Met nodded. He glanced over to the countered cafe area and meandered over, gazing up at the menu.
The woman at the bar (she was about Met's age) caught the gaze of Met and was staring hungrily at his sharp, pale, and handsome features.
Seth walks with him and when he sees the woman, he feels his father instincts wanting to kick in. He needed to keep calm. If she tried anything, he could still protect his son.
The lady cleared her throat gently to catch Met's attention and leaned over the counter. "How ya' doing, sugar? Want some coffee? Maybe… a little more?" She batted her eyelashes.
Met jumped a little at her voice and looked down at her. "What? Oh, no… no thanks." He grinned a little, feeling wrong-footed and confused.
Seth stands beside Met. He glances at her with narrowed eyes, "Two bottled waters please." He had to try his best to keep a growl from his voice. "Want anything to eat, Met?" He asks, smiling a little at his son.
(oooo you go Seth)
Met glanced unsurely back up at the menu, the persistence of the lady's gaze unsettling him. "Um… a slice of cake… please…"
"Extra icing?" The lady asked too suddenly.
Met understood that and turned a faint red in the cheeks. "Um-uh-no-yes I don't know."
Seth glares at the woman, "A slice of cake as well." He places a gentle hand on Met's shoulder, a strained smile on his lips, "Why don't you go sit down, save our table, yeah? I'll be there in a second." He knew Met could read minds, so silently he added, She's a little…unsettling. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. Unsettling was a kind word in his taste.
Met took note and gave a slight, jerky nod.
The lady sighed and wrote down their order. "It'll be up in a second," She addressed Seth hazily, before turning to talk to Met, who didn't want to turn back on her.
"Are you from around here, honey?" She asked in a sickly sweet voice.
Met shook his head. "I'm from up north."
She hummed, passing two bottles to Seth. "Really now? You sound like you have English in your blood, though. I love Englishmen, you know."
Met bit his tongue and nodded pointlessly, not knowing how to respond. "My… my parents were Englishman and woman."
"Ooooh! So you're from a rich family?" She asked earnestly.
"Errrr… yes…"
"What's your last name?"
"Wh-Whembrooke…"
Seth glares at the woman, taking their food and placing a 20 on the counter. "Keep the change." He growls, before handing Met his food and walking him towards the table. He shoots the woman a venom filled glance, filled with so much hatred it could make a full grown man run to his mother, before sitting down, having Met face his back to the woman. "Are you okay?" He asks gently towards Met, trying to calm down.
Met tried to keep his back away from the lady the entire time before being forced to turn.
"I-I-I-I don't know," Met stuttered, looking extremely confused and embarrassed.
He nods. "Do you want to leave? We can buy the books you have and head out." He says gently.
Met blinked a couple times. "I… no, we can stay. I don't want to ruin this… it's too nice."
Seth glances at him in concern. "Alright." He says gently. "But if you change your mind, just tell me, okay? We can go. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
Met nodded and sat back down, thinking of how quickly Seth jumped to support Met out of that situation.
Dad never did that… he never… He squeezed the napkin that came with the slice of cake in his hand, a rush of anger pulsing in his ears. Met wasn't one to get angry… but what his father did… unacceptable… he let me go… so easily…
Seth takes a sip of his water, glancing at Met. His eyes grow in concern and he gently places his hand on Met's clenched fist. "Met? Are you alright?" He asks gently. His voice is soft, his eyes concerned.
Met glanced up at Seth. "What? Oh, yeah, I'm okay." He let the napkin go, feeling distinctly bad for his rush of anger, though he didn't do much. He hastily picked up his fork and started eating the cake.
He nods gently in understanding. "Alright." He says softly, before returning to his book, but every so often Seth would glance at the other, concern evident in his eyes. He stretches out a little, taking a casual sip of water.
Met returned to his book, allowing himself to get lost in Edgar Allen Poe's complete works.
…Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
“Wretch,” I cried, “thy God hath lent thee—by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite—respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore;
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore…”
He sighs tiredly, looking up from his book, "Ah. Edgar Allen Poe, hmm?" He asks curiously. He chuckles, "That one was a curious soul." He gives a wistful sigh.
Met swallowed the lump in his throat, his gaze caught on "Lenore" on the page. Why he related to Edgar… was unknown to him, yet… there were many similarities Met wouldn't want to tell anyone of…
He heard Seth talking and raised his head. "Pardon?"
"He was a curious soul, that one." He says, pointing his head to the book. He smiles a little at Met, before ruffling his hair affectionately. He stands and stretches, walking towards the books, and picking a few. But he makes sure to keep Met in his sights as he does, not wanting the sweet boy to get into trouble.
Met blinked and moved his hand up to his hair, yet felt no desire to fix it. He grinned a little then glanced back down at Poe's The Raven, one of his favorites, yes, but one of the only poems he's read.
He returns with a small pile of books, maybe three or five, and sets them down, "If you enjoy him, I brought a few others. They're classics. I thought you'd like them." he says, pushing the books forward.
Met glanced up and noticed the familiar names. "But… they're complete works books… they're probably really expensive…"
Seth smiles a little, "I did say it doesn't matter when it comes to books." He says softly, chuckling. "Besides, it's only a few, nothing to worry about." He looks back to his book, flipping to his proper page and marking it before looking back at Met.
Met had finished The Raven, flipped over the book and was looking at the back. The price tag stated $39.99. Not bad for a hardcover complete edition… but multiple…
"You did say it doesn't matter… but… it's still a lot of money…"
Seth smiles gently, before gently picking up the books at carrying them to the counter, "These please." He says simply. The man currently at the counter nods. Seth smiles as he pays for the books, before returning to Met's side. "A welcome home gift." He says gently.
(That reminds me of like, freshmen at a high school at Homecoming stuff. Like, oh you just got here, how are you coming home? I dunno I'm weird)
Met blinked, carefully taking the books. Shakespear… Poe… Dickinson… the Brothers Grimm…"A-are you sure? This had to be… really…" He trailed off, fazed by how much Seth spent on him.
He nods and smiles softly. "I'm positive Met." He says softly, placing a hand on the books. "I wouldn't have bought them otherwise." He assures gently.
Met nodded too and glanced back up at Seth. "Thank-thank you! I… I don't know what to say… You're just being…"
Seth smiles. "You're welcome Met." He chuckles and looks at Met with love and compassion, "You're my son. You're part of this family now and I want you and your brother to be happy."