It had been several days since Orion had told Zachary that he wanted to try a second date, but work had gotten ridiculously busy, and then yesterday David had looked half-dead and required a doctor's visit. Today though, finally, the guy looked a good deal better and Zach had finished prep work early. That left them with about five hours until they had to start getting ready for their shifts. Orion was already dressed in a pair of black slacks, a white dress shirt, and surprisingly, his hair tied back. It was barely long enough to make a ponytail, but he was nervous, and when he got nervous he messed with his hair. The only way he'd learned to keep that from happening was to tie it back, out of reach.

"Master?"

Glancing up from his freshly-polished boots, Orion forced himself not to lick his lips at the sight of Zachary in just a pair of easily-removed maroon boxers. Dear god, he could eat him up right there... after tying him up, of course. And putting on a condom. His thoughts added before he mentally chastised himself.

"Would you like to pick out my outfit?"

Grinning, Orion nodded and turned to walk into his closet. He knew judging from the blush on Zach's cheeks that he likely felt like a Ken doll being dressed up by its owner, but he hoped he'd get used it. Heck, even being asked to choose the outfit, even though the guy was embarrassed, made Orion feel amazing.

My Ken doll!

Of course he knew the difference, though sadly, there were some dominants who didn't. As he sifted through the clothing he'd bought for Zach, he thought how much he was going to make the guy's life change. Even more so than he already had. I'll make him never think about that alley ever again. Grinning at the thought, he nodded and walked out of the closet to present Zachary with a pair of black jeans and a slightly worn light blue button-up. Before they headed for the door he tossed Zachary his jacket, then pulled on one of his own black ones and took his hand. "Shall we?"

Zachary grinned up at him and nodded, squeezing Orion's fingers as they walked outside hand in hand. They strode past the car, silently telling Zachary that they were going to somewhere close by. When they walked up to a restaurant only a block away and Orion held the door open, Zachary paused, looking up at the name, then inside.

"This is really fancy..."

Orion grinned and settled his hand against Zach's back to urge him inside. The place was nice, but fancy? Not really. He kept his mouth shut in that matter, however, not wanting to make Zachary feel awkward. It was likely fancy to him, so he let it be just that.

With a content smile Orion stepped up to the hostess and told her his name for his reservation, which he'd made the previous night. She smiled and grabbed two menus, then asked them to follow her. They were seated in the far corner in the back, comfortably away from the noisier groups. The young woman set their menus down and told them that their waiter would be right with them. And he was, in only a moment a man walked over... and seeing him made Orion want to grab Zachary and go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

"Well hello there, Orion." Brendon said with a carefully twisted smile on his face.

Don't react. Don't react.

"Hello, I'd like a Coke. Zachary?" He asked, not bothering to even look at Brendon. Zach seemed to catch the hint and just smiled and requested a Sprite. Since he got no rise from either of them, Brendon thankfully just grumbled and stalked off to fill their drink orders.

Not wanting to dwell on him for a second on his date with his sweetheart, Orion leaned over and pointed out several things on the menu Zachary was starting to go through. "These are really delicious."

Before he could respond Orion moved his arm over the prices on the side and smirked. "What would you like, sweetheart? No looking at prices. In fact, if you ask for something less than ten dollars I'll make you order something else, too, and we'll just have to take one of them home if you can't finish both."

The look on Zachary's face was split between surprise and frustration, but when Orion didn't move his arm, he sighed and began browsing through the options.

"Um... can I get the grilled salmon dinner?"

Moving his arm, Orion glanced down at the price and noted that it was indeed over ten. Fourteen, to be exact. "Sounds good." He replied right as Brendon returned with their drinks. "We're ready to order." Orion said, only waiting until Brendon pulled out his little order pad before speaking. "I'd like the steak dinner with a side of mashed potatoes and spinach."

Brendon pursed his lips and wrote down the order, then turned his glare to Zachary. Orion thought he might fidget from the intense stare but was pleasantly surprised when Zach straightened in his seat and smiled. "I'd like the grilled salmon dinner with a side of sweet potato fries and mixed vegetables."

Having not gotten the rise he wanted for a second time, Brendon scribbled down Zachary's order, then grabbed the menus before strutting away. His hips even swished as if he were trying to garner Orion's attention, but the moment Brendon had turned away Orion moved his eyes to his boy and he leaned forward, hands clasped on the table.

"So, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Sure this was a date, but he knew both of them didn't want to dig into their pasts, so he was going to focus on their future... which would hopefully be intertwined. Just the idea made him giddy, but he knew he had to keep himself from scaring the guy by not going to get a wedding ring already.

Slow down, buddy.

"Sure." Zachary replied simply, having no idea that Orion's mind was thinking a bit too far into the future.

"So uh, well, I wanted to ask you... what is it that you see yourself doing as a career in the future?"

The question seemed to surprise Zachary, because he didn't even try to put together an answer for several minutes. When he did finally manage one, it was just a simple, "What?"

Orion had a feeling that would be his complete response. Of course Zach wouldn't be thinking about a career when he was barely surviving just a few weeks ago on the streets. Smiling calmly, Orion tried to look relaxed as he gave a careful response.

"What did you like to do in high school? What were your favorite classes?"

That question seemed much easier to answer, because Zach quickly smiled and cheerfully said "Math!"

Oh? Orion thought as his grin widened a bit. "What type of math?"

"Any! I'm really good at math. I was in honors calculus before I had to get my GED. It was really fun."

Calculus? Geez. I've only ever gone up to algebra II.

"Wow, that's amazing, Zachary."

He blushed and shrugged, but the excited gleam in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

"Well, Xena's been heckling me about possibly starting college to get a degree in business and then help her run the place. Maybe eventually even become a partner."

Zachary's embarrassment completely vanished as he grew excited for him. So adorable. 

"That is awesome, Orion!" He said in an excited but hushed whisper as to not disturb other diners. If they weren't out to dinner he would pull the guy into arms, but since he had to act civilized, Orion just replied with a smile. "I'm excited to give it a shot, even though it's been awhile since high school."

Zachary nodded but his smile never wavered. "You'll do great, and if you need any help with math, I'd love to try some college level problems!"

I wanna hug you so badly!

"Well, how about we take a few classes together online?"

He knew they didn't have much time to actually go into a campus, but it was really easy to get simple degrees completely online. Their food came before Zach could respond, giving them both a moment to just enjoy the meal and ignore Brendon's continued glowering. While he normally ordered the same thing when he came to the restaurant and knew that it was amazing, he couldn't wait to see Zachary's face when he tasted his food. He wasn't disappointed, either. His boy's face lit up as he quickly took another bite. Then another and another.

"You are so cute."

The question about college had completely taken him off guard, but when their food came and he took his first, nothing else seemed to matter besides inhaling the piece of yummy fish placed before him. He was already half done with it when he heard Orion speak, making him glance up from his meal, a little embarrassed.

"It's really good." He mumbled, staring down at his fish before a piece of steak slid onto his plate. His eyes jerked up to meet Orion's gorgeous ones. "Try mine."

"Oh, h-here. Try mine, too." Zachary mumbled as he cut a piece from his fish and slipped it onto Orion's plate.

"Thank you, sweetheart."

"You're welcome," he replied before eating the piece Orion had given him. Without even realizing it he began to drool, only figuring it out when Orion started to snicker, then pointed to the side of his lips when Zach looked up.

Oh man!

Grabbing a napkin, he jerked it up to his mouth as his cheeks heated. Brendon returned with the check while he wiped at his mouth, then silently went back to eating his meal. They finished a few minutes later, but after Orion glanced at the bill, he actually handed it across the table to him. He took it, of course, but he hadn't even gotten paid for his first week or work yet, so he had no idea how he could pay.

"Can you do the math for the total and fifteen percent tip please? I need to use the restroom."

Oh!

"Sure, no problem." Zachary quickly said as he grabbed the pen and began writing numbers in the total slot. He spent a few seconds double-checking the total, then did the tip amount and wrote it in. The entire few moments that he was working he could feel eyes on him... and they weren't friendly. It was frustrating. Obviously Brendon had an issue with him, or likely more specifically, Orion, but glaring at them the entire time while they ate was completely unprofessional and he was sick of it.

Turning in his seat, Zachary stared up at Brendon, who had his arms crossed over his chest like he was Mr. High and Mighty. Hmph. Well, time to knock him down a notch. "You are an extremely rude server and while I have no memory of you beside the one where you walked in on me in the shower for some reason I'd rather not know, and tied me up, I have done absolutely nothing to you. Thus, you must be mad at Orion for something."

Standing, Zach straightened to his full height and narrowed his eyes.

"Grow up and talk to him like a man if you have a problem with him, and if you can't manage that, then just get over it and move on. The only thing you're going to end up doing is getting yourself fired by glaring at guests and stressing yourself out."

Brendon blinked, seemingly taken aback by Zachary's words. He hadn't shouted, but they were staring each other down anyways, beginning to draw attention in the large restaurant.

"Hey sweetheart. Let's get going." Orion said as he stepped between them and checked what Zachary had written on the bill. He smiled, then tossed two twenties and a ten on the table before putting an arm around Zach's shoulders and guiding him to the front of the restaurant, then outside.

"Oh my god I'm so proud of you!" Orion said excitedly as he scooped Zachary into his arms for a too-tight hug. He was confused at first, but then something dawned on him as he was being set down.

"You heard what I said to him?"

Orion moved in for a kiss, right there in the middle of the busy sidewalk! Zachary was too startled to do anything but kiss him back for the brief moment their lips were connected. "Oh heck yes, and I couldn't have said what you did any better!"

"Oh?" It was a shock, but a good one, he supposed. Zach wasn't normally one to speak his mind when he was upset, but there was no excuse for Brendon to be so rude while they were spending money at the restaurant where he worked and basically helped fund his paycheck.

When Orion offered his hand, Zachary took it with a content smile. "Orion? Why is he upset with you?" He wouldn't normally ask a personal question, especially to someone he hadn't even known for a month, but considering Brendon had been glaring mostly at him throughout the meal, he felt he should at least get a basic summary.

"Well, he's actually the first person I tried to date when I began to learn about dom-sub relationships. He taught me a lot about it, and also made me realize that there were different levels. Those were only reinforced when I tried to date David."

Zachary grinned, remembering that George's new charge liked things a little too rough for Orion's comfort. "I'm guessing he gets jealous easily and doesn't like to let things go?"

"Nope! He's frustratingly-clingy." Orion replied as they stepped inside, then stopped abruptly when he turned to face Zach. "Um... am I clingy? I mean, I guess I am, but does it bother you? I can try to back off a little if I am..." Reaching up, Zachary pressed a finger over Orion's lips to keep him from continuing to babble. He could barely see the man besides his outline and a faint bit of his face and arm because of the hint of light from the bedroom beyond the closed door to their left.

"Master, I've lived on the streets for three years. I've been waiting for someone to see me for anything worth being close to. My friend at the grocery store, you, and George are really the only three that have ever really bothered with me."

Feeling Orion's arms wrap around him settled Zach's nerves as he was tugged against the larger man, happy to rest his head against his firm chest.

"I'm very happy to hear that, sweetheart."

Grinning, Zachary looked up at Orion's shadowed face and grinned. "In fact, I'm feeling a little extra clingy right now. We should still have a few hours before we have to get ready for work... can we read another chapter from your book?"

Zach felt Orion chuckle before he leaned over and pressed a kiss to his nose.

"Of course, Zachary. I have a request to ask of you first though."

Tilting his head in curiosity, Zach gave a slight nod. "Okay."

Orion turned him, leaving one arm around his back to guide him toward his bedroom door.

"Sign up for two college classes with me?"