latino_menace | OOM: Dinner

It's noticed, of course. Ramon just doesn't know how to make it different. Or maybe isn't inclined to make the effort right now.

He finishes, puts his cutlery down, arranges it neatly and picks up his drink again. And just waits.

Random's finished as soon as Ramon is. Maybe the food isn't gone, but he's finished anyways.

"And now?"

'The entree.'

Of course.

'Unless they bring sorbet for between courses.'

They will, it's that sort of place. Ramon briefly muses on the fact that he prefers sorbet to ice cream, then goes back to waiting for something else to occur.

"Okay."

The silence reigns.

But Random decides, quickly, that this is stupid, and to the shock of one or two onlookers and the disappointment of another few, his hand reaches for Ramon's across the table, catching his fingers and gripping them tight.

Get through this.

It takes Ramon rather by surprise and for a moment, his hand is unresponsive. It just lies in Random's and he doesn't move.

But then he does and it squeezes back. He can never not respond to the man's touch, unless he forcibly pushes it away. And this would be a bad time to do that, he thinks.

Can't make it stop.

He thought, for a crushing moment, that he would. But he doesn't, so Random smiles and reaches for his wine with the other hand, and only lets go when the sorbet comes.

"Christ on a Cracker. What's this?"

He pulls back too, not giving the waiter a glance and picking up the spoon.

'Sorbet. You've never had sorbet? It cleans your palette between courses so you can get the full flavour of the food, without it being mixed up with the previous course.'

It always seems pointless to him. But whatever. It's what you do in places like this, so he does it.

"Oh yeah."

He tries a bite, then another.

"Doesn't make much sense, but there you go. I thought that was supposed to be the entree."

He laughs. Tries to stifle it and that just makes him laugh harder.

'If this was the entree, I don't think I'd be coming back here again.'

Not that he will anyway. He's already decided he hates the plce.

"That's a fair point."

Their feet brush, under the table. Just for touch.

"But this isn't bad. Cold, but not bad."

'Well, it's ice cream. Only not. You know what I mean - of course it's cold.'

There's not much, it's only supposed to be a small thing to get you ready for the next course. And the wine waiter appears with a different vintage for the main course, which is lobster. Ramon couldn't care less.

No, neither could Random.

But he pours Ramon a bit more wine, and offers him a faint smile before setting into the lobster.

"Feel like going home after this? At least for a little?"

He picks up the necessary tools to crack through the shell and makes a half-hearted attempt to look interested in dinner. The suggestion is met with internal relief - but also a hint of dread because then they can talk.

'Yeah.'

But the prospect of talking is better than a roomful of people and noise when he feels like this. There's almost no way it wouldn't end in a fight. It would only take someone looking at Random in the wrong way.

"Thanks."

He sets to work on his lobster in silence, and eats as fast as he can.

Ramon eats for about five minutes, then just gives up and starts working his way through the bottle of wine instead. Right now, it seems like the better option.

"Lets just go," he says, reaching out to stop Ramon before he can lift it again.

"Really, lover."

'Yeah. OK.'

He's had enough and throws in the towel with ease. Better to just call it a night, he thinks.

The attention of the waiter is caught and the bill brought over. Ramon pays in cash, leaves a large tip and then catches Random's eye as he turns towards the door.

Coming?

He follows, closer than he should, farther away than he'd like.

Out into the street, and he immediately looks around for the limo. Or just a taxi. Anything.

The maitre'd had called their limo when Ramon was paying the bill, so it's waiting ouside for them. He gets in without hesitation and immediately loosens his tie to let it hang, so he can open his shirt collar. He just wants to be comfortable and relax be out of here.

Random climbs in after him, and once the driver sets off he draws close, resting against Ramon and sighing.

"This is hard."

'Yeah.'

It really is, and it's made worse by the way that he knows there's no way to make it any easier. All he can do is keep Random near until he decids to go.

He makes a choked sound into Ramon's shoulder, and mumbles something before pushing closer. He ends up half in his lap, but it doesn't matter. Nothing matters.

Ramon sighs quietly and puts his arms round him, drawing him fully into his lap so he can hold him properly. He glances at the screen to make sure it's up so the driver can't hear anything, then says,

'It's OK. Don't.'

"It's not."

It just isn't. Obviously. Ramon just about made him cry in a public restaurant and he isn't even angry, just afraid right now.

"It's just not."

'...alright. So it's not.'

He's at a loss, but doesn't let go.

'Tell me what I'm supposed to do then.'

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