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[This whole situation was interesting, and that was likely the only reason he continued to go through with it. TJ was so desperate to be loved, to be accepted that he suspected that both of those aspects had been long denied to the young man. Beneath all the fun outgoing personality was a sad broken child, one left behind on numerous occasions, and the face didn't hurt either.

The fact that they had gone through a first date and nothing physical had happened was surprising. He was at the point where he wasn't so easily interested in the physical, where the intellectual nature of a person or exploring their personality had far more draw for him. And TJ was positively fascinating to listen to.

So he arrived for their second date with six bottles of fine craft beer and a smile on his face. He was dressed casually in a pair of jeans and a collared shirt but no tie. His hair was done neatly as it always way, and he had a smile on his face for when the door was opened to admit him.]

Good evening, TJ. You're looking handsome, as always. [He offered the bottles of beer. It was polite to bring something in his experience.]

[Good evening. All prim and proper. Fuck. There's something to seeing Alex in jeans and a nice shirt. Not quite as fancy as the guy usually seems to dress. Casual. Relaxed. For TJ. His smirk blossoms into a smile, genuine at the edges. A little nervous, maybe, because Alexander Pierce is way out of his normal go to.]

Yeah, yeah. I know. You too, by the way.

[He takes the beers and steps aside, shutting the door behind Alex.]

I'm not much of a cook, so I ordered in. Hope you're alright with Italian.

[TJ takes a few of the beers out and puts them on the table by each of their plates. Paper, the finest of chinas.]

Figured we could hang out here.

[Rather than go out somewhere that TJ couldn't afford. Then it'd feel more like a Sugar Daddy situation and even though Alex was always a thousand steps ahead of him, TJ wanted to try to keep them level.]

[He nodded his head and stepped in as he passed over the drinks, looking around TJ's quaint little abode. He kept his own apartment simple and sparse, nothing like the riches he had previously own and kept. There was no point of material's like that here, so he found this little place as cozy as his own.

And the plates, Alexander found himself smiling at them. The finest and easiest to maintain of china, indeed.]

You know I would have appreciated anything you put together. This is nice, and it smells good. Italian is one of my favourites, as well. Lucky for us both yes?

[He seated himself, taking the next casual step of rolling up the sleeves of his collared shirt to mid-forearm, folding his fingers together.]

Are you going to be a gentleman and serve us both?

[Right. Alex was a nice guy. Paper plates didn't bother him. Neither did eating in, apparently. TJ smiles and slides into the chair opposite Alex, leaning forward so that he can dish out the food.]

Tell me when.

[He stops when he gets the signal and then serves himself. TJs not much of an eater, though his appetite has increased now that he's been here so long. Been clean.]

So while we eat, lets get to know each other better. Tell me what you like and don't like.

[TJ takes a bite, chews it slowly, brows pinched together as he thoroughly considers what he's going to say next.]

Then when we're done. We can sit over there and watch something.

[So that TJ can slide up real nice and cozy, make a move if the mood is right.]

[He indicated with a hand when there was enough food on his plate and waited until TJ had served himself as well. He wasn't much of an eater either, though his reasons for that were more age-related than anything personal.

He had noted that TJ was putting on a bit of weight since he had met the young man. TJ had better colour as well. That was good in his opinion.

He smiled and picked up his fork to begin eating as well, considering the request for information and deciding which was worth divulging at this point. This kind of question and answer period was something that he was used to.]

Let's see, I'm willing to try most things at least once. I've already told you that I like chess and crossword puzzles before. What else? I enjoy sailing, and I learned to fly old planes, but I'm dreadfully rusty. It was still very enjoyable. I enjoy collecting artifacts and reading. Murder mystery novels are my guilty pleasure. [Or creating a murder mystery.] As for dislikes... I hate polishing silverware. I don't like eggplant, and I don't care for swimming much.

[He considered again between bites, deciding that was enough new information for now. He watched TJ eat and offered his most charming smile, the corner of his eyes crinkling with affection.]

What about you? Likes and dislikes?

[TJ listens, he really does. He wants that consideration from other people in return so he does his best, but there's a point towards the end where he zones out a little. Pierce is just that god damn handsome. Sighing softly, he blinks a few times and looks up.]

I like sex and parties, though those usually get me into trouble. [His mouth quirks.] The piano. I really enjoy the piano but I don't play it all that much anymore. Not for pleasure.

I don't like getting out of bed before noon and I hate politics.

[It wasn't super specific, but he guessed that Alex could understand why.]

I hate that I've never met anyone that really understands me. [Doug tried. That was as close as he got. He shrugs.] Have I ever mentioned that I'm a romantic? I like doing all the sweet stuff. Dates. Staying in. This.

[Pierce couldn't help but chuckle at TJ's likes. They were in very different aspects of their lives; he was fine with high-class dinner parties where people sniffed wine and talked about the boring useless scandals of their lives. He liked picking those people apart gently and with a kindness that left them even more upset than they had started.

He had a feeling that they would never be exclusive, which was fine by him. TJ was going to need the physical affection of others. It generally was not a priority anymore.]

Why don't you play the piano for pleasure anymore? I would very much like to hear you play.

[He took a pause to take another bite of his food, savouring the flavour before smiling.] Do you hate politics because of your family being involved in it or because it destroyed your family in the usual scandals that seem to follow around those who aren't quite careful?

[Now there was an interesting comment.] I enjoy this as well, but I'm concerned when you say that no one understands you. Would you care to elaborate?

[If they continued to date and Pierce asked for exclusivity, if he implied that he still wanted something like that.. TJ would do it. He's a romantic at heart. Wants love from one person and a real relationship. He doesn't think he deserves it and knows that a good guy won't offer that to him, so he doesn't assume that Alex is going to.]

Uh, I dunno. Guess there isn't one around for me to play.

[It was a lame excuse.]

The latter. If they weren't careful it was front page news and even when we were, it still sometimes got out.

[Ah, but that's a downer and he wants to keep their conversation somewhere pleasant. If he can.]

Guess it just feels that way sometimes?

[He shrugs, shakily smiles and tries to brush the comment he shouldn't have made to the side. TJ doesn't want to fuck their date up.]

[For now, he was content with what they had. He hadn't considered dating since his wife had passed, too intent on his work and all the time that sucked out. Now that he only had a single company to manage, there seemed to always be time to meet with other people and TJ filled some of that time nicely. He was a curious young man and the similarities between him and the Soldier were rather uncanny.

He raised his eyebrows at that excuse, aware that it was one.]

No? I can arrange for that situation to change. I can even offer you someone who greatly wants to hear you play as well.

[Pierce knew that situation very well. In the political circus, life was stamping out scandal to be used against them in the media. He leaned back in his chair, smiling knowingly.]

That's quite the stress to live under. It must be so nice to be away from all that here, yes? I too value some of the anonymity with the freedom that it gives me to simply be myself.

[He reached across the table a moment later to touch TJ's hand, stroking his thumb over soft knuckles.] Don't do that, TJ. Don't shut me out. I want to provide for you what you need, and I can only do that if you tell me what that is. It won't ruin anything we have here. I'm happy you are willing to open yourself up like that.

[Yes let him in. Surely nothing bad could happen.]

Who is that?

[TJ hasn't admitted to many people that he can play the piano. It felt personal, somehow, when he hardly played anymore and when he did, it was because someone was making him. That wasn't the case with Alex and he knew he'd really consider doing it for a guy like him.]

Yeah, it's nice that people don't recognize me. I can be whoever I want here.

[Nothing attached to his name. No cameras in his face following his every move and catching every damn mistake he makes. His gaze snaps up at the contact, drops down to watch the way Alex's thumb moves across his knuckles. It was nice.]

I'm not doing it on purpose. [TJ looks away, biting his lower lip.] I'm not good for other people. You'll figure that out eventually and you'll leave.

[If Alex lets him, he'll pull his hand away.]

Then I'll be heartbroken and you won't even think twice about me.

That would be me.

[He had made certain that his own children had been musically inclined when they were young, and his one daughter had taken to the piano. They no longer played, of course, but he always had an appreciation to the classics. If he had to get his hands on a piano through the portal to hear TJ play, one could be certain that he would do that.]

I'm curious to know who you plan on being now that the pressures of the political front are no longer on your back with gross expectations. Of course, the media is also decidedly missing, so your options are wide and easy.

[His expression remained open and compassionate, and he also made no move to keep the hand in his grasp if TJ wanted it back. He left his own still out there on the table, waiting to see if the younger man would return if that carrot was left available for the taking.]

Before my wife passed, I was married for over fifty years. Does that make me sound like someone who leaves easily? [He looked fondly at his dinner partner.] Having not previously found the right person for you doesn't make you bad for other people. I've been through war, the American political system and I've raised two teenage girls, and if that hasn't turned me off of being part of family, I don't know what you can do to escalate that.

[Oh. He's an idiot. Thinking about it, he wouldn't mind playing the piano for Alex. The man would appreciate the music, TJs talent for it. He might even compliment him and TJ was a sucker for sweet, genuine praise.]

I don't know. Haven't really thought about it.

[Who was TJ Hammond? He couldn't answer that. It meant looking deep inside himself and that usually ended with him halfway through a bottle of tequila. After a few seconds, he puts his hand back out to lay it over Alex's. Then.. because he can't help it, he's tactile, he links their fingers together.]

Fifty years is a long time. Did you - ever cheat on her?

[It's personal. Sort of a test. TJ doesn't know if Alex will answer. If he'll get pissed or if he'll tell TJ a truth he won't want to hear. He's slept around but he's sentimental. He'd want his partner to be faithful to him.]

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