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Ratio took a sip of his drink as he watched Aventurine talk to the two female scientists seated in a booth at the opposite side of the dimly lit bar. He had a bad feeling about this — going along with Aventurine’s plans always bore unforeseeable risks — but after five days on this planet, they still hadn’t obtained the information they had come for. This was something of a last-ditch effort; one only Aventurine would be able to pull off.
Aventurine tilted his head to the side, flashing a brilliant smile at the two women. It seemed to have the intended effect, the women holding onto each other as they giggled. Sometimes, Ratio wondered how people fell for that fake smile so easily. He had seen through it the first time he had met Aventurine.
A golden coin spun in the air and landed in Aventurine’s hand. The coin was revealed, and the two women suddenly started laughing hysterically. Most definitely a bad sign. Ratio massaged the bridge of his nose and sighed, already planning how to explain to the IPC that the critical mission they had been sent on had concluded unsuccessfully.
Aventurine came strolling back, rolling the coin between his fingers. His gaze was fixed on Ratio, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes lighting up his face. Ratio narrowed his eyes at him. Whenever Aventurine had that look on his face, he had a plan that Ratio most definitely wouldn’t agree with. “What–”
He was struck speechless when Aventurine slung one leg over his lap and sat down as if he had done that a million times. “The good news or the really good news, what do you want to hear first?” Aventurine asked with a mischievous smile, tugging at Ratio’s shirt and bringing their faces so close that Ratio could smell the disgustingly sweet cocktail he had drunk earlier.
The warmth of the alcohol was creeping up Ratio's spine, making it hard to breathe.
“Speechless?” Aventurine asked with a lilt in his voice. “Alright, let me start with the good news, then. I got the information we needed.” He revealed a piece of paper and tucked it into Ratio’s breast pocket. “As for the really good news…” He grabbed Ratio’s chin, making him wince in surprise. “...I lost my bet.” And with these words, he leaned in and pressed his lips onto his, kissing him so thoroughly that Ratio could taste the strawberry flavor on his lips.
Sometimes, or rather most times, working one’s way up to an epiphany was an arduous task, but once the epiphany was sparked, everything fell into place, revealing the path forward, wide and well-lit. It only took a single touch of Aventurine’s lips for an epiphany to burst free in Ratio’s mind, revealing a new, fascinating, and utterly infuriating truth he had been unaware of.
The moment Aventurine tried to pull away, Ratio grabbed him by his collar and pulled him back in, swallowing the surprised whimper Aventurine let out and diving his tongue into his mouth, tasting every last bit of him.
That damned gambler. Stealing his first kiss like it was nothing. Stealing his first love as if he were born to the task. Lost bet or not, Ratio wouldn’t let him get away with that.
On the other side of the bar, the two women were squealing so loudly that Ratio could hear them above the thundering of his heart.