Who: Rivalen Beau & Drake Liu What: Drake and the winning chocobo's feather part ii Where: The stables When: Day 3 of the FF [backdated] Rating: PG-13 for Riv Status: Complete!
He hadn’t really expected Rivalen Beau to win, but when the samurai and his chocobo crossed the finish line, Drake was a little relieved. Last year’s winner - Altair - had spent the entire time Drake practically grilling him. Riv wouldn’t do that. Probably. Besides, he knew Riv - he hadn’t known Altair at the time.
Still, there was a sense of deja vu when he rounded the corner towards the stables. Riv was there, his big yellow bird next to him. “Riv,” Drake called out, grinning, “good race.”
Rivalen loved Kwee, that much was obvious to anyone who saw the man with the chocobo, cooing endearment and handing him treats after the race. As a meticulous man, Rivalen checked his chocobo himself for injuries or any sign of trouble, Kwee was young but he wouldn’t be careless.
He was busy now brushing the feathers clean of dust and dirt from the track. “Drake, you didn’t bring me flowers, I’m crushed.”
Drake shrugged. “I was going to offer to take you to dinner, maybe a moonlit hoverbike ride. But if you just want flowers…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Clearly my romance skills need work.” For a minute, he watched Riv brushing his chocobo. Drake still didn’t understand the appeal of the birds - they smelled, were annoying and were probably the most uncomfortable way to travel. Some people swore by them.
Drake swore at them.
“Anyway,” he said after a minute, “I was wondering if I could get a feather for the scavenger hunt.”
Drake better not share those thoughts about chocobos in front of Rivalen, he swore by Kwee after all. Sensing a non-chocobo lover in the room, Kwee gave a loud ‘wark wark’ and pressed his beak against Rivalen’s side asking for more treats. “Hey, there, you’re going to get sick from so many treats.” But Rivalen still gave Kwee another treat.
“Oh right.” He looked over at Drake considering, “You know a lot of people are going to be asking for that, and I can’t have anyone trying to pull them off my Kwee.” In fact, if Rivalen could have it his way, no one would get any feathers from his chocobo, but he figured he could be a big sport and part with the first ten - for a price of course.
“How badly do you want this feather, Drake?”
Drake was instantly wary. “Me? Not all that badly. Ari? Wants to win the scavenger hunt. I come back without the feather, I’ll be in big trouble.” Probably. Probably Ari would just mock him until the end of eternity about how chicken he was to go along with whatever Riv was thinking of in that pretty head of his.
“Oh yes, you’re between a sword and a hard place.” He stroked Kwee’s neck lovingly, gloved fingers still busy brushing off tangled bits of dirt in the feathers. “I’m willing to part with a feather, but not for free.” It was a shame that he couldn’t get something more substantial from this than a bit of fun.
“And don’t bother to offer gil, I just won a lot of it.”
Great, Drake thought, trying to figure out something he could offer to Riv that the other man would actually want. As tempting as it was to say forget it and leave, he stood there, hands in his pockets, thinking. “Well,” he said finally. “What do you want?”
Rivalen laughed, basking in the dilemma Drake was in (if he only knew that this was enough payment) but he instead shrugged, “Oh, I could ask for a lot of things, since you’re fearing Ari’s wrath and all.” The samurai looked as if he were considering something, mainly he was just being an asshole and trying to figure out what would make Drake most uncomfortable to give.
“Make an offer, I’m all ears.”
The flat look Drake gave him told Riv that Drake was not amused. “Fine. How about I bring you a bouquet of flowers?”
Riv shook his head, “Nope, that is easy to do Councillor, how about something more interesting?” He couldn’t help but yank, the flat look an encouragement for the samurai rather than a deterrent.
Drake sighed. “I’ll take you out for a night of drinking and buy all of your drinks for two hours.”
“Now I feel like you’re buying me off, like a cheap wench, Drake. My feelings are hurt.” But he had willingly pulled out a feather from the ones he was brushing with his gloved hands. “It is tempting, but you know I don’t know…”
“I’ll give you a kiss,” he tried again, practically desperate at this point. The samurai was getting his kicks at Drake’s expense - he knew that - but Ari had really wanted to win, and if this was something he could give her, then he wanted to.
He’d think about those implications later. Maybe.
And he had a winner.
Rivalen flashed an angelic smile and offered the feather, “Deal, Drake.”
Of course that’s what Riv would take. He should’ve thought of that first. Still, a deal was a deal, and Drake took the feather, carefully pocketing it before stepping forward and looking down at Riv. He flashed Riv a charming smile. “Am I paying now or later?”
“I accept payment now or later.” Whichever made him more uncomfortable was Rivalen’ choice, but maybe letting him stew over his choice would be more entertaining. There was no hiding how smug he was feeling in this moment, it was never about the kiss or money but about power. The one he had exerted for a moment to get something so simple like a kiss.
Better to get it over with now than have to wait until later. For all he knew, Riv would ask for payment in the middle of a crowd, and Drake really didn’t need any more rumors about him. So, he used one arm to wrap around Riv’s waist and pull him closer, and the other to tilt Riv’s chin up. And then he kissed him.
Well, getting payment had been easier than expected. Rivalen offered no protest or resistance and instead responded with enthusiasm trying to see how much he could get away with before he was shoved off.
And really, had he known Drake was such a good kisser, he would’ve found reason to do this sooner.
There hadn’t been any caveat on how long or what kind, but Drake had always gone with the flow, so when Riv enthusiastically responded, Drake just went with it. Besides, Riv was a decent kisser, and he was attractive, and really, Drake had always been kind of easy.
Eventually, though, he pulled away, grinning. “Even?”
Apparently, he lived to be amused by everything others did around him (amused or annoyed); he grinned back, “For now. Enjoy your feather, Councillor. I’m not parting with them any cheaper than that.”
Drake shook his head. “Then I hope your day gets even better.” He winked and walked away.