One of a kind: chapter 6
#6 of One of a kind series
"After you," Axel said.
"If you insist," Jasper managed.
The two were led to their seats by the staff. Both the tiger and the labrador were content being treated like kings. Their little dinner together was far off from being little. The plethora of mannerisms and cues of a savvy and avant garde life that currently surrounds them brought about an air of immature vanity. The two smiled, knowing they were infact a part of such a life, even if it lasted temporarily. Axel was the one to break the ice, and boy did he broke it aloud.
"Damn, if this isn't fancy enough, I don't know what is."
"Hush with the swearing, others might hear you." The orange Labrador commented on his partner.
"Sorry. I do that when I'm excited."
"Do what?" Jasper asked in slight confusion.
"Um, swearing..." The white sabretooth scratched his cheek. "I don't like it, but you know how it is. 'Bad habits die hard,' they say."
"Well, don't we all have our quirks?" Jasper smiled, with a hint of seduction in mind. Axel seem to cought it, as a blush so red was shown from under his pure white fur. He began to to open his muzzle, but held back from saying anything.
The restaurant is indeed a fancy place. The central chandelier was set to cast a dim, yellow light. The calm atmosphere, in return, invoked a certain air of class around its patrons. The white sabretooth saw other furs in tuxedos, dangling their glass of '87 Chateau. He felt the pressure of being under such tight aristocracy. On the other hand, Jasper seemed to be struggling to stay comfortable.
"They're staring.."
"Yeah, I noticed. It's like we're clowns or something. Well, don't mind them, cause tonight we are going to spoil ourselves," was what Axel said, comforting his partner. Jasper replied with a nod, still squirming slightly
As if on cue, a waiter arrives with a bottle of wine. "Your wine, sir. A '91 Bordeaux, uncorked and breathed." The scrawny saluki held up a glass and filled them with the wine that Axel had ordered beforehand, handing them ever so gently to the sabretooth and doing the same to Jasper.
The waiter left them with menus in hand. They both looked at the menu, having no clue at what was written, only noting the really expensive price tagged to each choice of food. Then both looked above their menus and into each other, stiffing a small crack of laughter, obviously knowing what was floating in each others' minds.
"I have no idea what's written in this," the labrador said.
"God, me neither. Just look at it, most of the words are in french or so, I think." The white tiger took the glass in hand and downed the wine in a single gulp.
"Well, you might wanna slow down there tiger. This isn't the best place to get drunk you know. Besides, we've got the whole night to ourselves." Jasper smiled, intrigued that his repressed thought of finishing his drink was made manifest by his partner instead. He finally got comfortable in his seat and sipped on the wine. Whoa, this is some good stuff, he thought.
"Relax, this isn't remotely enough to make a big cat like me tipsy, let alone make me drunk." Axel refilled his glass with the wine, generous on the amount. They set aside their menus and start complimenting on the looks of each other.
.....
Again the saluki returned, surprised that the bottle of wine is already half empty. "What will it be, gentlemen?" He asked, with the politeness of a five star restaurant waiter.
Construing the situation that none of the two know what they want, Jasper took over the question.
"Everything in here sounds very tempting, but we'd like to have the chef's specialty. Whatever suits him fancy."
"Very well sir, and please, enjoy your drinks while you wait." The brown furred saluki bowed a little and left them.
"Very smooth. Thanks." The feline was somewhat apprehended, not handling the situation like a good host should.
Then again, he couldn't help but blush under his white fur. The Labrador is being very charming tonight, saving him the embarassment of not knowing, of not belonging with the group of the rich. He certainly was enjoying himself, but the occasional disapproving stares was enough to put him under a tense disposition. The wine was not helping him ease at all. Further, to him the effect of a mere generic grape juice was more adequate. He loosened his tie a little and unbuttoned the top of his shirt.
"Hey, you okay there, tiger?"
Axel only managed a single nod, making sure to smile at his partner. He was beginning to regret coming to such a place. This isn't me, is this a mistake? For the labrador's sake, he went on. "To tell you the truth, this place is kinda making me nervous."
"Well don't be, you said it yourself, tonight's gonna be about you and me."
"I know, it's just-"
"Relax tiger. Tell you what, don't look at anywhere else, keep your eyes here and here only." Jasper gestured at his brown eyes, all the while talking and staring into the blues of Axel's. They were very beautiful, Jasper thought. Those pair of blue eyes suited the tiger very nicely, along with the small black spot under his right eye. In return, The feline nodded again and sighed.
.....
Some time went by and the waiter returned with dishes in hand. "Your appetizers, sir. A classic foie gras with the chef's special blood sauce, with a side of swedish caviar, best from the hands of our master chef. Please, enjoy." He smiled to the two and left them with their food.
"Looks good..." not. The smell of oily grease apparent on the feline's nostrils. He crooked a ratty smile towards the blob of duck fat.
The same expression worn by Jasper, "certainly. Wonder what it tastes like, though." He held up a forkful and ate the expensive foie gras. Tastes funny, but not bad.
"So?"
The labrador chewed and suckled his teeth. "Well, its kinda creamy, buttery like. I can sorta taste the twang of metal, probably from the sauce."
"Whoa, this is really good stuff." The primal diet of a carnivorous tiger spoke to Axel, their nature as predators scream the thirst for blood. The feeling fervor to him, only being slightly disappointed that such a delicacy cost dearly. "What's this black gooey stuff?"
"I believe that's the cav- hey, mind your manners, tiger." Jasper snapped suddenly. Axel was taken aback with the reprimand. He stopped immediately. On the other hand, Jasper was mildly surprised that his partner was poking the food, playing with it like it's jell-o. "Remember, we're here as civilized furs, those with class, so try act like it." The white sabretooth's ear fell flat.
The orange labrador managed to keep his facade, but only to stifle a laugh a second later. He tried to sound serious, but the very thought tickled his funny bones, "God, what am I saying, this is so not us. Go on tiger, prey upon the roe's unborn. Show it the supreme prowess of the Fork of Darkness." The dog grinned to the sabretooth.
"Gosh, and here I thought you were being serious. Sonuva gun, you're one sly dog, you." Axel smiled back, saying those words whilst pointing with his caviar-smeared fork towards the labrador. You're so adorable I can jump you right now...
"Well, to tell you the truth, this place is too fancy it's boring. I don't mean to judge your choice, but this place sucks." Finally Jasper said what was bothering him, breaking the tight air of perplexity. He was ready to take any rebuttal, so long as he could bail this dull place of a restaurant.
"...That...Well, you said just the thing I was thinking.. Sorry, I knew this was a mistake." The smile on Axel's face wavered. You idiot.. Damn, should've minded my manners.
No! Jasper said, a little too loud. "I mean, please, don't get the wrong idea, this is not a mistake. I love that you were willing to take me out for a nice dinner. I do, really. It's just, well, this place is too overbearing for me. I now I didn't show it, but this place is just suffocating." The labrador was truly sorry. The tiger didn't give the argument he was hoping. "I didn't realize that you're just trying to please the both of us, me being a jerk to your sweet gesture cannot be justified. Really, I apologize..." Crap, crap, crap.
Those onyx black eyes looked up to the ceiling, to the chandelier. He sighed, and continued. "I guess we're both suckers, huh?"
"No. You are being romantic. I am being jerk," The labrador said, careful with his words.
Axel looked down again. The main course was still not ready. He got an idea. A paw was extended to the orange dog. Puzzled, Jasper took it in his own. With a warm smile, Axel said "Jasper Roberts, will you go out with me?" Finally he said it, those words if intimacy putting a new taste on his tongue. Saying those words to Layla was difficult enough, but with the labrador it was otherwise. I guess this is gonna work out, he thought.
"I-I thought this is a date."
The white sabretooth was beaming, "not officially, no. If i'm right, I didn't ask it when I called you. Come on, this night's just getting started."
"O-Okay"
He guided the labrador out of his seat and hurried out of the restaurant, feeling emancipated from the judgmental stares. Without looking, he yelled "Hey waiter! put everything on my tab."
As Jasper was being pulled by the tiger, he got a glimpse of the expression the tiger had. Confident, protective, dominant. The same tiger back at the bus stop, the one who was always in control, always knowing what to do. The black spot lifted nicely above his smile as he looked back to the labrador that was being pulled.
Axel opened the doors with enough force to shook the entire venue. A night unraveled before them as they left with the black Golf GTI.
"Where're we going?"
"Oh, you'll see..." Axel managed a grin towards the labrador. Truthfully, even he had no idea where to go next.
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Hey there! Sorry for the really darn long delay. I had been very busy lately. Even this chapter was done in a hurry, so forgive the mistakes and please be sure to comment on what you guys think.