Robin

[shannonteverius]

Felix still hadn't come home. Even though Shannon's closet could take up more than half a bedroom, the other half seemed so empty without Felix's books in it. Any time he'd thought of redecorating he ended up not touching a thing. He couldn't bear to take up Felix's space without the man around to complain about it.

Yet another evening of not wanting to be home drove Shannon out for a stroll. It was a pleasant, spring night and the streets were bustling with people. He merged into the crowd, welcoming the noise and company.

He didn't have a destination in mind, so when he stopped for a moment and found himself outside of a bar he considered going in for a drink. He didn't go to bars often, but he'd been here a time or two before with Felix. Of course, it was different now and the idea of drinking alone felt pathetic. Still, one drink wouldn't hurt and it would give him time to think about where he wanted to go next. It was much to early to return to an empty bed.

Inside, he took a seat on at stool at the middle of the bar. Just because he was drinking alone didn't mean he had to look pitiful while doing it. He ordered a glass of wine and settled in while the bartender fetched his drink.

Comments

[goodfellow]

Robin had been out of London for over a month now, making himself scarce when he'd heard rumblings of someone in town whom he very much did not want to run into. The coast seemed to be clear now though, so he'd returned, and was making his way back through his favorite places.

Seeing Shannon Teverius across the bar was enough to spark his interest. He hoped that he and Felix hadn't reconciled. What a waste.

Without invitation, he slid onto the seat beside him, one hand sliding up to straighten the knot of the emerald green silk tie at his throat, the other signaling to the bartender for another scotch.

[shannonteverius]

The bartender had just delivered his glass when he noticed someone sit down next to him. He accepted the drink and paid before turning to see who it was. He couldn't help the feeling of disappointment at recognizing Robin, but he put on a pleasant smile anyway.

"Good evening," he said.

[goodfellow]

"You should be happier to see me, kitten," said Robin. "I'm going to buy you drinks."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon arched one golden eyebrow. "Kitten?"

[goodfellow]

Robin only smiled at him.

Then - "And how have you been?"

[shannonteverius]

"Fine," Shannon replied before taking a sip of his wine. "And I'm sure you've been well."

[goodfellow]

"I'm always well," said Robin. "I am extremely good at maintaining my wellness. I hear you're single. How's that going for you?"

[shannonteverius]

The look Shannon gave Robin could have hurled daggers. "What do you care?" he asked. "You're just happy you got him."

[goodfellow]

Robin arched an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

[shannonteverius]

"How could you not? He's free and he's wanted you since the moment you met. You'd be insane to say no." Shannon couldn't imagine anyone saying no to Felix.

[goodfellow]

"Most people do," Robin said cheerfully, without any hint of whether Shannon was correct or not. "Want me, I mean."

[shannonteverius]

"I don't," Shannon said flatly. A dark thought crossed his mind briefly and he took a bigger sip of his wine to chase it away.

[goodfellow]

"You don't want to," Robin corrected him, and knocked back a generous portion of the new glass of scotch in front of him.

[shannonteverius]

"What is that supposed to mean?"

[goodfellow]

"It means that you don't like me," Robin said matter-of-factly. "But you're still attracted to me. Such a difficult position to be in, I know."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon rolled his eyes. "However will I cope?" he said. "Does your neck hurt carrying an ego that big?"

[goodfellow]

Robin laughed. "I mean, the obvious comment here has something to do with how it's not my ego that's unusually big, but it's just too easy."

[shannonteverius]

Shannon wouldn't dignify that comment with a response. He took a sip of his wine instead.

[goodfellow]

Robin knocked back the rest of his drink and signaled for another.

"You know," he said, "it is really so unusual for me to have no desire to sleep with someone. You should feel very special."

[shannonteverius]

"I'm flattered," Shannon said sarcastically. He turned to Robin and gave him a once-over. "Are you really like this with everyone? Or is it just me you like to annoy?"

[goodfellow]

"Most people find me very charming," Robin said cheerfully.

[shannonteverius]

"Ostentatious self flattery is not what I'd call charming. Perhaps you could try another tack?"

[goodfellow]

"Eh," said Robin, and shrugged. "I'm not trying to charm you." The bartender slid another scotch in front of him and he toasted the air.

[shannonteverius]

"Then why did you sit down next to me in the first place?" Shannon asked, plainly annoyed.

[goodfellow]

"Curiosity," said Robin. "Why, would you like me to leave you alone? You strike me as the sort who really don't like to be alone."

[shannonteverius]

That much was true and though he hated to admit it, having Robin for company was better than returning home to an empty bed. "Curiosity?" he prompted.

[goodfellow]

Robin was many things, but he was not cruel. And it would only be a cruelty to taunt Shannon with anything that Felix had said or implied about their sex life, for example. So though he was tempted...

A shrug, and a drink. "You're so pretty, kitten. I'm just so certain that somewhere you have a personality to match." He smiled.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon was surprised by the complement, despite the fact that it was grouped with an insult. "I'm willing to believe that you may have some charm," he offered, "though I have yet to see it."

[goodfellow]

"Do you speak any other languages, Shannon?" Robin asked, running a finger over the rim of his glass idly. "A well educated boy like you... Latin? French?"

[shannonteverius]

Shannon eyes him, his golden brows furrowed. "Why do you ask?"

[goodfellow]

"Party trick," said Robin pleasantly.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon was still wary but he answered, "I took French when I was in school." Of course he only took the class because it was required and he was in no way fluent with the language, though he did remember bits and pieces.

[goodfellow]

Robin waved his hand in the air in a flourish and said started praising Shannon's beauty in flawless French. Something about his hair and his eyes, perfect skin. All skin deep, of course.

[shannonteverius]

Shannon understood the gist of what Robin was saying, even if he didn't catch all of it. Perhaps it was his lack of understanding that kept him from preening before the onslaught of complements, but more likely it was his dislike of the man who gave them.

"Flirting in a foreign language is your best party trick?" he asked, thought his lips curved in a small smile.

[goodfellow]

"Nah," said Robin, seeming unfazed. "Flirting in all of them is my party trick." He knocked back the rest of his drink.

[shannonteverius]

"It's impossible to know every language," Shannon said. "Besides, not all of them would do you well as a pick up. I can't imagine anyone being flattered by German unless you were actually in Germany."

[goodfellow]

"It's a very good trick," Robin said. "And when one is in Germany and wants to flirt, doing so in German is very useful."

[shannonteverius]

"Why ever would one want to go to Germany?"