Oneiric Tryst

28. Fancy Fish

"So, what do you want to do? Order something? Or go to a restaurant?"

Hongjoong glanced at Seonghwa, still disbelieving that the man was physically here with him. While it felt real in its familiarity, the same familiarity disrupted Hongjoong's brain. Because dream Seonghwa was so similar to actual Seonghwa.

As he mulled his answer over in his head, Hongjoong's eyes dropped to Seonghwa's hands on the wheel. How they held it loosely but securely. Driving had never felt so meditative for Hongjoong.

"Let's go to a restaurant as long as they don't throw us out because we are full of dog hair."

Chuckling, Seonghwa pulled his phone out of his pocket to fasten it to the clasp on the middle console.

"I know a place that won't throw us out, trust me." Glancing between the road and the phone, Seonghwa typed in the name with careful fingers. For a mere second, the homepage of a fancy diner flashed before Seonghwa quickly removed the tab to get the address. Seeing through his ploy, Hongjoong crossed his arms.

"I hope your sneakiness won't hurt by me saying this, but I'll pay. Don't think I'll let you be Prince Charming all by yourself."

Seonghwa stifled a smile in his arm. At seeing his eyes lit up, Hongjoong's lips twitched, too.

"Don't worry. It isn't so elegant that a pirate has to feel out of place," Seonghwa reassured him. At the running gag he shared with San and Seonghwa, Hongjoong scoffed. It seemed like he must have been a pirate in his past life. The savage genes flowed through his veins.

Seonghwa spared him a glance as he halted at a red light.

"And if you insist on paying, I will insist on driving you home after."

Hongjoong enjoyed their little banter. He agreed as Seonghwa picked up speed again.

"Alright, that sounds like a fair exchange. The bag on your backseat makes me trust you enough not to expect you just want to find out my address to kidnap me."

The sun set in the same direction they were driving. Its orange light bathed the town in the prettiest glow and had the skies blush in a lovely shade of pink. Seonghwa put his sunscreen down.

"Lucky. Although I have shackles in there. That might unsettle you."

Hongjoong couldn't help the nervous glance at the bag. Not because he was perturbed, but for entirely different reasons.

Seonghwa caught onto it immediately.

"Don't you think about it. These cause handcuff neuropathy. If you want to play, we'll get ones that are made for that."

Biting his lip, Hongjoong tried his best to suppress his smile. He liked Seonghwa's boldness. Its appearances were rare, but it never failed to make Hongjoong's stomach swoop.

"Fine. Even though they would be here so conveniently. Just like the two of us." Mock annoyed, Hongjoong leaned back into his seat. Their navigator read another five minutes to the place Seonghwa had picked.

A playful chuckle escaped from Seonghwa's lips.

"In all fairness, I did not arrange for handcuffs on our first real meeting. I have no plans all evening, however, so if a tie or a shirt works just as well for you, we can figure it out then," he placated the other man. Hongjoong desperately wanted to lean over and kiss him, but he didn't want Seonghwa to relive his car crash nightmare. Thus, he merely stretched to press a kiss to Seonghwa's cheek. The man smiled at the gentle touch.

"Good call. I'll come back to it later."

By the time they arrived at the restaurant, Seonghwa's smooth social skills had buttered up Hongjoong enough that he stopped doubting the man. Their interactions were just the same as in his dreams, and Seonghwa regarded Hongjoong no less adoringly. By the time they were seated in a private little booth with a candle between them, all that Hongjoong knew was hunger and how gorgeous Seonghwa's face opposite of him was.