Friday, August 13, 2202 - 12:27
When Wynne stepped out of Director Goodson’s office, she was greeted by General Perez, her supervisor.
“How’d it go?”
The sun hit him in a way that made Wynne realize how old the General was. His tanned skin was deeply weathered by years of managing frivolous wars and years of trying to protect a group of ragtag soldiers after that. That was his entire life, no kids, no wife, just protecting and serving his country and those around him.
Is he ever gonna retire?
She shrugged, “Fine. Did he ask for you too?”
“No, I just want to talk to my goddaughter about how college is going,”
Well, maybe one kid.
Wynne managed a small smile as they began to walk side by side, scuffed sneakers matching their gate with impeccably polished dress shoes, “It hasn’t started yet, I’m just moving into my apartment today.”
The General nodded, sliding two fingers over the elevator’s tablet, tapping the button for the ground floor,“How many roommates?”
She leaned against the back of the elevator as it began its fifty-floor drop, “Three. It’s a student apartment and we needed to fill four slots so it’s me, Noelle, and a set of twins who’re really nice.”
“That’s good to hear,” General Perez beamed, “Have you selected your major yet?”
“Yeah,I’m double majoring; Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences annnd International Security policy.”
“That’s my girl,” he ruffled her dreadlocks and clapped her shoulder, as the elevator jerked to a stop, letting out a cheerful chirp, “ I’ll let you head home, mija. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, anciano.”
The General laughed and shook his head as she walked away, “I’m not that old,”
“Sure you aren’t,” Wynne beamed, whirling around and made her way to the headquarters’s entrance.
Friday, August 13, 2202 - 14:35
Wynne stepped into her apartment, beaming at her dog Bandit as he leapt up, licking at her face, “Hey buddy! How’re you?”
As she continued to dote on her dog, she looked over at her roommate, Lin as he was stretched out on the apartment’s couch, “He wasn’t too much trouble, was he?”
Lin looked up from his phone, his coils bouncing, “Huh? Nah, he was fine. Just sat at the door the whole time,”
“Cool, thanks for watching him,” Wynne approached the couch, slumping into a spot next to Lin, “Where’re Noelle and Leslie?”
“They went to go get dinner.”
“It’s literally two-thirty.”
“That’s what I said,” Lin shrugged, “But they’re paying so I can’t complain,”
“Did they say what they we’re getting?”
Lin snorted, reaching down to rub Bandit’s ears,“Nope.”
Friday, August 13, 2202 - 14:50
Noelle reached up to pull her violet locks into a bun as Leslie pushed the door to the 411 Bistro open.
“So what’re we grabbing?” Leslie asked, jamming his hands in his sweatshirt pockets.
“Uhh,” Noelle narrowed her eyes, examining the posted menu, “I’m thinkin’ a pepperoni pizza for all of us, two orders of breadsticks, a chocolate cake, annnnd stuffed shells for Winnie.”
Leslie eyed his friend, confused, “Aren’t you supposed to be limiting your food intake for this season?”
The powerlifter jammed her elbow into his ribs, “Shaddup, it’s my last hurrah. We’ll get sodas too.”
“Cool, cool,” Leslie let his eyes sweep the restaurant, widening them when they locked on a towering, but familiar figure.
His heart made its way into his throat as he examined Clark from the other side of the restaurant, noting how he was arm-in-arm with a petite blonde woman.
Clark’s mismatched eyes shifted to meet his and he instantly offered Leslie a soft smile and a wave.
Leslie was able to force himself to provide a curt wave in turn before returning to speaking with Noelle.
Is that girl his girlfriend? Do I care?
His stomach twisted in knots as they ordered their food and waited for it to be placed on the to-go counter.
“Hey, I gotta use the bathroom,” Noelle piped up, “We’re number 256, I’ll be back in a sec.”
“Okay.”
Noooo, don’t leave me aloneeeee.
Leslie began playing on his phone, hoping that no one would talk to him.
He wasn’t that fortunate.
“Hey gorgeous,” was a soft whisper that made its way into his ear.
Leslie jumped out of his skin and whirled around to face Clark with a flush, hissing, “What’re you doing?”
Clark offered a smug smile, “Just saying hi to a friend, didn’t know you lived in Brooklyn.”
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” Leslie quipped back.
“What? Teddi?” The taller of the pair laughed, “She ain’t my girlfriend. She’s, like, seven years older than me, and married. ‘S cute seeing you jealous though.”
“I’m not jealous,” Leslie grumbled, crossing his arms.
“Sure you aren’t,” Clark checked his phone, “My ride’s here. Text me later.”
With that, Clark winked, pinched Leslie’s thigh, and vanished into the street.
Leslie was only pulled out of his trance when Noelle reappeared by his side, “They call us yet?”
“No- no we’re good,”
Noelle looked up at him, narrowing her eyes, “You good man?”
“What?” Leslie shook his head, clearing his mind of Clark’s lips against the shell of his ear, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine-”
“Order two fitty six!”
Leslie raised his hand and the pair pushed their way through the crowd to grab the bags of food and made their way out.
Friday, August 13, 2202 - 15:32
Noelle shoved their apartment door open with her foot, bellowing “I COME BEARING FOODS.”
“Shut up, Scandal’s on,” Wynne quipped, crossing her legs.
“Well damn okay,” Noelle placed the boxes of food on the kitchen counter, “I guess I’ll just eat your stuffed shells myself then,”
Lin laughed at the speed at which Wynne leapt off of the couch and snatched the box of stuffed shells off of the counter.
“We also got breadsticks.” Noelle added, grinning as she held out a bag of breadsticks.
“You insidious bitch, you’re tryna make me go over my carb limit,” Wynne grumbled, snatching the bag and retreating to the couch.
Lin slid by her, moving to the kitchen to gather paper towels and cups as Noelle and Leslie spread the food out on the coffee table.
The roommates settled into their living room as the intro of a soap opera played over the TV.
Friday, August 13, 2202 - 22:06
Leslie knocked on the door to Wynne and Lin’s room, poking his head in as he jammed his phone in his pocket, “Hey Lin, I’m heading out. I’ll be back late tonight.”
Lin didn’t even bother to look up from his book, “Cool. Don’t die. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Leslie pulled his coat over his shoulders as he rushed out of the front door.
Friday, August 13, 2202 - 22:27
Clark opened his apartment’s door, smiling down at Leslie, “Hey,”
The shorter of the pair jolted as his attention was drawn away from who may have followed him into the building, “Hi.”
Clark peered out of the doorway, examining the empty hallway and let out a soft sigh, “Y’know this building’s safe, I literally had to buzz you in. No one’s gonna see anything.”
Leslie looked down at his shoes, fidgeting with the bottom of his jacket, “Sorry.”
Clark reached down to caress his face, “You got nothin’ to apologize for, gorgeous. I get it.”
When Leslie hesitated, Clark let out a gentle sigh, “Are you still upset about earlier?”
Leslie leaned into his hand, letting his eyes flutter shut, “No, I’m okay. Can I come in?”
Clark laughed, “Nope, I invited you over just to have you stand in the hall.”
Leslie rose up on his toes, pulling him into a lazy kiss.
Clark reciprocated with a grin, pressing his hands to Leslie’s hips.
“How about now?” Leslie mumbled.
“I think I’mma need a lil’ more convincing,” Clark beamed, pulling Leslie into the apartment.
Leslie gasped for air as he rolled out from under Clark who flopped down face-first next to him.
Clark rolled over onto his back, examining his lover as he stared at the ceiling.
The pair laid in silence for a time, catching their breaths until Leslie puffed out a, “So,”
“Huh?”
“Uh, where’re you going to school?”
Clark grinned, “That’s an awfully invasive question for someone you’ve hooked up with twice.”
“Not as invasive as you sneaking up behind me and hitting on me in public, but I get it. I’ll head out.”
As Leslie sat up, reaching for his shirt, Clark bolted up, wrapping his arms around his waist.
A soft smile came to Leslie’s lips as Clark kissed at the tribal tattoo on his shoulder, murmuring, “Noooo. Don’t do that, please, for me?”
Leslie dropped his shirt and leaned into Clark, turning his head to kiss his cheek, “Fine, for you,”
Clark managed a soft chuckle as Leslie nestled into him, “Keep this up and I’mma start catching feelings.”
“Enough feelings to tell me where you go to school?”
Leslie practically melted at how Clark held onto him as he answered, “I go to Columbia. What about you?”
“NYU.”
Their conversation lulled into a hesitant silence until Clark stiffened, “What’re you doing?”
Leslie stopped tracing the edge of one of Clark’s vitiligo patches, pulling his hand away, “Sorry, I just- I dunno, I think it’s kinda cool,”
“It’s fine, I’m just used to people being weird about how I look,”
“You’re just so hot that they don’t know how to act right.”
Clark laughed as Leslie leaned up to kiss him, “Sure, we can go with that.”
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