ʙ ʀ ɪ ᴏ s ᴏ

"Yes, you’re right; I would prefer to walk. Allons-y, Tsukitachi." Hirato swept out his arm in front of him in a mock bow as he smiled at his friend. Mm, despite them not having talked for years Tsukitachi still managed to keep his preferences in mind. It was rather impressive actually; this was the man who would get sidetracked by the slightest thing and who promptly forgot everything he had learned after term ended. Still, the red head had always been a people person… as his days in Maloise showed.

A quiet chuckled fell from his lips as he recalled their college days together: him exasperated and Tsuki grinning sheepishly as he yet again asked to copy his notes for the few lectures they shared. “Ah, mon ami, we haven’t changed that much have we?” Hirato mused aloud and cast a quick glance at his companion as they walked towards town breaking the silence that had blanketed them.

"Even though it’s been ten years—ten years mon Dieu—since we were students we’re still…” he waved his hand expressively trying to convey exactly what he meant, “us.” 

Ten years. Had it really been that long already? It certainly didn't feel that way. And it certainly didn't feel like years since the two of them had gone out together like this. They had fallen so easily into their old routine, it was almost as though they were nineteen years old and bickering all over again. Tsuki smiled nostalgically at the thought. But alas, they were not nineteen anymore and this was likely to be the last time they spent together for another few years - they were both very busy men, after all; Hirato more so than him.

He chuckled and cocked his head to the side as he wrapped the scarf around himself in preparation for the cool wind outside. A ding announced the arrival of the lift. Once the doors had closed and the ever-familiar whirr of machinery filled the air did he open his mouth to reply. “Perhaps it’s a mix of both things? After all, you do say wine makes everything better. Maybe this wine—since it’s so exquisite—will make this evening… extra pleasurable.” Hirato smirked softly as he raised an eyebrow and locked eyes with Tsuki just long enough to make him fidget before breaking off the contact and stepping out of the lift.

The two of them stepped into the lift in silence and it wasn't until it had started to move that Hirato spoke again, drawing Tsuki's gaze to his face. His words, however, had him turning his face quickly away again to hide the dark blush that undoubtedly coloured his cheeks. Extra pleasurable. The way he had spoken those words, combined with the soft little smirk on his lips had sent Tsuki's knees weak and he had to grip the lift's handrail tightly in an attempt to remain standing and looking vaguely normal. Maldita este hombre. He had to know exactly what he was doing.

“Fountain district? My, my, you certainly haven’t spared any expenses on me.” Voice dry and one eyebrow quirked, he cast a glance over at the excited man who seemed to be in the process of daydreaming about their divine wine. Of course. Hirato smiled fondly for a moment before replacing it with his usual enigmatic smirk as he moved towards the front door and pushed it open once more. “Surely you want to place that bottle in the fridge before we go… wouldn’t want that wine to spoil, n’est pas?” he asked pointing at the barely touched bottle.

“I promise I won’t run away,” Hirato teased and threw in a wink for good measure as he leaned against the open door. “Go on, Tsukitachi. You will regret it otherwise.”

He ignored the wine glass, leaving it where it was despite the fact that it was empty, and moved back to stand beside his friend again. "All ready," he said brightly, again gesturing for Hirato to lead the way out the door. "If we leave now it will be the first time I've ever been on time for a reservation in my life." With a little chuckle, Tsuki followed his friend out the door, fumbling with his keys for a moment in an effort to lock the door and finally tugging his jacket over his shoulders. "I'm not sure what I'm more excited for this evening - a night in your company or the wine. You understand, of course."

Gracefully he accepted Tsuki’s compliment with a nod of his head as he followed his retreating back to the other’s bedroom where he was hard pressed to find a bit of floor that wasn’t covered in clothing. “Do you have any clothing in your wardrobe?” he wondered aloud, casting a sly eye at his friend as he poked an upturned slipper with his foot. “Whether or not the colour matches is of no consequence to me, but yes, I am wearing a purple shirt tonight. Am I that predictable, hm?” Picking the darker of the two, he made his way back into the chaos ridden living space and once more picked up the bottle of red. “Aren’t you starting a bit early? And without me,” he teased.

Setting it down softly, he turned to examine Tsuki once more though the red almost made his eyes water. He had to admit, he did look good; his eyes positively glowed as they complemented his shirt and hair perfectly. “So… where exactly are you taking me? I’m guessing somewhere that has a good and varied wine selection…” Hirato trailed off with a small smile, his eyes conveying his amusement. They both knew that the elder of them had a certain fondness for a good bottle of wine—and alcohol in general.

Draining half of his wine in one long sip, Tsuki raised an eyebrow at Hirato's comment. "It's five o' clock somewhere in the world, mi amigo. It's never to early to start." His love of alcohol, wine in particular, was well known by those close to him, in particular Hirato, who'd had to deal with him intoxicated on many occasions. The teasing note in the man's voice did not go unnoticed and Tsuki cocked an eyebrow with a smirk. "You're welcome to have some if you're that parched for it." He pushed away from the table, moving to stand beside him, offering the man his glass. "Though I would have thought you'd prefer to wait and have some with your meal."

Tonight was the night he and Tsuki finally agreed on to have a quiet dinner to catch up on… everything. Of course, it hadn’t been easy to find a day that both suited them since they were both relatively busy—Hirato more so with lesson planning and grading. On more than one occasion had he checked his mobile after a lesson and seen Messages (16),all from Tsukitachi of course asking him when he was free and then crying about why he wasn’t answering his texts. A rueful smile graced his lips as he recalled the exasperation he felt… but there was a certain fondness within it that only Tsukitachi brought out.

Fifteen minutes later he was fully dressed in black skinny jeans (a purchase he rarely used), a dark lavender button up shirt that he tucked into his trousers (top button undone of course), and two leather bracelets with silver details upon his left wrist. One last trip to the bathroom to spray on a bit of cologne and he was ready to leave. Swiftly—he was very conscious of the time—Hirato gathered his possessions, did a last mental check to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything vital before grabbing his dark grey trench coat and heading out of his apartment.

Golden rays of a setting sun elongated the shadows around him as he walked swiftly towards the River District where Tsukitachi lived. There was a slight chill in the air that cause him to turn up the collar of his coat. Hirato made a mental note to ask Tsuki if he had a spare scarf laying about once he had arrived; he did so hate having a cold neck. Presently he arrived at the apartment building the red head was living in (unless he was mistaken, in which case it would be quite embarrassing), grateful to enter the warmth. “Fifth floor, was it?” he muttered to himself as he pressed the cold steel button, doors shutting with a soft thud.

Oh mierda. He smelled... amazing, as always. Tsuki didn't know why he was noticing it more tonight than he had done the last time they'd spoken but it was both overpowering and extremely distracting. Shaking his head slightly as though to clear it, he set down his wine glass on the table beside the door that typically housed his keys and followed Hirato further into his apartment. "Ah, gracias," a wide grin graced his his lips as he posed, turning on the spot to show himself off from various angles. "I've always thought it was the colour that suited me best. Perhaps because of my hair." his smile turned impish. "And you yourself look dashing as ever."

With a little wave of the hand to gesture that Hirato should follow, Tsuki led him over to his bedroom door. "Of course you can. I trust you'll want one to match your shirt?" he asked, smile ever present as he halting him in the doorway and proceeding alone through the mess of clothing on his floor. Tsukitachi made no attempt to apologize for this - he knew Hirato had probably expected nothing less. He had spent enough time in Tsuki's college apartment to know that he had a tendency to leave things lying all over the place and his distaste for having to clean up after himself. Having grown up with a doting Spanish mother, it was never something he'd had to do as a child and had never learned to do as an adult.