Only One String Attached

Part 3

"Love you too." He mumbled against her arm.

"Alright, we gotta go. Mom's gotta work in an hour." Hotaru said, gently pulling her mate out the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Kanami sighed, swatting her hand away. "Bye, sweetheart."

"Bye, mom. Bye, ma." He replied, gently shutting the door behind him. He pulled out his phone to type the message to Katsuki when there was a knock on the door. As he swung it open the smell of fresh cigarette smoke drifted into the apartment, and a grin split his face.

"Hi." He chirps, his grin falling a little when Katsuki doesn't return it.

"Hi. Ready?" He asked gruffly, no real heat behind the words, but something was definitely off.

"Um, yeah." Eijiro answered, trying to figure out the alpha's mood. They got about halfway to the car before he realized he never swapped his underwear. "Wait! I have to go to the bathroom." He blurted, starting to turn back.

"You can't hold it the five minutes it'll take to get there?" Katsuki questioned, his voice carrying that unidentifiable emotion again. Eijiro hesitated a second. He really didn't want to make Katsuki more upset, if that's what he was.

"You're right. I can definitely hold it." He responded quickly. Katsuki made a face but continued their path to the car.

"Tch. Alright, c'mon then." Eijiro scrambled to follow after him.

The car ride was quiet, sending waves of nervous energy crashing over him. If Katsuki noticed, he didn't say anything. Just maintained the silence that seemed deafening in Eijiro's ears.

They pulled up outside the restaurant he'd taken him to that first night. Eijiro climbed out of the car following closely behind him into the building.

"Katsuki, I told you when you called, the back room is unavailable." The same man they'd seen the first time said, approaching them. He eyed Eijiro curiously before turning to face Katsuki again. "And no I'm not kicking them out."

"It's fine." Katuski mumbled. "Just get us a table. And make it as far away from these fucking extras as you can."

"I'll see what I can do." 'Half and half' responded, surprise clear on his face at the lack of fight coming from the blonde. They waited for what felt like years, before he came back. "Alright, follow me. I was able to find a more secluded table near the back."

They settled at the table, and before 'Half and half' could walk away, Katsuki was barking a drink order at him.

"I'm not your server, Katsuki, but I suppose for my best friend I'll bring it out."

"You're not my best friend, Icy Hot." The man ignored the comment, and turned his attention to Eijiro.

"Would you like anything?"

"I'm fine with water, thanks."

"I'm Shouto. This is the second time Katsuki's brought you here, so he must be keeping you around." Shouto stated bluntly. Eijiro could assume what he means by that, and some tension falls off his shoulders. Clearly Katsuki wouldn't bring him here if something was really wrong between them.

"I'm -." Eijiro starts to introduce himself, but Katuski interrupts him.

"It's none of your business, idiot. Drinks."

"I would need to hear a nicer request before I bring them to you." His flat voice changed a little, which Eijiro can only assume meant he was teasing the blonde.

Katsuki narrowed his eyes, before a 'please' was ground out.

"Of course." Shouto said, turning on his heel to go fetch the drinks. Katsuki still didn't say anything, not after Shouto dropped of their drinks, not until after the waitress left with their orders.