It was amazing how, with the amount of time Thief spent in Mircea's mindspace, he still managed to blow Mircea's mind every time they met.

A warm, welcoming smile spread across Thief's face. "Aw, you found me," he said as Mircea approached him, panting. "That was quick."

"You didn't make it easy," Mircea complained, collapsing into the booth with a sigh of relief. "I didn't know your name, your number, what you were wearing, which entrance you used, and in this mélange, I couldn't even detect your scent!"

"Well, in this situation, there's no burning deserts, dark forests, treacherous seas or dragon-infested lava moats for you to cross in order to meet your sweetheart. So I came up with a little quest of my own."

Mircea raised a playful eyebrow. "Who says you're my sweetheart?"

"I'm not? You've already asked me to marry you twice."

"And I've been rejected twice. Third time's the charm, maybe? Lovely Thief, stealer of my pin, keeper of my heart, light of my life, will you marry me?"

Even in the dim light, it was obvious that Thief was blushing furiously. "You get more persuasive every time!" he laughed, hiding his face in his hands. "But the answer's still no."

"Aw, man..."

"Don't make that cute face, it's working. Now: tell me how you found me so fast."

"It's simple, really." Mircea's chest puffed up pridefully as he sat back with a grin. "You're you, so I already knew you wouldn't be as obvious as waiting at the bar. You're too cautious to dance with a stranger and too proud to dance alone, so the booths were all that remained. The challenge, though, was that dance floor." He shuddered. "I didn't expect to be recognized by so many people...if I get humped one more time, my jeans are going to get scraped right off."

"Well, it's understandable." Thief roved an appreciative eye up and down Mircea's body, taking in his sleek jacket-and-jeans outfit. The cream color of the jacket made his tan skin pop in the most delicious way. Thief licked his lips. "The way you look with your hair down is just...mmm."

Now it was Mircea's turn to blush. "Thank you," he mumbled. "Let's go get drunk - eek, incoming."

"Wha-" Thief's inquiring gaze turned into a fierce glare as he spotted two women tottering over to their table, their eyes fixed predatorily on Mircea.

"Stand up, Mircea." Thief mirrored the former's movements as they shifted out of the booth. Slowly, gracefully, with the lethal, lazy confidence of a snake, he coiled his body around Mircea's. His hands delved into Mircea's hair and guided the Alpha's head onto his shoulder; instinctively, Mircea drew in a lungful of his scent and growled. The ladies stopped in their tracks and scowled.

A startled, aroused rumble issued from Mircea's chest as Thief kissed his neck and possessively nipped it. His arms tightened painfully around Thief's waist, prompting the omega to gasp and tighten his hold on Mircea's hair. Grinning insolently at the intensifying glowers of the women, Thief kissed and licked the reddening spot on Mircea's neck. "Tonight," he whispered into his ear, "you're mine."

Damn it, I might just get addicted to the feeling of holding him. "Stop," Mircea said. "Before I forget we're in public."

Thief held on until the women had cussed, turned around and disappeared into the crowd of dancers. Nodding to himself in satisfaction, he let go of Mircea but kept his hands on his cheeks. "Congratulations on your contract," he said, smiling sweetly. "I'm very happy for you. Really."

Suddenly, Mircea felt very vulnerable. Like he wanted to take refuge in those hands as he revealed his smallest joys and sorrows, things he couldn't or wouldn't tell anyone else to be the man he was expected to be. And he felt tired: a sad, deep exhaustion in his mind and heart as he lost his ability to suppress his innermost thoughts.

Closing his eyes, he leaned into Thief's touch and turned his head so his lips grazed his fingertips. "I'm happy too."

Thief's smile widened, though his eyes bore a strange wistfulness in them. "Let's go celebrate. My treat."

The bartender's eyes widened in recognition the moment they landed on Thief. Then they shifted to Mircea, and he nearly dropped the shaker in his hands. "Don't look so surprised," said Thief to Mircea. "You're famous."

"Am not," Mircea shot back, eyes fixed on the bar patrons eyeing Thief like a piece of candy. Eyes flashing with challenge, he nudged Thief away from the seat next to the nearest patron and took it himself. "That's an overstatement. Power, plenty. Fame, not so much."

Thief chuckled at Mircea's defensive behavior. "You really do act different with me," he observed thoughtfully.

"I do? How so?"

"You're more humble. Honest. Cute."

"Are you implying that I'm an arrogant, scheming Lothario otherwise?"

"I think you pretend to be that way, though the Lothario part might be true. People place bets on which elite you'll pick up next." Thief inclined his head as he turned something over in his mind. "But the Mircea I know is so wonderful I threw every precaution to the wind just to get a closer look at him."

"I like your Mircea." Mircea gave his distorted reflection in his glass a deep look. "I wonder where he'd gone, if he ever existed at all."

A shy smile adorned Thief's face. "My Mircea...I don't know if I should be happy or scared shitless about that."

Mircea tried to suppress the delicious shudder that ran through him when Thief cradled his name and called him his. With much less bravado than he showed, he tucked a lock of Thief's hair behind his ears. "Be happy," he said. "Because it's only for now, right? It's like you said. Just for tonight, I am yours."

Now flustered beyond words, Thief downed his drink, then snatched Mircea's drink and downed it too. Mircea watched dumbfounded as the omega drank like a sailor, transforming into a drunk so happy one would have thought he was the man of the hour.

It was strange as much as it was amusing. The snazzy interiors, top-notch alcohol, famous DJ and ground-shaking sound system spoke more than enough of how high-end the nightclub was. It wasn't one that people with Thief's income could afford. Mircea would have believed Thief was splurging this one time if the bartender hadn't recognized him, proving him to be a regular.

"So, I know this sounds really mean," Mircea began, unable to control his curiosity, "but isn't this place...er, outside of your budget?"

Thief stared. Mircea leaned away, sure he was going to get hit. And then Thief burst into raucous laughter, clutching his stomach and rocking back and forth. "God, you're an asshole!" he crowed. "I should hammer you into the floor right now!"

"Sounds about right," Mircea mumbled contritely.

"Fine, I'll tell you, jerk." In a flash, Thief grabbed Mircea's ear and tugged him closer. "I get a big, fat paycheck from the Carters."

"That fat?" Mircea asked, trying to free himself.

"Obese," Thief whispered back conspiratorially.

"Why?"

All of a sudden, Thief deflated. His shoulders hunched inwards and he wrapped his arms around himself, and a terrible sadness came over him. "That's my question too," he told Mircea thickly. "It's not money I want."

Mircea felt a sharp pain in his chest. Was Thief in love with someone from the Carter family, then? Why did it bother him anyway? Sure, he found Thief attractive and indulged in a little harmless flirting, but it was way too soon to like the man. Maybe he was just fond of Thief because he got along with the omega so well, so he wanted him to be happy.

"Well, now's not the time for that." Inhaling deeply, Thief snapped himself upright and forced a smile. "Let's go - I love this song, and I need to dance off some alcohol."

And so they danced, and Mircea couldn't remember another dance like this one. On any other day he neither liked nor disliked dancing, choosing to cater his moves to please his partner instead. But Thief did not want his indulgence: the omega danced as the melody made him, and he danced because he was happy. So Mircea did that too: for the first time in his life, he danced for himself, and it was his joy at having Thief dancing with him that made it a celebration.

"Is this okay?" Mircea yelled to Thief over the music.

"Whaddya mean?" Thief yelled back.

"Are you having fun?"

"You kidding?! It's more than okay! And I should be the one asking you!"

"I'm having the time of my life!"

The two danced and danced till their feet were sore. Laughing and gasping for breath, they stumbled out of the club and into the night air to get some air and dry off. "Wah, that was amazing," Thief sighed, sagging against Mircea.

"Hey, I'm sweaty as hell. I probably stink."

"I'm tired. And hungry. What time is it, I don't know what's open at this - oh, fuck!"

Mircea gave Thief a flat look. "Let me guess, you have to go."

"No, you smell of me. Your family will ask questions when you get home-"

"Relax, I don't live at the Quartz mansion. I have my own apartment. That reminds me - I have a present for you."

The "Why?" Thief blurted was lost in the air as Mircea dragged him to his car. While Thief sputtered and choked at the magnificent car, Mircea retrieved a potted plant with waxy, bright green leaves from the passenger seat and held it out.

Thief clutched his hands to his chest nervously. "But...I don't see why you would."

"You said you'd like flowers as long as they weren't in a bouquet."

"What plant is that?"

"A jade vine."

"You're joking," Thief gasped, stepping closer and peering at the plant. "Oh my goodness, it's not even flowering and it's already so beautiful. Where did you get this?"

"This little guy's a rescue from the wild, actually. This botanist I know got him before the area was cleared for cultivation. He was throwing a hissy fit about having nowhere to plant it, and I thought of you."

"Oh, dear God. Mircea, do you know how rare these are in the wild? I don't know how to thank you."

"When it comes to you, I know very little." Mircea gave the plant to Thief and covered his hands with his own. "You're strong, you work in a cafe, you like plants, and you can hold enough alcohol to fill a small lake. That's all I know about you. Will you let me change that, Thief? Will you spend more time with me?"

The sheer delight on Thief's face suddenly darkened into anger and despair. Freeing one hand, he hesitantly placed it on Mircea's chest. A small, bittersweet chuckle escaped his throat as he felt the frantic thudding of the Alpha's heart. "Do you always get this nervous when making friends?" he asked softly.

"Never. I don't do the approaching."

"Right. Rich asshole. But here." Thief took Mircea's hand and pressed it to his own chest. Mircea's eyes widened and his face flushed with pleasure. "You too," he whispered in wonder.

"See? This shouldn't happen, Mircea. And I shouldn't say yes..."

"But?"

"But God, I want to! Even when I am the one person on Earth who should stay away from you!" Thief thumped his forehead against Mircea's chest in frustration. "Why must everything I want be out of my reach? What crime have I committed to suffer like this?!"

"Hey, hey, listen." Mircea placed a finger under Thief's chin and coaxed his face upwards to look at him, primarily to stop the assault on his sternum. "Do you think I don't realize the risk of associating with an omega? I'm Mircea Quartz, you know. I am obviously asking for your time after giving it serious thought."

"I shouldn't. I really shouldn't."

"Please. Please, Thief."

"Damn it! I should never have even come down to see you at the party! It's like I'm stuck in quicksand, sinking deeper the more I try to fight it-"

Thief's voice broke off as if his vocal chords had been cut as Mircea wrapped his arm around his waist, pulled him close and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. "If others hurt me because you are an omega, the responsibility rests with them," Mircea whispered to the stunned Thief. "I know you'll say you can prevent any trouble by staying away from me in the first place, but nothing precious comes without struggle."

Thief squeezed his eyes shut. "You will regret this."

"I'll consider myself warned."

"We'll be seen sooner or later."

"I think we look very good together."

"Your business might suffer."

"Cafe servers aren't usually detrimental to my line of work."

"Argh, fine! I'll spend time with you! Fuck you, you suasory, gorgeous freak!"

"Aw, yessss!" Mircea stepped away and punched the air in triumph. "This day just keeps getting better and better!"

Thief watched Mircea do a victory dance around his car, touched. Nobody had ever been happy at making his acquaintance, least of all an Alpha. He had thought Alphas didn't find things like befriending someone in a lower social class worth jolling. So was Mircea a reckless fool, or was he himself more worthy of Mircea's esteem than he'd thought?

"Let me take you home," Mircea huffed once he was done.

"Take me to the Carter mansion. I have work in the morning."

"You're live-in help? I thought you worked in the cafe during the day."

"Yes and yes. I'll be helping with wedding preparations before my cafe shift." Thief thought for a moment. "Actually, drop me off at the corner of the street. I don't want anyone to see you."

Mircea wasn't pleased about the idea, but he didn't protest. He'd already pushed Thief quite far today. Any more and the omega would put his guard back up. So he quietly followed Thief's instructions, stopping just out of range of the CCTV camera near the Carter home. "I'll stay here until you're inside the gate," he said.

Thief chuckled. "It's a safe neighborhood."

"I know, but still. Thanks for the treat, Thief. I loved it."

The one feeling celebrated is me, Thief said internally. "You've surrounded yourself with people who work very hard," he told Mircea. "My Mircea values that. So I know that there will be more celebrations to come."

Feeling very shy, Mircea unlocked the door. "Thanks. Sleep well, Thief. Good night."

Thief was very obviously reluctant to leave. With a small frown on his face, he climbed out of the car and turned towards the mansion, clutching his plant tightly to his chest. He had taken barely five steps when Mircea called out again: "Hey, Thief?"

The omega turned to find Mircea half-hanging out of his car window, swooning at him. How could someone look so handsome even with such a goofy expression on their face? "Yeah?"

"I noticed it the day I met you."

"Noticed what?"

"You really do light up my life."