Danti- There are no strings on me

A Little Chat

"Did you have to bribe him?"

Anti fought off the pause his body so desperately wanted to do, instead walking through the door into the study. It was a small room with a grand desk boxed in with overfilled filing cabinets and bookshelves. Dark sat on well worn leather chair, hunched over the mess of paperwork covering the desk.

"Nah, I fought him for it," he said.

Dark scoffed. "If you'd fought him I doubt you'd be able to walk." He spun around, eyes narrow. "What are you doing here?"

Anti shrugged his shoulders, sitting on the edge of the desk. Dark didn't look very pleased about it, but didn't say anything. "I'm just bored. I've spoken to everyone in this place and still have no idea what I'm meant to be doin'. I've been here for a week already."

Dark hummed, crossing his arms. His eyes wandered over his for as if he were assessing him. "You're still not ready to be sent out on patrols or missions yet."

Anti frowned. "How would you know?"

"I have eyes everywhere. You only learnt how to use the coffee machine yesterday after we had to replace it from it the last time you attempted. You need to get yourself under control before we can trust you at all to go unsupervised."

Anti wanted to cuss him out, to prove his point, but he knew it'd be useless. He wasn't wrong. These guys seemed pretty serious with a pretty serious job. Anti didn't need to mess around and ruin it all. Not yet.

"So, what? Am I meant to just sit around?"

Darks face always looked so closed off. Was he angry? Irritated? He could never quite tell. It was beautiful to look at, though.

"I've been monitoring your condition over the past week to set up a training program. You'll be beginning next week."

He stared. Okay, great, he had information now. Now what? Wilford said he was meant to get to know him, to talk to him without making sex jokes. How was he meant to wiggle that into the conversation.

Apparently sensing his unease, Dark spoke up. "Is there anything else I can help you with," he prompted.

Anti opened his mouth then shut it a few times. The words wouldn't come out. "I like blue," he blurted.

Dark blinked slowly, waiting for more. He nodded, unsure. "Okay. Are you... requesting a new wardrobe?"

He shook his head awkwardly, ignoring the odd feeling in his gut. Was it meant to twist like that? "No, I have enough clothes, I was just, ya know... g-getting' to know ya..."

Dark didn't look like he'd been expecting that. It took him a moment to come up with a response. "Why? I've already got a full case on you, I know all I need to know to make this work."

"Yeah, but, I dunno..." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, cursing his clammy hands. His gaze was heavy, uncomfortable. "I just feel like we got off on the wrong hand, is all."

"Foot," he corrected.

"Same difference. I've spent all this time with the other guys, I've hardly seen you. I haven't been able to apologise for my behaviour before." The words rolled off his tongue and even he couldn't tell what was a lie and what was the truth.

"I wouldn't worry about it. I won't be doing any field work with you, so there is no need to make amends."

"Look, would you just take the fuckin' apology? I'm tryin' here, give me a break."

Dark raised an eyebrow, the room quiet. Anti didn't back down. "I believe I have some actions to apologise for as well. Tensions were high, and it was possible I was a tad harsh on you." He stood, holding out his hand. "How about we start fresh?"

Anti looked at it for a second before clasping the other man's hand. It was cold against his own, but not all unwelcome. "Alright."

Dark nodded, pulling away. He pointed to the door, breaking the moment. "Get out. I have paperwork to finish and a meeting to get to."

"I thought this was new beginnin's?"

"It is. The first thing you need to know about me is just how much I value my work which you are currently preventing me from doing. I'll see you at dinner." He leaned forward, twisting the handle and pushing it open.

If Anti was going to get anywhere, he'd need to establish some sort of trust with him. He'd given up a piece of information, no matter how small, and now Anti needed to back off. And he would.

"I should probably go give this back anyway. I'm gonna go then, I guess."

"Thank you." Dark pushes him gently back a few paces, shutting the door again.

Anti lingered for a few moments, then started back down the halls to Wilford's room. He hit the door in rapid succession.

"Come in! Jesus," came his gruff voice.

He kicked the door open, throwing the keys at the man sitting on the bed. "We shook hands!"

Wilford replies almost immediately. "I know. Do you not think I'd keep watch?"

"Not really, no."

"Oh," he said without much concern. "You seemed a lot more enthusiastic than I thought you would be. I thought you said you just wanted to tap that ass?"

"I still do."

"And yet your heart is beating enough for three people. I think you have a bit of a crush."

His eyebrows knitted together in a deep frown. "I'm not a little kid."

"You fancy him. With feelings other than the teenage hormones."

He rolled his eyes, snorting. "Oh, please. I've known the guy for a week, most of that time without actually seeing him. I couldn't possibly fancy Darkiplier."