Chapter 5: Kitten Talks

  Wallet with money safely in his inside jacket pocket again, Tony set off for the tech school's restaurant. It was such a nice day, he almost forewent the helmet so he could enjoy the sun and the breeze. Of course, he didn't because he promised Dillon. Damn kid. Why'd he have to promise to ride around as Darth Vader all the time? What about his sexy features the world would miss out on?

  It was only around a twenty minute ride to the tech school. A few minutes before he got there, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket again. Probably Kat. Tony had thought about it on the way there. He decided that it might be a good idea to ask Kat more about Dillon. There was much about the kid he didn't know and some of that knowledge could help their communication out substantially. Even if it was something small and inconsequential that could help him connect to him more. 

  He wouldn't ask anything personal or the like. Just some of his mannerisms when he was with other people. Maybe his cues for when he was upset or angry? He'd see where the conversation led. To be brutally honest, Tony had a second motive as well. Since Dillon had his thing where he was embarrassed to be seen with him(again, he understood even if it hurt him), he wanted to get some validation through Kat. He wanted to know how much he was worth to Dillon, because of course, they couldn't be around each other all the time. Some would call it "snooping", but he didn't see it as such. It was merely an inquiry to understand his boyfriend more.

  The familiar smell of the tech school's hallways met him as he pushed through the double doors. It was only a little past one thirty. There had been a few occasions where he had gone to the restaurant, and each time he parked in the visitor parking in front of the school. The parking lot around the side where the restaurant happened to be dangerously close to the student parking lot. In his mind's eye he could always see the dents and scratches Harley would suffer if he parked there already. The visitor parking was much safer with fewer cars, even if it was further away. 

  To get through the second set of double doors into the school, he had to scan his visitor's pass. It had taken a while, but Tony finally got a permanent visitor's pass for when he had projects he needed the school's shop for. Since it was only around one thirty and Kat's nursing class was right by the front doors, Tony thought he'd try to summon her. It had always been much easier for him to talk to people in person. Too many text conversations, especially over important topics, could cause misunderstandings and mistakes. He whipped his phone out and texted Kat as he peeked through the tiny window in the door into her classroom. She jolted awake from her stupor as her teacher droned on and looked at her phone.

  Tony saw her look over at him discreetly through the window, then looked at the teacher and scanned the students around her. She raised her hand and said something as she got up and walked up to and out the door. Tony probably should have told her he planned to come here anyway. He felt like sort of a creep. One who just showed up places because they were too impatient to wait for a response. Ever so gently, she closed the door and walked with him. 

  "What are you doin' here? You ok?" Kat asked with slight urgency.

  "W- oh! Yea I had plans to come to the restaurant today anyway. Thought I'd stop in and say hey," he replied with a nervous edge. 

  "It's that text isn't it? Did you read my reply?" 

  "I-"

  "-Of course, not. Do not tell him I told you this. For as long as he had known you… it destroyed him. 'Till you's guys' stopped yer little charade and became a thing."

  "But… wait like since I gashed him with the screwdriver? That long and all summer-"

  "-No, since you almost hit him with a Cadillac. Think that far."

  "I don't understand," Tony said as he scratched his jawline.

  "I don't know what you believe, but call it love at first sight, soul mates, meant to be, whatever. It doesn't matter. The minute he laid eyes on you, you became his world," she explained quietly. "Dillon and I have been friends for a long time and we've had that conversation several times."

  How unexpected. Tony had thought Dillon had fallen for him after they had been friends for a while. Again, he felt that mix of pain and affection for Dillon's love for him before he caught on. He couldn't imagine that kind of pain. Before he figured out how he felt about Dillon, he had never been in love and had never had to hide it. Tony fell a little further in love with the guy. 

  "Yea? I don't know whether to hurt for him or love him more…"

  "Choose the latter. That's all he wants. You're together now and he needs you, bro."

  "Shit, he's so fuckin' awesome," he whispered as he rubbed his forehead.

  "Damn right, haha. Now lemme be real for a minute… If you hurt him in any way well, let's just say… Dillon's heart won't be the only thing broken. I promise you that. He might not show it but I can tell. It's all in the eyes. I've grown rather fond of the boob and won't see him hurt," she whispered evenly as they walked up to the girl's bathroom.

  "I-I would never! He's mine! I won't allow anything or anyone step in between us." Tony growled. Kat smiled.

  "That's what I'm lookin' for. We won't have problems. Never let him go," she responded and patted his shoulder a couple times. "Now, go get grub and don't misbehave tonight."

  "Jeez, haha. Yer sick, Kitten."

  "I told you not to call me that!" She hissed as the bathroom door shut. Tony chuckled. 

  When he got to the end of the hallway he hooked a left to make his way to the restaurant. Damn, it was a big school. Each department was the size of several actual businesses all under one roof. That was fine though, it gave him time to process everything that Kat had told him. It really had floored him that Dillon loved him from the start. He had known that Tony was his person from the very moment he saw him.

  Not only that, but Dillon put up with all of him. He felt such a pang of affection for the kid for the hundredth time that day. Dillon had had to deal with the sight of him with chicks all the time, and had to endure the gay jokes Tony would crack. Dillon had had to fight his desire for him, and only sneak glances when the coast was totally clear. He had to fight what he felt and bite his tongue anytime he'd hear Tony go on about the 'fuck of the week.' The worst blow of all was the thought that Dillon loved him so much, he hid it all, so he could have him forever at least as a friend. He feared Tony would hate him, or even hurt him, for how he felt. All that repression must have shredded him to bits over time. 

  It was no wonder Dillon wasn't totally comfortable to be seen with him constantly. Clearly, the kid had some adjustments to make. It took time to go from completely repressed and afraid to open and confident. He just needed time to come out of his shell more. Tony felt immeasurably better and had an extra pep in his step as he rounded the corner to the culinary department. No longer was he hurt and childishly upset over Dillon's embarrassment. It wasn't true embarrassment or shame, he just didn't want the attention. 

  The kid loved him from the very beginning, so much so that he endured everything he did for what he thought was the sake of their friendship. Tony understood then that Dillon could still be proud of him, but not want the pressure of exposure. Yet again, Tony was reminded of Dillon's words to him one time: "You too will grow past it. Be conflicted! That's a'ight! Continue waverin' and doubtin'. Be ashamed with everything you got! That's what it means to be human, and it's undeniable proof that you have a heart!"

  That statement was so profound to Tony. He couldn't believe he didn't realize sooner that it applied to Dillon too. In fact, Tony was originally the one that was very uncomfortable with their relationship out in public. They'd find their balance. Dillon had a huge heart made of solid platinum, so when they did find that balance it would be wonderful. Tony looked forward to it; he looked forward to the day when they could be open and transparent to themselves and the world. That said, so long as he was Dillon's, nothing else mattered.

  Although it took much longer to get to, Tony loved the inside entrance of the restaurant better. The hallway came to a 'T' and at the top of the 'T' was the entrance. The black granite tiled floor went beautifully with the clear and frosted glass walls. There was no actual door to open; instead they had a pull-down metal grate for when they closed. There was an ivory white carpet that ran down the middle of the tile that led to a wood and glass podium. White and gold linens hung from the podium with the restaurant's logo in black. 

  The classy picture was put together with the light fixtures. They were made from the same black granite as the floor with frosted glass bulbs. The light that shone from them was nice and bright, but diffuse enough to give a relaxed ambiance. Tony walked up to the podium and waited for the host as he perused the bakery case next to it. He prayed that Dillon saved him some cake pops. There were only three left and they were all mint. If he got mint Dillon wouldn't kneel for him later. What a shame, because Tony loved mint.