"Hey." Axel dropped into the bar stool beside the guy he'd been watching since he came in, a smile on his face as he rested his arms on the bar and put his hands together, looking the guy up and down to make sure he had the right one. Oh yeah, definitely, that was the face he was after. Everything was right, everything was how it looked when he'd first seen him trashing that bridge, right down to the hoodie.
This was the Pied Piper.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Worth a shot? Anything to get his attention, to get a moment of his time or hell, some eye contact. He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, trying for the more bashful angle. "Sorry, is that a lame way to do this? I haven't done it in ages. Is buying people a drink still a thing?"
Hartley had been occupied with his phone, but he looked up when a guy talked to him. It was the usual once-over. Hair, clothes, build, face. Nice hair, if too much product, interesting clothes, he'd never been any good at judging that part, although tight pants were a plus, slim build, very nice. It was the face that he lingered on and not for the obvious reason.
Although he was handsome. "I don't know. I don't really do this much."
He was at bars, sure, but usually he just ignored everyone. However, this might be worth an exception. "I still have something to drink." He indicated the glass in front of him, but then he smiled. He knew how to smile to make it have the right effect. "But sit down."
Axel was very content to just sit there with Hartley, resisting the urge to check his phone himself because hell, he didn't want to detract attention from his goal. There was nothing, literally nothing, he wanted quite like Hartley right now. His voice was definitely not a draw back, his face was as handsome in person as it looked online and man, that smile. It hit him where it hurt. He was frankly finding it hard not to currently smile like an idiot. This was exciting.
A criminal like him in a gay bar with a costume and a whole villain theme going down. It was the dream.
"I'm Axel." He kept the surname to himself just in case this guy heard that name around town, it was spreading a little bit since his whole father-son heist and then the whole prison break and robbery of a taco bell. Not for profit, he was just so hungry. "I've never really been here before. I didn't think I'd be that into it but so far? Seems to be working out. The company is pretty cool."
"I'm Hartley." His surname didn't really matter, he wished he could rid himself of it. A work in process, he supposed. For now here he was taking a sip from his drink and smiling at Axel over the rim of his glass.
"Really? You look like you'd be into it." What? In a place like this, it couldn't be seen as an insult to note that someone looked gay. He had called that one without having any doubts.
No, he didn't quite buy the coy act. He'd seen that man in front of a camera. Didn't add up. But he could humour him, why not? "So it's your first time. I'll be gentle."
"Don't get me wrong, I belong here, I got no delusions otherwise. I'm into it. I'm just not used to doing it like this." Which wasn't a lie. Axel had a very specific desire out of guys and it was never bars he hit people up in. Clubs was more his speed and even then, he didn't take many boys home. He was after something and Hartley could finally be the one to give it to him.
Usually he didn't even trade names with guys. He just shoved them up the wall, kissed them and if they were game and had the right protection, they could fuck. This whole dance was new. It was exciting. God, he even had butterflies!
"Will you?" Axel looked at Hartley with a playful smile, cocking his head to the side. "Gentle. Nah, not my speed. Sounds dull."
Hartley was more preoccupied with trying to put a finger on whether Axel knew not only who he was, but also that Hartley knew his not so secret secret as well. It was a fun game in that sense, the opposite of a masquerade. He chuckled at Axel's words, offering a shrug. "You'll just have to take it any way I give it to you."
This was fun, but so far Harley wasn't even entertaining the thought of actually taking this further. He wasn't really thinking past the intellectual pursuit right now. "So, Axel, what else are you into?"
"You're the boss, if you think you can handle me." Axel laughed and fought off all his urges to tackle this guy down and rip all his clothes off here and now. He was perfect. Everything he wanted. He could see it in his eyes now, Piper knew, he had to know! There was that flicker of recognition. How perfect was this? The Trickster and Pied Piper flirting in a gay bar and pretending they weren't aware? It was kind of funny. He liked it.
"Into? Oh, you know, the usual. I like playing games." That much was true, he loved them, he was always playing around with whatever he could. People, equipment, weapons. Games like this he enjoyed the most. Oh the potential. "You?"
"Then I am. Sucks to be you, Axel, I hear I'm a terrible boss. Very demanding." Hartley smirked and found himself just a little bit endeared, because however obviously they were both acting here, Axel had a certain enthusiasm that had to be real and that was, simply put, very cute. He took another sip from his drink, letting the alcohol just fill his mouth before slowly swallowing. That was a very deliberate lick of his lips, admittedly.
"I like chess. But I like playing with people more." Hartley shrugged his shoulders. "Engineering, I'm into that. I like to build my own toys."
"It's fine, I don't mind working overtime to please you." Was he being obvious? Eh, who even cared? This was fun. He could be way smoother, more subtle, better at this whole undercover thing but he didn't want to play it that way. He just wanted to see Hartley react, to see that cocky smirk and the way he held himself when he knew what he was doing. It was a big turn on. He watched the way that tongue darted out and imagined how it'd feel against him. Beautiful.
"You build things too? I make all my own toys." He knew it, he totally knew Hartley made those gloves. They were amazing. The things they could do? Oh man. They were destructive. "Some people say you get to old to play with toys. You and me? We know better."
"Oh, never. The toys just get better. A lot more fun." Hartley never stopped smiling, but the smile changed. A sinister quality if ever there had been such a thing. He turned the glass in his hand, swaying the remaining alcohol. He didn't really want to drink much more, today dulling his senses didn't seem all that advisable. "Especially if your toys let you play with people."
Well. He was sold. This guy was perfect. Axel smirked back, his stomach doing weird flips as he resisted the urge to steal a kiss. He had to be cool, he didn't want to ruin it early and look like a jackass. "A man after my own heart." If only literally. He raised an eyebrow in interest, nodding slightly before dropping his arms onto the bar, sprawling forward a little. "You could play with me any time." There was a beat before he added. "Pretty Piper."
"Could I?" Hartley didn't react to being called that, other than cocking an eyebrow. Pretty, huh? Whatever. He rested his elbows on the bar and looked down at Axel, saying nothing for a while, but biting down on his lower lip. Oh, he knew what he was doing. "Tempting."
He wasn't lying about that. Axel was good-looking, he was definitely eager and he couldn't pretend that the look in his eyes wasn't doing things to him. However, this just screamed bad idea. "I don't mix business and pleasure." He reached out, softly caressing Axel's hair before suddenly tightening his grip and giving it a light yank. "Sorry, Trampy Trickster."
Yep. Perfect. Axel laughed as he squirmed in his seat, that yank going straight down to his crotch. He couldn't be more turned on, more in love, more determined to prove himself. He smirked at Hartley and bit his lower lip, never willing to just submit that easily. The game wasn't over, not as long as there was a spark. And oh yeah, there was still a spark.
"Ouch. Burn. You're breaking my heart." He arched back a little in the grip and raised his eyebrows daringly. "Don't say something you'll regret this early. Business and pleasure should always be mixed, your life is your business if you're one of us. You can't ever stop but you can have a little fun on the job." Rogues didn't do nine to five, they did all day every day. And that made dating a real bitch.
"That sounds like a recruitment speech to a cult." What? It really did. But here Hartley still was, his hand in Axel's hair holding him down against the bar. Oh, he could think of quite a few things to do with him. He was just human after all. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not reigned by hormones." Maybe a little bit swayed sometimes.
"You say that but I can see it in your eyes. I know when someone is into it." Axel drew in a swift breath, closing his eyes and trying to refocus. This was hot. He had no idea why it was so hot, usually guys trying to pull the power play was more fun to build up to but Hartley went right into it. He pulled no punches. Axel loved that. "When was the last time you had someone? It gets harder, doesn't it? The occupation we're in. Sort of kills the sex life."
"I've never had any issues when I really wanted someone." It was true, but mostly because Hartley really wasn't ruled by hormones. Most days, he was fine without even thinking about it. Maybe his first relationship had just burned him badly enough for this type of thing to not actually seem all that appealing. "But if you're asking whether I find the idea of you on your knees, desperate for anything I want to give you appealing..."
"Hey, I'm game. As long as you understand that I will get revenge. I never give without taking, pretty Piper. One good deed deserves another." Axel had never really had anything with anyone, no real connections, no true loves, no crushes. Just a desire and an ability to pull most guys he wanted. This? It was different. Usually losing was something he'd shrug off but the colder Hartley was, the more he wanted to make him warm up to him. "Though I have to say, it'd be a shame to gag me. I have a very skilled mouth."
"I'm sure you do. But is it worth listening to you prattle on?" It wasn't as if he was actually annoyed. At this point he was just playing a game, with his dominance so clearly established. Axel didn't seem to mind the semi-insults. In fact, it seemed to have the opposite effect. Which was pretty much ideal.
Hartley casually gestured to the bartender, indicating his almost empty glass. "May I have some ice?"
He watched as the cubes fell into the glass and thanked him, ever politely. Then he took one of the cubes between two fingers and held it out to Axel, pressing it against his lips. "Take it in. Let it melt. Slowly. Let me see that skill."
"You say such mean things to me, my poor heart can't take it." Axel had a mock tone of hurt but the smile gave away how into the game he was, focus all over his face as he asked for the ice. He nearly made a lame pun about it getting to hot for Hartley but fortunately, he considered otherwise. His eyes never left the glass until the ice was there, waiting.
Then he looked at Hartley with a smirk and obediently opened his mouth. He had skills, no denying it, his tongue gently licked around his fingers as he took the ice in, sitting it on his tongue and feeling it slowly melt inside his mouth. When it was finally dissolved, he swallowed. Hard.
"You're such a kinky little bastard." With an amused noise, he leaned forward. "I knew it."
"Too bad for you I have standards." Hartley tightened his grip in Axel's hair once more, just to yank his head back. Then he let go, turning his attention to his drink and fishing another ice cube out of the glass, so he could lick it. Hey. When he was playing, he was playing to win.
Standards? Axel pulled a face and gritted his teeth. No, he had to stay calm and keep playing. If he lost his temper now, he'd never win anything. He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, dropping his head in his hands, tutting at how cold his pretty Piper was being. "You can play hot and cold all night if you want to but we both know you want it. Don't pretend like you're better than me, you're just afraid you can't handle me."
"I can't?" Hartley looked at Axel and tilted his head to the side. Oh, he shouldn't do this. He really shouldn't, for so many reasons. But even as he thought that, he pursed his lips, starting to whistle softly.
To Axel, it only seemed to last a moment. But when Hartley stopped whistling, they were no longer in the bar. Instead they stood outside, in an alleyway, and Axel just finished locking handcuffs around his own wrists. Hartley watched him with amusement and a certain mock-innocence. "Do you always walk around with your own handcuffs?"
Okay, this was trippy. Did he just handcuff himself and miss like a while chunk of his conversation? Did he black out? With a frown, he looked at Hartley and took in that smug look. The last thing he remembered was a whistle and he knew the Piper digged sound but was this some kind of head trip? He could manipulate people? That was a hell of a power. The confusion turned into a strange kind of dark amusement and Axel smirked at Hartley, shrugging his shoulders. "Handcuffs always come in handy. Always. I never leave home without them." They were a must have all the time. "You played with my head and my heart? You're a dangerous boy."
"You're a sick little puppy, aren't you?" Hartley supposed he shouldn't be surprised, but that casual attitude to getting his mind fucked with, that was still not quite what he'd have expected. Curious. "Maybe I should get you a collar. Just to be safe. Wouldn't want someone less responsible than I am to take possession."
"Not the first time I've snapped back into reality missing a good chunk of the story with some hot guy smirking at me." The fact he still had his pants on made this the bigger difference than the norm, admittedly, he had to admire Hartley's ability to resist exploiting a power like that. The things he could make Axel do? This was pretty tamed. "Oh pretty Piper, don't get carried away. I like you, you're cute but you're not collaring anyone. You want to own me?" It took seconds to get out of the handcuffs, holding them out playfully. "You have to try harder than this."
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This was the Pied Piper.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Worth a shot? Anything to get his attention, to get a moment of his time or hell, some eye contact. He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, trying for the more bashful angle. "Sorry, is that a lame way to do this? I haven't done it in ages. Is buying people a drink still a thing?"
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Although he was handsome. "I don't know. I don't really do this much."
He was at bars, sure, but usually he just ignored everyone. However, this might be worth an exception. "I still have something to drink." He indicated the glass in front of him, but then he smiled. He knew how to smile to make it have the right effect. "But sit down."
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A criminal like him in a gay bar with a costume and a whole villain theme going down. It was the dream.
"I'm Axel." He kept the surname to himself just in case this guy heard that name around town, it was spreading a little bit since his whole father-son heist and then the whole prison break and robbery of a taco bell. Not for profit, he was just so hungry. "I've never really been here before. I didn't think I'd be that into it but so far? Seems to be working out. The company is pretty cool."
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"Really? You look like you'd be into it." What? In a place like this, it couldn't be seen as an insult to note that someone looked gay. He had called that one without having any doubts.
No, he didn't quite buy the coy act. He'd seen that man in front of a camera. Didn't add up. But he could humour him, why not? "So it's your first time. I'll be gentle."
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Usually he didn't even trade names with guys. He just shoved them up the wall, kissed them and if they were game and had the right protection, they could fuck. This whole dance was new. It was exciting. God, he even had butterflies!
"Will you?" Axel looked at Hartley with a playful smile, cocking his head to the side. "Gentle. Nah, not my speed. Sounds dull."
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This was fun, but so far Harley wasn't even entertaining the thought of actually taking this further. He wasn't really thinking past the intellectual pursuit right now. "So, Axel, what else are you into?"
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"Into? Oh, you know, the usual. I like playing games." That much was true, he loved them, he was always playing around with whatever he could. People, equipment, weapons. Games like this he enjoyed the most. Oh the potential. "You?"
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"I like chess. But I like playing with people more." Hartley shrugged his shoulders. "Engineering, I'm into that. I like to build my own toys."
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"You build things too? I make all my own toys." He knew it, he totally knew Hartley made those gloves. They were amazing. The things they could do? Oh man. They were destructive. "Some people say you get to old to play with toys. You and me? We know better."
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He wasn't lying about that. Axel was good-looking, he was definitely eager and he couldn't pretend that the look in his eyes wasn't doing things to him. However, this just screamed bad idea. "I don't mix business and pleasure." He reached out, softly caressing Axel's hair before suddenly tightening his grip and giving it a light yank. "Sorry, Trampy Trickster."
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"Ouch. Burn. You're breaking my heart." He arched back a little in the grip and raised his eyebrows daringly. "Don't say something you'll regret this early. Business and pleasure should always be mixed, your life is your business if you're one of us. You can't ever stop but you can have a little fun on the job." Rogues didn't do nine to five, they did all day every day. And that made dating a real bitch.
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Hartley shrugged. "Maybe if I gagged you."
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Hartley casually gestured to the bartender, indicating his almost empty glass. "May I have some ice?"
He watched as the cubes fell into the glass and thanked him, ever politely. Then he took one of the cubes between two fingers and held it out to Axel, pressing it against his lips. "Take it in. Let it melt. Slowly. Let me see that skill."
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Then he looked at Hartley with a smirk and obediently opened his mouth. He had skills, no denying it, his tongue gently licked around his fingers as he took the ice in, sitting it on his tongue and feeling it slowly melt inside his mouth. When it was finally dissolved, he swallowed. Hard.
"You're such a kinky little bastard." With an amused noise, he leaned forward. "I knew it."
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To Axel, it only seemed to last a moment. But when Hartley stopped whistling, they were no longer in the bar. Instead they stood outside, in an alleyway, and Axel just finished locking handcuffs around his own wrists. Hartley watched him with amusement and a certain mock-innocence. "Do you always walk around with your own handcuffs?"
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Okay, this was trippy. Did he just handcuff himself and miss like a while chunk of his conversation? Did he black out? With a frown, he looked at Hartley and took in that smug look. The last thing he remembered was a whistle and he knew the Piper digged sound but was this some kind of head trip? He could manipulate people? That was a hell of a power. The confusion turned into a strange kind of dark amusement and Axel smirked at Hartley, shrugging his shoulders. "Handcuffs always come in handy. Always. I never leave home without them." They were a must have all the time. "You played with my head and my heart? You're a dangerous boy."
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