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Stakeouts were always the worst part of the job.
It was one of the things they both wholeheartedly agreed on. Parker could never stay focused for the hours it took to observe, and Arthur couldn't stand to sit still and stare that long without falling asleep. The fact that they'd accepted this primarily stakeout case was really telling about the state of their finances.
"That bar is looking more and more appealing by the minute," Arthur mumbles into his palm. He'd long since taken to leaning against the door, legs propped up in a half comfortable position on the dash and head cradled against his hand. He could still see everything he needed to, and with how his back was angled he wasn't as tempted to fall asleep.
Parker had already had to nudge him awake twice while they were waiting. Although that could have been due to the drinks they'd had while waiting inside. The alcohol still buzzed under his skin, making his blinks slower and his thoughts muddy.
This restaurant was one of the more overt speakeasies in the area. They didn't sell large quantities, but if you knew what to say and order they were quite skilled at disguising the alcohol as other drinks. Arthur is both surprised they hadn't been found out and grateful it had offered a solution to the boredom.
"No more drinking on the job," Parker replies blandly, lacking the bite the first few suggestions of slacking off had brought. Although it was hypocritical considering the drinks both of them had had less than an hour ago.
"Bet we could find out more if we joined them inside again," Arthur continues, not taking his eyes off the couple by the window, but eying the dinner they were enjoying. And had been enjoying for near on three hours. He understands they're on a date but surely they could finish up sooner. "Maybe even grab a bite. It has to be better than the sandwiches we had a earlier."
Parker groans, tapping the back of his head against the headrest a few times in emphasis. "Even if we had the money for that Artie, that's not the goal of the job and you know it."
Arthur grumbles wordlessly but he'd be hard pressed to disagree. It was rare the two of them opted to sit for hours tailing a mark if it wasn't necessary. This man - Mr. Hocking or Holden or whatever his name was it hardly mattered at this point - had been taking out an increasing number of mistresses and the wife had been looking for proof of his infidelity beyond the hearsay she had so far. If they were lucky, they could grab the third receipt of the day from this dinner and it would be enough proof to close this damn case after two days of watching this bastard take out five different women in that time.
"Might be easier to grab the evidence if one of us is in there still," Arthur mumbles, watching the couple's wine being refilled for the third time. "Another drink to pass the time."
"It's almost like you're trying to get away from me," Parker says lightly, "Hate sittin' with me that much?"
"No, no," Arthur protests immediately, lifting his head to look at Parker fully. The man was looking at him out of the corner of his eye, smiling slightly at his response. "I just hate sitting around like this, you know that."
"It may not be the best use of our time," Parker allows, "But what else are we gonna do on Valentine's Day?"
Arthur exhales a laugh, turning his attention to where the man was now feeding his mistress a piece of the cake they'd ordered. The couple is laughing about something, the woman carefully rubbing a thumb over the icing that had fallen onto her lip. At least they were finally on dessert. Couldn't be much longer now.
"Did you ever do anything for Valentines?" Arthur asks, now slightly distracted by the realization that it was technically a holiday.
Parker sighs, rubbing a hand over his face, "Now where did that come from?"
"We're both bored out of our skulls here, don't tell me you want to watch the two off them canoodle all night," Arthur retorts. He would almost rather watch paint dry than see the two of them continue to eat each other's offered cake pieces.
"Nah, I've never been the type," Parker waves off. "I've been a bachelor for a good decade or so now Artie, you know this."
Arthur does know that. He can remember the conversations between Mrs. Elsie Yang and Parker in the family dinners he'd attended, the questions about seeing anyone, the slight admonishment and disappointment when Parker shakes his head and claims he's too busy. Arthur had gotten similar looks and he wasn't completely sure how he felt about the clear pity in her expression as the two of them remained bachelors despite her efforts.
"You?"
Arthur looks over, "Huh?"
"Have you ever celebrated?" Parker gestures vaguely at the restaurant in front of them. He seems to be holding back another question, waiting for Arthur to answer first.
There had been a time in university that Arthur had taken it rather seriously. He'd gotten reservations, flowers, a new suit. He'd held his arm out for Bella and made sure to open and close the door for her. He'd followed all the societal expectations and had relished in the lipstick staining his face after.
Now he couldn't imagine following the actions of his past self. Even the thought of it sat sour in his chest. He couldn't completely blame the burning on the cocktails they'd had earlier.
"Once," He replies when he realizes he'd been quiet for too long. "I had once."
Parker hums, but doesn't press. Just like always. Arthur didn't have to justify himself - ever to him. It still felt like a half answered question, and the acrid thing in his chest curdles further.
"I had a few dates," He continues, and avoids Parker's surprised look at the elaboration. "Dinner, dancing, dressing up and showing out as we were supposed to." He stares at the woman leaning across the table to press a kiss to Mr. Holden's lips. Her lipstick remains on the corner of his mouth, and she doesn't seem at all concerned when he carefully wipes it away with his napkin. "She enjoyed it."
"Did you?" Parker asks quietly.
Arthur shrugs. At the time he had only been worried about doing everything right, he didn't have time to think about if he was having a good time. "It was fine."
"Would you do it again?" Parker's voice is odd, subdued. Arthur breaks his gaze away from Mr. Holden taking his mistress's hand and bringing it up for a kiss. Parker isn't looking at him, staring through the windshield - although Arthur can't tell at what.
"I don't know," Arthur remarks, "It didn't feel…. honestly it wasn't something I would do naturally. I needed to do it, so I did."
Parker hums, fingers tapping an offset rhythm on the steering wheel. He watches as the waitress drops by with the check for the couple they were tailing. "What was the best part?"
How did they get here? How was this the conversation they landed on for a night like this? Could Arthur even answer that question? He thinks back, before Faroe, before the hospital, before meeting Daniel. He thinks of a time when Bella's smile had made his heart skip a beat and her laughter had inspired him to the ends of the earth.
"She enjoyed it," He says softly. "It made it all worth it."
"But you didn't." It's a quiet observation, one that hits too close to home.
The waitress takes the cash and the invoice of the meal with a large smile, the couple continues to hold hands over the table as she walks off.
"I enjoyed doing it for her," Arthur replies noncommittally. He was always good at avoiding how he truly felt.
Parker's eyes slide over, finally, looking at him and meeting the gaze Arthur had been directing at him. "Would you do it again?"
Despite wondering why he wasn't giving him the dedicated attention he clearly wanted to give, Arthur doesn't know what to do now that Parker is looking at him. he scrambles through disconnected thoughts. "If I met someone I cared about, I'm sure I would."
It wasn't an answer, in fact Arthur could barely constitute it as a choice. Far from a prediction even. He doubts he would find someone he would want to do this for, he doubts he would be able to set up something so extravagant, he doubts he would ever do as much as he attempted to do for Bella.
The couple stands, drawing both of their attention once more. Arthur pushes himself up, unfolding his legs from where they'd been propped and waving Parker back down. "I'll take care of it."
Parker's doubtful look is ignored as Arthur slicks his hair back, straightens his cuffs, and climbs out of the car. He gives a polite nod to the couple as they pass him at the door, too focused on each other to notice when he goes past their table and subtly picks up the receipt they'd left.
Instead of leaving, he wanders to the bar. He can practically feel Parker's gaze on him through the glass, but he orders a dessert to go and two drinks. He glances around at the other couples occupying the restaurant, digging out enough for the order and a tip as he waits. He couldn't imagine him going through with the traditional couples night as what was happening tonight, but they could both do something for themselves. When the bartender drops off the order, he drinks one of them quickly, then takes the other, hiding it behind the container with the cake as he leaves.
"What's that for?" Parker asks as Arthur returns to the car, carefully folding their evidence to put with the other receipts they'd gathered. The boxed up cake sits on the dash as he does so, the glass being handed over with a smirk.
"Something to congratulate us on surviving an endless stakeout." Arthur replies pointedly. "We can spare the money, Parker, it's fine."
Parker shakes his head, a small smile playing on his lips as he starts the car and wedges the glass as securely as he could on the dash. Arthur doesn't quite know how to interpret it, but chooses to think over the facts of the case they'd covered today.
"So we've confirmed the five mistresses, but only have a paper trail for three," Arthur comments idly, flipping through the stack of receipts. "He spends a similar amount on each of them, and each of the numbers could easily be disguised as a different purchase if necessary."
"The last confirmation will be if he ends up going home tonight , which we'll be able to corroborate with the wife." Parker agrees, twisting around to check behind him before he changes lanes and continues towards their office.
"I doubt he will," Arthur mutters to himself, returning the paper to where the others had gathered in the center console. "What a shameless man."
Parker shrugs, "It's what we get paid the big bucks for."
Which isn't completely true since these cases didn't tend to pay very well. Infidelity cases were thankfully far and few between. The first one they'd gotten Arthur hadn't been able to help much with, too busy thinking of a time he had similarly given up on someone he was supposed to love. Granted, the circumstances ended differently, but it still wasn't something he enjoyed investigating.
He watches the city pass by in shades of grey as Parker avoids streetlights, finding a far away spot in their lot to park. Normally Arthur wouldn't ask, but he can't help but notice the intentional corner placement of their car.
"Something wrong?" Arthur asks, turning as Parker turns off the car. Quiet nightlife echoes in from the cracked windows, distant and faint as they were from the center of the city. Parker takes the glass from where Arthur had placed it on the dash. He tosses it back quickly, returning to glass to the dash and stares at his own hands, clearly deep in thought.
"Have you ever considered something…else? Parker asks, twining his fingers together and resting them on top of the steering wheel. He can't seem to meet Arthur's gaze, glancing at him then away.
"What do you mean?" Arthur asks with confusion. "For what?"
"Spending time with someone on Valentines, going on dates," Parker shrugs halfheartedly. "Have you thought about it since?"
Arthur blows out a breath, looking at the brick wall in front of them. He's almost wishes he had brought an additional drink for himself, but knows that won't help the conversation any more than him running away from it would.
"Haven't had to think about it in years," He replies wryly. "I really don't care about it, it's just another day to me."
"Ma would have a fit if she heard you say that," Parker huffs, loosening the death grip he had on his own fingers to lean back in his seat. Arthur watches him move, brows furrowing as he tries to figure out what he could be missing.
"Parker-"
"I just mean," Parker looks even more nervous, glancing away when Arthur attempts to lean forward to catch his eye. "You know what, forget it, it's ridiculous."
Parker drums his palms against the steering wheel, refusing to look over. Arthur refuses to look away. He pivots, sitting sideways and braces one hand on the headrest while the other comes to rest in the space between the two of them.
Arthur doesn't know what changed, but he feels as if he knows what Parker is thinking. He knows where the half finished questions were leading, the stares and glances and the damn tension that had been building between them over the past weeks. It could be the whiskey still hot in his chest or it could be the way the one streetlight nearby illuminates Parker's profile, but he knows he needs an answer to this or whatever this was between them would die out.
"Parker." He keeps his voice low, a request without asking. Parker inhales, sharply, glancing first out the window towards the street before finally turning to him - truly looking at him for the first time all night. Arthur moves first, easily traversing the space between them and kneeling on the bench seat. It puts him easily above Parker, forcing him to duck down to avoid hitting the ceiling. Parker's hands move to his waist, tugging him closer and holding him there as Arthur brings his hands up. Fingers tangle into the short hair at Parker's nape, the other hand resting on the muscle of Parker's thigh as he turns into him. Breath coasts across his lips as he leans closer, Parker's mouth opening - but Arthur doesn't wait for him to say anything.
Parker meets him halfway, a rough kiss and rougher palms sliding to his waist to tug the ends of his shirt from his slacks to coast across the skin underneath. Arthur can't help his shiver as Parker feels along the plane of his stomach, fingertips digging into ribs and blunt nails scratching against the bone there. Arthur moans against him, inching closer as Parker turns more fully against him.
He realizes that making out in the car is an incredibly risky move, but with how late it is and Parker's cursory glance to where the alley wasn't blocking the windows he's hoping they won't have to worry about onlookers. It's hard to focus when Parker latches onto the side of his neck, biting and sucking a bruise as Arthur attempts to muffle the needy sound that spills from his lips.
He can't remember the last time he'd done anything close to fooling around - and quite honestly feels too old for it as he attempts to fold his legs in a more comfortable position around Parker. The car felt too small now around them, the windows growing fogged with the heat of their breath as Parker digs his fingertips in and bites.
"Parker!" Arthur can't help but gasp, back arching into the blazing points of contact along his ribs.
The spell is broken all of a sudden, Parker's hands slip away and he draws back from the no doubt brilliant bruise now along the length of Arthur's neck.
"Sorry," Parker says, voice rough as he straightens Arthur's shirt from where it sits crooked on his shoulders. Arthur can't look away from his kiss bitten lips, the brilliant blush painting his cheekbones even in the dim light. He keeps his hands braced on Parker's chest, not wanting to lose his balance and attempting to corral his thoughts into something understandable as Parker continues. "I shouldn't….I shouldn't have-."
"What?" Arthur is at a loss for words, clearing his throat as he finally forces himself to lean back, to climb off of Parker's lap and attempt to catch up with where they'd left off. His hand drifts to his neck, feeling the pulsing mark just beneath his collar. There's a different tension now, something he doesn't want to label regret but is getting awfully close to it creasing deep lines around Parker's eyes. He doesn't know what to do with the pounding in his chest or the heat simmering just under his skin. He doesn't know what to do if Parker didn't want this too. "It-It's fine."
Parker's expression furrows further, and he looks at Arthur again, seemingly deciding something as he looks at the hickey Arthur was still pressing his fingers against. "We're drunk."
Arthur could argue that this is the most sober he'd felt since grabbing drinks earlier in the evening. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"I shouldn't have pressed like that, it was impulsive of me," Parker seems to fight to get the words out. "We shouldn't be doing this."
Arthur frowns, "You're blaming that on us being drunk."
"That's not-" Parker cuts himself off with a frustrated huff, "That isn't how I wanted to go about this."
"This?"
"Goddammit Arthur I've been head over heels over you for fuckin' months now," Parker bursts out. His eyes gleam as his expression shifts to something more miserable, "I knew there were things you didn't talk about regarding relationships and I've been doin' all I can to tiptoe around the details to get even a hint of if you'd be interested back and fuck I really did not want it to happen like this."
Arthur can't find a single thing to say to that, frozen with his jaw dropped as he attempts to process all of that while Parker just stares with an increasingly mournful grin.
"It's ok Artie, we're drunk, this can be a write-off," Parker says quietly, beginning to gather together what they'd brought with them. "We can forget about this-"
"No, no wait," Arthur finally manages to get the misfiring synapses in his brain to connect, lurching forward to grab Parker's wrist. "I don't want to just - pretend this never happened-"
"And what if it's better if we did?" Parker says.
"I don't want that," Arthur insists, tugging at Parker's wrist until he looks back at him. "I don't… I'm not completely sure how to navigate all this but I don't want to pretend that this was nothing between us. And it's obvious you don't want to either."
Parker shakes his head, "This isn't a good idea Arthur."
"Shut the fuck up," Arthur retorts, pulling Parker's arm until he overbalances into his space. He doesn't look away from the wide eyed look Parker gives him. "You just said you're head over heels for me and you expect me to just move on from that?" He shifts his hand down, twining their fingers together where they rest on the leather of the bench seat. "I get a say in this too, I don't want this to be passed off as some… drunken fling."
"Didn't get quite far enough for it to be a fling," Parker mumbles, and the almost joke relieves Arthur more than he cares to admit. "But… fine. We don't have to forget it but we shouldn't just leave this."
"Oh sure," Arthur snorts a laugh, "We can talk about this later when we haven't been staring at the same restaurant for two days straight."
"Agreed," Parker huffs. "…I am sorry for springing this on you though."
As if they hadn't moved at the same time, as if the more he thinks about it the more Arthur doesn't mind the thought of kissing Parker again. It was something that could be considered more in depth when they both had their wits about them. Sure they weren't drunk but Arthur had easily had twice as many as Parker had.
Arthur rolls his eyes, "I cannot stress enough how much I am fine with this Parker. We will talk about it more in the morning, alright?"
"Right. in the morning."