The noise of the bar raided in from every direction. Laughter, clinking of glasses and the low thrum of conversation blending into something almost alive. Kieran slipped out before his sister noticed he was at the bar.
The wooden door shut behind him with a dull thud, muting the chaos he just left behind. The cold winter air hit his face, sharp and clean, and he let out a breath. October winters really were something else entirely.
"...and I'm thinking of making biryani that I learnt from a friend the other day," his sister's voice said through the phone, bright and relentless. "You know, the ones that leave an aromatic smell around the apartment when opened up freshly. I'll add more herbs this time. Oh, and mint. Definitely mint."
Kieran held the phone to his ear, leaning against the brick wall of the bar. He smiled despite himself.
"That sounds… dangerous," he said. "For my self-control."
She laughed. "You've never had self-control."
He closed his eyes briefly. Same sister. Same tone. Like he'd never left.
There was a pause; brief and deliberate.
"So," she continued, casual in a way that wasn't casual at all, bringing up the same topic again since Kieran didn't give a reply. "When are you bringing Roy?"
Kieran opened his eyes.
"…Why do you want to meet Roy?" he asked.
"Well," she said, drawing the word out, "I want to meet the person who's been friends with my little brother ever since he ran away from home."
Kieran winced.
"I didn't run away," he muttered.
"You absolutely ran away."
He rubbed the back of his neck. The brick was cold through his jacket. "Are you sure about that? I mean, Roy's really not that interesting. Kind of a boring guy, actually."
As the words left his mouth, a flicker of unease passed through him.
Why am I even trying to stop Roy from meeting my sister?
Roy wasn't dangerous. Not like that. He wasn't loud, wasn't rude, and didn't leave messes behind wherever he went. If anything, he was… too quiet. Too closed off. The kind of person who goes out of his way not to talk to people he doesn't want to talk to.
Then again…
Kieran's jaw tightened.
Roy carried something. He always had. Something heavy and invisible that clung to him no matter where he stood. And the thought of that weight entering his sister's home, which was warm, normal, and untouched by any of it, made his chest feel tight.
"…Yuh. Sure," Kieran added quietly, almost under his breath. "I guess."
"What?"
He froze.
"I said", she repeated, louder now, voice sharp with insistence, "I want to meet this friend of yours."
Kieran sighed, defeated.
"Yeah, sure, sure," he said quickly. "I…we'll come over sometime tomorrow, if that's alright."
There it was. Said out loud. No taking it back now.
"That's good with me," she replied, satisfied. "Tomorrow it is."
The call ended with a cheerful click.
Kieran lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen.
The bar door creaked open behind him, spilling a slice of noise and light onto the pavement. He didn't turn around.
"God damn," he muttered.
Tomorrow.
That meant he had exactly one night to do the impossible.
Convince Roy to come to dinner.
He pushed off the wall and started pacing, boots scraping lightly against the ground. His mind raced through options, each one worse than the last.
Just invite him.
No. Roy would say no instantly. Not even a hesitation. A polite refusal, a vague excuse, and that would be that.
Be honest.
Even worse. The moment Roy heard the words family dinner, he'd retreat like a cornered animal.
A man opened the door and walked out.
Kieran exhaled sharply.
Then it hit him. Invite him over.
Not to his sister's place.
To his. Disguised as something else.
Just hanging out. No pressure. No expectations. Just the same old routine of getting takeout food, a quiet conversation and maybe a drink if Roy felt like it. Normal.
Roy might still say no.
Actually, he would say no.
He hates hanging out most of the time since he can't be asked.
Kieran stopped pacing.
"…Unless," he murmured.
He can bribe him? Nah, he doesn't have the funds for that. What about food? Roy loves to eat sweet food? That should work, right?
He doesn't know.
Another memory surfaced. Earlier that day. A passing comment, easy to miss.
His little sister's voice, half-laughing over the phone.
I want to meet your best friend too, you know.
Kieran's eyes narrowed.
Roy had a weakness. He hated being the centre of attention, but he hated disappointing people even more. Especially when it came to expectations he didn't feel worthy of.
A plan began to take shape.
Simple. Dirty. Effective.
He pushed his phone back into his pocket and then opened the door. Walked towards Roy and sat next to him.
Lucian was already gone by then, so it was just Roy sitting all alone with a glass of finished sweet shots.
Kieran then asked.
"Are you busy tomorrow evening?"
Roy was a bit taken aback by the sudden questions but began to think of what he has to do tomorrow.
Blank.
He doesn't remember anything, but he doesn't want to get involved in anything.
"Depends…"
Kieran smirked.
"I thought I'd cook something. You've been avoiding real food lately, and I've been learning how to cook."
A pause.
Longer this time.
Roy exclaimed. "You hate cooking, though?"
Kieran replied in return. "That hurts."
Another pause. Roy squinted his eyes at Kieran, trying to see if this man was scheming something.
"... Who else is coming?"
Kieran's mind went blank for a second; there was one single shot in front of Roy that wasn't finished. He then steals it and takes a sip.
He hesitated over it just for a second. Then he committed…
"Just me. Maybe my sister might pop by for a bit, and that's it."
Silence. Kieran's gamble has to work, right?
Kieran held his breath.
Silence.
"I'll think about it."
Kieran let out a slow breath, a grin spreading across his face despite himself, knowing that if Roy says something along the lines of that, he will most likely come over.
"Got you," he whispered.
The plan was in motion now. Whether Roy liked it or not.