[right][sub]Collab with [@lovely complex][/sub][/right]
[center][color=gold]Julius Graham[/color][/center]

[hider=Alver]
Julius seemed to ignore Alver’s scolding, especially when he gave Zac a resounding [i]no[/i]. A creeping frustration hit him since the albino wasn’t even willing to give the idea a chance. His emerald eyes flew to Zac’s form and noticed he wasn’t taking the rejection so kindly either. There was a subtle pain in his blue eyes. That settled it for Julius. Gulping down his massive sandwich in one fell bite, he jostled up to Alver and began to drag the taller man into the next room, a sudden ferocity gleaming in his visage. A glance back to Zac told the long-haired man to stay put, he’d take care of this.

As the two left the room, the babyface man went into a daze while staring at his coffee cup. He tried to daydream of positive things like Bubba or his twin passing with flying colors but the dreary morning only made him tired... Tiredness usually brought the worst thoughts in him. ([i][color=dodgerblue]He didn’t even… give me a chance. I know this is a pointless wish but…[/color][/i])

[color=gold]”Look, Alver… There’s more to this than just a spontaneous ‘hey, let’s get the crew back together’ crap. Zac… he really needs some support. Like [i]really, really, [b]REALLY[/b][/i] needs people in his life, and it can’t just be me.”[/color] Suddenly, the blond took out his phone and held up one of his long fingers to silence the white-haired man in front of him. Going to his email, he pulled up a saved message from a month ago. [color=gold]”Recently, Zac was… uh… at his all time low. I mean, this is what he sent me only a month ago.”[/color] Clearing his throat, Julius prepared his voice to do the best Zac impression he could do. 

[color=gold]”Fuck me. I miss her, Julius… I hate myself and I just want to die. Why can’t people stay with me? I know… I’m the problem… I hate it. I hate me. I’m really drunk. And I’ve been drunk… for… I don’t remember. I’m a big pile of nothing. I’m just gonna take a knife to my wrists-”[/color] Julius teetered off, grimacing at the brutality of the next paragraph and a half. Deciding that was more than Alver needed to hear, his green orbs floated to the albino’s face and let him take all of that in.

Sighing, the muscular man ran a hand through his hair and then slipped a hand into his pocket to retrieve a surprisingly fancy business card from his wallet. [color=gold]”Here. We’ll be doing something tomorrow night. Email me or call me with your decision. It would… mean the world to him if you showed up. Even if it’s just for that one night, he’ll be happy, okay?”[/color] Julius clapped a hand on to Alver’s shoulder and gave him a small smile, ensuring there were no hard feelings. With that, he turned on his heel and walked back towards the door, letting Zac know it was time to leave now with a curt hand gesture.

[color=gold]”Good seeing you, Al. Can’t believe you’re taller than me now!”[/color] he commented as they left the household.

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[@Silver Fox]

[hider=Mikaela]
As Julius stood there, applauding Zac’s performance, he noticed a blue-eyed, strawberry blonde man walk out into the open. Strangely, the quite short yet very cute worker seemed to have been driven to tears by his best buddy’s singing, something the former sports aficionado had never seen happen in public. [color=gold][i]’I mean, Zac is good… But maybe not [b]Celine Dion[/b] good. Not yet, anyway.’[/i][/color] To each their own, he supposed. Some people were just more sensitive than others.

To his side, the baristas that had left their post were finally back at work, furiously completing his order with the speed of a ravenous jaguar. However, one of the girls took a moment to glance at their manager, only to see him standing in the aisle and crying. “Micah? Do you need a tissue?” she asked in a concerned voice.

[color=gold]”Micah?”[/color] Julius blinked for a moment, stunned by the revelation. As if possessed by a demon, the burly man bounded towards his old comrade. In one incredible motion, both of his muscular arms embraced the tiny man and threatened to crush the life out of him from the sheer joy Julius felt. [color=gold]”Look at you! You’re so little! And your eyes! They don’t weird me out anymore!”[/color] 

When Luke planted a sweet kiss on the babyface-adult’s cheek, Zac couldn’t help but have a faint blush fall on his face. This kid was absolutely precious! Standing up, the long haired man kindly asked the child, “[color=dodgerblue]Mind if you take me to him? I’d love to tell your papa how good you’ve been to me.[/color]” As the lavender eyed boy reached for his new friend’s hand, Zac grabbed the cookie off the table and took a nice, big bite out of it. With obvious satisfaction, the man cheered, “[color=dodgerblue]This is delicious![/color]”

As Zac was led to the back, his eyebrow raised when Julius went straight to the destination him and the little guy were heading towards. Things began to click when they arrived and Jules announced that the child’s father was Mikaela, while crushing him in a bear embrace.  

“[color=dodgerblue]No way~! Micah is your father, little guy!? Oh wait… how rude of me. What’s your name, buddy?[/color]” With a serene stare, he looked at Luke. Everything made sense now. He could see his childhood friend in this delightful boy. Cute, small, and with a big, bright smile. Unable to resist, Zac ruffled the adorable son’s hair. 

Julius finally dropped his old companion back onto his feet, a gleeful expression spread upon his face. In tandem, his hand reached out and tousled Micaela’s hair, while a similar scenario was happening with Zac and Luke. [color=gold]”Oh right! Why we’re here! So… Zac and I had heard you worked here, and we wanted to cordially invite you to a get together we’re having tomorrow.”[/color] he jumped straight to the point. [color=gold]”It’ll probably just be Zac, me, my friend Erika, and whoever else decides to show up. It’s almost Halloween, and, you know, we just need a change of pace. Especially Zac. So… Might as well invite an old friend and catch up, right?”[/color]

Before Micah could even get a word out, Julius was already pulling out a business card from his wallet. [color=gold]”I know it’s sort of short notice, but here’s my card. It has my email and number on it, so let me know something by tonight!”[/color] he explained jovially.

“[color=dodgerblue]Yeah! We’ll give you more deets tonight! Assuming you have the same email… if not, we’ll just have to wait for your email~[/color]”

Behind him, a loud crash was heard, and a glance back at the main counter saw that one of the baristas had made an awful mess. There was coffee all over the floor and somehow it had even gotten on the ceiling. Cringing at the disaster, Julius gave his friend an apologetic stare. [color=gold]”Er… I think we’ll let you get back to work.”[/color] Giving him a sportsman-like pat on his rear, the large man flew over to Zac, motioning it was time to leave. It was probably best to forget about his coffee and pastries… They’d just get a real lunch somewhere.
[/hider]
[@AimeChambers]