Chapter Text
A Circus To Call Our Own
The tall, amber haired man’s dress shoes slapped the thin carpeted hallway as he picked up his pace. A stack of papers rocked dangerously in his thin arms. He was attempting to balance them, along with trying to keep two binders tucked beneath his armpit and not spill his coffee all over himself. It was a lopsided looking trapeze act to say the least. He rushed passed the office cubicles in haste, eyes straight forward and breath coming rapidly. He’d needed to have these papers on his boss’ desk at exactly twelve o’ clock sharp. Rhys frantically looked down at his wristwatch over the pile of papers and whined in his throat. It was pushing twelve thirty two and Rhys knew damned well he was in some deep, deep shit. Vasquez was not exactly fond of waiting around, and Rhys knew that. Rhys swallowed dryly and pushed himself faster, running through believable excuses in his head frantically. Truth was, he’d just plain forgotten about them. It had been a rough morning, just like most the mornings before it. He’d dragged himself out of bed, forced himself to dress for this shit job that he hated, and skipped breakfast for lack of time as usual. He knew he wasn’t eating properly. He knew that, really he did, he just couldn’t find it in himself to care.
It had been three months since the breakup. After three fucking months he’d thought the ache would fade, that his life would return to normal…but it hadn’t. The sting hadn’t ebbed much, and he was still left feeling like he’d been run over by a semi-truck. Rhys cringed at the thought of it. He didn’t want to think about it, but his brain just wouldn’t let the memories go. He supposed his mind just couldn’t let three years of his life slip away like it had never happened, but god he wished it would. He was tired of feeling tired, he was tired of aching, he was tired of hurting. He was tired of the sleepless nights and the uneventful days. He was tired of feeling like his heart had been ripped from his ribs and stomped on repeatedly by unforgiving boots. The bags underneath his eyes were getting out of hand and he’d forgotten to shave three days in a row, leaving his jaw line prickly and unkempt. His shirt was in desperate need of ironing, and his socks were not of the matching variety but he hadn’t had a chance to fix either of them, and frankly didn’t much care. Breakups were such hellish things, he’d nearly forgotten what it felt like.
Rhys let loose of a ragged breath and slid around the corner sharply, eyes downcast to the teetering papers.
As the young man came flying around the corner, his eyes had just enough time to look up and see a mass of black, expensive attire before him. Rhys tried to put on the breaks, but it was already too late.
Rhys crashed into the other man hard, papers fluttering out of his arms like frightened birds, both binders clattering to the ground loudly, followed by the shattering of his ceramic coffee mug. Rhys tried to catch something, anything on their way down with no success and ended up just awkwardly grabbing at air, a loud cry of distress coming from his lungs.
“Oh no! No, No, no, no!” Rhys cried in dismay sinking to his knees and picking at the coffee drenched paperwork.
It was only then that Rhys realized the other man was kneeling down doing the same, his bigger hand bumping against Rhys’ as he gathered the binder, saving it from the coffee lake on the floor.
Rhys looked up to the other man then, his mismatched eyes meeting with a mirroring incongruous gaze.
“Aw crap kiddo, I’m sorry! I really hope these weren’t important…they…they didn’t fare so well huh?” The other man chuckled lightly waggling a sheet of wet paper in his fingers before letting it slap against the carpet once more.
Rhys wanted to bark a very agitated ‘yeah they were fucking important and now my ass is cooked!’ but all he could do was stare in awe.
His eyes darted over the other man’s features quickly, his pupils widening, mouth hanging open a little. That coiffed hair, that unmistakable scar, those slender features, Rhys would know them anywhere. Handsome Jack, the head of the entire Hyperion Corporation. Jack was the absolute head honcho, the CEO, the man in charge, and why the hell he was down in the sales department was beyond Rhys.
“H-Handsome Jack?” Rhys stuttered in disbelief.
Rhys was suddenly mentally thankful he hadn’t spilled any of the coffee on the other man. Dear god that would have been a fucking disaster.
A slim smile broke across the other man’s features, revealing rows of absolutely perfect teeth. Rhys swallowed hard, his throat flexing with the forced motion and continued to stare, completely frozen in his crouched position over the mess he’d made all over the hallway.
“You got it pumpkin, and, you are?” Jack questioned standing slowly and cocking an eyebrow at the amber haired young man.
“R-Rhys sir.” Rhys stuttered dumbly.
Oh god he sounded like an absolute idiot.
“Rhys! Well good to meet ya kiddo, you in accounting or what?” Jack boomed thrusting his hand out suddenly, offering it to Rhys.
Rhys grabbed it hesitantly and Jack hauled the younger male to his feet with a great tug, then morphed the action into a hearty handshake. Rhys did his best to match Jack’s firm, businessman like handshake, but only succeeded in getting his entire arm shook around like a wet noodle.
“N-No sir I’m in sales.” Rhys muttered embarrassed.
Jack broke the handshake and offered the kid another one of those famous, million dollar smiles of his. Rhys took his hand back slowly, really hoping Jack hadn’t noticed his ridiculously sweaty palms. Rhys felt his cheeks go hot with color in the wake of the man’s perfect smile and mentally kicked himself for it.
“Sales! Good place to be kiddo, good place to be! So…about those papers, who were they going to?” Jack questioned stuffing his hands into his slacks and rocking casually on his heels.
Rhys tried his best to recollect himself and cleared his throat.
“They were going to Vasquez…it’s the sales reports for last week…I was already kinda late getting them to him…now they are going to be…very late.” Rhys said looking down at the sad pile of wet papers and grimacing.
Jack made a chortle in his throat at the mention of Vasquez’s name and rolled his eyes.
“Pfffftttt you mean these were going to ol’ wallethead!? Aw sheesh kiddo I’ll take care of that for ya.” Jack boomed breaking out in full on laughter.
Rhys joined in with the laughter nervously and twittled his thumbs together. Rhys had no fucking idea what a ‘wallethead’ was and he damn sure wasn’t about to ask. If Handsome Jack thought calling Vasquez a wallethead was funny, then it was funny. Period.
“I’ll just send wallethead a text, tell him I had you on some important business, that’ll getcha out of hot water cupcake.” Jack chimed carefully stepping around the puddle of dark liquid soaking into the carpet and clapping Rhys on the back hard enough to gather a grunt from the thinner male.
“So, Rhys, Rhysie, whaddya say I take you to get some fresh coffee? Does that sound like important enough business to get you out of paperwork?” Jack chuckled spinning Rhys around and urging him to keep pace with the CEO.
“I-I…uh yes sir, I think so sir.” Rhys stuttered tripping across his words uselessly.
Jack grinned widely at the young salesman and chuckled at his obvious nerves. Jack was used to having that type of effect on people, but damn this kid was near shaking in his shoes.
Jack’s big palm shifted across Rhys’ shoulder blades where the thinner man’s dress shirt pulled tight across his back and Rhys felt his mouth go dry with the contact.
“Great! Let’s go get some real coffee, none of that shit they serve around the office, oh and quit calling me sir kiddo, call me Jack!” Jack chuckled lightly patting Rhys' back, but still refusing to remove his hand.
Rhys could feel his heart pounding against his chest as he tried to focus on absolutely anything but Jack’s hand actually touching him.
Rhys kept pace with the slightly shorter CEO and listened to Jack chattering away as if the man had known him for years. Jack sure liked to talk, that was one rumor that had certainly been true. Half the time Rhys wasn’t really sure if Jack was even talking directly to him, so he simply nodded when it seemed appropriate and followed the conversations with little ‘uh-huh’s’ and ‘mm-hmm’s’. Jack paused at the elevator doors and pressed the down button nonchalantly, waving his hand in a little circle as he explained to Rhys how he was seriously going to enact a new rule that all the departments switch what coffee they served because the one they were offering now ‘tasted like dog butt’. Rhys couldn’t help but chuckle a little at the CEO’s choice of words. Jack seemed overly pleased with the employee’s little onset of giggles and grinned wider, patting Rhys’ shoulder.
“There we go kiddo! Lighten up a little bit, I promise I don’t bite…well not much at least.” Jack chortled wryly running his fingers gently through his perfect hair, burying his lone grey streak within the rest of his locks.
Rhys felt himself nearly choke on his spit and it turned into a small coughing fit. Rhys caught his breath and swallowed hard, trying his best to offer a smile to the Hyperion President.
Rhys really wasn’t sure if that had been a sexual reference…or what…but his brain was taking it that way and now all he could possibly hope to think about was Handsome Jack being a…biter. Rhys felt his cheeks burn again and he looked at the floor quickly, praying Jack wasn’t paying enough attention to notice the changing shades of pink in his face. Rhys was overly thankful when the elevator dinged and the doors yawned open to allow the two men access. Rhys’ gratitude quickly turned to more embarrassment when he realized he’d be sharing the elevator ride with Jack…alone.
Jack stepped inside without hesitation and Rhys followed like an unsure puppy dog. Jack pressed the ground floor button and leaned his back against the elevator wall casually, looking at Rhys with clear amusement.
“So kiddo, you’re really in sales huh? I mean shit you’re damned good lookin’ why don’t we have you modeling on billboards or something?” Jack chuckled grinning at the young man brilliantly.
Rhys looked at Jack with wide, embarrassed eyes and his mouth gaped open, then closed again.
“Also, cool implants by the way! Those Hyperion too?” Jack asked suddenly, leaving the other comment behind as he steam rolled through every subject that seemed to pop into his head.
Rhys nodded feebly.
“Man those are really neat.” Jack chirped grabbing Rhys’ mechanical arm and turning it over in his hands observantly, seemingly enthralled by the boy’s robotics.
Rhys was quickly learning that Jack had little to no regards for personal space in all honestly. It was both uncomfortable, and exhilarating all in the same breath. Rhys sucked in a sharp inhalation as Jack turned the palm of his robotic hand over and traced around his thumb.
Much to Rhys’ relief Jack released the hand then and the younger man let loose of the oxygen he’d been holding in.
“That eye is pretty sweet too. Thought about getting one myself…buuuut I heard the surgery is pretty rough, and I don’t dig needles.” Jack chimed pointing at his left eye.
“Mine’s just glass, guess you could say I’m too chicken to go echo. Kudos to you cupcake.” The CEO finished the comment grinning at the amber haired male.
Rhys felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He’d never really realized Jack had a glass eye... it gave him and the CEO something…in common. It was strangely comforting knowing such a man of power had flaws just like him.
Rhys smiled nervously.
“Yeah the surgery was pretty bad. I wouldn’t do it again that’s for sure. But the echo eye was worth it.” Rhys chuckled, his blue and brown eyes grazing over Jack’s form, the echo orb focusing with a small mechanical hiss.
With that the elevator doors came open and Jack was strolling along again at his brisk pace, Rhys left following in his wake, near jogging to keep up.
The two men exited out the large, glass, rotating doors and Jack paused to pull a pair of very expensive looking aviator shades from his sport coat pocket and perched them on his thin nose daintily. Jack turned and headed off down the sidewalk, Rhys taking up the space at his side.
“I’ll take you to my favorite place, now they…they know how to make some fucking good coffee.” Jack sniggered cheerily.
The walk wasn’t far, conversation coming easier between the two men as they went. Jack filled most the space with his commentary, talking away as Rhys listened intently, hands finding his pockets in a more relaxed fashion. Jack paused in front of a small mom and pop coffee shop with a hand written menu taped up in the little window and he yanked the door open, ushering Rhys inside.
“After you cupcake.” Jack cooed sweetly and Rhys felt his throat clench at the little nickname.
Was that how the guy always addressed people? Rhys thought to himself giving Jack a little nod of a thank you as he entered.
Jack folded his sunglasses into his palms and sauntered over to the counter with a proud swagger that had Rhys’ eyes following along with his every motion. Jack leaned his elbows over the counter and a little old woman came hurrying out from the back room, her face lighting up at the sight of the walnut haired man.
“Mr. Jack! There you are! I thought you weren’t coming today! You are late!” The snowy haired woman fawned throwing her worn hands in the air and waddling over to the counter.
She placed her wrinkled palms over Jack’s and smiled at him fondly.
Jack returned her smile and tilted his head.
“I know I’m sorry Gertrude! I got kinda caught up at the office…” Jack paused and looked back over his shoulder at his counterpart.
“I spilled this poor man’s coffee, you know me, kinda klutzy, so I’m making it right. So I told him I’d bring him to the best coffee joint in town.” Jack said grinning at the elderly woman who tutted at his flattery, waving a palm at him dismissively.
“Oh Mr. Jack you are such a flatterer! You know that charm doesn’t work on me.” Gertrude giggled wagging a scolding finger at the Hyperion CEO.
“Ah but I’ll always try Gerty, you know that.” Jack swooned laughing richly.
The little old woman then looked to Rhys, her beady blue eyes running down him and then back up, observing him with a little smile.
“Oooo Mr. Jack are all your employees this handsome?” Gertrude giggled looking at Rhys, her wrinkled face pulling up in a wide smile.
Rhys chuckled and rubbed the back of his head with his mechanical arm shyly.
“Thank you ma’m.” Rhys said smiling back at her.
“Such manners young man! So what can I get for you two handsome fellas?” Gertrude chuckled leaning back sassily, her hands finding her hips.
“The usual for me and what are you having Rhys?” Jack asked over his shoulder, eyes glittering in Rhys’ direction.
“Just a regular coffee, no creamer or sugar, thank you ma’m.” Rhys said lightly.
The older woman nodded and went about making both the man’s coffees. Jack paid her, and placed a large tip in the glass jar next to the counter. Jack slid himself into a booth by the window and Rhys followed, cradling the warm cup in his palms carefully. Jack tipped his own cup to his mouth and made a pleased sound in his throat, seeming to melt into the taste.
“Mmm, mmm, you can’t beat Gertrude’s coffee.” Jack chuckled settling his cup down and leaning back into the booth casually.
Rhys tasted his own cup of dark liquid and found it incredibly smooth on his tongue. Rhys made an approving noise and found Jack looking to him expectantly.
“It’s really good.” Rhys agreed smiling at his boss, his nerves having faded slightly.
“You hear that Gerty, think you got yourself a new customer!” Jack called to the elderly woman and there was a chuckle from the backroom in response.
Rhys smiled and took another sip of his drink.
Jack looked over at the younger man with playful eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching upward slightly, pulling at the scar scribed across his cheek. Rhys had heard talk of how the Hyperion CEO had received his infamous scar. Some said it was a car wreck, others claimed it was some brutal attack and he’d been on the business end of a brand. Rhys didn’t know the exact truth, but he just couldn’t seem to keep himself from observing it diligently. It was an old scar, set deep in the man’s otherwise perfect flesh running up one side of his face, then falling down the other, directly over his blind eye. Rhys felt himself grin a little as he looked over the old wound.
“So why haven’t I seen you around the office before? Seems like I woulda remembered someone like yourself.” Jack said suddenly, striking up conversation smoothly.
Rhys coughed a little and shrugged.
“Well…I…I am just a sales representative sir…” Rhys whispered unsurely his mouth down turning slightly.
Jack chortled shortly, and Rhys felt his heart skip a beat at the sound of the man’s laughter. His voice was like god damned honey and velvet as it ran over the young man’s ears. It was captivating, utterly captivating.
“Yeah, yeah, you guys huddle up in your little cubicles like damned hermits dontcha.” Jack snorted taking a long drink of his coffee and smiling at Rhys over the rim of the cup.
Rhys shrugged and attempted to smile, his brain trying to follow along with the conversation, but getting miserably distracted by Jack’s pearly grin.
“Well...Vasquez works us pretty hard.” Rhys muttered tipping his cup to his thin lips hesitantly, not really sure if he should in all truth be having this conversation with his boss’s boss.
Jack cocked a well groomed eyebrow at the half cybernetic man.
“If he gives you any trouble you just tell me, you hear me Rhysie? Wallet-I mean Vasquez is a big pushover. You’re too pretty to be working you’re fingers down to the bone pumpkin.” Jack nodded sternly at his counterpart.
Rhys nearly choked on his coffee, spitting back into his cup a little at the words.
Jack grinned wider, obviously pleased with the other man’s reaction to the commentary.
“Y-Yes sir…” Rhys stuttered the color in his cheeks betraying him yet again.
Jack looked at him with deviously slatted eyes and smiled into his drink.
“Uh, tut, tut, tut, I told you...call me Jack kiddo.” The older, better dressed male corrected and Rhys bit his cheek.
“J-Jack. I mean ok Jack.” Rhys tried again, still struggling for words, but at least finding a dumb smile through his awkward flailing.
The two men went about finishing their coffee, Jack berating Rhys with many more questions about work, the weather and other things of that variety, small talk in the very definition of the sense. When the dark liquid was drained from both their cups, Jack raised and Rhys followed.
Jack headed for the door with Rhys in tow and the small woman behind the counter waved fondly at the CEO.
“You bring him back more often Mr. Jack! I like this one! You be sweet to him you hear me!?” She called after Jack warmly.
Jack sniggered loudly and waved a hand at her.
“Will do Gerty, will do, you behave yourself, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jack called over his shoulder as the two men exited to the sound of the chiming door bell.
Rhys kept pace with Jack once more, choosing to look down at his only pair of dress shoes over actually making eye contact with the witty, charming, CEO. Once the two of them were back in the lobby Jack paused, looking at Rhys with glittering eyes and outreached his hand invitingly. Rhys shook it, more firmly this time, palms still just as sweaty to his dismay.
“Good meeting you Rhysie, I’ll be seeing you around pumpkin!” Jack chimed through a perfect smile, and Rhys could only nod back stupidly, his stubborn brain refusing to form words.
Then Jack was gone, sashaying across the room, toward the grand receptionist counter where he nodded to both women fondly, and they seemed to swoon back.
“And you remember what I told you about Vasquez kiddo!” Jack yelled over his shoulder, lending that as a parting sentence before he was gone into one of the massive meeting rooms, no doubt to address business way over Rhys’ head.
Rhys stood in the middle of the lobby dumbfounded, his hand sinking back to his side, eyes lowering to the shaken hand, still tingling with Jack’s touch. Rhys shook his head and cursed under his breath. Was he dreaming? Did Handsome Jack really just take him for coffee and call him pretty…like several different times? Rhys shook his head again, with more insistence this time.
“Holy shit.” He breathed clapping his palms to his cheeks and letting them slide down in disbelief.
The man that he had looked up to his entire life had just taken him on a coffee date. Rhys choked on the word. Ok not a date …but they’d had coffee together.
“Holy shit….” Rhys repeated still in a state of shock and disbelief as he turned heel and headed back to the elevator.