You're In Awfully Early {Septiplier}

Just Too Awkward

Felix's stomach does somersaults as they step inside the softly lit restaurant. It smells of dark oak and fine wine, and memories flood his mind. It's been years, but he can remember the times he and Ken spent here, chewing delicious steaks and sipping expensive liquor.

Ken catches Felix's glances, blue eyes looking at him expectantly. There's something about this place that brings back the itch of a memory, but he can't quite nail it down. It almost reminds him of the restaurant he took Mary to for their last anniversary, even though the pieces don't quite fit together perfectly.

"Table for four?" A smooth voiced waiter asks.

They nod and are swiftly lead to a table. Ken nearly groans at the idea of having to pick a seat, so he quickly excuses himself to the bathroom, leaving the others to shuffle for the best arrangement.

The raven, surprisingly, finds the bathroom without any trouble. Though he normally has to do an entire lap around the dining area, he pushes open the swinging door to the restrooms. He stops in his tracks, the dull town tile and stark black stall turning the itch into a full memory.

He and Felix were here, a long time ago. Though the staff normally served entrees in record time, the desserts were always slow to get to their table. It didn't matter much then; they always found ways to keep themselves entertained, especially for a few minutes in the bathroom.

Ken frowns, as if his simple displeasure could wash away the lasts actions inside those stalls. He dunks into the one he remembers the least, going slow for the pure fact that he understands Felix's gaze. At least, away from the Swede, it feels like he can breathe a bit easier.

The men at the table leave a space for Ken beside Mark, across from Felix. A waiter is at their table a moment after the tallest disappears into the bathroom.

"Can I interest you gentleman in something to drink?"

"A rum and Coke please," Jack replies first, the active morning weighing heavily on his shoulders.

Mark raises his eyebrows, though he simple says, "Just a water for me."

"Ken'll want a Coke," Felix says absentmindedly, flipping through his menu to find the drink selection. "I'll take some type of lemonade. Raspberry, if you have it."

The waiter nods, stepping away to retrieve their drinks. Jack gives Mark a hopefully smile, the Swede focused on finding his favorite cut from the menu. Mark gives a small quirk of his lips, seeing the cheery expression on his boyfriend's pale cheeks tugging a grin onto his face.

The waiter comes back with a tray of their drinks, gently placing a drink in front of every spot aside from Jack. "Your drink is being made, sir. It'll be done in a moment."

Jack nods, and the waiter trots off again.

"I'm surprised you aren't challenging us to a chugging contest, Felix," Mark mentions, eyes taking over the menu. His eyes jump up to watch Felix's expression, relieved when the Swede only smiles.

"I don't drink anymore," Felix shrugs. "It was getting out of hand. Gave up soda too. It really was the best thing for me. Lost my little belly and everything."

"You'll never take away my run and Coke," Jack mutters, almost to himself, blue eyes flickering across the menu.

Mark chuckles at Jack, Ken sliding in to sit down beside him. Ken grabs his drink, taking a tentative sip before giving a relieved sigh.

"Surprised you remembered I liked Coke," Ken mentions to the other raven, taking a long drink from the glass.

"Felix is the one who ordered it," Mark admits, nodding to the blonde. Felix gives a small shake of his head, resisting the urge to hide behind his menu.

"Oh, thanks, Fe."

The Swede gives him a gentle smile, a part of him relaxing. The silence between them is comfortable as they each scan their menu, debating between delicious sounding entrees. Felix has almost made up his mind, nearly a scribbling a pros and cons list on his napkin, when a voice forces his attention elsewhere.

"Felix! Ken!" A middle aged gentleman greets cheerful, Jack's drink in his hand. "I was beginning to think you two would never make it back to LA! Gosh, last time I saw you, I was still busing tables!"

Felix's ears turn pink, just barely recognizing the man. He offers his best smile. Ken's face is less convincing, stressed seeping into his grin.

"Yeah, it's been too long," Felix replies after a moment of silence, though he hoped Ken would say something first.

"Oh, definitely. My daughter still watches you two," he laughs. "Too bad she's off today. But, don't let me interrupt your double date, now. Don't you worry one bit about your food. I'll make sure it gets to you in record time! Manager's promise."

The man sits Jack's drink in front of him, leaving with another smile. Felix's complete attention is in his menu, pretending he can't feel the stiff air. Ken sips at his drink, so he doesn't feel like he has to speak, hating the sympathetic look Mark is giving him.

"We don't have to eat here if you guys-"

"It's fine," Felix interrupts, forcing another smile. "It was a long time ago. We're both past it, right Ken?"

The raven just nods, suddenly incredibly interested in the descriptions of the meals. Mark's brown eyes meet Jack's blue, and the Irishman just takes a long swig from his drink.

Thankfully, the waiter reappears before the pause is too long. "Are we ready to order?"

The men nod, quickly ordering thick cuts of meat and whatever sides catches their eye. Felix is the last to go, somehow still unprepared to make a decision despite how intently he was scouring the menu.

"And I'll just have a baked potato as my side," the Swede finishes, handing his closed menu to their server.

"Without chives," Ken adds, having been quiet since he finished ordering. The attention of the table turns towards him, quirked eyebrows and quizzical expression.

Ken quickly explains, "Felix hates chives. And he wants the butter and sour cream on the side."

The waiter looks back to the blonde who, though still looking surprised, nods his head. The waiter takes their menus, retreating from the stiffening air as the men try to pretend they can't feel the weight of the silence. Jack takes another long drink, and Mark watches him enviously, wishing he would have made Jack drive instead.

The Irishman can't ignore his boyfriend's look forever, the brown gaze nearly burning. When he sets his drink down, he clears his throat, flipping through their plans to pick something to talk about.

"Excited for Disney, Felix?" The brunette asks. "I know you love those overpriced pictures in front of the castle."

Felix's eyes flash to Ken, pulling them away as soon as he realizes. "Yeah, of course," the blonde agrees. "If they still have a deal for couples, we'll be proposing to me in front of it."

Jack laughs, quelling his giggle when a sampler plate is placed in the middle of their table. He opens his mouth to insists they're been a mistake, remind him that they never ordered an appetizer.

"Compliments of the manager," the waiter speaks first, a pleasant smile on his face as he retreats from their table to address another couple.

"Maybe we should take you guys with us more often," Mark chuckles, grabbing a nacho from the platter.

"Felix and I tend to leave an impression," Ken jokes. The table laughs, eased by the presence of food, as they start snacking from the appetizer.

"Wonder what else you two could get for us," Jack offers, chomping on a mozzarella stick. The stringy cheese runs from his mouth to the stick, the Irishman trying fruitlessly to break the connection with only his teeth.

"Actually," Ken mentions, messily guiding another nacho into his mouth, "Fe and I used to go to this amazing little ice cream place near downtown. The manager loved us, probably because we went like four times that week? We should stop by."

"Jack's in charge of the itinerary," Mark mentions, looking to his boyfriend for confirmation.

"We're not taking you anywhere with nacho cheese on your mouth," Jack chuckles.

Ken unwraps his napkin, swiping at his face. His napkin misses the bright cheese on his lip. Jack points to the side of his mouth, but Ken's second attempt is as useless as the first, wiping the wrong side of his face.

"Learn how to use a napkin, Ken," Felix rolls his eyes, taking his own napkin and leaning across the table. He dabs the side of the raven's mouth, Ken going tense but saying nothing.

Felix only realize what he's doing when he meets the hard brown eyes. He pulls back a little too fast, his chair scraping against the floor as he sits back down. Jack just stares at the blonde, a half eaten chip in his hand. Mark clears his throat, as if that will break the silence, chewing slowly as the air turns thick. Ken's uneasy gaze flutters around the restaurant, as if he doesn't quite remember where they are.

Felix clears his throat, hand rubbing at the back of the neck. "Sorry."

Ken just shrugs, plucking an onion ring from the plate in the center of the table. Mark looks to Jack, stress pulling the corners of his mouth downwards. Jack frowns, pulling at the collar of his shirt and hoping his boyfriend gets the message.

"You know, I'm a bit behind on my videos," Mark lies smoothly. "Maybe we could take our food to go? We can go back to the house and do a few collabs. Still suck at Rocket League, Ken?"

"Can't suck worse than you," Ken rolls his eyes.

"Up for a bit of Don't Starve Together, Felix?" Jack offers. "I'm sure you placed your laptop somewhere in that small home you call a suitcase."

"Sure thing, Jackie," Felix nods.

Mark waves over the waiter, even the promise of separation not easing the mood. Jack looks between the three men, hand on his phone in his pocket, praying adding a few more people can balance the group. At this point, he isn't quite sure anything could be worse than just the four of them.

The to go containers filled with their meals come mercifully quick, and the four men are on their way out of the restaurant. The manager gives another cheery wave as they leave, and both Ken and Felix give him smiles that don't seem to reach either of their eyes.

Getting into the car the silence is thunderous, and Jack struggles to say something to break the tense filled mood. Mark clears his throat as he watches his boyfriend open his mouth. Understanding what he's thinking, Jack gives a short nod and they continue down the road without another word spoken.