[color=wheat][right][sub]TIMESTAMP: Tuesday, July 21st || After [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5403329]Tension @The Godmother[/url] FT: [color=b8860b]Marco Brady-Castillo[/color], [color=005d9e]Danilo Belmonte[/color] Small FT: [color=a22d2e]Sofia Belmonte[/color][/sub][/right] [center] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230129/1835bd2a2049cecfb4d9ec8c97237be3.png[/img] [b][color=#005D9E]_[/color][color=#055E99]_[/color][color=#0A5F95]_[/color][color=#0F6091]_[/color][color=#15618D]_[/color][color=#1A6289]_[/color][color=#1F6484]_[/color][color=#246580]_[/color][color=#2A667C]_[/color][color=#2F6778]_[/color][color=#346874]_[/color][color=#39696F]_[/color][color=#3F6B6B]_[/color][color=#446C67]_[/color][color=#496D63]_[/color][color=#4E6E5F]_[/color][color=#546F5A]_[/color][color=#597056]_[/color][color=#5E7252]_[/color][color=#63734E]_[/color][color=#69744A]_[/color][color=#6E7545]_[/color][color=#737641]_[/color][color=#78773D]_[/color][color=#7E7939]_[/color][color=#837A35]_[/color][color=#887B30]_[/color][color=#8D7C2C]_[/color][color=#937D28]_[/color][color=#987E24]_[/color][color=#9D8020]_[/color][color=#A2811B]_[/color][color=#A88217]_[/color][color=#AD8313]_[/color][color=#B2840F]_[/color][color=#B8860B]_[/color][color=#B2840F]_[/color][color=#AD8313]_[/color][color=#A88217]_[/color][color=#A2811B]_[/color][color=#9D8020]_[/color][color=#987E24]_[/color][color=#937D28]_[/color][color=#8D7C2C]_[/color][color=#887B30]_[/color][color=#837A35]_[/color][color=#7E7939]_[/color][color=#78773D]_[/color][color=#737641]_[/color][color=#6E7545]_[/color][color=#69744A]_[/color][color=#63734E]_[/color][color=#5E7252]_[/color][color=#597056]_[/color][color=#546F5A]_[/color][color=#4E6E5F]_[/color][color=#496D63]_[/color][color=#446C67]_[/color][color=#3F6B6B]_[/color][color=#39696F]_[/color][color=#346874]_[/color][color=#2F6778]_[/color][color=#2A667C]_[/color][color=#246580]_[/color][color=#1F6484]_[/color][color=#1A6289]_[/color][color=#15618D]_[/color][color=#0F6091]_[/color][color=#0A5F95]_[/color][color=#055E99]_[/color][/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/94r0KD8.gif[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/PrebSE6.gif[/img] [b][color=#B8860B]_[/color][color=#B2840F]_[/color][color=#AD8313]_[/color][color=#A88217]_[/color][color=#A2811B]_[/color][color=#9D801F]_[/color][color=#987E24]_[/color][color=#937D28]_[/color][color=#8D7C2C]_[/color][color=#887B30]_[/color][color=#837A35]_[/color][color=#7E7939]_[/color][color=#78773D]_[/color][color=#737641]_[/color][color=#6E7545]_[/color][color=#69744A]_[/color][color=#63734E]_[/color][color=#5E7252]_[/color][color=#597056]_[/color][color=#546F5A]_[/color][color=#4E6E5F]_[/color][color=#496D63]_[/color][color=#446C67]_[/color][color=#3F6B6B]_[/color][color=#39696F]_[/color][color=#346874]_[/color][color=#2F6778]_[/color][color=#2A667C]_[/color][color=#246580]_[/color][color=#1F6484]_[/color][color=#1A6289]_[/color][color=#15618D]_[/color][color=#0F6091]_[/color][color=#0A5F95]_[/color][color=#055E99]_[/color][color=#005C9D]_[/color][color=#055E99]_[/color][color=#0A5F95]_[/color][color=#0F6091]_[/color][color=#15618D]_[/color][color=#1A6289]_[/color][color=#1F6484]_[/color][color=#246580]_[/color][color=#2A667C]_[/color][color=#2F6778]_[/color][color=#346874]_[/color][color=#39696F]_[/color][color=#3F6B6B]_[/color][color=#446C67]_[/color][color=#496D63]_[/color][color=#4E6E5F]_[/color][color=#546F5A]_[/color][color=#597056]_[/color][color=#5E7252]_[/color][color=#63734E]_[/color][color=#69744A]_[/color][color=#6E7545]_[/color][color=#737641]_[/color][color=#78773D]_[/color][color=#7E7939]_[/color][color=#837A35]_[/color][color=#887B30]_[/color][color=#8D7C2C]_[/color][color=#937D28]_[/color][color=#987E24]_[/color][color=#9D801F]_[/color][color=#A2811B]_[/color][color=#A88217]_[/color][color=#AD8313]_[/color][color=#B2840F]_[/color][/b] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/metanoia][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220707/de8425488b0608f3b4f383a389598999.png[/img][/url] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220707/ea0c13b96bec39eb2a81ba5c05ed31f7.png[/img] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/lovelycomplex][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220707/29817612104c780ce1548b8a06b6ada5.png[/img][/url][/center] [indent][indent]Marco was nearing the end of his morning shift at the Godmother and what an interesting one it had been. Between Sofi being forced to work under him and her growing suspicions about him and Danny and Marco vehemently denying every single factual fact she was throwing out (only for him to cop out to it), the arrival of someone who, quite literally, gave him the creeps. It wasn’t so much that he gave off a bad vibe. Marco rarely could tell that about a person. No, it was more about the way his boss acted around the whole thing. In the few years the Brady-Castillos and Belmontes have been good friends with parties, BBQ’s, and more-than-casual conversations between several members of both families, Marco liked to think he was friendly with Cat in the way only a friend of her younger brother could be. She was closer to his mom’s age, so that’s how he typically viewed her. Like a tia-like figure. And in all that time, while she had always been a fierce person, he couldn’t recall a moment when she was genuinely speechless and not in a good way. Was that the reality of the situation when she saw Dexter Silo? Marco couldn’t say. He wasn’t great at judging situations he wasn’t all that familiar with. Only that it was obvious to him and Sofi that whoever that man was definitely gave off iffy vibes. For the rest of his shift, Marco had proceeded as if nothing had happened. He filled out orders, worked his ass off during the lunch rush. His shift ended about thirty minutes after it ended, so in that time business had slowed like a flick of a switch. During that time, Marco handed things off to the Young Lad, whose shift was starting as Marco’s ended. At that point, he called Danny. Since it was indeed slow, it didn’t matter if he [i]technically[/i] ended his actual shift now. As the phone rang, it stopped after three rings. [color=b8860b]“Hey babe, shift’s ending pretty much now. You think you might be able to pick me up? Technically I still got fifteen minutes left, but Young Lad is here, so he’s prepping for the afternoon and prevning rush.”[/color] Marco was sitting at one of the tables outside. Literally the same one he had met up with Danny last month after nearly killing himself to catch up to his now-boyfriend (but then-estranged ex-boyfriend). How things change. [color=005d9e]“I’m coming down the street,”[/color] Danilo was short and straight to the point. Instead of saying goodbye, the phone went dead. On top of none of his family returning last night until early in the morning, besides Sofia who shouldn’t have been in Edenridge anyways, leaving him to take care of his mother, Marco barely texted him. Too preoccupied at Swerve. Danny was [i]annoyed[/i]. When his father and Tiff came back from wherever the hell they were, the Italian boy was quick to leave for the gym. He was overthinking which wasn’t something he had done in years. He hated being in relationships solely because he had no idea what the other person was doing and just look at Marco? Who wouldn’t want him? He was cute as hell. Kind to the core. Absolutely loveable. Someone could steal him right from under his nose. Jealousy aside, he got most of his frustrations out in the gym, took a steamy shower, and right on schedule, Marco was finishing up work, like clockwork. Danny cared about the dude so of course he’d remember his work schedule. It wasn’t like he was worried or anything. In his dark blue quadrifoglio, he parallel parked in front of the Godmother’s, right where Marco could see him. Might as well get a sandwich before they head out. Once his car was parked and the ignition turned off, Danny in clean activewear came out of the car, tossed his keys in the air, before catching it and pocketing it in his shorts. He strode to his boyfriend. Pulling a chair out at the table Marco was sitting at, the former Captain of the Edenridge Celtics dropped down and leaned back, giving his boyfriend his undivided attention. [color=005d9e]“You were saying?”[/color] Marco could tell there was something off about Danny. There was no way of knowing exactly what potentially could be on his boyfriend’s mind, but he sure as hell knew what was on his - especially when Danny had abruptly hung up shortly before he parked in front of Godmother and sat down. To save what little sanity he had left, Marco opted to not assume the worst for the time being, but instead turn his attention on the fact that he could spend the last ten minutes or so with his bulky protector. He took a very quick glance at Danny, spotting his hands were wrapped up. He had seen them when Danny got out of his car, but now that he was closer, he inspected it. [color=b8860b]“What happened there?”[/color] He asked his boyfriend, his right index finger casually pointing to Danny’s wrapped hands. Danny had almost forgotten. Caitlin had wrapped him up after he and Mika duked it out in her bedroom. Sofi had briefly commented on it when they were playing Mario Kart but other than that? After the gym he gave himself fresh bandages, and from there, it just became part of him. [color=005d9e]“Oh this?”[/color] He casually waved his hands in front of his boyfriend. [color=005d9e]“It’s nothing. Got to see an old friend and like the good ol’ days, we took to the ring.”[/color] Not entirely a lie and not entirely true. He did see an old friend, ex-friend, and back in the day, they used to get in some of the worst exchanges because Mika liked to test him. In addition to that, their egos clashed, both fighting for recognition from Coach. That was how they communicated sometimes, through their fists. Nothing worth worrying about there. [color=005d9e]“I hope yesterday wasn’t as eventful as it was for me!”[/color] His voice boomed as he leaned back and surveyed Marco’s face for any signs of distress. Marco raised an eyebrow at the mention of Danny’s “old friend”. And then he chuckled, [color=b8860b]“Not many of your….old friends can do that to you, huh?”[/color] He laughed again. It didn’t seem like it was bad, or else he hoped Danny would tell him. In the back of his mind, though, there was still a lot for them to work through. There was still so much they had to rediscover about each other, so maybe Marco would have to earn that part. Plus, there was still the matter of when Danny hung up on him. It still left an unsettled taste in Marco’s mouth. When Danny asked about yesterday, Marco didn’t know where to even begin. [color=b8860b]“Funny you should mention that.”[/color] Marco hummed nervously. It was a habit of his sometimes. Making noises when he was figuring out what to say and how to say it. [color=b8860b]“You know I had a scheduled lunch with Kylee and Adam yesterday, right?”[/color] Of course, Danny knew. Marco literally told him before he got off yesterday. [color=b8860b]“Wellll, we had a little party crasher. A girl named Stacy who I literally bumped into. Turns out she was a friend of Adam’s and, boy, things got tense between the four of us [i]quick[/i].”[/color] And that was putting it mildly. [color=005d9e]“Stacy…”[/color] Danny repeated after Marco. There was only one Stacy he knew of but he couldn’t assume it was [i]that[/i] Stacy, right? He was positive Mika’s sisters didn’t live in Edenridge. Then again it wasn’t like he kept tabs on Mika’s affairs. They only just started talking again. Maybe they were visiting. It wouldn’t be so far-fetched of a thought if they visited their big brother like they did for his basketball games. [color=005d9e]“Stacy… got a surname?”[/color] Curiosity had gotten the better of him. He knew this wasn’t the point Marco was getting at but— wait, Marco said yesterday Adam was living in Pinehurst. Or lived. He recently moved back to Edenridge. Didn’t the girls live in Pinehurst? There were definitely more Stacys out there but what if… what were the chances? At this point, Danny had pulled out his phone to search through his Instagram for [i]Stacy Čapek[/i]. Before Marco knew it, Danny pushed his phone to his boyfriend and inquisitively inquired, [color=005d9e]“This Stacy?”[/color] Before Marco had the chance to offer the name, Marco saw the intense look in his boyfriend’s eyes. It was one of pure focus and determination. Just moments later, he slid his phone over to Marco and saw a photo of [url=https://64.media.tumblr.com/80ed9f4208c7f696fe0f51ad558ff9b5/5b90abf17ecf6af8-f4/s400x600/b573d03fa22d2b64c173c2dc8f4b4716b9c19fc5.png]Stacy[/url], posing for a selfie. A natural curiosity took over as he inspected the date and it was just from a week ago. [color=b8860b]“Yep, that’s her!”[/color] Marco confirmed. [color=b8860b]“Sweet girl. Though, Kylee didn’t seem to think so. I think she actually frightened her,”[/color] he commented, remembering how she was left after Adam and Kylee left them at the park. For a minute, he thought about the aftermath of that failed lunch and their awkward trek to Swerve. And then that minute left when Marco’s curiosity came back. [color=b8860b]“Wait, how did you find her so quick? I didn’t even get the chance to tell you her full name.”[/color] Pulling his phone back and rubbing his neck with his other hand, a blush graced Marco’s boyfriend’s cheeks as he replayed the events from yesterday, he averted his eyes, not proud of his actions. [color=005d9e]“Let’s just say her family has been in the forefront of my mind since I might’ve…”[/color] he uncomfortably cleared his throat and adjusted himself in his seat. Pausing momentarily, he clasped his hands together and like a kid who just got caught stealing he muttered in an almost inaudible manner, [color=005d9e][sup]“...might’ve beat the crap out of her brother…”[/sup][/color] [color=b8860b]“Ah, right of course.”[/color] Marco barely heard what Danny said, but then it clicked for a moment. [color=b8860b]“Wait, you what!?”[/color] He exclaimed, his voice raising an octave and a half. When he realized how loud he spoke, he shook his head briefly, inhaling and exhaling a couple breaths. He took another moment to think about what Danny had said. He ran into an old friend and it was someone who could match him for his strength. The only [i]old friends[/i] were those on the basketball team when they were still in high school and of those, Marco could only recall one, maybe two, that were as stocky as his boyfriend was. [i]But who could it be?[/i] Marco thought about it. He had Stacy’s face in his mind. And Katie, too, since they were sisters. And Danny said Stacy’s family was on his mind lately. [color=b8860b]“Wait!”[/color] Marco had an a-ha moment, slamming his balled right hand in his left. [color=b8860b]“Of course why didn’t I see it! She looks so much like Mika!”[/color] Marco was thinking out loud, astonished by his realization. [color=b8860b]“Dang, I didn’t know he had sisters.”[/color] Marco was having himself a mind blowing moment. This was the last thing he expected when he spent yesterday with the Capek sisters. Or would they be the Zima sisters? Wild stuff Marco was finding out in the last minutes of his work shift. Good. Marco was distracted by his revelation rather than the fact that Danny beat up his old basketball mate. Sitting up, Danny tapped his fingers on the table before quickly changing the subject, [color=005d9e]“So anyways!”[/color] It was time to turn the tables and face the heat toward his ‘innocent’ geek. [color=005d9e]“Aside from your Kylee lunch that turned dramatic, because I mean it’s Kylee, how was your night? At Swerve? Who was there?”[/color] Now Danny was in hound mode, aggressively pushing for the answers he sought. [i]Who[/i] was Marco with and [i]why[/i] didn’t he give him an update this morning? Danny didn’t like policing his boyfriend but this was unlike Marco. Usually a night of games and fun, he’d call or text Danny as soon as possible to eagerly share the events that transpired. Why hadn’t he for this one? What was he hiding? Crapbaskets. He tried not to let it show, but almost as soon as Danny had pressed about what happened after his originally-planned lunch date with Adam and Kylee went off the rails for reasons that Marco still didn’t quite understand, he had tensed up. It mostly was in his stomach. Like the feeling of it sinking so low that it caused a noticeable change in his demeanor. Marco was never great at keeping that poker face that his younger siblings seemed to excel at, but especially around the one person who probably knew him better than his own mother did. Marco also had a weakness when he was around Danny, so his below average poker face may as well have been a poker [i]fake[/i] as far as he was concerned. [color=b8860b]“It was…fine. The usual suspects were there. Avery was there. So was Rosie. Bronagh Miligan showed up too.”[/color] Even recalling it for his boyfriend, Marco still was feeling the shock value of just how…forward Bron was. [color=b8860b]“Lot of people ended up turning up when the storm got pretty bad. Oz ended up giving Stacy and this kid Sal a bit of a scare. Actually…it was a big scare.”[/color] Of all the people Marco mentioned, maybe he intentionally omitted Stacy’s sister. He felt a tightness in his throat, feeling an odd sensation of guilt or something close to it by hiding it. So he had to just swallow it. [color=b8860b]“Stacy’s sister was there, too. So it was kind of a full house for the night. Just a bunch of nerds doing nerdy things, y’know? Nothing too exciting.”[/color] If Marco knew that was a bullshit excuse, there was no telling just how quickly his boyfriend would catch onto that one. [color=005d9e]“Nothing too exciting…”[/color] Danny repeated after his boyfriend. Clasping his hands together he cracked his knuckles in thought. His stomach began to growl which signaled that he needed to eat. He stood up to give Marco some time with his thoughts to do the right thing and tell him what was on his mind. [color=005d9e]“I’m going to get myself a sandwich. Do you want anything?”[/color] With how Marco elongated his words and dragged things on, Danny now knew something [i]did[/i] happen last night and what he was going to hear might not make him happy. It was best he ate so his hunger wouldn’t influence his anger. He knew he fucked up. Big time. Danny didn’t have to say it because Marco knew it. The tense feeling in his body only worsened when he saw that look in Danny’s eyes. If he could read Marco, the same was the case vice versa. It wasn’t that Marco didn’t want to confess what happened. It was, after all, a dare. And it’s not like he could necessarily say no. Peer pressure and everything. But he didn’t know [i]how[/i] to even begin without dragging his friends through the mud. [color=b8860b]“A reuben. Extra crout.”[/color] Marco’s voice came off a bit hoarse. And rushed. He didn’t say anything after that. Just remained in his head, torn about how to proceed to the eventual part of this conversation that was eating away at Marco’s mental sanity. [color=005d9e]“Got it.”[/color] Danny didn’t give Marco much of a glance when he strode to the glass entrance to his sister’s shop and disappeared in it. When he did reach the counter he saw a face he didn’t expect. Danny knew Sofia was in Edenridge. He spent all night with her playing Mario Kart but what he didn’t expect was Cat bringing her here to work. The Young Lad was slicing cheese on the side when Danny met his niece’s curious gaze. [color=b8860b]“Reuben with extra crout and I’ll take a caprese sandwich.”[/color] [color=a22d2e]“Coolio. Heyo dude,”[/color] Sofia turned to the Young Lad who narrowed his eyes at her. [color=a22d2e]“You heard my uncle. He needs two sandwiches. [i]Stat[/i]. I can totally cut the cheese.”[/color] The teenage girl playfully grinned at her new trainer, who huffed in response but was far too lazy to counter the child. Danny smirked at how Sofi was behaving. She was always a little troublemaker. He wondered where she got that from; he searched the grocer part of the sandwich shop to find his sister. She was nowhere to be found. When Sofi took over the Lad’s cheesy duties, grabbing half a wheel of Parmiggiano Reggiano, she slowly began slicing it with the contraption that cut meat and cheese and whatever. This cheese was HUGE! [color=a22d2e]“So I see you’re grilling Marco outside,”[/color] Sofi nonchalantly brought up. [color=a22d2e]“What did he do?”[/color] [color=005d9e]“None of your business,”[/color] Danny curtly answered. He didn’t have the patience to entertain Sofi’s childlike tendencies. She was such a curious cat, sticking her nose into other people’s affairs. Glancing at his wrist watch, he asked, [color=005d9e]“How ‘bout you? Your mom beat your ass yet?” [/color] Rolling her eyes, Sofia grimaced, [color=a22d2e]“Ha, ha, very funny.”[/color] She did raise an eyebrow at him cursing, not used to hearing her uncle have no filter. For as long as she could remember, Danny wasn't one to use vulgarity to get his point across. It seemed times were changing. He was also so hard to open up, never faltering from his strong, manly persona. Sofi, however, knew how to get under his skin and how to make him lose his cool. It was a gift of her’s. But did she want to be in more heat than she already was? Now [b]that[/b] was the question. [color=a22d2e]“Surprisingly, she’s in a much better mood. She actually gave my phone back. Can you believe that shit? I don’t know what happened from now to an hour or so ago when her ex walked in here but man, am I happy.”[/color] [color=005d9e]“Her ex?”[/color] Danny rubbed his chin as he listened to his niece. Did his sister’s ex put her in a better mood? [color=005d9e]“Cat hasn’t dated in years. I remember Gabe vaguely because he still gets in contact with her from time to time. But by the time I could even remember faces she was already married to Tommy.”[/color] [color=a22d2e]“Gabe?”[/color] Sofia stopped slicing cheese and glanced up at her uncle. She was learning [i]a lot[/i] about her mother today. Her mom never did talk about her past, especially her teen years, likely because she wanted a fresh start away from the men she once upon a time loved. It sounded like Sofia would need to investigate this more. Her relationship with her dad never really felt right. There was this weird disconnect that she didn’t know how to explain. From today’s chain of events, Sofia was coming to realize that maybe her father wasn’t her father. Maybe her father was one of the many lovers her mother had in highschool. Ah. So it wasn’t Gabe. If it wasn’t Gabriel that Sofia saw then it must’ve been the one that Nina would continuously say ‘we don’t talk about him’ or ‘don’t even say his name’. What the hell was Dexter doing in town and why was he seeing his sister? More importantly though, why was his sister [i]happy[/i] because of that? [color=005d9e]“Darling. Gabriel Darling. One of your mom’s first friends when we moved here. She dated him for a little bit but due to his mother being incredibly rude, he broke things off with Cat. Or she broke things off. I don’t know the specifics. You’d have to talk to Nina or Elisa.” [/color] [color=a22d2e]“Interesting,”[/color] Sofia thoughtfully said out loud as she gingerly grabbed the slices of cheese and put them in their designated compartment. She’d have to call Ricky after this was all said and done. They needed to go scavenger hunting. Probably in Papa’s basement. That was a goldmine for her family’s past.[/indent][/indent] [hr] [indent][indent]Danny was taking a long time. That’s what Marco had said five minutes ago. He didn’t know if his boyfriend was taking his time intentionally or if there was something else keeping him. He knew Sofi was inside somewhere, so maybe they were talking about her day. Or maybe Marco was trying to avoid the grim truth that something was off. Of course, he knew what and he had a suspicion that Danny knew as well. Probably not the specifics, but nobody read him as well as Danny Belmonte did. And that was, Marco couldn’t keep a brave face knowing that Danny was thinking less of him. And maybe that’s the reason for why he was taking so long. God, Marco hated this. It’s not like what happened at Swerve last night was anything bad. Marco refusing to tell Danny was worse than the actual act itself. It was a kiss as part of a dare. What would he have to feel guilty about? Katie Capek actually helped him out. Marco wasn’t going to do anything and she saved him from the almost-embarrassment of not fulfilling his duty as what Bron deemed the law of Truth and Dare. Still, it was eating away at him. It didn’t matter if it didn’t seem bad by normal standards, Marco was convincing himself that what happened was terrible and by it being on his mind, Marco couldn’t shake the feeling it would only get worse. But then his mind wandered elsewhere. He remembered that Danny avoided something himself. Whether he didn’t want to talk about it or not, there was something there. It was obvious that Mika Zima’s family was involved in both of their nights and/or mornings. Marco getting to know his sisters and Danny’s history and friendship and not-friendship with Mika, there was something there. Marco was not only sure of it, but why didn’t he want to talk about that? Eventually, Marco heard the bell from the entrance of Godmother go off and Danny was walking out. Before he could say anything, his sandwich was not-so-gently tossed in front of him. He didn’t know what to make of it, so he didn’t say anything about it. He just took the sandwich as he saw Danny take his seat in front of him. It was quiet for a few moments that led into a half of a minute of such a tense silence, even a sharp knife couldn’t cut through it. Danny was mad and instead of speaking, Marco probably should say something. It was just like with his father. Silently judging but not saying anything. Always gotta let the other make the first move. [color=b8860b]“So…your hands.”[/color] He pointed at his boyfriend’s bandaged hands. His voice was hoarse and rough, so he coughed to clear it up. [color=b8860b]“You said that Mika’s family was at the forefront of things, right? Clearly he isn’t the only one we’ve had encounters with. Me with his sisters and you with…him? Did something happen between you two? I’m a bit surprised. I thought you two weren’t friends anymore. At least, I haven’t heard you talk about him at all lately. Did things change?”[/color] Chewing his sandwich, not answering immediately, Danny enjoyed it in quiet bliss, making his boyfriend wait — wait until he was ready. He let Marco watch him eat, just how he’s watched him eat many times before. When his sandwich was completely gone, it didn’t take Danny long to eat because he took large bites, the Italian man reached for his water and started chugging it. Once the glass was half empty, he placed it down, making sure the sound of it reaching the table could be heard by his beloved. His Puppy. [color=005d9e]“Oh, so you care about who I associate with?”[/color] He sarcastically asked, as he leaned in his seat. [color=005d9e]“It’s nothing really. We ran into each other and decided to fight. How does that sound?” [/color] [color=b8860b]“That’s not what I..”[/color] His voice fell silent, looking down as he bit into his sandwich. Marco [i]hated[/i] this kind of confrontation, or feeling like he was about to enter that area code. He hated feeling like he did something wrong. He knew he didn’t mean anything by his questions. He just wanted to know about what happened to Danny’s hands. But if Danny didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t press him about it. He already was panicking as it was and just taking a few bites of his sandwich was becoming increasingly difficult for him, given his state of mind. [color=b8860b]“Forget I said anything, then. Sorry you guys fought.[/color]” Marco spoke flatly, almost devoid of most emotion. [color=b8860b]“I think I might finish this later. You think you can just take me home? Or I can walk if you’d prefer it.” [i]Since you don’t even want to talk to me.[/i][/color] Guilt tripping. Danny hated when he did this. Furrowing his eyebrows, Danny mentally debated if he should keep the pettiness going or throw a bone in hopes that Marco would open up to him. This was [i]so[/i] annoying. He didn’t want to give in. He didn’t want to be the first one to throw in the towel. Marco had this way of making him feel weak and he [i]hated[/i] that feeling. No matter the issue, he would be the one doing all the carrying, he would be the one putting in all the work, and he would be the one that had to build the bridge of understanding. Sometimes Danny wished his boyfriend would yell at him, at least they’d get somewhere with that. [color=005d9e]“Don’t do that,”[/color] Danny growled, frustrated at Marco’s stubbornness and the game he always wanted to play. [color=005d9e]“Don’t turn this on me like I’m the bad guy.”[/color] He didn’t raise his voice but the man that sat in front of Marco was getting visibly more angry by the second. [color=005d9e]“I get it you couldn’t text me because of the storm but why are you acting like you shot a guy or something? If you did something, I would much rather you just tell me but no. I’m not allowed to feel, okay, fine.”[/color] Standing up on his feet, Danny left his empty plate and glass of water on the table, pushing his chair in. [color=005d9e]“You want to go, let’s go. I’m not going to make you walk when your leg is fucked.”[/color] He bit his cheek when he cursed, hearing his parents giving him grief even if they weren’t around to chastate him. Great. He’s even angrier than before. Marco didn’t want to have a fight. He didn’t want to be the reason they broke up again. He didn’t want to do anything wrong, yet without even saying anything, he’s already started to fuck up the best thing in his life by avoiding what he should just…dive head-first into. Maybe it would’ve gone a lot smoother if he had just been honest upfront, but Danny wasn’t being honest with him either. That’s the part that was tearing Marco up the most. While he could acknowledge his wrongdoings, what was Danny hiding that made him not want to talk about his hands and why he and Mika Zima were fighting? As he wrapped his sandwich up and walked beside his boyfriend, he kept Danny’s feelings in mind. Maybe it wasn’t fair for him to ask Danny about his hands if he didn’t expand on what happened at Swerve more. That was the root of this whole thing. Even before he came to pick him up, Marco hadn’t told him even the slightest thing about what went down last night. The excuse of the storm was behind them. He couldn’t hide behind that. Marco wasn’t the boy from high school who could just expect some outlandish results without giving some first. They were at his car and as they both got inside, before Danny could start the engine, Marco just started to talk. [color=b8860b]“I’m not..I mean, it’s not that I [i]did[/i] something or anything for that manner. Not what you probably think, that is. Last night was a…packed night at Swerve. There were stories and laughs and wild antics that honesty were a bit uncomfortable at times. Bron adopted this whole dominatrix-Dungeon Master hybrid persona and we did Truth or Dare. A lot of it was silly, some of it was crazy, and the rest was embarrassing.”[/color] His throat felt tight and it was understandable, given everything that happened. He gripped his sandwich in his lap, looking at it intensely, but after a few moments, he brought his eyes up and looked towards his boyfriend. [color=b8860b]“I know I have no right to know what happened to your hands if I don’t tell you what’s been eating at me since last night. Mika and you may have fought, but his sister - not Stacy, but her more forward twin, Katie - was..assertive. We were dared to make out. And I wasn’t sure about it. I froze up. I didn’t want to, but eyes were on us. Katie saw how I was sweating about it, getting lost in my head about it and what to do, so she kind of helped me. Did it convincingly, too. She made sounds that were…sexual. And totally on her end. Did it to the point where it seemed to satisfy DM Bron. But even after the fact, I just…I don’t know, I guess I didn’t want to tell you because I thought you might be mad at me or something.”[/color] When Danny finally got what he wanted, he suddenly and abruptly bursted out laughing. [color=005d9e]“Wait, hold up…”[/color] He covered his face with one hand and laughed louder, trying to speak in between each roar and snicker. [color=005d9e]“That’s it?”[/color] He needed to stop laughing. It was rude but he didn’t expect it to be so innocent. Fucking hell why was Marco so cute? Holding his stomach and trying to calm down, he let his outburst take its course, his eyes tearing up, before making a serious face, [color=005d9e]“No you’re right, playing party games with friends is [i]soooooooo[/i] wrong.”[/color] The jock in Danny was showing as he playfully mocked his boyfriend. After Marco had told him everything he could about last night, he thought he would be mad at him, thought that maybe he’d have something to say about the kiss that still haunted Marco to this very moment, he was speechless when Danny had burst into such a state of laughter that he couldn’t keep it together. And though in a humorous way, this irked Marco, especially when Danny started to mock him. [color=b8860b]“It’s not funny! This was giving me major anxiety, Danny!”[/color] Marco pouted at his boyfriend, trying to get him to see that this was no laughing manner, yet somewhere inside, he was relieved that he wasn’t angry with him in any way. [color=005d9e]“Come here,”[/color] Danny grinned, pulling Marco’s shirt and with ease bringing his boyfriend to him. When Marco’s lips touched his, Danny held his head close, firmly, and let their lips linger in a dance that was becoming a pleasant routine of theirs, even slipping a little tongue. There was an instance where he forgot they were out on a busy street in his car but with how adorable Marco was being, he couldn’t help himself. It was liberating to know how much Marco cared about him. After all this time, his Puppy still loved him. When he was satisfied, taking his sweetheart’s breath away, he realized where he was, released the boy and scanned the area to make sure there weren't any eyes on them. He was fortunate his windows were tinted but still, you never know who was passing by. There were creeps, freaks and gossip moms out here. [color=005d9e]“Never change, Pup.”[/color] His shoulders eased, relaxed to know his worries were for nought. He started up his car. Leaving his parking spot, he tapped his fingers on his steering wheel before exasperatedly sighing, [color=005d9e]“So my hands…”[/color] He paused, hesitant to divulge the events of yesterday. Cece’s relationship with David and Mika had been kept secret for years. If he exposed this, would his best friend feel some type of way? He didn’t know. He kept the secret of her lovers so locked tight that up until he saw Mika again yesterday, he forgot it even existed. Regardless of the circumstances, he needed to honor his relationship. He hoped Caitlin would understand. [color=005d9e]“You have to promise me, whatever is said in this car, stays in this car. Will you do that for me?”[/color] Danny took another quick glance at his lover. [color=005d9e]“Promise me?”[/color] [/indent][/indent][/color]