lunch hour

[ofanotherera]

Alfie makes a funny figure, walking through Tommy's pretty glass-walled building, along the marble lobby and towards the elevator that takes him up to the floor that houses the firm. He nods politely at the receptionist, who gestures for him to go on in. There are other delivery boys around, bringing quinoa salads and coffee with multi-syllabic names, but there is just one Alfie, with a few home made sandwiches and one thermos of soup.

He waits until the harried looking legal assistant leaves Tommy's office, and then catches the door before it can bang shut, and pokes his head in.

Comments

[ofanotherera]

"I knew we'd likely end up rough with one another. I knew I'd likely tie you down. It didn't click to me, to think of you in the context of service, until I saw the stress rolling off you, and then saw it melt when I took you by the neck."

[bleak_midwinter]

He sighs happily, tugs on Alfie's fingers a little just so he has something to touch.

"And the community? Should I know something else, about what that means to you?"

[ofanotherera]

He thinks about it, and shakes his head.

"I can bring you to see if you want, but I'm as happy staying out."

[bleak_midwinter]

He shakes his head as well. Maybe someday, but now- "No. Just you."

He'd just needed to know if Alfie had been uncomfortable, if there is anything they should avoid.

[ofanotherera]

"Good."

Giving his shoulder a squeeze, then reaching back for the bag. There are oatmeal cookies to be had; home baked.

[bleak_midwinter]

"Mister Solomons," he chastises, but he takes a cookie. "Are you going to spend any time today working, or are you just pampering me?"

[ofanotherera]

"I'm always ruined, the day after."

He confesses, with a very quick little smile, one of his more vulnerable ones.

"It happens to both sides. Bottoms, more often, but tops too- emotional swings in the hangover period. Me, I play, the next day I don't focus. And I end up fretting, making sure you know I'd never really hurt you."

[bleak_midwinter]

He twitches a wry little smile, smoothed a thumb around that smile.

"No one has ever taken care of me like you." So he didn't hurt him, would never consider that. But he bites his cookie: he doesn't mind.

"I've been fucking high all day, Alfie. How much sleep did I get? Three hours? Last time I was this focused was two weeks ago."

[ofanotherera]

"Three hours. So there's a crash coming."

He predicts, gently.

"Let me pick you up from work?"

[bleak_midwinter]

"Hm. Yes, please." Dropping his hand to Alfie's shoulder, then his elbow.

[ofanotherera]

"Good. I'm going to go catch a movie."

Is the thing he decides.

[bleak_midwinter]

"I'll stay here and make some money, then," he says, but his grin is wide enough that it's clear he doesn't mean anything by it- as if it was ever about the money, for him.

[ofanotherera]

"Breadwinner."

He says, and winks back, and that's trust for you. He gets to his feet, and heads on out, with their lunch things, and one last kiss.