GRUFFY DON'T READ THIS

How It Started

"Faustus," Karnak said, and that shook the other out of his thoughts. "Faust. Fausty. Fautsy-wausty."

"Y-yes...?"

He smiled. "Just testing out nicknames."

Faust was feeling a little bold. "For you, how about... Karnie. Ha! Like a circus carnie." He watched the other chuckle into their drink, some sort of cocktail. "What's up with the whole fortune teller schtick? I-I mean, it's great, just curious..."

God, he was so awkward. It was so cute, really. "Eh, it just kind of fits." He removed his tophat, setting it on the table. Faustus studied it curiously. It was intricately designed, covered in what appeared to be pieces from a clock along with flowers. He brushed a hand along the brim without thinking. "That's homemade so please be gentle."

He reeled his hand back instead. Karnak looked handsome without the hat, too. "I like your hair."

The taller glared out to the side unexpectedly like he was remembering something he really didn't want to. "Thanks. It used to be longer, like four hours ago. Kind of a spur of the moment thing, chopping it off."

Faustus made a note not to bring it up again. "...I like your beard, too." Damn, he was feeling bold tonight. That actually made Karnak grin and the dark look fade.

"Heh, I grew it myself." He seemed especially proud of that. He's finished his drink at that point, and it was clear from his glazed eyes that that hadn't been his first. Far from it. "Like yours, too. Like a puppy. Scruffy. Hüzünlü küçük bir köpek yavrusu..."

Faust was about to ask what language that was when he spotted Molly across the way chatting with that Maxi girl along with a few other strangers. When she saw him, she excused herself and hurried over.

"There you are! I was just about to go find you." She took a seat next to him, too wasted to care that she might be interrupting something. "Going to introduce me to your friend?"

Karnak watched with curious eyes and a pleasant smile. "Karnak. Your friend Faust was just telling me about his teaching job."

No the fuck he was not. Faustus leaned forward, eyes somehow going wide and narrowing all at once. "That... never came up, actually...?"

"Oh? It didn't?" Karnak just grinned back at him, and the other swore his eyes twinkled in the light. Molly laughed.

"Right! Fortune teller!" She shook Faust's shoulders. "My buddy here does tarot readings, you know! And he's got his own crystal ball."

Karnak looked very interested in that. Faust just blushed more. "Yeah, it's just a hobby. Whatever," he grumbled, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. How could she embarrass him in front of the first guy he'd ever been interested in? The other didn't seem to mind, though. He seemed fascinated.

"Perhaps we could trade fortunes sometime."

"I'd like a fortune right now, actually. How did you know I was a teacher?"

Karnak adjusted his tophat back atop his head. "A good seer never shares their secrets. I'm sure you know that. But truly, I must be leaving."

Faust stood up as well, pushing Molly out the booth. She looked like she was on the verge of passing out. Way too much to drink. "Yeah, we should, too. Can we... walk you out?"

"A true gentleman. That's rare in this day and age."

It was pouring outside. Thunder clapped overhead. Karnak was kind enough to half-carry Molly so Faust didn't have to.

"Where are you parked?"

Karnak bit his lip. His makeup was starting to smear in the rain. "I biked here, actually. I don't... really drive."

Yeah, no. There was no way Faustus was going to leave this man to fend for himself in this weather. "I'll give you a ride. Let's go."

Molly took up the entire backseat of the van, passed the fuck out. The two men were silent as they drove. It was comfortable for Karnak but less so for Faustus. He wasn't sure what to say, but he wanted to say something. The taller beat him to it.

"Kidnapped by a grandpa. Guess it's not the worst way to go."

Faust rolled his eyes. "I'm thirty-four. And I'm not kidnapping you. I've already got one mouth to feed. I don't need a second."

Karnak stored that information away. So this guy was only a few years older than him... interesting. At the unsaid question, Faust pulled down the sun visor and tapped a photo of him and Savannah. Karnak smiled.

"She looks... nice."

"She's adopted, before you ask."

"...I wouldn't have asked."

Faustus just shrugged. "Most do. Since we look nothing alike."

They've arrived at the apartment building. They sat for a moment.

"...you got something to write with?"

 Karnak scribbled something on the back of a receipt, pressing it into Faust's hands. A phone number. And a name, a real one.

"Hadir," Faustus tested the name out. He grinned a bit. "Haddy. Mad Haddy. Ha!"

The other didn't find the humor in that. His expression soured, and he turned to leave the car as quickly as possible. Panicked, Faustus grabbed the other's wrist. Wrong move. Karnak winced and began to tremble. Faust immediately let go, realizing his mistake. It was clear he had brought up some sort of bad memory. Or memories.

"...I'm sorry. I didn't... I'm sorry."

The younger man shrugged, staring down into his lap. "That's... what my ex used to call me. Just Karnak is fine. Hadir if we're... if we're completely alone."

"...what about Dearie?"

Karnak's entire face turned red. It was the most vulnerable he'd been all night aside for that moment in the alley, when he thought he'd been alone. They stared at each other for a long time, so close...

But then Molly started groaning in her sleep. Faust groaned in response.

"I need to get her home. I... I'll, call you? If that's okay?" Duh, it was okay, you stupid idiot. That was why he gave you his damn number.

Karnak smiled. "Of course. I hope to chat again soon. Talk trade." He exited the car and hurried inside with one last wave. Faustus leaned back in his seat for a long time, thinking. Maybe... maybe he could give this a try.

He got Molly situated in the guest room when he got back to the house. All the kids were asleep aside from Savannah who had wanted to see her father before bed. They shared some tea in the kitchen, a nightly tradition. She was grinning at him over her cup, noting the slight blush he still wore and the way he kept staring off into space. He was clearly lost in thought.

"So, meet any cute ladies?" she teased, already knowing his answer would be no, if he chose to answer with anything more than an eyeroll. He shook his head, as expected.

"No. But I did chat with a handsome young man." She nearly choked on her tea as he started to clean up. Was he fucking serious? Her dad, the guy who hated all things romance? He paid her no mind. "Come along now. It's time for bed."