Work Text:
The underground bar was filled with a warm glow from the wall lights, soft jazz music playing to itself was the only noise in the room, tables pristine, chairs neatly placed under the tables appearing to have never known they could be sat on. The only customers who were to enter were those that knew of its existence and became regulars for its relaxing atmosphere, a place of solace hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Oriflamme’s streets. Dion had stepped out of his Father’s shadow and built a business of his own. He no longer wished to be shackled by him, constantly being made out to be a failure despite always going above and beyond what he was asked.
Dion leaned against the bar with a heavy book in his hands, his soft brown eyes scanning the words on the pages in search of something. He had been having strange dreams lately, well, for as long as he could remember but they had gotten more frequent and far more vivid. He explained the dream to a friend who suggested looking up the symbolism and to see what the dreams were trying to tell him. He picked up the book on the way to the bar, he walked by a bookstore and thought he would humour the suggestion.
Only a few regulars had been in and out of the bar, it was a quieter day than usual so he had the time to leisurely go through the book. He tried to focus the more prominent things that spoke to him in the dreams; a bright light engulfing him, flight among the stars looking down on the realm, huge scaled wings like that of a dragon - though Dion put that last one down to the name of the bar. The Dragon and The Phoenix. He was rather fond of dragons, specifically the mythical dragon, Bahamut. Ever since he was a child, he resonated with the stories his mother read to him, he grew up wishing that if he were ever to be a Dominant of an Eikon, Bahamut would choose him.
Dion scribbled down into a notebook where he had documented every dream and tried to piece it together. He chewed the inside of his lip as he ruminated over the notes, it all made sense as individual pieces. He was deep in thought when the door to his bar opened and rang the small bell attached to the frame, the footsteps on the carpet were unfamiliar to him, he looked up to see a man who was not one of his regulars. Dion closed the book and slid it to the edge of the bar out of the way and gave his best welcoming smile.
“Good evening,” Dion bowed his head and gestured to a chair at the bar. The tall and slender man smiled softly and took the seat at the bar, placing his bag on the chair beside him. The soft lighting in the room made his hair appear to be the colour of firelight, framing his beautiful face. He definitely wasn’t a regular, Dion would remember him. He cleared his throat and offered a menu of drinks and cocktails. “If there is anything you wish to drink that is not here, please do not hesitate to ask me.” Dion bowed his head again and busied himself with polishing crystal glasses, he needed a distraction from the sudden increase of his heartrate.
“I’ll take a whiskey,” The man spoke, the softest voice Dion had ever heard. “make it a double.” The man smiled and placed the menu on the bar, his delicate fingers lightly stroked the leather cover. Dion gave a small nod of his head in acknowledgment. He grabbed a crystal glass tumbler from the shelf above his head which he flipped in his hands while he picked out the best whiskey. His eyes focused on two bottles; two perfectly good options for his new patron, he stole a quick glance over at the man sitting at the bar looking around the room and made an inquisitive sound. With a click of his tongue, he grabbed a bottle from the back of the shelf and expertly poured a double shot without the need of measuring. The soft thud of the glass on the coaster was enough to make the man bring his gaze to the drink placed in front of him, his eyes flicked up to meet Dion’s as he reached for the glass; he gave a small and quiet thanks. “Enjoy.” Dion went back to polishing glasses at the side of the bar, he waited for the man to initiate conversation. It’s how it always was, people who came in for a drink were always the first to start the conversations, be it to clear their mind, share their day with someone or just to break the silence. A few moments pass before a sound of intrigue came from the new patron, Dion glanced up ready to answer any questions he may have had.
“Is this..chocolate?” The stranger tilted his head and took another sip of the amber coloured liquid and gently swirled the rest in the glass as if he were inspecting any anomalies with his drink.
“Ah, yes.” Dion cleared his throat and put the glass and towel down on the side to pick up the bottle of whiskey from the shelf. He presented it to the man who examined the label while holding the glass under his nose to savour the scent of the liquid. "The smell gives off the sweet scent of chocolate-covered raisins, honeycomb and caramel toffee." He relaxed his shoulders and took a deep breath, he lifted his hand and gestured for the man to take a sip. "The flavour is a combination of walnuts, butterscotch, orange segments and sherry flavoured sultanas, all mixed to give a nice and relaxing warm taste." Dion watched him take a few more sips, nodding along to the words falling from his lips.
Dion realised he was rambling, whether he was taking a genuine interest or not - it didn’t matter, Dion enjoyed explaining the complexities of the drinks he served. Dion placed his hands on his hips and offered a smile, tilting his head slightly to the right. "The lingering flavour of spiced orange and chocolate covered nuts leaves you feeling quite satisfied, wouldn't you agree?" “You know a lot about whiskey.” The man chuckled as he read the bottle he had taken from Dion, his eyes moved from the label to meet Dion's and gave a wide smile.
“It’s my job to know what things taste and smell like.” He took the bottle and poured some into a crystal glass tumbler. “How else am I to recommend to my customers?” He lifted the glass and winked at the auburn haired man and downed it in one shot. “This one is on the house.”
“Ah.” The man sighed. “Thank you.” Dion laughed and tilted his empty glass before he knelt down and put it in the dishwasher beneath the bar. He could feel the man staring at him, watching his every move and yet it didn’t feel uncomfortable. He busied himself as he tried to remember if he had seen the man before, his looks and voice all rang clear in his mind as though he had encountered them a thousand times.
There was no way he would forget someone as beautiful as the man sitting at his bar, he held an air of elegance yet deep down had a mischievous and playful nature. His upbringing may have made it difficult for him to release that playfulness to the world. This was all speculation on Dion’s part, just merely observing the man’s movements and body language...and a gut feeling.
“Dion?” Dion, startled, spun around at the sound of his name spoken in such a gentle tone, his heart jumped into his throat. Laughter escaped the man from behind a delicate hand. “Your name badge on your uniform.” A slender finger pointed at the gold plated badge on his black shirt. “May I get another drink?” He waved the empty crystal tumbler with a wide smile on his face.
“Certainly.” Dion turned his back to him and looked at the shelf of spirits and liqueurs, humming in deep thought. “I’ll make something a little more refreshing, and light,” he looked over his shoulder. “The whiskey is nice but you don’t want too much of it.” Dion waited for a nod of confirmation before creating the drink he had in mind.
He grabbed a bottle of orange liqueur from the shelf and picked up a large wine glass from the glass rack. Every movement was being carefully observed by clear blue eyes, he was feeling slightly flustered despite being confident in his work. Dion plopped a few ice cubes into the glass, he opened a bottle of champagne and filled a third of the glass, then a measure of the orange liqueur and topped it off with soda water. He decorated it with an orange slice and a straw and slid the glass to the young man.
“Are you not going to drink with me?” The man grinned as he placed the straw in between his lips and drank the orange concoction. Dion laughed and grabbed a glass for himself, he watched the man’s expression change upon tasting the drink. “This is really good, how did you know I’d like this?”
Dion shrugged. “Just a guess.” How could he explain that it was a gut feeling, intuition, something deep inside told him he already knew the exact flavour and sweetness he liked? Dion leaned against the bar and offered to clink their glasses. The man accepted the offer and took another sip and a comfortable silence fell between them once more.
“Joshua.” The man spoke softly, his blue eyes sparkled as he gazed up at Dion. “I know your name, it's only fair you know mine.”
“Joshua.” Dion breathed out the name, it rolled off his tongue, just saying it made his heart flutter. ‘A beautiful name.’ Dion thought. He watched Joshua play with the ice in the glass with the straw, a slight pink tinted the soft skin of his cheeks under his long lashes as he looked down at the glass. Dion opened his mouth to speak but the bell above the door rang.
A tall man strode up to the bar and smirked at Dion who gave a small wave in welcome. The man spoke with familiarity in a deep voice, Dion nodded his head and glanced at Joshua with an apologetic look and vanished behind a door. Joshua kept his attention on the drink, delicately spinning the glass by the stem, watching the ice swirl in the orange liquid.
“You’re not from around ‘ere are ya?” Joshua looked up at the man leaning against the bar, his piercing blue eyes under the strong brow examined him intently.
“I'm here for a visit. This place looked quiet and comfortable, so I decided to come for a drink and relax.” Joshua wasn’t sure why he was justifying his presence in the bar, the man’s appearance was intense but he seemed gentle and kind.
“Aye, Dion has done well building this place from the ground up.” The man spoke fondly of Dion, Joshua smiled and stayed silent allowing him to continue. “Was hard for him to step away from his father and fly on his own.”
Joshua wanted to ask why this man was telling him this, personal information about Dion, and yet he wanted him to continue, he wanted to know more. He was about to ask a question but Dion reappeared with a box in his hands. Joshua stayed quiet and observed the two interact, the tall man opened the box and examined bottles of various spirits. Dion glanced over and gave a small smile and mouthed a silent apology.
“I think that’s everything, oh.” The man picked up the bottle of whiskey from the bar that Dion had served to Joshua earlier. “Well, aren't you a special one?”
“Cid.” Dion straightened his back and glared at the tall man. Cid laughed, loud and deep.
“He was saving this bottle for when he met his soulmate, or the person of his dreams, as he put it.” Joshua looked at Dion who was visibly uncomfortable, his fists clenched and he chewed on the inside of his lip. “It is nice to see it no longer gathering dust on the shelf, have fun you two.” He winked at Joshua with a grin. “I’m off.”
And with that, the man sauntered out of the bar leaving them alone with nothing but the soft jazz playing in the background. Dion exhaled a breath he had been holding. He felt sweaty and hot, he couldn’t believe Cid embarrassed him like that and Joshua’s silence was deafening. He expected him to get up and leave, he imagined how embarrassed he must feel too, to be put on the spot like that. He wanted to crawl into a dark corner, the earth beneath his feet to open and swallow him whole.
“Dion.” Dion flinched at the sound of his name. He turned to face Joshua who was leaning against the bar, his head resting in his palm with a wide smile on his lips, his delicate fingers pushing the large wine glass across the bar. “Can I get another?”
Dion sighed with relief and worked on refreshing Joshua’s drink. He felt better once he was busying himself, Joshua didn’t seem to be affected by the conversion. He slid the glass in front of the man and placed a small bowl beside it and emptied out a bag of nuts for him to snack on.
Silence fell between them again, Dion could tell Joshua had a question he wanted to ask, he could practically hear it. The way he watched him, his eyes inquisitive, curious. The small curl of his lips in amusement at whatever was going through his mind. Dion picked up the bottle of whiskey and wiped it down with a towel before stepping towards the shelf.
“Why did you open it?” Joshua finally broke the silence.
“I thought you might like it, and I was right.” Dion replied but kept his back to him. He sighed. “Cid wasn’t wrong, I did originally buy this for that reason but I gave it up a long time ago.” Dion’s shoulders slumped at his confession. His brown eyes examined the label, his fingers traced the embossing of the lettering.
“Why, if I may ask?”
“Do you believe in soulmates?” Dion looked over his shoulder, holding the bottle against his chest. Joshua stared into his glass, watching the ice cubes shift in the sparkling liquid. The slight expression change made Dion turn and return to the bar opposite him.
“I believe there is someone out there for everyone.” Joshua began. “I believe that one's soul can be bound to another, sometimes you find them easily and others you don’t. You may even go an entire life not meeting them, but you reunite in the next.” Joshua looked up at him, his eyes sparkled in the light over the bar, Dion felt his breath catch in his throat at the sight. “I suppose there is a compatibility to it, the stronger the bond between souls, the easier it is to find them in the next life.”
Dion sighed and leaned on the bar on his elbows, holding the bottle in his hands. “I bought this because it reminded me of a dream I had.” Joshua returned to his position of propping his head up whilst leaning against the bar, though this time he had slid closer. “A silhouette stood opposite me, they took my hand in theirs.. It was a warm sensation, like flames embracing me. A comforting scent filled my nostrils every time I breathed,” Dion lifted the bottle and gazed into Joshua’s eyes. “This whiskey captured everything, when I tasted it my heart felt like it was going to burst.” Dion laughed and shook his head. “I sound crazy,”
“No, no you don’t.”
“But, it was just a dream.” Dion continued. “My friends teased me. Cid was the only one who said he understood and told me to save it for the right time but,” Dion shook his head. “It’s been sitting there for years, until today. It seemed like a waste.”
“Well, I’m glad I got to be the one to try it.” Joshua had slid closer. “Perhaps I’m the one you were saving it for.” Dion laughed at the obvious attempt to lighten the mood, though a part of him wondered if that was the truth.
“Is there anything I can get for you, Joshua?” Dion’s voice was quiet, low and smooth.
Joshua coyly tilted his head, his eyes closed for a moment. “Some idle conversation to accompany my drink, if that’s not too much trouble.”
Dion glanced at the clock and poured himself a new drink, while offering to refresh Joshua’s who politely declined. The bartender busied himself with polishing the freshly washed glasses while listening to Joshua talk about his fixation on the writings of Moss The Chronicler and the stories of the Eikons. He enjoyed listening to his voice, it was gentle, warm and soothing and his enthusiasm and passion was contagious. He felt better and more relaxed after the Cid situation, he was sure Joshua would think he was crazy and ran out the door. But he was easy to talk to, Dion had no problems opening up to him.
~~~
Neither of them knew how much time had passed, and neither of them cared. They were wrapped up in conversation, borderline flirting at this point, though that may have been just the alcohol and relaxed atmosphere making them bolder with their comments. Dion felt like he knew Joshua, the way they both spoke with familiarity, old friends catching up. It was a nice change of pace.
Joshua disappeared into the bathroom to freshen up, Dion took the opportunity to clean up so he had less to do when he was ready to close and head home, he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and began to wipe down the bar.
“Dion,” Joshua stood at the bar and leaned forward so his chest was almost touching the wood. Dion glanced over and cleared his throat, he subtly shook his head to rid the thought that jumped in his mind. Joshua grinned as if he could read his thoughts. “You have spent the entire evening working hard and giving me drinks you think I would enjoy.” Joshua sat down and tapped the counter with his slender fingers. “How about we have a drink that you like.” He tilted his head, his big blue eyes gave him an air of innocence. “What's your favourite drink?”
Dion realised he hadn’t really spoken about himself, not after the embarrassing whiskey story. He put all his focus on Joshua and not even once thinking Joshua may want to know some things about him. This wasn’t a normal customer-bartender interaction. Dion simply laughed and grabbed two glasses and began making a drink.
Joshua watched him work intently, the way he poured the alcohol with such elegance and grace was mesmerising, without even needing to measure and still make the drink to perfection was impressive. Joshua thoroughly enjoyed seeing Dion in his element, his broad shoulders relaxing, a gentle smile on his lips. Joshua’s eyes lingered on the exposed forearm muscles flexing as Dion grabbed bottles and tools, a few thoughts crossed Joshua’s mind that he should keep to himself.
Joshua had been in the bar for hours and hardly saw anyone enter or leave. It was surprising how quiet the place was, considering the handsome and charming bartender was great company to have with a relaxing drink. He was glad he had the place to himself.
“Do you have allergies?” Dion’s smooth voice broke Joshua out of his thoughts, his heart jumped when their eyes met. Joshua shook his head at the question and watched Dion get back to work. Dion placed a drink on a coaster in front of him and raised his glass as if to give a toast. Joshua looked down to a glass filled with a golden brown liquid, topped with egg white. He understood why Dion asked the question.
“A whiskey sour, a simple drink. Sadly.” Dion took a sip of his own drink and sat on the stool opposite Joshua.
“Sadly? Nothing wrong with simple pleasures.” Joshua lifted the glass and inspected it, he closed his eyes and took a sip. Dion watched a wide smile spread on Joshua’s face, a warmth exploded in his chest, it brought him immense joy to see him enjoy something he liked.
Silence fell between them once more, numerous questions settled on Dion’s tongue, one he had wanted to ask since Joshua walked in through that door hours ago. How did Joshua find the bar, it wasn’t on any main streets, it was usually from word of mouth that he got any new customers. Why did he seem so comfortable despite being in a strange city? Why was Dion comfortable around him, why did he have the same tugging deep in his chest as he did in his dreams? Had they truly never met before?
Dion opened his mouth to ask a question but a small sound of intrigue came from Joshua, he followed his gaze to the heavy book sat at the edge of the bar.
“A book of dreams,” Joshua reached for it but paused and looked at Dion for permission. He simply nodded and Joshua grabbed the book. He idly flicked through the pages, he wasn’t looking for anything in particular.
“I have been having strange and vivid dreams lately.” Dion spoke quietly, he wasn't sure why he was divulging such information, being around Joshua made it feel natural. “Do you believe dreams have meaning?” Dion removed the notebook that was slotted in the front of the book. Joshua gave him a smile that said Dion already knew the answer to his question.
“Have you ever considered that dreams are memories, or fragments of?” Joshua spoke nonchalantly as he took another sip of his drink, lazily turning pages in the book. Dion blinked in silence and confusion. “The person you bought the whiskey for, the silhouette, you surmised that they are perhaps your soulmate. It wouldn’t be unusual to assume that other aspects of your dreams are linked to that bond and be more memories than the usual brain processing of the day's events.”
Dion stayed silent, he opened the notebook and slid it across the bar. Joshua glanced at the notebook appearing beside him then up at Dion, his blue eyes wide in surprise. Dion picked up a few snacks from the bowl and plopped them in his mouth. He somehow didn’t feel uncomfortable showing Joshua what he had been dreaming about, he hoped he could shed some light. He watched the man carefully read each page, moving to the next page with care, and held the book like he was holding something delicate and precious.
“You feel something is leading you somewhere,” Joshua mumbled. Dion watched blue eyes widen as he continued to read, he wasn't sure what was going through his mind. Joshua closed the book and placed it on the bar, he downed his drink and offered a smile, Dion knew it was a mask to what he was really feeling. Did he step over a line? Had he offended him somehow? “I should get going.” Joshua rummaged through his bag for his wallet, Dion nodded his head and rang up the bill.
The silence was deafening during the transaction, Dion worried he may have upset Joshua. It was late, it was way past closing time so it was only natural for him to leave but something heavy settled in his chest; there was more to it. He walked Joshua to the door who paused and turned to face him, their eyes met and it felt as though time stopped.
“I had a wonderful evening, thank you Dion.” His words put Dion at ease, he was glad Joshua wasn’t upset. “And,” Joshua hesitated for a moment. “Keep searching. Follow wherever you are led to, don’t be afraid to reach out.” Joshua placed a hand on Dion’s arm, it was warm like his entire body was being engulfed in soothing flame. His smile softened and became more natural. “The person you're looking for may be closer than you think.”
“Joshua.” Dion whispered. “Take care, and thank you.” The man nodded with a wider smile and left, the small bell rang in the silent and empty room, the door closed with a soft click. Dion felt a tugging in his chest once more, a familiar sensation. He didn’t know the man yet why did it feel heartbreaking? A sense of loss. He was afraid of never seeing him again.
Joshua’s voice rang loud and clear in his mind. Dion grabbed his jacket and darted out of the building, he flicked the light off and locked the door.
~~~
Joshua leaned against a wall and gazed up into the night sky, he could tell dawn was approaching from the colouring of the sky. His heart was beating rapidly in his chest, the words from the notebook danced in his mind. He felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity upon reading what Dion had dreamt over the years. Similar to his own dreams. Dreams of flight, the sense of desperation in search of something…someone.
Dion’s notes spoke of light, flight across the night sky. People talked about having the ability to fly in their dreams but this was different. Joshua firmly believed he had once lived a life where it was possible to soar in the sea of stars.
He believed he found the bar by chance, he allowed his legs to lead him to wherever he needed to go. The moment he set foot in Oriflamme he knew there was somewhere he had to go, someone to meet. Upon seeing Dion, the handsome and charming bartender, Joshua knew he found what he was looking for. His search was over.
Never in his life had he felt so comfortable, so at ease. He should feel relieved but why did he feel so anxious? Why did he run away? Poor Dion must feel like he did something to upset or offend him with how fast Joshua needed to get out and breathe. He rested his head against the wall, and breathed in the cool night air. He thought about if he should go back and apologise, but maybe he was just over thinking. Dion seemed to have given up on the idea of soulmates, destinies and fate. Perhaps his search was too much to bear.
Joshua closed his eyes and thought back to some of his dreams he’d had. A young man, a shadowed silhouette suddenly sprouting the most large and majestic wings Joshua had ever seen. The shadowy figure held out his hand, Joshua remembered taking hold of the hand and feeling a pulse of energy flow through him.
A man in a white doublet came to his vision, the tips of golden blonde hair sat on the collar. Joshua smiled, the face of the memory was obscured except a kind smile, he knew those eyes were a beautiful honeyed-brown capable of swallowing him whole. The bartender replaced the man in white, a perfect match. The blonde hair sat on the collar of his black uniform, the same kind smile. Joshua admitted he looked better in white.
He opened his eyes at the sound of hurried footsteps on the cobbled street, he wasn’t afraid, he knew exactly who was approaching. His heart fluttered in his chest like a bird in a cage wishing to take flight. The footsteps slowed down to a walking pace and halted beside him. Joshua tilted his head still resting against the wall, his eyes focused on the beautiful man standing beside him. Face slightly flushed from the cool air hitting his skin as he ran from the bar, his shoulders and chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. His brow furrowed in confusion, perhaps also in concern.
“Joshua.”
“Dreams of flight,” Joshua started, “dancing among the stars with another. Swirls of light and fire, symbols of life and death, and hope.” Dion stepped closer, Joshua didn’t move he just kept his eyes on Dion’s. “I believe that me coming to your bar was no accident. The moment I saw your face, I knew.”
Normally, Dion would take these ramblings as a man who has drunk too much but he had also felt something had brought them together. That there was a reason they felt so comfortable with one another, how Dion knew what Joshua liked and disliked when it came to tastes, how to make him laugh and how to make him flustered.
“It is said that soulmates will recognise one another immediately,” Joshua smiled and sighed softly. “The moment they touch, it feels so intense like electricity is flowing through, but it feels wrong to let go.” Joshua lifted a hand to brush a few strands of blonde hair from Dion’s face. “You feel comfortable in their presence, like no time has passed, as though you’ve always known one another.”
Dion took hold of the hand that brushed his hair with both hands and held it to his chest. Joshua finally moved to stand facing him, he didn’t pull his hand away. The expression on Dion’s face said everything he wanted to say. Joshua could tell Dion felt the same, how everything felt natural between them, like they would know each other inside and out once more, if given a little more time together. Joshua felt how fast Dion's heart was beating, and it wasn’t from the run to catch up to him.
“Joshua, are you the one I’ve been searching for, all this time?” Dion finally formed words, he moved a hand to gently caress Joshua’s cheek with the back of his index finger.
“You tell me.” Joshua grinned.
“I feel…” Dion searched clear blue eyes for the answer but felt even more confused. Everything pointed to yes but wasn't it all just superstition? Are soulmates real? Was this just some drunken man’s ramblings? Joshua didn’t seem the type to lie or lead him astray, no, Dion knew Joshua wouldn’t do that. He felt himself leaning closer to Joshua, feeling his hot breath on his lips.
“Dion.” Joshua whispered. “Get some rest, and we’ll talk again soon.” Joshua rested his forehead against Dion’s, the grip on his hand tightened. “You’ve worked hard tonight.” Joshua moved his head slightly and stole a kiss, Dion stepped forward and brought their bodies together, pushing Joshua against the wall and reconnecting their lips in a passionate kiss.
Joshua felt his body ignite, Dion’s touch was enough to set him on fire. The same warmth he always felt in his dreams, he felt whole. Joshua was certain, he had never been so sure in his life. Dion was his soulmate, he was bound to him, their souls so deeply intertwined. He resolved to forever search for him, in every lifetime.
They will find one another in their next lifetime, and the next…and the next. Forever will they take to the skies and dance among the stars.