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“Evening, Hershel, you look stunning this evening.” Gregory tips his hat to the professor, who was meeting him for lunch. Just lunch. It wasn’t a date. Was it?
“Ah,” the professor smiles, “you look well yourself Gregory.” He says.
“Heh, you’re too kind.” The taller man hides behind his hat, his blushing face.
“Don’t be shy now.” The professor chuckles.
“Oh!” Gregory corrects his hat”
“Much better.” Hershel says, while Gregory hastily pulls out his chair. “Ah, quite the gentleman are you?”
Gregory chuckles awkwardly, “of course, common courtesy that is.”
“Indeed.” The professor takes his seat; as does Gregory, but not without hitting his knee on the table.
“Ouch, you alright?” Hershel asks.
“Oh, sure, it’s not a bother.” Greg explains, as he does something like bang his knee on a regular basis.
“If you say so.” Hershel says, struggling to maintain the conversation, he clears his throat. “So, Gregory, you say you’re a defense attorney?”
“Heh, I am! I take great pride in being the best defense attorney I can.” Greg goes on, “it takes a lot of faith to be a defense attorney, trust is most important in a relationship.”
“Trust you say, that’s admirable”The professor smiles, studying the defense attorney sitting across from him, he couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter. The man before him had such a way with words that intrigued him, despite the fact they hardly knew each other.
“My son talks about following in my footsteps, he’s the smartest kid I know.” Greg’s face lights up as he talks about his son, “Miles…quiet yet incredibly brilliant.”
“Son you say? Heh. I have a son myself too, Luke. Well, you see he’s my godson, but much like a son to me. He’s quite cheeky.” Hershel’s face too lights up in the same way as he talks about Luke.
“Cute.” Gregory says, “I have a feeling Luke would get along great with Miles.”
“Well I’d hope.” Hershel slips.
“Hope?” Gregory raises an eyebrow.
“Hope? Did I say that…heh, well I mean in a hypothetical—“ Hershel pauses (oh dear what have I implied)
“I guess that makes this a date hm?” Greg asks.
“Well! When you put it like that—“ Hershel quickly becomes flustered.
Gregory snorts; “then it is a date.”
“A date?!”
“When you say it like that it sounds rather bad.” Gregory jokes.
“Ho, no no! I don’t mean it that way at all!” Hershel stammers, hiding behind his hat.
“Shall I formally ask you if this is a date then?”
“I-I-It is! It’s a date then.” Hershel stammers. (Oh bother this could have come out smoother)
Gregory thankfully, didnt notice his awkwardness over his own. “A date. I feel lucky to be out here with you, Hershel.” He smiles.
“Oh! I’m touched, you are really a gentleman aren’t you?”
“One could say that.” Greg says, their conversation interrupted when a waiter comes to serve the two men.
“Afternoon Madam.” Hershel greets them tipping his hat. Gregory does the same.
The two men both order a sparkling wine and a simple garden salad.
“Ho, ho, a refined drink pallet I see.” Hershel smiles.
Gregory snorts, something about the way Hershel presented himself made him laugh. “Thank you.” He says.
Hershel couldn’t help but smile listening to Gregory snort; there was something so unrefined about it that made him like it more than he should. “Of course Gregory you’re welcome.”
Soon the two men are served their food and drink.
They sit in silence as they both eat their food, the only sound to be heard was the sound of their forks hitting their plates and that light thumping of Gregory’s restless leg occasionally hitting the table top.
“Nervous jitters?” Hershel asked.
Greg’s face turns beet red. “Sorry bout that.” He says, his voice muffled as he speaks with his mouth full.
Hershel chuckles. Usually he would be turnt off by this behavior but something was cute about Gregory. “No need to apologize, you just seem a bit jittery.”
“Heh, that would be my restless leg, pay no mind to it really.” Gregory says as he sips his wine.
“If you say so.” Hershel too drinks his wine.
They continue to eat their lunch, soon finishing.
“Why that was delightful.” Hershel says.
“Agreed it was quite nice.” Gregory shares the same sentiment as Hershel.
“Oh dear, this is where we part isn’t it?” Hershel looks down.
Gregory frowns, “It doesn’t have to be.”
“Oh! Well-I-“ Hershel stammers.
“This was a date weren’t it?” Greg asks.
“Sure sure it was.” Hershel nods.
Gregory appears to be blushing, sweat dripping from his forehead as he prepares himself. He clears his throat. “Well if I learnt anything from the romcoms I’ve been watching lately….” He approaches Hershel.
“Hm?” Hershel felt his face grow hot.
Gregory smiles, “I know how they end, Hershel.” He steps even closer, he takes a hold of Hershel’s hands, his own clammy to the touch. “I’m sorry if you’re weirded out by clammy hands.” He adds.
Hershel is quite taken aback, he nods, indicating that he is not bothered by Greg’s clammy hands.
Greg uses his thumb and rubs it against Hershel’s hand, he smiles feeling hopeful. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time actually. He finds himself naturally cupping Hershel’s cheeks. His hands warm.
Hershel can’t help but be reminded of a certain someone. Claire. His face turns bright red.
Gregory leans in; adjusting his hat in such a way to hide the two men’s faces; though it was obvious what he was about to do, he swiftly pulls Hershel in for a quick, yet, warm kiss. His thumb running along the other man’s jaw line caressing him for a moment.
Memories of the late Claire flash inside of Hershel’s mind as he feels the gentle kiss that Greg has placed upon him, a mix of grief, sadness, and a hint of joy overtake him as the other man had gently caressed him. He hadn’t known what a warm kiss felt like…in a long time it was a pleasant surprise. Hershel feels warm, and even happy…it was an odd feeling, but something about Gregory made him feel like he could smile.