Delectable (Sinclair Bryant)

Arrested Development

*Topics/triggers* Racial inequality and homophobia. Not explicit and no racial slurs.

Summer, as many people who lived in England knew, didn't always bring about what it should but so far it had exceeded expectations.

Sinclair, with David in tow, left his towering office building and looked up to the sky, framing the top of his eyes with his hand to protect them as best he could until he pulled the sunglasses out of his white linen shirt pocket, placing them carefully on his face.

There was a hesitation in his step as he looked out onto the bustling Saturday street, this would quite possibly be the last time he left that building, and although the feeling was freeing, it was also terrifying.

David slapped his shoulder with his broad, tanned hand.

"You alright?" His friend asked, squeezing the muscle his hand landed on.

Sinclair didn't even think about his answer, simply confirming that he was. His eyes may have told the world differently but they were hidden from view now. In truth, he wasn't alright. He hadn't been for quite some time, well except the brief reprieve that his fleeting romance with Sian had brought about. Since then, he had felt even worse. More so than when his marriage broke down.

The duo walked to a local bar to meet Sylvester. Celebrations were in order, for many reasons. David had finally earned the promotion he had been vying for, for the past 2 years. Sinclair was embarking on a business venture he had been contemplating for some time and Sylvester, well Sylvester's news was yet to be announced.

As the two men entered the bar, Sinclair swept his hair back, slightly dampened by sweat and removed his sunglasses.

"There he issss!" David roared loudly and pounded across the bar to Sylvester, giving him an awkward hug/slap on the back, as men often did. "Where've you been hiding for weeks then?"

Sinclair joined them, greeting Sylvester a little more coolly. He was not quite feeling himself and he could tell by David's demeanour, he was in for quite the day of drinking.

"Jane sends her love to you both," Sylvester chimed after their mutual greetings.

David rolled his eyes. "Jess was chewing my ear off this morning about their lunch."

"Why?" Sinclair asked, just to seem like he was paying attention to him. He'd been blithering on about work and his wife all morning, which was two topics Sinclair couldn't find much empathy for. The idiot was blind to how good his life was.

Sylvester ordered the group three cold beers, keeping an ear on the conversation.

"I organised the babysitter, so she could go out but my mom's getting on a bit now, she didn't want to commit for the whole day, so she's going to need to pick the kids up. Which turned into an argument because apparently I should have offered to get them."

Sylvester and Sinclair gave each other a look, Sinclair's jaw tightening. David seemed oblivious to the fact that Sinclair much preferred his wife's friendship to the one between them, and as much as he didn't like to get between the couple, because it was none of his business, he severely disliked David's attitude when it came to his wife and kids. He was far too old school for Sinclair's tastes.

"Why didn't you?" Sylvester asked.

David shrugged and picked up the pint glass in front of him. "I've been at work all bloody week, I've just earned myself a 10 grand pay rise and so I wanted a day off. It's not too much to ask, is it?"

Just as Sylvester and Sinclair thought his moaning was over, David took a breath and continued.

"Oh, and she wants me to get the bloody snip."