Chapter Eight
By the time Mana, Percival, and Theseus got to the bakery Newt was already there waiting for them. "Percy!" He exclaimed and stood up to greet his boyfriend when he walked in.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Theseus grumbled.
"Hi Theseus!" Newt exclaimed and pried himself out of Percival's arms to hug his brother.
"Hi Newt," Mana waved. "I hope it's ok that we came along."
"Of course!" Newt exclaimed happily. The four of them sat down and a few minutes later Jacob came out of the back to chat.
"Hi, I'm Jacob." Jacob smiled hesitantly at Mana, he heard the rumors just as everyone had and he was well aware of who she was. Just like he knew who Theseus and Percival were. Well, he had met them before, but he also knew what they did for a living. "Newt has told us a lot about you." Mana told him.
"All good things I hope." Jacob laughed nervously.
"Of course they were all good things!" Newt assured his friend oblivious to all of the tension swirling around.
"Well, anyway, what would you recommend?" Mana asked Jacob. "Newt told us that everything here is good."
"Oh, thank you very much." Jacob blushed. "It just kind of depends on what you want."
"Surprise me." Mana shrugged.
"What about you guys?" Jacob asked Newt, Theseus, and Percival. "The usual?"
"That works." Percival said and Theseus and Newt nodded in agreement.
"Ok, I'll be right out with that." Jacob nodded and then scurried back to the kitchen.
"I wonder what's wrong with Jacob." Newt frowned in concern. "He doesn't normally act like that."
"I'm sure it's nothing." Mana told him. "I do have a bit of a reputation."
"What do you mean? You're so nice!" Newt exclaimed.
"Don't worry about that Newt." Theseus said quickly before Mana could formulate an answer.
"Ok." Newt smiled brightly. When he turned away to say something to Percival Mana shot Theseus a very unimpressed look. All Theseus did in response was shrug. After a little while Jacob came back out with their pastries. Normally Jacob would stay and chat with Newt since he didn't have any customers but Mana kind of scared him so he didn't.
"Where are you going? Aren't you going to sit down with us?" Newt asked Jacob when he turned to leave. "I really wanted you to meet Theseus for more than five seconds. And Mana, she's great too!"
"Oh, uh-" Jacob stammered. "I have a large order of cookies and cinnamon rolls and a couple cakes and I don't have a lot of dough so I need to make some more."
"Oh ok." Newt deflated. "You should come and say bye before we leave."
"Of course." Jacob nodded quickly and then retreated to the kitchen. True to his word he did come back to say bye to Newt when he was getting ready to leave. Jacob couldn't find it in himself to say no to Newt even if Mana, Percival, and Theseus scared him. Just as the four of them were leaving Alex and Lafayette walked in. Alex's eyes lit up and Lafayette sighed deeply they had a feeling they knew where this was going.
"Hi Lafayette." Newt greeted them. "Who is this?"
"This is Alex, one of my boyfriends." Lafayette replied.
"Ah, I know you." Percival said. "You're a defense attorney right?"
"I am." Alex nodded and opened his mouth to say something else. But Mana interrupted him.
"You have another boyfriend don't you? John, right? My girlfriend Padmé said that she works with a person named John at CPS and that he was in a poly relationship." Mana said speculatively. She didn't know where this was going but she suspected that running into them wasn't completely by chance.
"Yep, that's him. Our other boyfriend Hercules owns that tailor's shop. Now Alex, weren't you just leaving?" Lafayette said and shoved a cinnamon roll into his hands and tried to usher him out the door.
"But I wanted to ask Mana about the mobs." Alex protested.
"Mobs?" Jacob chuckled nervously and eyed the three mob members in front of him.
"Is that so?" Mana asked blankly. "And what makes you think that I would know about any of that?"
"I'm confused," Newt frowned sadly. "How can you ask about mobs if mobs don't exist?"
"What-?" Alex asked in bewilderment. He thought Newt, of all people, would know what his own brother and boyfriend really did.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but like my brother said, mobs don't exist. I would hate to find out what would happen if some tried to dissuade him of that fact." Theseus glared icily at Alex. And Alex, possessing the bare minimum of self preservation, snapped his mouth closed and nodded.
"Yes, yes, of course." He said once he got his voice back.
"I'm glad we got that figured out." Theseus said sharply.
"Oh my goodness, look at the time! I have to get back to work." Newt exclaimed. He hurriedly kissed Percival and hugged Theseus before he dashed out of the bakery.
"Newt!" Theseus called and rushed to the door before Newt could get too far. When Newt heard his name he stopped and turned to face his brother. "Don't forget, mobs don't exist."
"I know," Newt rolled his eyes fondly. "You tell me that every time we see each other. Now I really need to go." And with that he dashed down the street.
"Umm," Jacob spoke up hesitantly. "I'm not one to listen to rumors and the like but, isn't it well know that, uh, you all- um. And Mana, she's- uh, the, you know-"
"The mob boss you mean?" Mana asked dryly.
"Yeah, that." Jacob said uncomfortably.
"That may or may not be true, but as far as my brother knows that isn't true. And if you value your life and your business I wouldn't say another word about any of this, to anyone. Especially my brother." Theseus said dangerously. "He is too good to be involved and I'll be damned if he gets even an inkling of it."
"Yep, yes. Of course. Not another word." Jacob said, nodding rapidly.
"Good." Theseus nodded and swept out of the bakery.
"I would apologize for Theseus, but he wants to protect his brother and I respect that. But just know that if I find out that you have been talking about me and my business behind my back and something happens to my family you'll wish that it was Theseus you were dealing with and not me." Mana said lowly and left the bakery with Percival in tow.
"You still want to start that mob mon petit leon?" Lafayette quipped.
"Well, that definitely gave me a lot to think about." Alex mused, already deep in thought.
"Is he serious?" Jacob asked incredulously.
"Unfortunately." Lafayette sighed.
"Well, you can leave me out of it." Jacob stated firmly. "I had wanted to confront Theseus about the whole no mob thing after Newt had said something a while ago. But now I wish I never said anything."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure Alex keeps you out of it." Lafayette assured him.
"Thank you." Jacob nodded. "Now, we have this huge order and I need help prepping everything."
"Of course. I'll be back there in a minute." Lafayette said. Jacob nodded and headed back to the kitchen and Lafayette turned to say goodbye to Alex.
"I'll see you at home." Alex said lost in thought and absentmindedly kissed them and then left. Lafayette just sighed and went back to the kitchen to join Jacob.