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“Jacq?”
A head of fluffy purple hair rest face-down on a metal desk, shoulders rising and falling at a slow, steady pace.
“Professor Jacq, can you hear me?”
A grunt was the only response given, with a soft whine to follow. Poor thing must have been exhausted, to be so deep in their slumber that they couldn’t get up when called. Unfortunately, it did mean that he would have to be roused with a touch on the arm instead.
“Jacq, my friend, wake up.” Carefully, as not to frighten him, a hand delicately jostled their arm.
With a sudden jolt, the biology professor sat up straight, glasses tilted and off kilter upon his face. “I’m up, I’m up-… oh.” They sighed in relief, pushing the octagonal frames up the bridge of his nose. “Good morning, Professor Hassel.” A sheepish smile crossed their face. “I was only resting my eyes for a minute, I swear.”
“Good afternoon, Jacq. I hoped to invite you to dinner tonight with Brassius and I, seeing as we’re having some other acquaintances join us as well, but it appears that you might be in high need of a rest.” Worry lines relaxed from his forehead, replaced by the crow’s feet next to his eyes. “Perhaps another time, then.”
“Oh… wait, I’m fine to go! If you’d still like me to come, that is.” Jacq’s cheeks turned red.
“We would love to host you, however, there will be plenty more opportunities-“
“No, no, I’m fine. I’ve been meaning to get out more, anyhow!” Pencils were scattered across the desk, as they knocked over a cup in the process of collecting their things. With a shrug, he simply left the mess for Monday morning. It could be dealt with later. “What do I wear? Also, what time is dinner?”
“Oh, it’s a casual thing – formalities aren’t necessary. As for time, we have it set to begin at six o’clock, at our home. Brassie has gym duties until four, so we supposed it would give us plenty of time to prepare.” Hassel glanced at his watch, pressing his lips into a thin line. “Speaking of, I should be taking my leave for Artazon. It’s nearly three fifteen, and I would hate to be late to pick up my husband.” Despite their residence being in the outskirts of Mesagoza, Hassel always took the time to reconvene with his husband when he was working at the Artazon gym.
“Oh, of course! Go on, go ahead. I’ll see you tonight! Just send me the address!” Jacq waved, a smile on their face.
“I look forward to it, Professor Jacq.” With a turn of his heel, the elder strode away, with newfound vigor at the excitement of seeing his beloved husband once again. No matter how many times they saw and spoke to each other throughout the course of their separate work, nothing felt quite as lovely as the first hug when they saw each other at the end of a long day. That, and he was quite thrilled to be hosting a dinner party once more. He took the opportunity to send the address to Jacq, ensuring that the professor would be able to reach it. It had been a few months since they had planned their last one, with an unfortunate dip in Brassius’ health causing Hassel to take a few weeks sabbatical to care for him. It was a scary time for everyone, with the gym leader having been hospitalized for a week. Thankfully, he had sprung back quicker than normal, but Hassel had insisted that they wait a month before planning another event that would expose him to anyone else that could get him ill. Best to be cautious, rather than careless.
A short taxi ride took him to the Artazon gym, which was shaded by the shadow of the lovely windmill standing proud above town center. He was early, as usual, but he didn’t mind. People watching was an activity he found to be beneficial for his creative process, often making quick sketches of pedestrians or Pokémon that would cross into his path. They were used for posing references when a live model wasn’t available for work. Taking a seat on the bench across the sidewalk, he looked up at the white and silver league building, letting out a wistful sigh. If only La Primera would allow them the opportunity to paint a mural onto the sides of the tower. It stuck out like a Mimikyu among Pikachus, taking away from the cozy charm of the rustic town. Perhaps she would be amicable to the idea if he suggested that students help design the artwork. Making a mental note to bring that up at the next Elite Four meeting, he watched the door, a grin crossing his face when Brassius exited alongside his typical trainers. After waving them all goodbye, the artist made his way over, pulling Hassel into a hug and planting a chaste kiss on his lips.
“My, my, how did I get so lucky as to have such a charming man waiting for me to leave my station?” He hummed, looking up at him with lidded eyes.
“Simply being yourself has me smitten, darling.” Hassel squeezed him gently, brushing a strand of hair from his deep brown eyes.
“You flatter me.” Linking their arms together, Brassius strode towards the cab point, satchel dangling on his opposite side. “Would you be so kind as to carry this for me, sweetheart?”
With haste, Hassel pulled the bag over his own shoulder, brows knitting together in concern. “Are you in pain, Brassie? Is it too heavy?”
“No pain today, dearest. I just don’t want to overdo it when it comes to my muscles.” Soft lips pressed to his cheek wiped the worry away from his husband’s face. “You needn’t worry about me so much, beloved. I know when it’s becoming too much.”
“I cannot help my worry, but I do apologize for assuming the worst each time… I suppose it must come off as infantilizing when I check up on you so frequently.” With a glance to the side, Hassel bit down on his lip.
“Now, none of that. You have no reason to apologize. I know you come from a place of love. I have no doubt that you respect my independence.” Brassius grasped his hand, kissing his knuckles. “Why don’t we discuss the party this evening?”
Perking up, Hassel gave him a vivid smile. “I spoke with Jacq. They’ll be making it this evening. I hope that he doesn’t end up falling asleep during the meal, though – when I asked him to join us, he was face-down on his desk.” He chuckled, opening the door to the taxi that landed in front of them. “Poor thing always seems to be frazzled.”
“Oh, I know a certain someone who can be the same way.” Brassius raised his eyebrow, grinning.
“Shush, I haven’t been like that in months.” Hassel waved his hand at him, taking his seat at his side. “Now, as I was saying – Jacq is attending, along with Professor Raifort, Larry, and Rika. That should be everyone, I believe.”
“Geeta couldn’t make it this time? How sad, I miss her.” Brassius leaned his head against his shoulder. “I suppose we’ll just have to have an evening out with her soon to make up for it.”
“Yes, she let me know that she would be busy with League duties this evening. I told her we would get drinks soon.” A soft kiss was placed against his lover’s hair. “I’m glad we decided to prepare the ingredients yesterday evening. I’ll start cooking when we get inside. It shouldn’t take more than an hour to have everything ready.”
“Sounds lovely. I can set the table, then. We should use the crystal tonight, don’t you agree?” He smiled to himself at the sensation of Hassel’s weight pressed against his body, a soothing pressure keeping him relaxed.
“Yes, I believe the one’s we purchased in Kalos would be perfect for the occasion. They’re not as ornate as the gold-trimmed pieces from Galar.”
“Heavens, no. Those are gaudy.” Brassius rolled his eyes, causing a snicker from the man next to him. “As kind as it was for those to be gifted to us, darling, I do wish you would let me donate them.”
“We can get rid of them when a friend gets married. We’ll pass them along to the next person… though, I don’t know if it’s much of a gift. Perhaps we should give them to someone we don’t like instead.”
“Hassel!” Brassius laughed, lightly swatting his chest. “You’re such a brat.”
“Ah, but I’m your brat, darling.” Hassel smirked, stepping from the cab, and helping him out with a careful hand. “There we are.” He linked arms once more, walking to the gated entrance of their home and holding the door for Brassius to get inside. “Now, you take a rest if you should need. I’ll handle everything in the kitchen.”
Grateful for the chance to sit down on their couch, the artist hummed in appreciation, letting himself sink into the soft cushions. “Thank you, beloved. Don’t hesitate to call for me if you should find you need my assistance.”
“Nonsense, dear, take your time.” His green suit coat was pulled off and hung up in the closet adjacent to the front door, leaving Hassel to roll up his sleeves and pull on an apron. He loosened his tie, gathering the rest of his hair in a bun to keep it from falling as he cooked.
Brassius listened as his husband moved about the kitchen, putting on a record and singing along under his breath. The thumping of a knife hitting a cutting board, the clinking of metal against a glass mixing bowl, and the whistling of a tea kettle atop their stove put him at ease. After a half hour of resting on the couch, he made his way into the kitchen, treading up behind Hassel and wrapping his arms around his waist. “Hello, Hass.”
Hassel grunted in response; eyes narrowed as he focused intensely on whipping a feta crème into fluffy peaks. Phyllo dough shells were baked to golden on a cooking tray, ready to be filled with ripe tomatoes and fresh dill from their garden. The smell of roasting summer squash and zucchini made the kitchen smell divine, as the main course of ratatouille and caramelized artichokes cooked in the oven. It would pair nicely with the white wine they had brought up from the cellar the previous evening, having chilled it overnight. It reminded him that he should set up the bar cart, too.
Pressing a kiss to the back of his neck, the artist went to the cabinets beside the pantry, picking up a stack of thin ceramic plates and carrying them delicately to the dining room. Placed carefully upon the deep green tablecloth, they were soon joined by the less-garish crystal glasses and flatware. Yellow cloth napkins had been folded neatly and set down atop the plates. Satisfied, he made his way to their bedroom, deciding to change from his typical outfit into something more comfortable.
At the sound of the door to their bedroom closing, Hassel glanced into the dining room. “Looks lovely.” He murmured, a pleased smile on his face. Hosting was something he took very seriously, especially with his upbringing. Thankfully, Brassius was quite the entertainer, with his witty conversations and confident attitude keeping guests intrigued all evening. Sometimes, even all night. Hassel blushed, shaking his head. “Not now, Hass. Not now.” He sighed, walking into the kitchen to turn the oven temperature down. It was right on track to be finished when guests arrived, giving him the perfect opportunity to change his clothes.
“Hass, darling?” Brassius called from their bedroom, as he fussed with the collar of his shirt. “Be a darling and button this, will you?”
Perking up like a Mabostiff called by its trainer, Hassel went to their bedroom, beaming at the sight of his husband. “You look stunning, my love. Never have I seen a man so fetching before.” His hands moved to close the pearl buttons on the back of his collar, humming softly.
“Are you certain this isn’t too formal?” Smoothing down the front of the bishop-sleeved black shirt, he turned back and forth in the mirror. “Am I too old for this type of fashion, now? I like it, but…”
“Darling,” Hassel wrapped his arms around him from behind, making eye contact with him in the mirror. “You’re never too old to wear the things that make you feel beautiful… and it would be a crime for you to dress any other way. You only grow finer with age, like a good wine.”
“How cliché.” Brassius rolled his eyes, smiling with a blush on his cheeks. “…but I thank you anyways, Hass. You always know the right thing to say.”
“You’re welcome, beloved. Now,” He placed a kiss upon his temple, before heading over to the closet. “What should I wear? You can dress me to match if you’d like.”
“Oh, my favorite game! Keep your hair up like that, darling, I love when you show off your jawline. I think you would look lovely in that red silk shirt, too, but your trousers are fine as they are.”
Hassel, ever the dutiful husband, pulled out the shirt and put it on. He only questioned Brassius when the other man stopped him from buttoning it the entire way. “No, leave it unbuttoned from there up. Its casual, remember?” He grinned, resting his hand on his lovers’ shoulder. “You can see the pendant I got you if you do that, and I do so love seeing it on your chest.”
“Indeed, but these are my coworkers.” A blush dusted his cheeks, though he didn’t move to button the rest of the shirt up. It was only the top three, nothing wild, not like when they were younger. A bit of blonde hair could be seen a few inches down from his collarbones, with the small round pendant hanging just above. Made of rose gold, it was engraved with the date of their anniversary, with his and Brassius’ birthstones surrounding each side. It had been a beautiful gift for their fifth anniversary, and Hassel had worn it every day since. “But I suppose if it’s casual, there’s nothing wrong with it…” He looked down at his hands, adjusting his wedding band. “And I do feel quite handsome.”
“That’s because you are handsome, beloved. The most handsome man in the world, of course.” Brassius stood on his tiptoes, kissing him softly.
The ringing of the doorbell alerted them to their first guest. It was five-fifty at the moment, meaning that it was most likely Larry. Always early, but not too early, as not to inconvenience anyone, nor waste their time.
“I’ll get it, darling.” Leaving the room, Brassius went to the front door, unlocking it and smiling. His hunch had been correct, as he greeted Larry. “Hello, Larry. It’s wonderful to see you again, dear.”
“Brassius.” Larry nodded, as he stepped inside. A bottle of ginjo-shu sake was placed in his hands, wrapped in red and gold paper.
“Larry, what’s this for? You didn’t have to bring anything, this is our party to host, dear.” He gawked at the bottle. “This must have cost you a fortune.”
A shrug was all he received in return. “I missed you. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to visit, and Hassel led me to believe this was a celebration of your improving health. If you can’t accept it as a gift, then consider it something we can share as friends later.”
“Well… thank you, Larry. That’s very kind of you.” He set the bottle down. “May I give you a hug today?”
With a quiet sigh, the man across from him glanced away, before leaning in and hugging him tightly. It was rare that he showed much physical affection (at least, when he was sober), so this meant a lot to the artist.
“Glad you’re alright, Brassius.”
“You’ll make me cry if you’re not careful.” Brassius laughed, kissing his cheek as he pulled back from the hug, quickly wiping his eyes.
“Please don’t.” Larry looked up, waving at Hassel. “Evening, Hassel.”
“Larry! How was your trip to Sinnoh?” Hassel shook his hand, guiding him to sit in the parlor room. “Brassius and I have been dying to know all about it.”
A small smile pulled at the corners of his lips, as he glanced away from the two of them. “It was a nice trip. I enjoyed myself, despite it being work-adjacent.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” The professor sat down on the edge of the armchair that Brassius had situated himself in. “Did you visit Cynthia?”
“I did. She sends her regards. We can discuss the details of the workplace talk later. Chairwoman Geeta would be very cross with me if I discussed these things after hours.”
“That’s true. What did you do while you were there that didn’t have to do with work?” Brassius asked, leaning forwards.
“I visited a friend who operates an Onsen south of Mount Coronet and went hiking in the northern valley. It was a pleasant experience. I would do it again if the opportunity came up. Perhaps, not for work.”
“Well, that must have been great. I didn’t know you liked hiking.” Picking up on the excitement in his voice, he made note to remember for future birthdays that the gym leader was more of an outdoors person than he originally thought. It made sense, though, considering how quiet he could be.
“It’s nice, to go outside and be alone for a while. Quiet, too. I tend to let Staraptor join me on our hikes when I have the time.”
Hassel stood up as the oven went off, smiling back at his coworker and friend. “You’ll have to let us know the next time you plan on setting off. We can check on your house and gym if you wanted to take an extended vacation.”
“Thank you.” Larry bowed his head, the tiny smile gracing his face once more. It wasn’t easy for him to be social, however, Hassel and Brassius always seemed to put him at ease. Perhaps it was that they had known each other for over ten years, at this point. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Another ring of the doorbell at six o’clock caused Brassius to sit up, coming to a stand and excusing himself to answer it, only to be beaten there by Hassel.
“Evening, Hass.” Raifort glanced inside. “Nice to see you again. It’s been… what, four hours?”
“Too long, dear Raifort, too long.” Hassel grinned, greeting her with a kiss on each cheek. “Please, come in. I’ve just finished the hors d’oeuvres and set them out in the parlor.” He took her hand as she stepped from her shoes, lining them up neatly beside Larry’s at the door. “You remember Larry, right?” He asked, as they approached the parlor.
“Of course. It’s nice to see you again.” Raifort shook his hand as Larry stood to greet her. “Where’s Brassius?”
“Right here, darling.” Stepping into the room, Brassius placed a bottle of wine on the bar cart, next to a set of eight glasses. “It’s so lovely to finally see you again. Thank you so much for sending me that book while I was in the hospital – it made the days go much quicker during my treatments.”
“You’re welcome. I thought you would enjoy it – classical sculpting must be a large inspiration for your work, considering the detail you’ve put into them.”
“You would be correct.” He chuckled. “Please, sit down. Would you two like a glass of wine with your appetizers?”
Larry and Raifort glanced at each other, then looked to him. “That would be nice, thank you.”
Uncorking the bottle, their glasses were filled, small plates of the tomato-feta tarts being passed around to each guest. As they spoke, Rika was led inside by Hassel. Raifort seemed to perk up at the sight, and Brassius couldn’t miss the blush that dusted the history professors’ cheeks. He would certainly have to ask her about it when they went for coffee together next week.
“Brassie, babes. How are you?” Rika gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. “It’s so nice to see you again!”
“Just fine, thank you for asking, dear.” He smiled, resting a hand on their bicep and squeezing it gently. “It’s been far too long since you and I have gotten a chance to catch up. We must do tea together sometime.”
“You betcha. You know I’ll do anything to come hang out with you and Hass, if it means he’s cooking.” Gesturing in Hassels direction, they laughed quietly. “Just don’t plan it for work hours, I can’t be giving Larry even more shit to do.”
Larry hummed in approval. “That’s right. Chairwoman Geeta gave you quite the talking to for pawning your paperwork off on me last month.”
“Well, I was busy! Clodsire and I were trying to keep up good relations with our friends from Galar!”
“Going to Poco Path beach with Champion Leon does not count as a “work-sponsored activity”.” He rolled his eyes, taking a sip of wine.
“Yeah, yeah.” They stuck their tongue out, taking a glass of wine and a tart. “You’re just mad because you didn’t get to schmooze with the Champion.”
“I can assure you, that is the farthest thing from the truth.” With a quick motion, he rolled the sleeves of his collared shirt up to his elbows.
Hassel laughed from his spot in the loveseat, shaking his head. “As long as you don’t do that again, Rika, I’m sure you’ll be fine. Geeta can be quite accommodating for certain situations.” He pulled Brassius to his hip, their bodies close together. “Anyways… Raifort, how has your book been coming along?”
Eyes lighting up at the mention of her personal work, she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Wonderfully, thank you for asking. I’m in the last stages of editing with my publisher. If things continue at this pace, I should hope to have it released early next year.”
“You’re already in the editing phase? I remember when you started that book. Feels like it was only a couple months ago.” Rika leaned back in the armchair, crossing their ankle over their knee.
“December will mark two years since I began the writing process. If I were to base it on when I started research, though, you could say it’s been ten years in the making.” Another long drink of wine was taken from her glass, leaving a plum-colored lipstick print to stand out on the crystal. “It’s all a continuation of my thesis work.”
Larry glanced over at her, mildly interested, which was as interested as he could get in most things. “Have you decided on whether or not you’ll be taking time off to celebrate the release?”
“No, I won’t be. I have no real reason to, and quite frankly, I’m already compiling more recent field notes into an outline for the next volume. This one will focus on the Tablets of Ruin, rather than the Great Crater.” She brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, tucking it back behind a pierced ear.
“You have to celebrate though, Raifort. It’s a big achievement!” Brassius set his glass down, tucking his legs up onto the loveseat and leaning his head against Hassel’s chest.
“Well… perhaps I’ll consider taking a day or two off.” She shrugged, looking up when the doorbell rang again.
Hassel shifted to lift Brassius from his side, only to be stopped by Rika. “I’ll get it, you guys stay here.” They smiled, strolling to the door.
Jacq stood on the front step, fifteen minutes late and more than a little flustered. “Ah – hi!”
“Hey.” Rika looked him up and down, curious about his choice of clothing. It was extremely casual – obviously, they had never been to a dinner party with the eccentric older couple, yet. “You here for Hass and Brassius? I don’t think I’ve met you before.”
“I’m Jacq, I teach at the academy with Hassel. It’s nice to meet you.” They ran a hand through their fluffy hair, trying to smooth it down.
“The names Rika. This your first dinner party?” They stepped inside, closing and locking the door behind Jacq. “It’s a shoes off house, by the way.”
A pair of slides were dropped carelessly next to oxfords and heels beside the door, sticking out like a sore thumb. “Yeah, it’s my first time for a party here. I’ve stopped by the house once before when I first started, but that was just to drop off a set of paperwork for Hassel.” He glanced around, hands shoved into the pockets of his baggy sweatpants. “You just coming from work?”
“No, I do half days on Friday. You just coming from the gym?” They eyed the Uva Academy t-shirt he wore.
“I just woke up from a nap…” They rubbed the back of their neck, laughing nervously. “Professor Hassel said it was casual, though, so I figured this was fine.”
“Oh, it’s Hassel’s version of casual, which is basically the same as business casual.” Rika chuckled. “Rookie mistake, you’ll get the hang of what he means after the first couple of visits.”
Jacq turned beet red, pushing his glasses up his nose. “Ugh, that’s embarrassing…” He squeaked out, rubbing their eyes under the octagonal frames. “I’m not going to make a very good impression, am I?”
“Nah, they’re both sweethearts, they don’t care.” They walked him into the parlor room.
Raifort grinned, tipping her glass in his direction to say hello. Larry simply nodded at him and went back to eating.
“Jacq, darling.” Brassius stood up, going to greet them. “Welcome in, it’s so lovely to finally have you over. Hassel has told me so much about you. Please, allow me to get you something to drink.”
“No need, beloved. I think it’s about time that we head to the dining room for dinner.” Hassel stood up, clasping Jacq’s hand in a firm handshake. “I’m glad you could make it, Jacq. Did you end up resting after work?”
A tad shy from the sudden attention, he looked away, blushing. “I did, I did. Thank you for having me, by the way.” Truthfully, he had been quite nervous to attend the dinner, after realizing that he would be surrounded by some intimidating characters that they didn’t really know. However, it made them relieved that Raifort was there.
“Think nothing of it, Jacq, we’re always happy to have friends join us. The more the merrier, or so they say.” A soft smile stayed on the elder professor’s face, as he moved throughout the dining room to serve the meal he had lovingly made earlier in the day. “I hope everyone enjoys their meal. I know that Jacq is vegetarian, so there’s no meat in the dishes tonight.”
Raifort gave a curious glance to Jacq, head quirked to the side. “I didn’t know you’re vegetarian.”
“Ahah, yeah… I was raised that way, so, I guess it’s just normal to me.” He shrugged. “But you didn’t have to go through all the trouble of making a meal just for me to eat! I could have just had a salad or something… still, though, I appreciate it!”
“Nonsense, dear. Anyone who comes to our house is taken care of, dietary or otherwise.” Brassius waved his hand, pouring a glass of white wine for each of them before settling into his spot at the opposite end of the table. “Besides, we needed to use the tomatoes from our garden.”
“That’s true. They’ll literally force you to take leftovers home if you don’t finish your plate.” Rika grinned. “Or keep you overnight if you get a little too tipsy. Trust me, they make sure you’re all set regardless of if you want them to or not.”
“You always have the option to say no.” Larry reminded them both. “Admittedly, though, they always seem to know what you need before you do.”
“You would certainly know.” Raifort looked at him, laughing. “As soon as dinner is over, you’re too buzzed to stand.”
Rolling his eyes, Larry shook his head. “Untrue.”
“Very true. I’ve slept on the couch here plenty of times, and you’re always eating toast in the kitchen when I wake up.” Rika grinned, winking. “Nothing wrong with a little bit of fun every now and again.”
Jacq giggled, looking down at their plate. Seeing the banter between his typically unreadable colleague and members of the Elite Four made him feel much more comfortable in the space.
“Alright, you three, no teasing at the dinner table.” Brassius shook his head, smiling.
“I think we ought to have a toast.” Hassel cleared his throat, picking up his glass. “To all of us. May our health grow stronger, and our love grow fonder.”
Glasses were carefully clinked together, drinks taken of the sweet wine inside. As the meal was eaten, laughter and conversation began to fill the room. It appeared that everyone was in high spirits, loosening with the flow of alcohol and the warmth of their hosts. Having worked all day, energy was fizzling out around the table, as the minutes ticked into hours. Deciding that it would be best to move to the living room, Brassius helped Larry to his feet, watching him lumber off with a grunt. Hassel had stayed back to clean up, insisting that they all relax.
“I’ll join you momentarily.” He called from over his shoulder, as plates were removed and carried to the kitchen.
Jacq wasted no time in taking a seat on the couch, humming softly. “That was a fantastic meal.”
“I’ll be sure to let Hassel know you enjoyed it, my friend.” Brassius looked across the room at the young professor. “So, Jacq, I heard you speaking of your work from my seat at the table. You mentioned that you created the Pokedex?”
“Ah, I did! I’ve been working on it since I started college. The interface was a bit hard to program in an app, though, so it only went into beta testing two years ago. I’ve pretty much ironed out most of the kinks in the system, but there’s always work to be done. I’m thinking about importing regional variants into the database as well, but I have a little more data collection to do before I can get around to that.”
“Holy shit, I didn’t know you made that! That’s sweet!” Rika grinned. “You must be pretty smart, then.”
“They are.” Raifort replied coolly. “He’s got a graduate degree, too. Worked in the Crater and everything, didn’t you?”
Pink blush crossed their face at the compliment. They weren’t used to being the center of attention, especially not the center of praise. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
“Very interesting.” Larry loosened the knot in his necktie, pulling it away from his throat and unbuttoning the top two buttons of his shirt. “That’s a short walk away from Medali.”
“Yeah, it is. I remember that we used to go to the Treasure Eatery whenever we had a successful expedition. We would be out until three or four in the morning, drinking and eating. It was nice to come back to good food after being on weird ration-like stuff for a month at a time.” He grinned, leaning back in the chair with his legs crossed underneath himself. “Director Clavell was the head researcher, so he always bought us rounds. We’d all have the worst headaches the next day, though.”
“I bet. The Eatery has a good selection of liquor.” Larry smiled, eyes half-lidded and hazy. Jacq couldn’t help but giggle at the look. Raifort had been right, he was completely buzzed.
“Oh, I remember drinking with Clavell back in the day. Such a stickler for the rules until you get a few shots in him.” Brassius said with a laugh, as he moved to put a blanket around Larry’s shoulders. “Falling asleep there, my friend?”
“No.” He huffed, though he pulled the blanket tighter around his body and slumped over against the arm rest. “Resting my eyes, that’s all.”
“Right. I’ll leave you to rest your eyes, then.”
“Mhmm.” He grumbled, yanking the blanket up over his head.
Rika snickered, trying not to laugh too loudly at him as Brassius moved them to the parlor again. “I think that’s the longest he’s lasted in a while. Nice to see him sleeping for once, though.”
“Agreed. Arceus knows he needs the rest, poor thing works himself ragged, just like my Hass.” The artist sighed, pouring himself a third glass of wine. A tingling heat settled in his chest, warming him all over. He wouldn’t admit it, but he was feeling a bit tipsy at the time.
“What about me?” Hassel walked into the room; a dish towel draped over his shoulder.
“Just saying how much of a pain in the ass you are.” Raifort teased.
“Ah, typical.” He rolled his eyes, tossing the towel onto the coffee table and taking his seat next to Brassius. “And I suppose you were the one to start this conversation, beloved?”
Scandalized, the artist gasped, throwing a dramatic hand over his heart. “Oh, my dearest, most beloved, most darling husband – how could you even question whether or not it was me to call you that in the first place?”
Jacq snorted out a laugh, covering his mouth. This was a whole new side of his coworker that he had never seen before. Being around his lover seemed to make him much more comfortable with his casual and snarky attitude that rarely showed.
“And here I thought you were a gentleman.” Hassel sighed, hanging his head in defeat. “Woe is me, for my husband of twenty years to insult me to my friends.”
“Oh, hush, you drama queen.” Brassius giggled, reaching over and running his finger up Hassels side, causing him to squeal.
“Ah, that tickles!” He pushed playfully on his arm, huffing in mock-anger. With a quick movement, Brassius was pulled into his lap, and subsequently covered in kisses.
“Wait, Hass- “The artist squeaked, unable to contain his giddy laughter brought on by the tickling and the alcohol he had consumed. “You’ll make me wake Larry up, quit it!”
“Hm… no.” Hassel grinned, squeezing his body closer.
“You two better not start getting frisky on the couch in front of our new friend.” Rika made a face. “No one wants to hear you throw your hip out tonight.”
“Has that happened before?” Gawking, Jacq stared at the two of them.
“My goodness, Rika, not in front of the boy!” Hassel gasped, flushing bright red. “Of course, that hasn’t happened, Jacq, Arceus above… I’m not that old!”
“It was his back.” Brassius chimed in, kissing his jaw.
“Brassie.”
“Relax, relax. I only tease, beloved.”
Jacq let out a sigh of relief, glancing over at Raifort. They would have to talk about this on their shared lunch break on Tuesday for sure. He wondered how much more she knew about the pair than he did, as it appeared to him like she had been coming to these a lot longer than originally thought.
“Well, as much as I’d love to watch you two get handsy, I should be going.” Rika stood up, stretching their arms above their head. “You need a ride home, Jacq?”
“Oh, really?” He blinked, standing up. “Sure! That would be great, actually. I don’t think the cabs run this late.” They smiled over at Hassel and Brassius. “Thanks again for inviting me, you guys. It was really, really nice. I hope I can see you again soon… er, at least, see you outside of work soon.”
“Of course, dear.” Brassius hummed, as Hassel steadied him on his feet. “You’re such a darling, I would love to host you again, should you find yourself with the time to join us.” He pressed a kiss to his cheek, a bubbly laugh escaping him when the professor turned red. “You’re always welcome.”
“I’ll see you on Monday, Jacq.” Hassel shook their hand again, then turned and gave a hug to Rika. “And I’ll see you on Tuesday for our meeting, yes?”
Rika kissed his cheek, patting him carefully on the shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, assuming I don’t go to Poco Path beach instead.” They turned to Brassius, giving him a hug. “I’ll see you soon. Catch you later, Raifort.”
Raifort waved from her place on the couch, half asleep with her glasses discarded.
“Is she okay?” Jacq questioned, as the group moved to the front porch.
“She’ll be just fine. We’ve got plenty of room for her to stay the night, though I doubt she’ll be moving from that couch.” Hassel reassured him, arm wrapped tight around his husband to keep him from wobbling. “You two get home safely, and please, let us know when you’ve gotten there.” A smile made the crow’s feet by his eyes stand out, with the apples of his cheeks flushed pink from the whiskey he had drank as he cleaned the kitchen.
As the couple watched them drive off, Brassius rest his hand upon his husband’s chest. Warm, clear nights like this one reminded him of their trysts as young men, sneaking into the vineyards on the outskirts of Artazon to make love underneath the bright moonlight. In those days, they spoke of the dreams they had for the future, as though they were out of reach. At that point, they could have been, due to his poor health and Hassel’s unfortunate relations with his family. Still, though, they longed for a life full of love and friendship – of adventures in other regions, exploring what this world had to offer them. More than that, though, they dreamed of the mundane - things as simple as dinner parties with friends. “Hass…” Sighing out his lover’s name, the artist looked up into his eyes.
“Hm?” Cricketunes called off in the distance, carried on the wind rustling through silverleaf and hemlock trees. Moonlight illuminated their forms, shadows cast back towards the home they built together.
“I hope this life is everything you’ve dreamt of.”
Taken aback by the sweet sentiment, Hassel stared, eyes growing misty. It took a moment for him to gain his voice back once more. “Brassie… this life we’ve made together is greater than I could have ever dreamt of.” He pressed a kiss to his forehead, hand cupping the side of his cheek. Rubbing a thumb along his high cheekbone, he gazed upon his husbands’ sweet face. “When we were young, everything was uncertain… the only thing I could be confident in was my love for you. It was you and I alone, then… But now, our lives are overflowing with love and friendship. I felt as though my heart would burst with all of the emotions that came to me when I heard the laughter and teasing in the parlor tonight. When I was in the kitchen, I found myself crying from joy.” He reached up, wiping his own eyes. “And I find myself reminiscing on those nights we spent together, my love, telling each other of the future we could barely grasp at the time. Growing old with you, hand in hand, with friends at our side… how could I ever dream of a life better than this one?”
“Hassel…” Brassius found himself in tears, pressing his face into the crook of his neck with a smile. “Beloved.”
“Brassie.” Resting his cheek against his soft green hair streaked with silver, Hassel took hold of his hand, squeezing it gently. The other came to lay carefully upon his waist. Hands intertwined and bodies pressed close to one another, they swayed back and forth. Quiet and low, Hassel’s voice rumbled in his chest, a whisper of a song on his lips.
A soft laugh, a kiss shared in the dark. A dream come true.