In Seventh Heaven – a luxurious restaurant that catered to the elite of Mor Dhona – there were simple rules for running the bar. The rules Raha studies with religious determination before sending in his resume.
First, learn and know the recipes of drinks served by heart. With annotation that any drinks invented – as long as they weren't trademarked by another bar – had to be presented and accepted by a manager before being served to customers.
Two, part of the barman's responsibility was to have an eye out for any sort of foul play by the bar. And, obviously, informing security if they spotted anyone attempting to spike drinks or acting like they were under the influence of anything else than alcohol. Serving drinks to someone already wasted was also not allowed, and in case of arguments that could turn to violence security also was meant to be informed before the bar could get trashed.
Third, romantic or sexual relationships between staff and staff and customers weren't allowed – that in the rulebook was underscored a few times. The staff – barmen, waitresses, security, and management were all required to keep their private lives out of the restaurant at all times and act with the highest level of professionalism. That, however, had an added clause that quite confused Raha when he read it. He had no idea why someone who put those rules together felt the need to mark and heavily underscore the notion that the management reserved the right to terminate the contract of anyone who wouldn't respect that rule, especially in case of security. So, as far as he understood it, for some reason whomever worked on that position was marked off as off limits – and he shrugged the notion, easily signing the waiver.
The 'no romance at work' policy – heavily regulated as he heard over the grapevine – was one of the reasons he was hoping to get in that place. In his last workplace (which also claimed to have similar rules) in the end, management sucked and frankly didn't give a fuck what staff did as long as said staff was their family or friends – which there were quite a few. And Raha was forced to resign and look for another gig precisely because his direct superior (who was also a niece of the owner) wouldn't leave him the fuck alone, flirting incessantly during work hours. He rather quit while he was ahead, especially when HR shrugged off his complaint when that flirting turned into physical harassment, and before she could realize her threats of ruing his resume if he weren't cooperative. Considering it was everyone's secret that it wasn't the first time she did the same sort of shit, he didn't feel guilty the place was shut down soon after he left – after an anonymous tip to respective institutions about various violations of safety, conduct, and hygiene.
Seventh Heaven, on the other hand, one of his friends recommended to him after he complained about the whole messy situation while they – and a few other people from college they kept contact with – gathered for annual drinks. Thancred – a guy Raha once shared a room in a dorm – hearing his woes (because it was hardly the first time), currently worked part-time as security and praised the place for its 'no romance' policy. And – apparently – even heavier regulations about harassment of any kind – sharing with them an anecdote about a waitress who liked to get too 'touchy-feely' at work and got a kick swiftly, despite being related to the owner.
Raha was iffy at first, but considering his not-very-high savings, and the fact that Thancred gave him a number directly to the person in charge of HR – Alisaie Leveilleur – he decided giving it a shot couldn't hurt. And was reassured pretty quickly, when he called Miss Leveilleur and she turned out to be very blunt and professional in no uncertain terms stating that what he heard from Thancred was very real and executed with prejudice. She sent him a rulebook, then during the interview in person, several times underscored that whatever he got up to in private was expected to stay out of the workplace and any and all attempts of intimidation or harassment were to be instantly related to HR.
On the side – once the interview was over and he was signing all necessary papers with her identical twin brother, Alphinaud, who ran the bureaucratic side of things – they both assured him that their boss was very touchy about this type of thing – hence the whole 'no romance policy.' Alisaie, whom Raha pretty quickly was beginning to like, perched on the edge of her brother's desk, shared with him that Seventh Heaven was 'Mr. Mielue's' baby, and he overlooked it as such.
After that a careful read of the restaurant's website taught Raha that despite belonging to a chain of very popular and highly reviewed restaurants owned by the Mielue family, this one in particular was run by their youngest son, everywhere he could find called only S. Mielue. He was a little surprised he couldn't see anywhere – including wider online research – any pictures of the man or the family in general, but he figured that rich people had enough money to pay for keeping their lives off the web if they were determined enough. And he sort of didn't blame them, considering that the only Mielue you could find – every-fucking-where – was their eldest son, Ares – of whom Raha knew far more than he was interested in knowing.
Mainly, because his twin brother, Damon, was obsessed with Ares Mielue for a few years already, the man being a very popular actor. Hid brother, despite otherwise being a very fucking smart person – and now highly respected professor of the university he graduated from at unprecedented age – in private had a hilarious tendency to 'fanboy' over Ares and watch movies he starred in on repeat. And considering his eidetic memory, Damon could fucking quote every line even if woken up in the middle of the night. And he loved to terrorize the younger twin with utterly shameless – as he tended to be overall – descriptions of all the depraved fantasies he had about his favorite actor. Though they called each other at least once a week, Raha learned to disconnect the call instantly whenever Ares's name came up in conversation for that reason.
And no, not because – as his twin accused him constantly – he was a prude. Both quite quickly figured out they were bisexual, he didn't have a problem with the fact that his twin brother was simping for a guy. Being twenty-six, Raha dated and slept with plenty of partners of both sexes throughout since he figured he found both men and women attractive. And sure, he could see – he wasn't blind after all! – what had his brother so hot and bothered where Ares was concerned. He would have to be dead and buried not to – considering the actor was rightfully well-known for the title of sexiest man alive! He was so fucking beautiful, that even without the fact that he was excelling in any given role, his appearance in any movie or series alone made it an instant hit. But even seeing the appeal, Raha considered himself a realist for one, and more importantly, he had far more interesting things to do than daydream about the unreachable.
And he simply found his twin's obsession absurd at times, and – most importantly – wasn't interested in Damon's fantasies and sex life overall! Especially considering he knew that his twin brother was as twisted as his sense of humor, and thrived on embarrassing bejesus out of him constantly.
Raha considered his own libido pretty normal for a man his age. Perhaps it was – as Damon sometimes teased him – low for a male of their race, but he was quite literally committed rather to his goals than dating. He didn't like casual flings, and perhaps he was a little burned after his last girlfriend attempted to seduce his twin... but he firmly believed that he had every right to stay single whenever he felt like it. Sure, he had plenty of complexes – a reason why he daily wore colored lenses that turned his unnaturally red irises brown – but he liked to think that otherwise, he was a mature and well-adjusted adult. Currently, he lived alone in a small apartment, and in all the free time he had, he worked on his novel, while saving like crazy to one day own a house far away from people. He loved his friends and family – duh – and he liked to work as a barman – most of the time – but overall he wasn't a very 'people person.' He far more preferred solitude and to relax he either read or play games. He liked to think that he was already doing quite a bit better now than he did as a teenager when constant bullying and comparisons to his brilliant twin brother – in the small town they came from – gave him an honest aversion to people in general. He did turn to work as a barman initially precisely to deal with it, all the while mentally treating the surface of the bar between him and customers as a shield.
Raha's first week in Seventh Heaven – while he was mostly focused on learning the ropes – was pretty uneventful. He instantly liked the uniform provided by the restaurant and the overall exclusive vibe of the place. The woman in charge of his training, Shtola Rhul, very quickly proved to be an excellent teacher, and other than basics, she gave him a rich rundown of the more 'intimate' in-company politics.
„Most people who come here," she told him the first day. „Are used to being treated like royalty, Raha. But Mr. Mielue makes it a point to differentiate between subservience and boundaries, okay? So, we smile at all times and act polite, but if someone gives you shit or tries to belittle you, you're required to stand your ground and call security."
„And what does that do?" He asked, frowning over the coffee they shared during his first break.
„Guys are great," she beamed in reply. „Mr. Mielu picked and trained them himself, you know? So, they're always going to be on your side and if something happens, they'll kick and blacklist any problematic customers, okay?"
„Mmm," he hesitated and then admitted. „I know Thancred Waters, and I pretty much got here through him. We were buddies and shared a room in college."
„Ah, Thancred's cool, but he works only weekends," she nodded toward him, smiling. „Most days it's either Rahm or Senri – or both when it's a bigger crowd. Anyway, you got the bracelet from HR, right?"
„Yeah," he raised his hand between them, revealing the silver device made to look like a bracelet. „Ali... I mean, Miss Levellieur instructed me that in case of trouble, I press this button here and it'll alert the security."
„Yeah, and they always react very quickly," she beamed, showing him the same thing wrapped around her wrist. „You know, I like it here because it's always safety first kind of place. A lot of new people we get here bring horror stories from their previous places about shitty customers and management, but here it's different, Raha."
„And the no romance policy?" He asked wryly. „Because I'm hoping what I've heard about it is true."
„I mean..." she shrugged, then leaned over the table between them and lowered her voice. „If you want a clue, I'll tell you that Rahm, one for security guys, is my boyfriend outside this place, and that's considered okay. As long as we act professionally at work, Mr. Mielue doesn't get in our private lives. Meaning, we don't give each other special treatment in anything work-related, or cause drama between staff with anything not work-related. On the other hand, if you have an issue with anyone acting inappropriately, it doesn't matter who they are, okay? We had this waitress recently who bragged to anyone who would listen that she's a cousin of the owner, but the moment she started flirting with customers, she was out. And look at this place, right? A lot of clients who come here are really big fish, Raha, and more often than not they pick it for the atmosphere. Sure it's luxurious and exclusive, but mostly because it's a great spot to impress a potential date, right? Or unwind after a rough day in an office and such. Since I started to work here five years ago, I learned that most of the steady crowd appreciate the strict no-flirt code because they get that shit daily everywhere else, you know? He's not working this week, but think next when you meet Senri, you're going to understand," she sighed, then shook her head toward his confused frown. „Trust me."
...and he did. Very much, even, because the moment next Monday when he arrived at the place for the afternoon shift, he stopped at the front door and his jaw nearly hit the ground.
Because right by his new workplace, chatting animatedly with Shtola over the counter, sat fucking carbon copy of Ares Mielue. He was nearly about to ask the man for an autograph – seriously because that shit would buy him Damon's eternal gratitude and maybe even get his twin to shut the fuck up about his fantasies – until Shtola noticed his stupefied ass and called him over to introduce Raha to his new cooworker. And only up close, he realized that it couldn't be Ares, if only because the eye color was off and this guy looked like a distinctively younger version of the actor.
„This is Raha Redsun," Shtola introduced, poorly making her amusment at his reaction. „He started last week. Raha, this is Senri Mielue, our boss who like to play security, too," and she laughed when gorgeous male sent her a killer deadpan stare before stretching his arm toward him.
„Hey," he said softly but in that deep, rumbly voice that nearly made Raha's ears stand up at attention. „I hope you like the place so far, Mr. Redsun."
„Ah... Raha is fine," he smiled in answer shakily, covering the way a brief handshake sent a spark of awareness through his body. And in thought begged the dimmed lights to mask the way his face heated under the unreadable stare of these pale blue eyes. It felt almost like a test of his professionalism – especially in the face of that raw example of male sex appeal Senri looked like a quintessence of – and he didn't want to get fired... but it was fucking impossible not to stare. „Sorry, but..."
„I know, I get shit over our similarity all the time," the male seated on one of the tall barstools beside the bar turned fully toward him, smirking while Raha gingerly passed the corner of the bar and tried to focus on checking and setting up his workplace instead of ogling the beautiful face and killer body wrapped in a suit that likely cost more than Raha earned in a year. „So, do you like it here, Raha?"
He froze momentarily at how his name sounded like in that voice, then shook himself up and focused on the speaker – feeling a bit more confident behind his mental shield.
„It's been only a week, but so far, yes, very much," he replied calmly, only mentally freaking out while holding the man's intent gaze. „I'm yet to get a nasty customer if Shtola told me those are rare in general, and while I'm still learning everything... Again, so far I very much appreciate working here, sir."
„Please, call me Senri," the guy shifted from a seat opposite to Shtola to one right in front of him and blinded Raha with a cheerful grin. „I like to be friends with everyone who works here."
„Ah, um," he races in thought at what to say, picking up a random glass and focusing on cleaning it to keep his hands occupied and stop them from trembling. „Okay, Senri."
„Awesome," the power behind that grin went straight to his knees, turning them to water and Raha sent a prayer of gratitude for the way his short stature put the edge of the counter well above his waist. This was only Shtola standing beside him would know – and hopefully understand considering her warnings – why he had to consciously force his tail to wrap tightly around his leg. Because stupid thing undeniably wanted to wave with interest at every freaking sound from Senri's painfully beautiful face. „If you do need anything, remember I'm call away," the male touched his wrist meaningfully and Raha nodded, hoping that his smile was easy-going enough.
After that, the male said his goodbyes and sauntered off toward the front of the restaurant – unknowingly nearly giving Raha a stroke with the way that perfectly fitting suit hugged his figure in all the right places – if the redhead exhaled deeply only when Senri was well out of sight.
„Holy fuck," he breathed and smiled ruefully when Shtola snorted, busying herself with sorting clean glasses. „You could've warned me."
„I love watching people react to Senri," she grinned meanly, then winked. „But you did good, buddy. We had anything from hysterics to proposals, no joke. And people constantly ask for his brother's number of autographs. Plenty gets fired because confronted with him, they can't act like you just did. I daresay you probably even scored higher than most."
„I hope so," he sighed, then smiled sheepishly tossing a glance toward the corner Senri disappeared behind. „If I can't say I wasn't tempted to ask for Ares's autograph. My brother would totally freak."
„He's a fan?" Shtola snorted, as they set to prepare drinks to serve as a display of assortment behind them during the evening.
„Mhmm, a massive one," Raha chuckled fondly.
„And you?" she asked.
„I appreciate male beauty," he admitted with a shrug. „And genuinely love a few movies Ares starred in, plus I think he's talented. But I like to think I'm a rational man. Can you imagine dating a celebrity?" He flinched theatrically, grinning when she snorted and nodded. „Or someone who looks like one?" He subtly motioned toward the front and shrugged again before setting another prepared drink behind them. „I think for me that's the definition of hell."
„Pff, preach," she agreed. „You know how busy we were last week? With Senri back, that's going to be like three times that or more. Half of the customers come here to ogle him. I know for a fact that it's part of the reason behind conduct here because he hates people who can't keep their hands to themselves. So long they only look, he's cool, but anything more than that is a very sure and quick ticket out the door."
„Noted," Raha nodded, then sending another glance, he carved that lesson in his brain.
And not like even for a moment he believed that what he thought flickered in those ice-blue eyes could have been interest. Plus, he didn't lie to Shtola, considering that in his worldview dating someone as attractive as Senri would be hell, considering his insecurities. After Miya – his last girlfriend he almost considered proposing to – tried to bang his twin brother, Raha's complexes only spiked through the roof. Adding to that her parting remarks of the creepiness of his natural eye color and her rating of his bedroom skills, after two years since then he didn't feel like dating anyone.
That night, at the end of his shift and after saying his goodbye to Shtola in front of the restaurant, watching her and Rahm – he met last week and who picked her up on a very cool motorcycle – Raha flinched when someone called his name as he turned to head home. And his eyebrows shot nearly to his hairline at the sight of Senri – the last to leave the building, after apparently changing.
Not that he looked any less gorgeous in pair of worn-down jeans, a red t-shirt stretched over his muscular chest peaking from under a pretty awesome leather jacket, and heavy combat boots. No, if anything, that combo gave his beauty a delinquent vibe that made it difficult for Raha not to salivate – no matter how much he tried to convince his stupid dick that this fantasy-made-flesh was off limits for more than risk of losing work he was beginning to like.
„Want a ride?" Senri asked and Raha nearly slapped himself out of principle when his brain instantly took that for permission to drop straight in a gutter – supplying him with an image that had nothing to do with the motorcycle tall Seeker pointed to with the question.
„I'm fine, thanks," he replied with a polite smile, fixing his backpack on his shoulder. „I don't live far, anyway," which was a blatant lie, but he could only hope Senri wouldn't remember his address.
„No, you don't," the ink-haired male scowled toward him, towering over the redhead as he stopped in front of him and leaned in. He was at least a head taller than Raha and downright packed with muscle, but he smelled surprisingly sweet. Like fresh-cut apple, and he could do nothing but how fucking furiously his body reacted to that aroma. He stared – or tried to – at the taller male's collarbones, helplessly swallowing a mouthful of saliva as he grew lightheaded. The dark material of his trousers grew painfully tight as his dumbass tail decided to flick with the agitation of his fluttering heartbeat. „Look at me, Raha," Senri said on a lower, raspier note and he closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to clear it as he took a step back.
He yelped when half of his boot didn't get purchase and he he would likely topple backward right on the street if a sudden, tight grip around his neck wouldn't pull him forward. His eyes snapped wide open and right into the inferno of pale ice a second before his front collided with a much taller frame.
„Careful," Senri purred right into his ear, while Raha's heart decided to do a fucking full somersault. All the while that still present grip over his neck did something weird to his brain as his neck arched by itself and body went plaint and his muscles turned into water. Blaring noise filled his ears, sounding suspiciously like faraway and submissive purring while an almost violent shudder ran down his spine and while quiet little snarl against his ear. „Knew it."
„H-Huh?" He muttered, trying to focus but he felt dizzy as fuck, especially when every rapid breath tasted of apple and something muskier. His body felt far too hot, and he hazily blamed the heat bathing his front front Senri's body. A body that felt wonderfully hard while he doubted he could stand straight without the support it offered. And, gods, but it smelled divine, like nothing ever before...
„Knew you would fit me like a glove, babe," raspier, harder note made him feel drunk as Senri's other hand slid down his side and unceremoniously curved over his ass, pulling him harder into that bigger body. With his jacket open, he moaned weakly at the hard evidence of other male's arousal – that matched the thickening of those muskier notes in his sweet scent.
„Ah," he braced his hands against Senri's chest, trying to gather his bearings, and pushed, shaking his head to clear it. „I don't... I... m-my work..."
„Not at work now, babe," the Seeker growled in his ear and nipped its sensitive shell, making him moan brokenly at the sensation. „And I spent the whole evening wondering how would this wonderful voice of yours sound, Raha, while I take your tight ass."
„N-No..." he pushed harder, and harder and shook his head, before looking up and tightening his jaw with determination. „I don't... I'm not interested," he managed the fucking biggest lie of his life and choked down a bit on the whine of disappointment when Senri narrowed his pale eyes but pulled his arms back. Raha made two big steps back if this time watching where, before he exhaled slowly and again looked into Senri's painfully beautiful face. „Th-thank you and..." he hesitated, swallowing thickly as he looked for words.
„Again, nothing to do with work," Senri articulated carefully if Raha still flushed up to his hairline and bit his lower lip when those pale eyes swept over his body with very obvious desire. „But if you change your mind..."
„I... won't," he shook his head again, convincing himself that the sight of disappointment on his boss's face wasn't filling his stomach with something like butterflies of steroids. „Sorry... You're a very... ah, attractive man, and I'm really very... flattered, but..."
„'It's not you but me'?" right corner of Senri's lips quirked up as he shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
„Yeah... something like that," Raha sighed and smiled wryly. „I don't... Um, I don't do causal, and I'm not interested in dating... anyone, right now. „
„...especially someone who looks like a celebrity?" Senri's deep voice dripped with sarcasm and Raha flinched, looking away and wondering if he overheard his remark to Shtola. „And for your information, I never do anything casual, babe."
Raha colored deeper at the sound of endearment – because, fuck, that voice! – then exhaled slowly and shook his head.
„I... Um, I will see you tomorrow... I guess?" He muttered, then turned around, determined to get home as fast as possible and take a long and cold shower. Probably while having a very serious talking to with his dumb dick about priorities.
„Goodnight, Raha," he heard behind him but despite a strange note in Senri's voice, he refused to look back – only waving over his shoulder – lest his resolve crumbles.
Mostly, because he knew that he was too weak and needy to be with someone who looked like Senri. He was far too insecure to believe that someone this gorgeous could really be interested in dating someone as boring as he was.
And he didn't need his twin's brilliance to know – logically – that mostly he was fucking terrified. Miya's betrayal cut deep, but something even deeper than that told him he wouldn't survive Senri inevitably got bored and tossed him aside for the next person who spiked his interest.
The next day and shift, he was relieved to see Senri act precisely the same way as yesterday. And despite his initial wariness when he entered the restaurant and saw him chatting with Shtola again by the bar, she seemed perfectly unaware of what went down between them after she left last night. Also, Senri acted as friendly and – as far as he could see – natural as if nothing ever happened, which eventually helped Raha relax and put it off as a good thing.
Sure, it didn't do anything for the way his heart fluttered – with nerves, as he convinced himself – every time he saw the painfully beautiful man, but his brain accepted that as a given. He focused on work – his sole reason to be here – and forced his stupid libido to see his boss precisely the same way as his famous brother: pretty to look at, but off limits.
A week went by like that, and during the weekend – calling Damon – he carefully didn't mention anything specific about his new boss. Sure, his brother knew he changed work – and why – and where he worked now, but previous time he didn't even know Senri worked in his own restaurant in the first place. And he doubted that his brother knew of Ares's almost identical brother, but he was pretty sure that his twin was very particular about wanting Ares.
He didn't mention it most of all because Damon was fucking impossible and too freaking smart- plus knew him like no one else. Sometimes Raha felt like his twin could read him like open book – and he knew Damon would be pissed if he heard about that whole... situation. He would instantly know that he was scared of even trying to give someone like Senri a chance because of his complexes, and would bitch like there's no tomorrow about him letting Miya's venom kill his self-esteem. Raha still flushed with embarrassment, every time he recalled that his brother was there and heard every detail of the 'rant' his ex-girlfriend excused herself with.
Biggest reason behind her trying to get in his twin's pants, was the fact how boring Raha was – in bed and besides. That he outright refused her idea of a threesome – especially with his brother! – was another. That he was very opposed to an 'open' relationship in general was another flaw of his.
That Damon was his polar opposite – sleeping with whomever he felt like any given day – and generally was embarrassingly open about liking to experiment, was why she apparently thought to climb in his twin's bed when Damon visited his apartment and Raha was at work. And she was genuinely surprised – and pissed – that his brother had very strict rule about not sleeping with her – or anyone Raha dated or was interested in. Precisely because he knew him and he knew he would be never okay with that – as she apparently claimed when Damon kicked her out. She of course in the end didn't find out that his brother visited that weekend because Raha asked him for help in picking an engagement ring.
And he wasn't above admitting that he loved his brother for giving her a tongue-lashing of an Era when confronted with her excuses. Not that it changed that whole thing worked to destroy any self-esteem he had left. And even if logically he agreed with Damon when his brother pointed out all the reasons why Miya was simply not worth listening to, he couldn't help feeling hurt, anyway. That if he was as smart and adventurous like his brother, which poked his teenage issue something fierce, a woman he thought he loved and wanted to marry, wouldn't have a need to look for entertainment somewhere else.
And – above all else – he didn't need now Damon trying to convince him that he was being a moron. He already felt like it, every time he caught a glimpse of Senri's beautiful face and was enticed by his magnetic sex appeal. To be given a chance to sleep with someone so hot and shoot it down... Well, was dumb by a default. Still, he was every day of that week telling himself that he was glad he found the willpower to resist that temptation. Especially while every little chat whenever Senri swung by the bar during Raha's shifts, made him genuinely like his easy-going attitude and sense of humor.
From those chats, he also learned that painfully beautiful man was younger than him – twenty-five – and genuinely thought of Seventh Heaven as his 'baby.' That in his free time he liked to either train in various martial arts or tinker with carpentry. That red was his favorite color, he could eat apples in heaps – and loved all apple-based drinks Seventh Heaven had a shocking variety of – and had the hilarious tendency to snark constantly.
And probably Raha only imagined Shtola's weird stares or how increasingly frequent became those chats. And Senri's presence near the bar, in general.
The following week, it was Rahm's turn to work during the afternoon shift – Raha preferred for higher pay and that thanks for having an option to work exclusively in the afternoon, it gave him extra time to write in the morning – and as opposed to the previous time, Senri didn't work morning shift – as he thought would be the case. He still shoved up normal – if in a far more causal wear – and marched off to the higher level of the restaurant, where apparently was his office. Shtola laughed afterward that normally it was a hell of a rare thing to see – their boss acting like an actual boss – if Raha pointedly ignored her increasingly curious glances.
And during that week, was the first time Raha got his 'nasty' customer. He was honestly more shocked than anything else – during the whole thing – because in his experience the situation wasn't even that bad. That half an evening a woman in a dress that likely cost more than his whole apartment leered at him or tossed badly veiled innuendos every time he was serving her drinks, was something he experienced more times than he cared to count. He smiled politely and refused to engage in her flirting without potentially insulting her. That her... remarks made him increasingly uncomfortable – he long ago learned to let fly right over his head – and he didn't even thought of it much until Shtola overheard the not-so-subtle offer of a quicky in a bathroom. She was on his side of the bar by accident, really, grabbing a syrup that ran out on her side – and he was genuinely shocked by her reaction when she froze and pinned the woman with a smile that dripped with venom.
„We don't tolerate this sort of harassment here," she told the customer in a voice as sweet as clearly in a warning. „Please, apologize to my collage or leave the bar."
„I have no idea what you're on about," the woman smiled innocently over her drink while Raha tried to decide what to do. „I was expressing my appreciation that the new guy is so adorable."
„Shtola, it's fine," he started, touching her shoulder and almost withered under the power of her indignant glare.
„It's not fine," she hissed then turned her glare toward the customer. „I could hear well what you said and that is not a behavior that we let slide. Raha is new, yes, but that doesn't mean rules in any way changed. So, either apologize and act accordingly or I'll be forced to call security and have you removed and blacklisted. Is that clear?"
„I..." the woman looked about to protest and didn't get to before a heavy hand landed beside her on the counter. She paled when Senri leaned over her back and whispered something beside her ear, then moved away never losing a perfectly polite smile as he nodded toward Shtola. She relaxed noticeably while Raha frowned with confusion while the woman set the bill quickly and basically ran out, while Senri took her place like nothing ever happened.
„I was about to call Rahm," Shtola said, lowering her voice and Senri shrugged, grinning cheerfully – if Raha couldn't resist impressing that somehow his eyes seemed much colder than normal.
„I needed a break and overheard," he said in reply and the woman nodded and moved back to her side of the bar. „Raha?"
„Mhmm?" He hummed, a little nervous despite that cheery grin when he leaned toward the Seeker on the counter. And almost managed not to flinch when Senri's fingers subtly brushed his wrist – one with the bracelet.
„Next time, ring it the moment this happens, yes?" The underscore of a growl in that voice made him shiver as instead of pulling back, Senri's hand locked around his wrist. „Anything that you wouldn't want your colleagues to hear is a reason enough, are we clear?"
„Y-Yes, sir," he breathed and only staring right into Senri's eyes he'd seen there and gone spark. And felt the brief way other Seeker's grip grew tight before pulling back instantly.
And that exchange, more than anything else gave him an idea that perhaps acting skills were something that Senri shared with his famous brother. And even the denial he was hiding behind couldn't survive the thrill of the idea that perhaps - just perhaps – Senri wasn't taking his refusal that night as smoothly as he thought.
Senri believed one thing only – especially lately – and that was that karma was not only a bitch of cruel proportions but it was out of get him, in particular.
There was no other logical way to explain why his long-assumed asexuality flew right out of window – with a fucking crash – the moment fate put Raha in his path. The fucking audacity of it sank in even harder when the cuteness incarnate opened his downright fuckable mouth and proved to come along the downright musical voice that had this weirdly soothing quality that drove Senri insane.
And another proof of karma's royal bitchiness was the fact that the very first person Senri wanted – so fucking bad it hurt – didn't want him back. He would laugh at the irony – after fucking lifetime of more or less politely shooting down people interested in him – if he wasn't busy losing his ever-loving-mind every single time Raha opened his pretty mouth. Or bit his lower lip whenever thinking as he had a habit of doing – and every time looking at it made Senri sweat.
And when he smiled and those pretty eyes of his sparked with humor or enthusiasm...? Fuck...
He was raised – like all his brothers – to respect others' feelings. And he – especially after his own experiences – genuinely believed in the importance of consent... so he behaved. Thanking all God's for the experience of watching his eldest brother, Ares, practice acting... he behaved best he could while completely going out of his skin every fucking day.
Logically, at times he thought of firing Raha – plainly because he wasn't sure he could survive this insanity long. He felt obsessed, and when week after the redhead's rejection he started to have vivid fantasies of him whetever asleep or awake... scared him with the idea that he might end up doing something that would make Raha hate him. But simultaneously he couldn't, because the thought of never again hearing his voice terrified him.
Two weeks in, he was caught himself making up excuses – to absurd degree – to speak to him. To listen to him, watch him and touch him, and... it felt like heaven and hell at once. He realized that Shtola was onto him that week, when with a perfectly sweet smile she served him a new drink she invented – one based on cinnamon and almonds – and grinned meanly watching him squrim. Because though it wasn't precisely the same as Raha's maddening scent, it was enough to give him a raging erection and again, make him sweat.
After three weeks of the madness, he had enough, and on the first day of the weekend, Senri decided that he needed to try again. And being a clever moron, he decided that perhaps doing so on Raha's turf would put the redhead on ease. Still, knocking on the door of his apartment Saturday morning, he was pretty damn sure he could survive this. It was sort of all or nothing scenario in his head – and he promised himself that if Raha rejects him again, he was going to be hurt, sure, but he's not going to be an asshole. No, he's going to be honest and then offer him changing workplace to one of other restaurants ran by his family.
And he believed that – with his whole fucking being - until Raha opened the door wearing only dark red sweatpants, red hair loose and mussed, yawning and with – somehow – deeply crimson irises. And frankly? Senri's brain logged off at the sight.
„Marry me?" was the first thing that came to mind and didn't found a filter between his stupefied brain and mouth.
„Huuuuh?" those gorgeous ruby-like eyes shot wide open while the plush lips formed a pretty wide O... and his brain not only fried but did so in the deepest level of a gutter. „Senri?" and the way his name sounded in that voice wasn't helping it any.
„Fuck, fuck, fuck," he swore, whimpering as he covered his eyes and swore a few more times.
„Are you okay?" Raha meanwhile had the bright idea to look adorably confused and worried about him when Senri peered through his fingers. He swore again, then groaned and rubbed his face tiredly.
„I'm not," he finally snapped and pointed his finger right in Raha's nose. „How dare you even ask that looking like this...? What the fuck?!"
„Like...?" He blinked slowly, then cocked his head slightly to the side. „Huh?"
„If you think I'm insane, it's all your fucking fault!" he whined, then took a step forward and wrapped his hands around the redhead's face and leaned in. „You're driving me mad, Raha," he groaned, resting his forehead against his and staring right in his crimson irises. That as far as he could tell didn't seem like the effect of lenses – if why he would hide something so fucking pretty flew right over his head. „Why don't you want me?"
„I..." he swallowed convulsively and even his face reddened considerably – so fucking cute! – but he didn't try to pull back, only raising his hands and hesitantly curling them around Senri's wrists. „You... Senri, you can have any-anyone..."
„I don't fucking want anyone," he growled under his breath, pulling his left hand back and lowering his head, he took a deep breath of his spice-laced scent against his throat. „Fuck... Raha, please..." he choked down a snarl, burning inside out when he did the same thing he did that first night – melted into the dizzy-looking epitome of temptation. And like then, too, started purring in the most fucking inviting sound ever, the moment his hand automatically slid from his cheek to his neck. But now, with the addition of those ruby irises...?
Without a thought, Senri kicked the door close, forced him against them, and swallowed his sound of surprise (of all things!), then whined at the taste of his pretty mouth. He imagined a lot, but the reality of Raha's flavor put it all to shame. And when instead of pushing him away, he wrapped his arms around Senri's neck and fisted his hand in his hair – hard – he almost passed out. It felt natural to hook his hands under his thighs and pick him up, then pin his harder against the door, even when he whimpered when Raha wrapped his legs around his waist. And it was like a punch in the gut, even suddenly the energy shifted and it was him – his cute little redhead – devouring his mouth. Gripping his hair harder and harder as Raha turned his head as he wanted, purring louder and gasping in his mouth every time Senri rolled his hips. And he did, with every stroke of Raha's tongue invading his mouth.
He curled his hands around Raha's ass, keeping him on the precise level for every roll of their bodies making his painfully hard flesh rub against his. And it felt like lightning dancing on his nerve endings, with every little noise Raha fed him. Nothing in his head but the deafening sound of his heartbeat, faster and louder with every stroke, he drowned in his taste, growling and groaning desperately as pressure at the base of his spine grew into torture.
Until it snapped and he whined, pulling back from his mouth and panting raggedly as he sagged and fought to catch his breath against shudders wrecking his body. And only after a good moment, feeling Raha's now delicate fingers comb through his hair, he groaned loudly and refused to look up, resting his forehead against his redhead's shoulder as his face blazed.
„So-sorry," he muttered, cringing.
„Whatever for?" Raha sighed when he gave an embarrassed whine in answer. „Senri, for the record... that was probably the hottest thing that ever happened to me. So, you have nothing to be embarrassed about, okay?"
„But..." he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then finally looked up, not that surprised at the way his stomach flipped at the sight of Raha's sweet, comforting smile. And with those eyes...? „I love you."
Fuck, where's that filter...?! He groaned and dropped his head again when Raha's pretty eyes snapped wide open and his mouth formed that wide O again. Fuck it, all or nothing it is.
„I mean it," he breathed, closing his eyes shut. „"I mean... I think I'm in love with you, Raha."
„Senri..."
„Until I met you, I honestly believed I was asexual... Pah, aromantic, too," he muttered quickly. „So like, if you think it's normal for me... it isn't. I would laugh at how ironic it was if I wasn't fucking terrified by it. I made all those rules at Heaven because I hated people tossing themselves at me all my fucking life. Or those who thought that how I look makes it okay to proposition me or think that somehow I owed them being interested. My parents craved into our heads that doing anything that makes us uncomfortable to accommodate others is a big no... And I honestly believed that, Raha... until you showed up and started messing with my head. I never... I never even dated anyone, okay? And these three weeks were fucking torture. So... there's that. Every fucking day and night you drove me insane. Your voice, mouth, how cute and sweet you are... everything about you. I love everything about you, and I don't know what to do. And to top it all, if this is your real eye color, I'm fucking done for..." he sighed dramatically and looked up, frowning when Raha flinched. When he did, his redhead shut his pretty eyes and planted his hand over them even. „Huh?"
„I..." he swallowed thickly, and his face suddenly became red. „You don't think it's... creepy?"
„Fuck no," he snorted and then pulled his hand back, with the other pinning them above Raha's head against the door. „Prettiest eyes I've seen all my life, babe," he purred, catching on when the redhead grimaced, still refusing to open his eyes. „Seriously, look at me... Raha? I just confessed to you, you know? And admitted I'm a virgin, to boot. If you're going to refuse to look at me after that my self-esteem might take a serious dive," and he smiled involuntarily at how quickly those pretty eyes opened at that. „Knew you aren't that cruel."
„Perhaps your self-esteem could use a dive," Raha pouted at him and Senri's heart just about did a double somersault at the sight.
„Yup, I'm completely and madly in love with you," he stated with conviction and beamed when Raha just about went as red as his gorgeous eyes.
This I can work with, he decided, then kissed him because his redhead was too cute not to.