6. Volt
Volt
Volt climbed the subway stairs two at a time, weaving between people like it was a dance.
Not that he was in a huge hurry, but… well, he kind of was.
Wallace would be meeting him somewhere at the top for their second official date, and Volt was bubbling with anticipation, the little bag that he’d brought swinging in his hand.
Angel had been teasing him all day, because he’d been practically dysfunctional at work. He was just so excited to be going to a live concert as Wallace’s actual boyfriend.
Apparently Wallace had been looking up tickets for the ballet—and even purchased some for next week—but the city’s orchestra was playing pieces by one of Wallace’s favorite composers tonight with a meet-the-artists opportunity, and he’d asked Volt to come with him.
Volt had felt torn apart, and he still did, a bit. Their dating plan had been to go out on Monday or Tuesday nights near Prism, or find weekend matinees if they wanted to go to shows. But this was a Friday night, when Prism was at its busiest.
Angel was amazing at managing the business, and Volt had made sure to program two of the bots to focus more on hosting duties, but he still worried.
Just one customer who needed some extra attention could throw off the whole night, especially if another problem came up at the door.
And without knowing who was throwing rocks in their windows, breaking their HVAC system, and sabotaging their bots—if those things were all related—he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Angel alone.
But it would also be his second date with Wallace, and how could he say no to his creampuff’s hesitant hopefulness that he could come and his bubbling excitement about the musicians?
Plus, it was the orchestra! Volt had never been to a live performance before, and he was looking forward to the quiet anticipation of the crowd.
The human connection of live performers.
The knowledge that this particular show, at this particular moment in time, would be exactly what it was and never happen again.
He fantasized about holding Wallace’s hand the whole time, surrounded on all sides by other eager concertgoers, but still a little island of their own making.
A true date night, with no worries about whether he was just there to be arm candy or if it really meant something.
It would be just him and his baby boy, lost among the crowd as they enjoyed the music.
For Wallace, this was a big step, too. He’d told Volt that he didn’t go to concerts or the theater nearly as often as he liked because his father thought it wasn’t manly and a waste of money, so this was Wallace starting to claim a bit of his own identity, too.
Volt wanted to be there for it.
So he’d worried and fretted and changed his mind a dozen times until Angel took him by the shoulders, gave him a hard shake, handed him a cummerbund and some cufflinks, and told him to just go already.
And here he was.
Out for a night at the orchestra in his fanciest tux.
With his real, live boyfriend.
He burst out onto the sidewalk and looked around the wide plaza. On three sides were the opera house, the dance theater, and the orchestra, their ornate stone architecture bright with dramatic banners for upcoming performances and stunning colored lights.
Well-dressed patrons of the arts strolled across the cobblestones, while business people hurried home from work, teens skateboarded along one of the curbs, and music students lugged their instruments after rehearsals. The air felt alive with possibility.
I’m by the big sculpture, Daddy. Let me know when you get here. Volt read the message automatically, grinning as he looked around.
The sculpture was easy to spot, a towering metal composition that suggested three dancers coming together to lift a fourth over their heads. The smooth curves suggested limbs and heads more than forming them, the heavy metals suggesting elegance and flight.
And at the base of the statue was Wallace, looking too damned cute with his little bow tie and suspenders.
Volt wanted to strip them off of him.
Slowly.
He waved, and he could see the moment when Wallace saw him, his chubby pink face lighting up and making Volt want to swoon.
Volt raced over, dodging around gawkers and concert goers. Was he a little too excited? Probably. Was he on a real, live date with his boyfriend? Oh, fuck, yes.
He scooped Wallace up into his arms, getting a delightfully predictable eep from his little hamster, and peppered his face with kisses. He caught Wallace’s succulent mouth and tangled their tongues together, determined to leave Wallace tousled and panting.
Wallace laughed and kissed him back, but seemed to stiffen as their embrace went on.
Volt pulled back. “Is everything okay, baby?”
Wallace gazed up at him, eyes bright but brows furrowed. “It’s fine. Just, uh, we probably shouldn’t be making out like this in public.”
“Oh.” Volt put him down and stepped back. He squared his shoulders, unsure for the first time about what to do with his hands. He hid the little bag behind his back. He hadn’t even given it to Wallace yet, and now he wasn’t sure if he should. “Sorry about that.”
He wasn’t used to holding back his affections. At Prism, if he chose to make out with a guest in the lounge, that would only be titillation for the other guests around them. He didn’t spend a lot of time anywhere else.
“No, it’s alright. I’m glad you’re happy to see me,” Wallace told him.
It didn’t entirely sound that way. Clearly, he’d overstepped. Was he that out of touch with the real world?
He did a quick internet query and… yeah, he’d blown that one.
It looked like a quick hug, a kiss on the cheek, and maybe a peck on the lips were allowed.
Doing more than that was reserved for shadowy corners or a few specific locations like dance clubs.
Teenagers making out in public was considered slightly annoying, but for anyone older, it was immature and gauche.
So, two minutes into their date and he’d already messed it up.
“What were you looking up?” Wallace asked.
How did Wallace always know when he was researching something? He checked, and it had only been one point seven seconds. “Appropriate greetings between boyfriends in public spaces. I apologize for embarrassing you.”
Wallace gave him a little nudge. Then leaned in closer.
“It’s alright, Daddy. I embarrass myself all the time because I don’t know how to interact with humans.
My family has made me embarrassed my whole life just because they don’t like how I exist. If you want to embarrass me by being excited to see me, I’m not going to complain. ”
Wallace looked up with those soft brown eyes, and Volt just wanted to fall into them all over again. Kiss his baby until neither of them could remember how to breathe.
But he wasn’t going to do that, because he wanted to make his boyfriend proud.
He cleared his throat. “So, uh, is holding hands okay?” The internet suggested it was. And they’d held hands at the aquarium and the park.
Wallace winced, screwing up his face, then shook his head.
So… that would be a no.
Too much.
He’d wanted too much.
Maybe this whole dating thing didn’t mean to Wallace what it meant to him. Or perhaps there were different rules for fancy things like this?
But then Wallace looked up at him defiantly, holding out his hand. “Yes. Holding hands is great.”
“Is it?” Volt asked. He wasn’t sure what to do. He definitely didn’t feel like a Daddy right now.
“Yes,” Wallace announced, grabbing Volt’s hand. “I’m allowed to hold hands with my boyfriend if I want to.”
Volt blinked, unsure who Wallace was arguing with. Would someone come after them if they did?
Until it all made sense. “Wallace, are you coming out right now?”
Wallace shrugged. “I guess so.” His grin grew as he said it. “Yeah, I’m coming out. Kind of? I mean, we might not see anyone I know here…”
But maybe he would, Volt surmised. They were much closer to where Wallace lived, or maybe he expected to see colleagues or acquaintances at the show.
So, basically, this would be scary for both of them.
Volt squeezed his hand back. “I’m proud of you, baby boy,” he said.
Wallace glowed.
At least Volt had done one thing right.
He’d just had no idea that their evening would be so complex. Wandering around the park had been easy. Just two guys looking at paintings from the street vendors, then watching the clouds and stealing kisses under a shady tree.
Hopefully this would get easier once they were settled into their seats.
People were starting to stream toward the orchestra hall, so Volt steered them both in that direction. Wallace produced tickets to a much shorter line at one end of the lobby, and they were waved on through.
Still holding hands, gawking at the gilded architecture, Volt almost missed the security check.
“Bags,” the agent prompted. She wore white gloves to match a full tuxedo, and held a small black baton that Volt could see was used to inspect the bags.
Volt looked at Wallace, trying to telegraph his apologies.
Now would be a really convenient time for Wallace to be able to receive texts mentally like he could. How did humans even manage?
Reluctantly, he set the gift bag on the table. If kisses in public weren’t okay, this definitely wouldn’t be. The bag prominently said the name of a well-known lingerie shop in gold letters.
“What’s in here?” the agent asked, not particularly interested.
“Uh… clothing,” he finally managed. Shiny white tissue paper, with a midnight blue camisole and matching lace panties nestled inside.
Volt could see the moment when Wallace, without even needing to see it, figured out what it was. His face went pink.
The agent poked around with the baton, barely ruffling the tissue, then squeezed the bag from the outside. “No food?” she asked.
“No food.” Volt shook his head.
She gave a little nod. “Enjoy the concert.”