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Danny was not a good man. No, no, he knew that much at least. But that didn't make him a bad man, oh no . He just had bad tendencies. Everyone had those! Or at least, that's what he made himself believe. Convincing himself that he was a better man than most. When in actuality "better men than most" don't go stalking handsome men nor insert themselves into those handsome men's lives to try and learn that handsome man to the core. And "better men than most" don't find themselves staring at said handsome man from across a coffee table in a little cafe in Bavaria.
And Danny, the self-proclaimed "better man than most", hadn't been paying attention to what this handsome man in question was talking about. He'd just been... staring. At those little sections of blonde hair that fell just out of place when he tilted his head as he spoke. At the thin creases of his eyes on the corners and just underneath when there was a little smile in his words. At the way his eyes lit up, those fascinatingly beautiful eyes, that captured every bit of light that went into it creating a cacophony of blended greens and browns. At the curve of his lower lip when he talked, forming the words in English so Danny could follow along to the story that he was very much not paying attention to.
How could he when the man in front of him was so... enrapturing.
Danny was not a good man. No, no. But he happened to be rather fond of one. And of all the people that could entrance him into this silly love-stricken stupor, was one he hadn't realized could . The way he spoke of his work and job was filled with such passion . The way he spoke of his dreams and his goals was enrobed with desire . The man spoke of buildings and architecture like most would talk enthusiastically of sex, their kinks, their ticks that make them go cross-eyed and hazy, biting their lip through their arousal and climax. Oh how Danny wished he could see that expression on that handsome face with those pretty eyes. But they weren't there yet.
They were getting close, however.
Danny had seen how when he brushed his knuckles to the handsome man's, the story would slow and those lips would curl into an embarrassed chuckle. How his nose and cheeks would redden in color, such a nice contrast to the paleness of his skin, and all the blues he wore on his frame. The clothes that Danny knew were high quality just from the stitching alone.
Felix Richter was, after all, a man of fine taste. He was seeing Danny, wasn't he? And, not to toot his own horn, Danny was a fine man. Though he believed he paled in comparison to the spectacle before him. But it did not change the fact that he knew when they sat next to each other like this, they were a sight to behold. However, he knew that any who laid their eyes too long on Felix would find a rather gruesome end. Four bodies so far. Just off of Danny's jealous streak alone . That's not to count the several others from before and not during his jealous streak.
He digressed. His focus wasn't on the bodies he'd destroyed and tossed into the river, no no. His focus was on Felix. As it always was on their little dates they had. This one was date number eight. And the way that Felix cleared his throat and wedged a finger in between Danny's, he knew there would be a ninth. He of course, would always make time in his day for another date with his personal favorite architect.
"...eff onshin?"
That. Wasn't English. Nor German. Danny perked his head up, Felix had just asked him something and here he was, not fully paying attention. Well now he felt a little embarrassed. He laughed a little and looked to the side before clearing his throat.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Danny did his best to make it seem like it was just that last bit that he didn't catch and not the entire story Felix had spent gushing about earlier.
"I said , are you finished?" Felix had that small half smile he carried when he wanted nothing more than to tease Danny. Though, he had to admit, German teasing was not the same as American teasing. Felix was direct . Blunt. Said it like it is without fear or consequence. He didn't dance around a yes or a no. There was no maybe or perhaps. Something Danny found quite endearing, and well, it helped him learn much more about the other.
"With what?" Danny had to play dumb here. He wasn't exactly in the clear right now for what Felix was asking.
"Your coffee."
Danny looked down at his coffee that was, yes, finished. Only a small bit of the foam remained of his drink, clinging to the edges of the mug like its life depended on it. He chuckled a little and turned the mug in his hands, his slender fingers moving over the handle smoothly.
"I'm done, yeah. Are you?"
"I would not ask if I wasn't!"
"Are we extending this date?"
"Ach, no, not today. Next one we can. I've got work I must attend."
Danny nodded as Felix stood, tall and all around elegant of a man. He grabbed his wool double breasted parka and wrapped it around his shoulders and slipped his arms in. The leather gloves went on next and Danny would be lying if he hadn't already had a fantasy or two involving those. And finally, Felix pulled on a cashmere beanie and scarf set, letting it cover his neck and ears. Danny followed, pulling on his bomber jacket, gloves, and hat. No scarf. He was already wearing a turtleneck.
The two walked side by side to the cafe's exit where the blisteringly cold wind nipped at their noses. Felix was the first to react, shuddering out a quick ' Scheisse! ' and pulling himself closer to himself to keep warmer. Danny smiled, reaching over and placing his hand on the small of Felix's back, pulling out his camera and tilting it up.
This was a ritual of theirs. One Danny made sure that would happen. Ever since their first date, Danny commemorated by taking a photo together with his small polaroid camera that he kept on him. Even in the cold, he was able to get Felix's face out from the scarf for a quick smile. Once Danny was certain it was all lined up, he pressed the button and–
SNIKAP!
The flash illuminated their faces and soon enough the white slip of photo paper was sliding out and beginning to develop. Oh how Danny loved these old cameras. How they left no trace, how they couldn't be hacked into from the cloud. He smiled, turning to Felix as he leaned up the inch or two needed to ask for a kiss without words. And wordlessly, it was reciprocated. It wasn't as chaste as Danny expected it to be, but deeper, warmer, and lingering. He could have happily parted his lips and gone further, wanting nothing more than to press his tongue against the other. But he could be patient. Let Felix believe this was the best relationship they could have, lean into the slow build. Danny knew what he had here. And he wasn't letting anything get in the way of that. And he would make sure that Felix would never find out. Unless, of course, he ended up being a willing participant.
Hopeful thinking.
The kiss broke and Felix was quick to pull his scarf back over his nose and mouth to warm himself back up. He gave Danny a quick wave before heading off in the direction of his office building. And as he left, the photo finished developing. The two of them, all bundled up in their winter clothes, soft multicolored lights for the holidays peeking behind them from the garland that decorated the cafe. It was a wonderful photo.The thing that Danny loved the most about having the photo, a physical reminder of their time together, a physical show that they'd been together, a face to always remember, was:
It was a perfect addition to his collection.