Chapter Text
If you’d told Mr. Bidwell that on this brisk Tuesday’s morning the day ahead would be extraordinary, he likely would not have believed you. Sure, he had some interesting meetings he’d have to drag Saxton to, he’d say, but there was nothing earth-shattering planned. He got ready as usual, brushed his teeth as usual, and drove to work as usual; only narrowly missing Saxton’s arrival as he jumped in, through the ceiling, from a helicopter. He sighed. He really needed to stop doing that.
And, as usual, he was greeted by the bellowings of his boss from six floors up just as he crossed the threshold into the building.
“HELLO, MISTER BIDWELL!” Saxton shouted as he jumped from said sixth floor and landed at Bidwell’s feet. He took a sip of his coffee, it having already been lovingly made for him by his assistant, Kevin Rice, before he’d even come in.
“Hello, Saxton,” he said. “I thought we talked about you jumping into the lobby from your office.”
“Sorry, I forgot. And also it’s a stupid rule,” Saxton explained, nerfing his apology before it could even exit his mouth. Bidwell sighed, double-checking his clipboard despite already knowing the plans for the day ahead by heart.
“Well, you’re going to have to make the trek back upstairs with me, as your first meeting with the Laurens starts in ten minutes. It’ll be over the phone, in your office, so—”
“Lovely!” he shouted, scooping Bidwell up in his arms, bridal-style. “Let’s take the stairs!!”
It took everything Bidwell had in him to keep from becoming a bashful mess, but he’d been getting better about staying professional in spite of Saxton’s, well, unprofessionalism. So, he was able to stifle it, just managing a meek, “Whatever you say, sir.”
And, as usual, they made it up the stairs in no time at all. The meeting went about as well as any serious conversation with Saxton could, and they continued about their business, working together like a well-oiled machine. Though Bidwell worked hard to avoid imagining Saxton well-oiled… Too distracting an image.
Towards the end of the day, though, Bidwell was reminded of an important event. A very important event, which he’d somehow forgotten. He was ashamed—humiliated, even, that he’d forgotten such a thing. Still, though, he had to tell Saxton. No time to lose.
“Sir, forgive me, but I completely forgot. It’s happy-hour after work today. We promised the HR team we would join them. Can you go?”
“Of course! I made a promise, didn’t I?” Saxton responded, cheery as ever. Bidwell sighed with relief. He’d forgotten the last time, too, and feared further reprimand from the tiny-yet-terrifying HR director, Miss Valeria.
“I would ask if you’d like a ride, but I assume you’ll be finding your own means of arrival?”
“Nonsense! I would love to carpool in your tiny Corolla,” Saxton said with an unintentionally-strong smack to Bidwell’s back, making him lurch forward and forcing him to catch himself. He cleared his throat, only a little embarrassed.
“It’s settled, then,” Bidwell said, Saxton beaming down at him. He wondered if all six-foot-seven of this monster of a man would be able to fit in his car, but he figured he’d figure that out when they got there.
Once five o’clock rolled around, Bidwell grabbed his coat and returned his coffee mug to the breakroom before swinging back by Saxton’s office to walk him to his car.
“You ready?” he asked, and Saxton stood, flexing his arms and grinning down at Bidwell.
“I’m always ready!” he announced, and Bidwell smiled, almost chuckling as he shook his head.
“Whatever you say, sir,” he said, holding the door for him. “After you.”
Saxton hesitated, lowering his arms before passing through. Bidwell wondered if any door had been held open for him before, noticing the pink brushing Saxton’s cheeks as he marched through. He let the matter lie, though, grabbing Saxton’s arm before he could make it to the ledge overlooking the lobby.
“Stairs,” Bidwell clarified, and Saxton pouted.
“It’s not even office hours anymore!” he argued, and Bidwell shook his head. “C’mon, one last time?”
Bidwell sighed. He knew he was being a pushover, but… Those puppy-dog eyes…
“Fine, but after this you—”
Before he could even finish, Saxton had taken Bidwell in his arms yet again and leapt from the balcony towards the porcelain floor. Bidwell screamed, clinging to Saxton for dear life as he fell with him, Saxton finally hitting the ground with a finishing oomph! Bidwell was shaking when he was finally set back down, and he struggled to get his eyes to open after having pried them shut so tightly.
“You alright there, buddy?” Saxton asked, and Bidwell brushed off the front of his blazer and readjusted his tie as he cleared his throat.
“Yu-up, totally fine,” he said, his voice cracking, only leading to further embarrassment. Saxton laughed heartily, patting Bidwell on the back again (not as hard as before, but still enough to move Bidwell forward) as they walked out together.
Upon arriving at Bidwell’s car, the two ogled the sheer height difference, appalling to look at, between Saxton and the little sedan. Bidwell went ahead and took the initiative of adjusting the passenger’s side for Saxton, pushing the seat as far down and back as it could go. Even after this, however, it was still a fairly tight fit for Saxton, but he swore he was fine with it.
“Are you sure? We can always just call a cab or something. Request a bigger car…” Bidwell started, but Saxton guffawed at the thought.
“Nonsense! I love this baby car you have,” he said, motioning to the dash as Bidwell started the car with another weak laugh and a sigh.
The drive was, thankfully, pretty quick, and they were able to arrive before Saxton got a miserable crick in his neck or something. Bidwell parked, moving to the other side of the car to open Saxton’s door before he could even realize what was happening, and Saxton smiled up at him from inside the car.
“ Mr. Bidwell , we’re not at work anymore. You don’t have to wait on me here,” he said, and Bidwell shrugged.
“Force of habit, I suppose,” he told Saxton as he stood, closing the door behind him and locking his car. “Besides, I enjoy what I do. No reason to stop now.”
Saxton got that same pink in his cheeks as he had before, and Bidwell smiled. He really did enjoy the little things like that—pleasing Saxton, making him feel special. Made him feel like he was really making a difference for Saxton, and, at least a little bit, thrived on the way Saxton’s blush made his heart flutter.
But not enough to distract him from his work, though, no. He couldn’t dwell on that, as it would be far too inconvenient to fall for a guy like Saxton. So busy, important… and strong, and handsome…
He shook his head to clear his mind. Much too distracting.
“Have you been here before, Mr. Bidwell?” Saxton asked, ducking under the doorway as they entered, and Bidwell shook his head.
“Not that I remember, sir,” he told him, waving to their party upon noticing where they’d sat. It was a small bar, for sure, but the atmosphere was welcoming, and the smell of the loveliest of fried foods wafted out through the kitchen as they walked past. “Seems nice though, right?”
“Yes, it does! I’m gonna need some a’ their mozzie-sticks, I think,” Saxton said, joining Bidwell in hellos as they joined the tittering group of ladies. The girls on the left moved to the right of the booth, leaving room for the boys to sit on the same side together since Saxton took up more than half of the booth’s seat.
“So glad you boys could make it!” Valeria told them, Bidwell sending her assistant, Chelsea, a quiet thank-you for the reminder. She sent a knowing wink back, taking a sip of her delectable-looking cocktail.
Bidwell leaned in, motioning for her to do the same as Valeria and Saxton chatted on their own, and whispered, “What’re you drinking?”
She lit up, having to look back to her drink menu to remember the name.
“It’s like a pina colada, but it’s got raspberry stuff in it! It’s a, uh… Pina colava , it says, and it’s so good!” Chelsea gushed, sliding Bidwell said menu and allowing him to look at it.
“I’ll take your word for it!” he said, taking the first opportunity to order one the first chance he had—which was quick, since Saxton had already called their waiter over to order his aforementioned mozzarella sticks.
“You’re drinking?” Saxton asked Bidwell after their waiter left to carry on the message to the kitchens, and Bidwell shrugged.
“It’s just one drink,” he assured his boss. “I’ll be alright. Besides, Chelsea says it’s good.”
“Oh, really?” he said, looking to Chelsea and waving, her attention having been grabbed after hearing her name. “Maybe I should try one myself!”
“Well, you can always try mine first,” Bidwell offered. “Best we both try one. One of us is bound to like it, surely, and that way we don’t have to pay for two.”
“Oh, don’t you boys worry about paying for any of this,” Valeria chimed in. “This is an HR sponsored event! How’d you think we got so many people to show up?”
Bidwell looked to Saxton and shrugged.
“Then, I guess you should just order one,” he said, Saxton grinning ear to ear.
“You tryna get me drunk, Bidwell?” he asked, and Bidwell’s eyebrows shot up from surprise, warmth prickling the tips of his ears and nose. Saxton laughed, shaking Bidwell lightly. “I’m just kiddin’, Biddy, don’t you worry.”
Bidwell relaxed a bit, avoiding Valeria’s suspicious, piercing gaze. Not in front of HR, Bidwell. C’mon, now…
Their food and drinks came, Bidwell taking his first sip of big-kid smoothie and accidentally downing the whole thing before he could even realize he was chugging it.
“Oops,” he said, accidentally aloud, upon reaching the end of his glass, and Saxton bellowed out a hearty laugh when he noticed, only deepening the pink on Bidwell’s cheeks.
“Looks like you liked it!” Saxton teased, Bidwell rolling his eyes.
“Can’t help it, the thing just tastes like a regular smoothie,” he explained, and Saxton slid his glass over to Bidwell.
“Yeah, well, it is a little too sweet for my taste. You want mine?” Saxton asked, Biwell eyeing it suspiciously before shrugging the concern away and accepting the offer.
“I mean, the alcohol content can’t be crazy, right? Can’t even taste it,” Bidwell said, taking a sip of it before leaning back as a reminder to take his time.
“Sure!” Saxton agreed, admittedly knowing nothing about the drinks, nor Bidwell’s tolerance. He figured Bidwell would be alright—or, at least, that he could take care of himself—and let him be. Bidwell, thinking much of the same of himself, carried on drinking. The longer the conversation carried on, however, the gigglier Bidwell became, and the louder his voice rose. Before Saxton knew it, Bidwell had downed a third and fourth drink, and Saxton was suddenly glad he’d opted to stay sober.
“I have to pee—Mr. Hale, I have to pee,” Bidwell said, motioning for Saxton to scoot out of the way and giggling as he did as he was asked. “Thankyyoop—!”
Saxton grabbed Bidwell before he could completely topple over, and Bidwell placed his hands over Saxton’s, tittering incessantly as he regained his balance. Saxton could feel his face getting warmer as he watched him, and his stomach began swimming. What was this feeling?
“You need any help gettin’ to the bathroom, mate?” Saxton asked, and Bidwell scoffed and blew a raspberry at him, surprising Saxton a bit.
“I’m ffine!” Bidwell insisted, despite how wobbly he still was and how almost aggressive he’d become. Saxton nodded, letting him go on his own, flinching with every time Bidwell stumbled and caught himself.
“Is he gonna be alright?” Chelsea asked, sipping on her second pina colava. “I can’t help but feel kinda responsible…”
“Eh, I can drive him home,” Saxton assured her. “But I think I shouldn’t have given him my drink…”
Chelsea giggled, taking another sip of her smoothie.
“Oh, yeah, these things are dangerous,” she tittered, and Saxton cocked his head.
“What’s in em?” he asked. “Bidwell said it just tasted like fruit-stuff.”
“Oh, nothing much, just a couple shots of… Whatever comes in a pina colada. But there’s so much sugar you really can’t taste it!”
“A couple shots?” Saxton asked, and she nodded, giggling again.
“I’m thinking Mr. Bidwell didn’t know,” she said, Saxton rubbing the bridge of his nose with concern. Had Bidwell even eaten since lunch? He couldn’t remember. When did he even eat that?
He ordered an emergency second-platter of mozz sticks, just in case.
Bidwell, upon his return, practically fell into the open space next to Saxton, smiling like an idiot the full way down.
“Whoops!” he giggled, “I think… I think I’ve had too many to drive back.”
Saxton looked over to him, his face much closer than he’d expected, but also oh-so smiley and… Cute.
“You think?” Saxton asked him, only getting Bidwell to laugh more. As if on queue, the platter of fresh, fried food arrived, but Bidwell seemed disinterested in them, and more interested in the details of Saxton’s face.
“Have you eaten today, Mr. Bidwell?” Saxton asked him, sniffling and scratching his face as he tried to pry his eyes from Bidwell’s, which were boring further into him by the second. He felt as if his eyes could see all of him, and he hadn’t felt so naked in years. And yet, he couldn’t convince himself to look away.
“Oh, sure,” Bidwell answered. “I’ve had loads of coffee, and I packed my usual soup and salad for lunch, and uh…”
He snorted, covering his mouth as he giggled more.
“I guess that explains it. I skipped dinner, Mr. Hale, would you believe it?” Bidwell asked, and Saxton nodded, eyes wide. “You get these for me?”
Saxton looked at the mozzarella sticks he’d almost forgotten he’d ordered, and nodded again. Bidwell thanked him, took one, and pulled the cheese apart with his teeth and his hand, letting the cheese hang between them. He giggled, his smile intoxicating to Saxton as he picked up the remainder of the cheese and shoved it in his mouth, the least graceful Saxton had ever seen him be. He shrugged, as if excusing his behavior himself . Saxton laughed weakly with him.
Something was wrong. Why did he feel all… Fuzzy?
He remained there, frozen in place, only moving to accept the delicious cheesy goodness Bidwell offered to him by feeding them directly into his mouth. He ensured Bidwell ate the majority of them, though; and moved to stand once the HR girls had announced their leave.
“We’ll see you boys tomorrow! And get him home safe, Mr. Hale,” Valeria tittered, and Saxton nodded.
“You know I will!” he assured her, and she, Chelsea, and the rest of the HR team bid their farewells, leaving Bidwell and Saxton to their own devices. Bidwell seemed to relax even more in their absence, though; resorting to leaning his full weight against Saxton’s chest, still beaming up at him with sleepy, mesmerizing eyes.
“I think it’s about time we got you home, Mr. Bidwell,” Saxton told him, brushing the hair out of his face, but he pouted at the notion.
“I’m fine, Mr. Hale,” he insisted, despite his obvious drunken condition. “I’m so fine I think I could…” he hiccuped. “ Drink a horse!”
“Yup, and for that reason, we gotta go,” Saxton said, a little more stern this time, so Bidwell would follow along. He seemed to get sleepy after eating, though—leaning against Saxton the whole way out of the bar. Saxton, as a result, basically had to drag him to the passenger’s side of his car, but Bidwell went out of his way to open the door as if Saxton were to enter the passenger’s side. Saxton cleared his throat, extending an open palm to him, and requested his keys.
“Oh, yeah, right,” Bidwell noted, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the jangling mess he called a keychain. Bidwell entered the car, seeming awfully small in the chair that’d been pushed so far backwards, and set the keys into Saxton’s hands. Saxton accepted them, almost letting matters lie and closing the door, but he stopped himself. Mr. Bidwell just looked so silly in the chair in its current condition, so Saxton, vaguely remembering how to adjust it, moved Bidwell’s seat back up for him.
“Such a gentleman,” Bidwell teased, hovering terribly close to Saxton as he worked to lean his seat forward as well. Somehow, in spite of the November weather sending a chilling breeze past the two of them and into the car, he still felt terribly hot. He hoped he wasn’t catching a cold… He’d fought off every illness that’s threatened him since he was a boy! Surely he wasn’t losing that winning-streak now…
“Of course,” Saxton responded, finally, and Bidwell snorted again, bringing a smile to Saxton’s face. He’d never seen his assistant so giddy, but the pure joy he seemed to be experiencing looked good on him. Saxton looked at him again once he finished fixing the seat, and Bidwell stared right back. He was so close, too. Saxton fixed his bangs again, finding himself resisting the urge to plant a kiss on his now-exposed forehead. Funny… What’d he want to do that for?
“So, are you driving me home?” Bidwell asked, breaking the silence between them, and Saxton lurched back to reality. He was nearly shivering, now, from having been standing outside for so long.
“Right! Yes, I am!” Saxton announced, twirling Bidwell’s keys around his finger and flinging them halfway across the parking lot in the process. He chuckled awkwardly, Bidwell’s face falling as he realized what had happened.
“My keys…” he mumbled.
“One moment!” Saxton said, shutting Bidwell’s door to keep him warm as he trotted after the rogue keychain, rubbing his face in his hands as he jogged.
What had gotten into him today?
Finally, though, Saxton (after adjusting the driver’s seat this time) was able to get on the road. Only problem then was that… He had no idea where Bidwell lived.
“You don’t happen to remember the way back home, do you?” Saxton asked Bidwell, but the man was basically asleep already, leaning snugly against the window. Saxton sighed. He still looked so small…
Whatever, he thought. Bidwell could stay with him for the night. No big deal.
So, Saxton drove them to his house, having to enter the guest key from outside the gates to his massive, magnificent home since he’d arrived by such… Unusual means. Like, who drives a car anymore, anyway?
He pulled Bidwell’s car into his driveway, taking extra care to close his driver’s side door softly, and open Bidwell’s slowly to keep him from toppling out. Luckily, he was a tiny man, so catching him was a simple task. He lifted him up into his arms as he usually did, cradling him like the baby-man he was, but now it seemed to feel… Different.
Bidwell, being fast asleep, rested his head against Saxton’s chest; his long, dark eyelashes grazing Saxton’s skin ever-so-slightly and nearly tickling him from how ginger the touch was. He was also significantly more relaxed in this state than he usually was when Saxton scooped him up by surprise. He was so… Vulnerable, like this. And it was strange.
Saxton closed the passenger’s-side door with his foot, locking the car with the key he still held along with Bidwell’s legs. He winced, though, having hit the lock twice and, thus, triggered the car’s horn. Bidwell didn’t seem to mind, though, and simply readjusted in Saxton’s arms, nuzzling in closer to him.
He’s like a puppy, Saxton thought. Or a baby cougar, missing its mother and cuddling to my chest for warmth.
Saxton got that funny feeling in his stomach again, it reaching further towards his chest and throat, now. It felt familiar, and yet he still couldn’t quite place it.
“Mr. Hale?” a voice called from just inside Saxton’s front door. He smiled, waving as best he could while holding an entire perso n in his arms.
In as quiet a tone he could manage, he whispered, in reference to Bidwell, “My assistant from work. Had a few too many at happy-hour, so…”
“Ah, I see,” his home-assistant, a little old lady he called Mrs. Maurice, responded. “I’ll get the guest bedroom ready, then?”
He nodded, following her inside.
“Thank you, Mrs. Maurice,” he said, and she nodded, waving a hand around in vague dismissal.
“I just wish you’d give me a warning before bringing more handsome men over. If he was awake, he could have given me a heart attack!” she joked, and Saxton chuckled.
“He is quite handsome, isn’t he?” he asked, and Mrs. Maurice turned to look at him, an eyebrow quirked from intrigue. Saxton, not really sure what that was about, brought Bidwell into his living room and laid him out—temporarily, of course—on the couch. He, then, ran to the kitchen, and grabbed him a glass of water before trotting back and waking him up as gingerly as he could.
“Hm? Wh…” Bidwell tried to speak, but it seemed he was just too dang tired. Saxton’s heart melted as he watched him, his struggle reminding him of a newborn deer taking its first steps.
“Don’t worry, you’re alright. I brought you to my house, and you can stay here for the night. Oh, and drink some water, or you’ll regret it in the morning,” Saxton explained, and Bidwell accepted the glass. With surprising speed and a lack of grace, Bidwell downed the entire cup and laid back down, water still dripping off his chin. Saxton struggled to avoid guffawing in response to his hasty chugging, and instead allowed his laugh to escape while in the kitchen as he retrieved a towel to clean Bidwell off.
“The room is ready now, Mr. Hale,” Mrs. Maurice told Saxton as he finished tidying up Bidwell, and he nodded. “Would you like for me to handle him from here?”
“Nonsense, I can take care of this,” he assured her, and she smiled with a knowing look on her face. “What’re you lookin’ at me like that for? I got it!”
“Oh, I know you do,” she assured him. “Goodnight, Mr. Hale.”
“...Goodnight,” Saxton responded, her cryptic nature only confusing him more. But, he wouldn’t worry about that now. He scooped Bidwell up one last time and carried him to his room, setting him down on the bed and waking him once more just enough so he could at least remove his shoes, belt, and blazer for him before going to sleep.
“Hm, at least take me to dinner first,” Bidwell mumbled as Saxton undressed him, a giggle escaping his lips, and Saxton flushed.
“Do you want help or not?” he asked, quickly realizing just how out of it Bidwell still was. He couldn’t keep his eyes open, and it seemed he either hadn’t realized what, exactly, he’d said, or he just flat-out didn’t remember. So, Saxton let it be, and carried on, but decided it best to keep from removing any further clothing. He was unsure how comfortable Bidwell would be with that, and Saxton himself was in much too strange of a state to consider doing that for someone so… helpless. Saxton swallowed down the thought, and removed the covers off the bed to make room for Bidwell to crawl in. Thankfully, he did so on his own, and cuddled deep into the clean pillows and sheets, burying his face in the fresh linens with a content, happy sigh. Saxton couldn’t help but smile, patting the little man’s head before taking his leave.
However, Bidwell seemed to have other plans. He, in his drunken stupor, latched onto Saxton’s hand as he turned away, holding onto it with just enough strength to keep him from walking away.
“Don’t go,” he whispered, his voice so soft that Saxton wondered if he heard him right. He blinked down at him, his heart racing.
“I’m sorry?” Saxton asked, and Bidwell pulled Saxton’s hand closer to him. He didn’t repeat himself, but he did hum quietly, seemingly content with the little touch Saxton’s fingers wrapped in his offered him. Saxton swallowed again before clearing his throat.
“I-I’m gonna go now, Mr. Bidwell,” he said, slowly pulling his hand away. It seemed Bidwell had finally properly fallen asleep and, thus, didn’t notice Saxton’s escape. He still crept out of the room as silently as he could manage, though, and resisted breathing until he was outside and had shut the door.
What the hell was that? And why did he feel so… Weird about it?
Something must have happened. It was the only possibility. He didn’t know who could have done it, nor when, nor why; but someone had to have properly cursed him. He’d seen it before, and he was sure this was the same case now. If he didn’t have the curse removed, and fast, he knew he was to lose his sanity… Or even his life!
And there was only one man—no, one myth, one legend he could call for help.
Merasmus.