𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮'𝓼 𝓪 𝕓𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙

“No problem” Zach nodded as he entered the house.

He quickly scanned his eyes around the place before looking back at Raj with a smile “Nice place” he commented “-Where do you want to do this?” Zach could tell already this was going to be a messy cut, so he didn’t want to inconvenience Raj. 

Zach had found himself doing more and more house calls lately. He didn’t mind it. He meant he could relax a little more, not that he wasn’t extremely relaxed at work, but he could take a little further at the homes of his clients.

He was happy to receive the text from Raj. It had been a while since he had seen the cute professor, too long. He rushed into the shop and grabbed his bag, rushing back out again and heading to Raj’s house.

It was nice. It seemed to be a common theme among his clients. The houses always looked a little pricier than his own. Not that he didn’t love where he lived. 

He knocked on Raj’s door and waited. Adjusting the shirt he had thrown on, in an attempt to look somewhat presentable. 

Raj was excited to see the handsome barber and certainly wouldn’t mind the one on one time spent with him. Raj saw the other male and opened the door. His house certainly wasn’t the largest on the block, but it wasn’t the cheapest either.

“Welcome“ Raj smirked as he let the other into his house. The professor pawed at his messy hair and then shut the door behind them. “Thanks for taking my call” he flashed an innocent yet sweet smile at the other.

@covestarters​

Reclining back in the chair, Jason thread his fingers together behind his skull and frowned. On the table in front of him, the notebook lay open, both pages covered in tiny, neat script. Then around it, garish red lines and green scribbles. His notes. His edits. Green for what he liked about what he had written and red for everything he had hated. There was alot more red on the page than green.

With a sigh Jason reached for his half drunk pint of bud and took another sip, the fizz long gone from having been sitting for a while. He had promised himself though, to not go home until he had finished chapter 5.He had hoped the scenery would be enough to spur him on. Alas, no such luck. He was a long way of finishing. Jason closed the book over, with a sigh of defeat after deciding to call it quits. It was then he glanced up, noticing the other person approach. He half smiled at them as he reached for his drink again. “I could use another drink if you fancy one?” he offered with a smile.

Stella had invited her friend out for a few drinks and just to decompress after a long week of work. She had ordered herself a glass of red wine and wandered over to where her and Jason typically met up. Sitting on the edge of the bar stool she smirked, “Just started on my second glass” she smiled, “What’s the rush?” Stella questioned with a simple shrug of her shoulders. She had no work the next day so she wasn’t going to rush her night out. For once she was relaxed. For now. “So, how was your week, Jason?” Stella asked as she flagged down the male bartender so that Jason could get serviced faster than if he had tried to man’s attention himself. She didn’t want to pry into his work so she just smiled down at the book, happy for her friend - and the fact that he was back to writing.

“This isn’t my best work…” Leo looked over the sand castle he had made, a hum coming from him as he held up his fingers to frame the picture as if he was actually going to photograph it. It had all seemed like it would end up better in his head before he had started building. “You know you see all these cool pictures of what people sculpt online and then you do it and it looks…childish. I mean I thought it would be better? But I have no grounds for that belief I am not an architect of any sort.” the blond huffed, not sure he was ready to destroy it just yet though. “Wanna help me try again?”

“Honestly, Harvard has always been my dream and now that my husband knows he is staying here I can either do something in this area or do Harvard online which honestly I would not mind doing,” she smiled. “Wait really? They really right crazy stuff? That’s so crazy that they would write stuff like that. I would think we would be able to remember and retain info after high school.” Alexis took another sip of her water and shook her head. “Oh the stuff you find is crazy. Like some cases just shock me and you can sometimes already tell that this can be shut down real quick.

"Harvard is always a dream” Raj laughed as he took a sip from his drink and then he tossed his hair over his shoulder, getting it out of the way before he studied the other people at the restaurant. Things were so laid back here compared to where he was from in the city. “Some of my students really go wild with the free response sections but that truly is the best way to test them so it’s a double edged sword” Raj shrugged. “I bet there’s some really wild things on some of your cases. As a fan of true crime I’m sure I’d be wow-ed”

he returned her smirk with an equally smug energy; the vision was interesting, juxtaposed with his gloomy-colored ensemble. “if you count 5,100 dollars as winning big, then yes. hope you like absolute fucking nerds, ‘cause i’ve been using my big math brain to con hundreds out of people’s wallets.” of course, he was aware that he didn’t look quite like a typical nerd, with his combination of chiselled looks and weird semi-gothic aesthetic. “when you’re done with that,” he said, gesturing to her flute of liquor, “do you want me to get you your next drink?”

Zach was surprised. The nerdy looking professor he had met at the bar a few hours prior had much better game than he could have ever expected. Usually Zach was the cocky one in these situations, well at least most of the time anyway. 

“Possibly” Zach teased. Raj looked good. Long hair, short hair, blue hair, he was going to still be cute. Especially when he was trying so hard to flirt like this. 

What a line. It was clear Raj was keeping up and catching his drift more than ever before. Zach liked it “Then show me.” Zach responded. Totally unsure as to what could happen next. 

Raj was certainly going through a bit of change in his life. The quiet professor was stepping out of his shell slowly but surely. Maybe some of it was thanks to Zach and their chance encounter.

“Show you?“ Raj asked as he bit down on his lip. His more awkward side took over as he wondered what he was supposed to do. The professor was drunk and he just wanted to be seen as cute in front of the gorgeous man.

“It’s now or never, Zachy“ Raj smirked as he took a step closer to the man. He leaned in and said in a low voice, “Pull me around by my hair while you still can“ his brown eyes flashing up at the barber. He was curious to see where this ended up.

the answer raj gave amused him in some way, proven by the short chuckle that left his lips after he answered his question. “well. it’s never a bad thing to switch things up a little bit,” he admitted, he didn’t act the same way around everyone.. he was kinder than some people than to others, but he knew people would take advantage of him if he were to be too humble and kind.. it was what ended up making him feel more bold. “noted,” he answered, if he would ever get the chance to play cupid he would more than gladly take it. he doubted if he would make a great matchmaker, but he would like to find out one way or another. “my type?” he asked then, giving it a thought before then shrugging. “i like someone you can have fun with,” he admitted. “like.. just banter and laughing together, you know? i think that’s important,” he continued. “.. but most of all, someone who has their heart in the right place.”

“i agree, some change never hurt anyone“ the professor said, almost as if he was trying to convince himself that what he had just said was true. raj was awful with change and he rarely ever reacted well to it. “yeah, maybe i’ll give you my number just in case” raj smirked. was he coming onto a senator that he pretty sure was married? yes. did he care? not really because he was just one of many faces in this town. “your type seems very general” raj commented with a teasing smirk, “heart in the right place” the professor repeated the other’s words. “that must be hard to find in the hustle and bustle of capital hill, no?” he asked.

Zach’s smirk widened when Raj came back at him about his hair “Maybe I lied” he whispered softly. In all honesty Raj’s hair did suit him, very well. Zach was starting to like it more with every move closer to the other man too. 

“I’m sure it’s nice to have something to hold onto” he commented without thinking, not entirely sure what he meant by the comment, but hoping Raj would get it. 

Raj loved the banter back and forth and smirked as he accepted the compliments about his hair. He thought it was interesting that Zach had changed his tune. He still was pretty sold on the idea of letting Zach take the clippers to it, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t probe further. “You think I could still get laid like this?” he bit down on his lip.

As they got closer, he grinned at the other’s comment, deciding to double down on it, “Brilliant observation” he teased. The professor then offered, “Showing is always better than telling” a coy smirk on his lips. His flirting kind of made no sense but the awkward aspect of his personality was hard to choke down at times.

Zach felt a bit giddy when the other man kissed him again. It felt strange to not be the one leading. He always made the first move but never expected Raj to make a second, even though he was giving off the vibes to. 

The kiss went on for a little longer this time. Zach pushed into it. Taking Raj by the waist and stepping forward. Until he eventually pulled back from it, a move he made hesitantly. 

“you’re a better kisser.” he commented it, reaching for his drink and taking a sip “and maybe the long hair isn’t such a bad thing.” Zach said as he slid his fingers slowly through it. Eyes not moving away from looking at Raj. 

Raj could tell that Zach had warmed up to him a bit and he felt quite elated. The day had been an interesting one and as he kissed the attractive man, a smile crept on his lips.

As Zach’s arms wrapped around his waist, he wrapped his own around the other, holding himself close to the barber. Raj smirked at the other taking back what he said about Raj’s hair, “I thought you said my hair was keeping me from getting laid” Raj joked innocently, his eyes locked on Zach as he felt those strong hands brush through his hair. “Interesting how that changes” Raj commented with a smirk, his mind still not completely made up about chopping his hair.

It was bound to feel strange to Zach. Being this close to any male who wasn’t his room mate. Even him and Romeo didn’t act like this with eachother. Maybe he was in some sort of deep seeded denial, but that was never going to be an easy thing to change. It actually felt nice when Raj rested his chin on his shoulder. 

Zach was a little saddened when Raj pulled away. Hoping the young professor would have taken things further but there was still time for that. He took a sip of his own drink. Placing it down on the bar afterwards “-You’re a great guest, Rajy” he wasn’t sure about the nickname, but being called Zachary always made him feel like he wasn’t being called by his real name anyway. 

Raj bit down on his lip as he looked at Zach to gauge his reaction to everything he was doing. Sure, he felt a bit more bold to make a move and see how the barber reacted to him. His chin on the man’s shoulder felt natural and he loved it.

Taking a sip from his drink, he smiled sweetly when Zach said that he was a good guest and then he took a step forward, closing the space between them as he teased, “And a great bartender” he face leaning in and kissing the good looking guy again. He was drunk and loving the affection.

“Oh tons but it makes the job totally worth it and those long nights as well. I was thinking about going back to school and doing a little more with the degree, but I gotta make sure everything is set and stone here before I continue with my degree.” Alexis watched the boy as he talked and just letting him know that she had his full attention. “That’s gotta be fun. I’m sure your get a lot of things you just look and be like that is the craziest answer ever.” She chuckled. “I don’t have the grading thing, but I have to go over the case and make sure it’s good to go.”

“Wow, that is honestly a lot“ he shook his head. He thought he was busy with doing research and teaching and grading papers and moving, but the thought of going back to school would drive him absolutely mad. “Yeah, sometimes they just write the most idiotic things and I just have to shake my head” Raj chuckled to himself before he listened to what she had to say, “I’m sure preparing cases is very interesting but tedious” the professor commented.

“It has it’s perks. I am still helping out and doing the paperwork. I’ll go to court once in a while, but right now I am still learning the ins and outs of the office,” she smiled. “I’m sure she will. No kids and just us in the house so I am sure we will try and have all the fun we can before work is pulling both of us all around. Well mostly him. What job are you in where you do all this paperwork though?”

“I bet there’s a lot to learn” Raj could only imagine all of the different things one would have to learn when becoming a lawyer in a new jurisdiction. He smiled as he listened to what she said, “That sounds lovely” Raj commented. Then when he was asked about his career, Raj explained, “So, I work at BCU as a professor and researcher. Hence the stack of exams I was grading” Raj rolled his eyes at the fact that he was almost always grading something.

Zach felt a little bad that his choice of words had caused Raj to doubt himself in any way. He didn’t do anything wrong, Zach was just always in his head when it came to guys, especially when he knew he was a little tipsy.

“No no, you didn’t do anything.” he tried to reassure the other male.  Reaching up and cradling Raj’s jaw for a moment pulling his hand away and heading up to the bar. Mixing together another drink and turning to look at Raj again with a light smile “-You can say no?” Zach teased, having already poured Raj a drink. 

Raj grinned when Zach’s hand cupped his jaw. He felt adored by the other male and didn’t think twice about whether this was something Zach wanted. He walked around to the other side of the bar and stood behind Zach, resting his chin on his shoulder. 

“Good“ he hummed as he stood there for a moment, content to be so close to the good looking man he had met just a few hours ago. “I want another drink” Raj nodded against the other as he took a step away and grabbed the drink, sipping on it, “You’re a good host, Zachary” he smirked.

toby leaned forward, prepared to lavish her with compliments. “your face… it’s real nice. you’ve got the most gorgeous cheekbones i’ve ever seen in my life. and, if you don’t mind me saying — you did ask, after all — your legs are up there, too.” he chose his words as carefully as he could while tipsy, not wanting to find himself in ‘creepy weirdo’ territory. he took a sip of his glass as well and tossed her a grin. faux-innocently, he asked, “what thing? i really am just a film director. you can look me up; i’m on imdb.”

“Oh tell me about it,” she smiled. “The amount of stuff we have to go over is crazy, but honestly it’s totally worth it and I actually like my job a lot. The whole loophole thing is probably my favorite thing to look for. The amount of staying up I do is crazy, but I don’t think I can complain. I’m just hoping I can open up my own law firm when I get a little older. Set and stone with that and then let life deal it’s cards.”

Raj smiled, “I’m glad you like it. I wonder what it would be like to be a lawyer sometimes” he admitted with a friendly look in the other’s direction. Being a researcher and professor had always been his first choice she he hadn’t given much thought to a secondary career. “I’m sure this town is in need of high powered lawyers. Come to think of it, they’re in need of just about anything” he laughed, offering her a bit of hope. “It’s a cool place to live though, I’m sure you and your husband will enjoy it”