Eliot

[not_a_dove]

Well, that job had gone to shit fast, but it was done. And at least Williams had brought him back his stash from her flat, everything packed away neatly in a guitar case that he was currently hauling back to the safe house Jack was letting him use until he was sure his flat was clear.

Cigarette dangling from his lips, his hair looked wild and he kept finding tiny bits of tempered glass in his pocket. "For fucks sake," he muttered, dusting another bit off him.

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[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot had just gotten off of work at Nyx's bar, and was heading home, walking quickly with his hands in his coat pockets since it was pretty cold.

"... Sam?" Eliot spotted him just a few feet away when he turned a corner. Was that a guitar case?

[not_a_dove]

Fuck.

"Eliot," Sam smiled. "Didn't expect to see you here. ...I'm heading to a friend's for the night. My place has a bloody ant infestation," he said, before realizing he probably didn't need to explain that part. Williams was right, he was a shit liar.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh ah, one of the places I work is just down there," Eliot said. "I'm on my way home." Pause. "Ants? That's... unpleasant."

[not_a_dove]

"You have no idea," Sam replied. "I was, um, I was going to text you the other day, but it's been a strange week."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"That's all right," Eliot said with a little smile. "I was going to wait another day or two... didn't want to seem to eager. Everything okay?"

[not_a_dove]

No, actually, someone broke into my flat to try and kill me, and I keep running into ghosts from my past.

"Yeah, no, fine- Just work," he lied, pushing his hair back and finishing his cigarette. "I just need to drop this off, but do you want to grab dinner?"

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Sure," said Eliot, pleased. "So you're a musician then?"

[not_a_dove]

"Hmm?" Sam asked, looking puzzled, then remembering the case. "Oh, um- It's not mine. I just picked it up for my friend. ...The one I'm staying with. It was getting tuned or something," he lied, doing his best not to look too twitchy as he spoke.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Ah, got it," Eliot said. It was a little strange, but... that would be such a weird thing to lie about, why on earth would he? "Well I'm happy to follow along. I'm pretty hungry actually."

[not_a_dove]

"Same, I'm starving," Sam admitted, leading the way to the safehouse and hoping Jack wasn't about. There was no way Jack didn't slyly try and blow his cover for a laugh.

Thankfully the place was empty when he got there, Jack must have still been at work- Not that Sam was sure what work even was for the other man. He slid the case inside, then locked up behind him.

"How do you feel about hot pot?" he asked Eliot.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Love it," said Eliot. Then added, "It's good you have someone to stay with."

[not_a_dove]

"Yeah. ...Yeah, Jack's um-"

Sam hesitated, but he was a shit liar, and honestly, after a while the lies would only get hard to keep track of.

"We used to have a thing. I'd call it dating, but- I don't know if that's what it was. It was physical- And possibly a bit psychological. Like warfare or something. I'm not sure who was terrorizing who though. ...He's been really generous though, he didn't have to take me in."

There. Honesty.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot looked a little surprise. "Oh. Well. It's nice you're still friends." He quirked a smile. "Most of my complicated exes are on the other side of the ocean."

[not_a_dove]

"Alright, no need to brag," Sam laughed.

[eliot_thespectacular]

Eliot chuckled. "It ah, really is nice to see you again," he said. "I had a lot of fun the other night."

[not_a_dove]

"Me too," Sam smiled. Though he felt quite selfish about it. Eliot was so lovely and normal, and being with him let him pretend he was normal for a while. Though deep down he knew all he was doing was dragging the other man into danger.

"Feel bad I'm just dragging you out for a meal again- I'm not usually the one planning dates to be honest."

Michael had always done that part. Finding restaurants or shows to go see. He was the art and culture in the relationship, Sam was just... Sam.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"With a little notice I could probably do better," Eliot said. "But right now, I really am starving, and hot pot sounds great. We can always do something after... movie? Dancing? Bar? The Eye will probably be closed by then...."

[not_a_dove]

"I haven't been clubbing in ages," Sam admitted. "I used to go all the time."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Well if you're interested I know a place," Eliot said. "The owner is a friend a friend so I can usually get in."

[not_a_dove]

"I'm too old for the clubs now," Sam laughed softly. "No one wants to see me there. I bet they all let you right in though," he smiled.

[eliot_thespectacular]

"Oh please," Eliot snorted. "You're not old. Though I know what it's like to feel older than you are."

He nudged Sam's side with his shoulder. "Also if I saw you at a club I'd hit on you."

[not_a_dove]

"You're sweet," Sam laughed, bumping him back. Sam knew he was old though, at least in his line of work.

The restaurant was around the next corner, and he held the door for Eliot before following him inside.

[eliot_thespectacular]

When they got to a table, Eliot took off his coat and draped it over the back of his chair. He was dressed more typically tonight, a midnight blue vest with a lighter blue shirt and a gold tie, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

"We were slammed tonight," he said. "I think you were right about the busy time of year."

[not_a_dove]

Sam shrugged off his well-worn green suede bomber jacket, draping it over the back of his chair. Beneath he was wearing all black, as he often did.

"Nothing brings out alcoholism like the holidays," he said, sitting down. "What kind of soup base do you prefer? Their spicy base is good, but so is their vegetable..."

[eliot_thespectacular]

"I'm a fan of spicy," Eliot said. "And I'm pretty open on protein... well. No octopus. I just can't eat it anymore, after finding out how smart they are."