Angel's POV
The door burst open.
And in that split second, Angel's mind raced with a thousand thoughts.
'Tony.'
He said his name was Tony.
Back at the bar—the first time they met—Tony had handled himself just fine when he fought them.
But that might've been a fluke.
There were only two suits then.
Now there were three..
And not only that!
This place was swarming with them..
Luchese men.
Eyes.
They are everywhere.
There was no way out.
Guns, too.
He had seen it.
The suits did not fail to have their shiny guns be seen by Angel.
A simple threat.
And it proved to be very effective.
'He said he was a 'mafia'... for now.'
But what does that even mean?
'And how true are his words?'
Angel bit his lips.
Hard.
'And these suits are now more strict than the ones who kept an eye on me back home before I ran. Will they hurt him? Tony? Yes of course, I think they will.'
He had seen it.
That time, one month ago, when he went down from Tony's hotel after their one night stand—and waved for a taxi—the suits had finally caught on him.
And they hurt the cab driver.
What was the driver's sin?
The driver was innocent!
Angel didn't even know the old man.
He was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
And Angel knew, the suits did that, for him to be afraid to run away again.
Threats after threats.
But they can't hurt Angel.
He was their precious gift to the Luchese Don.
They said his face is too pretty to hurt, and his skin—to bruise.
Paid for a debt and for a new loan.
He couldn't help but pity himself.
'Or worse, they might kill Tony!'
And this time, Angel now knew him.
Knew his name.
Minutes ago.
He's not a stranger anymore.
Unlike the cabbie.
'I can't have that in my conscience.'
Again.
The faucet dripped.
One bead after another.
Like a clock ticking down.
Slowly.
Like time had stopped.
'So, what do I do now?'
He eyed Tony.
Tony who looked like he was undressing Angel.
His posture was relaxed.
Even though the door had just burst open!
They have to move fast!
But Angel felt burned instead.
His face started to get red.
'Because of those eyes that are looking at me!'
And remembering some snippets of that night.
'It's hot.'
Angel's throat suddenly went dry.
'I was surprised to see him here.. I knew it was him, the moment I saw his silver eyes behind his mask.'
Angel darted his eyes behind Tony.
Refusing to look at his devouring eyes.
'And his aura. His gait. His build..'
Angel's hand automatically went behind him, gripping the sink.
'I knew he would follow me here in the restroom.. I eyed him earlier. And this man was very quick to catch on.'
He can feel his knees starting to get weak like jelly.
'I knew that.. But what do I really want? Why did I even bother? Is it because I want to explain why I ran away that morning? Say sorry for taking his wallet and trying to use his money?'
His hands clenched the sink tighter.
His eyes involuntarily come back to Tony's face.
Like, it can't seem to stay away.
Now, Angel stood face to face with Tony.
The man in his first one night stand.
The one he could not forget even though it's been a month since then.
'Why can't I even forget him? Because he was my first? And he was a man? Something I never considered to be my first experience? I know I'm not gay, I've never been attracted to the same sex ever. I even had girlfriends before although I never slept with them, only kisses.'
His knuckles turned white.
HIs eyes locked on Tony.
And really looked.
'Or maybe it wasn't about being gay or straight anymore. Maybe it was just him that I'm feeling like this. Maybe it was just Tony.'
Three buttons are undone.
Shirt wrinkled slightly.
His hair was wild—like his personality.
Handsome.
Masculine..
Dangerous.
Attractive.
And yes.
'I think I'm attracted. I'm not sure.'
His breathing hitched.
'I don't want to lie to myself.'
But this isn't the right way and the right time to realize his penchant for danger.
'What do I want with him?'
He asked from the bottom of his heart.
'Am I hoping that he came here to save me?'
Wake up!
This is the real world.
This isn't some romance drama on TV!
'I might get him killed. Worst of all, we are both killed.'
But thinking about how later, that perverted Don of Luchese would touch him?
Angel swallowed a bile.
He felt like vomiting the champagne.
The only one he had consumed since last night.
The music from the masquerade party echoed through the restroom walls, too slow and too distant—like its mocking.
Then Angel's eyes sharpened.
In his peripheral vision, he caught movements—shadows sliding in through the now open door.
The suits are now coming in.
'I don't have a choice.'
He decided.
And he moved.
The time seems to have resumed.
Fast.
Angel threw a punch to Tony's gut.
Tony folded with a grunt, doubling over.
A convincing wheeze tumbling from his lips as he slumped forward.
One hand instinctively grabbing Angel's arms for balance.
Tony put his body's weight to Angel.
But Angel did not flinch.
"Fucking drunk," he snapped, loud enough for the words to bounce on the entire restroom.
The suits heard it.
"Followed me in. Tried to throw up on my shoes!"
He made a show of irritation.
Scowling.
Exaggerated a little.
The guards paused on their steps.
Taking the surroundings and what's happening.
"He bumped into me on my way out. I'm trying to stand him up on his own before he drowns me in his vomit." Angel added, tone clipped.
They bought it.
He could see it in their faces—the flicker of disgust.
The disinterest.
It's unmistakable.
Drunks were beneath their time.
An annoying presence.
Just another party mess.
Not a threat.
Just trash to be cleared.
One of the suits spoke into his radio, calling something off.
Angel felt a tight knot in his chest loosen—just slightly..
'I think I just avoided something big. Something bloody.'
Before one of them could step in to retrieve him, Angel leaned down fast.
And tried to straighten Tony's body.
Their hot breath mixed with each other.
Tony's eyes were serious, not a flicker of the hurt he was acting.
"What do you say?" Angel said loudly, sharply.
"You were saying sorry now? Fucking drunkard!"
He gripped Tony's collar.
Trying to stand him straight.
Even though Tony is taller.
Like a kitten bullying a dog.
Angel turned around and switched their position.
His back on the suits.
Collaring Tony.
He smacked Tony's back to the mirror, avoiding the sink.
An act.
And for a brief moment, he saw his own reflection—his furious face with mismatched feelings in his eyes, and Tony's dark hair and broad back.
Tony's scent—a mix of clean sweat, alcohol and something 'his'—hit Angel hard.
Making Angel falter if only for a second.
And then, he whispered, lips barely moving:
"Room 808. Midnight."
Their eyes met again—just for a breath.
Something glinted in Tony's eyes.
Amusement?
Proud?
'He's still crazy. And I'm crazy for liking him.'
Then Angel pulled back and slapped Tony's face.
Hard.
Tony's face jerked sideways.
Expression did not crack.
But Tony faked his crying.
"Fucking drunk." Angel muttered coldly.
Distant.
And with that, he stepped away from Tony.
Angel straightened his white suit jacket.
Then he walked out without looking back.
But his heart—
It was thundering.
**
AN//
Thank you Audranasa for the powerstones!
To this short story and my novel (LOVE AND HONOR: The Mad Emperor (BL))!
This chapter is for you!
(Heart-heart)