who is in control?

“Seriously, my birthday is no big deal. I’ve never really done much for my birthday, so it doesn’t really matter much to me.”

“You’re just saying this so you don’t have to party with me,” Julia whined, pouting slightly. “It’s just one night.”

Lorcan pouted and grabbed her by the waist gently to pull her against him, “That’s no fun,” He said and tried to act sad but he knew she could see the amusement in his expression, “I’m glad,” He said and then turned to the stove as she did, “Yeah, I just need to serve it. There’s a bottle of champagne in the fridge. Do you wanna grab it and pour us drinks in the other room while I do that.”

She poked his nose gently, teasingly, and leaned up to kiss him. “I’ll make it worth the wait, I promise,” she told him, stepping away so that she could still fight the urge to keep her hands off him. “’Course,” she answered, smiling as she turned and made herself useful. She grabbed the bottle from the fridge and made her way to the other room, pouring each of their glasses a little over halfway before placing the bottle to the side. Sitting down in one of the chairs Lorcan provided, Julia took a deep breath and laid out a napkin across her lap. 

“An hour ago?” The news caused him to wake up a little bit more, his eyes widening. “Merlin, Jules. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not going to pick out your clothes or make you breakfast, so I suggest you get up and start getting ready.” She was only a little annoyed. Okay, she was a lot annoyed, but she assumed he had a good reason. At least, she hoped. 

Lorcan laughed, “Yeah, it would be,” He agreed, “A surprise? For me? What is it?” He asked, checking on the food that was still on the stove. It was basically done but he had left it on low heat so it didn’t go cold before she arrived. He wanted to make sure he didn’t burn any of it.

“Would it be a surprise if I told you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at him with a wicked glint in her eye. She put the flowers in the vase and placed it on the counter, smiling at the sight. “I love them.” She turned to him and leaned up on her toes slightly, kissing him right on the mouth. “Food ready?” she asked, turning to the stove. 

“You’ve been dating me for well over a year so please tell me you’re not just figuring that out now,” Lorcan teased. And to prove her point further, his response to her comment on the flowers was, “And I love you in case you didn’t know,” He followed her into the kitchen, “Your favorites of course. What else would I make for a romantic dinner?”

“This relationship would be quite awkward if you didn’t,” she teased back at him, turning her head to wink at him to know that she was joking. She grabbed a vase from one of the cabinets and started filling it with water. Turning to grab some scissors and start cutting off the ends. Julia glanced at Lorcan with a smirk on her face. “You’re full of surprises. Just know I have one for you tonight,” she purred lightly. 

Gabe was awoken suddenly by something being thrown at him. “Was that really necessarily?” he groaned groggily, rubbing at his tired eyes.

“We had plans an hour ago,” she said, only slightly annoyed she was stood up. “Get the hell up.” 

“I did,” Lorcan said, “Elias helped me do all the shopping but I did the setting up and the cooking. I thought that might be more romantic than a restaurant” He held out the bouquet to her, “These are for you.”

“Remind me to thank him later,” she said, her voice teasing. She looked down at the bouquet he handed her, biting her lip as she looked between the grouping of flowers and her boyfriend. “You’re so cheesy,” she said, her voice soft. Her expression softened and she smiled. “They’re beautiful. I love them.” Turning toward the kitchen to grab a vase, she looked at the table and back to Lorcan. “What did you make?” she asked. 

Lorcan had set up the table with candles and rose petals and their nicest plates. With the two of them working on Valentine’s day and unable to get out of it, they had to reschedule. He told her that he’d made reservations at a restaurant but instead, he got out of his internship early and made dinner for her. When the door opened, he picked up the roses he’d bought earlier and headed in that direction, “Hey babe, happy Valentine’s day,” He said, walking up to her to kiss her.

@juliakominek

Julia had been looking forward to her date with Lorcan all day. Her internship was fun, but it was pressing, and it definitely took a toll on her during the hours that she was at the Ministry. When she walked through the door to their place, she had expected to start to get ready for that night. She didn’t expect her boyfriend to be there, the apartment set up romantically and the smell of whatever he was making wafting through the small space. Smirking lightly, she raised an eyebrow as she kissed him back. “Did you do all this?” she asked, looking around him as she wrapped an arm around his waist. “Or did you rope Elias into it?” 

“If you truly think that was the thing that was odd then clearly you’re not here enough to know that me calling customers idiots is a common occurrence.” Kristoff commented, pouring a drink before handing it to one of his employee’s to take to a table nearby. “Though I do have the manners to do it in another language and hope they don’t understand.” 

“And they keep coming back? They must be idiots,” Julia laughed, shaking her head as she placed her drink back on the table in front of her. She propped her head up in her hand, placing her chin in her palm. “Does that make you better or more of an asshole? I’m not that sure.” 

“If you’re not going to order anything then leave, you’re taking up seats that paying customers will use.” Kristoff all but barked at a customer who seemed to storm out of the establishment. “Blodige idioter.” He mumbled under his breath, feeling a pair of eyes on him. “Before you even open your mouth I feel inclined to tell you that I’m fine.”

Julia brought her drink up to her lips, shaking her head as she sipped. “It definitely seems like it,” she nodded, though her expression revealed that she knew that he was anything but. “Because most people call all their customers idiots.” 

Jace let out a small laugh. “Update you on all things? I don’t really have much going on,” he replied, vaguely.

“Don’t lie to me,” Julia warned, narrowing her eyes in his direction. She sat down beside him, placing her chin in the palm of her hand. “I know how to get answers out of people who won’t give them to me,” she teased, but her expression remained serious. 

Aiden looked to the other when she jumped up onto the stool, raising an eyebrow in signal for her to go on as to why this was weird. “Well for one, I’m kind of glad that you didn’t bring Lorcan with you, because that would have been really awkward and you know I make terrible jokes in those kinds of situations.” Aiden chuckled, “But no, I don’t think this is weird. We got along when we dated, the break up was amicable, who’s to say that we can’t hang out now?” Because he enjoyed the others company and he knew that there was never going to be anything more that was going to happen and he was one hundred percent fine with that. “Do you think it’s weird?”

“Why not? You don’t want to hang out with your ex and her new boyfriend? I can’t see why that wouldn’t be exactly what you wanted to do, most days,” Julia laughed softly with him, shaking her head as she took a sip out of her pint glass. She took a moment and placed it down on the bar counter. “No, I like this. It’s nice to get out of the house a time or two, and not be at work.” 

“Is this weird?” she asked, smirking slightly as she hopped up on the bar stool beside him at the pub counter. “You know, meeting each other out for a pint with no indication of going anywhere after the fact? I almost brought Lorcan along to make it even more awkward.” Julia was teasing, of course, but only just so. Despite the fact they had broken up ages ago, it still felt weird to be around Aiden at times. 

“I just feel like we haven’t seen each other at all,” she commented, pouting slightly as she turned with a glass of cider in her hand. Bringing her glass up to her lips, she took a sip, sighing happily. “You need to update me on all things Jace related.”