Antonio stood quickly, movements jerky now.Awkward.He didn’t move toward Declan, only shifted his weight from foot to foot, thumb picking at one of his fingernails.
The last time Declan had seen someone that on edge, it’d been at the end of a white powder line.It hadn’t been amusing, nor a cause for concern, as, well, twitchy happened.
Antonio wasn’t that kind of restless.He was parched earth, cracked and bare in the blaze of whatever set him alight.But not high.
“You came,” he said, sounding so grateful and surprised Declan wasn’t sure if he ought to be insulted.
“I said I would.”Declan studied the constant movement that was Antonio, fascinated.“You said it was an immediate request.I don’t like to leave people waiting.”
“Yeah, no, I appreciate it.You– Can we– Did you want to sit?Or standing’s fine.It’s not much of a walk around the pond.Lots of duck shit.”
Declan reached the bench, his fingers light on the back of it, wood irregular and cool.The sense of the man had shifted since last he’d seen him.Sharp copper curled through the rust, blotted out the sun, and seeped over the scraped-soft leather of him.Declan didn’t like how it sat on the human.
“Sitting or standing is fine.The ducks might have plans for their shit.”
Antonio sat, clearly wary, despite being the one who’d called Declan.Wary for his own reasons, Declan perched on the far edge of the bench.Too close, too long, and this–
This was not the time nor place for his deathsight to trigger.Antonio may very well tumble into a coronary in response.
Not that he was doing much now.Picking at his finger, looking at Declan and away again.And Declan, a man used to using silences to his advantage, feltwhollyuncomfortable in this one.
“I admit to being surprised that you contacted me, especially via our mutual friend.Bo’s general opinion of me ranges from ‘should eat a bag of spiked dicks’ to ‘dry humored prick.’” Declan smiled wryly.“Affectionately, of course.”
Antonio’s exhale sounded amused.A half triumph, perhaps.Declan would keep trying.
“I didn’t know you and Bo were friends.Just figured he might know how to get in touch with a fae.And, look, I–shit,I don’t got much to offer.I’m sure the other nine are more–” A shrug and Antonio’s dark eyes still trained on his hands.“I’m a Hollow, for what it’s worth.Some fae seem to like that.But, I’m not gonna lie to you.That’s all she wrote.”
“I… Pardon?”
Dramatics aside, Declan had a head for politics.For people.He knew how to play the game as well as most, if not better than.He’d been judge and jury.The fop.The evil fairy invited to parties so as to not curse the baby if left off the guest list.
Thiswas far beyond something he ever had to know what to do with before.
It didn’t make sense.Doubly so with Antonio picking at his fingers, eyes downcast and words erratic.
“It means, that’s all I’ve got.”
Bugger.
“Yes, I– Excuse me, I’m afraid I missed part of the conversation, Antonio.What are you proposing?”
Antonio shifted his weight, moving closer to Declan.The pull of the bond, same as it called to Declan.He fought against it, that urge to edge closer.He fought and failed.Moved a scant breath nearer.
There were chaperones around when two possibles met forreasons, voids take it.
“Right.I guess I could be a little less of a fucking wreck.”Antonio laughed, an ugly, small sound that sat ill.“I really wasn’t expecting you to come.And I’m not great at waiting.I … before I waste more of both our time, what’d you mean earlier?‘Inquiring about a bond.’You said there were ten, so you’re, what, test driving the options?Seeing who you like?”
And that,that, was what had broken Declan quietly outside the garage.Antonio’s ready assumption that Declan might be a desirable match.The human didn’t know what being a sluaghmeant.What he risked by being around Declan at all, let alone in such close proximity.
“There’s been ten over the last three centuries or so, present company included,” Declan agreed, following Antonio’s lead by watching the man’s restless hands.Strong, stained from work, attractive even when frenetic, near vibrating with what ailed him.“The majority of fae have perhaps three or four possible matches in a lifetime.I’ve received eight refusals, five of which I never met.The two before you, I didn’t make an offer to.I did, in fact, start with my name.”
Antonio breathed deep in the darkness and shifted a little closer.And, voids, Declan knew what to do with handsome men watching him in the dark, their mess of brown curls and matching eyes catching the moonlight.
He knew.But not like this.
“So not test driving?”
Declan grinned.He didn’t look up.It was easier that way.“Not test driving.Mother said you had bad experiences with fae.You didn’t strike me as the sort to appreciate sugarcoating, especially as fae aren’t known for being forthright.I continued to press the idea as I enjoyed most of our talk.”
