Page 10 of Drink Up, Darling
Dariel gulped, he didn’t really know why. It was as if the question held a different meaning, but he quickly deduced it was probably because talking to Athens was something he’d never experienced before. Talking to someone like him rewired his brain a little, he’d forgotten how to act normally.
“Yeah,” Dariel sighed. “For now.”
Athens scowled. “Meaning?”
Dariel straightened up, then the honesty poured out of him. “I’m coming to the end of this little life. Time to move on soon.”
Athens pouted in concentration. “Huh,” was all he said.
“What?”
“How old are you?” Athens stepped towards Dariel.
“Twenty-four,” Dariel blurted out upon instinct. Then inwardly frowned at the blatant lie, adding, “forever.”
Athens walked even closer now, shoulders relaxed. “You look younger, honestly.”
What was that meant to mean?
“That’s a compliment, by the way,” Athens flicked his head. “I died at thirty, so I just about saved myself from an eternity of wrinkles.”
Nothing wrong with age lines. I find them quite attractive, actually.
“I’m joking, of course. Godwin suits them. I’m too punk for mortality.”
Dariel raised a brow, multiple questions firing through his head at once.
Athens flopped his arms down, tilting his whole body to the side as he laughed. “Another joke, gosh you really need to chill out.”
That offended Dariel, but he realised the other man had a point. They were both just as much in the dark as each other, and they were boththe same. He was probably the safest he’d ever be in Athens’ company—despite still not truly knowing him at all.
“Sorry, you’re right.” Dariel relaxed his shoulders.
‘No need to apologise to me.’Athens stepped over to squeeze Dariel’s shoulder again, his thumb lingering a tad longer this time, stroking the crook of Dariel’s exposed collarbone, lighting up his body once more. Then a burning sensation appeared as the tiny slip of silver from Athens’ thumb ring finally reacted with Dariel’s skin, immediately fading as theconnection broke. He almost flinched, but instead he just nodded, itching away the feeling the same moment Athens turned back around and headed further down the hall.
“We can maybe get to know each other properly now, yeah?” Athens asked as he walked further and further away, Dariel’s feet refusing to carry him anywhere.
Athens reached the door at the very end and turned the handle; a warm, amber glow illuminating his face as the room greeted him in. “Nice,” he said before disappearing into the mouth of light.
Dariel hurried to join him, turning into the room, and grinning with pleasant surprise. It was a small study space with a large sofa along the closest wall, and a desk with papers scattered all over. The carpet was worn and the chair cushions were flattened with age. It feltlived in.
Athens was already crouching over the desk, rummaging through the pages and drawers.
A floorboard creaked as Dariel joined his side. “Woah, should we be doing…”
Athens stopped him with a stern look. “He let us roam, it’s his own fault for leaving this room open. Plus, I want to know more about him, don’t you?” He looked up through his lashes in a way that cut off any words Dariel had ready to say. Another well-made point.
“What about the other room, though? He might have stuff in boxes that could…”
“This room smells nice. It wants to be used.”
Dariel huffed at the absurdity, reluctantly joining in.
They didn’t find anything interesting, unfortunately. Just dull government documents and bills with a few architectural plans buried amongst them. A handful of documents they foundthankfully proved Godwin did in fact have a gardener, a cook, and at least three cleaners, which was comforting knowledge, but also begged more questions over how secretive Godwin must have been with certain things in the house. With three practically full-time cleaners, he must have deliberately told them not to go into certain rooms. Which means he either really was hiding something, from more than the two of them, or he was just a really private man.
“I was kind of hoping to find some really incriminating documents, but I suppose he wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave that stuff out.” Athens tucked his hair over his ear as he leaned over the table, the red streaked length of his mane tracing over the wood. Dariel smelled mint again, noting once more how close the pair of them were.
Athens didn’t seem to mind, though, so Dariel didn’t move.
