Dinner Date [c]

He his body twisted and he swatted the hand away with a laugh.

"Shape-shifting into animals or shape-shifting into other people?"

Fleck wasn't wrong. It was shape-shifting was fun. It was refreshing seeing the world with a different pair of eyes. Sometimes he wished he could shift into a more common animal and do it more often.

"Animals. Shape shifting into other people would just be creepy."

He couldn't imagine trying to pass off as someone else. It just sounded creepy. The mere thought of it made his skin crawl. Nah, animals were his jam.

He hummed in agreement. He would hate someone walking around in a clone of his body.

"Any particular animal?"

Fleck hummed in thought, head tipping back and dark eyes turning to the sky as he thought.

"I dunno, maybe some type of cat?"

He could see himself as a cat. Laying around when it suited him, demanding attention when it suited him, going and being active and hunting some poor rodent when it suited him.

Dick nodded.

"I can see that."

A house cat rather then a big cat.

He took the time to check his surroundings, wondering where their feet have taken them. He didn't recognise the narrow streets. They must also be pretty far from the city centre, there was no cafes or shops, just houses.

"I think I am a bit lost."

At the mention of being lost, Fleck took the time to look at his surroundings, too. He'd just been following Dick and hadn't paid any attention at all to where he was going.

He recognised the area, though.

His shoulders squared a little and one hand dropped onto Dick's shoulder, nudging him around gently. "Let's go back."

Fleck's demeanour changed and Dick tensed up himself. He felt it should of been him pulling Fleck closer then the other way round.

"Sure."

He kept himself alert rather then his relaxed outlook had previously.

"Not a good area then?"

"Petty crimes and druggies galore here."

Perhaps in the minds eye it wasn't so dangerous, compared to a lot of the organised crime that went on in the city, but this place was dangerous in a different way.

It was unpredictable.

Fleck's shoulders tensed further when a woman leaned out of a window a few floors up and began screaming profanities at the two of them.

"C'mon." His pace sped up until he was power walking, keeping a firm hand on Dick's shoulder to keep him close.

"Sounds like a good place for a date." He joked, shoulders still tense.

Fleck was a large man, Dick was sure the other man could take care of himself. Maybe in a one to one fight? Just because he had muscles didn't mean he knew how to fight.

He kept up with Fleck's pace with ease. Any faster and they would be jogging - although that would look too conspicuous.

"Next time," Fleck promised with a dry tone and a little smile.

Fleck most certainly could fight. He was good at one on one fighting, and even two on one when he pushed himself (and his siblings felt the need to gang up on him) but fighting like that wasn't something he enjoyed doing when he didn't have to. Training was very different from actual street fighting.

He didn't want to get into a fight and leave Dick vulnerable, either.

He spotted a couple of figures down the street from them walking towards them. He was going to suggest crossing the street when he other couple seemed to of had the same idea and beat him too it.

"I think we both deserve a sit down after this. I know a twenty-four coffee shop if you want to go there? Just need to get my bearings first."

Some of the area was starting to look a little bit recognisable, but he still couldn't tell you how to get to the centre.

Dick spotted a couple more people lingering outside a door down the street. He listened carefully and couldn't hear anyone following them.

"Sounds good."

Hi brown eyes turned down to Dick and his lips twitched upwards teasingly. "Next time, I think I'll lead us in a random direction. It might be safer for us that way."

He didn't want Dick wandering around in the unsafe parts of the city.

He huffed in fake annoyance.

"An here I was hoping for a romantic walk to a drug house run by the Cosa Nostra."

Although Fleck was right. He would probably lead them somewhere safer. He seemed to know Catania better then him.

They walked past the two men by the door. They didn't seem to bother them until that spat the word 'finocchio' at them. He bit his lip to keep his temper under control, very much wanting to spit profundities back at them.

"Next time," Fleck promised.

He arched a brow when the term was thrown at them, then just smiled gently. "And what of it?" he threw back in a perfectly friendly tone.

So what if they were gay?

He led Dick on, not bothering to stop to confront the other men. He didn't want a fight, but he'd never let 'gay' ride as an insult. It was no insult to him.

His blood boiled. How dare they? He chewed on his lip and clenched his fists.

Dick was glad Fleck shot back at them. He was sure he wouldn't be as friendly. Which would probably result in a fight which is very much what he wanted to avoid and didn't want Fleck to be involved in.

Still, he couldn't help snarl 'bastards' under his breath.

"Don't let it get to you," he murmured to Dick, giving his shoulder a little squeeze.

The 'insult' had rolled right off Fleck's back like what off a duck. He hadn't felt a jab at all.

More than anything he was amused that these people could still be so pathetic.

"You fennels going to fuck, ah?" the guy yelled out to their backs. He gaave a loud, exaggerated sexual moan, and Fleck could guess the crotch-grab and hip thrust far too easily.

All Fleck did in response was chuckle quietly, shaking his head as he nudged Dick forwards again.

"Easier said then done."

How Fleck seemed so indifferent about it he didn't know.

He heard the moans and gritted his teeth. Oh, how he would like to turn around an throw a punch in the bastards direction. It it wasn't for the fact he really didn't want Fleck to see his horrible temper that would of been very much be a reality right now.

His friend, who seemed to be less witty, laughed and copied him.

"Practise makes perfect," Fleck replied in the same easy, unaffected voice he'd been using since he'd quipped the men.

"Let's go find that coffee shop and get something nice, eh?"

He was more interested in a coffee and maybe something sweet than he was of those men.

He sighed softly as a beer can pelted his shoulder, soaking his shirt with beer and causing him to grunt. Wonderful.

"C'mon," he urged again, over the jeers of 'fennel.'

"Sounds like a good idea."

He tried to sound cheerful for Fleck, he really did, but the words came out more like a hiss.

He then tried for a forced smile.

The can hit Fleck and cheap beer hit his senses.

How fucking dare they.

He did not have Fleck patience. Not one ounce. He was not going to stand by and watch his date get ridiculed by these bastards.

Fists clenched, he spun out of Fleck's arms and stormed up to the two men - who both had a good head on him. They were saying something about purses and waving their hands about. The less-witty-bastard stood forward, laughing.

Dick threw the first punch. Directly under the ribs. With satisfaction he watch the man collapse in on himself wheezing. He turned his attention to the witty-bastard, looking him down. His body ready to dodge or throw a punch.

Fleck followed right after Dick when he span out of his arms. He was slower than Dick, though, so the vampire managed to get a punch in before Fleck reacted.

He just swept Dick up into his arms and span around, speed waking again before the thug could do or say anything.

"Don't be stupid like that again," Fleck mumbled to the man in his arms, not looking down at him. He didn't have the self control right now to look down.

He wanted to avoid Dick getting into fights, and he was unhappy at Dick for being the one to throw the first punch. He didn't want to do any unhappy ranting.

He was too focused on witty-bastard that he didn't notice Fleck take out his legs from behind him and scoop him up bridal style.

Hearing Fleck's voice brought him to his senses. He turned his attention from the witty-bastard, who was now fussing over his friend, to Fleck.

The other man was not looking at him - he looked far from the happy person that he was only ten minutes ago. It didn't make Dick feel any regret for what he did. It was the bastards that threw the can.

Dick crossed his arms and turned his attention back other Fleck shoulder. The two men were not there any more. They probably went inside.

Fleck was in an uncharacteristic stony silence for almost ten minutes, until they were safe on the edge of the beach.

He shifted his arms, lowering Dick carefully to his feet.

"Please don't do that again."

He felt oddly cold for someone that doesn't feel the cold as he was placed back down.

He frowned and threw an arm in the direction they just came.

"They threw a can at you."

"And you almost got yourself into a fight."

His large, hot hands cupped Dick's shoulders; so small in his grip. Pretty much everything about Fleck dwarfed Dick.

"I care more about your safety than the cleanliness of my shirt, okay?" Who cared if he got a bit of beer spilled on him? He'd had much worse happen.

He'd definitely care more about Dick getting hurt than having to wash a shirt and deal with someone heckling him for something he didn't care about.

The hand felt heavy on his shoulders. He was tempted to batter it away, but he didn't want to hurt Fleck. He crossed his arms instead.

"Honestly I would of been fine," because I am a vampire. He was sure he wouldn't of seen Fleck again if he said that.

"And I care that you don't get ridiculed like that - or either of us for that matter. You deserve better then that."

Despite their fighting he was touched by Fleck's concern.