"It's been too long, friend."
Briar brushed its slender body against his leg. As he bent down to pet him, Briar purred in satisfaction.
"He’s kind of making me want to visit the zoo again. It's been a while.”
Theo slid past him through the tiny entrance hall.
“You'll make him envious of all your new stories of bigger cats.”
An open kitchen stood by the end of the living room the hall led to. Quite the compact place.
A soft hum came from the refrigerator in the background, mixing with the occasional city sounds filtering through the windows.
“There's no one bigger than you, Briar.” When he tilted his face closer, the purring animal actually rubbed its cheek against his.
There was no sight greater than that.
“You guys are too cute. It's almost annoying.”
Devin looked up at him with a wide grin.
“Speaking of envy.”
A pout.
“I'll get him some food, then we'll go.”
The local bar had a cozy yet grungy nightlife feel. The air was a mix of spilled beer, worn leather, and a faint trace of cigarette smoke. Dim, colorful lights cast a warm glow over them.
"I'll get us some beer.” As Theo pulled his wallet out, Devin gave him a quick nod.
He then headed off to the bar counter.
Mismatched chairs and barstools surrounded him. The wooden bar top, though slightly sticky in places, felt familiar and well-used.
Once Theo had given his order and the bartender was turned around, getting it ready, he observed the other patrons standing near him. A bit further back stood someone you'd have to try hard to look away from.
Short and styled, brown hair. Black shirt, with its sleeves rolled up, practically hugging his body.
Not bad.
"Theo."
He froze as a whisper came from behind. The man snatched up both glasses and leaned closer, squinting his eyes.
"What were you staring at?"
"Ah, Devin. I was… Thinking about you."
Devin's expression didn't change.
"Right… sure you were.”
"Can't get anything past you… Just a not-so-bad-looking guy, that's all.”
“You could shorten that to hot, you know.”
Satisfied, Devin stepped back, clutching the glasses.
"Anyway, should I start getting the wedding invitations ready?"
Despite himself, Theo couldn't help but smile. He had to counteract it by slapping Devin's shoulder.
"Ow."
"Deserved. As usual."
Their tones were light, devoid of any actual ill-will.
They soon made it back to the table.
The moment they reached it, though, Devin put his phone to his ear with haste. His expression turned sour.
“Yeah? Ah. I'm sorry. Of course. I'll be right there.”
Theo tapped the glass, uncomfortably glancing off to the side.
“Absolutely.”
Putting it back, he eased his drink toward Theo.
“Uh, so… lucky you. You get an extra glass.”
“It's okay.”
“I don't think I can go into detail. But it seems like a bit of a personal crisis. I'm gonna have to go be emotional support.”
“I get it. You're a good friend.”
A pause.
“Don't forget yourself, Theo.”
He caught a glimpse of a figure sliding by the edge of his peripheral vision.
When the person's movements suddenly ceased, intrigue drew his eyes to them. It was him. Standing under the orange glow of the lamp directly above him was the man Theo spotted earlier.
Such sharp and distinct features. He looked even more angelic up close. Or maybe the alcohol was starting to take effect. He had been drinking and sipping on the beer for a while.
His gaze shifted between the glasses and Theo, who probably wasn't looking too good standing alone with them.
"Hello there."
God? Is that you?
"I don't suppose I could have a taste of that untouched beer?"
Or the more likely option, Satan, considering the things that voice made Theo feel. Was it even possible for a man to have such a deep but silky one? You'd think it’d at least be a little coarse at that pitch.
"Interesting move… But I guess buying me one wouldn't make much sense. Yeah, you can have it if you want…" As Theo kept sipping his beer, the man leaned on the table in front of him, picking up what he had so graciously been offered.
He was speaking. Theo understood that much. Words were coming out of his mouth.
But… he wasn't paying a single bit of attention. All he heard was a tone so sweet, it sounded like a lullaby. That wasn't exactly helping him focus. The glass was getting emptier and emptier.
His eyes glazed over, settling on a minute splotch of black peeking out from under his rolled-up sleeve. A tattoo?
He noticed the man's arm move forward, urging him on.
"You can look."
Theo reached for the black fabric and gently pushed it up with his fingers, revealing more inked lines etched into his skin and up along his bicep.
"Feathers?"
"It's a bird, yeah."
"Ah, cool…" Theo absentmindedly played with the rim of the other man's sleeve with his thumb.
"Just the head of one. But you'd have to get me out of my shirt to see that."
"Hah… Right. Wait, huh?"
His momentary trance evaporated in an instant. He retracted his arm, finding it awfully hard to look him in the eyes all of a sudden. He had been too lulled in by the guy's voice and the little buzz the beer was giving him.
"Uh, hold on…" Damn did he wish more than ever that he was capable of dealing with this kind of situation in a level-headed manner.
At the very least, his companion looked to be somewhat amused.
Theo wasn't sure whether that was the reaction he wanted people to have, but at least he wasn't thrown off.
"Cute…"
"I-I'm not …"
"I'll need that number of yours."
His smile stretched even further when Theo tensed up. Did he enjoy messing with someone so easily flustered?
"I'll… need a name first."
"Marco."
Watchful eyes studied every little movement Theo made, as he dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out his phone. After creating a new contact, he handed it over to him.
"I'm impressed. Or… surprised. Giving your phone to a stranger requires some courage."
Oh, that felt weirdly good.
"I try to believe the best in others… when I can." A certain brother came to mind.
“Admirable.”
His eyes narrowed inquisitively on Theo before he turned his attention back to the screen glaring up at him.
After typing the numbers in, he gave Theo his phone back. Slowly. It took a minute before only Theo's hand was on it.
"I'll contact you later."
Theo slid it back into his pocket and stepped away from the table. As much as he appreciated the initiative Marco had taken, exhaustion was starting to creep in. He needed time to calm down by himself.
"I'll be waiting. Theo."
"How …"
"At the top of the contact list.”
"Mhm, of course." He watched Marco as the distance between them increased. A soft smile spread on his lips and remained until the man was completely out of sight.
As Theo pushed the door open, he was met with a rush of cold air. The quiet outside was like a wake-up call, bringing him back to reality. What kind of spell had he been under in there?
At the same time, all this street did was remind him of what he was going back to.
The only thing he could think to do was pull that electronic device right back out. And to be fair, that temptation was already far greater than his need for peace and calm.
Just a few quick messages, that would be all.
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