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“Are you sure?“ Piers asked for probably the tenth time, frowning down at the bar of Fazer blue chocolate. “I still think it’s… not a lot?” He had watched people all morning, bringing their chosen ones huge bouquets of flowers and fancy expensive confections that seemed too intricate to even be eaten, lavish gifts and big gestures. And all he had was basic milk chocolate?
“Trust me, it’s his favorite,” Chris said, for the tenth time, rolling his eyes. “I’ve known him for twenty years, you should have a little faith in me.“ He hadn’t even needed to give an excuse as to why he was at the DSO building, and apparently Piers got a free pass for being with him. Chris unceremoniously dragged him all the way to the small office space that Leon occupied, giving him a push as soon as they were at the door. “Now go in. Say your piece. I’ll wait at the car.”
He turned to give Piers a serious look, and only because Piers knew him so well he noticed the grin the man was trying to suppress. “If you’re not back in fifteen minutes I’m assuming you got lucky and leaving.”
Piers barely had the time to huff at him before he was gone.
Tentatively Piers stepped in the room, and what he saw immediately made his heart plummet to his feet. There were huge bouquets of flowers covering every surface available, boxes of chocolate and goddamn teddy bears holding hearts, there were boxes of presents that hadn’t even been opened, and it… it looked like a gift shop in there. All of these for Leon? Not that Piers had a problem believing that, really. Somehow Leon had the gift to make almost everyone fall for him, all the while being completely oblivious to it happening.
Defeated, Piers glanced at the chocolate bar he was holding. Fucking lame. Chris was still waiting with the car, he could run back there and eat the chocolate himself to soothe his heartache.
But as he spun around he collided with something solid, and it only took him a second to realize that he’d literally ran into Leon himself.
Startled, Leon pulled back a little, and as he recognized Piers he immediately smiled at him, in the exact way that made Piers’ knees go weak and a whole flock of butterflies swarm his stomach. “Hey! What are you doing here?”
Piers scrambled for a lie, but his mind was entirely empty. He should’ve thought about this beforehand, damnit. A plan B was always good to have on hand, it would’ve saved him from this embarrassment. “I was– I wanted– I think–” he huffed and gave in, nodding towards the table. And the shelves. And the chair. The room, really. “I was looking for you, but was blinded by all the glitter.”
“Oh.” Leon grimaced. “That.“ He looked a little embarrassed, a hint of pink dusting his cheeks, and he scratched the back of his head before giving an almost awkward shrug. “I think they do that to make fun of me?” Immediately Piers wanted to protest, this definitely wasn’t mocking, people just genuinely liked Leon. He didn’t get a single word in edgewise before Leon went on, though. “Every year it gets worse. I don’t even know what to do with all that. I don’t even usually like chocolate, it’s–“
As he spoke his gaze trailed down and he noticed what Piers was holding. “That is literally the only kind of chocolate I can stomach,” he added after a pause, nodding towards the bar Piers was clutching.
Truthfully Piers had already forgotten he even had it but now he quickly shoved it at Leon, practically pushing the chocolate bar against his chest. “It’s for you.”
Wow what a great romantic gesture, Piers thought to himself, blushing furiously. He was so annoyed with himself and how today somehow made him a bumbling idiot. He didn’t really do grand romantic gestures and he felt so wrong-footed. Thankfully Chris was at the car. He would’ve laughed so hard at Piers’ incompetence, seriously. And he would’ve had every right to. This was just ridiculous.
Thankfully Leon didn’t seem to mind. His expression brightened, and he looked genuinely pleased about the lame, simple gift. “Really? For me?” he asked, like someone who never got presents. Not like someone who had an office full of notes and chocolates and presents from persistent admirers. He literally looked like a kid in a candy store, eyes shining as he tore the wrapper and snapped one piece of chocolate off.
And the pleased sound Leon made in the back of his throat sounded so damn sinful it made Piers flush an even deeper shade of red. Goddamnit.
“You know,“ Leon started conversationally once it became clear that Piers wasn’t going to find his voice anytime soon now. “I haven’t had any lunch yet.“ He looked at Piers and arched an eyebrow, as if he was waiting for something.
“Oh,” Piers answered, hastily trying to shake himself out of the heart-eyed daze he’d somehow again reverted to. “Sorry, I. I can get going. Didn’t mean to keep you from–“
“No,” Leon interrupted impatiently. “I was trying to ask if you’d want to join me. You know. For lunch. As in a date.“ Apparently he was done with wasting time and dropping hints, as it really couldn’t have been clearer than that.
Still, Piers needed at least a good ten seconds for his brain to even process the information. “Seriously?” was the first thing he blurted out, and tried to somehow regain his footing by going on quickly. “Yeah, yes, I’d like that!” He couldn’t believe his pathetic excuse for a Valentine’s gift had actually gotten him this far.
He’d have to thank Chris for the advice, after all.
Their lunch ended up being at the closest fast food place, not exactly the most romantic of settings but apparently every other place was booked full by people who actually had the brain to plan things beforehand. Not that they minded. The burgers were good, the company even better, and once Piers’ mind stopped screaming a disbelieving oh my god it’s a date at him, he managed to actually act like his normal self, too.
And when he tentatively asked if Leon had plans for the evening, he immediately scored himself date number two.