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How the hell was he ever going to get used to this? The world had changed over the years, but most supernaturals stuck to the designated safe cities. Porter had been told stories about them by the staff, his sisters and school friends, but he had never actually seen one before.
"So, what are you?"
The man clicked his tongue. "Should I ask you more questions? Payton, whose wig is crooked?"
Porter's hands flew up to his hair. He scrambled to adjust it, stopping long enough to stare into a shop window. Finally, he got it right and turned around. Arden stood nearby, but he didn't ask anything. He simply stared off down the street as if his attention was captivated by something far away.
A soft sigh left Porter's lips. Yeah, he wasn't going to bother asking the man that kind of question anytime soon after this. Once he joined Arden again, they resumed their stroll. The quiet was almost welcomed and Porter felt more secure walking beside a man that looked like he could break someone in half if they even looked at him wrong. He kept walking, his mind occupied with a thousand things before he crashed into what felt like a brick wall. He rubbed his face and stared up at the wall of muscle that was Arden.
"Watch where you're going, kid." Arden shook his head at Porter. "We're here."
Porter glanced up at the building. It was more than he had been expecting. A tall, white building with the same kind of neon signs he noticed all over the city. However, there was a line of people that dotted the sidewalk.
"PGD Host Bar?" Porter asked, reading the sign out loud.
"Paranormal Guilty Delights. Humans do like to try to live on the edge so we leaned right into that for marketing." He walked past the line with Porter in tow and greeted the bouncer before they both walked inside. "I own it and sometimes run the bar if we're short on help."
"Then there's...paranormal people here?"
"A lot of them." Arden nodded. "We have a few humans too, of course. We don't discriminate here."
Porter followed behind Arden feeling like a lost puppy. Inside was lavish with comfortable looking booths and tables, glowing lights and warm laughter. The hosts that he could see were dressed in nice clothes and smiled brightly at the customers. Further in there was a dance stage and people looked on as a girl with cat ears stepped onto it and waved.
"Where the hell am I?" Porter whispered.
They reached the bar and Arden patted one of the plush, red cushioned bar stools. Porter took a seat, crossing his legs beneath the bar. Arden picked up a few bottles and didn't say a word before he pushed a drink toward Porter. The colorful concoction drew his eye and he sipped at the straw before his eyes lit up.
"It's called Dragon Island," Arden said with a grin, throwing a white towel over his shoulder. "Like it?"
"I love it," Porter said breathlessly, going back in for more. "It's really good."
"Thank you. I came up with it myself." Arden scratched his head. “Shit, you’re old enough to drink right?”
He grinned. “Yeah, I’m twenty-two.”
Arden nodded and glanced around before he leaned onto the bar, closing the space between them. When Porter looked into his eyes, he saw concern. Unlike the assholes outside, Porter didn't sense any malice in him.
"What are you running from?"
Porter startled. "Nothing. Why would you assume that?"
"Uh huh." Arden shook his head. "Well, then if you don't need any help after your drink I'm sure you can find your way home."
"No!" Porter cowered as eyes fell on him. "I mean...I-I don't exactly have anywhere to stay. I was going to get a motel for the night." Maybe it was foolish to place all of his trust in a man he just met but Porter had nowhere else to turn. And Arden seemed so nice, a complete one eighty from the men that had surrounded Porter his entire life.
"And then?"
Porter shrugged. "I have no idea," he admitted. "Probably sleep in a ditch somewhere and hope I don't get murdered."
All of the stress weighed on him now and Porter choked back tears. Was that really going to be his reality? He stared down at the bar, picking at the flawless glass as if it would change anything.
Maybe he really was pathetic.
"You can stay here for the night."
Porter's head shot up and he stared at Arden in confusion. "I can?"
Arden shrugged. "I need another host. Most of mine are already pretty busy and it takes a strong person to be able to do the job." He waved a hand. "They either leave and retire or run off with a customer. Either way, you're pretty. You could be useful here."
