McDonalds

I strode into my local McDonald’s with purpose and swagger, my chest puffed out and my head high. “I'll have two Filet-O-Fish, three Big Macs, two large fries, and a large Sprite!” I bellowed with gusto.

Ahe's voice sneered in my head, “This is what you mean by eating good?”

“Don’t knock it till you try it,” I retorted while setting my booty on the table. “McDonald’s is as American as apple pie stuffed in a bald eagle.”

“Don’t fucking play me,” Ahe snapped, his ethereal voice dripping with disdain. “I’ve been around the block, cowboy. Some of those blocks were trailer parks, just like yours.”

“I’m a quarter Korean,” I murmured, my mouth full of Big Mac.

“Congrats, you’re a Hangul Hick.” Ahe chuckled.

My eyes widened. “Shit, you even know Korean?”

“I will say, them K-pop agencies sure know how to cover up a sex scandal.” Ahe quipped.

Before I could respond, a figure glided toward me. His white hair cascaded over his shoulders, contrasting his mesmerizing blue eyes. He wore a pristine white suit with black accents, and his form was delicately feminine, like a porcelain doll.

A tight smile adorned his lips as he greeted me, “Hello there.” his voice was smooth and slightly raspy, a voice you would expect from a thriller story time podcast host.

“What does this beautiful specimen of a fapping material want with your bum ass?” Ahe asked, a mix of pure awe and passive aggressiveness making an interesting combo.

I replied, mouth still packed with the filet-o-fish, “Mmmpghh.”

“How’s your day been?” he inquired, his words honey-dipped in politeness.

I managed a muffled “Fmpffhh,”

“At least let me take his body!” Ahe said, tho I'm not sure how serious he actually is since I'm not feeling the familiar puking feeling whenever he comes out. “Oh woe is me, my main exit is blocked by barely legal fish and fake bread.”

“Mind if I sit?” His voice was like a caress, but he barely awaited my response before settling opposite me. His gaze was unwavering, his smile a well-rehearsed performance.

“Just look at him, so dreamy.” Ahe said in a high pitched tone, in my guess, to mimic a schoolgirl, “You should give me your body.”

I swallowed my bite. He wasn't wrong tho, if this man had approached me in any other scenario I might have fallen for him.

We sat there for what seemed an eternity, him observing me with that unwavering smile, and me trying to assert my dominance by slowly eating my McDonald’s feast bite by bite.

As I finished my last bite, with a gulp of sprite to aid to swallow, I took a second to dust off the broken crumbs of bread, the little chunks of fries that break off occasionally because of how brittle they are, and whatever else was hanging on my clothes like a Christmas tree ornament.

“So what brings you here today?” I say, smiling back.

“I noticed you earlier,” the white-haired man confessed, his hand cupping his cheek as he leaned on his elbow. “When you took the pamphlets from the scouters after your test.”

“Oh, a stalker!” Ahe purred in my head.

“And you didn't exactly look thrilled with their offers,” he continued, ignoring Ahe's commentary.

“An observant stalker!” Ahe's voice had a salacious lilt to it now.

“I'm confident I can provide an offer that will please you much more,” he purred. His free hand slowly traveled up my chest, eventually settling his index finger on my chin.

“A flirtatious, observant stalker!” Ahe's voice echoed in my head, filled with unmasked excitement. “Fuck, give me your body!”

With my hand, I took hold of his wandering one, pulling it away from my chin. “Before this escalates further... your name?”

“Aquila,” he answered, a tantalizing smile playing on his lips as he retracted his hand, setting it on the table. “And you are?”

“Don't got a hero name yet, and you don't need my real one,” I returned curtly, my eyes narrowing at him.

“Feisty,” he said, a spark of amusement in his eyes. He slid a card towards me across the table. “How about paying my guild a visit tomorrow?”

I snatched up the card, skimming over the information—Guildmaster Aquila of Lyra, a phone number, an email address, a business address—then stuffed it into my pocket. “Is that all?” I asked, raising a brow at him.

“Yep,” he replied, his captivating smile never wavering.

I pushed my chair back, standing up to leave. I had a date with a bed in my apartment, and I wasn't in the mood for further conversation.