ORIGINAL: "STRANDED." SLASH
Blair Aldwin hung up his cell phone with an angry curse. What a bunch of assholes! He'd been surprised to get the invitation to go out with them because they rarely invited him to do anything since his car had broken and he'd decided not to bother and fix it. With the weather so nice and everywhere he needed to go within biking distance it seemed pointless to spend the money. They'd refused to pick him up and Blair had talked his sister into dropping him off before she went out with her boyfriend. Now he was standing on the side of the road in front of the wrong restaurant and not only would his friends not be coming to get him for dinner, they weren't coming to get him at all. He had no way home and they knew it.
It probably shouldn't be such a surprise. He almost hadn't accepted the invitation, but he didn't know a lot of other people in the area and Saturday night alone in his apartment with his cats was starting to get a little old. Not that he didn't really love his cats, but they weren't substitution for company that talked back. Blair texted his sister on the offhand that she checked her phone, but she usually turned her phone off while she was out with her boyfriend so he wasn't hopeful. It was already getting dark and Blair really wasn't looking forward to the long walk home through some slightly sketchy neighborhoods when the sound of someone clearing their throat behind him caught his attention.
"Excuse me."
Oh great. Of course the completely attractive and utterly unattainable guy who'd blown him off a couple of weeks ago at a coworkers house party would show up at this exact moment. Fiachra was so attractive that it was almost stupid. Blair had noticed that straight away, but hadn't actually bothered to look twice at him until he overheard him chatting with someone, easily proving he was more than just a pretty face. Blair had managed to introduce himself to Fiachra when the other man wandered off in search of more guacamole. They'd been talking and flirting a little when suddenly the other man had completely disappeared from the party without a word of goodbye. This was sure to make an already frustrating night even more awkward and uncomfortable.
"Hi."
"Hi," Fiachra replied, his lips twisting in an amused smile. He was dressed more casually than he had been at Brennus and Greyson's party, in simple jeans and a clinging dark t-shirt. His bright orange hair was a tad shorter than Blair remembered, but of course he was still exceptionally gorgeous. "I didn't mean to listen in, but you seem to be stranded."
"I'm fine."
"Look, you're a friend of my brothers. I'm definitely not going to leave you standing on a street corner in this part of town. Let me give you a ride home."
"You're related to Brennus?"
If Fiachra's hair was several shades lighter and less loud, and his freckles gone he would look like Brennus' twin. Combined with his faint Irish accent Blair really felt stupid for not realizing that he was related to Brennus. And now he felt like a jerk for flirting with his friend and coworker's brother in front of him. Blair felt awkward. Very awkward.
Fiachra nodded, "Brennus is the youngest of a truly outrageous number of siblings. I'm just a little bit older than him."
"Right," Blair wanted to refuse the ride, but the long walk home seemed more unpleasant than ever. "Thanks for the offer. I appreciate it. I really wasn't looking forward to the ride home."
Fiachra smiled a little and led Blair in the direction of his car, "Sounds like you need better friends."
Blair shrugged, "I work a lot. It’s not easy to meet people. And it’s probably my fault."
"From what I heard it sounds like the friends you were going to meet know you're stuck here without a car and they refused to come get you. That's pretty shitty no matter how you look at it." Fiachra slowed and for a moment Blair thought he was just pausing to admire the admittedly shiny motorcycle, but he knelt by the side of it for a moment and produced two helmets. "Have you ever been a passenger on a motorcycle before, Blair?"
Blair took the offered helmet, "No."
Fiachra took a step closer, his eyes bright as he asked, "Its a BMW R 1200 GS. Isn't it gorgeous?"
His enthusiastic smile and bright eyes were almost intolerably attractive and Blair couldn't think of a response except to nod.
"Scared?"
"Maybe a little nervous," Blair admitted.
Fiachra helped Blair with the helmet, lifting the face shield after he tightened the chinstrap. "Too tight?"
"No."
"I won't speed. I promise I'm a really safe driver. Just hold onto me, okay? Tap my shoulder once when I need to turn and twice if you want me to pull over,"
"Okay."
Fiachra situated himself on the motorcycle and backed out of the parking space before gesturing for Blair to get on behind him. Blair exhaled slowly once he was seated and cautiously put his hands on Fiachra's shoulders. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad? That thought lasted until they were on the rode and Blair plastered himself against Fiachra, his arms tightening around the taller man's middle. A quick peek over Fiachra's shoulder show that they were actually going below the speed limit and Blair forced himself to calm down. Being a passenger wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He started to enjoy it a little towards the end but was still relieved when he tapped Fiachra twice on the shoulder and the other man pulled over in front of his house. Once off the bike Fiachra removed his helmet and helped Blair with his, offering him an apologetic smile.
"Was that so bad?"
"I could get used to it," Blair admitted.
Fiachra worried his lower lip briefly before blurting out, "I think I owe you an apology. I'm sorry I disappeared, but my brother was annoyed that we were flirting"
"I'm sorry about that. I didn't realize you were related to Brennus."
"I mean he was irritated at me," Fiachra amended, "He thinks I've been a little too cavalier in my personal life, I guess," Fiachra winced a little, "I sound like a player, don't I?"
Blair smiled, "Maybe a little."
"I'm really not. I've just gone on a lot of dates. It’s hard to find someone worth a second date, you know?"
Blair nodded, well aware of how correct Fiachra was. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a second date with someone. The guys he dated always either wanted sex immediately or were so painfully boring and uninformed that they had nothing interesting to contribute to a conversation. What was wrong with wanting to take things slow? With talking and getting to know each other before leaping straight into bed? "Yeah."
"But I like you and I'd like to go out with you again... though I guess meeting at my brother's party wasn't exactly a date. Will you go on a date with me?" Fiachra was leaning forward, his eyes bright and hopeful but there was a tightness around his mouth and shoulders that hinted at nervousness.
"I'd like that."
Fiachra exhaled and laughed, "You will? Really? Well, great. That’s great."
"What did you have in mind?"
"I hadn't thought that far ahead," He admitted sheepishly.
"Pick me up tomorrow at seven and we'll go from there?"
"Sounds good," Fiachra admitted, still grinning. "Can I pick you up on my bike?"
"Do you take all your dates on your bike?"
Fiachra grimaced a little, "No. I've actually never had a passenger that wasn't a family member. I don't use my bike to get dates. But seriously, if you don't like it-"
"Its fine. I've never been a passenger before and not having control of the bike freaked me out a little, but I could get used to it."
"Wait..." Fiachra frowned a little, "Do you- do you have a bike?"
Blair grinned, "1923 BMW R23."
Fiachra's eyes brightened, "Vintage? You have a vintage bike?"
"Yep. Like I said, I've never been a passenger before. I was weird, but kind of nice." Blair leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "So thanks for the ride. It was really nice of you and I appreciate it. I'll see you tomorrow." Halfway up the driveway, Blair turned back towards Fiachra. "And tomorrow it’s my turn to drive."