"Don't you miss it? Being under my control?" With Chase and Jacques? -River
Chase doesn’t know who this person is with Jacques, or why Jacques has dared venture out of his cave. The sight of Jacques being flirty with someone is almost disgusting. Did Jacques manipulate this poor man too? Is he under some sick spell that makes him obedient? Chase can’t tell just by looking at his eyes, but the man is actually smiling, and holding Jacques’ hand, staring at him with adoration.
And Jacques...is actually smiling back.
Chase is ready to throw up his food all over the floor. He holds back, because they’re in a restaurant, and to make a scene would draw attention. He doesn’t eat, too fixated on the couple just two tables down. He can’t bring himself to look away. His mind is spiraling with wild ideas of this poor victim being on his knees and being turned into some mindless puppet, probably just so Jacques wouldn’t be lonely. Or maybe the man submitted himself, Chase doesn’t know.
He barely even blinks when he sees Jacques whisper something in the man’s ear, getting to his feet and walking toward Chase’s table. Chase only glares as Jacques sits down across from him.
“Your staring is adorable, mon trésor, but I wonder if I should be concerned for jealous feelings? I am on a date, you see.”
“What did you do to him?” Chase asks quietly, leaning back in his chair. “Did you hypnotize him? Torture him?”
“Non, none of the above, silly.” Jacques is grinning again, and is that a blush? “Believe it or not, my dear, someone cared for me enough to want me. Theo sees past my flaws to find the real me. I can be myself around him. Oh, and believe me, I told him all about you. About how much fun we used to have together. He’s not jealous at all, non.”
“You’re sick,” Chase hisses. “Get away from me right now before I call for help.”
“You’re not the type to cause a scene,” Jacques points out bluntly. “I merely came over here because you could not take your eyes off of me. It was almost like you were falling into trance all over again.” He reaches over, brushing fingertips down Chase’s forearm, giggling when he jerks back. “You could come with me, if you’d like.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“Aren’t you?” Jacques leans forward, resting his chin in the palm of his hand with a smile. “Your first question was ‘what did I do to Theo’. Which tells me you only see one side to me. I’m much more complex and three dimensional. But...oh, you miss it, don’t you?”
“....miss what?” Chase has to blink a couple of times to re-focus on the conversation. He has no idea what Jacques just said, and that worries him.
“Being under my control, of course.” He waves two fingers at Chase, giggling when the man’s eyes automatically zero in on the moving digits. “Look at you, it would be so easy to take control, right now. You’re always so willing to slip and fall...” His hand jerks back as he straightens up, letting the mood drop for the moment.
“I know you do, my love,” Jacques replies. “And we’ll play later. In the meantime, I’m on a date, and you’re rudely interrupting. Please do not bother me again.” He spills the half-full glass of water over the rest of the meal, watching with only a distant sort of interest before turning and walking back to Theo.
Chase hisses under his breath as he fishes out his wallet. Screw this restaurant, screw Jacques, and screw this entire day. He’s going home, where it’s safe.
