The automatic sliding door of the condominium opened smoothly, and the two men walked out of it. Rowan was still pulling on the sleeves of the sweater that was too loose on him. It didn't fit Duke any better either, but the doctor still opted to make him wear it.
Rowan looked at the man who kept on watching him for some reason. "Duke, aren't you going to drive the car here again like yesterday?"
"Hm? Oh, that one." Duke hid a laugh as he turned away. "I crashed it somewhere. I'm just going to buy another one. Don't worry about it. Hmm, is there a particular color that you like? After all, I'm not the only one being seen with it."
"You crashed…? Are you okay?" Rowan gasped, but Duke only shook his head. He then stared at the doctor and had his eyes flicker for a moment. "You… didn't crash it."
Duke only smiled before gesturing to the car that pulled up nearby. "I called for a cab, instead. Sorry, I just realized that you didn't want to see that model and color. I thought of swapping it for something else, but I didn't know what you wanted."
Rowan followed him and walked across the lot. "Why do I get to say something about it? It's your car, Duke. You didn't have to trade it in."
The doctor glanced at the man, who looked so adorable in that fluffy white oversized sweater. "Yes, it's my car, and it's your food. But we don't really like the other person not liking it, no?"
At those words, Rowan gasped and just rubbed the back of his neck as they continued walking. He then saw the supposed cab that Duke called for them. There was this attractive lady next to it, and her sleek style matched the black and pink custom car she was sitting on.
"That the guy?" She asked after popping a bubble created by her gum. "He doesn't look any scary. Trig must have been hallucinating."
"Hm, Trig is a little on the stupid side. Can you blame him?" Duke chuckled as he directly reached out to unlock the door and open it for Rowan. "Thank you for coming to give us a lift. I really appreciate it."
The lady looked ten years younger than both men but years older than the short man who attacked Duke's painting. Since they kept on talking about this Trig person, Rowan figured that was the name of the person who broke into Duke's unit. That name was not foreign to Rowan either.
He looked down at his hands as the lady drove them across the sleepy city. He then looked at Duke to whisper: "Duke, that person Trig… Is he the owner of the wallet you gave me before?"
"What wallet?" Duke faced him with a mischievous smile. Rowan bored his unamused gaze into the doctor's eyes, and he would have admitted to the truth if he had a soul. However, Duke only hummed and tilted his head to the side. Still playing dumb even if he was already harmed…
"You should return it…" That was all Rowan said, but it was so soft he figured Duke didn't hear it clearly, either. Rowan just sunk back into the seat and watched the sleepy city from the lady's car. He didn't know how long this car ride would be this time.
…
Rowan and Duke walked into the clothing store for suits and other formal attires. Since the city was small and not as progressive as the capital, the person running that store was also the head tailor. He eyed the two men walk in and chuckled. With his elbows on the reception counter, he grinned at Duke.
"Dr. Hall, fancy seeing you with a young duckling. What kind of treat are you giving out tonight?" His brows lifted a few times as if Duke knew what he meant.
"Don't misunderstand. This isn't that kind of occasion." Duke laughed and introduced Rowan to the man. "Mr. Fenech, this is Rowan. He's going to meet with them, but not in that way. I hope you can arrange for some items for him. I'd need all of them tomorrow."
Mr. Fenech eyed Rowan with a strange gaze before smiling amusingly toward Duke again. "Of course, of course. There are enough clothes for everyone Dr. Hall brings to me. Come, come, Mr. Rowan. I'll find something more fitting of your size."
Rowan nodded and followed Mr. Fenech to the inside room of the boutique. He then laid his eyes on a wide room with a few clothes on stands. There were also a lot of rolls of fabric and lace as if people would come there to craft the pieces by hand and upon request. When he saw an elevated circle on the floor, he figured he had to stand there.
Mr. Fenech called a few male assistants to take Rowan's measurements. He then received a tablet from another and looked through their catalog. "Mr. Rowan, do you have an idea who you're meeting? Do you know the kind of people with Dr. Hall?"
"…no," Rowan answered honestly. However, he was eyed by the head tailor for a second. Since there was no question, Rowan didn't say anything more.
The entire time, they were working in silence. The sounds heard were Mr. Fennec's mumbles about whatever was on the tablet. He then looked up at Rowan when the assistants were finished taking his measurements. On his eyes was a strange gaze of curiosity and wariness.
He then handed the tablet to the same assistant who gave it to him. "I'll be discussing the arrangements with Dr. Hall. You can return to the lounge for now and wait for Dr. Hall to come speak to you again. I know I should be consulting you as well, but I figure you'll go with everything he says, no?"
Rowan nodded. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Fennec. Actually, if I can make a request, please don't give me anything black, navy blue, or gold."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"…I don't like getting into suits of those colors…" That was all Rowan could say. He didn't want to divulge his life story to a man he would just buy clothes from. After all, the sole reason was because those were Scott's preferred colors.
If Duke wanted to wear them, it was fine. Rowan, however, would rather skip the occasion.