Alright, where do we begin?

It’s… I don’t know. It began a few months ago, I think? I do remember I was getting ready for work.

Let’s see… I had my jacket on, my phone in my back pocket, and those stupid, dumb, ridiculous sunglasses on my nose at eight in the damn evening when it was already dark out. I let out an exasperated sigh. I was all ready to go to work, I thought as I looked in the mirror.

But they had a function, right? Your sunglasses.

Yeah, but I still hated them. I looked like I was in some eternal state of hangover. At least I could take them off in the flashing, coloured lights of the club where I tended the bar. My eyes, you know, dark blue with red speckles, had been a ‘gift’ from my father, but that would be the only thing my father had ever given me.

But it wasn’t just the weird colours of my eyes that forced me to wear shades all the time. Oh no. It was their annoying tendency to hypnotize any mortal creature that stared at them for too long — something the weird colours only encouraged. Worse than that, though, had been the endless lectures from my godfather. Of course I knew it was unethical to use those powers to make humans do my bidding. Sometimes it just happened.

I understand.

I sighed again as I made my way to the door of my tiny apartment, shutting it behind me. As I turned around to leave, I came face to face with my next door neighbor, an elderly gentleman who gave me a look. The same judgmental look as ever. I just nodded, and gave him my best customer service smile.

The walk to work was uneventful as always. The sun had already set, and the fall air was a tad too cold for my liking. I know, I should have brought a scarf, but the club was so close to my place, I was already halfway there. I just buttoned up my blazer and flipped up the collar.

I was well aware of the fact that I looked like an absolute idiot, so as soon as Harv let me inside, I fixed my appearance. Turned down my collar, straightened my bow tie and shrugged off my jacket. I smiled as I greeted the other security guards on my way to the bar, the waiters and waitresses, my bosses, and the impossibly beautiful entertainers who danced on the stages.

As I came closer to the coloured lights, I took off my shades and carefully placed them in my jacket’s inner pocket, before hanging it on the coat rack. Once I was at my station, I was the king of my castle, only a matter of time for the patrons to come in.

***

Over the first hour of the club being open, it had quickly grown packed. There usually was a line going around the block at around 7. I had been busy tapping beers and mixing drinks, and as I placed the last of this batch on the waitress’ tray, a man sat down on the bar stool right in front of me.

He was conventionally handsome with his square jaw and dark brown hair that seemed to be greying prematurely at his temples. He wore a white dress shirt and a black blazer that on one hand, framed his average build quite nicely, but on the other hand, seemed way out of place in a gay club. People here tended to dress more comfortably. Or more invitingly, depending on their goals for the night. But to each his own, I suppose. I smiled when I noticed the edges of a tattoo peek from under the cuff of his shirt. So he has a rebellious streak after all, huh, I thought. This might be fun.

“What can I get you?” I asked, my head tilted slightly to get the man’s attention as I put on a teasing but not unfriendly smirk. The pay at the club was good, but tips were always more than welcome, if you know what I mean. The stranger’s eyes widened as his gaze snapped to me. I noticed him looking me up and down before he finally spoke up.

“Permission to walk you home after your shift, if you don’t mind.” The man smiled, radiating confidence after being obviously startled only a second before. “And a coke, please. If you don’t mind.”

“You’re going to have to pay for one of those,” I joked as I grabbed a bottle of coke from the fridge under the counter. “But I’m not about to be walked home by a man whose name I don’t even know.”

“In that case, my name is Alexander,” the stranger said, extending a hand to shake. I couldn’t help but chuckle as I shook it.

“Barclay,” I replied, placing his drink in front of him. “So, Alexander, are you a cop or just not that much of a drinker?”

“A bit of both, I guess you could say,” Alexander replied with a casual shrug, taking a sip.

“Ooh, so you are a cop! What kind? Narcotics? Homicide—”

“The kind I’m not allowed to disclose,” he said, leaning his chin on the palm of his hand, with a sly and seductive smile on his face.

“Fancy.” I smirked. “Are you sure about walking me home, though? Seven hours is an awfully long wait. Besides,” I remarked, and nodded toward the dancefloor, full of men bigger, stronger, and admittedly, more handsome than myself. “I’m sure you can get yourself someone better than me.”

Alexander leaned close, looking deep into my eyes. I could feel the other man’s breath on my face, while my own got caught in my throat. I swore for a hot second that Alexander was going to kiss me, but when it didn’t come, I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Trust me, you’re the one I want.”