that sent shivers down his spine. Then just like that, Mettaton opened the car door and slipped out, leaving Papyrus completely shell-shocked and laying there tense and confused.

"Come on, darling," Mettaton said in that lovely bell-like tone, his dark head poking back into the car and into Papyrus' view.

"Yeah… I'm coming…" Papyrus sat up and pulled himself out, putting the seat back upright with a flick of the lever before shutting and locking the door. Mettaton was checking to make sure his lipstick wasn't smudged in the window reflection, and he soon reached into his coat pocket to pull out a little alcohol wipe. Upwrapping it, he dabbed at the corner of his mouth, then turned to wipe any lipstick from Papyrus' face and neck too.

"Can't have everyone knowing what we get up to," Mettaton murmured, smirking at the completely head-over-heels look in Papyrus' lovely dark amber eyes. He probably hadn't heard a word, too lost in a haze, but Mettaton didn't mind at all. "You're so cute when you're overwhelmed." Mettaton smoothed Papyrus' dark hair back affectionately, playing with his thin beard for a moment and then taking his arm to walk across the lot and into the restaurant. It was just the kind of evening Mettaton needed after a weekend of working in lounges and clubs and bars all over New Home and Echo.