(A/N: This scene was written to occur much later in the story when a friendship had been established so it's incomplete. Hope some of you enjoy it anyway!)

Chapter 14: Bonus Scene

Hunter laughed, his glass clinking loudly when he smacked his hand against the counter. River's eyes grew wide, shocked by his reaction. Consciously, his eyes flew around the rest of the bar, hoping they hadn't drawn much attention. Seeing how flustered River got, how his cheeks tinged pink while his expression turned slightly panicked, Hunter laughed harder.

"Wow! The always collected River is embarrassed?!" Hunter --probably too loudly-- said. River watched Hunter silently, slightly stunned. He had not been expecting that. But, surprisingly, he began laughing as well. Now the embarrassing attention was brought on by both of their ridiculous behaviors.

"Gosh," River sighed, wiping away his lone tear on his shoulder. "And, you're not even drunk!"

"I'm not even drunk." Hunter repeated with a slow shake of his head. "Maybe it's because of work. I have to suppress my stupid jokes to seem 'mature.'"

"Well, age is but a number." Hunter said, hoping the repeated saying sounded smart. "And, I think I've proven that mentally, I'm just a really smart five-year-old. Like, taxes and rent? No problem. But, my eyes like to follow sparkly things like a moth."

River laughed, clapping his hands as he shook his head. Hunter was practically glowing with all of the positive attention River was giving him.

Half an hour earlier, Hunter had been buzzing with excitement to get to the bar. Although he had been a bit shaken by his conversation with his high school friends from the previous Saturday, this Friday he hoped to put it behind him. The only things he was going to worry about were the drinks and the cute guy that would be serving them.

When Hunter had burst through the door a little to enthusiastically to be cool, River immediately noticed his presence. It was a bit difficult not to at that point. They had been talking for a couple of weeks now and every time that Hunter came, he seemed to disrupt the calm atmosphere moe than before.

Whether or not River liked that, Hunter wasn't sure, but he hadn't been asked to leave yet so Hunter thought he was pretty safe. The second the conversation started, talking came so easily. Hunter fully enjoyed every second he spent talking to River and he thought the other man thought the same.

As the topics went from hobbies to favorite foods to recent topics then back to simple stuff like the weather, River was giving just as much as he took from the conversation and vice versa. Then they were joking and laughing and Hunter was getting too loud and one could see what happened after that.

As River started making his own silly comments and laughing at the dumb things that he said, Hunter found himself softly smiling and in awe of it all. In awe of River actually. Just staring at the --as he recently noticed-- taller man Hunter couldn't help but admire every physical thing about him. He was just so alluring, in all of his features.

His dark hooded eyes were so serious but when River smiled, those same eyes crinkled into the most adorable little slits. His sharp jawline, softened by the widening of his cheeks as he smiled was emphasized when River's face went blank, his clenched jaw the only his frustration. And his rosy pink thin lips were surprisingly Hunter's favorite part of River's face. Every time Hunter saw them, whether they were pressed tightly together or widened by a smile, Hunter wanted to press the bottom lip under his thumb, just to see what it felt like. Then, use that same hand against River's chin and pull his face close so his lips fell on Hunter's--

Hunter gasped, coughing on the alcohol that flew down his throat. River had been making another customer's order not too far down the counter but stopped mid shake at the sound.

"Hunter, are you alright?" He asked worriedly, rushing down the line and pressing a hand against Hunter's back. Hunter, red in the face with his eyes watering, nodded.

"I'm--" He coughed again, the drink burning harshly. "Ugh, Good!"

River abandoned the drink in the cup, leaving only to return with a napkin.

"Cough your lungs up if you have to but get that out of your throat."