Sun and Moon

"Wanna see something special?" Dante asked, nose brushing Luans own as he leaned in close.

Breathes stuttering in his chest, heart pumping louder than the beat of music in the background. Luan tilted his head back, trying to keep distance between them.

Trying to breathe again.

"Like what?"

"Depends. How much time you ?" Dante quiried, folded his arms as he leaned back against the chair.

Luan was tempted to say none. He really should not be indulging this man.

Maybe it was the dream. The night he'd had. The couple of drinks he knew were a bad idea even as they slid down his throat and muddled his head.

Luan wanted to do something stupid. Something mindless.

Dante was so not helping his situation.

If anything, he might be one of the biggest factors.

Luan was not as good at saying no to bad influences as he liked to pretend.

"I might…." He hesitated, glancing around the room as he thought about why he should say no.

"Have a couple minutes."

Dante smiled, eyes gleaming as he hopped off his chair. It was basically just a step forward with how big he is, but Luan figured it was the same principle.

"Perfect. Follow me, sweets"

Sweets? Where did that come from?

Luan watched him take a couple steps towards the door, the payment of the drinks seemingly forgotten. When he turned to pay, he found a stack of cash, more than enough for the three drinks between them. His tainted beverage was also gone, by all appearances having been discarded while they were distracted.

Maybe Luan was the distracted one.

Dante seemed completely capable at making small talk with ease, regardless of the company he was in.

"Coming, flower?"

Luan looked up at the question, finding Dante already near the entrance of the room. He quickly made his way to him, ignoring the way his stomach flopped at the strange endearment. He didn't smell that strongly of flowers. It was really just a pinch, and there were other factors. Dante just seemed to be fixated on that particular part of Luan's constitution.

This was a bad idea.

Did Luan care?

Not right now. He probably would in the morning, but by then he might be dead. So, no point worrying now, when he had a perfectly good buzz going and no one expecting him home for at least three more days.

When else would he have time for some frivolous surprise with a baffling alpha?

They walked next to each other, the sidewalk smooth and unending on its mission of carrying people around the city.

Luan glanced up at the man, and boy was that a tall glance. Dante seemed so daunting some times, as though he could reach up and pluck a star with height alone. The moonlight haloed his frame, the black in his hair doing nothing to keep it from appearing white on the edges. When he passed through patches of light, they flickered across his golden gaze like streams of sunlight, reflecting and brightening in every way.

And that smile. Who knew a veritable mob boss would smile so much. He couldn't recall if he'd ever seen Dante be that way with anyone else. They really didn't have that many interactions with other people around. Except maybe Mira. And she was clearly looking through a strange lens. Having met her father, Luan was no longer surprised by anything that kid said.

All the other interactions, anyone nearby had seemed to flee rather quickly.

"Like the view?" Luan realized, then, that he was looking directly at those goolden pools. Dante had caught him staring again. Luan really needed to get better at being discreet. Or better yet, just not looking at this guy.

"Like sunlight." He murmured, further entranced as Dante leaned a bit closer.

"If I'm the sun, does that make you my moon?" He chuckled, shoving his hands in his pockets as he kept walking. Luan was a bit of a mess in the wake of this man's silver tongue. Who just says stuff like that? Sure, Luan was being a little forward, but he was clearly buzzed in the head right now. Dante should be normal, it's not like he had any-

Wait! Dante had a drink back there too. It must have been filled with inebriation! That was why he was being so flirty! Luan smiled, feeling oddly invigorated by his victory in figuring that out. Anything Dante said was not to be taken seriously, he was clearly drunk. From that one drink.

And Luan was also clearly out of his mind with the booze effect.

No need to take things seriously.

They walked for a while, a breeze rustling past as they made their way down the streets in the dark light of early morning. It was chilly out tonight, Luan knew from his walk earlier. But the effect of alcohol seemed to have numbed his nerves a bit. He almost felt hot, especially with Dante strutting along the sidewalk next to him.

"Where are we going?" Luan questioned, glancing back at the man as they walked.

"It's a surprise." Dante murmured, eyes squinting in delight as they took in Luan's bothered form.

Luan felt almost annoyed at the lack of candor in Dante's answer. Wherever they were headed, he doubted it would be that impressive. Even if it was at the behest of a man at the head of a gangster empire. What, was he going to show him his drug stash? Or maybe all the guns he kept under his pillow?

Luan would not be easily won by such nonsense.

A breeze brushed past their strolling forms, evoking a shiver from Luans frame that rattled to his core. First, he was hot like the sun was actually in the sky, then he was cold like the moon was dripping ice onto his body.

"I'm cold." Luan mumbled, wrapping his arms around himself as he shuddered in this new chill.

He looked at his shoes, worn and dark, trudging along the path that led somewhere new. He might need to get new ones soon, considering how often he was on his feet. They never lasted as long as he hoped they would.

A weight settled over his shoulders, jerking him from his thoughts as his head shot up. It was fancy, belonging more on a suit than the shoulders of a guy wearing sweatpants that could pass for casual wear rather than pajamas. Just barely. His shirt wasn't much better, some band he had never heard before littering its surface with their logo and cover picture.

"Better?" Dante was leaning close, hands hovering above Luan's shoulders where he'd placed the article of clothing a second prior.

Luan pulled the edges close, bundling up and blocking the chilly breeze that threatened to knock him over with its icy attack.

"Yeah." Luan mumbled, cheeks warming at the show of gentlemanly behavior.

Dante smiled, rubbing a hand down Luan's back as he ushered him back on the path of movement.

They walked a bit longer, Luan trying to not swoon at the intoxicating scent Dante had plopped on him, Dante strolling like they had all the time in the world.

Finally, they came upon their supposed destination.

Luan felt his eyebrows touch his hair, not having even remotely expected Dante to bring him here. There was a sign, lit up in silver writing, bright and alive for anyone to see.

The Pale Botanical Garden

Luan was even more surprised when Dante opened the door, having thought they would be closed at a time like this. SInce when was there a greenhouse this close to his home? Luan couldn't recall ever stumbling upon this establishment, so really, Dante's surprise was executed perfectly. He hadn't even seen whatever Dante was going to show him, either.