Chapter Text
Dr. Veritas Ratio was known to be many things, and patient was one of them. However, if there was one man who always wore that patience of his thin, it was Aventurine of Stratagems, the senior manager of the IPC’s Strategic Investment Department. While most fell for his charisma, Ratio found it more grating than nails on a chalkboard. If there was one man Ratio was praying for the downfall of, it was certainly him.
So why did he agree to dinner?
When Aventurine invited him to dinner, Ratio had assumed it to be some sort of setup. He knew that slick weasel of a man was trying to butter him up, but for what? Ratio wasn’t sure of his motives, but despite his initial protests, he eventually agreed to dinner at five at a nice steakhouse. He had been waiting for a while, doing sudoku on his phone to keep himself occupied. Midway through a sixth puzzle, Ratio felt a sharp tap on his shoulder.
“You’re early, aren’t you?”
Ratio turned around, putting his phone in his pocket. “You told me five o’clock, Aventurine.”
Aventurine sighed, shaking his head slowly as he folded his arms. “I guess my texts were never sent. The reservation was changed to six at the last minute. Annoying, I know.”
“Well, you could have told me sooner,” Ratio said, clearly irritated. “I’ve been waiting an hour.”
Aventurine took off his sunglasses and folded them up, putting them back in their case. “Like I said, last minute change. Blame them, not me.”
“Let’s just get this dinner over with, shall we?”
“Tch, when you say it like that, you make it sound like a chore…”
Ratio and Aventurine entered the restaurant and followed their waitress to a table. The two sat down, looked over their menus, and ordered their food with absolutely no conversation in between. After their orders were taken, Ratio took a sip of his water, watching Aventurine eye him like a snake waiting to strike. Ratio couldn’t resist any longer. He had to ask the question that was burning in the back of his mind…
“What are your true intentions behind this dinner, Gambler?” Ratio asked sternly.
Aventurine scoffed. “You’re just gonna start with that, right off the bat? Whatever happened to small talk, huh?”
“Forget small talk,” Ratio said. “You want something from me, I know you do.”
“Can’t a guy just take a friend out to dinner without using it as a manipulation tactic?”
Ratio scoffed. “ Friends? Nonsense, we’re only friends when you need my assistance. What do you want from me?”
“Ouch,” Aventurine said, feigning hurt. “You wound me, Ratio.”
“Save the act for someone who’s foolish enough to fall for it, Aventurine,” Ratio said sternly, his patience wearing thin. “Why have you brought me to dinner?”
Aventurine sighed. “Is it bad to say that I did it because I wanted your company?”
Ratio appeared confused by this revelation. “You wanted my company?”
“Is there something wrong with that? Does that bother you, perhaps?”
“It’s… sincere. A little too sincere for my liking. Why me, of all the people you could’ve chosen?”
“It was on my to-do list,” Aventurine replied.
“To-do list?”
“I owe you for that prescription, Doctor,” Aventurine said with a wink.
When Ratio realized what Aventurine meant, it hit him like the moment he saw his demise on the billboard screen. He didn’t realize Aventurine had even read the note in what he thought would be his final moments alive.
“So, you read my note,” Ratio finally said.
‘You can thank Acheron for that,” Aventurine said. “And now, here I am, taking you out to dinner to repay the favor.”
“Trust me, dinner doesn’t even begin to cover all the antics you put me through,” Ratio said.
“It’s the least I can do.”
“And there’s nothing you want to ask of me? No favors, no special requests?”
“Absolutely nothing,” Aventurine said with a shrug.
Ratio eyed the younger man suspiciously, then nodded slowly. “Well played, Aventurine. You’ve convinced me.”
“It’s what I do best.”
Ratio sipped from his glass of water. “And this isn’t you attempting to ask me out, is it?”
Aventurine laughed loudly, though Ratio couldn’t tell how sincere his laughter was. “Oh, Doctor! You’re too much!”
“That wasn’t supposed to be a joke, Aventurine. I’m being completely serious when I say I have no time for love and will not fall victim to such a wasteful pastime.”
Aventurine’s laughter died down as he rested his head in his hand, looking away and avoiding the other man’s gaze. “You know, there’s a saying that goes, ‘lucky in cards, unlucky in love’.”
“Is that so?”
“Uh-huh. I mean, can you really see anyone loving me in the future?”
“Save me the self-deprecation, gambler,” Ratio said, rolling his eyes. “What are you getting at?”
“I’m not being self-deprecating, I’m telling an objective truth. It’s hard to imagine me in love, yes or no?”
Ratio hesitated, before answering with a curt, “No.”
Aventurine seemed surprised by this answer. “Really?”
“Well, you’re a decently attractive young man. Surely, someone has told you they are willing to be in your presence for the rest of their life, even if you throw your life away in a foolish gamble.”
“Oh, I’ve been called attractive, sure,” Aventurine said, leaning back in his booth. “But attraction and love are separate from each other.”
Ratio nodded. “Go on.”
“I was once told that love is a manifestation of appreciation for one’s mind, body, and soul. Lust is an appreciation for their body alone.” Aventurine paused, looking away bitterly. “Lust is the worst of all the flaws one could have. It drives you to unspeakable places.”
“That is… oddly profound, coming from you,” Ratio said with a nod of his head.
“Thank you.” Aventurine nodded. “That being said, I’m not entirely against the idea of lust either. I mean, if someone wants my body, I’m happy to give it to them if they just ask.”
“You’d just give yourself away, like a slut?” Ratio asked, sounding disgusted.
Ratio wasn’t sure why he asked what he asked, as he knew it would offend Aventurine. That being said, there was something about the Aventurine admitted to sleeping around that got under his skin. Though he didn’t care much for what Aventurine did in his spare time, an angry feeling was rising within him. Whether this feeling was jealousy or concern, Ratio wasn’t quite able to tell.
After sitting there in silence for a minute, Aventurine said, “Well, that’s a little rude, don’t you think?” Aventurine laughed nonchalantly, seemingly taking no offense. “Just because my body has always been my greatest asset doesn’t necessarily mean I’m a slut.”
“That’s not true, your body is not your greatest asset—”
“Oh, really? Then why do so many men want it?”
“Because you give it away, like it’s worthless,” Ratio said through gritted teeth.
“You’re getting rather upset over nothing, Doctor. I mean, so what if I've had sex a few times? It doesn’t mean my body is worthless, although, it’s getting to the point that its value will soon be lost—“
“Your body is not an object!”
There was a sudden flinching movement from Aventurine the moment Ratio’s hands made harsh contact with the table. Just as he stood up, Ratio’s anger dissipated and his head tilted in curiosity, his eyes narrowing at the odd display. He’d never seen Aventurine so afraid, so shrunken away as though he was conditioned to expect some sort of brutal attack. He could swear he saw Aventurine’s hand trembling behind his back, but that couldn’t be right. That man was fearless, unafraid of shying away from a good bet… he couldn’t possibly be afraid of an act as simple as hands slamming on a table, right? Ratio thought for a moment, then realized something: The hand behind his back was his tell. Aventurine was shaking with fear.
“Did I startle you?” Ratio asked, attempting to make his voice a bit gentler.
“No, not at all,” Aventurine replied, his voice oddly relaxed.
“You winced.”
“Anyone would’ve. You slammed your hands on the table pretty loudly, people are staring at you,” Aventurine said with a chuckle.
Ratio looked around, noticing customers were indeed staring at him. He shook his head and sat back down, continuing, “The way you flinched wasn’t normal, Aventurine. You flinched as though you expected me to hurt you.”
“I expected nothing of the sort, Doctor,” the gambler said with a wave of his hand.
“Uh-huh…” Ratio said suspiciously, eyeing the hand behind Aventurine’s back.
Food arrived shortly after, and the two ate in silence. Aventurine devoured his food, while Ratio on the other hand, found himself unable to even pick up his fork. There was a sick feeling in his stomach, knowing he’d frightened Aventurine with a simple outburst. And yet, there was more to it than regret. There had to be some reason that he reacted the way he did, no ordinary person would react that way if they hadn’t experienced something traumatic in their lifetime.
“Doctor?”
Ratio pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked at Aventurine, who had completely cleared his plate. “Yes?”
“You haven’t even touched your steak yet. You alright?”
Ratio sighed. “I would like to apologize for my outburst.”
Aventurine’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you just… say sorry to me?”
Ratio glared, but continued on. “Yes, I did. I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”
Aventurine smirked. “Tch, you didn’t have to. I’ll accept it though, I’d take an apology from your entitled ass any day. Now, are ya gonna eat or not?”
“I’m taking it to-go,” Ratio said.
“Really?” Aventurine looked at his watch. “Huh, never mind. That’s perfect, I gotta head back home.”
“Already?” Ratio asked, watching Aventurine stand up.
“Yeah, work stuff, y’know? Gotta get up early,” Aventurine said, leaving some money on the table. “I’ll see you around, Doctor.”
“Wait!”
Ratio stood up, blocking Aventurine’s path. Without a second thought, he practically threw his arms around Aventurine, bringing him into a warm embrace. Ratio could feel the way Aventurine’s body tensed, the way he froze in place from the contact. Worried he’d done something wrong, he pulled away slowly, watching for any signs of trembling in the other man.
“You didn’t hug back,” Ratio said.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Aventurine said with a nervous laugh. “Especially not from you, of all people.”
“Have you ever been hugged before?”
Aventurine thought for a moment. “Not really, unless you count Topaz’s rare and awkward side-hugs.”
Those words spoke volumes to Ratio. He didn’t think he’d ever feel empathy towards Aventurine, but for the first time, he felt sorry for the man standing before him. Though he was unsure of what Aventurine had been through, something about his casual response upset him deeply, as though he was used to not feeling the affection that Ratio felt every human had a right to.
“Why did you hug me?” Aventurine suddenly asked.
“You seemed like you needed one. I don’t give out hugs often, but… for a man with a life as sad as yours, I felt you deserved one.”
Aventurine snorted. “‘A life as sad as mine’? Damn, first you call me a slut, and now this…”
“Aventurine, may I ask a favor of you?”
“What is it?”
“I want you to come over to my apartment and have dinner with me next week.”
Aventurine’s eyes widened. “You… want me to come over?”
“I’ll text you the address. Don’t be late.”
Aventurine nodded, standing alone in the restaurant as he watched Ratio disappear through the steakhouse doors, the scent of fear lingering where he stood.