Words In The Wind (Koe-chan and Zombie_In_A_Box) [possibly 18+]

[BlaqueCatt]

The brunette hesitated, then followed the taller man, the dog trailing ing behind him. "Are you sure it's okay?" he asked as he stepped into the kitchen, looking around. It was larger than the one in his apartment, probably because it was meant for more than one person. That's right...his wife isn't here. This thought made him slightly uneasy, and he glanced over at his boss. He doesn't seem upset...but he must have loved her in some way. He took a breath to calm himself before going over to Alexander and looking down at what he was doing. "It looks better than what I could do," he replied with a shy smile.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander hummed with a nod when he heard the question, beginning the cooking. The raven was soon drowned in the actions, beating the eggs with milk and flour to make the omelett a bit better. Once it had cooked a bit in the pan, the man put a generous amount of cheese in the middle, then added in small bits of vegetables on top before folding it in half. "There." He muttered as he let it cook for a little bit, then cut it in half for them to share. "Coffee or tea?" He asked as he put the halves into plates and set them down on the table.

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett had watched Alexander from a distance, his expression one of curiosity. Neither his mother nor sister had liked cooking--apparently his father had provided most of their meals--so he had never learned more than the basics. I don't know if this is basic or not, but it looks hard. He had once again lost himself in thought, and he jumped slightly when the other spoke, having become accustomed to the comfortable silence. "Oh, um, tea please," he replied. Coffee had always made him sick. "Thanks for this," he added softly.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander nodded and went to boil the kettle before turning on the coffee machine as well. "Have a seat and eat, I'll get our drinks in a minute." He muttered as he took out a small cup for his tea and a bigger one for Beckett. The raven enjoyed strong coffee, but he couldn't take more than the one small cup in the morning. In a few minutes, he had both the coffee and the tea prepared, as he finally sat down at the table himself. "The sugar's here, milk's in here." The man said as he motioned to two of the objects. He began eating, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the flavours mixing together. This was his favorite meal for breakfast...

[BlaqueCatt]

The younger man nodded his thanks and reached across the table, taking a napkin from the pile in the center. He put it beside his plate, then picked up his fork. The omelet was carefully cut into several small pieces before Beckett even began eating. He stabbed one of the pieces with his fork, blew on it gently, then brought it up to his mouth. He was starving, as he hadn't eaten last night after the incident, but he ate slowly in an effort to be polite and not make himself sick. "Thanks," he said again as the tea was brought to him. He poured in a tiny bit of milk and only a spoonful of sugar before taking a sip.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander barely muttered an "mhm" in response as he was drinking his coffee at the moment Beck thanked him. When he set his cup down, the man turned his gaze to his employee, lightly pursing his lips. "When you're done, I'll just take a quick shower and get you home. I don't expect to see you at work today... I'd like you to take the day to make sure you'll be at full power tomorrow." The raven said before taking another piece of the omelett into his mouth. "Although I cannot prohibit you from working, I do hope you'll listen to me." He added, looking straight into the other's eyes. He was a man who always kept eye contact. If his conversation partner didn't, he would find himself getting uncomfortable.

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett was the opposite of Alexander when it came to conversing with others; as soon as the older man's eyes met his, he averted his gaze, staring down at his plate. He was unable to refrain from blushing in embarrassment and slight stress with how intense his boss' expression was, and he swallowed slightly before replying, "I...thank you for your concern, but I'd feel bad if I didn't go to work. I'm fine now, really." He was trying his hardest to sound reassuring. The effects of the medicine were still wearing off, so he was a bit tired, but other than that he was okay. Or so he told himself. It would be beneficial for his body to return to its usual strength, but he would feel guilty if he didn't work, as if he had let someone down. But...maybe he's right...I would do better if I rested first... He bit his lip, the doubt beginning to show in his brown eyes.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander felt his confidence drop when Beckett so suddenly avoided his gaze. The raven looked down at his plate, feeling awkward after the short exchange. He found eye contact incredibly important, it was just really unsettling when someone refused to look him in the eye. He soon looked back up at his employee, even if he didn't get to meet his eyes again. "Are you absolutely sure?" The raven asked, this time softly. He sounded a bit like a worried father - not completely, more like there was a hint of that in his voice. "I'll still drive you home." He said with a sigh. "If you decide to work, you'll take a ride with me."

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett shifted uneasily in his chair, unsure of his exact emotions at that moment. Part of him wanted to be more outgoing towards the other man and make him more comfortable, as it seemed that Alexander responded better to people who could be upfront, but the other part of him still felt inadequate and made him want to hide. I thought this would've stopped by now, the internally reprimanded himself. He had seen a counselor in high-school and college about his anxiety and lack of self-confidence, but apparently he still needed to improve. How will I ever hold a job when I'm like this? The brunette was always cautious around people, but it seemed that he was even more so around his boss. He wasn't sure if that was because Alexander was his employer or not, but he wanted to do his best to please the other man. They had only just met, and already he was looking up to the other. "Sorry," he murmured suddenly.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander felt confusion take place inside him when the other apologized out of nowhere. "For what?" He asked with a slight frown. Was there something else wrong?.. The man leaned back against the chair, attempting to calm himself from the sudden confidence loss. Honestly, he was always very serious about keeping eye contact no matter who he was talking to. Be it a janitor or the boss of a company he was applying to, eye contact was a must. Him not keeping eye contact was one of the main signs of something being terribly wrong. "I'll get back in a few minutes, then I'll take you home." The raven said as he stood up, having finished his breakfast. There was just a little bit too much tension and akwardness in this room for him to keep calm. He needed a shower to clear his thoughts...

[BlaqueCatt]

Becket internally winced, having a feeling that the awkwardness was entirely his fault. "Okay." He was surprised that he was able to keep his voice steady, and he made sure to lift his head and look at Alexander before the man exited the room. Once he was gone, the brunette sighed heavily and covered his face with his hands. I'm such an idiot. I made him uncomfortable. He sat there for a moment, trying to psyche himself up so he could put on a good face for his boss. The one person I really want to get along with and I'm stuck like this. The thought made him pause. He wanted to get along with Alexander? Why? I mean, I should be friendly with my employer and I'm worried about him because of his wife...but... Something about Alexander's personality, which was so different and yet similar to his own, intrigued him, and he wanted to get to know the other better. Ah, stop it! This was making him nervous, so he shook his head and stood, taking the time to clear off the table and put the plates in the dishwasher.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

After getting the short reply, Alexander didn't waste any more time to escape into the shower. In just a few minutes he was in the shower, hot water relaxing his muscles. He knew a cold shower would be better, but he absolutely hated cold showers. He liked hot showers both in the morning and in the evening, although usually he showered once a day. The man took the time to wash his hair as well, feeling his mind clear up as well - as if the unecessary thoughts just floated away with the steam. When he got out, the raven was feeling a lot better... He dried his hair and only then realized he didn't take a change of clothes. With a towel around his waist, the man walked out of the bathroom, looking around for Beckett before heading towards his bedroom. Seeing your boss naked probably wouldn't be the best thing right now...

[BlaqueCatt]

The young man looked up from his place at the sink when he heard a door close down the hall. Mr. Black must have finished. He sighed and stared down at his hands, which had started to reorganize the dishes and silverware in the dishwasher so that each item was only taking up as much space as it needed. He often organized when he was nervous, as it gave him something to do with his hands, and he had started after clearing the table without even noticing. I really need to calm down. He had no idea why Alexander made him so jittery of why he wanted to please him so badly, but he decided it would be best not to dwell on it, especially with how tired he was from the ordeal yesterday. There was a moment's hesitation, and then he moved away from the sink, peeking around the corner. He just saw Alexander's back and towel before the older man disappeared into his bedroom. Though he hadn't really seen anything, Beckett blushed heavily and ducked away, returning to the kitchen.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander dressed rather quickly, ending up wearing his usual clothes for work - meaning a white button-up shirt, a jacket and black pants. Of course, he also never forgot his tie. Honestly, he started wearing ties in school and he never stopped; well, if he was wearing something that could be worn with a tie, of course. He wouldn't wear a T-shirt with a tie... Probably. Once he was all ready, the raven walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, raising his eyebrows in slight confusion. "You cleaned the dishes?" He asked while lightly tilting his head to the side. "You really didn't have to..." The man sighed out before looking around. "Anyway, are you ready to go?"

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett was thankful that he had managed to will away the blush before Alexander reentered the kitchen. He had taken a seat at the table again, and he stood up when the other man appeared from the hallway. "It's no problem," he reassured the taller man, giving him a small smile. He hoped that they could get past the awkwardness that had transpired and work towards getting to know each other better. "Yeah, I'm ready." He grabbed his coat, which he had taken off before eating, from its place draped over the back of a chair, and slipped it on. The dog from before came back in at that moment and went over to him. His smile widened slightly and he gently patted its head, chuckling softly when it licked his fingers. So I was licked last night. It wasn't a dream. "It's beautiful," he commented, gazing up at Alexander. "What's its name?"

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander watched the interaction between his employee and Peggy. "That's Peggy." He said with a smile before patting his hip, immediately getting the dog's attention. It trotted over to him, sitting obediently next to him. "She's a real angel." The raven chuckled as he patted its head before turning towards the door. "See, usually she lives outside." He said as he opened the doors, first letting Peggy go before waiting for Beck. "Go on, my car's parked right there." The man said as he motioned to where his black car was. Both from the outside and inside, it looked expencive - so did his house. It took him a while to get the money to get a house as it was right now. He worked hard for this.

[BlaqueCatt]

"Hi Peggy," Beckett cooed softly, watching with a fond smile as the dog trotted obediently over to her master's side. "I wish I could have a pet," he commented, buttoning his coat as he followed Alexander outside. It was warmer than the past few days had been, but snow was still on the ground and there was a nip in the air. Beckett was a winter person, however, despite how easily he became cold, and it would be sad to see it all melt. "but my apartment doesn't allow animals." The brunette couldn't help but admire the car and house as he got a good look at the two of them. I wonder if Alexander comes from a wealthy family? It's not my place to ask, though. He sighed and waited until the older man had entered the car before taking a seat as well, shutting the door behind him.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

"You mean you can't have even little pets? That's not fair." Alexander commented before locking the door. He walked over to open the gates for the car as well, seeing as he had a fence around his house and yard. This was the least he had to have to feel at least somewhat safe. When he finally got into the car, the raven first turned on the radio before opening his CD 'drawer'. "Pick something you like." The man offered with a small grin as he drove out of the yard and got out to close the gates. This was the annoying part, honestly. He had to get the automatic gates installed... Alexander got back into the car, glancing at Beck to see if he chose the CD already.

[BlaqueCatt]

"The landlord doesn't want them making a mess or causing trouble," Beckett explained, pulling the seat-belt over his shoulder and snapping it into place. He watched as Alexander started the engine, and just as he was about to get comfortable with staring listlessly out the window as he usually did, the older man opened the glove compartment with a quiet click and told him to pick a CD. Me? he wondered stupidly, blinking in slight surprise. He had expected the driver to choose their music, but he was curious to see what Alexander liked to listen to, so he started to browse through the small collection of music. Hmm... His brown eyes widened when he saw the intricate logo design for the cover of AFI's 2003 album Sing the Sorrow. {I hope that's okay ^^'} "You listen to them too?" he asked.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander grinned at the sight of the CD, laughing,quietly. "Yeah, I listened to them in high school, I listen to them now." He said with a light grin before putting the music on. The raven disliked silence. That was one of the many reasons he picked journalism - even if he was in the office, there was always sound. People typed, got calls, made calls, made coffee, interview people on the internet... It was never completely quiet. If anything, the raven put on some instrumental music to relax himself some more. He just really couldn't stand the silence...

[BlaqueCatt]

Beckett's smile was wide and genuine, but there was a hint of sadness behind his deep brown eyes. "I listened to them in high-school too," he said, his gaze drifting to the track number outlined in black on the blue dashboard screen. "They..they helped me through some rough times." He stared at the words for a bit longer before sighing and running his fingers through his hair, blushing slightly. "I, uh...I actually got the album cover as a tattoo when I turned eighteen." He laughed softly in embarrassment. "I never want to forget, you know?" And I don't think I want to think about where I'd be now if I hadn't found them when I did. He turned to the window once the music started, the unique chords of "This Celluloid Dream" {My favorite song at the moment} coming to life.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander's hands tightened on the wheel when Beckett spoke. Hearing him talk about something as personal as this was a bit unexpected... Then again, he didn't know this guy at all. "A tattoo? Where?" The man asked as he looked at his employee, a small grin stretching out across his face. "I get what you're talking about." The raven said with a small smile on his face. They all had problems as teenagers. Some had bigger ones, some had smaller. Some dealed with them, others couldn't... Alex was one of those who couldn't. He'd gone to more psychologysts than he could count, but none of them really helped. At some point, pretending to be okay turned him "okay".

[BlaqueCatt]

The blush deepened when Alexander asked for a location, and Beckett kept his eyes focused on the road outside, not trusting himself to speak if he had to see his boss' face. "My left shoulder blade," he mumbled. Even though it wasn't a particularly strange location, it was still embarrassing for him to talk about. He didn't know why he was revealing this much about himself to the older man--he was usually a very private person--but for some reason he felt as though he could trust his boss. It's probably because he helped me when I had that allergic reaction.

[Zombie_In_A_Box]

Alexander smiled, for a few moments focusing on relaxing his hands on the wheel. "I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while now." He muttered with a smile on his face. "I wanted sleeve tattoos really bad, but... They're so expencive." The raven frowned, stopping at a red light. "And painful, probably. So, I do want them, but I don't... You know?" The man chuckled, lightly shaking his head. "Anyway, tell me where to drive. Do I turn here?" Alex asked and slowed down a bit just in case.

[BlaqueCatt]

A smile appeared on the brunette's face, and he looked at Alexander, nodding. "I know what you mean," he replied, feeling strangely calm now. Instead of boss and employee, it felt more like two friends talking with each other, and it was a feeling that Beckett thoroughly enjoyed. He was far less nervous, and it seemed to him as though he and Alexander had a lot in common. "Ah, take a left at the next light," he said, tapping his right foot to the beat of the music.