everyonelives | there's something due any day

( They travel around, neither William nor Cooper using the numbers they exchanged. Mia makes only one or two pointed comments, but William is now officially on assignment and Cooper is the enemy, as much as he doesn't believe he is. William tried to sow as much doubt as he could before falling into old playboy habits. And then they'd been interrupted. And that was it.

He's on a day trip in Prague for, as Mia put it, downtime. If he's going to sign his life away (real overdramatic), then he should get time off. So, they go together. They take in a beautiful concert, run into beautiful men and - well, William's mid-Russian conversation when his phone sounds. And graciously, the man tells him to check it. He is far away from family.

The timing, though.

William lets it sit, first, because he's preoccupied and trying to give this guy his attention, like anyone would deserve. But, it's only a half hour later where he recognizes William's head is somewhere else.

Well, kind of. But not really, Gjorivk.

He wants to ask, why, what do you want, you had my number for a few days. Why didn't you call. No, he's the enemy. He's a hunter. Born and bred hunter. )

I'm in Prague now and only until tomorrow.

[He can do that. He is not in Prague at this very moment, but he could make it there by breakfast time. Driving overnight has it's advantages, including minimal traffic.]

Breakfast tomorrow. Pick a place and when and I'll be there.

How early?

I'm only four hours out. So I'll be there before the sun's up, so up to you.

Café Jen. It's off the beaten path. Most tourists avoid it. 7.

( William's never been one to sleep in when there's work to be done, hopefully, Cooper is fine with that. He's not feeling generous. Or is he. )

Do you need a place to stay?

( He asks. But, he shouldn't. )

( Like the description, Cafe Jen is a women-owned restaurant off the beaten path. William takes an outside stone table, tucked into the corner. He orders them both coffee and asks the waitress to leave two menus.

This. Is. Not. A. Date. William. He's still dressed like he's going to be impressing someone at a business meeting later.

...He really might. )

No. I'm good.

[He declines because he's already going to be putting enough of an imposition on the other man, and after the way things ended.

Well, it's complicated. He's not really used to complicated.

Still, he shows up when asked to, spotting William at his table and making his way closer.]

Hi.

[Excellent. Great job, Coop.]

( Why had he asked? He should not have asked. It was not his place to ask. Can he unask?

Cooper's face is - is different the word he's thinking of? - in the light of the morning. His features are more chiseled than he remembers and while he looks like he drove all night, he wears it well.

Not that that should be his line of thinking. )

Hi.

( Strong openers on both sides. )

I ordered you a coffee.

[Coop appreciates you greatly. A number of colorful responses spring and die on the tip of her tongue, before he nods and takes a seat.]

Thanks.

[And then, to just get the awkward out of the way:]

I want to talk to Allison Argent.

[Allison. Not Isaac, not some other nameless lackey. He wants to go right to the top because he doesn't want to make the same mistake twice.]

( Does that remove all the awkward? Is that what that does?

Seeing as this is now professional, and not personal, William sits up, taking better posture he learned from his dad. He squares back his shoulders, considering his next response. )

About?

[He sets his jaw, before leaning back in his seat.]

About possibly changing sides. But I'm not going to make the same mistake twice - I don't want any middlemen, I want to talk to the boss.

( In his defense, the middle man is the top man, using smoke, mirrors, and a name that isn't hers to get what she wants, all because a creature stirred up paranoia and fear and the real Gerard Argent took advantage. )

I'll have to ask.

[Coop nods because that makes sense. He would understand if Allison didn't trust him, but at least he took a shot.]

Okay. Fair enough.

[He jerks his thumb over his shoulder.]

Do you want to get back to me? I can go.

I think I should tell you to go, but, I don't want you to. Let me...

( Not say anything he should while pulling his phone out and proceeding to have a pretty cagey, but promising conversation with Allison Argent. He happens to say he's at breakfast but he will pass on a temporary number the hunter wants to use. It will expire by 9PM EST. Which gives him a few hours.

If it's clear, he's setting a meet later, one that's private because Coop won't get far either way, if Allison doesn't trust him. So, he can be present, but maybe offscreen. Funny that he pulls this plan together without telling Coop, and he conveniently leaves them time to actually eat.

He thanks Allison and reassures that he thinks Cooper is the real deal. And, if not, well, it's not like he can't track him.

That's not sexy, is that, that's probably threatening. Stalkery. Either way, he sets his phone faced down on the table, assuming Coop doesn't need to be told anything. He was... right there. )

Stay. You should eat. It's early. Allison likes her informants well-fed. ( Wait. ) That's not how that should've sounded. I want to - I just want you to stay. If you want to. Or, I can give you that number and we can go somewhere quiet.

( And, maybe, he can perform a lie detector test on you without telling you. Werewolf hearing, right?

That said, he likes him. He really likes him. So, watch him fumble. He doesn't do it often. (He must really like him.) )

[Cooper takes in all this information with a small level of amusement. So official. As long as he's been a hunter, things have been so loose and unstructured that you tend to just go with the flow.

But he picks up what's happening between the lines. And then he reminds himself that this was suspicion he asked for by laying everything out on the table.

He does raise his eyebrows at the first comment though. The fumble is kind of cute.]

We can eat. I'm starving, actually, so I'll probably make a better impression on a full stomach.

Okay. Good. Me, too. I'm always starving. I think I get that from my dad.

( Another thing he gets, ignoring how hungry he is always. Like his dad. )

Trick is finding the time.

Then I'm happy to be an excuse.

[Was that a little too flirty? He doesn't know where the line is here, but he's willing to toe around to find it.]

How have you been?

( Please. He does better with flirty than timid. )

I've been working with you-know-who. I stayed with them. And Mia stayed with me. She told me to tell her if you showed up without pants. I don't think she understands what people do in or outside restaurants.

[He laughs.]

If I had showed up without pants, we would have much bigger problems.

[But no, he is in fact fully clothed.]

( Thank god he's not drinking or eating when he says that, or he'd spit/choke. )

Yeah. She just - has that one impression of you. Other than your bachelor party fake name.

You know, some people have told me that that's my best side, but I don't think she appreciated it as much.

[Which is probably for the best, as she's not the one he's interested in.]

I'm getting to know you, and I think you have pretty great sides. Plural. But, I am a fan of that one.

( The waitress arrives, bringing what they order with her before refilling any coffee or drinks. Once she leaves. )

You know, I think she didn't appreciate it since you were in her brother's bed.

Probably true.

[Having her brother involved likely kills the vibe.]

She's not really my type though. It wouldn't have worked out anyway.

You like men who don't fully trust you?

( You're like all of his exes. )

Sorry. Just. Our beginnings. Also, I'm assuming I'm your type.

We're just starting out? Does anyone ever fully trust someone when they're getting to know each other?

[It's not an uncommon occurence in Coop's world, anyway.]

But yes. You would be my type.

We're just starting out.

( He doesn't hide the smile that comes as he eats, until he does, behind that sip of coffee. Does he want to telegraph what he feels? Well, it is how he feels. )

So, tell me about the last guy. Was he another hunter?

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