Divine Scanchuary

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[ang3lmoans]

𝕬𝖓𝖌3𝖑𝖒𝖔𝖆𝖓𝖘 𝕸𝖔𝖇𝖎𝖑𝖊 𝕹𝖆𝖛𝖎𝖌𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

@ang3lmoans ᴘʀᴇᴠɪᴏᴜꜱʟʏ ᴀɴɢ3ʟᴍᴏᴀɴ

ɪɴᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ—ꜱᴇᴍɪ-ꜱᴇʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ—ɪɴᴅɪᴇ

ꜱʟɪᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ʟɪꜰᴇ—ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ—ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ

ʀᴜʟᴇꜱ

ᴍᴜꜱᴇꜱ

ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴏᴛꜱ

ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇʀꜱ

ꜱᴜʙᴍɪᴛ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇʀ

[ang3lmoans]

Angel stayed quiet for a long moment after Garam finished speaking. The television continued filling the apartment with car racing and dramatic music, but it all felt impossibly far away. The only thing Angel could hear was Garam. His heart ached, not with pity. With something that felt infinitely more dangerous. Love. The realization settled over him with startling clarity, not like he didn't know. It had been creeping toward him for so long that he hadn’t noticed how easily he could say it out loud right now. He turned slightly where he was tucked against Garam’s side, enough that he could see him properly. Those careful eyes. That hesitant smile. The way he looked like he was waiting to be told he’d said too much. Angel couldn’t stand that look. Without saying a word, he reached up and rested his palm against Garam’s cheek breaking the rule again. Dammit he couldn't help it. A little damp beneath his fingertip as his thumb brushed away the tear Garam hadn’t managed to hide. “You know…” Angel murmured, his voice barely louder than the television. “For someone who’s always worried about crossing lines…” His lips curved gently., “…you’ve never consciously crossed one I didn’t want you to.” His thumb continued its slow path over Garam’s cheek “Not once.” He watched Garam carefully, as he always did out of habit. He smiled when Garam laid in his lap. His fingers moved through his hair slowly, grounding himself mostly. Angel had barely settled back against Garam before he could say another word a familiar sound came blaring from the coffee table. Angel raised an eyebrow as he looked around and carefully reached over Garam for his phone. The screen lit up with a familiar name.Marcus. Angel blinked, “…Huh.” He glanced apologetically at Garam before answering on speaker without really thinking. “Hey, Marc.” “Anthony!” Marcus’ voice boomed immediately, full of his usual energy. “There you are. I was starting to think you’d finally thrown your phone into a lake.” Angel snorted, “I considered it.” “Fair.” Marcus didn’t miss a beat. “So. Small problem.” Angel raised an eyebrow, “…Should I be worried?” “Nah.” then a long pause. “…Maybe a little.”Angel leaned farther into the couch, his hands still moving through Garam’s hair, “That’s not reassuring.”Marcus sighed dramatically, “A bunch of us are grabbing dinner….Derek, Mia, Sam, Jules…Darius, the usual misfits” Angel smiled despite himself. “Sounds about right.” “We wanted to know if you’d come.” Angel hesitated, instinctively glancing toward Garam, ge’d been perfectly content staying exactly where he was. “I don’t know…” “C’mon.” Marcus dragged the word out. “We haven’t all been together in forever.” Angel rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll think about..im sort of…” Before Angel could finish, “So…” Marcus interrupted, his voice changing. It lost its playful edge. “…Can I ask you something?” Angel’s smile faded as he shrugged, looking at Garam, “Sure, what's up?” There was a brief silence on the other end. “Are you and Darius okay?”Angel frowned and rolled his eyes, he should have expected this. “…Yeah?” “You sure?..because…when everyone was figuring out tonight, somebody mentioned inviting you and well...” there was a pause and kt sounded like shifting. “Darius immediately said he couldn’t make it.” Angel closed his eyes and let out a breath, “Hmm did he?” “He made up some excuse about work.” Marcus sounded unconvinced. “But then Sam pointed out it’s his day off.” Angel stared blankly at the dark television screen. “Mhmm”Angel pinched the bridge of his nose. “We all kind of looked at him.” Marcus laughed awkwardly. “And then he suddenly changed his mind and said he’d come after all.” It was silent for a moment after that. Angel dropped his hand and tilted his head back, resting it on the back of the couch to look at the ceiling. “It just…” it sounded like Marcus was searching for the words. “…It looked weird.” Angel stayed quiet. Marcus continued, “I figured I’d ask instead of assuming.”

“You two have always been… well…” He chuckled “Attached at the hip.” Angel couldn’t help the small smile, “That’s one way to put it.” “So when he looked like he wanted to avoid dinner because you were coming…”Marcus sighed, “ Everyone is concerned.”Angel lowered his gaze to Garam, his eyes were sad but he gave a small smile. His thoughts had already began turning. He replayed the last few days. Darius had said goodbye and he meant it. “Concerned or nosy?” Marcus was silent for a moment, “What?” Angel’s lips twitched, “I don’t think you guys are concerned I think you want to know what's going on…listen he's just…he’s trying to give me space.” Marcus was silent for a moment. “…With Garam?” Angel frowned and fully sat up, “He told you? So I was right, nosy.” Marcus sighed, “Anthony, listen, man Darius only told us because Axel is telling everyone you slept with him and well…we know you wouldn't lie about something like that…” Angel froze; he felt like he as going to be sick. “Who knows?” Angel managed out, his voice rough and strained, trying to hold back tears. “Anthony…” Marcus voice of was soft now, but Angel screamed, “WHO KNOWS?!” It was silent, Angel was shaking now. “Anthony we all do. I mean he's showing anyone that will listen the video…” Angel hung up. He stared at nothing in particular, the same word playing in his head. Video, video, video..

[cozysafe]

garam hadn't meant to listen as closely as he did. at least, that was what he told himself when marcus's voice first came through the speaker, loud enough that there was no real way to avoid hearing it. the first thing that actively caught his attention wasn't even the conversation itself, but the name. anthony. his eyes shifted toward angel immediately, the realization settling somewhere strange in his chest. he knew angel's real name now. he knew that it wasn't something angel shared easily, something he had only learned because angel trusted him enough to let him in a little further, and yet here was someone else saying it so naturally, like it had always belonged to him. like everyone else in angel's life had always known a version of himself that garam was only just beginning to meet. then darius's name came up, and garam felt the briefest flicker of tension move through him before he forced it back down. not because he didn't care, not because the thought didn't still bother him somewhere deep down, but because this wasn't the same situation he'd imagined in his head. if they were all together, if angel and darius were surrounded by people who knew them both, then there were boundaries there that garam couldn't see from the outside. he had to remind himself of that. he had promised himself he wouldn't keep trying to find things that weren't there. then marcus said his name. garam's body went still before he could stop it. it wasn't obvious, not enough that he thought angel would notice, but he felt the subtle shift in himself anyway. he hadn't been trying to listen in. angel had put the call on speaker. he wasn't doing anything wrong by hearing the conversation, but that didn't stop the discomfort that settled in his chest when he realized they were talking about him. about what had happened. about what other people thought they knew. the longer marcus spoke, the more garam felt himself drift somewhere else entirely, caught between trying to focus on the words and trying not to let every possibility attached to them take over. he knew angel trusted him. he knew what angel had told him. he knew what he believed. but there was still something unsettling about realizing there were conversations happening around them that garam hadn't known existed, pieces of a life angel had been carrying while garam had been lost in his own assumptions. by the time marcus's voice softened and the topic shifted fully toward angel and axel, garam barely registered the details anymore. his thoughts had started pulling him somewhere far less useful, somewhere filled with questions he didn't have answers for, until angel's voice suddenly cut through everything.

garam didn't realize he'd stopped breathing until the call ended abruptly. at first, he'd only been half listening, content to let angel answer while he settled back against the couch, expecting nothing more serious than a friend inviting him out for dinner, garam had tried not to think too much of it. he trusted angel. he'd told himself that over and over again. whatever distance had grown between them wasn't his place to dissect anymore. then marcus's tone changed, angel's expression changed with it, and the easy comfort that had filled the apartment only moments earlier disappeared so completely that garam almost forgot they had been watching a movie at all. he watched the color drain from angel's face one sentence at a time. it wasn't subtle. it wasn't something garam had to search for or interpret. he saw the confusion first, then the disbelief, and finally something far worse settling behind angel's eyes as the conversation continued. by the time angel demanded to know who knew, his voice breaking through the apartment with a sharpness garam had never heard from him before, every other thought he'd been carrying vanished without a trace. the conversation they'd been having only moments ago, the embarrassment, the teasing, even the lingering vulnerability from everything he'd confessed about himself became meaningless in the face of the panic unfolding beside him. he didn't think, he simply moved. the promise to keep his hands to himself disappeared so completely that he didn't even remember making it. one hand reached for angel almost instinctively, coming to rest against his shoulder before sliding carefully to the back of his neck, gentle enough that angel could move away if he wanted to, steady enough to remind him that he wasn't sitting here alone. garam's thumb brushed once against his skin without conscious thought, his own concern drowning out every ounce of self-consciousness that had consumed him only minutes earlier. "angel ..." his voice came out quiet, but it carried none of the uncertainty it usually did. there was no hesitation in reaching for him now, no fear that he was asking for too much or crossing a line. all of those worries had fallen away the second he'd seen the look on angel's face. his eyes searched him for several long moments before dropping to the phone still clutched in angel's hand, the single word that refused to leave his mind echoing louder than the video playing forgotten in the background. video.

garam was well aware of what axel had done, but a video? his stomach dropped so suddenly it almost hurt. he didn't want to ask, it wasn't a difficult puzzle to solve. "hey ..." he said again, even softer this time. his hand remained where it was against the back of angel's neck, the gentle pressure never changing, never asking for anything in return. he shifted a little closer without crowding him, searching the other's face with quiet concern as though he could somehow pull him back simply by staying there. "look at me." his stomach twisted again. he knew what angel had told him about what happened. he'd believed him then, and he wanted to believe him now, but the word video refused to settle quietly in his mind. it kept circling back to the same impossible question. assuming what was on it, why would axel show it to people? if what angel had described was the truth, if he'd refused and axel hadn't listened, then why would he willingly hand people something that proved it? unless ... unless it didn't. unless it only showed part of the night. unless it had been cut short. unless⸺garam shut the thought down almost as quickly as it'd come. he hated himself for even letting it exist. after a moment, garam's hand slipped carefully from the back of angel's neck to his cheek, his other following a second later until he was cradling his face with a gentleness that asked rather than demanded. he guided angel's attention back toward him just enough to meet his eyes, and the panic staring back at him stole whatever breath he'd managed to find. "angel," his voice was barely above a whisper now, "he recorded it without you knowing?"

[ang3lmoans]

Angel didn’t answer; he couldn’t. His body had gone frighteningly still. The apartment felt wrong. Too quiet despite the engines roaring from the television. Too warm, too small. His pulse thundered in his ears. **Video.** The word repeated over and over until it stopped sounding like a word at all. **Video. Video. Video.** He barely registered Garam’s hand against the back of his neck, barely felt the warmth of his thumb. Barely heard his own name. His breathing had turned shallow without him realizing it. He stared through the phone in his hand as if it had suddenly become something foreign. Angel couldn't feel it vibrating. Marus, Darius, Sam all in the span of a minute. Then came a string of texts. Back to back. A video. Axel had… his stomach lurched so violently he thought he might actually throw up. Then Garam cupped his face. The gentle pressure pulled his gaze away from the endless spiral in his own mind. Angel…His name didn't sound like his own; he heard it distorted as if he was drowning. He recorded it without you knowing?” For several seconds, Angel simply looked at him. His eyes were empty as if he were looking past Garam. His phone still buzzing in his hand. Now Derek, Mia, and Jules flashed across his phone. Another string of text followed. Then something behind his eyes cracked. “…I…” His voice disappeared. He swallowed hard enough to hurt. “I don’t…” Angel tried to swallow again, but bile filled and burned his throat all at once. He clenched his jaw and forced it back down, his voice coming out raw, “I don’t know…I” His hands were shaking so hard his phone finally dropped onto the couch. “I don’t remember.” His eyes unfocused again. “I remember telling him no.” His voice had gone frighteningly quiet. “I remember pushing him away.” A breath hitched painfully in his chest. “I remember trying to leave.” His fingers dug into his palm. “And then…” Nothing. His brow furrowed as he tried to force the memories forward. The harder he reached for them, the further away they seemed. “There was…” His breathing quickened. “There was alcohol. And you were with us, and you went to bed.” Be paused his searching to try and find a memory. “I remember him kissing me.” His expression twisted. “After that he tried to go further, and I remember saying stop.” His eyes squeezed shut. “I remember…” His face drained even further. He simply went quiet. “No. No, I said no. What is he showing people?” Angel’s voice was cracked and rough. A tear rolled down his cheek. “…then maybe it was my fault.” The confession barely existed above a whisper. “Maybe I drank too much… maybe I missed something…maybe I…” His breathing hitched again, and his chest tightened painfully. “There’s a video.” Angel sounded terrified. “What if…”His voice trembled violently, “What if everyone thinks…” but Angel couldn’t say it. Instead, he looked back at Garam. “I don’t know what’s on it.” His eyes filled again, then he laughed once. It was a horrible, hollow sound. “That’s the worst part.” Another tear managed to slip free. “If it only shows me pushing him away…” His shoulders sagged. “Then why is he showing everyone?” His breathing became uneven again. “But if it starts after…” He shook his head violently. “No, I…” His hands moved to grip Garam’s wrists, not to pull them away, but as if anchoring himself to the only thing that still felt real. “I know what I said.” He frowned and finally looked at Garam. “I know I told him no…I know I didn’t want it.” His eyes searched Garam’s desperately. “I know that…you believe me, right? Please tell me you believe me?” Then, much smaller, “But I don’t know what that video looks like.” The fear in his expression shifted. Not fear of Axel. Not even fear of the people who had seen it. Fear that Garam would start questioning him. That one seed of doubt would be all it took. His fingers tightened unconsciously around Garam’s wrists. Angel cracked open; it was no longer stray tears. The man began to fully break down, “You have to believe me, please believe me!”

[cozysafe]

garam opened his mouth, but nothing came out. he had asked because he wanted to know what angel saw when he looked at him, curious how close he might come to the thoughts garam had spent so much of his life keeping buried beneath careful smiles and quieter words. he hadn't expected the answer to land with such devastating accuracy. each sentence stripped away another layer of the distance he'd spent years convincing himself was necessary, until it no longer felt like angel was making educated guesses at all. it felt like he was simply describing him. by the time angel finished speaking, garam realized he didn't have a response anymore. every thought he'd been holding onto had unraveled somewhere between the quiet certainty in angel's voice and the impossible comfort of being understood without having to explain himself first. every word landed with quiet precision, peeling back thoughts garam hadn't spoken aloud, thoughts he wasn't entirely sure he'd admitted to himself until hearing someone else give them a voice. his gaze never left angel's face, but somewhere between you've been worrying about touching me this whole time and you wanted something and you chose my comfort over your own, the tightness in his chest became almost unbearable. it wasn't fair. not because angel had been wrong. because he hadn't. garam had spent so much of his life trying to become fluent in other people. he'd learned the smallest changes in expression, memorized routines, anticipated moods before they were spoken, convinced himself that loving someone meant understanding them so completely that they never had to ask for anything twice. he'd poured every piece of himself into becoming whatever the people he loved needed him to be, and somehow, somewhere along the way, he'd stopped expecting anyone to ever do the same for him. he'd accepted that he would always be the one paying attention. always the one noticing. always the one doing the work. angel had undone that without even seeming to realize it. by the time angel settled back against his side again, nestling comfortably beneath the blanket garam had wrapped around the both of them, garam could already feel the familiar sting gathering behind his eyes. he blinked once, then again a second later, willing the feeling away before it had the chance to become anything more. the last thing he wanted was to cry again. he'd done enough of that lately. his vision blurred anyway, just enough to soften the edges of angel's face before he managed another slow blink to clear it. he kept looking at him the whole time, hoping the warmth in his eyes would pass for nothing more than the light from the television. it didn't.

"nobody's ..." his voice caught before he managed more than two words. garam swallowed quickly, the movement tight enough that it almost hurt, before trying again, quieter this time. "nobody's ever understood me the way you do." the admission left him in little more than a whisper, his voice unsteady despite how hard he tried to smooth it out. he looked down for only a second before his eyes moved to the television, the corners of them shining in a way he could no longer pretend wasn't obvious. "i've spent years trying to understand everyone else." a faint, almost self-conscious laugh escaped him, though there wasn't any humor behind it. "i thought ... i thought that's just what you did when you cared about someone. you learned them. you paid attention. you figured out what they needed before they had to ask." his smile trembled almost imperceptibly. "i don't think i ever realized nobody was really doing that for me." he let the words settle before drawing a careful breath, his fingers tightening briefly around the comforter gathered across his lap. "so when you look at me and ..." he shook his head once, unable to find a sentence that felt big enough. "you just ... know. i don't even know what to do with that." his gaze dropped to where angel had tucked himself comfortably against his side, and another small smile found its way onto his face despite the tears threatening to gather again. "i hold myself back a lot more than you think i do." he let out a slow breath, choosing each word with obvious care. "not because i don't want things, usually it's exactly the opposite. i just ..." his throat tightened once more. "i spend a lot of time wondering where the line is. whether i'm asking for too much. whether i'm moving too fast." his testing the waters⸺boxing him in against the counter to see if angel was okay with the proximity, resting his head in angel's lap. "whether something i do is going to make you uncomfortable before you even have the chance to tell me." his voice dropped almost to a whisper. "i think about your comfort before i think about my own, every single time." "i think that's what scares me," he admitted after a long pause, the words so quiet they almost disappeared beneath the television. "not ... you." he shook his head immediately, needing to make that distinction before anything else. "this." his hand shifted vaguely between them, as though there weren't really words big enough to point at everything that had become them over the last several days. "the fact that you know me this well." he let out a slow breath, his eyes lingering somewhere on the blanket instead of risking another look at angel just yet. "it's unsettling sometimes. i spent so long believing i was difficult to understand that i got used to explaining everything. then you came along and ... half the time you answer questions i haven't even figured out how to ask yet." he finally looked back over, the vulnerability in his expression impossible to hide now. "and i keep realizing how wrong i've been about you." his voice softened further. "i kept convincing myself i knew what you were thinking. that i knew what you wanted. i thought you regretted messing around with me. i thought darius meant something more to you than he actually did. i thought you were only taking care of me because you felt responsible." another slow blink. "every time i decided i knew what was going on in your head ... i was wrong. so now i'm scared of getting it wrong all over again because i ..." the words caught for a moment before he forced himself to finish them. "i think i've gotten so attached to you that it scares me a little. and some days it feels like every instinct i have is telling me to get closer to you." he let out a quiet, unsteady laugh. "i'm trying really hard not to let that become too much for you, not to let myself become too much for you. but i think my effort is only making it worse."

[ang3lmoans]

Angel stayed quiet for a long moment after Garam finished speaking. The television continued filling the apartment with car racing and dramatic music, but it all felt impossibly far away. The only thing Angel could hear was Garam. His heart ached, not with pity. With something that felt infinitely more dangerous. Love. The realization settled over him with startling clarity, not like he didn't know. It had been creeping toward him for so long that he hadn’t noticed how easily he could say it out loud right now. He turned slightly where he was tucked against Garam’s side, enough that he could see him properly. Those careful eyes. That hesitant smile. The way he looked like he was waiting to be told he’d said too much. Angel couldn’t stand that look. Without saying a word, he reached up and rested his palm against Garam’s cheek breaking the rule again. Dammit he couldn't help it. A little damp beneath his fingertip as his thumb brushed away the tear Garam hadn’t managed to hide. “You know…” Angel murmured, his voice barely louder than the television. “For someone who’s always worried about crossing lines…” His lips curved gently., “…you’ve never consciously crossed one I didn’t want you to.” His thumb continued its slow path over Garam’s cheek “Not once.” He watched Garam carefully, as he always did out of habit. He smiled when Garam laid in his lap. His fingers moved through his hair slowly, grounding himself mostly. Angel had barely settled back against Garam before he could say another word a familiar sound came blaring from the coffee table. Angel raised an eyebrow as he looked around and carefully reached over Garam for his phone. The screen lit up with a familiar name.Marcus. Angel blinked, “…Huh.” He glanced apologetically at Garam before answering on speaker without really thinking. “Hey, Marc.” “Anthony!” Marcus’ voice boomed immediately, full of his usual energy. “There you are. I was starting to think you’d finally thrown your phone into a lake.” Angel snorted, “I considered it.” “Fair.” Marcus didn’t miss a beat. “So. Small problem.” Angel raised an eyebrow, “…Should I be worried?” “Nah.” then a long pause. “…Maybe a little.”Angel leaned farther into the couch, his hands still moving through Garam’s hair, “That’s not reassuring.”Marcus sighed dramatically, “A bunch of us are grabbing dinner….Derek, Mia, Sam, Jules…Darius, the usual misfits” Angel smiled despite himself. “Sounds about right.” “We wanted to know if you’d come.” Angel hesitated, instinctively glancing toward Garam, ge’d been perfectly content staying exactly where he was. “I don’t know…” “C’mon.” Marcus dragged the word out. “We haven’t all been together in forever.” Angel rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll think about..im sort of…” Before Angel could finish, “So…” Marcus interrupted, his voice changing. It lost its playful edge. “…Can I ask you something?” Angel’s smile faded as he shrugged, looking at Garam, “Sure, what's up?” There was a brief silence on the other end. “Are you and Darius okay?”Angel frowned and rolled his eyes, he should have expected this. “…Yeah?” “You sure?..because…when everyone was figuring out tonight, somebody mentioned inviting you and well...” there was a pause and kt sounded like shifting. “Darius immediately said he couldn’t make it.” Angel closed his eyes and let out a breath, “Hmm did he?” “He made up some excuse about work.” Marcus sounded unconvinced. “But then Sam pointed out it’s his day off.” Angel stared blankly at the dark television screen. “Mhmm”Angel pinched the bridge of his nose. “We all kind of looked at him.” Marcus laughed awkwardly. “And then he suddenly changed his mind and said he’d come after all.” It was silent for a moment after that. Angel dropped his hand and tilted his head back, resting it on the back of the couch to look at the ceiling. “It just…” it sounded like Marcus was searching for the words. “…It looked weird.” Angel stayed quiet. Marcus continued, “I figured I’d ask instead of assuming.”

“You two have always been… well…” He chuckled “Attached at the hip.” Angel couldn’t help the small smile, “That’s one way to put it.” “So when he looked like he wanted to avoid dinner because you were coming…”Marcus sighed, “ Everyone is concerned.”Angel lowered his gaze to Garam, his eyes were sad but he gave a small smile. His thoughts had already began turning. He replayed the last few days. Darius had said goodbye and he meant it. “Concerned or nosy?” Marcus was silent for a moment, “What?” Angel’s lips twitched, “I don’t think you guys are concerned I think you want to know what's going on…listen he's just…he’s trying to give me space.” Marcus was silent for a moment. “…With Garam?” Angel frowned and fully sat up, “He told you? So I was right, nosy.” Marcus sighed, “Anthony, listen, man Darius only told us because Axel is telling everyone you slept with him and well…we know you wouldn't lie about something like that…” Angel froze; he felt like he as going to be sick. “Who knows?” Angel managed out, his voice rough and strained, trying to hold back tears. “Anthony…” Marcus voice of was soft now, but Angel screamed, “WHO KNOWS?!” It was silent, Angel was shaking now. “Anthony we all do. I mean he's showing anyone that will listen the video…” Angel hung up. He stared at nothing in particular, the same word playing in his head. Video, video, video..

[nocturnalmuses]

Hiro couldn't help but love how deep his wet tongue was inside of her pussy. Wiggling it around, his nose would flick at her clit repeatedly. Large hands squeezed at her soft thighs as he'd continue to eat her out.

[ang3lmoans]

Kalea arched her back sharply, grinding her dripping pussy down onto Hiroyuki's face as his tongue thrust deeper inside her, the slick muscle twisting and stroking her inner walls while his nose rubbed insistently over her swollen clit. Her thighs quivered around his head, fingers yanking harder at his hair to pull him closer, desperate for more friction as fresh moans spilled from her lips and her core clenched around the invading tongue.

[nocturnalmuses]

Hiro would smile as he'd lead him towards his bedroom. Once there, Hiro would then speak. "This is it." He'd say. The room simple and the bed fairly sized for both of them. Looking at him, he'd then grin. "So, how about you wreck my asshole with your monster." He'd say as he'd then begin to slip into his bed. Plump legs parted as he'd exposed his cock and balls in between those large plump thighs and underneath his even plumper belly.

[ang3lmoans]

Howell followed, looking around and taking in the room. His gaze landed on Hiro as he lay on the bed, exposing himself. The writer couldn't help but smirk as he climbed onto the bed and spat on Hiro’s entrance. “You appear to enjoy having your asshole wrecked,” he muttered before slamming balls deep into him.

[blccdiedknuckles]

it had been a few years since coming home that law had left cooke but sometimes he just needed an escape; and that normally led to him getting a hotel room a city or two over, maybe even a state, and spending a night or two haunting a local bar just to distract himself with the familiar noise while hiding in plain sight in a crowd of people. this time was a bit different though. he had noticed the younger man earlier into the night, and law noticed the way he was drinking a bit more than the rest of them, but he wasn't being a nuisance so there was no point in paying it any mind or being annoyed by him. if anything, he was cute. at least he was until he was stumbling away from the bar and colliding into the small table law had taken for himself next to it; until he was falling into law and holding onto him while mumbling something about dreams.

"easy, doll," he whispered as he brought his hands up to gently grip at the other's sides in an attempt to help the other man steady himself. "i can promise you if i'm in your dreams they are probably worth forgettin'," he teased, more so at his own detriment than anything else as he leaned back and tilted his head down so he could look at the younger man's face. "it's a shame to admit but i also don't think we know each other. you okay there?"

[ang3lmoans]

Jax blinked slowly, trying very hard to make the man’s face stop splitting into two. One of him was unfairly attractive. Two of him was just showing off. His hands remained braced against the stranger’s shoulders “Doll?” he repeated, eyebrows lifting with exaggerated offense. “Nobody’s called me that before.” His lips twitched into a crooked grin. “I don’t hate it.” The stranger’s hands were warm where they steadied his sides, firm enough to keep him upright without making him feel trapped. It was…nice, comforting, even.

Jax sighed heavily, “My brain is doing cartwheels.” His balance chose that exact moment to betray him again. He pitched forward another inch before instinctively wrapping his arms fully around the other’s shoulders. “Okay, that’s embarrassing,” he muttered against the man's next before pulling back.“I’m gonna pretend that didn’t happen.” He made absolutely no effort to let go. Instead, he tilted his head, studying the older man with the intense seriousness only drunk people seemed capable of. “You’ve got kind eyes.” The observation slipped out before he could stop it. “So either you’re genuinely nice…” he murmured, “…or you’re really good at pretending.” His expression softened unexpectedly. “I hope it’s the first one.” For a fleeting second, the easy grin he’d worn all night faltered. Enough for something lonely to peek through before he buried it again beneath another crooked smile. “I’m Jax,” he offered, the words slightly slurred but sincere. “And before you answer…” He leaned in a little, lowering his voice as though sharing classified information. “I should warn you, I make questionable decisions when I’m sad.” His smile became smaller. “It’s nice to accidentally fall on you.” His grin returned, bright and hopelessly lopsided. “What’s your name?”

[cozysafe]

garam's entire plan unraveled the second angel admitted he'd noticed. the warmth that had already settled across his face climbed higher without permission, spreading all the way to the tips of his ears and the back of his neck as he kept his attention fixed stubbornly on the television, even though he couldn't have said what was happening anymore. the movie had long since dissolved into little more than moving shapes and distant voices beneath the far louder awareness of angel sitting against him. whatever confidence had existed behind his quiet insistence that they keep their hands to themselves vanished almost immediately, replaced by the uncomfortable realization that angel had apparently been watching him close enough to notice every failed attempt at pretending he was unaffected. it shouldn't have surprised him. if there was one thing he'd learned over the last several days, it was that angel paid attention in ways garam still wasn't accustomed to. he noticed when garam stopped eating before he was full, when his smile reached his eyes and when it didn't, when his thoughts wandered somewhere heavier than he was willing to admit aloud. he noticed things garam himself sometimes only realized after the fact. being seen like that was still new enough that garam wasn't entirely sure what to do with it. the brush of angel's pinky against his thigh was almost laughably small, barely enough to count as touching, but somehow that only made it worse. it was careful. deliberate. just enough to remind garam that angel had heard him, that he was respecting the line garam had drawn while somehow still managing to stand right beside it. his fingers curled instinctively into the comforter gathered across his lap before he forced them to loosen again, smoothing absent circles into the fabric instead. the urge to reach back came as naturally as breathing now, almost frighteningly so. every instinct had told him to close the distance, to lace their fingers together beneath the blanket where nobody else would ever know, to lean against angel until there wasn't enough room left between them for thoughts like this to exist. instead, he stayed exactly where he was. it was becoming increasingly obvious that keeping his hands to himself wasn't difficult because he lacked self-control. it was difficult because he wanted to touch angel almost constantly, and acknowledging that to himself was somehow far more embarrassing than admitting it to anyone else would've been.

"you're already breaking the rules," he murmured eventually, though the accusation was ruined by the smile threatening at the corners of his mouth. there wasn't enough conviction behind it to sound remotely believable, especially when he made absolutely no attempt to pull away from the barely-there contact. if anything, the acknowledge that angel was trying so hard to respect the boundary made garam appreciate the tiny touch even more. it lingered in his mind long after it had happened, quietly undoing whatever composure he'd been trying to stitch back together. he let out a slow breath before finally turning away from the television altogether. his eyes found angel's almost immediately, holding there with an intensity that lasted long enough to strip away most of the teasing that had started the conversation. garam searched his face in silence, studying him with quiet curiosity, wondering how someone could read him so easily when he'd spent years convincing himself nobody ever really could. it was unsettling. comforting. a little terrifying. he wasn't entirely sure which feeling was winning. "what am i thinking?" he finally asked. the question came quietly, but there was something undeniably genuine beneath it. he wanted to know the answer. not because he expected angel to read his mind, but because every time angel seemed to understand him without garam having to explain himself, it chipped away at another piece of certainty that he'd always have to carry everything alone. his gaze didn't waver. "go on," he said after another second, one brow lifting every so slightly. "you can hear me thinking." a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth despite himself, softer this time, more playful. "tell me what you think is going on in my head."

[ang3lmoans]

Angel’s smile lingered, small and fond, as Garam turned to look at him. There it was again, that look that made his stomach flip. Like Garam wasn’t just seeing him, but he was searching him. Peeling back every layer with quiet patience, hoping to find something solid enough to trust. For all the confidence he’d worn a second ago, the teasing grin, the playful remarks, this felt different. His own smile softened until it barely existed. “What am I thinking?” Angel held his gaze for a moment as he considered making another joke and saying something r, to watch Garam blush again. Instead, Angel let the silence settle between them. “…You’re thinking,” Angel said quietly, “that if you move even an inch, you’re going to mess this up.” His voice held no teasing now, only fondness. “You’ve been worrying about touching me this whole time.” His eyes flicked briefly toward the blanket where Garam’s hands remained obediently folded into the fabric. “Not because you don’t have self-control.” He chewed on his bottom lip and glanced back up to meet Garam’s eyes,“But because you want to.” Angel’s expression remained impossibly gentle. “I think…” he murmured, “…you’re wondering why I keep noticing things.” His thumb absently rubbed against the edge of the comforter now. “Why I keep seeing you.” His gaze never left Garam’s.“You spent so long believing people only notice the parts of you that inconvenience them…” The words came easier than they should have. “…that someone paying attention just because they care feels… suspicious.” His smile turned bittersweet. “You don’t quite know what to do with that.” The television laughed at some joke neither of them heard. Angel breathed slowly before giving the smallest shrug. “I've been watching you for a long time, Garam. I've liked you for much longer,” he admitted searching his eyes. His lips curved upward. He tilted his head slightly and let out a sigh. “Actually…” His voice dropped almost to a whisper.“I’ve spent most of my life around people who took what they wanted because they assumed they could.” His eyes drifted toward the flickering television before returning to Garam. “You wanted something…” His gaze softened. “…and you chose my comfort over your own.” Angel had to look away now as he felt emotion creep into his voice, “Do you know how rare that is?” He tucked his wild curls behind his ears as a warmth spread through his chest.he pulled his pinky away and snuggled more into Garam, “I don't want to mess this up either.”

[dragon-inchains]

Theo's arms wrap around the stranger immediately. His emerald eyes are large as he looks at them. The kid had literally just fallen into him, and was very much inebriated. Yet, Theo found himself laughing softly.

"Falling for me already?"

As a dragon...it was difficult to get him drunk. Furthermore he hated the taste of modern alcohol but he had still come here with 'work' friends who were currently playing darts in the corner. He was here out of a sense of duty...not because he wanted to be. He much preferred to be alone when he wasn't with his family. But his sister had told him he needed to put himself 'out there' more if he wanted to find someone special.

His thumb gently brushed over the young man's cheek.

"Are you even old enough to drink?"

And without really thinking, he threw down a stack of money to cover whatever tab the kid might have ran up as well as for his own untouched drink. He gestured for the bartender to let him know, and worked on getting under the kid enough to help stabilize him on his feet.

"You are far too drunk to get home alone. Where do you live. I'll get you there."

[ang3lmoans]

Jax blinked up at the stranger, his brain struggling to process the words through the warm haze wrapped around his thoughts. Falling for me already? Jax grinned wide, “That…” he said with complete sincerity, “was a very good line.” His eyes narrowed in intense concentration as if he were trying to memorize Theo’s face. It wasn’t easy. The man’s features kept blurring around the edges, softened by the alcohol until they looked almost unreal. “…You’ve got…” Jax lifted a finger, wavering it vaguely in Theo’s direction. “…Really nice eyes.” He leaned in another inch, squinting.“Green.” he muttered beofe going silent for a second. “…Unless I’ve gone colorblind.” The thought genuinely concerned him for all of three seconds.

Then Theo’s question finally caught up with him. “Am I old enough?” Jax frowned dramatically, “I…” He counted on his fingers and then stopped. He blinked and started over. “…I have absolutely no idea how old I am right now.” A quiet laugh escaped him before he buried his face against Theo’s shoulder with absolutely no concern for personal space. It was comfortable there, warm like a cozy fire. “…Twenty-three,” he mumbled after another long moment. “Pretty sure.…Ninety percent sure.” The bartender called from behind the counter.“He’s twenty-three.” Jax lifted one hand in victory without moving his head. Then Theo mentioned taking him home. “…Home’s…” His brows knitted together as he tried to remember. “Oh.…that’s actually kind of difficult.” He looked genuinely apologetic. “I move.…not because I’m running from the law.” His eyes widened. “I should probably say that first.” Jax paused and frowned again, “I don’t think I’m running from the law.” The bartender groaned. “No, kid. You’re not.”Jax laughed and nodded. He looked back to Theo with the seriousness of someone delivering life-changing news. “I rent rooms.”His words were slower now, his thoughts wandering between sentences. “Different places…safer that way.” The last sentence slipped out before he could stop it. “I know the street.” He pointed confidently toward the exit.“…It’s definitely outside.” The bartender pinched the bridge of his nose.

[damienstarrk]

Dacre gasped and moaned, gripping Howell's hair again and tugging on it again.

[ang3lmoans]

The writer hummed against his entrance, his tongue lapping over it before pushing in. His hands squeezed and kneaded at the plump flesh as he devoured Dacre.

[rhapsodc]

Those gentle fingers under his sack felt like a release from some tension that the mouth had created. Pleasure moved like waves around Memé's body, reaching deep, pulling in his muscles until they were bulging, as if Memé needed to hold his ground, only to be taken by a sudden feel of relief and enjoyment that washed over him, relaxing those same muscles just as that throat clenched around his dick. And then, the fingers on his balls. He was sensitive right there and because of it, he suddenly had his toes curling, his own fingers grabbing that hair tighter. He let out a soft chuckle before letting his head fall back.

"Do you like them too? You can kiss it. Lick it." His voice dropped a bit at each new suggestion. He had a dirty smile on his face. It hardly matched his public persona. In a position such as his, it was hard to make men follow him. And yet they did. But Memé could not always show all sides of him out there. But he intended to do so to Kaito. For Kaito, he would open up every bit of himself.

"When I thought how this would feel like, I never imagined it would be this good." He said the words in that deep, tight tone, one finger caressing Kaito's chin as the man caressed his balls in return. "Why did we have to wait for it so long?"

[ang3lmoans]

The question hung in the air between them, weighted with years of unspoken longing, and Kaito felt the sting of it in his chest as he pulled off slowly, letting Memé's cock slip from his lips with one last drag of his tongue along the underside. He rested his cheek against Memé's inner thigh, the skin warm and damp beneath his face, and looked up at the knight through his lashes, eyes still hazy. He wasn’t sure if Memé was looking for a real answer but he answered anyway. "I was scared," Kaito admitted, his thumb still stroking absent circles against Memé's balls, needing that connection to steady himself. He pressed a kiss to Memé's thigh, before taking one of his balls into his mouth. Kaito hummed around them, savoring the taste. His eyes were still low and hazy, his hips moved instinctively, feeling his entrance pucker with want.

[cozysafe]

garam listened quietly as angel went through each answer, one by one, the simplicity of it almost making him forget that he'd spent the last several minutes trying to figure out how to phrase the question without making it sound like something else entirely. go. it was such an easy word. something most people probably wouldn't even think twice about. but coming from angel, it carried a weight garam hadn't realized he was looking for. not permission, not exactly. just the reassurance that being here didn't mean he had somehow traded one set of restrictions for another. his shoulders loosened slightly as angel continued, explaining that he didn't need updates because he wanted control, but because he wanted to know garam was okay. the distinction mattered more than he expected it to. "you know," garam murmured, the corner of his mouth lifting faintly. "you make it sound like i'm some kind of stray cat you're worried is going to disappear if you don't keep checking the neighborhood." the teasing was gentle, lacking any real bite. his fingers continued tracing over the edge of the comforter, but the nervous habit had lost some of its urgency. "i'm not going to vanish because you went to work for a few hours." there was a pause before his expression softened slightly, because even he knew that wasn't entirely fair. not after everything that had happened. "but ..." he added quieter, glancing away briefly. "i get it." he understood why angel worried. he understood because if their positions were reversed, he wasn't sure he'd be any different. "i'll text you." the admission came easily this time. "not because i need to. because i know it'll make you feel better." his gaze returned to angel, lingering there as the other spoke again. i'm really happy you're here, garam. the words still caught him off guard. they shouldn't have. angel had said versions of it before, in different ways, but garam still wasn't used to hearing that someone wanted him around without needing him to prove he deserved the space he took up. his throat tightened slightly, though he managed to keep his expression mostly composed. "you know you make it really difficult to keep pretending you're annoying, right?" he murmured, a small smile pulling at his lips. "it's a little inconvenient."

before he could overthink it, garam reached out and adjusted the comforter to wrap around angel's shoulders as he leaned in closer, a small but deliberate gesture that mirrored all the ways angel had been taking care of him. am i allowed to do this? the question earned a brief look of disbelief, his brows lifting slightly. "angel," he said quietly, though there was no real protest behind it. the problem wasn't that he didn't want the closeness. it was almost the opposite. garam was painfully aware of how easy it was becoming to let angel take care of him, to accept the warmth without immediately feeling like he needed to earn it back. the fact that angel could say he was happy he was there and then simply lean into him like it was the most natural thing in the world still caught him off guard. especially when garam was sitting there with nothing but a pair of shorts on underneath that blanket, suddenly very aware of how exposed he actually was. his first instinct was still the same one it had always been: to give something back, to prove his gratitude in the easiest way he knew how. the thought came and went quickly, but not quickly enough for him to ignore it. he wanted to touch angel. he wanted to pull him closer. he wanted to reward angel for being gentle with him, and that realization made him a little more flustered than he wanted to admit though he was sure angel could see it with the way his cheeks and ears began to flush. because he had said he could keep his hands to himself. he had joked about it all morning. now he wasn't entirely sure if he was trying to prove it to angel or himself. "as long as you keep your hands to yourself." the words came out almost under his breath, his attempt at teasing weakened by the nervous uncertainty that lingered beneath it.

[ang3lmoans]

Angel let out a huff as Garam said he wouldn’t disappear. Because he was right, he was terrified and Garam deciding he wasn’t enough. Or whatever else his mind convinced him was true. However, Garam reassured him and he promised to text. That all he could ever ask for. Angel caught the flush creeping up Garam's cheeks, the way it spread, to the tips of his ears, and he couldn’t help but smile. As long as you keep your hands to yourself. The words came out barely above a murmur, that teasing edge weakened by the uncertainty bleeding through underneath. Angel let the pout drop from his face, replaced by something softer. He settled more fully against Garam's side, the comforter now wrapped around both of them, and let his head rest against Garam's shoulder. "Hands to myself," he repeated with a whisper. He let them sit for a moment before tilting his head just enough to look up at Garam through his lashes. "I can do that." His hands stayed exactly where they were. One resting on his own knee, the other tucked against his side where Garam had pulled the blanket around him. He stayed like that for a long moment, feeling the rise and fall of Garam's breathing beneath him, the warmth of the blanket wrapped around both their shoulders. The movie played on, unwatched, a low murmur of dialogue as Angel felt sleep trying to take him under. So he did what he did best, tease Garam to keep himself awake. "You're thinking too loud," Angel murmured finally, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "I can hear it from here." He tilted his head just enough to glance up at Garam's profile. The soft line of his jaw, the way his lashes cast shadows against his cheeks. Beautiful, Angel thought, just... beautiful. Angel looked at him with soft eyes just taking him in. But so clearly the other was trying to hold himself together that it made Angel's chest ache. He let his hand shift, just slightly, just enough for his pinky to brush against Garam's thigh where it rested beneath the blanket. The lightest touch, to lighten their no touching rule. "Also, for the record? I think you're cute when you're flustered. But I'll pretend I didn't notice, if that helps you save face." Angel was slightly having too much fun.

[ang3lmoans]

↳ plot & info: Jax is a brat who enjoys pushing buttons. He’s had a few too many, when Jax drinks he's harmless and no bite. Your Muse has caught his eye.

Muse: Jax Tanner

Jax wasn’t drunk. That was the lie he told himself as he narrowly avoided walking face first into a barstool. He stumbled and barely caught himself on the corner “See?” he mumbled to absolutely no one. “Graceful.” The bartender snorted.It had only been a few drinks.…Maybe a few more than a few. Jax blinked slowly at the room, trying to convince it to stop swaying. “Rude,” he muttered to the floor. He probably should’ve called it a night. Instead, his attention snagged on someone sitting alone at the far end of the bar. Drunk logic declared that mysterious people were automatically interesting. So the decision made, and eith all the confidence alcohol could muster, Jax pushed away from the counter. It took exactly three steps before he fell into the stranger. Jac tried to recover and narrowed bus eyes,

“your presence feels... familiar, like a dream i’ve forgotten.”

[ang3lmoans]

↳ plot & info: Avery received a request for a private show. He’s been caming for six months now and has built a following quickly. This is the first time someone could afford a one on one show.

Muse: Avery Cox

The notification pinged at 11:47 PM.

Avery was mid-sentence, laughing at something in chat that a regular named beachbum88 had tipped for a joke.His laptop sat on the hotel desk, ring light clamped to the headboard behind him, the corner of his bed visible in frame. He glanced at the notification. PrivatizedShow has requested a private show: $450/token:30 min minimum. He didn't hesitate to click the link, The private room opened. The viewer count dropped from forty-seven to one.

“I'm yours for the night, darling. Where shall we begin?”

[rainyearning]

It wasn't his business, what Angel did, with whom he did it. It wasn't his business what Valentino did to the other man. He liked to think so, that he shouldn't be involved in all this, god, maybe he shouldn't even care. But he couldn't help it. Anthony mattered to him. He didn't like seeing Anthony beaten and bruised, though it was kinda nice to see that he didn't loose his bite but was still his bratty self. Or well, performing to be. But he also knew Anthony, knew, that he would perform to his very last breath before admitting how bad he actually felt. Too proud. Pride would eventually snap his neck, one day or another.

It didn't matter, was probably just the cherry on a very disgusting cake, the abuse was bad enough and he didn't need to know what else happened. It would make him even more angry and that wasn't good. Not that he could do anything about it anyways, guys like Valentino could do whatever, without any consequences. And if he couldn't fight him or the system, he could at least.. be there. Maybe Anthony didn't want him around right now, but he was there no matter what. "Ah yeah, your mouth keeps bringing you in trouble." But he.. smirked. He knew he wasn't helping if he was going to make him feel even more miserable. Angel was already at the bottom and he wasn't going to worsen it. "Oh they give you the real good shit, hu?" His head rested back while his gaze wandered over to the door of the hospital room. The question was surprising and it shouldn't make him feel that warm, but it did. "I guess I can take in a stray." Then he could at least make sure Angel would rest a bit, eat, hydrate. "I have some leftovers I could share with you."

[ang3lmoans]

I guess I can take in a stray. For a second, he just stared, his expression didn’t change much. Years of practice made sure of that but something behind his eyes softened before he could stop it. He hadn’t actually expected Husk to say yes. Truthfully, he’d asked on impulse and out of desperation. Part of him had already been preparing for the rejection. His throat tightened unexpectedly. “…Yeah?” His voice came out quieter than expected. Then Angel cleared his throat almost immediately, forcing that familiar grin back into place.“Careful, Whiskers.” He nudged Husk’s shoulder with the gentlest touch, “People might think you’re goin’ soft.”

The joke bought him another few seconds to get himself together. Angel looked down at his hands again. His fingers were still wrapped around the broken thread. He slowly unwound it, letting the tiny piece of fabric fall onto the blanket. “I…” He stopped. It would’ve been easy to say thanks, just two syllables. Instead, they lodged somewhere in his throat. He swallowed thickly afraid to show too much emotion. Show too much and people leave. Husk did…or maybe Angel had made sure he did. He wasn’t sure anymore. “You don’t gotta babysit me,” Angel muttered eventually, eyes fixed stubbornly on the blanket. “I’m housebroken.” He paused and smirked, “…Mostly.” Before Angel could say more a nurse walked in and paused for a moment in the door way. Eyes moving between the two before playing discharge papers on the table with a bag and the man’s prescription. “Twice a day with food. Or as needed. Take it easy, no strenuous activities…and Anthony. Please do your best to stay away from those stairs.” The nurse gave him a long sympathetic look before walking out of the room as fast as she came in.

Angel said nothing as the nurse spoke, he had met the women many times in his visit to this hospital. Her sympathies made his stomach twist..he hated it. “I don’t want to be alone tonight” was all he could mutter out after the nurse left.

[charmed-redemption]

UDW: Faction Wars

[charmed-redemption]

"Their books will be an interesting read."

Rico commented, getting glimpses of what was to come. The office that he spent most of his time in was well-warded, not as good as his home, but well enough that few without sight could notice. Most plans focused on division and conquest; they could not do it with emotion, as Angel's loyalty would destroy any attempt, but distance was doable. The wolves badly guarding him from the shadows were pulsed close as the magic took place.

"Interesting a distancing spell. "

The alpha would not be pleased if Rico was displaced, and they could not protect him. Space adjusted, and Rico felt the spell seeming to push him from safety. It was done nicely as anything that had mass was moved. It reminded him of the telekinetic throws of his grandmother a skill he did not inherit in its pure form.

"A threat to one is a threat to all. By the will of the hybrid alpha, let now this debilitating attempt fall!"

Rico spoke, and for a moment, the force faded but returned only weaker. A second later, it was back at full strength. The fluctuation gave him enough information to make a guess at what was happening. The spell was being changed and likely had a trigger device in the area. Yet he also was the omega yearning for his mate. He held out his hand and began to squeeze thinking of the wolf and how he yearned to crush the heart stopping when he

"They caged us... that can be useful."

[ang3lmoans]

Angel did not know the exact moment something shifted. No messenger was bursting through the door. No howl echoing across the town. Just a feeling he could not explain, but it settled low in his chest where Ricardo's bond lived, like invisible fingers brushing against the thread connecting them. Not pain or injury, just distance. His pencil stopped moving across the map. The room went unnaturally still. Every wolf nearby continued speaking about patrol rotations, supply routes, and evacuation points, but their voices sounded distant beneath the sudden awareness pounding in his skull. Ricardo. Angel closed his eyes for a second, and he reached instinctively through the mating bond. Not with panic; he knew Ricardo could take care of himself, but with need. The thread answered immediately. Alive, focused, and, of course, annoyed. That last feeling almost made him smile,

"...Of course you are,"

Angel muttered under his breath. One of his wolves, who had entered the room, frowned. "Sir?"

"Nothing."

His fingers tapped the edge of the table, trying to think of his next move. Running to Ricardo would put the town at risk, which would only anger his mate. Angel inhaled sharply as he realized it was a distancing spell. His golden eyes narrowed as realization settled into place.

"They're trying to relocate him,"

He murmured; the room fell silent as more wolves moved into the room, feeling their alpha's mood shift. Every wolf that was patrolling nearby was now crowding his office and looked toward him. "They're what?" Angel's gaze remained fixed somewhere beyond the walls, following instincts older than reason. He could almost feel the magic stretching against Ricardo's own, like two storms colliding miles away. It wasn't working, not completely. Ricardo was fighting it, of course he was. A strange mixture of irritation, concentration... and something dangerously amused. Angel huffed the smallest laugh.

"You find this entertaining?"

The words escaped before he realized he'd spoken aloud. Several wolves exchanged confused glances. One of the older betas stepped closer. "Alpha?" Angel finally looked at them.

"They're attempting to move my mate."

Several curses filled the room. "We'll gather a rescue team…" Angel raised a hand and shook his head once.

"No."

The single word stopped everyone.

"No one leaves their posts."

"But…”

"I gave orders."

His voice remained calm and steady, despite his instincts to run toward his mate. Protect his pack, his mate, his pups.

"The town comes first. Pack to your post, Now."

[painofsurvival]

The gentle way Leonardo shared how they had seen how long Damien had held onto that statement, both metaphorically and literally made him feel seen. That followed up with whispered reassurance. It didn't feel real, it couldn't be. Nausea is building in the stomach, but the touch to his hand helps keep him grounded.

There's silence while company spoke. It was the truth, there was no doubt; but what more could he add? Nothing. Another touch to the visage, a strand of hair brushed aside. He flinched, but remained steadfast. He doesn't want to show them weakness, not now. The lips are trembling, he's not holding it together very well. His lover's words were so sincere, so loving, it was overwhelming for Damien's system. Once more the hand is reaching for his face, the touch barely reaches under the eye, he doesn't feel safe.

Gently but firmly, he moves out of Leonardo's touch and embrace all together as their statement about pretending was shared. "I believe you." He finally says, but it didn't sound sincere. "I need a minute.. I.. yurp-" The chest heaved, and he rushed to the bathroom to throw up. The inability to keep emotion from flooding over and showing anything that didn't adhere to a perfect image was shattered in that moment.

The harder he tried to refrain, the worse it came. Eventually sinking to the floor as it felt never-ending. The body still quaked while he focused just on breathing. With the late rise into the afternoon, there wasn't much that came up, it was mostly dry heaving after the partial cup of coffee. When it finally stopped, the toilet could be heard flushing and the sink running shortly thereafter.

Rinsing the mouth and nose, then washing the face, he eventually re-emerges looking more exhausted than before. A meek smile lifts. "Uhm.. I'm sorry. Uh.. should I.. should I just go?" Damien seems embarrassed, and the shivering is less, but still present. He's holding himself in a loose grip. "I like you, but .." It won't come out. "Actually, you know what? I'm gonna sit outside. I think I just need some air, I.. don't know what to do." Despite trying to sounds self assured, he leaves the half consumed coffee from earlier at the table while he goes outside and sits on the porch, or the front steps if there were any.

With this, came a choice that would impact the trajectory of their budding relationship..

Would Leon join him outside, or give space?

[ang3lmoans]

When Damien pulled away Leonardo’s stomach dropped and for or a split second, Leonardo didn’t move. The sound of Damien getting sick echoed through the apartment, each retch felt like a gut punch. His body reacted before his mind did, one foot shifting toward the bathroom and then he stopped himself. His fingers curled tightly against his own palm. Don’t corner him. The thought came sharp. He knew what it felt like to have someone follow you when you couldn’t breathe. To have concern become another kind of cage. His ex had called it comfort. Leonardo’s stomach twisted. “No,” he whispered to the empty kitchen, more to himself than anyone else. “Not like that.”

So he stayed exactly where he was. Every instinct screamed to go check on Damien, to rub his back, to make sure he hadn’t collapsed on the bathroom floor. Instead, Leo folded his hands together so tightly his knuckles whitened. He listened. The dry heaving eventually slowed. The toilet flushed. Running water. Good. Leo thought finally exhaled, realizing he’d been holding his breath through nearly all of it. When Damien emerged looking utterly drained, Leonardo felt a sharp stinging behind his eyes.

Then came the apology. Should I just go? Leonardo’s eyes immediately watered. Another sharp thought, Why did Damien want to leave him? Leo swallowed hard, forcing the burn back down before it escaped his eyes. When Damien continued toward the door, talking about needing air, Leonardo didn’t interrupt. He simply watched him leave, waiting until the front door clicked softly shut. Only then did Leo let his shoulders sag. “…Damn it.” The words cracked on the way out, his breathing shuttered as Leo scrubbed both hands over his face, breathing through the sting behind his eyes. Deep down he knew this wasn’t about him. He’d known Damien long enough to know whatever this was happened before they met. But God, it hurt. After a minute, Leo stood, when he finally calmed himself he moved slowly into the kitchen instead. Damien’s coffee still sat on the table, forgotten. The mug was only half-empty, a faint ring of brown clinging to the inside. Leonardo stared at it for a second before quietly pouring it down the sink. Cold coffee wasn’t going to help his stomach later. He grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Then hesitated. Would bringing it outside feel like pressure? Maybe. Maybe not. His gaze landed on the light throw blanket folded over the back of the couch. He picked up the blanket and with the water walked toward the front door. When he stepped outside, he found Damien exactly where he’d expected, right kn the porch. Leonardo didn’t approach immediately. Instead, he lowered himself onto the porch several feet away, leaving enough distance that Damien wouldn’t feel crowded. He set the bottle of water on the wooden step between them and the blanket stayed folded across Leonardo’s lap. “If you want me to go back inside,” Leo said quietly, keeping his eyes on the quiet neighborhood instead of Damien, “I will.” His voice was steady despite the ache sitting behind it. “If you want company…” he mutter with a small shrug. “I can do quiet.” Another small shrug followed, “And if you want to keep things…between,” Leo gestured between them, “Us…as they are then I won’t bring it up again.”

[problematiqce]

Jiho listened to the other's words and gave a small nod. It felt strange to hear that Jax would want to do any of this for him, but he wanted to believe it. "Okay. I get it. I'll stop being so nervous then. I just wanted to make sure that you're enjoying this as much as I am." He was happy to see Jax smile and quickly got up to follow the other. He walked after the other man, heading towards the kitchen. "No allergies. I'm pretty lucky that way. I've always been able to eat pretty much anything I wanted without issue. Even stuff like spiciness doesn't really bother me." He had always been a relatively easy person to get along with. He could eat anything and he was good at picking up whatever hobbies his friends had. He liked to be easy. The last thing Jiho ever wanted was to burden someone with his existence. "Cook? Not really. I mean I can boil noodles and that's about it." He gave a small, sheepish smile at the other.

Sitting at the island in the kitchen, Jiho watched the other carefully. He chuckled at his reaction to the filled pantries. "Is it too much? I have it set up so someone will come and fill them weekly. I wasn't sure how much would be too much." He gave a small laugh. "What about you? Do you cook a lot? I imagine people are always trying to buy you meals when you go out, so you probably don't have to if you don't want."

[ang3lmoans]

Jax couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. One of those quiet laughs that slipped out before he could stop it. “You really have no idea, do you?” He shook his head as he set the scallions down and started opening cabinets. Every shelf was organized. Every spice alphabetized. Matching glass containers, even the oils seemed to be arranged by type. He shook his head in disbelief, “I think your grocery person might love you a little.” His fingers skimmed over jars until he found sesame oil, then soy sauce. Perfect. At Jiho’s question, Jax glanced over his shoulder with a sly smile. “I cook as needed really.” He shrugged “My mom worked a lot when I was growing up.” Jax didn’t know why he was sharing so much. “So I learned pretty young. Started with boxed mac and cheese.” He snorted. “Burned it somehow. Still don’t know how.” He pulled chicken from the refrigerator, setting it on the counter before reaching for garlic “Eventually I got better. Jax zoned out for a couple of beats prepping what was in front of him. “I actually like it,” he admitted. “It’s one of the few things nobody expects from me.” He glanced sideways at Jiho with an amused smile. “People assume because I’m… well…” He gestured vaguely toward himself. “That I either live off takeout or survive exclusively on protein shakes and expensive coffee.” His nose wrinkled dramatically. “I don’t even like protein shakes.”

Setting a cutting board on the island, he picked up a chef’s knife. Jiho was right, mostly men did buy him dinner on the nights he didn’t feel like cooking. But hearing the other say it twisting something in his stomach he didn’t like. “So no,” he continued. “People do buy me dinner sometimes.” His smile turned crooked.“But that’s different.” The knife began moving with practiced confidence. He started with the garlic, getting into a grove before speaking again. “When someone buys me dinner it’s not just dinner” He shrugged, but his shoulder became tight. “It’s transactional.” His eyes lifted to Jiho. His mind was screaming for him to be quiet. To hold his mask of being luring and sexual. But, Jiho was looking for a relationship, fake or not and this felt, real? “But cooking for someone…” His voice quieted. “That’s personal.” He smiled to himself. “I get to pay attention.” He reached for a bell pepper, turning it in his hand. “I notice if you pick the mushrooms out…or if you always eat the broccoli first.” Jax grinned wide now, “You learn people…and well…I like learning people.” He continued to absently cut, soon the pepper joined the growing pile of vegetables, every cut clean enough that it looked almost effortless. Then he paused. He looked back toward Jiho, leaning lightly against the counter with the knife resting harmlessly on the board. “…Can I ask you something?” There wasn’t pressure in his voice. Only curiosity. “Do I make you nervous?” Jax wiped his hands on the kitchen towel hanging from the stove.