Chapter Text
Rollo walked into the little patisserie as usual, the very same one he went to every day during his afternoon meal time. Which he took at the exact same time, following his strict schedule. Nothing earlier in the day would have suggested any sort of change to that routine.
The city council intern had woken up at the same time as always. His breakfast had been one of the four items he had every day. His instructions and meetings had gone according to schedule and with proper procedure.
Regardless, the moment he entered his choice patisserie, Rollo felt... off.
For a few brief—but no-less frustrating—moments, the young man could not place what it was that had caused such a feeling to bloom. It wasn't until he had looked around the entire interior of the shop, confirming that there had been no change to the layout or decorations, that he realized it had nothing to do with the shop itself. Frowning heavily in confusion, it was at that very moment the reason for this rather uncomfortable and trying sensation made itself known to Rollo.
Or rather, he made himself known to Rollo.
"Good afternoon! I hope the day has been treating you well. What can I get for you?" An employee he'd never seen before asked as he reached the counter. His sage green eyes met golden amber and in that moment, Rollo forgot his own name.
"Nghh..."
The employee grinned. It was a little lopsided and awkward. Generally, it was the type of smile that irked the young intern to no end. It meant uncertainty. It gave inelegance and insecurity.
And yet, for some reason that would not make itself clear to Rollo, on the young man across the counter—it was absolutely distracting.
"If you're having trouble deciding, I’d be happy to make some recommendations."
Rollo straightened at that, schooling his features to be certain his face remained unreadable. He opened his mouth to explain to this new employee that he was a regular, and ordered a specific item every day.
That was not what he said in the end, however.
"Yes. I wish to hear your recommendations." As the young man began to list the shops' specific items that he liked best, Rollo listened, but at the same time, he read the other's body language. By the time the other man had finished listing his suggestions, Rollo felt a wave of sentiment he'd never felt before.
Worse yet, he couldn't even begin to place a name to the feeling. That meant it was assuredly an emotion he not only had not felt before, but—furthermore—would not have wished to experience to begin with. How burdensome. Pushing the whole matter out of his mind and currently washing his hands of it for the time being, Rollo finally replied.
"I suppose I might be feeling a little adventurous today. Why don't you give me your personal recommendation."
In the end, the man did as suggested. The cashier smiled—this one, far more professional. Far more attractive as well. It was bright and welcoming and warm... and Rollo found himself actually smiling back.
A real smile.
Unforced.
Pulled unbidden from him.
Yet... he found that—for some unknown reason—he didn't mind it. Not from this young man, in any case.
Rollo watched as the other moved from the counter to wash his hands. He then watched as the other got his order prepared. The city council intern was torn. He had never felt compelled before to watch someone as they worked. It felt rude, somehow. Rollo was many things, but rude he was not.
Not truly, anyway.
At least, that was what he believed and he would die on that mountain if pressed.
With this man—regardless of his status of service work—Rollo found that he didn't want to keep up the walls he usually did. The walls that he had constructed to keep others from getting too close were tumbling down in real time, and the feeling he was left with was a light, warm longing.
The green-haired worker returned with his purchase and offered it to him with another lopsided grin. The pastry was the very same as he typically ordered.
"This one is my favorite and it's very special to this town."
Rollo couldn't help it as a bubble of laughter escaped him. It wasn’t much and it was very short, but it was clear and concise enough that he could not pass it off as a cough or something else. The other man did not seem put off by the sudden presence of laughter. He did look at him questioningly, however, before speaking up. "Not a fan of that one then? I'd be happy to take another shot."
Rollo held up his free hand and shook his head with an amused smile. "There is no need. This is the pastry I get regularly."
The man—Rollo finally forced himself to take note of the name on the man's name tag—
Trey.
Rollo considered the name and smiled. It wasn't at all a bad name and, for some reason, with the other's rich green hair and golden eyes—Trey just seemed to fit the strapping young man behind the counter just so.
The man—Trey—beamed. “Well, how about that? Can't say I'm surprised though. It's really good.”
Rollo felt himself nodding along. He wanted desperately to say something, but his voice had decided that it no longer wished to cooperate with him. The other man didn't seem to notice, however, explaining his experiences with not only consuming the different pastries offered in the town but baking them as well.
“I was having trouble deciding which bakery among three in this city alone to do my internships at, but then I found out this one doesn't use magic in its baking.”
Ah, an internship. That explained the sudden appearance of the new arrival. Rollo had never seen any hiring signs during his past visits, but an internship was different. The mention of no magic in the baking left him wondering, almost excitedly, if Trey was magicless.
“My parents taught me old school, and there’s just something special about not using my magic when I’m baking. The work feels more fulfilled.” How quickly his hopes were dashed.
Rollo’s ears suddenly roared and for a brief moment, the young city council intern was certain he would faint. Instead, strong arms caught him and he was surprised to see Trey suddenly standing right in front of him. The shorter of the two was certain he would have been on the floor if it weren't for this man, and so he allowed him to continue to hold him.
But only for a few seconds longer.
Just to get the silly notion out of his mind once and for all.
“Let me get you some water,” the other intern said, hurrying off. He returned with a plastic cup with a straw, ice water clinking against the side and causing condensation to rise everywhere it touched. He held it out to Rollo, who took it. Perhaps a little jerkily in his embarrassment. Still, he dutifully drank from the cup, taking his time. Only when he finished did he open his eyes, green meeting gold once more.
“How're you feeling?” The green-haired fellow asked and tilted his head. “Do you think you can drink a little more?”
Rollo lifted and lowered his shoulders in what he hoped was a flippant sort of manner. This young man had already set him off in so many ways, not all of them unpleasant. Just… frustrating. “Perhaps.”
The other man left him, taking the cup with. He returned to his side moments later and held the refilled cup out to Rollo. The young council intern set his expression, trying his best to appear both impassive and unaffected. Unfortunately, he was not certain that he was managing either, much less both.
“You are a mage then?” Rollo blinked at the same time as Trey. He hadn't planned to ask the glaringly telling question, nevermind how desperately he had wanted to know the answer. His brain, however, had a mind of its own, it seemed.
That, as well as a very horrendous sense of humor.
“I am… and so are you. That's an intern’s mage pen in your lapel if I'm not mistaken…”
Rollo snorted. So, Trey wanted to play at niceties. This was not a game he would win, but if losing was what Trey aspired to, who was Rollo to suggest otherwise? “You are not mistaken, as you know very well. My name is Rollo Flamme, and I have the distinct honor and supreme pleasure of serving this fair city as a council intern.”
The look that passed over the other's expression was not one he had expected. Interested. Intrigued. Impressed.
He was not any of those things. Well, not in the manner Rollo would have wanted, in any case. Instead, surprise and realization filled his features. Then understanding and recognition.
“Oh! You were Student Council President from Noble Bell College. You caused quite a lot of trouble for my dorm mates, y’know.”
Rollo had been about to take on a look of resigned chastisement, but the other man shrugged instead. “Eh. It keeps them on their toes. Sometimes they get a little too full of themselves. Just don't do it again, and we're gold. Deal, Rollo?”
Rollo tried desperately to ignore the heat as it flushed to the surface of his cheeks. He paid it no mind, but there was no question—both of them were well aware of its presence. The other man cleared his throat finally and shrugged.
“As I told your… friends… I do not regret what I did. If I regretted anything, it was that my actions had part in your esteemed educator getting hurt. That is the extent of my guilt.”
Trey watched him and after a while, he shrugged before slipping his hands into his pockets. “Just don't do it again and we're gold. Deal?” Rollo narrowed his eyes, but Trey wouldn't back down. Furthermore, he did it so casually that the council intern wasn't even aware he was being effectively challenged until he wasn't.
“Very well. Deal. Not as if I have the magical stamina to do such an undertaking again.”
Trey snorted and shrugged. “Now…” Rollo watched as the other looked up suddenly and sighed. “Inventory time. Guess we'll have to pick this up tomorrow. Have a good day, Rollo Flamme.”
He even had the gall to tip his hat to him. Rollo, feeling the heat burning the tips of his ears, forced himself to meet Trey’s gaze. “Likewise, Trey…”
“Clover.”
“Clover. Trey Clover.”
Trey beamed at him as if Rollo saying his whole name had made his entire week. Then again, perhaps he did not get many visitors, as it was off season for tourists. “Oh. I still need to pay—”
“It's on the house.”
“I really must insist—”
“On the house.” Rollo drew himself up to make himself look as tall and important as possible. He didn't get a chance to say anything, however, as Trey reached across the distance to press a finger to his lips. “If you wanna pay, come back tomorrow. See ya, Rollo.”
Rollo watched, completely speechless, as the other man left without another word.
Had he just been… flirted… with?