We stopped at a small burger joint in a less nice part of town. My part of the town, actually. Even though my job paid well, I couldn’t get myself to sell my apartment. I liked it.

Dion looked around at the images on the walls and arched a brow at an image of me and the owner of the joint.

“You come here often?” he asked and nodded towards the picture.

“I used to work here. So yeah, you could say that.”

He nodded and kept looking around until the owner, a very large minotaur joined us at the table.

“Hey, Tor.” I smiled up at him.

“Arlo,” he grumbled and offered me a nod. “Long time, no see. The usual?”

“Yes, please. And the same for my friend here.”

Dion frowned a little, but he didn’t object to me ordering for him.

“You’re going to love this,” I insured him.

“Well, I did say I trusted you.” He shrugged a shoulder and brought out his phone. He checked it quickly and then stuffed it back into his pocket. “How did you get that job?”

I was surprised he was the one asking me that, all things considered.

“Everyone’s always looking for… People like me. For protection.” I grabbed a sugar pack from the little bowl on the table and fiddled with it.

“People like you?”

“Hounds of Hades,” I murmured and looked up, meeting his gaze. His eyes widened but he didn’t look away. Most people looked away when they figured out what I was. No one wanted to be around someone who had grown up with watching the Underworld. Who had played with Hades as a child. Who adored Persephone as a friend.

“Ah well.” He shrugged and took a sugar pack too. He opened it and poured its content into his mouth, then he smiled and winked at me. “Sugar?” he asked and held the pack out towards me.

I didn’t know what to say so I just nodded. He moved his hand up and I tipped my head back. He poured it into my mouth, his fingers brushing over my lips.

“I love sugar,” he said and put the empty package down on the table.

I crushed some of it between my teeth and nodded. “Yeah. Not a big fan of it just raw though.”

“Oh, I could eat buckets.”

Tor came with our food and put the plates in front of us. He quickly returned with milkshakes too.

“Burgers, chips and milkshakes, huh?” He smiled and dipped one of the chips in the milkshake. “I haven’t eaten anything like this in ages.”

“I eat it entirely too much.”

“I totally would if I could keep a body like that while eating like a pig.” He laughed and picked up the burger. “I’d be so fat.”

“Pros of having the metabolism I have,” I chuckled and took a sip of my chocolate milkshake.

“I am but a little faun. We’re supposed to be vegetarians too.”

Fucking idiot, Arlo. You fucking idiot. “I’m so sorry. I can order something else for yo-”

“No, this is delicious. I’m bad at following the rules.” He winked again and it forced a smile out of me.

It was nice. We talked about the music playing. About the decorations on the walls and how I had gotten the job. I told him a little of my time after leaving the Underworld. No one ever asked me questions or talked with me this long. No one but Oliver. But Oliver was… Just different.

Dion was different too. He wasn’t a diva like the other workers. Or downright nasty. He was sweet.

“Can I take you somewhere?” I asked, once we were outside, our dinner finished.

“No,” he said and glanced up at me. “I uh… Sleep at the club.”

“Why?”

“Not enough money for a flat. Or a room.” He shrugged a little.

“Do… You wanna crash on my couch?”

“Yeah, thanks. That’d be nice.” He walked around the car and jumped in on the passenger seat again. I took another deep breath and jumped in beside him.

 ***

It didn’t take long before we were in front of my building. I turned off the engine and hauled the keys out.

“So, this is my place.”

“Looks nice.” Dion looked up at the looming building and opened his door. I followed and showed the way to the elevator. It was one of those outdoor ones. And not very nice, I noticed, as we were riding up to the tenth floor. It was creaking loudly and there was rust all over. And I was pretty sure someone had recently puked in it.

I coughed a little, just fill out the monotone rhythm of the chains pulling us up. It finally stopped and I pulled the door aside for him. He walked out and waited for me to show the way. I stopped in front of my door and fumbled with my keys. And then I dropped them.

I bent down and so did Dion. We ended up very close to each other and I was staring at his lips.

“You dropped your keys.”

“Uh, yeah.” I picked them up and straightened, hurrying to open the damn door. I dropped the keys in the bowl and looked back over my shoulder, making sure Dion hadn’t just bolted because I was being a total weirdo. He hadn’t. He was checking out my hallway.

I walked further in, into the living room and held my hand out towards the couch. “It’s not much...”

“It’s perfect.” He stepped in beside me and glanced up at me.

“Okay, cool. Well… I’m knackered so I’m gonna head off to bed. I’ll get you some covers and pillows and stuff.”

He sat down, waiting patiently for me to find him the stuff. I returned and put it all on the couch.

“You need anything else?”

He wet his lips and slowly met my gaze. He exhaled slowly and I started fiddling a little.

“No, I don’t need anything else.”

“Right, okay. I’ll be right in the next room, if you need anything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded slowly and I took that as my cue to leave. I almost ran to my room and closed the door behind me, leaning against it. What was I even doing?

I dumped down on my bed and slapped my arm over my face. I needed to get a grip.

 ***

I had been tossing and turning for at least two hours before the door opened.

“Arlo… Are you asleep?” Dion whispered.

I should’ve pretended to be asleep but instead I sat up. “No, can’t.”

He came further into the room and stopped by the edge of my bed. “I couldn’t sleep either. I usually don’t go to bed this early.”

“No, me neither.”

It was 3 am. My shift was usually over at around 5, so my inner clock was so out of whack. But that wasn’t why I couldn’t sleep. I could smell him. And I was so… Exhausted.

I leaned forward and grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer. I didn’t even think. My mind went blank.  I pressed my lips to his and he knelt down on the bed, taking my face in his hands. I looped an arm around his body and pressed him to me. He made a surprised but happy sound and ran his fingers through my hair, smiling against my lips.

I ran my hands up his thighs, slipping them under his shirt. He raised his arms over his head so I could get the shirt off him. I immediately went for his chest, kissing it, running my tongue over it. He moaned softly. And not like he had done with that patron either.

The patron.

Dion was a… Worker.

I couldn’t do this.

I stopped and pulled back, looking up at him. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just keep going,” he panted and took my face in his hands again. He pressed his lips to mine, and I tried so hard to stop but I was so weak.

I grabbed his waist and turned us around, my hand sliding up his thigh, wrapping his leg around me.

“I really should stop,” I murmured.

“No,” he whispered back and pulled on my shirt. I helped him get it off me and then I dipped down and kissed him. “I want you so badly.”

I groaned into his mouth and his hands slid down over my stomach.

And that’s where I woke up, panting. Sweating. I sat up and looked over at the door, running my hand over my face. What the fuck even.