Chapter Text
"Following me around like a lost puppy, are you?"
He stopped holding his breath.
It wasn't much of a surprise that he was found out. More of a surprise she didn't expose him earlier, really.
"Guess so." He laughed, materializing in the seat next to her at the small table. "What can I say? You're hard to stay away from for long, Boss." He took her drink into hand, taking a sip of the coffee and trying to hide his sour reaction. No milk, no sweetener. Of course.
Rolling her eyes, she replied dryly; "I don't know if I should be flattered or unnerved..."
Lips lingered over the lipstick on the cup, almost sweet against his tongue. He sat it down, resting his head in his hand, her features illuminating against the café lighting. Star-shaped lanterns dangled from the high ceiling like hipster chandeliers, the lively chatter of other guests echoing against the cherry oak walls.
"How about both, or preferably neither?" His smile curled crooked, pointed teeth behind blue lips. "Not that either would change anything, of course, but I'm sure you're already well aware of that."
He wasn't able to get her off his mind. Not in the romantic sort of way, the way soldiers think of their wives or the half-dressed glamor girls in magazines. It was difficult to pinpoint.
"I'm not in the mood to discuss semantics with you..." She sighed, crossing a leg over the other. "But if you're going to stalk me across timelines, you may as well order your own drink."
One tall espresso, one venti frappé, a handful of baked sweets, and he still wasn't budging.
"Let's cut to the chase." She cut the silence, lipstick fading off of her bottom lip. A candy-flavored shade. "I know what you want from me, but you're sweet for trying to butter me up first."
"Oh?"
"Well, I don't play with little boys." She swirled her cup in hand, drink swishing against the thick paper. "I like a rebel, but you're not quite my tastes."
Intercourse, coitus, fornication. Sex. It was all the same to him, the pleasures and shame.
"For shame, Boss! Thinking I only came here for one thing. Maybe I just wanted to spend some time with you." He feigned hurt, dramatically clutching his chest with a duo-toned palm. "Sorry, but I only do R-rated scenes if it's relevant to the plot."
White hair fell back as he downed his own drink, a drop beading down the side of his jaw. "And, no offense, but I didn't take you for being picky."
"That's grand, coming from somebody that can't even wear a shirt." She snapped back, crushing the empty cup against the table.
Snorting, he wiped off his mouth with the back of his hand. "That's fair."
"This may come as a shock to you, but I don't just screw every guy that crawls on my doorstep. Real men need to work for my time." A demeaning tone rested in her voice. "Besides, I don't think you could handle this even if you had it."
"Oh?" He perked, catching his attention. "Is that a challenge?"
"More like a warning."
He barked a laugh, correcting orange shades with the tip of his finger. "I might surprise you, Boss."
Droplets formed and raced down the cup as the drink settled, feeling the subtle weight shift between her fingers, contemplating. "Well, I'd pay good money to wipe that damn smirk off your face..."
He stood up, opening out his arms, almost as if presenting himself to an audience.
"Wanna try for free?"