Chapter Text
“Don’t you have school or something faker?”
“Please don’t call me that,” Sieg felt his motivation drop dead in mere seconds, “And my classes got canceled.”
“That sounds like bullshit.”
“I do not control the speed at which my teachers get hungover!”
“Whatever, what do you want?”
“Gin and tonic.”
“You tryin’ to get me arrested brat?” Hagen sneered.
“Fine, beef tongue,” Sieg pouted.
“Hundred bucks.”
“What! Why!?”
“You know why.”
Sieg mumbled something under his breath as he dug out his wallet. The only solace he ever received from Hagen was that he would never try to intentionally kill him. Not while Siegfried was alive at least. Hagen had promised that. But if he didn’t try and make any moment of his life that involved him feel like hell he wouldn’t be Hagen.
He handed over the bill which was harshly snatched out of his hand and replaced with an ice cream cone. If it wasn’t for the fact the man’s ice cream was criminally good Sieg wouldn’t have even considered indulging him with his outrageous prices. He still shivered when he remembered he had a customer who came every day to pick up ice cream for his partner and still forked over for the special pricing Hagen had for him. The amount of love that man had for that person had to be infinite, why else would someone willingly hand over nearly five hundred bucks for a single container? Of the people Hagen actually liked, the man’s partner was one of those rare few that were privy to such an ostentatious position. ‘His Favorite Customer’ he liked to say. Considering he was pulling in nearly two and a half thousand a week just from their desire for his ice cream, it was an apt title. That was also the only one he gave freebies too. Even Siegfried and Brunnhilde had to pay no matter what.
“Alright so why are you actually here. You stood here for like twenty minutes before ordering anything.”
Sieg pursed his lips. Siegfried had asked him to do this because he had said he was going to the park. But he also really didn’t want to get more onto Hagen’s nerves, lest he became the target of his wrath by the request.
“Uh, well, you see…”
“Spit it out before I tear it out along with your tongue.” He threatened boredly.
“Siegfried wants to invite Karna and his brother to dinner this weekend.”
Hagen stared at him. His expressions soften from the face of a man about to kill him into a man about to drag his ass through an iron maiden. He gripped his ice cream close as a hand shot out and lifted him up from his collar. Despite his appearances, Hagen was disproportionately strong.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re insinuating Siegfried is considering inviting those idol boys to my dinner preparation night.”
“Uh-!”
“And you certainly aren’t insinuating something so stupid, right faker?”
“You’re kinda choking me a litt-”
“Right? Faker?”
“He would really appreciate it,” Sieg croaked out.
“Eeeeeh,” the faux cheeriness was obvious, “I bet he would, and I bet I would really appreciate it if you would just choke on a-”
“AndJeanneofferedtopayforeverythingyou’dneed!” Sieg sputtered out quickly.
“...Oh?," He paused, "Miss Top Idol? Offering to pay for the dinner’s ingredients? And equipment?”
Sieg nodded quickly, very desperate to get the hand holding his collar to let go.
“Well then,” Hagen flashed a smile that reminded him of a hyena, “Why don’t you tell my dear friend Siegfried I would just love to have his boyfriend and his brother join us this weekend? And let your girlfriend know I greatly appreciate her willingness to pay for it all so I may allocate more money to my savings account. Alright, Sieg? Can I trust you to do that for me?”
I’ve made a deal with the devil himself, Sieg thought as he was dropped back down after he nodded frantically in agreement.
“Thank you for your patronage, I hope you come back again soon.” He called out smugly as Sieg quickly left the truck. He was certain that the smile would be on his face all day. No, it would be there the entire time they were cooking for sure. Staring him down like a prey animal just in reach as he struggled to follow the exact instructions. It was a chilling image that Sieg thankfully only had to experience only a few times a year usually. However, he couldn’t focus on that right now. He had to make a call.
“Hey, Jeanne, I...may have done something very stupid...You have a disposal income to spare for a day right? … Uh, I may have promised Hagen something big...”
“You’re out of town?”
“Just for a few days, we’ll be back in time for the dinner and its preparation. Just some family issues.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Yes, I should be.”
“...What about your mother?”
“Ah...well, as far as she’s concerned, I’m at home taking care of my poor sick younger brother.”
“...Who is also there?”
“Yes, he is listening to this call. Say Hi Arjuna.”
“Take the phone away from me.”
“He says hi.”
“Ah, tell him I say hello.”
“Arjuna he says-”
“I heard him the first time!”
“Hm, well, we have to catch a train soon. I can call again after if you’d like.”
“Ah, yes, I’d like that. I hope your trip goes well.”
“If all goes to plan, it will. Talk to you soon.”
Siegfried heard the line go dead and put his phone back onto his desk. He breathed out a sign, looking at the document on his screen. He wondered if the person who wanted to hire him realized he was dating the idol they wanted him to write the article about. That had to be a conflict of interest right? He was waiting a few more minutes before he began just in case they realized it. He had experiences with that before when someone came in asking him to write about Jeanne or Sieg, unaware of his connection to the both of them. That was a small downside to being a freelance writer he supposed. It didn’t help that they tended to pay pretty well too. At least the reputable ones. He still denied tabloids on principle. He had enough of those while living with his uncle.
A notification that he had an email popped up. A quick glance let him know it had been the same person who had contacted him before. He briefly wondered if maybe he should start adding that to his list of what he won’t write. It probably would be best. But then again he still got requests for those. Maybe he should put it upfront instead of at the end.
He was a bit sad at losing the article, it was a pretty nice payment being offered. Well, he did still have two others on the table, so it wasn’t as bad as it could be. As he checked the email a thought popped into his head.
‘Is this person asking to interview me now?'
“Hey, Karna.”
“Hm?”
“How much of that tea have you had today?”
Karna looked down at the bottle, looking it over. It was nearly empty now. Considering the size, he guessed there had been two and a half servings in there.
“Two and a half...maybe? Why do you ask?”
“Isn’t that high in vitamin C?”
“It’s rosehip, so obviously.”
“Doesn’t your medication act up if you have more than a thousand milligrams?”
Karna blinked. He looked down at the bottle. He looked up from it. He looked back down at the bottle. Then, he looked over to Arjuna with a flat face.
“Please help me get to a bathroom.”
“This is why mother doesn’t let you travel without her normally, isn’t it?”
“Arjuna I can and will throw up all over you if you do not get me to a bathroom this instant.”