Work Text:
A quiet day in the Melodias manor. A sentence that was rarely prevalent. Though this particular evening, D.M. had been out meeting with his clients at the Golden Rose. Trickster wasn't inclined to attend as he was behind on his paperwork. So, the man spent the day in the manor's library filling out complicated papers and reading through past documents to ensure a lack of legal issues. The only company he had was the rain softly hitting the glass and the soft light of the candles around him.
Trickster was wrapped up in his work. His eyes hardly left the papers strung out about the table. He intended to get everything out of the way so he could get out of excessive paperwork the next day. Trickster didn't mind the idea when he first took the job. The pay was amazing and he was provided benefits that his old job would have never given him. Not to mention his current boss offered him the position directly. Over the months, paperwork definitely wasn't the worst thing, D.M. has had him do but, it was certainly the most time consuming.
The clock slowly crept its way to 7pm. Trickster was engrossed in a document describing the deal D.M. had made with Golden Rose Theatre. So much so that he hadn't heard the expensive car pull into the drive and the front door open.
D.M. was surprised when he entered his home to a lack of a man waiting to take his coat and ask him about the meeting. D.M. never found himself angry at his assistant when things like this happened. Any other worker would have gotten reprimanded but the man couldn't find any reason to be angry. He simply felt a faint curiousness as to how his assistant could possibly forget to greet him. He shed his coat and hung it on the rack by the door.
The elegant man made his way through his home. Over months he had found out so much about his assistant. When he first met the other he knew he was shy and had difficulties making conversation. Though, as time passed he learned that Trickster had a particular way of working and even living. His first thought was the library. He offered the other to use the offices but Trickster always declined, saying that the library gave him the space he needed.
D.M. entered the room silently. He immediately noticed the man sitting at the usual table. Candles illuminated around him, making his face even more beautiful than it was normally. He took in the view for a moment. He watched Trickster carefully scan the page of prices and donations. He let out a soft sigh. Perhaps there had been some ulterior motive to highering the assistant. He had met with many women throughout the years of working with the theatre. However, this man was the first to really touch his heart. He had heard that the others' job wasn't the best so, he took the opportunity to get Trickster into a place where he could learn more about him.
Eventually, he decided to come clean. He cleared his throat. "Interesting read? Had to be, as you didn't even come to greet me when I arrived." He spoke, softly dramatizing sadness in his tone. He approached the table slowly.
Trickster jumped upon hearing the voice of his boss. He set down his book and immediately stood up. "Ah! Sorry. I simply lost track of time." He stated apologetically. He noticed D.M.'s eyes trail to the documents he was looking through. "Past donation logs. The Golden Rose is asking for the past 6 months' amounts." He explained to the other.
D.M. nodded with a sigh. "They can't keep those logs themselves? I'm the one providing for them." He picked up the booklet and flipped through the pages.
Trickster shrugged and sat back in his chair. "Apparently not. It'd make my workload lighter if they did." He sighed softly. He reached for the book to take it from D.M.'s hands. However, before he could reach it the man yanked the book away.
"Perhaps, it's a sign that you should take a break." D.M. told him.
"Don't do this again. I need to get this done tonight." He replied, reaching for the book again.
"When was your last break today? I haven't been here all day to ensure you take one. You have terrible work habits, mon chéri." He scolded lightly and simply moved the book to another table.
Trickster could feel his face heat up at the name. "You and your french nicknames." He mumbled. "I just don't want to do too much on paper tomorrow." He explained.
"Ah- ah- Those aren't words confirming a break. I'm not allowing you to overwork yourself again." He shook his head softly as he spoke.
"But-"
"No buts. At least 15 minutes away from work and That's final. Not to mention I've been gone all day, so we should do something together for your break." He spoke with a light smirk. Trickster let out a sigh of defeat. He was never going to get out of this no matter what he said.
"What do you have in mind? A game or tea?" Trickster offered up some ideas. He was never opposed to spending time with D.M. In fact, the other was quite the interesting company to have. The other just made keeping things professional hard.
"Hmm… I was thinking of something more fun than that." He sighed and brought a hand to his chin. Then it was like a lightbulb lit up. D.M. looked to the other, tilting his head ever so slightly. The chain on his glasses made a soft clink as it shifted. "Tell me chéri, do you know how to dance?" He asked.
Trickster tilted his own head at the question. "Like ballroom dance?" He clarified.
"Yes, of course "
"Well, I was taught to lead when I was young. Though, I haven't really done it in years." He explained. He was embarrassed to admit it. Afterall, the other probably knew everything about ballroom dance.
"I'd like to see what you know. Will you dance with me, mon chéri?" D.M. asked.
D.M. watched as the other glanced away. The candlelight only made the interaction feel more embarrassing for the other. Trickster had never danced with another man, let alone his boss. Though, he didn't exactly want to say no. "That would be fine." He mumbled with a nod.
D.M. smiled at the other excitedly. "Wow, I never expected you to agree to such a thing. What happened to being all professional? Could it be that you're interested in me?" He chuckled a little.
Trickster immediately looked up at him. "Of course not!" He opposed it. Then after a beat passed he continued. "Well I mean- I kinda have to be. You hired me and I've been here for months but I still feel like you're a mystery." He admitted.
D.M. let out another laugh. "Well, if you'd really like to know more, dance with me. Some say that one's footwork can say a lot about them." He told him and crossed to a record player in the room.
Trickster stood up and brushed himself off. "I've never heard such a thing." He said as he pushed his chair in.
"Clearly, you haven't danced with enough people then." D.M. replied as he started to play some soft orchestral music.
Trickster couldn't argue with that. He approached the other and D.M. turned to face him. He took Tricksters hand in one of his and placed the other on his waist.
"You're leading?"
"I have to, I'm taller after all."
"Hardly…" He mumbled. "I've never followed before."
"It's easy. Just relax chéri."
He nodded and placed his other hand on D.M.'s shoulder. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He then looked up at the other.
"Ready?"
"I guess." Trickster spoke with a nod.
D.M. took his first step with the music. Trickster followed after him. After a couple more steps Trickster accidentally stepped on the other man's foot.
"Sorry!" He mumbled, looking down at their feet.
D.M. chuckled. "It's okay chéri. It happens. Look down if you have to."
Trickster nodded and kept his eyes down at their feet. D.M. continued to step with the music. Trickster followed as close as he could. He eventually gained the confidence to look up at the others face. D.M. smiled at him and pulled the other a bit closer.
"You're still so stoic even in intimate moments like this. I don't know if I've ever seen you smile." He exaggerated.
"You have." Trickster argued.
"Well I wish I could see it more."
"I don't understand why you'd want to. I just work for you."
"You do work for me yes. However, that doesn't mean I'm not curious about you." D.M. said to him.
Trickster couldn't think of anything to say. He just stared confused at the other. D.M. was a mystery to him. He never considered that he too could be a stranger.
"You're way more intriguing than you think Trickster or should I say Aesop?" D.M. chuckled. Trickster felt his face heat up again. He couldn't handle the other man sometimes. D.M.'s steps slowly came to a halt as he looked at the shorter man.
"You're so- confusing." He finally mumbled. Trickster felt his heart jump. He couldn't figure it out.
"Are you blushing?" D.M. asked.
"Of course not! Let's just get back to work." He said to him but, he didn't let go of D.M.'s hand.
"Aww mon chéri such a liar." D.M. teased and spun the other out of the dance position.
Once he gained back his balance, Trickster turned to the other. "I'm not." He continued. He then moved to sit back down in his chair.
D.M.'s signature smile spread across his face once again. He approached the other and returned his book from the table. D.M. then sat across from the other. "You're an excellent dancer. Let's do that again sometime." He spoke in a softer tone than usual.
Trickster glanced at him. "I admit I do think you were right about that saying." He told him.
"Oh?"
"I did learn something new about you."
"What's that?"
He pretended to think for a moment. "Let me finish my work and then I'll tell you." He stated.
D.M. leaned back in his chair. "That's not fair at all!" He argued.
"Then don't distract me anymore and you'll find out sooner."
"You know I can't make promises like that mon chéri."