( No Title )
First Lesson (577 words) by thesavagesabretooth
Summary: When Kristoph hires Apollo to the Gavin Law Office, his first lesson for him is how to tie a tie.
–
“I’ll be happy to have you working here, Mr. Justice,” Gavin said with a pleasant smile. He stood up from the interview and wandered around it to the chair where Apollo was sitting. “I only have one more question.
Apollo swallowed thickly as the handsome, older man peered down at him with a penetrating gaze. Apollo had spent the last 30 minutes across the table from him, answering questions as if he were a witness during a cross examination, rather than a young lawyer looking for his first internship.
"Ah, yes sir?"
Kristoph reached down and hooked a slim finger around Apollo’s tie. He was on the edge of panicking at the close contact– sure that he had done something wrong.
"Is this a clip-on?”
“Ah, yes, sir, I’m afraid so.” Apollo cringed with embarrassment, realizing that his new boss had noticed. Was he going to lose the opportunity because of that?
“Do you not know how to tie a tie, Mr. Justice?”
“No, sir. Ah, no one ever taught me, I’m afraid.”
“That’s a pity,” Mr. Gavin purred. “I did see in your file that you were raised in foster care.”
Apollo’s cheeks burned with shame. “Yes, sir.”
Kristoph just smiled at him. “We’ll consider it your first lesson then. When you come into the office, I’ll show you how to tie one properly. That way you can’t embarrass me with such a tacky thing as this.”
The lawyer suddenly yanked sharply, and the clip on tie came off in his hand. Apollo only felt his cheeks burn even more warmly, but he felt grateful as well as ashamed, and he nodded his head.
“Ah, yes sir. Thank you, sir.”
“It will be my pleasure, Mr. Justice.” Kristoph threw the offending object in his office trash can.
–
It was a little more than a week later when Apollo, tieless, reported to his first day of work at the law office. He fussed nervously with the bare top button of his silk shirt as he stepped close to Mr. Gavin’s desk.
“Ready for your first lesson, Mr. Justice? I got you a small gift for the occasion."
Apollo was not altogether ready, and he felt less ready when Kristoph Gavin took a handsome, teal colored tie out of a small box.
"Sir, that’s… ah, very kind of you.”
“Come here, Mr. Justice. And stand up straight.”
Apollo was very definitely not ready. He was not ready for the casual way that Mr. Gavin looped the tie around his neck and pulled him toward him.
He was not ready for his new boss’ slim, beautiful fingers so close to the tender flesh of his neck.
He was not ready for the handsome smile that stayed on Mr. Gavin’s face as he cheerfully instructed him on every step of tying the tie.
He was not ready for the way the man’s fingers lingered on his neck and his chest for a moment as he finished tying it.
“There, Mr. Justice,” Kristoph said, watching him with cool blue eyes. “And I’ll do it for you every day until you’ve got the hang of it. When you work for my office, you must look your best. Understood?”
Apollo trembled, but stood strong and nodded sharply. He answered rather more forcefully than necessary. “Understood, Mr. Gavin!”
It was a little hard to admit that he was already feeling like he’d be disappointed when the day came that he could tie it himself.
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