Who: Roy Harper and Athos What: Unwinding after work and talking Where: A Bar When: Backdated: End of August. Evening Rating: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Roy had had a long day at work. There was, yet again, a particularly disturbing and difficult case that they were currently working on and he didn’t want to go right home after spending hours going through those particular case files, so he’d decided to stop at the bar not too far from the precinct to grab a quick drink and unwind a little bit. Roy didn’t drink a lot around Lian, but on nights like these, he needed at least one, so he’d called the babysitter and let her know that he’d be a little bit longer then headed over to the bar and ordered a beer.
Athos knew D’Artagnan was working later that evening so he decided to call in at a local bar and have a drink. He needed one. Things between them were okay since the Remy argument but it still played on Athos’ mind. Maybe D’Artagnan was too young to be involved with him. As much as they loved each other was it too soon for D’Artagnan, should Athos be allowing him to experience more things and people? It hurt to even think about. Sighing he entered the bar and ordered, noticing Roy was there too. “Hey” he greeted, “Another rough one?” he asked simply.
Roy looked up at the sound of the familiar voice and grinned when he saw that it was Athos, “Hey. How’s it going?” He had only seen the other man the first time they met at the bar, but truth be told, he was glad to have some company, “Yeah, got a rough case right now, so I decided to grab a quick drink to unwind a little before heading home.”
He offered a small smile in return as he sat and took the beer placed in front of him, “Not bad” he answered, not quite truthfully. “It’s a good idea. I had a similar thought, beer can work wonders sometimes”
“You just have to keep track of how many you have.” Roy said, taking a sip of his own drink, “One is my number for tonight. Can’t stay out too late. I’ve got the babysitter at home waiting to leave.” Roy was grateful that the girl had been able to stay a little while longer so he could grab a quick drink,
“I haven’t drank to get drunk for a while, not planning to start now” Athos admitted, “Not gonna be a late one myself” he wanted to be home before D’Artagnan got home later. “How is the little one?”
“I can’t even remember the last time I was drunk. I’ve had to be responsible since I was eighteen.” That didn’t mean Roy had never gone out to a party while he was in college, but he hadn’t wanted to just dump Lian on his parents all the time. “She’s good. New school year, which she’s actually excited about, so that’s good.”
“Must have been tough, not many eighteen year olds would have stepped up” Athos commented, it was a compliment but not a particularly obvious one. “Sounds like a good kid, being excited about school isn’t something they all share, or so I’ve heard”
Roy nodded, “It was, but I wouldn’t change any of it. My daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me,” He smirked and took a sip of his drink, “Yeah, she wasn’t too excited last year when we first moved out here cause she was starting a new school and all, but now she’s got friends, so she’s happy to go now.”
“Friends always help. Even as we get older I think we’re all used to the new job apprehension, we just hide it better” Athos said with a small smile.
“Don’t I know it. I was definitely apprehensive about starting my job out here. New people and a new place.” As nervous as he’d been when he’d started, Roy did enjoy his job, “I need to work on the friends outside of work thing though. I spend so much time in work then with Lian that I don’t really get out otherwise.”
“I can’t say I’m any better at that” Athos admitted, “My boyfriend is the more social of the two of us. Though his choice of friends leaves something to be desired sometimes. He attracts trouble”
Roy’s brows rose slightly, “What kind of trouble?” Yes, Roy could be a little nosey at times, like now for example. After all, when someone said something like that, Roy had to find out exactly what they meant. “Is your boyfriend a dreamer too?”
“Well last time he went out with one friend they ended up getting arrested for fighting. Not great since we’re both in law enforcement” he added, with a sigh. “Yeah, we’re both Musketeers fighting for the King of France. Well, D’Artagnan’s still in training”
“I’ve talked to him a few times on Valarnet.” It wasn’t like D’Artagnan was a very common name, so Roy was about 99.9% sure that the man he’d spoken to a few times was the same man that Athos was talking about. Of course, the moment the other man mentioned their dreams, it all began to make sense, “That’s pretty cool. The Musketeers part not the getting arrested part. What happened?” Sometimes Roy could be a little nosy.
“Yeah he’s pretty good with that social media stuff” it helped that he was a chatty cathy too once he started. Very different to Athos but that worked well. “Yeah it’s nice being part of a team and all” Athos nodded before sighing, “He made friends with a guy who isn’t always on the up and up. He took D’Artagnan to a gay club, his first, they got into a fight then just as I arrived he kissed him. He shrugged it off like it was nothing and D’Artagnan just looked kind of stunned. Maybe he is too young” the last part was said softly before Athos took a swig of his beer.
“I’m part of a team in my dreams too. Or was. A few times. It was always pretty nice being on a team and working with others, but I also enjoy the ones where I work on my own,” Roy took a swig of his beer as he listened to Athos’ story about D’Artagnan’s friend, “Huh. That’s some friend. I mean, I can understand wanting to take him to a club, but did he know you guys were together? Or did he not know that part and that’s why he kissed D’Artagnan?” Roy had never really been in that situation before. Sure, he’d had women come onto him before, but he’d never been dating someone and had someone else kiss him before. “He only is if you think he is. I mean, it’s not the same thing, but a lot of people thought I was too young to raise a baby, but nine years later, we’re both still alive.”
“It’s good to know people have your back, and the guys I’m with I trust with my life” Athos said, both here and in the dreams he trusted his Musketeers to look out for each other. “Oh he knew. Claims it meant nothing. He’s a player and D’Artagnan hasn’t been around guys like that enough to recognise it. He says he’s happy and he does love me, guess I should trust in that. Age isn’t everything, you’ve proven that” he said with a respectful nod.
“Sounds like this guy needs to be reminded what boundaries mean.” He would have said that D’Artagnan needed to be educated too, but he didn’t want Athos to think he was insulting him or anything. Roy might put his foot in his mouth on occasion, but he knew when when something wasn’t the right thing to say, “I’m sure it’ll just take a little time. Life lessons and all that.”
Athos nodded, “I’ve had words” he replied and while he wouldn’t take offence he was glad Roy didn’t say anything about D’Artagnan. “It’ll all work out somehow” he nodded, finishing his beer. “Just been playing on my mind a bit lately” he said with a wry smile.
“Understandable,” Roy finished off his own drink and placed a hand on Athos’ shoulder, “If it’s meant to be then it’ll definitely work out.” If there was one thing Roy tried to be, it was an optimist, “Well, I’ve gotta get home so the babysitter and figure out dinner before it gets too late.” He was already thinking of just grabbing some Mickey D’s, considering he knew Lian’s order by heart.
Athos nodded, “That’s my thinking” he agreed. “Yeah I should be getting back too. It was good to see you again” he added as he stood, thinking along the same lines of bringing back takeaway for dinner.