Archive of Our Own

Pantalone first met the light blue-haired bartender on a turbulent late spring night last year, when it was the grand opening of Northland Bank's Fontaine branch. For which he invited all his associates to partake in a celebratory party at an eccentric, enigmatic bar tucked away on a corner of Fontaine's lower-class entertainment avenue, Ts'ai Shen Boulevard. The bar is an old three-story red brick building adorned with greeny vines and red flowers, and protected by a heavy mahogany door with a "Shangri-la" plate sign at the entrance.

The place was suggested by Pantalone’s trusted aide, being reputable for serving excellent liqueurs to suit the tastes of its customers. What's more, the bartender delivers a fine, cordial service, albeit in spite of his peculiar appearance, donning a crow-shaped beaked mask that covers the upper half of his face. The first time Pantalone put the tip of his loafer on the liyuean carpet, he was not impressed with the establishment. For a bar infamous for its service and its collections of rare alcohol, the bar area is much to narrow, and the mix of Liyuean and Fontanian décor seems too inferior.

A very befitting taste, for the lower class friendly entertainment, the Banker thought as he sit on one of cheap barstool made with fake alligators skin.

In fact, Pantalone didn't really like to be in the bar, because it also brings back his old memories during his youth as a barman. He has to maintain a warm smile and be polite with the customers, no matter how rude and disrespectful they are toward him. The pretense of his ways to not betray the customers was what made Pantalone, the Regrator, today, a wealthy, cunning gentleman who desires to have everything what he craves with a meticulous scheme for a fair exchange.

However, his lack of interest with the poor people's bar begin to change, since Pantalone meet with the bartender himself, known as the 'red-eyed doctor'. Several rumors had been said that he conceals his bloody red eyes so as not to frighten his customers, and that name, doctor, came from the fact that the bartender is very knowledgeable within or outside his field.

Pantalone are more interested to know the stories that made the bartender to be such a gentleman, knowing well that the red-eyed doctor, who is called Dottore, puts on a metaphorical mask with his attentive, pleasant, thoughtful bartender's manner around his customers.

That's when Pantalone starts to ponder that it would be a shame if something were to happen to that his lovely face before he could learn what kind of person is beneath the bartender's facade. He can truly tell that the bartender has some disdain about life as much as he does, judging from the way he puts forward his own logical opinion over personal feelings each time his customers come to ask for his advice.

But when he tries to confront the bartender by ordering a special cocktail, instead Dottore serves him with a classic hot toddy, as he can tell that the rich banker was freezing cold and might get the flu if he doesn't drink something to warm up his body during stormy night like this. Afterwards, Pantalone feels a little unsure about his fake courtesy.

It is a genuine courtesy, and Dottore is kind of a viciously attractive man, who can sometimes be a bit sheepish in his off-hours. After discovering this fact, certain emotions are flaring up inside of him, and so Pantalone ends up always paying his late night after a very long hours of working, visiting the odd earthly Utopian Bar, solely for the purpose of having a pleasant chat with the bartender over cocktails and cigarettes.

The two of them somehow become good friends as time goes by. For the dottore, he considers that Pantalone is still just a good acquaintance, since he is rarely able to have a casual conversation with anyone for a long time, due to his need to maintain his gentleman image as a bartender. He confessed to Pantalone that he doesn't really like this kind of job. He has to keep his mask on so as not to frighten anyone and be looked down upon by others for choosing to live as a lower class.

The other reason why he takes a job in such a place is because he was kicked out of Sumeru. He was expelled from Akademiya for breaking the virtues and sins by doing blasphemous experiments. He then travelled to the nearest country and ended up here, but he needed money to survive, so he saved up a bit to set up his own practice in exchange for this gentleman act of his and before he realized that he lived for quite a year as a bartender.

Pantalone himself, are rather desired that their relationship goes much farther, more than just a chatting friend and a partner, as he wanted to claim this Sumerian for himself, before someone else could take the bartender. And during this summer solstice night, Pantalone offers a fair trade to Dottore. He will buy the whole bar and will make it legitimate for business and it certainly means that he will also hire Dottore. This bar means a lot to him, and therefore a choice is given to Dottore. He can choose to work as a bartender or not, or simply be the master of the bar if he prefers.

"That sounds like it's lean more beneficial for me, so what do you get from this fair trade?" Dottore inquired as he put a stainless steel shaker on the counter.

"First, I'll be able to establish a new business chain. In addition, this bar will be able to profit greatly from how notorious it is. But most of all, I wanted you." Pantalone replied with fleeting smile, as his forefinger made tapping noises on browny woods.

"Huh? But you already have me in the literal sense, as your employee."

"No, that's not what I meant, Zandik."

"You-where the hell do you know that name from?"

"It's not really a concern in the context of our exchange. So, Dottore, will you be in favor of this contract?"

"I'll have no answer until you first explain yourself."

"Well, then, I want you, everything about you."

"I want you-no, us, to become lovers."

"...What?"

A rainstorm swept through Fontaine on the night of the summer solstice, and in the midst of the downpour was a man who was running as fast as he could toward a certain place in the rundown streets of the lower class. He was the only one outside, and even though his jet-black mane and coat were soaking wet, he kept running against the rain and the heavy wind that was blowing hard against his dark umbrella.

He ran all the way to the end of the lower-class entertainment district, pausing breathlessly in front of a two-story red brick building. He looked at the plaque of the place for a while, "Shangri-la", engraved in beautiful couplets on the gold painted sign.

A strong gust of wind that nearly blew his umbrella away brought him out of his reverie. His trembling hand slowly opened the reddish mahogany door that made a loud creaking noise due to its heft.

"Welcome to Shangri-La, Sir." A husky man's voice greeted him as his feet stepped into the doorway.

"Dottore, are you still up at this time of the night?" The man who was sitting behind the bar placed the silver shaker on the brown counter and then walked over to his customer.

"Of course, I couldn't get any rest because someone came in here all of a sudden." Dottore immediately took Pantalone's umbrella and coat from his hand. "You came in late at night when I was just about to close the bar, and now you're making a mess on the floor that I had just mopped."

"I'm sorry, today's patron was quite troublesome and she only let me leave when I said I was going home because I had someone waiting for me."

The man with the light blue hair cleared his throat out loud and threw a small towel over Pantalone's face. "Hurry up and get yourself cleaned up first, just use the bathroom on the second floor. As for the clothes, I can lend you mine from the new ones you gave me."

Pantalone gave a grin of annoyance as he dried his face. "You haven't tried them on yet? That's a shame, it was my present for your birthday last year."

"The fabrics are not to my liking. I'm not like you, who wears fancy clothes casually like a billionaire."

Pantalone chuckled. "Oh, really? But it appears you wear the bow tie and shoes I gave you. You seem to have a preference for them over clothes because they are less conspicuous."

"I wear them because my shoes have been destroyed and only this tie is still neat." Dottore replied.

Pantalone's smile widened even more. "Well, I'll keep that in mind for your gift this year, because you have a taste for accessories and shoes."

Dottore sniffed, if he had made that face, Pantalone would definitely have continued his teasing. "Come on, hurry up and take a shower. You'll be cold and I'm sure you don't want to feel my medicine injection."

Before leaving, Pantalone took the opportunity to kiss Dottore on his cheeks, who quickly covered his face. "So cold! Exactly how long have you been out?"

"Not too long either, probably close to an hour or so."

"Huh? Are you for real?"

"Yes, the train to this district was late and I don't anymore time to waste until it come."

Dottore huffed. "You should have given me a call and let me pick you up at the train station. At this rate, I'll have to do you a favor and cook you some dinner."

Pantalone smiled, pleased that now, a year after Shangri-la had been fully his and Dottore had become his lover, Dottore was showing more of his true colors.

"You're opening up more to me. I like that." Dottore pretended not to have heard and went into the back room after telling Pantalone to hurry up before he caught cold and fever.

The short hand of the antique wall clock pointed to 01.00 a.m. The storm outside was still raging, along with the cold wind that blew like hundreds of footsteps against each other. Having finished his shower and changed into a dark blue turtleneck, Pantalone had just come downstairs. Dottore was not behind the counter of the bar, perhaps the man was still busy in the kitchen, then he wanted to look at Dottore from behind the blue velvet curtain that covered the entrance between the kitchen and the main room.

Dottore seemed to be sampling something he was boiling in a medium-sized red pot. "It's not enough, Pantalone will definitely comment on me a lot later." He opened the wooden cupboard above the stove and took out several small bottles of spices. As he dropped each spice into the soup with a teaspoon, Dottore was cursing Pantalone, who always liked to judge his cooking like a food critic.

"Overly sweet."

"It's not spicy enough."

"You deliberately burnt the crust of my sandwich, didn't you?"

"Another lentil soup? Don't you get tired of making that?"

And other insulting remarks that were the source of Dottore's annoyance. Pantalone was indeed demanding because of the banker's high appetite, but at the same time the man was still eating his cheap cooking. All of a sudden Dottore had a brilliant idea: his left hand began to pour the entire contents of the bright reddish bottle of spices into the soup until it ran out.

Pantalone couldn't be sure which spice he was going to use, but he was sure that Dottore must have intended to trick him. Rather than catch the Dottore in the act, he decided to go along with their little game and pretend that he did not know. He then leaned back on the black bar stool and looked at the collection of different liquors from around seven country. Pantalone had replaced them with the real thing after this bar became his. Nothing had changed, the only difference was the contents, because before, all those bottles of alcohol had only served as decoration.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting." A short time later, Dottore came in with a pair of ceramic pots of soup and set them down on the counter. "Will you be needing the tablecloth and the napkins as well, sir?"

"No, just the napkins." Pantalone clearly knew that Dottore was merely teasing. Every time he visited the bar as a customer, he was the only one given a special table with a full set of tableware.

"Tsk, you're boring." Dottore turned and stared at the various liquor bottles before him, while resting his chin.

"I'll leave it up to you." Pantalone returned. "Try to surprise me?"

"Okay, okay. I get it."

As the bartender poured boiled water into the granyonyi stakan, Pantalone decided to observe. But as soon as Dottore uncorked the bottle of whiskey, he turned his attention to Pantalone. "Quick question, do you prefer a proper medicine or a remedy?"

"Hmm, just a remedy." Dottore's face wrinkled as he poured whiskey into the glass, then added two teaspoons of honey and lemon juice, stirring until everything was dissolved with hot water. "Here's your cocktail, sir." He said after adding the garnish of a slice of lemon and a cinnamon stick.

"Oh? That's why you gave me the riddle earlier." Pantalone already knew the answer, he was deliberately making small talk with Dottore.

"As a former medic, one of the most effective ways of recovery from any illness is the use of medicine in accordance with the prescription. But as you chose remedy instead, I didn't give the pills to you." He grumbled.

"I see, so that's what you've been mad about."

"I'm upset because you deliberately acted as if you didn't have any idea what was going on, even though you knew it was a joke on my part."

Pantalone would often laugh out loud when Dottore would grumble at him, he would usually laugh, but his laughter was more directed at the belittling or intimidation of others.

"Instead of laughing at me all the time, I think you'd better finish this before it gets too cold." Dottore said as he sat down next to him, when he had eaten only one spoonful of the soup, Pantalone was still staring at his bowl in silence, while he clutched the spoon firmly in his palm.

Pantalone turned his head immediately, noticing the questioning look beside him. "You eat first, I'm just... waiting for the right time."

"Huh?"

"I mean, I'm waiting for the right time to enjoy it to the fullest."

Dottore grinned as he elbowed Pantalone on his waist. "I won't laugh at you if you tell me you can't stand the burn."

"But you are already making fun of me, Dottore."

The bartender laughed with great satisfaction; this time he had Pantalone on the run. While he occasionally bothered Pantalone, he ate his ash reshteh, while Pantalone himself tried to ignore him by stirring his noodle soup in a bored stupor.

After half an hour, their ceramic bowl of noodles and the liquor in the glass cup were half empty. As they finished their drinks, they made small talk about each other's work and the problems they faced today.

"As one would expect from a rich banker, you're so popular with these business women that I sometimes wonder why you're still single." Dottore said as he opened a small box of cigarettes and took out one of them. "Damn, I left a lighter out for a client this morning."

The sound of the wheel spinning along with the bluish-red flame that burned the cigarette butt from the silver lighter that Pantalone was holding, he lit his cigarette as well after bringing the tip of it close to Dottore's. "What you said sounds more like jealousy than sarcasm."

Dottore chuckled. "Jealousy, huh? I believe you are."

"Why do you think that?" Pantalone asked, clearly taking his joke seriously, judging by the emphasis he put on every word he said.

"You often distract me when I'm at work, serving customers, by deliberately asking me to have a talk with you, isn't that jealousy? Then the second..."

*beep* *beep*

"Sorry, excuse me a bit." Dottore quickly went into the back room to take a call from someone on the phone. Pantalone wondered, who would be on the phone to him in the middle of the night? It couldn't be the bar supplier, and it couldn't be Dottore's parents either, because he once said that after he was expelled and banned from rejoining the Akademiya, his parents told him to pack up and leave. But strangely enough, they only asked their son to move out so that he could find a suitable life for himself.

Pantalone savored his ash reshteh slowly, for it was still very hot. The strong aroma of dried spices and the earthy flavor of grains made this noodle soup from Sumeru's classic cuisine rich in flavor and nutrients, perfect for this stormy weather.

"What?! Are you going to come soon?! I told you, just send the goods tomorrow or get them mailed!" Dottore's slightly raised voice had Pantalone eavesdropping on his conversation with the caller. "...Okay, I'll be waiting for you. So make haste and come before you also get sick!"

With a grunt of annoyance, Dottore was back in his seat after the end of the call. Without explaining anything about the call from someone who seemed to be a close colleague, he was seen hastily finishing the rest of his food and drink.

"You haven't finished eating yet?" Dottore asked. "If you're full, just give me that."

"No, no, I just have time for a taste of your cooking." Pantalone replied. "Besides, who called you just now?"

"Just an old friend of mine, he'll be here soon to deliver a package for me." Pantalone's probing gaze, which continued to follow his movements as he cleaned the counter, did not bother Dottore. "I usually keep a supply of medicine on hand, just in case. As sometimes some of my customers do come in ill, and I can’t let their sickness spreading on another guests."

"I see, this old friend of yours seems to be close to you, yes? He even went out of his way to come late at night just to deliver medicine."

"Not really, Baizhu was just an acquaintance of mine back when I was still an intern at the Eleazar Hospital." Dottore leaned against the counter, watching his face reflected in the glass beaker he was holding. "I told him to not come because of the weather, and he did it anyway. Changseng will definitely nag me for letting Baizhu travel so far with his weak body."

Pantalone just listened to Dottore complain for a long time, his smile growing until the spoon he was holding was almost crooked. He was jealous, but not of Dottore, but of his old acquaintance. Since they had been in contact for almost a year, he only found out about it when Dottore casually mentioned the person's name, as if the person was indeed a close friend of his.

"Dottore-" his words were interrupted by the sound of a small knock at the front door.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

"Yes, I'm on my way!" As Dottore hurried to open the door, a thin but tall, green-haired man entered inside the bar with his long, half-soaked robe dripping on the carpet. "Look at you two, you and him, you've both been bothering me tonight!" he grumbled, then told the man to do what Pantalone had just done, to take a warm bath and then have something to eat.

"I am sorry, Zandik, I didn't expect it would rain this hard." Baizhu replied as he dried his face and hair with a towel.

A white snake looked at Pantalone and Baizhu with a curious expression. "Oh? It looks like we are not the only ones who are disturbing your night." The snake then wrapped herself around Baizhu's body and stayed on his upper arm. "Make sure that you take good care of this one."

"Yes, yes, the old hag snake should stay put." Dottore replied.

"What?!? What was that you just called me, young man?"

"I just called you by your name, Changseng. Anyway, you better go jump on this cushion and let Baizhu go bathe before he gets a fever Shortly after saying that, Baizhu started sneezing. Changseng told Baizhu to take a quick bath before his cold got worse, and immediately jumped on the red pillow that Dottore was holding.

But before Baizhu left, he took the time to introduce himself to Pantalone. Pantalone made a happy face, although he was a bit annoyed at the uninvited guest.

"You must be the Mr. Pantalone that Zandik has always been telling me about." Baizhu said as he went to shake hands with Pantalone.

"Zandik talks about me all the time? I guess he has to confide in you about our relationship. Because he still has a lot of trouble with it." Pantalone replied and shook the hand of the man who strangely resembled him by their face and the style of their eyeglass frames.

Baizhu let out a laugh. "Can't be helped? Zandik is very introverted when it comes to people, but in the past half a year, he has finally told me about someone other than me."

Pantalone's annoyance began to subside. This man was indeed just a close friend of Dottore's. He couldn't sense any ill will on his part. And to make sure it was true, he wanted to talk to Baizhu later to get to know him better. Still, Pantalone was jealous of everything that he saw now, from the casual attitude of Dottore to the fact that he was so close to this man named Baizhu.

The time passed by rather quickly as the storm began to calm down. Baizhu had just returned home after two hours of leisurely chatting with Pantalone. They talked about various things, but most of their conversation was about Zandik; Dottore, who had just eavesdropped on their conversation while serving drinks until Baizhu got drunk and was pushed back home by Changseng.

"You should have just let me take him back to his home." Dottore said after he had finished cleaning up and sat down at the end of the bar. "But thanks to you, he didn't have to make two trips to get to Liyue. So I guess I owe you one this time."

"It's not a big problem for me at all. He's a good person and it's just a matter of helping him out." While talking to Baizhu, Pantalone had already become convinced that the Doctor was really just an old friend of Dottore's. But Baizhu's genuine kindness made him a bit irritated, how could someone like him still exist? Even though he was well aware of the status and power that Pantalone had over him, Baizhu was still treating him like a friend, the same way he was treating Dottore.

Pantalone was not angry that a man like Baizhu was not afraid of everything he had, but he was just disappointed that sincere people like him were now very rare; he rarely encountered them while living in the life of an upper-class socialite. They were kind and respectful to Pantalone, but it was all an act, to be accepted by the Banker as his business partner with his vast wealth.

And Baizhu's sincerity made Dottore also open up to others, it turned out that it was not him who first witnessed the Bartender's sincerity, but an old friend of his.

Such a thing did not upset him, but somehow Pantalone felt the distance between them was so suffocating. The invisible wall that prevented him from getting to know Dottore better stood tall again between the two of them. Pantalone glanced at Dottore who was busy going around tidying up the remains of their small party just now, and he seemed more energized; more enthusiastic after meeting his friend.

"You've been watching me the whole time, if you want to help me, just do it." Dottore said as he put the empty bottle back inside the box.

"What do you want me to help you with?" Pantalone asked after a moment of silence.

"Wipe down the bar, use this." Dottore replied as he handed over a clean rag. He then went to the back room to get some new bottles of alcohol to fill the spaces on the display cases of various types of spirits.

This small task took Pantalone's mind back to his youth when he lived in the poor neighborhood of Liyue. He often changed jobs every day to collect a few mora coins to survive in the slum and dangerous environment.

Dwelling on the past made Pantalone even more tired. Nothing good ever happened to him back then, if anything, it happened only once or twice, he even vaguely remembers it. In Pantalone's dark past, there was only violence, blood, tears, betrayal and lies. His golden eyes had seen it all when he was a young man, innocent to all the ugliness of the world that befell him.

Pantalone snorted, it was completely pointless to think about it right now. Pantalone just needed to focus on his life at the moment. He was wealthy, he had a network of high level people, he had the respect and fear of everyone, Pantalone could easily get what he wanted. Except for...

"Ugh, I'm not old enough to have my back ache from all the lifting of these stupid boxes." Dottore's murmur broke Pantalone's reverie. He was carrying two stacks of medium-sized boxes, setting them down on the floor from time to time from how heavy its contents is.

"Do you need an extra hand with that, old man?" Pantalone asked as he took the two boxes from Dottore, who was staring at him intently and was still out of breath.

"Not necessary, just so you know, I'm still 43. I may be old, but that doesn't mean you can call me an old man just because I have back pain. Besides, you're the same age as me."

"Okay, so what should I call you?"

"Honey? Sweetheart? My sweet little darling? Or foxy-"

Dottore quickly covered Pantalone's mouth so he wouldn't have to hear the silly nicknames. "Anything is fine, as long as you don't call me that."

"Alright, Zandik." Pantalone's satisfied smile widened as he saw the Dottore's ears blush a little, along with the awkward laugh. He could feel the wall between them slowly crumbling, and Pantalone had to take advantage of the opportunity to make Dottore truly his.

"After all this, you want to go straight to bed?" Pantalone asked after placing a stack of empty wine bottles on the counter.

Dottore looked at the watch on his left wrist, the hands indicating 2:50am, time passed so fast that he didn't realize it was almost morning. "I guess later, I'm not tired yet."

Pantalone then helped him with the arrangement of each bottle of alcohol into the empty space. There wasn't much conversation, just questions about what kind of alcohol it was and where to put it. Only the clatter of the glass bottles against each other as they were being displayed, the smooth melody of jazz from the music box, and the heavy rain once again did the rest of the talking until they were done with their work.

03.25 am, everything is clean and tidy as it should be. Dottore had 40 minutes in which to set up the bar for the evening. Even though the bar was always open at a certain hour, Dottore would make his preparations early so that he could relax later on. He would do his favorite things: Read books, fix broken bar equipment, or just sit on a bar stool and look at the display of different types and colors of liquor bottles, thinking about what to serve his customers. But out of all of his leisure activities, there was one thing that Dottore had been doing more and more of lately at the Pantalone.

"Ow, ow! At least have an eye on my back!" Dottore protested. Pantalone suddenly put an arm around his waist. Pantalone himself laughed at Dottore's grumbling, he had been reticent since his arrival at the bar, and of course he had become a bit impatient to touch his lover.

"Does it hurt so bad?" Pantalone rested against the counter, his left arm pulling Dottore closer until his body leaned against him. "I told you to wear the harness I gave you, but you still don't want to wear it and now look at you, complaining in such a embrace."

"It's exactly because I'm putting on that damn harness that my body is so stiff."

Pantalone glimpsed the silver ring and the black garment around Dottore's neck, hidden beneath the collar of the bluish shirt. Dottore was truly wearing his gift, and knowing this little thing always pleased Pantalone.

"Is that so? Would you like to get massaged?" Pantalone had already taken hold of both of Dottore's arms, as if he would hold him back if he tried to run away. "Just tell me where the pain is."

"I'm sure all you want to do is touch me." This did not bother the Dottore, for he was being paid and had become Pantalone's lover by contract, so as long as he was not mistreated, he let Pantalone do with him as he pleased. As long as Dottore had money from the banker for the bar and for his savings for the opening of a small clinic. "Just go ahead."

Pantalone's rough palm moved slowly up and down Dottore's back. What the hell was he thinking? Obviously, Pantalone was not giving him a massage. Instead, he was stroking Dottore, as if to calm him down from something that was making him anxious.

The doctor had no questions, for it would have been inappropriate. Dottore still found it difficult to be honest with Pantalone, who took their relationship very seriously, even though they had been lovers for almost a year. Baizhu always told Dottore whenever he vented to him that he needed to be honest about his own feelings before something unpleasant would happen sooner or later, which could lead to their relationship breaking up forever.

At first, Dottore was afraid that this would be the case, because it would mean that Pantalone would terminate their contract, and he would have no extra income to run his own clinic. But the closer Dottore gets to the banker, the less he thinks, and the more he worries about his relationship with Pantalone more than the money.

Suddenly, Pantalone grabbed his chin as his arm snaked around Dottore's waist to keep him from moving away. Even though their view was obscured by the bartender's mask, Dottore couldn't help but look at Pantalone. "Do you have something in mind? Just tell me about it."

Oh shit, Dottore had been silent for such a long time that Pantalone realized that he had been dilly-dallying for quite a while. Baizhu's words echoed in his mind again, should he be honest with Pantalone about his feelings right now? What if he just thought that Dottore was joking because he was tired after having worked all day long? Dottore was unaware that Pantalone had removed the mask covering his eyes and the top of his face.

"You're holding back your tears. Are you sure you don't want to tell me?" Pantalone's gentle question made Dottore even more guilty, maybe what Baizhu had told him earlier was true, the absolute truth.

"Zandik, just tell him what your real feelings are! Isn't it a good thing that you have tried it first? If you fail, you can come over to my place to talk."

Dottore's heart was actually crushed a bit by Baizhu's words. This was because in the past, he had had the same overwhelming feelings towards the owner of the Bubu Pharmacy as he had for Pantalone now. But in the end, their relationship was like that of old friends, for he was too much of a coward to be honest with his own feelings. There were times when Dottore regretted his own bad mistake.

"...If you don't want to tell me, that's okay." It was the same sentence Baizhu had said when they were alone at Bubu Pharmacy, when Dottore first expressed his honest feelings to another person he cared about. "I'd better take you to your bed now, you must be tired."

But Dottore pushed Pantalone into a corner with both arms, until his back bumped lightly against the liquor cabinet behind him. "Listen to me for one minute, will you?"

"Sure, take all the time you need, Zandik."

Damn it, that look he's giving me makes me even more nervous! Dottore thought. His mouth opened and closed quickly, his tongue hanging out, his voice stuttering, his breathing labored. "Tsk, screw it all!" Annoyed that the fear was getting the better of him, Dottore tugged at the collar of Pantalone's turtleneck until their faces were so close together that there was no distance between them at all.

Dottore planted a kiss on Pantalone.

The banker's eyes, which were always closed, opened wide.

But the moment Dottore moved away, Pantalone's hand caught the blue-haired man's back. He pulled him back to stay close.

"What are you..." all the grumbling and cursing that Dottore wanted to say was instantly gone, snatched away by Pantalone, who kissed him so deeply that he felt out of breath.

Dottore didn't know what to do. His mind was filled with dread, along with the warmth Pantalone gave him through his greedy, sloppy kisses.

"Zandik." Pantalone called out in a half-whisper after he had let go of the breathless Dottore.

"What?" Dottore asked snidely. He could still act like that at a time like this, and Pantalone seemed to know that his rude attitude was just a mask to protect himself. "You'd better keep on touching me, and forget about what I did earlier."

"Zandik, please just listen to me for now." Dottore's heart skipped a beat when he heard Pantalone say please to him, because the man never did that. Pantalone knelt down so he could see Dottore's downcast face more clearly, his long, smooth fingers intertwined with Dottore's scarred, rough ones.

"This might sound strange to you, but I..." Pantalone was silent for a moment, as if he was holding himself back. "I love you."

"It's strange to hear expressions of love from a man of our age, but I can't hide my feelings any longer."

"My feelings seem to be one-sided, even though we are lovers. You always seem to be happy with Baizhu, and even when you are with me, it is rare for you to laugh out loud and smile. Therefore, Dottore, I am telling you this."

"If you are going to reject my feelings, at least I will have conveyed them to you."

The Doctor's heart seemed to stop for a moment; this was how he felt when he tried to hide how he felt about the one he loved. But unlike Pantalone, who accepted the rejection with all his heart, Dottore would rather step back before being hurt. In fact, Dottore had often been treated in this way until he was tired of it and no longer cared about his feelings, until Pantalone finally came into his life.

Of course, Dottore could not share his wounded feelings with Pantalone, and in that moment, now, there was only one thing Dottore could do to answer Pantalone and also to share his sentiments.

Dottore kissed Pantalone a second time, softer than before.

Pantalone just stared at Dottore, as if he was still processing the events of the moment. But slowly a smile rose on his luscious lips, a cunning smile, then Pantalone put one arm around Dottore's waist and kissed Dottore again, softer, more attentive, as if he understood Dottore's sentiments and wanted him to pour out all his feelings without any worries.

"...Damn it, I was caught off guard by you." Dottore grumbled as the thin, transparent thread between their mouths was slowly severed and then began to drip under the lips of the other.

Pantalone chuckled as he wiped his thumb over the wet lips of the Dottore, who was looking at him intently. "Isn't that a good thing? It means you like it and you accept me."

Dottore's eyes darted back and forth quickly. He was unconsciously being honest about his feelings, and that must have made Pantalone tease him endlessly. "Yeah. It's good that you get that, so I won't have to say it anymore."

All of a sudden, Pantalone pushed Dottore until his back fell on the liqueur counter, and Dottore grunted in annoyance because he could feel the pain in his body all over again gone worse. When he tried to complain, the banker's face immediately stunned him. Pantalone's pupils shrank. and his golden irises shone brightly in the sea-blue light that fell on them from the fluorescent lights on the ceiling.

"I understand enough, but Zandik, you should still say what you want to say to me with your mouth."

"This could be your last chance. No, our last chance to be truthful, because you or I could die tomorrow."

"That's...not funny to joke about at all."

"Right? So first of all, try to be honest with yourself."

Dottore remained silent, even though Pantalone said so, he himself did not know what to say to begin with. I love you too? Pftt, just thinking about it made Dottore laugh at himself. Pantalone could only smile subtly as he patted Dottore's broad shoulders, knowing that Dottore was still having trouble.

"It's fine if you cannot put it into words, but..." Pantalone brought his face closer to Dottore's until there was only five centimeters between them. His lustrous black locks tumbled down, obscuring Dottore's view, leaving only his golden eyes to focus on.

"There are other ways that we can communicate our feelings to each other, such as through our bodies. How about it?"

"Sounds like a good idea to me. But don't tire me out too much, I've got a job to do this morning."

"I'll try, Zandik."

"Hey! I told you to watch out for my poor back!" Dottore complained. He could only lie on his back on the counter because Pantalone had tied Dottore's wrists above his head with a belt.

"You complained before, but you're reacting much different than what you're saying." Pantalone made another set of bite marks on Dottore's torso. This time he sank his fangs into the rectus abdominis until they left a mark and drew a little red fluid.

"Bast-"

"Your mouth is quite foul, isn't it?" Pantalone licked off the blood, which was mixed with saliva and sweat. He smiled contentedly as Dottore's body writhed in pleasure at his touch. He kept glaring at him, trying not to look pathetic in front of the banker. "As much as I love to see how crude your true nature is, I'd like to see something else."

Pantalone held Dottore's slender waist, grimacing in annoyance as his body was turned onto his stomach, hands still bound. "You'll really break my back in this position-"

A hard slap was delivered from behind Dottore, one that would have made him almost scream if he hadn't hit his forehead on the counter. "Psychotic bastard, that was unnecessary."

"It's necessary, I'm well aware that you're in line for this kind of treatment." This time, Pantalone gave Dottore a light squeeze on his buttocks, as if to tempt him to be honest. "I may tease you all the time, but whenever we do this, I can't seem to maintain my inhibitions."

"Perhaps the fact that I come here to see you every night is just an excuse on my part."

"The truth is that my greedy desire for you is swelling up all the time, and now I cannot help but put up with it again."

"Well, but it's not like I'm completely lost myself. If I can't be in control of myself, how can I be in control of someone in the palm of my hand?"

"I don't know how I should react with such... affection, but I guess it's good that you care about me anyway." As the Dottore calmed down, Pantalone could see the sheepish look on the bartender's face clearly reflected in the gleaming wood of the bar.

Pantalone laughed, slipping his hand into Dottore's shirt and brushing against his spine. Again, Dottore's muscles tensed as Pantalone's smooth fingertips brushed over his scars, from burns to cuts by sharp object. Dottore couldn't remember where they came from, but he wasn't going to try to get rid of them, either. Not that he wanted to keep them, but Dottore simply chose to keep the proof that his past life was what had allowed him to survive until now.

"You treat me so gently that I am scared to death." The Dottore hissed as Pantalone's cold forefinger traced the length of his spine in slow motion.

"'Hm? Are you telling me to get rough with you now?" Pantalone asked as the tips of his black-painted nails drew invisible circles on the back of the Dottore. "You might regret it later, and I have no desire to frighten you with how ruthless I can be."

"Ha! As if you can do that to me." Dottore replied with a flippant laugh.

Even though Pantalone said it in a casual manner as if he was only joking, his tone was serious. The hot puff of Pantalone's breath on his right ear startled Dottore just as he was about to turn his head back.

"Then, if everything I do is not enough to convey my feelings to you, what do you want from me? A little selfish request doesn't matter. Just say it."

Pantalone inhaled deeper into Dottore's ears, sending the chills and heat deep into his head, tickling his senses as his body tensed up. "Tell me your honest feelings, please."

Once again, Pantalone begged him. Rich asshole, he knew, begging made Dottore feeling bad. Dottore took a deep breath and exhaled roughly. He couldn't run away from Pantalone anymore and he couldn't ignore this chance either.

"It's already obvious that I've foolishly fallen for you, silly four-eyes."

"Fall for what, Zandik?" Pantalone chuckled as his fingers twisted around Dottore's long, flowly light blue strands.

Dottore gritted his teeth, really, this rich old man was a sadist in disguise for making him feel guilty and just for forcing him to admit what he was thinking. "I fell for... your... money, yes, that's it, you know, your endless moras to fulfill my goals!"

Pantalone suddenly grabbed Dottore by the jaw as he felt the weight of the banker's body pressing down on his back. "Ouch, are you trying to kill me now?! Get off-"

"You're adorable and...pathetic. Not that I don't like it, I actually adore you more." As his black nails traced his cheeks, the grip on Dottore's jaw tightened.

"But you underestimate my question. As much as I would like to give you a third chance, my patience is wearing thin. However, since you're my lover, I'm going to repeat it one more time until you're honest."

"What exactly do you think of me as?"

"A cash machine in your pocket?"

"Only a partner in business?"

"Or a lover?"

"Okay, okay, you really persistent one here!" Dottore huffed before continuing. "I can't think of you as a lover because... I'm terrible with such an intimate relationship, and I don't think I could call myself one."

"In short, I think of you as a partner and a pocket ATM. Do you get it now?"

Pantalone stepped back to let go of Dottore, and then all of a sudden he started to laugh, laughing so hard that Dottore thought he was completely out of his mind. Pantalone's eyes filled with tears as he burst out laughing so hard that even Dottore, who was watching, got upset. He thought Pantalone was making fun of him.

"Stop that, you make me look like a stupid old fool now." Dottore remarked.

"But you are indeed a stupid old fool." Pantalone leaned against Dottore again and then planted an affectionate kiss on the back of his neck. "A fool that I adore very much."

"Okay? That's good, anyway, can you let me go now?" Dottore seemed to want to run away quickly because he was feeling unsafe, and for some reason Pantalone leaned over his back even more until he felt his bones just make a crack. "Oh, you bastard! My poor back-"

"Why are you in such a hurry? The night is not yet over, and I would like to stay with you for a little while longer." Pantalone nibbled at Dottore's flushed earlobe. Then he whispered in a deeper, more alluring voice. "It won't hurt us to kill some time together while we still can, you know? I'm already taking a couple of days off, so..."

"...will you take responsibility for letting me lose my control?"

"What a wonderful sight. I only put in a little bit of my strength, and yet you give me those pathetic, adorable eyes on those bottle glasses like that." Pantalone grinds slowly into Dottore, wanting to enjoy what he feels, while at the same time wanting to see how the bartender reacts. Dottore's eyebrows frown as he tries to continue to be as tough as possible, even though his bounded wrist is still pinned by darts. At the very least, he wanted to cover up his shameful grunts.

"Couldn't you at least untie me here?" The bartender let out a heavy groan as another slap landed on his rear. "Okay, okay! Damn it, I knew I should have been more careful with your sadistic antics."

"Sadistic antics? No, no, this is just my way of being sincere and a show of affection." Pantalone's hands slapped the Dottore's back again until it left a red mark that made the bartender arch his back.

"I know you enjoy such things because I have known all about you, Zandik."

"If you try to beg hard enough, I might be able to grant your request in its entirety. Be it gentle or be it rough."

"The hell I will," the red-eyed doctor snapped, glaring at him in irritated reflection from the liquor bottles. You're the one who should do the begging for me, you psychotic bastard."

A third more; could it be more than that? That sent three times the pain through Dottore's entire body system. Out of his mouth came a pure groan of pain and pleasure. Pantalone's right hand grasps Dottore's chin in order to better view the reflection of his face on one of the wine bottles. His index finger playfully circles around Dottore's skin which is adorned with red and bite marks. "To speak in such a foul language. Aren't you ashamed that we're still in your territory, bartender?"

"Cut the nonsense with my job."

"Now, now, no need to be so rough."

"Hah, it's more like you're the one acting so rough now."

"Me? Well, I'm just trying to get across what I'm feeling here, and I'm not going to stop until you finally get honest with yourself."

Pantalone brought Dottore close and pecked him softly on the lips. But Dottore bit him with his strangely sharp teeth until the banker's lips were bleeding.

"I don't feel like playing your unhealthy obsession game right now, so let's get started and be quick about it." Ignoring Dottore's complaints, Pantalone instead yanked the silver ring attached to his choker as he pinned Dottore back down on the counter until his body slammed into liquor wood. "I told you to be gentle with my fucking back..." Dottore's words were cut off as Pantalone pushed his tongue into his mouth, forcing him to shut up and be obedient for once.

"You're in defiance of your own feelings all the time, and I can't restrain myself any longer." Pantalone breathed in between kissing languidly.

"Actually, I'm more concerned with you. It's really amusing that you're still acting so stubborn, but the more stubborn you are, Zandik, the more I... you know the rest, don't you?"

Dottore gritted his teeth. His pupil shrank as he felt Pantalone enter him again with a single thrust. He wasn't wearing any protection, so it was painful for Dottore at first. Pantalone was aware enough and merciful enough to soothe his nervous system with gentle kisses across the bartender's slightly flushed face and tense muscles.

"It seems the fox got your tongue. Is there something troubling you, Zandik?"

Dottore shook his head. "No, no, not at all. I just wanted to say that I..."

The red-eyed bartender bites his tongue a little. After he is sure that he has calmed down enough, Dottore continues his remarks. "I've fallen in love with you."

"Yes, yes, so am I too."

"Don't answer me so nonchalantly, you four-eyed moron!" Dottore wants to cover his face and ears, which are now as red as his eyes. It is really much shameful than he thought. "You hear me well, yeah? I'm not going to repeat the same foolish words twice. I'm too old to behave like a smitten man."

"Foolish words, you say?" Pantalone laughs, his eyes half open to reveal his gleaming golden irises. "Zandik, don't be a silly man now. You just have to come to terms with the fact that you are indeed an old man, but a kind of sweet, pathetic old man."

"Do you really have to repeat the old man thing two more times?"

"Just to remind you, I mean, to remind us."

Dottore inhales tiredly, glad to be able to confess his honest feelings towards Pantalone after so long, but also aware of the danger that awaits him from now on.

"Since the problem between us has been solved, shall we go on? Either one of us has not come yet."

"It's because you have me on edge all the time, Ruìshī." Pantalone deliberately held back his orgams whenever Dottore almost reached his limits.

"Oh, dear me! You already know my real name, it's a bit of a disappointment on my part that I didn't tell you sooner, but I can let that aside."

"Well then, my sweet little darling. Now, let's get to the good part."

"While we're at it, I don't have time to listen to your complaints. I have started to feel a little peckish as well, and I want to hear your voice, very closely."

Pantaloon pushed hard back and forth, in and out, again and again at a measured speed. The red-eyed doctor under the banker stares at him with such a defiant look, yet the irises reflect a desire along with the lust of how well the Dottore's insides are being tightened up on him.

It is a pleasurable pain, and Dottore begins to like it, as does Pantalone himself. For the first time, he feels comfortable in an intimate exchange, body to body, with someone he adores so much, until it drives him crazy.

He gazes deep into the garnet eyes that Pantalone loves more than any piece of jewelry he owns. A sadistic smile curls his lips as he continues to mark his territory all over his beloved lover. "It would be a shame if something were to happen to that pretty face of yours. However, this is to serve as a reminder of who you belong to, am I clear?"

"Hmm, perhaps I overdo it a little." After doing the aftercare for both of them, Pantalone helped Dottore to sleep in his room to rest. The clock in the room struck 7:30 a.m., it was obvious that Dottore was very late to do preparations before the opening of the bar later that night, he should be able to do that after they had sex, but...

"No, you need to get into bed now." His lover didn't want to let go of Dottore, and Pantalone even tied his legs together with his arms, so that Dottore couldn't move at all. Not to mention that his body was in a lot of pain due to his shrimp-like posture.

Dottore just groaned, he had to give up now before Pantalone could put the handcuffs on him later. After laying him down on the mattress, Pantalone still didn't untie him. Instead, he just loosened the rope so that Dottore's back could relax. "Ouch, you're killing my back so bad..."

"My apologies, okay? At least you and I are having a good time." Pantalone whispered into Dottore's right ear, smiling enticingly. "The way you squeeze me so tightly, the way your eyes are glazed over with excitement... and the groans you screamed in my ear are like music to my ears. If it weren't for your back pain, we might still be doing it over and over again until I, no, we, fulfill each other's desires."

Before the man tried to kiss him again, Dottore pushed Pantalone's face away. "You really do sound like an old man when you shamelessly utter such vulgarities."

"But guess what? I know that you're also desperately trying to hide your soft side."

The red-eyed doctor grinned as he whispered into Pantalone's left ear in such a ragged, broken voice. "When your voice cracks with joy, you laugh at yourself for feeling good. And you keep telling me to stare at my own reflection, because you're afraid that the tension between us is going to make you reveal how you feel."

"Certainly, you are more direct with what you want than I am, but in reality, you are a pathetic, enamored old man."

Pantalone laughed, pleased with Dottore's compliment. "You really do see me as an open book, do you? I'm not going to deny the smitten part, because I am."

"No, don't try to flirt with me any more. Take my words as an insult for a change, damn it."

"Haha, I'm sorry for the cheesy flirting. I'm an old man after all." Pantalone then put the blanket over Dottore. "Don't worry about the bar. I'll take your place with another staff member until you're better."

"...Ruìshī, maybe being together with you is my best... ahem, worst mistake ever, that I don't regretted for." With the blanket covering his whole body, Dottore immediately turned around. "Okay, enough of this talk, let the old man get some sleep in peace."

Pantalone soft chuckles filled the bedroom warmth as he turned off the light switch. "Sleep well, Zandik."