Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!

Mitchell shook his head. “How long have you known me, dude? Bottom of the barrel isn’t exactly my jam. I’m not sayin’ go for the super expensive stuff unless it’s a special occasion but what the hell does this shit even cost?” 

Micah grinned as he pushed himself off the bench and walked over to the shelf that held the bottles of alcohol. He glanced over the bottles before he grabbed another one and a clean glass. “I don’t know, awhile.” Micha poured the drink for Mitchell before he slid the glass over to his friend. “It’s always a special occasion when you come to see me.”

“I was saying, you’re probably going to need bigger weights?” He was the gym’s trainer and thought he could offer a little bit of advice as he passed through.

Micah sat up and glanced back at the weights before he looked back at the male. “Oh uh thanks?” Micah said slightly confused as he ran his eyes over the male. “How much do you think I need?”

Weston just stared at him for a moment before repeating himself. “I’m saying, your whiskey, tastes like shit. You can’t possibly say this is the best you’ve ever had. Come on. You’re serious, Mic?”

Micah looked down at the whiskey before he glanced back at Weston, raising his eyebrow slightly at the nickname. Not that he corrected Weston, he was growing used to the name. “Well if you wanted top shelf, you should off asked.” Micah said as he took a mouthful of his drink before he smiled a little. “Or next time supply your own.”

Mars watched Micah check someone out who was walking around at the other end of the bar, groaning and running a hand through his hair. “…Yeah, I asked if you were going to keep staring at that guy’s ass or if you were going to give me your drink order.” Mars had been running the restaurant for a long time, and he was used to having to take over as bartender when his employees didn’t show up. And he was used to Micah coming by to get a drink- he wouldn’t talk that way to a stranger. “Sex on the beach?” He asked, raising eyebrows at him with a deadpan expression. It was a joke, which Mars wasn’t good at, but hey, he tried.

Jordy had expected Micah to kiss him back. The vibe between them was filled with sexual tension, he didn’t imagine that, but it was even more evident once their lips met. The fact that the other male was deepening the kiss made Jordy smile against his lips. His own hands kept a firm grip on Micah’s hips for a moment. Eventually one of them moved to Micah’s lower back because he was craving even more contact. After a few minutes of kissing, Jordy broke his lips from the other’s and took a deep, slow breath. His hands moved to the hem of Micah’s shirt, pulling it up and off his body quickly before returning to the passionate kissing from a moment earlier.

“A cockpit isn’t nearly as exciting as people think it is. Most people just get overwhelmed by all the dials and buttons and switches. Honestly, if they’re wanting to really have their minds blown, they should just skip straight for the cock.” Jordy hummed as he considered Micah’s question. “Let’s just say I like it rough. That’s a pretty big staple, the rest is more of a treat from time to time.” The more he thought about it, the more Jordy wanted Micah. He stood up and knocked back the drink quickly. He moved around the bar without saying a word, finding himself standing before Micah before he put his hands on the man’s waist. “I think I’m going to,” he said quietly, hands finding Micah’s hips as he pulled him into a kiss.

“Maybe it’s more to do with what they want to do in the cockpit. Though like you said, they should just skip the pit and go for the main event instead.” Micah smirked as he watched Jordan down his drink, before his eyes followed the dark hair male move around the bar. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.” Micah said as he stepped forward a little when he felt Jordan’s hands on his waist. “I think that’s a good idea.” Micah breathed out before he felt Jordan’s lips on his own, pressing his body into Jordan’s as he kissed the male back. He moved a hand and placed it on the back on Jordan’s head as he deepened the kiss. 

James followed after the other, his face lighting up some. “Oh! If we could find her a first edition or one from another country, that would be perfect to? I don’t think she has anything like that?” Trying to rummage his brain if Brin had mentioned anything like that before, coming up empty handed as he tried to remember. “I’m completely fine with getting her a few different things.” He added a few seconds later as they entered the fantasy section behind him, his eyes scanning the shelves. Though he wasn’t for sure what he was looking for exactly and like most times when he tried to read, the words all seemed to run in to one another, becoming a slight blur. He blinked several times, the spines of the books focusing a bit better, especially if he focused on a smaller section at a time. 

Micah nodded his head as he looked over at the books before he grabbed one out. The Hobbit. Micah flipped it open and scanned the page before he looked at the cover again.  It wasn’t a first edition, thought Micah wasn’t surprised. The cover did show Smaug laying on his treasure. “Here, do you know if she has this cover?” Micah asked as he held the book out for James before he looked back at the bookshelf. Smiling when another book caught his eye and pulled it out, turning it over and scanning the back.

Saffy had never been to Micah’s place, there was literally no reason in the world for her to ever visit him. Their ‘friendship’, if you could even call it that, was based solely on a mutual dislike of people and an even stronger comradeship on the benefits of an all liquid diet. Saffy was one thousand percent certain Micah hated her guts and she couldn’t have given two shits. A lot of people didn’t like her and she didn’t get in her feelings about it. She wasn’t easy to get along with and they were both far to anti social to ever squash their beef. But she had been grateful he gave her a job and she had talked herself into being a little less irritating and a bit more compliant if she wanted to keep it. But then the fucker hadn’t shown up for work and damn it if she hadn’t threatened every one of his staff members when they attempted to ‘train’ her in his place. For one, she didn’t need any fucking training, she could mix drinks with her eyes closed, and she would have appreciated Micah there as a buffer. But as she moved further into his home and saw the trail of empty whiskey bottles and what looked like a broken potted plant, if all the dirt was any indication, she knew something was definitely wrong. 

Her suspicions were immediately proven when he entered the room a moment later looking as if he’d gotten hit by two semis. Her face twisted as she watched him walk by, not bothered in the slightest by his harsh greeting. I mean she had let herself into his apartment. “You look like shit” she stepped over some pieces of broken glass and eyed him warily. “What the fuck happened to you and why haven’t you been at work. I’ve been dealing with your idiot staff for three days now” 

Micah grabbed the bottle of whiskey, frowning as he noticed it was his last one. He opened the lid as he moved to the couch and sat down. “The joys of owning your own business. I don’t have to be there all the time.” Micah said with a roll of his eyes before he took a mouthful of the liquor. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “My staff aren’t idiots, you just have a bad attitude.” Micah said as he looked back at Saffy before he sighed a little, he looked over his place taking in the broken glass, pot plant and dirt over the place. Micah leaned his head back again. “What do you want Saff? I’m busy.”

River rolled his eyes and reached into his pocket. When his hand emerged again it was to slap a twenty dollar bill on the bar near Micah. “I was under the impression you liked the flirtatious banter that came with me getting free drinks around here. If it’s a problem though I’m sure I could start up with another bar owner down the street or something,” he teased. “If you’re asking me to beg for it then you’re barking up the wrong tree. You want it? Then say so.” He finished another drink and turned where he sat so his entire body faced Micah.

Micah looked down at the money before he rolled his eyes. “You know your money isn’t good. With that charming smile of yours, how am I meant to say no.” Micah said as he grabbed River’s glass and filled it up again. Micah laughed softly as he slid the glass back to the male. “Do think another bartender, would enjoy this flirty banter?” Micah asked leaning on the bar, he licked his lips a little as he ran his eyes over River. “The office is free.” Micah said letting his smirk grow. “I could just show you?”

“My being a pilot is such a turn on for some people, I swear,” he said with a teasing tone, rolling his eyes playfully. “You’d think people had some kind of kink or something. There are so many better kinks to have, honestly.” Jordy had a feeling he knew exactly who Micah was referring to. It wasn’t hard to figure out that he was interested, and Jordy had seen that look before plenty of times. “Are you going to follow your own advice, then, and make a move?” His brow quirked upward, watching the bartender. 

“Maybe they are hoping you would take them to the cockpit, and showing them what pilots do.” Micah said with a shrug and smirk. “Oh yeah? Any kinks you want to share?” Micah picked up his drink and took mouthful of it before he raised an eyebrow. “I’m thinking about it, but I don’t always follow advise that is given.” Micah leaned on the bar and fiddled with his glass. “How about you? Going to take the advice?”

“I’m giving you my attention when that blonde girl over there has been staring at me the whole damn night and I could have already left with her but chose not to.” Jordan never let his eyes leave Micah’s as he spoke, knowing they’d both seen her trying her best to get Jordan’s attention and failing miserably. The little bit of french had Jordan biting his bottom lip and feeling adventurous. Micah asked what he was doing after this and without even missing a beat he said, “You, hopefully.”

Micah glanced over at the blonde women, smirking as he looked back at Jordan. “I don’t think she would keep you all that interested, she looks like she would shy the moment you take your clothes off. “ Micah said as he chuckled softly, he licked his lips a little as he noticed Jordan biting his lip. “Thought you wanted to keep your cards to your chest. I feel like you just played your whole hand.” Micah said as he finished his drink off. “Do you want to head off? Or do you want to try your chance with the blonde?”

He was an intimidating sight, she had to admit. The way he loomed over her with his arms crossed and an expression on his face that said he was put off by the very sight of her. But she kept a smile planted firmly on her lips. Today she was more determined than before. “Yes I know you don’t want to talk to me and I really do understand why” she admitted, reaching a hand up to tug gently on her ear lob “But don’t you think it might provide a bit of closure if we at least talked about our mutual grievance. I might be the only person in the world who understand how you’re feeling” it was a tentative offer, one that she was pretty sure he was going to turn down but it was worth a shot. She was lucky she had James who eliminated any lingering feelings of sorrow she had over her run in with Halo and it was what spurred her to seek Micah out. She didn’t know anything about the man but she had wondered if he had any support. If there was someone there for him to guide him through. “You can kick me out again if you like but I’ll just come back tomorrow, and the day after that and the day after that” and she meant it. “If you don’t want to talk that’s okay, I have my book. I can just sit here and read” 

Micah scoffed a little as he ran his over Brin for a moment. “And what makes you think I want to talk or have anything have to say?” Micah asked as he stood up straighter and moved down the bar a little to another customer. After getting his order and placed his drink in front of him before he moved back to Brin. He looked down at Brin’s book, trying to see if he could see what it was called. “Yes, because coming to a bar every day to read. Sounds like a great way to spend your afternoon.”

“Aw come on, all this flirting and you think I haven’t given you a reason?”  He shook his head and took a long sip of his drink before looking back up at Micah. “Oh, he speaks French?” Jordan raised a brow, his interest peaked. “If I show you all my cards now, what fun will be left for later?”  He asked the question, knowing that no matter how much he showed him now, it would never be everything.  There was much more to Jordan than this game he liked to play. “You just name the time and place and I’ll be there.”

“I flit with people most day, and I’m sure you do the same. So really, what are you giving me?” Micah asked with a shrug before he reached out for his own drink and took a mouthful of it. “Oui. Plutôt bien en fait. “ Micah said as he lowered his glass slightly. He licked his lips a little, gathering up the liquid on his lips. “We can make our own fun later. Though I’m sure you will keep a few cards close to your chest.”  Micah said as he ran his eyes over Jordan again, slow this time before he chuckled. “What are you doing after this?”

“Babe, I am the reason to stick around.” Jordan smirked, loving that even though Micah had come across a little aggressive at first, he was softening little by little. “Exactly, like in that way where I’m a little afraid you might rip my face off but also think you’re cute as hell.” He liked the sound of Micah’s laugh and wanted to keep hearing it as long as he could. “Well god, if you’re impressed at all let a guy know, damn. Making me throw all my cards out at once.” He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, messing it up just enough to be a bit tousled and sexy. “Naked huh? Well jesus, Micah, if you wanted to see me naked, all you had to do was ask.”

Micah smirked when Jordan called him babe, shaking his head a little. “You haven’t given me much reason to say Monsieur le pilote.” Micah said softly, dropping his voice slightly and switching to french. He licked his lips as he shook his head, he moved a hand and rubbed the back of his neck softly. “Sounds like the best way to describe me.” Micah said with another softly before he shrugged a little. “Maybe I like making you working for it, seeing all your cards is the best way to play the game.” Micah ran his eyes over Jordan slowly, letting his smirk grow more. “As long as I can take your clothes off.”

“Thanks,” he replied, running his tongue over his bottom lip as he looked Micah over again. “Eh, people tend to flock to me, what can I say? It must be my dazzling personality.” It was a lie, really, but Jordy wouldn’t admit that he was an asshole to just anyone. “Yeah, you could say that someone did. I’m not sure how interested he is, though. I’ll keep you posted. What about you? Any patrons stand out tonight?”

Micah took another sip of his drink before he licked his lips for a moment, gathering any whiskey that may have gathered on his lips. “Oh that personality mixed with being a pilot. Who could say no.” Micah said with a small smirk as he ran his eyes over Jordan for a moment before he looked at his glass, taking in the color of it. “Well you never know, unless you make a move. People may surprise you.” Micah said with a shrug as he took another mouthful of his drink before he shrugged a little.  “One guy caught my eye, we will have to see how it goes.”