Chapter 57: Oh This is Totally Not a Date

                                    

                                          
CW: mention of a hostage, feeling of hopelessness (overall, this is a really fluffy chapter)
Roman had been messaging the weredragon every night. If he wasn't getting any more blueprints for weapons, he was checking in to make sure their mole was alive. Sometimes the dragon would tell him how they're sabotaging the factory, other times not.
However Roman wanted to meet up with him in person again, so he made reservations for a restaurant. The dragon had agreed to go, though Roman had advised him to wear a suit since it was a fancy restaurant. There was less chance for anyone to eavesdrop in there, and those who did couldn't be from Wolfsbane. Or so he hoped...
He had come in early to be sure to save the reserved seating. So far all he has ordered was a water, but no appetizers yet. Roman busied himself by looking over the menu as he waited, and soon enough the host brought the dragon over.
He wore the suit that Roman last saw him in almost a week ago, and he briefly wondered if that was the only one he had. He thanked the host as he sat down, folding his hands tightly as he glanced at Roman.
"So... what is this for again?" he asked nervously, and Roman could hear his foot tapping.
"I wanted to speak with you in person, partly to make sure you're physically well. Your friend might try to kill me if they knew about our deal and you got hurt," Roman explained. "Besides, I find it easier to talk in person than over text."
"O-okay. I uh, I didn't bring any notes with me. I haven't had the time lately to translate them, I've been... tasked with a new project," Virgil tried to find a way to word everything he says. He doesn't want to be caught, or draw suspicion.
"A new project?" Roman asked.
"Can I get you something to start off with?" a waiter asked, interrupting the conversation.
"A water will do fine," Virgil told her, trying to recall everything he learned about proper etiquette. "Thank you."
"Okay, and any appetizers today?"
"Do you have any allergies?" Roman asked Virgil.
"Oh, no, I don't have any food allergies."
"Some garlic knots, thank you."
"I'll be right back with you." The waiter turned and left.
"You know, I just remembered, we don't even know each other's names. I'm Roman Hunt."
"I-I'm Virgil... Virgil Noble."
"Wait, you wouldn't perhaps be the Doctor Noble, would you?" The halfling's eyes widened.
"Yeah, that would be me." Virgil untied the utensils, setting them up before putting the cloth over his lap. 
"No wonder you're so brilliant! I should have realized sooner."
"Well, not brilliant enough. Anyway, back to the project I've been assigned." Virgil pulled out his leather notebook and opened up to one of the pages. He pulled out a pencil and wrote in English under a line.
Roman frowned as he looked at the sketches, and when he read the line. "A laser gun?" he whispered.
"Yup." Virgil quickly scribbled out the words and put his notebook back into his pocket. "I've been focused on that lately. Not to mention everything else that I have to do at that job. I'm being constantly watched, if not by a person then by a camera. I can't afford to be caught, so I haven't had much time to rewrite my notes."
"It sounds like this is getting too dangerous for you. You have given me more than enough, you don't need to continue doing this work for me. If you're caught..."