“Pass,” Rabbit’s nostrils flared, “And stop calling me that.”
Kal had been digging into his food all the while, but Rabbit made a big show of crossing his arms, refusing to do the same.
“You’re paying for it either way,” he reminded. “But you need to correct that habit of not taking care of yourself. You need to eat.”
Rabbit would be the one going home hungry if he kept being stubborn, and while he wasn’t pleased with that possibility, Baikal wasn’t going to force the man. Not yet, and not with this. Tonight wasn’t about dominating, he was simply here to break up that farce of a date and get a feel for the other man. Even after a year, he had no idea what type of proclivities Rabbit was interested in aside from music.
He’d told his friend he was attracted to Arlet. Did that mean he was dead set on a female partner? If Rabbit turned out to be straight, Baikal would most likely attempt to put his obsession to bed. He wasn’t above forcing someone to accept him, butonlyif he knew he was their type. Wasting his time on a straight man wouldn’t be a fun time for either of them.
“That costs fifty till,” Rabbit motioned with his chin at Baikal’s plate, “Don’t tell me you don’t like it. You look like you just ate dirt.”
“I was thinking about something unpleasant,” he explained, taking another bite of the meat and chewing slowly.
Rabbit watched him for another moment before he heaved a sigh and gave in. He cut into the fish dish Kal had chosen for him with more force than necessary for such a lump of delicate meat and practically shoved the end of the fork past his strawberry-colored lips.
“The Prince of Music knows how to sulk,” Baikal teased. “And I get to witness it. Must be my lucky day.”
“I like to eat in silence,” Rabbit quipped, only to receive a snort in response.
“You’re forgetting how I sat behind you in the cafeteria. You and your friend weren’t quiet at all.”
His fork stilled as he seemed to piece something together, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. “Did you…Come here specifically to mess up my date?”
Though he was happy Rabbit was finally picking up on something that should have been incredibly obvious, Baikal made himself roll his eyes. It wasn’t yet time to reveal his dark motives. Too soon and he’d scare the man away, and while he was more than up for a good chase, he’d yet to sort and organize his many cards.
When he did finally come for Rabbit, everything needed to be in place so he could trap him completely and totally.
His little bunny needed a keeper, and Baikal was the best man for the job.
Fortunately, the perfect excuse chose that moment to walk in through the front door and Baikal grinned, pointing over Rabbit’s shoulder. “I was passing the time, actually.”
Kelevra Diar, Imperial Prince Third in line for the throne, spotted Kal almost immediately, no doubt sensing eyes on him. He was dressed in a charcoal three-piece suit, but instead of a regular vest he had on one of his infamous corsets, this one black with silver vertical stripes. A single curl of his dark brown hair hung over his right eye, highlighting that scar that ran straight through his brow over the rise of his cheekbone. The eye itself, a computer implant designed to appear just like any other eye, was hazel to match his real one. A slight shimmer of gold was the only thing that gave it away.
The two of them had been thrown together since childhood, the political alliance between their families too important to botch, and luckily they got along well enough. Baikal would consider the Imperial a friend even, though they mostly kept their lives separate and didn’t tread on the other's territory.
Which was why Kelevra’s gaze lingering a second too long on Rabbit had Baikal’s hackles rising.
“I’d invite you to join us, Rabbit,” he absolutely would never, “but something tells me you’ve hit the limit in your socialize meter.” Kal stood and adjusted his leather jacket, staring Kelevra down as the Imperial made his way over toward the bar area of the restaurant.
Rabbit stood as well and waved his multi-slate beneath the light until it chimed in payment confirmation. He glanced pointedly at Baikal’s half-finished meal. “Let’s call this even, shall we.”
“Still trying to get rid of me?”
“Your friend is waiting.” Rabbit indicated Kelevra who was now seated at the bar with his seat swiveled toward them.
The fact that he’d taken notice of the Imperial when he hadn’t once spotted Baikal in a year’s time was almost enough to make Kal rethink his entire plan for the night and skip ahead despite his earlier assessment.
“Run along, little bunny,” he warned. “The wolves are here to play.”
Rabbit grunted. “Since when were devils wolves?”
Baikal almost stopped him when he turned on his heels and crossed the room, but since he’d wanted Rabbit gone and out of Kelevra’s sights, he allowed him to have the last word.
This time.
He waited until his tiny obsession had exited the restaurant before he sauntered over to the long bar and took the seat next to Kel. “Perfect timing.”
“Is that so?” the Imperial drawled. “And here I was thinking I’d interrupted something.”
