The Prince

Part 26

"No," Skye turned back to the table where he was kneading dough.

"Please, won't you do it for a friend, please?" Noah begged. He'd asked Skye to cover his shift just long enough for him to have a drink with Tsukasa. It's not like Skye was scheduled to work today anyway, so they had an extra hand.

"What's in it for me?" He sighed after a while. Noah would keep nagging until he gave in. The kid was a magnet for trouble and seemed hell-bent on doing the impossible, even if he knew he was going to be shot down.

"I'll clean the kitchen again." He said in his sweetest voice, hardly able to control his growing smile.

"It's not worth the pain. Go find yourself another victim."

"Really, Skye, don't you think you're being unreasonable? It's only a teeny weeny favour."

"Fine, but you'll be owing me a favour, whatever I want when I want it, no questions. Sound fair?"

"A favour you say?" Noah thought it over. It didn't seem too bad, it was only a favour after all and what could Skye possibly ask? "Sure, why not?" His grin was back thinking of the victory he'd scored.

"Remember Noah, anything I want, whenever I want it without any questions. Are you still so sure?" Skye looked deeply into Noah's dark eyes.

Something in Skye's voice gave him a moment's pause. Why did it feel like he was selling his soul to the devil? Then again, Skye had everything he could possibly want and the worst he could do was make him clean the whole house. But that worry was for later, for now, he had a one-sided date to get to.

"Hi," he said sitting down in front of Tsukasa with a wide grin and slightly flushed face.

"I thought you couldn't get off." Tsukasa looked at him in surprise. "Not that I mind, it means we get to know each other."

"I'm your server for the next thirty minutes, is there anything I can get you?" Skye politely asked in a dead voice, his eyes and face giving nothing away. The two still seemed uncomfortable with each other, as if they were still sniffing the air, each one more insecure than the other. It would be so easy for him to fix it right there, but it wouldn't be right. With a nod, he took their order returned with a fresh pot of tea and left soon thereafter.

"It's difficult to get you alone," Tsukasa smiled.

"Schoolwork," he grimaced. "Nothing like it to keep you from doing what you want. How is practice going?" What he knew of sports was less than nothing, but he'd be fine as long as he kept things vague.

Noah watched as his face lit up in excitement as he started to talk. From then on, it became easier for Noah to be around him. They weren't that different from each other, each with their own insecurities, likes and dislikes. Now that he'd had time to talk to Tsukasa without any pressure or pretence, he felt much more at ease.

"Here, you're time's up," Skye placed the bill on the table next to Tsukasa and threw an apron in Noah's face. "It was a pleasure serving you, come again." Turning, he left and disappeared to the back of the bakery.

"Sorry about him," Noah grimaced, pulling the apron from the table. "He's a really nice guy, with a tendency to make you feel like he could kill you, but still, a very nice guy."

"Are you two close, then?"

"More literally than figuratively. Don't worry about him, he's trying out different personalities," Noah laughed at the thought of Skye's expression being other than closed off and even bored, like watching an insect move. Was there a fun personality somewhere in Skye? He found it hard to believe.