Chapter 7

Love untucked his shirt and unfastened three buttons, grateful he didn't have to wear a uniform. Checking his hair in the mirror he ran his hands through it trying to make it less flat from wearing a helmet. Now it stuck up in an unruly mess, which he thought made him look charming. He walked down the soi to the bar he had seen Hart enter, the patio outside was full and inside was standing room only. He pushed his way in toward the bar, it was the perfect place to sit and watch the crowd. Hart was facing away from him, too busy laughing and passing out shots to his friends to notice Love pass by his own drink sitting untouched on the end of the counter. Love made his way to the other end of the bar near the bathroom; he could see the whole club except for the upstairs stage from this vantage point. 

He was officially there to keep an eye on Hart, but the truth was he couldn't peel his eyes off him. Love sipped his beer, watching every move Hart made, he couldn't hear what he was saying over the music, but he watched as Hart tossed his head back when he laughed, his eyes sparkled, his laughter seemed contagious. Love couldn't help but smile while taking another sip of his beer just as a voice came over the Mic. 

"Welcome to The Stranger Bar! Does everyone have a drink? If not, what are you waiting for! The first show starts in five minutes!" 

Love was still staring when Hart spun back toward the bar to order another drink, the pleats of his skirt twirling, his face went from smiling to shock the instant their eyes met. Love couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face. Loved raised his beer and winked. Recovering himself, Hart flashed him a smile leaned over the bar to shout his order to the bartender then sauntered over to Love. 

"Detective Love, fancy meeting you here. I didn't know you were into the drag scene." Hart said, cocking a hip out and raising an eyebrow. 

"Oh, Hart my dear, if I can be so bold as to call you my dear, there is so much you don't know about me yet, and the queens here are fantastic, cops are people outside of work you know." Love smirked playfully. 

"Are you inviting me to know more about you detective?" Hart asked coyly. 

"Maybe" Love blushed. "Can I buy you a drink?" 

Hart tilted his head. "That depends on if you want to go somewhere else with me. I'm only staying long enough to see my friend's first show here, if you want to come with me after this, I'll let you buy me that drink." 

Before Love could answer, the room erupted in cheers as the MC shouted.

 "Are you ready for the first queen!" 

They both instinctively turned toward the stage above them. Love had to turn around on his barstool to see the stage behind him. As soon as his back was turned Hart wrapped his arms around his neck, putting his chin on Love's shoulder. 

"I'll see you after the show, and don't you dare skimp on tipping the queens!"

Love felt a sharp pain and jumped, cupping his ear, he spun around to see Hart disappear into the crowd back to his friends along the wall. Love rubbed the edge of his ear and looked at his fingertips which were stained with red lipstick. Hart had bitten his ear leaving teeth marks and a lipstick print. Loved blushed and smiled, picking up his beer he turned to the show leaving the lipstick where it was. He kind of liked being marked by Hart. 

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Hart joined his friends against the wall and stood up on a small chair to see the show over the crowd, it was fine when a queen was on stage but once they descended the stairs to the floor of the bar it was hard to see the rest of the performance, and it would be impossible to keep an eye on Love if he stood in the crowd even though he was wearing boots. 

Hart always brought enough to tip the queens well. Once one person started others were more likely to follow, it was herd mentality kind of like starting a riot but with money. Tonight, however, it was Love that started it, he tipped every queen., tucking the money in corsets or stockings or hands, he wasn't rude about it though, never grabbing anyone inappropriately or making them reach for it, he never showed his badge never tried to seem in control. Tipping respectfully was rare in any industry but especially in places like this. People always try to exploit those they think are different from them. Usually, the worst behaved were foreigners.

At the end of the first show, the curtain and sliding doors onto the patio opened, and people spilled out to have a smoke, stroll around, and just get some air away from the crowd. Hart waited until Love put on his jacket before stepping out onto the patio. He was busy with goodbyes when strong arms circled his shoulders. Hart turned his head with a coy smile expecting to find Love. Instead, he froze, looking into the face of his ex. Múd. Without hesitation Hart took a step back grinding the heel of his boot into the top of his ex's foot and butting his head into his chin he could feel the harsh clack of teeth smacking together. 

"What the fuck Hart!" Múd reeled backward clutching his mouth that was now pouring blood. Hart stepped in close to the retreating man ready to land a punch but before he could swing wide shoulders stepped between them. Hart didn't even see Love swing, but he heard the heavy thwack of a fist connecting hard with the cartilage and bones of a human face. Múd fell back clattering into a table and against the wall of the building. Love spun to check on Hart. 

"Are you all right!" The look in Love's eyes was frantic as he patted Hart all over, using his thumb and forefinger he lifted Hart's chin tilting his face side to side in the light to make sure there wasn't a scratch on him. When he was satisfied Hart was unharmed, he turned angrily back to the man, a crowd had gathered around him, but no one offered to help. He seemed well-known and disliked by most of the onlookers. Love stepped through the crowd toward the man he planned to check his condition and run his fingerprints and information, but as he leaned over the man spit in his face spraying blood all over him. Love leaped back, wiping his face with his sleeve. 

"Tonight is just not your night." Love forced the man on to his stomach bent over a low stool. Keeping his knee pressed into the man's back he handcuffed him. Before roughly hauling the man to his feet.

"You are under arrest for assaulting a police officer." Love half drug the blood-soaked guy down the steps of the patio and shoved him against the railing while he called in the arrest. He only had his bike so another officer would need to deliver him to Kram.