9 - 'I need a date'

Hermes flashed a thumbs up back at Sakrish and waved at him as he exited the room with his employee.
The door closed. He turned to face Charon only to find himself looking straight into those haunting eyes. He smiled in the most feral way possible. "Something wrong, Boss?", he asked nonchalantly. As if he didn't know, even though he could almost taste the other man's fluster in the air. He took pity on him, though - he wasn't being hired to embarrass Charon, right? Maybe he was going a little too far with the teasing. He shrugged his hoodie back on, his smile softer when he looked at Charon again. "Don't worry, I won't be trying to tease you, if Mr. Mishra isn't in the room", he reassured him. Not too much anyway. His gaze fell on the uncovered arms of the other man again. "Nice ink, though. Can't say I was expecting that, but- it's a nice touch." He grinned and walked past him to flop down on the same seat Charon had been sitting on just moments before.

Charon smiled to himself. In fact- the comment about his tattooes emboldened him just enough for him to undress here and there, with his back to Hermes. He soon revealed a fully tattooed, elegant and muscled torso, to fit with the arms. Most of the tattoos contained water-like designs, but he also had a skull surrounded with purple smoke on one of his shoulders. His ribs were decorated with ink to represent them, and that desing elegantly disappeared the more it went up.

He shrugged the new shirt on - one that didn't close completely - and then added the coat, straightening the collar before he took a look at himself into the room's mirror.
He theb turned towards Hermes, genuinely wondering what he thought of it.

Alright, Hermes had promised himself he wouldn't stare too much. He had told himself that he didn't really have the right - after all, it wasn't like Charon actually wanted to be ogled by him, right? For how pleasant this all was, for how handsome and interesting the other man was, it was all a farce. Even if he admittedly struggled to remember that.

He struggled even more when, instead of the inches of pale, white skin he was expecting to see on Charon's back, he was greeted with a whole sea made of ink. The man looked like a painting - the colors and the black and shaded lines looked like they belonged on him by right, and Hermes was flabbergasted. The contrast about Charon's way to present himself and what was hidden underneath his layers of gold and black was just that attractive. It made him itch to know more. To see more. And those defined muscles, holy shit-

He might have been still looking a little dazed when Charon turned around, but as per his usual, he was quick to wear a more relaxed, carefree expression. He couldn't hold back an admired expression though, and smiled brightly at the other man. "Looking great, Boss. One could swear you're the one who's going to be the star of the evening", he complimented him.

Charon chuckled, and signed a "Thank you" to Hermes, that he completed with a fake curtsy wheb he realized that the other man probably wouldn't get what he meant. He went to fish for his phone, to reply to him properly.

"Don't worry, I'm sure my brother and his partners will look positively stunning. And you probably will too." He held back a smile, and then Sakrish came back in with his employee to adjust Charon's outfit here and there.

A little while later, they were all done, Charon had changed again, and Sakrish shook both of their hands, before he accompanied them out of the office.

Once in the elevator, Charon threw a glance at Hermes, with a slight smile. That whole meeting had felt oddly pleasant. He was secretly wondering whether they could push it a little further or not.

Hermes had laughed when Charon had regarded him with a little curtsy like they were some couple of noblemen trying out the latest fashion back before the Revolution would sweep them away - and had simply grinned knowingly and winked at that compliment. 

After bidding goodbye to Sakrish, he could still feel himself buzz with some pleasant energy he couldn't really manage to shake off. He had assumed, before coming to this non-date, that he would have probably gotten bored, and that having a man he barely even knew look at him while he got his measurements taken would have made him feel a little eh.
But instead, his expectations had been subverted completely. Charon was witty, and fun, and very handsome - he had liked it. He had enjoyed himself very much.
He turned towards the other man and smiled back at him when he met his eyes. "What now, Boss? Where to?", he asked casually, putting his hands in his pockets again. "Did we have more programmed for this meeting of interests?"

Charon was pleasantly surprised by Hermes' question, and let out a smile before he took out hiq phone. "I had nothing else planned, but I took the day off. Is there something you might like to do?" Yes, he felt like spending some more time with Hermes. And if the other man didn't mind it, then- maybe things might evolve, until the engagement party. Maybe.
He shouldn't get his hopes up.

Hermes barely managed to suppress a grin. So Charon wasn't against passing more time with him, then? Good, good. He tapped his chin in thought. "Well, I don't work 'til the late hours of night, honestly, and-", he added on a second thought as his glance fell on his phone again, "-wait a second, it's past noon already? Wow, hadn't even noticed that time had gone by so fast! What about lunch then, Boss?", he exclaimed, smiling up at him. "We don't have to go to a fancy place - anywhere's fine. That way, we can talk a little more, and you can give me more informations about this whole engagement party thing!"

Charon nodded with a smile, and he chose some place quiet where to eat with Hermes. They probably spent the afternoon together, walking with no particular goal in mind, or sitting down occasionally so it was easier for Charon to text his parts of the conversation.

He learned a lot of things about Hermes, and told him everything he needed to know for their relationship to seem 'real' to their family. He was bummed when came the time to say goodbye, but tried not to let it show.
"I'll probably be busy for a while professionally speaking, but I'll let you know when your outfit will be ready. Until then, don't hesitate to text me if you have any questions." Or if you feel like it, he thought to himself hopefully.

Hermes enjoyed himself a lot - eating in a calm place a little away from the city centre (he had thought about asking Charon to go back to Alecto's café, just to bother her further, but he had decided not to. He had already played with his luck plenty enough that day), walking around aimlessly among students and working people rushing on the sidewalks at their sides, talking about this and that.
Charon really was interesting - and he found himself losing track of time once again as they spoke together. He felt quite disappointed too, when he found out it was time to go. "Sure thing Boss", he answered with a small smile - that immediately grew, though. "Careful about that permission you're giving me. I'm infamous for cascade-messaging anyone of my choosing until they pay attention to me - and that anyone of choosing could very easily be you!"

Charon let out a smile, and began typing again. "Well, then. If it distracts me after long days of work, I am willing to take that risk : )"

He tipped his hat at Hermes slightly, before he added, "Are you close from your home, or do you need a ride?" Their steps had brought them near an elegant, vintage black car - his own. He was extra like that.

Hermes chuckled. "Very well then. At your own risk, indeed", he hummed, before jokingly bowing his head back at Charon when he tipped his hat.
He hesitated at that question, though. "I'm not exactly close", he confessed then. "I am staying over at a friend's place right now, more downtown - in the students' block, you know? Not the one close to the University, the one-" He got distracted by the vintage car and stopped halfway through his speech, whistling in admiration. "No way, Boss-! This beauty's yours? Look at that!" He skipped closer to look better.

Charon let out a pleased smile. Usually, people - including his own brothers - told him his car was an antiquity, and not one of the most tasteful ones. Usually people liked vintage cars with square angles, flat and with a sportive-like shape.
His car looked like it came straight out of a black-and-white gangster movie, and he loved it. And truth be told? He felt even more affection for Hermes when he showed such genuine interest in his car.

"I could drive all the way back to the students' other block, should you want to. There's enough space in my car for two." He unlocked the doors to confirm to Hermes that yes, it was his car - and patiently waited for his answer, that had all chances to be a 'yes'.

Hermes loved the style of this car. He loved it. Gangster movies were cool, Charon was very cool, and this car was AMAZINGLY cool. He could've stayed there to look at it for some more time, honestly, but the other man was clearly waiting for an answer to his proposition.
Answer that of course was going to be yes. Who did you take him for. "Well- you're not really expecting I'm going to say no to the chance of getting on this car, right?", he answered with a laugh.

Charon chuckled, and gestured for Hermes to get inside the car with him. Before he started the engine, he texted him one last message. "Believe it or not, some would rather die than step in that car with me. And not because of my driving. I am an excellent driver." He casually put his seat
belt on, and made sure Hermes did the same, before he got the engine to roar to life.

Hermes didn't need to be invited twice - he hopped in the car and diligently fastened his seatbelt. "Those people don't know what they're missing", he simply answered with a hum, grinning excitedly when Charon revved up the car.
He might have not been overly enthusiastic about display of richness, but if there was something he loved was going fast, and well-cared-for cars.
If people weren't trying to gift those to him, of course.

Charon nodded, and drove Hermes, silently asking for indications.

Once they either got in front of his friend's place, or near enough to it to the other man's taste, he stopped the car, turned the engine off, and looked at Hermes with a mix of fondness and resignation. It was really time to go, this time.
He offered his hand for him to shake. If not friends, if not lovers... They were still kind of partners in crime. So it only felt appropriate to shake hands with his partner.

Hermes observed Charon's extended hand for a second, and couldn't help a little, fond smile to escape him when he noted the way the other man was looking at him.
Maybe he felt that same, strange pull he felt towards him?
It was too early to tell. And he didn't want to ask right now. He shook his hand, briefly tightening his hold. "I had a good time, Boss. Hope to see you again soon", he added, winking at him, before turning around to get rid of the seatbelt and open the car door.
If not lovers, if not friends. Surely, at least now, business associates then.

Charon smiled to himself when he watched Hermes leave, and then eventually started his car to drive back home himself.

The next weeks were indeed busy, so busy he couldn't afford to bring Hermes to his next appointments in Sakrish's office. He had to send the payment to Sakrish from a distance even, and could only come retrieve his own finished outfit in a blink on one evening. There wasn't any time he could spend with Hermes, and he hated it.

But maybe... Maybe this was for the best. He had gotten far too attached in so little time, and yet it would soon be time for the both of them to say goodbye.

He had asked Hermes the address at which he should pick him up before his brother's engagement party, on a Sunday morning, and parked the car at a different place than the last time. He got out of it to smoke while waiting for the other man, in his elegant attire.
He both hoped this day wouldn't last for too long, or that time would stop eventually when it was just him and his 'business associate'.

During those absurdly busy weeks for Charon, Hermes had changed apartment twice - and job just as many times, even though the pizzeria he had worked for as an emergency-by-foot pizza delivery guy kept on calling him begging him to please come by every time their old Vespa got busted up. If anyone asked him what he was up to right now, he'd answer waiter in a 24/7 open bar.

He'd kept true to his promise, though - and had kept pestering Charon with tons of messages, at the strangest hours of the day (or night), about any random thing that would come to his mind. And, even though he could guess that his partner in crime had been quite busy, he always rejoiced when, instead of an annoyed answer, he'd get a joke back and one of those hilariously misplaced smiley faces. He couldn't wait to see him back again - a dangerous thought, he realized, but he just couldn't bring himself to be detached like he had promised himself.

It was going to be one evening. And then, one Charon wouldn't have needed him, they'd part ways - maybe like good friends, but who knows - and they'd never talk again.
Better enjoy the attention until it lasted, then.

He was kind of thankful that his friend wasn't home by the time Charon showed up - he didn't really feel like answering any question about his outfit, to be honest (questions like 'Where did you buy it' or 'How much did you pay for it' or 'So who's the guy'). But damn if he didn't feel good, walking around in something that had been molded to his body! And not in the uncomfortably tight and restrictive way even!

When he stepped out of the building, and spotted Charon resting against the side of his car in that elegant coat of his, he almost mistook his excitement for the evening about something else. Both feelings would make his heart beat that fast, anyway. He cleared his throat to get the other man's attention, and grinned brightly at him as he stepped down the stairs, adjusting his patterned tie. His suit - for how incredulous he had been when Sakrish had assured that it was totally fine to make it in that color - was orange. The lapels of his jacket were embroidened with gold, as were his sleeves and shoulders. Just at the height of his ankles, shining in the light and just as golden as everything else, one wing per side.
He made a little curtsy. "Evening, Boss!"

Charon had loved each and every one of those messages Hermes had sent him at ungodly hours of the day, and had indeed never hidden how much he had appreciated them.

He appreciated the other man way too much for his own safety. His love life never had happy endings, and he supposed he'd end up hurt once more. All of his worries vanished however as soon as he turned his head and saw Hermes in that new suit of his. His jaw actually dropped, so much that his cigarette almost fell from his lips.
He was the definition of beauty, in his book.

Thankfully, he managed to get a hold of himself and let out a smile as he walked towards Hermes. He gently took his hand in his, but not to shake it - no, he almost brought it to his lips once he had taken his cigarette away, and paused at the last moment. If he winked at the other man then, it was mostly to hide his own fluster.
He was smitten.

Hermes couldn't be wrong, this time. There couldn't be any mistake in judging just why his heart had first grown two sizes in his chest with pride, when he had seen just how Charon had looked at him. There couldn't be any mistake in how it had stuttered against his ribcage when the other man had almost kissed his hand, only to stop mere inches away from it to wink at him instead.
Shit.
He was smitten.

He almost let his flirty tongue get the best of him (he was on the verge of asking just how did he manage not to have a swarm of boyfriends by now if this was the treatment they got), but bit on it last moment and just let out a laugh, to hide away his fluster - not suspecting for a second that the other man was doing some concealing himself, in that moment. "Well, Boss - I'll take that as a compliment", he commented, winking back at him. "Look at us! We both look great, don't we! You yourself, I mean - love the ensemble. Brings out your natural colors!" He always tended to blabber a bit when he was nervous.

Hermes always had the words to sweep Charon off his feet. No one had talked to him like that before. No one had so openly flirted with him before.

He smiled at Hermes, and gestured for him to wait a bit so that he might take his phone out, to text him once more. "Thank you. And I love your outfit as well. It brings out your eyes. You look more radiant than ever. Alright, it was maybe too much of him to say that. Nuance that compliment a bit, Charon! "; )" There. Now it could be read as a joke too, and wouldn't be too heavy.

But he had almost forgotten that they would spend hours with his relatives, most of which would definitely read his fluster and his affection for Hermes on his face.

He gestured for the other man to follow him in the car, and got in as well rather quickly, after turning his cigarette off.

Hermes laughed when he read Charon's compliment. Partly for the emoji, he'd never get tired of that, but mostly it was to hide even more fluster, let's be honest. Nobody had ever called him radiant before, not even one of his many past flings. "Well, thank you!", he answered, getting inside the car after the other man gestured him to do so. He knew they wouldn't be able to speak a lot during the ride - or well, Charon wouldn't - but he was looking forward to it. Oh- thinking about speaking reminded him of something he really wanted to show off! He quickly tapped Charon's shoulder, looking like he was barely containing his giddiness, and cleared his throat. And then, he lifted his hands up. "Not good at this", he signed. "Beginner still. You look great! Can't wait to go!"

No joke, had this happened moments prior like it was meant to, sorry, Charon would have definitely dropped that cigarette. Now, in the car, all he did was look flabberghasted, and then extremely pleased. Happy, even.

"Thank you", He signed to Hermes slowly. "You're doing great, don't worry."

He looked at Hermes some more with fondness, before he grabbed his phone. "We have a little driving ahead of us. Would you tell me about your week?" he smiled at the other man and finally put his phone done, so he could start driving.

Since Charon had been looking at Hermes, he'd probably see just how immensely proud of himself he was for managing to sign correctly. He looked very smug about being able to understand the - admittedly elementary - words Charon had slowly signed back to him, but most of all he was unbelievably pleased about just how happy the other man seemed. "Thank you!", he signed back, before getting his phone back to read what the other man had just texted him. He grinned, throwing a mischevious glance at him. "Oh, I'll make you wish you never asked", he said way too gleefully before he started to chat Charon's ear off, telling him about this and that and everything that had happened during the week, including a couple of his old bosses calling him to fill in for a couple of days here and there and one time when he had to kick out a patron of the bar he was currently working at because he had tried to sneak past the counter to drink directly from the bottles.