When Ashley told Eugene about the party before crank-in, he honestly had a mind to go. It was held on Friday night, and Tobias also held his own party that night: a pajama party!
There were at least three more kids besides the usual Hannah, and Sophie had hired a brigade of babysitters to take care of them. There would be a cartoon night, a serious movie discussion among the toddlers in adorable, fluffy animal onesies, and they were allowed to have more scoops of ice cream than usual.
For the other parents, it meant a night free of their children. Eugene, who didn't have many chances of a night out, considered letting loose once in a while. If it was free? Even better.
But then, he remembered that it had been years since he could be on his own at night, doing nothing but watching mature shows without worrying about his daughter peeking at his screen to see blood and flesh splattering everywhere, and snacking on something unhealthy without worrying about messing up his daughter's eating habits.
Thus, Eugene decided to just go home after staying for dinner at Sophie's. He bid the children goodbye--although none of them heard him--and was leaving for the bus stop when he saw Arthur Crowley standing beneath the street lamp, staring at the house.
The house where Hannah was.
The first thing that came to his mind was: he knew! He knows about Hannah!
So he strode over and quite aggressively asked what the alpha was doing there. Arthur mumbled Sophie's name, and Eugene was flooded with one second of relief. Just one second.
If Arthur was there to see Sophie, it would mean he was about to enter the house! The house where Hannah was!
He couldn't let this man do that.
Eugene gritted his teeth and dragged Arthur away, bolting as if they were chased by a debt collector. When he saw a playground in front of him, he pulled the alpha to the empty field. It was quite hilarious, two tall adult men standing between an elephant slide, a colorful jungle gym, and a carriage-shaped swing--but it was the best nearby option to try convincing a tipsy man to go home.
Before Eugene could say anything, however--before Eugene could turn back to face Arthur, even--his hand was pulled back strongly. He felt the alpha's arm tightly wound around his waist, and a face pressing hard on his nape.
On his scent gland.
Eugene instinctively pushed the alpha away and stepped back, nearly stumbling on a seesaw. "W-what are you--"
"Gin," Arthur muttered, prompting Eugene to freeze.
The alpha's eyes were a bit reddened, but at that moment, they were also as sharp as a pair of soul daggers.
"You're Gin, aren't you?"
Eugene felt his lips tremble and had to clench his jaw to stop them. "What...what are you talking about?"
Arthur, who looked a bit cold at that moment, suddenly laughed and shook his head. "No, no, no--you can't do this to me again," he said, annoyance creeping into his voice. "Listen to yourself. If you have no idea who 'Gin' was, you would have asked me who that was--not what!
"Or...or...you could think I was calling you 'Gene' and told me not to call you so intimately--but, no!"
Arthur clenched his hands on his side, looking at Eugene in frustration and accusation.
"Y-you...you know who Gin is! You are him!"
Eugene widened his eyes as the alpha's voice turned higher. "Crowley, sush!"
"No! You are Gin! You can't lie to me again!" Arthur shook his head stubbornly. "You smell like him. Y-you have no scent blocker patch--no one s-spray perfume on their nape, no one! My m-mother tells me there's no--there's no perfume with neutralizer!"
Damn it--there was none? Eugene cursed inwardly at his lack of research. But that wasn't his concern at the moment. It was night, but not yet late. They were in a residential area, so some people were still around and started to look in the direction of the playground.
"I know--just quiet down for a bit!" Eugene hissed at the alpha.
As if ignoring the omega, Arthur grasped Eugene's face and leaned closer until the green eyes filled his sight. "I remeb--I remember these eyes," he slurred, "T-the violet tint...the shape..."
Eugene wanted to close his eyes, but all he could do was stare back at the scrutinizing warm chocolate. The sharpness gradually turned soft and desperate.
"P-please, tell me the truth," Arthur whispered, breath heavy and choked slightly. "Please...?"
Eugene parted his mouth, feeling dumbfounded. He was rather scared of the alpha a few minutes ago, but how could he be scared of a whimpering puppy?
He looked at Arthur silently, before peeling the alpha away and sitting the man down on the elephant slide's nose. Strangely enough, Arthur did not protest, just staring at Eugene with narrowed, doubtful eyes.
Eugene sighed, swiping his hair back as he held an urge to curse in the middle of an innocent playground. Honestly, Eugene had a feeling that he would get found out sooner or later--he just hoped it would be much, much, much later.
Preferably, when Hannah was already a teenager--no, an adult.
He had lied too much, he kept adding more and more, and...he was tired. He didn't have to tell Arthur about Hannah, but it was too late to hide the fact that they had met before.
"Alright," Eugene took a deep breath and turned to look at the waiting alpha. "You're right. I'm...Gin--ugh, whatever you were calling me back then."
It was silent for a while as they looked at each other; it seemed like even Arthur didn't know how he should react in the face of the truth. Eugene was glad it became quiet, but then Arthur opened his mouth again.
"Why?!"
"Crowley--"
"Why are you lying to me?!"
"Sush!" Eugene lunged forward and clasped his hand over the seated alpha. He glared at the man and hissed sharply through his teeth. "I'm not going to answer anything if you keep screaming."
Eugene could feel Arthur pressing his lips against his palm. The alpha was still tensed up, but the brown eyes were looking at him innocently. Once he was sure Arthur wouldn't raise his voice anymore, he pulled his hand away.
Arthur whispered with a trembling voice, as if he wanted to cry. "W-why?"
Eugene bit his lips. Should he explain? Here, in the playground? Out in the open? Thankfully, people seemed to think they were a couple having a lovers' spat, and quickly turned their gaze away once Arthur stopped shouting.
But, even if he explained, would this alpha even remember it? He was drunk--that was why he was all whiny and acted even brattier than usual. The only thing he'd remember was probably the confirmation that Eugene was the man he slept with six years ago.
As Eugene was pondering over his next step and what he should do about this pitiful-looking alpha on the elephant slide, his phone vibrated lightly, notifying an incoming text.
It was from Allen.
[Can you help me send this drunk little brother home? I'll send a car over if you tell me where you are]
Below that was an address that Eugene assumed was Arthur's place. Sighing in relief, he told Allen where they were while the big puppy-bear on the slide tugged the hem of his shirt.
"Who are you talking to? Why aren't you answering me?" Arthur knitted his brow.
"Wait a minute--Allen is sending us a ride," Eugene let the alpha hold onto his clothes while he continued typing. "We need to get you home."
"Why?" Arthur whined. "I don't wanna go home. I wanna hear an answer!"
"Later," Eugene replied sharply, turning his head to look at the alpha, giving the man the same look he gave Hannah if she refused to sit still at the restaurant. "I'll tell you if you promise you'll behave during the ride."
Arthur pursed his lips, but he replied calmly, albeit pouty. "...okay."
Eugene grimaced inwardly. He was really...a bigger version of Hannah.
Thankfully, the driver soon arrived, and Arthur kept his promise to behave. The alpha stayed quiet along the ride to his apartment, only staring at Eugene constantly as if he was afraid the omega would suddenly jump out of the car and run away from him.
After half an hour of a quiet ride, they finally arrived at an apartment complex near the business district, basically a stone's throw away from the company. It was the kind of place that catered to the singles.
"Thank you," Eugene thanked the driver who had rolled down his window.
"I'll wait for you here."
Eugene raised his brows in surprise. Did the driver worry about him? Eugene looked back at the drunk alpha who was clutching his sleeve like a giant shackle.
"There's no need," Eugene smiled. He would be worried if it were other alphas, but this man hardly looked more dangerous than a sulky golden retriever. "I don't know how long it'll take. You should go home and enjoy your weekend."
The driver glanced at Arthur, who was pouting while tugging Eugene's sleeve like a big toddler. "If you say so," he finally nodded. "Just call me or Mr. McClaire if you need to be picked up."
"I'll keep that in mind," Eugene nodded. "Thank you," he said before turning toward the impatient alpha and sighing. "Let's go."
The driver watched them cross the parking lot and enter the apartment building. He only left after waiting for a few more minutes without any incoming call or alarm from the security guard.
Phew...seemed like it would be alright. He turned his car and called his employer just in case.