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 “Huh, yeah. I guess you’ve got me there.” Beau chuckled, having to agree with her statement. There was always a sense of suspicion and mystery when it came to Rory. It was one of the many things that made her so interesting. He wondered if that was something she made happen or it was just they way she was. As she went on, he nodded and raised his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. You do whatever the hell you want. Got it.” He teased, flashing an amused grin. “That’s a good point though. You do seem to always get your way with people. It’s like your super power.” He noted, resting his face in his hands as he looked at her. “Sometimes I wonder how you do it.” 

 Beau hadn’t realized that his back and forth texts with Magnolia had any sort of undertone. Or maybe he did but was so used to that kind of banter with her that he hadn’t thought twice about it? Either way, he felt a slight pang of regret for it for both potentially risking slipping up in the serious relationship he had with someone else, and wasting her time. He was sure he hadn’t come all this way just to search for her necklace, nor had she come just to stare at his freckled face. There was obviously more to it, as there usually was, but he hoped he could drive off any mischief by acting oblivious. “Good. Things have been good.” ‘I’ve got a boyfriend now that makes me really happy and might not be too happy with me if I slip up with you,’ he wanted to add. Instead, he simply kept things vague and proceed with a, “How about you?” Leaning against the wall, he let out a light laugh as she continued. “Yeah, well, I might have tidied up a bit.” He teased. “I figured it would make things a bit easier—to find your necklace I mean.”

 Beau knew Leo had gone through a number of hardships throughout his life. Or at least, bits and pieces of it as the male had never gone into the full details of them. Which was fine and completely understandable. There were some things just better left buried and unsaid. It wasn’t the most healthy motto to live by, but it was a way to cope nevertheless. Fingers brushing back some loose strands of his boyfriend’s hair, he shook his head. “No, don’t apologize, Leo. It’s alright. Really.” He said. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t feel comfortable talking about yet. I understand that opening up isn’t an easy thing to do, so I won’t pressure you.” He insisted, still not really cognizant of their surrounds until his boyfriend pulled away slightly. “That’s fine. It really is. We don’t have to think about anything else apart from this moment.” He replied, offering a reassuring smile. “I just want us to enjoy the night. Have some fun, you know?” 

 “Redo it?” Beau repeated, brows furrowed in intrigue as she continued. This would surely be the start of their very own self made disaster. And yet, he was too interested to steer away from it. “Alright then. Two each.” He agreed with a little tap to the counter. The swimmer never turned down alcohol, ever. Especially, not tequila. “Hmm, you hesitated there for a second. Sounds suspicious.” He teased with an accusatory finger. “I’m doing good. Just urging to get a little buzzed as you might have guessed.” He answered. He then proceed to take another shot glass into his hands when she did, chiming out a “salud” in near unison before downing two more shots in a row as they had agreed. Clearing his throat once the burning liquid made its way down his throat, he looked to her curiously. “Are you usually aloud to drink on the job like that?” 

 Beau swore he had never felt more happy or at ease than that very moment. Those powerful three words that were previously too scary to hear or say now made him feel as if everything was right in the world. Like everything was going to fall into place from now on just because Leo cared about him and so forth. He smiled as his boyfriend’s little touches of affection, completely incognizant of their setting or the many people around them. “Just checking.” He hummed against the man’s lips, pulling him a little closer to his body. When he continued on, he pulled away slightly to look upon him once more as if needing to read his expression. “It’s alright. I get it.” He said. Beau knew Leo had his reasons for not always being completely open with him. Hell, he knew better than anyone how hard that could be. There were still a lot of things he had yet to detail as well. Thus, he would’ve been quite the hypocrite to be bothered by it. “You don’t have to apologize about that—or feel like you owe me any explanations. I’ll still be here if or when you’re ready to talk.” 

 “Yeah...it’s me. In the flesh.” Beau replied with a nod, noting the drop in her tone. This is awkward, he thought. Then again, how could it not be all considering. They were a mess of a pair, Rory and Beau. Anyone could see that. Wherever either of them went trouble was sure to follow. But together, they were pure disaster. The two were the worst of influences on each other, and yet, it was never long before their paths crossed. “It has been a while, hasn’t it?” But maybe not long enough as far as either of them were concerned. Once the shots were being pushed his way, he flashed the closest thing to a smile that he could muster before downing two shots in a row like his life depended on it. “Oh, I guess I should’ve said salud first, huh?” He laughed, trying to kill a bit of the tension present. “How’ve you been?” 

Beau had gone through a fairly exhausting day. Everything seemed to be going the opposite of how he was hoping it would, resulting in quite the ill mood from him thus far. It seemed that he just couldn’t catch a break, the moment he stepped into his favorite restaurant to find it packed to the brim. Letting out a sigh of frustration, he almost turned on his heel to find somewhere else to eat until, like a gift from the gods themselves, an open seat appeared in the corner of his eye. Without hesitation, he rushed towards the seat, hand reaching towards it only for it to meet someone else’s instead. “Yeah, well, that’s unfortunate for you because I’ve already called this spot, dude.” Beau replied, gripping the seat tightly with a hand and gesturing towards the male dismissively with the other. “You’ll have to scavenge for another. Good luck.” 

 “Why would I bring a drugged flask?” Beau questioned her, a hint of genuine innocence in his tone for once. It had gone completely over his head that she might’ve thought him to be some creep, and maybe that was for the best. As she gave his drink of choice a try, he cocked his head expectantly. “It’s considered ‘gold’ because of the color and how it’s made.” He explained, quite surprised that she wasn’t all that impressed by it. Maybe she just had a more refined taste? While she went on, a light chuckle left his lips and he gave her a knowing nod. “Ah, I see. So you’re saying you know how to play up the charm on them, right? I’d take advantage of that all the time if I were you.” 

“Three shots of your finest gold tequila, por favor.” Beau answered in a chime, the blaring music in the background keeping him from recognizing the familiar voice right away. The man was in a particularly good mood tonight. So much so, that he’d arrived for some ‘celebratory’ drinks without having anything in particular to actually celebrate at all. Then again, the Spaniard never really did need much of a reason to drink the night away in the first place anyways. Things had been going well for him lately—maybe even a bit too well. Usually something made all of the good things goings for him come crashing down by now, and the moment he turned his head to face the bartender he knew things weren’t far from becoming complicated. “Oh, hey Rory.” He awkwardly greeted. “I...uh...wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.” 

Beau really did want Leo to think more highly of himself and wanted him to know how he viewed him through his eyes with what he had said. By doing so, he admittedly expected some sort of bashfulness or affection from the male as a result. They were the cute reactions Beau adored. What he wasn’t expecting, was the ‘I love you’ that left his lips instead. At first, he smiled, slipping out a cocky little “I know,” in response. But as the seconds passed, the seriousness of Leo’s words sunk in. “Oh...” The athlete initially trailed, completely caught off guard and unsure for what to say. This wasn’t the first time his boyfriend had told him that he loved him, but this was certainly the first time those three words had been uttered with such weight behind them. Honestly, if it had been anyone else saying such a thing to him he would’ve bolted by now, but he couldn’t do that to Leo. Still at a loss for words, but not wanting the other to think he was rejecting him, Beau pressed his lips to his boyfriend’s once more, fingers tangling in his hair. “I, uh, I love you too.” He admitted when he finally pulled away. “It feels weird saying it out loud, but...I mean it.” 

 “I bet he’d like that, and be pretty good at it too.” Beau mused, picturing the possibility in his head. “Even with all those potential groupies though, I highly doubt he’d have eyes for anyone but you, hermano. Your jealousy would be in vain.” He assured, giving his brother’s shoulder a light squeeze. Beau was nothing if not observant, and he could tell how crazy Arlo was about Florian just by the mere glimmer in his eyes when the latter was mentioned. He didn’t see those sentiments changing anytime soon. At the mention of Leo, he smiles fondly, a soft chuckle escaping him. “I guess you’ve got me there.” He admitted, before taking another swig of champagne. Then, he looks back at his brig brother, eyes narrowing in faux seriousness while he waved an accusatory finger at him. “But why do I get the feeling you’re going to start giving him ideas now, hmm?” 

 “Alright, alright. Fair enough.” Beau replied, deciding to give Leo the benefit of the doubt here. He knew this sort of thing was out of the latter’s element. While he understood and respected the man’s work ethic and different way of going about his life, that didn’t mean that Beau didn’t worry about him sometimes. Especially after his accident. He truly cared about the male, more than he ever could have imagined. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d become this attached to anyone, or the last time he’d gone out of his way so much either. Leo was special in that sense, he supposed. He made him feel things he never thought possible. He made him want to be a better person. “I don’t know?” He shrugged. “Anything’s possible.” He mused, features forming into a frown as his boyfriend continued. “Why not? And says who?” He questioned, obviously strongly disagreeing with his words. It always bothered him when Leo seemed to talk himself down because in his eyes the man was perfect. Pulling away slightly, he looked into his eyes with sincerity. “You’re amazing, Leo. You’re smart, and kind, and fucking handsome as hell.” He began, brushing a thumb along his cheek. “People like you are too bright to be hidden in anyone’s shadow.” 

 “Are you sure?” Beau questioned, a brow raising in surprise. And yet, he held his flask out towards her again in a polite offer. “What happened to ‘stranger danger,’ hmm?” He teased her with a little laugh, which picked up as she continued. “Ah, I see. So if I take you up to the bar with me and point at you like newfound gold, will they give me the goods?” He asked, playfulness in his tone. “Or is there more to your magic?” 

 “Well it sounds like you spent the evening the right way; with drinks.” Beau teased, admittedly somewhat amused by his friend’s tale of nostalgia. Then, after nodding along as the other continued, he raised a brow at the way the male turned on his heel to face him. He assumed some sort of mischief was brewing in the other and braced for it expectantly. “Thank you, thank you. As I always do.” He playfully replied, chuckling at the question that followed. “Ah, I see. You were only buttering me up so I’d spill all my dirty little details for tonight, huh?” The Spaniard tantalized. “But if you must know, I am in fact here with someone.” He revealed in quite the nonchalant manner. “Leo’s my date tonight.” 

“I have actually.” Beau replies with a nod. He didn’t know much about fashion, but he could still agree that Florian had done a great job styling Arlo. “You’ve got him looking all dapper in that fuschia suit. Like...a magazine model and what not.” He adds, trying to act like he actually had some clue of what he was talking about. Then a laugh escapes him and he shakes his head. “Everyone’s into crowns, my dear brother.” He begins, pausing to take a sip of his drink. “But honestly, none of that is my style either. I mean, could you imagine me taking part in a cliché slow dance?” He scoffs at the thought. “No way.”