#mafia setting

——

It wasn’t that Alex was opposed to partying, or drinking, or even drugs; some of his fondest memories of high school involved smoking shitty weed at a basement party of five other people. He was simply opposed to doing those things around so many people he didn’t know. 

As soon as he walked inside, it was clear this wasn’t anything like the parties at home. 

A smoke-filled haze covered the dimly lit room, music booming through large speakers in a deafening crescendo. His senses were assaulted by the smells of alcohol, vomit, sex, and a combination of drugs. He stood shoulder to shoulder as he tried to wade through the crowd, only to realize his roommate was nowhere to be found. Between the sound and lack of light, there was no hope of finding him. 

He did his best to walk through the party, watching as people of all backgrounds got high, got fucked, or both. He wasn’t even sure where he was going, the crowd pushing him forward. Between the sound, the god awful smells, and the ‘activities’ his peers were engaging in, he quickly realized he had no desire to stay. 

He turned back to get a look at the front door, only to see a flock of partygoers blocking it. He just kept moving, determined to find a way out and walk straight back to campus. 

He finally made it to a door, relieved at the sight of the summer sky as he opened it. He walked outside, shutting the door behind him and taking a moment to center himself. He walked past the brick patio, sitting down on the grass. He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, he stopped to just listen. 

He heard the whirring sound of teleportation stations. A car alarm going off in the distance. A single bird singing. Yet the chirping of cicadas, the light of fireflies, the crackling of a fire; all those sounds, sounds he had associated summer with his entire life, were absent.

He was a long way from home. 

‘Maybe this was a mistake,’ he thought. ‘Maybe I should’ve just stayed in Eldor. Sure, it wouldn’t be-”

His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the back door opening and closing. He looked behind him, a tall blonde boy walking out onto the grass wearing a cropped t-shirt and shorts Alex’s mother certainly wouldn’t have approved of. He laid down in front of him, looking up at the sky. His bright blue eyes were bloodshot, staring at the clouds in a daze. 

‘The fuck did this guy take?’ The boy was happily humming away, blissfully unaware of Alex’s presence. ‘Yeah, he’s high off his ass.’ Alex hesitated, but eventually spoke up. “Are uh, are you alright?” 

The boy whipped his head around, yet his expression remained calm, a small smile forming across his face. 

“You’re pretty,” were the first words out of his mouth, smiling and giggling as blonde curls fell over his face. 

Alex looked away, taken aback by the unexpected compliment. “Thanks, but…are you okay?” 

“I’m great. Never better.” He rolled over onto his stomach, pulling himself closer and putting a hand on Alex’s knee. “Do you think I’m pretty?” 

‘Do people really just hook up like this? It’s been like, five seconds, fuck.’ He stared back at him; the boy certainly was attractive, rosy lips and freckles scattered across his face. His hair reached just a little bit past his chin, pointed ears much longer than his own poking out; the boy was likely fully Elvish. His cheeks were pink, the stench of alcohol lingering on his breath.

‘He is really cute, but he’s high out of his fucking mind’. “I…I do, but I think you should get some rest. Did you come with any-”

“You’re no fun,” he groaned, pulling his hand away and laying back on the grass. “Why are you out here anyway?”

He shrugged, “I’ve learned I don’t really like college parties.” 

“Why’s that?”

“It's way too loud for me. I couldn’t even hear myself think.”

“Fair enough. Are you here with anyone? I probably should’ve asked that first, my bad.”

He smiled, “my roommate dragged me here, but…I lost him almost as soon as I stepped inside.”

The boy moved beside him, whispering in his ear as if they weren’t alone. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Sure.”

He kept giggling as he spoke, barely able to get the full sentence out. “I’m high off my fucking balls, dude.” 

Alex couldn’t help but laugh with him. “You don’t say?”

“Yeah, man, this shit’s crazy. Are you gonna be here for a bit?” 

Alex looked towards the fence surrounding the backyard; as soon as he walked inside the party, he wanted to leave. Yet his hastiness seemed to have faded away. “Yeah, I think so.”

“Mind if I sit with you for a bit? Just while I come down from everything.” 

“Go ahead. Do you know what you took?”

“Thanks, but uh…not entirely sure. Ketamine, I think? Does it matter?”

His eyes widened, “Uh, yeah, a little bit.” 

“Well, shit,” he let out a sigh, looking back up at the clouds. “Let’s just hope I’m remembering correctly.”

Alex nodded, unsure of what else to say. The silence didn’t last long between the two, the blonde boy looking back over at him. “Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s a conspiracy you believe in?” 

“Uh…” he paused, a topic he was mostly unfamiliar with. “I don’t think I believe in any, but…there are some that are interesting, I guess.” 

“Like what?” 

“That there’s not actually a moonstone shortage, that the people that run the Teleporters are just jacking up the price because they can.” 

“Please,” he scoffed, “that’s not a conspiracy, that’s just like, basic capitalism and shit. I’m talking like, something fucked up. Or crazy. Or stupid.” 

He paused, trying to think of what to say. “Well…I don’t believe in it per se, but I always found the theories about the noble families surviving interesting.” 

“There’s like a billion of those, you’re gonna have to be more specific.”

“Hmm…I always thought the one about them becoming mole people and living underground was fun.” 

The boy laughed, “alright, that’s a niche one. I fuck with it. Personally, I like the one about the government financing fish necromancy.” 

“…what the fuck is fish necromancy?”

He shrugged casually, “necromancy for fish, duh.”

“Like the fish are doing the necromancy, or they’re practicing necromancy on the fish?” 

“I don’t know. Depends on who you ask.” 

He didn’t think he’d have so much fun babysitting someone coming off a high, but was quickly proven wrong, discussing all sorts of random conspiracy theories and strange questions as he sobered up. 

He watched as the boy stood up and stretched, his shirt lifting up to reveal his stomach. “Think you’re okay now?”

The boy nodded, “I think so. Hey, you said your roommate ditched you, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You should ditch your roommate. Where are you from?” 

“Bellmarn, it’s this village in South Eldor-”

“Whoa,” his eyes widened. “So you’re from like, really far away.” 

He nodded, “yeah. I’ve uh, I’ve never been in a place like this before. It’s weird, being surrounded by so much magic,” he sighed. Even though he had moved across the ocean specifically to study magic, he still found himself overwhelmed by how commonplace its use was in the city. 

The boy paused. “You wanna see something cool?”

He gave him a wary look. “What do you mean by that?”

—

Teleportation wasn’t cheap.

Getting all of Alex’s belongings to college cost thousands of dollars, the conversion rate far from favorable. Even with the student discount, paying the yearly $3000 fee to access the Teleporters just wouldn’t be possible. 

Yet he stood next to his new friend, watching as the gate guard inspected what appeared to be some form of ID. “You’re good to go, and him?” He said as he pointed at Alex. 

“He’s with me.” 

“He still needs his own-” 

“Maybe you should double check my pass one more time.” Gone was the boy’s giggly tone from the party, maintaining an intimidating glare at the gate guard; as intimidating as one could be in a crop top and shorts. 

The man’s eyes widened, looking the boy up and down before looking back at the ID. “Callon Vedrexa,” he read softly. 

“Yep.” 

“I…my apologies, Mr. Vedrexa. You’re both clear to head through,” he said as the gate opened. 

He smiled, his bubbly demeanor returning as he walked into the room. “Thanks!”

Alex followed him, the pale violet walls of the teleportation room still foreign to him, the etched runes glimmering on each side of the wall. “Your name’s Callon?”

He nodded, “mmhmm. Oh, I didn’t tell you that, did I? Well, now you know,” he leaned against the wall. “What’s yours?” 

“Alex.”

He held out his hand to shake, “well, it’s nice to meet you, Alex. You don’t get teleportation sickness, do you?”

He lied, shaking his hand. “Nope.” 

“Good.” The heavy door locked once the room finished filling with people, the runes emanating a silver glow before flashing a bright light throughout the room. 

For a moment, it felt as if he was falling straight down, his head heavy as he balanced himself on the wall behind him. The light faded, and the door opened, an unfamiliar station waiting ahead. 

‘Don’t throw up, don’t throw up, don’t throw up,’ he repeated in his mind, taking slow, deep breaths. 

“You alright?” Asked Callon. 

He nodded, “yeah, yeah I’m fine. I just uh, I’m not quite used to it yet.” 

“Oh, I guess they don’t have as many of them over there, huh?” He asked as they began to walk out the station. 

He shook his head, “only in a few cities. We just drive everywhere, or take the train.” 

“Makes sense. My mom was one of those people who preferred to drive everywhere, even in the city. It was kinda nice, taking the time to see everything from place to place.”

“I’ve definitely seen more cars than I thought I would.”

He shrugged, “everyone has a preference. Some people get sick, some people don’t like being around so many strangers, and some people just like taking their time, I guess.”

‘Some people also might not be able to afford it, either. A car’s surely cheaper in the long-run,” he thought.   

They walked out of the station, this district completely different than what surrounded the college. Bright lights made of crystal, passerby dressed in luxurious outfits, the smells of fine wine and spices wafting across the streets; certainly an improvement from the party, a level of decadence Alex was unfamiliar with. With his simple red t-shirt and black jeans, he undoubtedly stood out, but so did Callon. 

“Come on, follow me,” Callon grabbed his hand, quickly leading him into a dimly lit alleyway. 

He followed him, only thinking about it after they disappeared from the street. ‘I’m gonna die. Oh my god, why the fuck did I agree to go across the city with a dude I met at a party? Who was high on fucking ketamine? I’ve been here for only ’ 

I stopped at the end of the alleyway, a steel ladder built into the wall beside him. “You’re not afraid of heights, right? I probably should’ve led with that.” 

Again, Alex lied. “No, it’s fine. Do uh…do you wanna go first?”

“Sure, as long as you promise to catch me if I fall,” he laughed, climbing up the ladder with little hesitation. He moved quickly, unphased by the cold metal bars leading up to the rooftop. 

Alex followed him, doing his best to keep up. Callon had made it to the top before Alex was even halfway. He looked down from the roof, “come on, country boy,” he teased. 

“Don’t call me that,” he groaned as he kept hoisting himself up. 

“You know, once you said that, it did make sense. You have the slightest accent,” Callon grinned, holding a hand out for Alex as he made it to the top. “Can you say ‘water’?” 

He took his hand, glad the climb up was over. “No, shut up,” he said as he moved onto the roof, standing back up. 

“I’m just teasing,” he walked further across the roof. “Anyway, hope you think the view was worth the climb.”

Alex followed him, looking over the city skyline. The skyscrapers towered over him, but looked almost close enough to touch. “Wow,” he mumbled under his breath, standing in awe at the collection of lights. 

“Sometimes I hate it. I think that’s natural when you spend your entire life somewhere, though.”

Alex nodded, “trust me, I understand.”

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful.” It was unlike anything he’d ever seen. Never before had he experienced a night so vibrant. 

Callon smiled, “I’m glad you think so. But…watch this.” Before Alex could react, Callon ran towards the edge of one of the buildings. 

“Dude, what the fuck are you doing?” 

He jumped off the edge, flipping through the air. He landed on the roof of the next building effortlessly.

Alex’s eyes widened, “are-are you fucking insane?!”

He simply shrugged, unphased. “I mean yeah, but I’m not sure how that’s related.” 

Alex looked down at the gap between the buildings; a long way down if he hadn’t made it across. “I…” Just hours ago the boy had been barely coherent, now he was jumping across rooftops like it was nothing. 

“You don’t have to. I had another thing I thought you might wanna see. We can go another way, or I can jump back over and we go back to campus. I’m okay with whatever,” he said as he sat on the ledge. 

“I…no, I can do it,” Alex nodded his head, as if to convince himself. 

‘You have magic, and he did that without any it seems. Just slow your fall if you fuck it up. You’ve been doing that since you were in the fifth grade. You can’t fuck that spell up.’ 

“You sure?” Callon stood up, moving to the side to give Alex as much clearance as he could.  

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m sure,” Alex tried to hide his voice shaking. He took a deep breath, staring at the edge of the rooftop in front of him. 

‘Just run, then commit to the jump. This is easy. It’s just like track. Just…don’t look down.’ Alex took a few steps back, before running as fast as he could. He bent his knees before launching himself forward, visualizing the gap as just another hurdle. 

He landed on the concrete, his breaths quick. He let out a laugh, “Holy shit, I did it!”

“Yeah you did!” Callon gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Think you can do it like, six more times?” 

“…what?”

“Again, we don’t gotta, but-”

“No, I can do it. Lead the way.”

Callon smiled, the two of them running across the rooftops. Once Alex got used to it, it truly was no different than track and field; the stakes were just a little higher. 

Alex took a moment to catch his breath after another jump. “So…I gotta ask, what do you do if you fall?” 

He shrugged, “die, I guess.” 

“You’re just…you’re just doing all this shit without magic?”

He nodded, “yeah. You’d be surprised at all the things a humanoid body can do on its own.” 

“Is this just like, a thing you do for fun? All this parkour type shit?” 

“Yeah, something like that. Sometimes I like to time myself to see how fast I can go. You develop an eye for it; what jumps are safe, what you can grip onto, other shit you can launch yourself off of. It’s a lot more interesting than just like, running.” 

“Makes sense. How much further, by the way?”

He pointed forward. “See that?” He pointed towards a building with a large glass dome on top of it, glowing in the distance. 

“Yeah, what is that?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there,” he smiled, before running off once more. 

They made their way to the dome, the building surrounded by a concrete rooftop below. The closer they got, the more ostentatious the dome appeared; illuminated with even more crystals, lined in what appeared to be gold. . 

“Here it is,” Callon said, the two walking up to the dome. Callon sat down in front of it, Alex following their lead. “I don’t know. It might sound a little stupid, but…I like watching everything.” 

Alex peered through the glass panels. It was a casino, hundreds of people occupied by tables upon tables of various card games, colorful slot machines, and endless drinks. It seemed to be quite upscale based on how everyone was dressed, women’s dresses swaying across the marble floor. It fascinated him, the way dealers moved cards without even touching them. 

“I thought casinos didn’t have windows, to keep you unaware of how long you’ve been in there?” 

“Oh, once you’re inside, looking up will just show you what the sky looked like when you arrived. It’s some mass illusion spell thingy, I don’t know how it works.” 

“I’m assuming there’s some kind of rune or ward that keeps people from cheating?” 

“On the main floor, yeah. There’s a whole separate room for gloves off gambling.”

“What’s that?”

“See how a bunch of people have black gloves on? They check your ID, and if you’re a mage, they make you wear the gloves. Gloves off gambling is where anything goes. You know, cause they take the gloves off for spells and shit.”

Alex nodded, mesmerized by the sight. “I’ve never been to a place like this back home, much less here.”

Callon continued, “It sounds silly, but…sometimes, I’ll pick one person, and I make up a story about them in my head. Just based on what they’re wearing, or who they’re with. Stupid shit like that. Like that lady down there,” he pointed at a woman moving alone, wearing a long red dress. “I think she’s here to impress someone.” 

“Like who?” 

“I don’t know,” he looked closer, almost pressing his face against the glass. “She doesn’t look the type to be there just to find some rich person to date. She looks kinda competitive. She’s probably trying to impress one of the regulars.” He pulled away, “but yeah, it’s kinda stupid, but…” he shrugged. 

“I don’t think it’s stupid, it sounds fun,” Alex looked back down at the passerby, trying to think of something to add. “I wish I could come up with stuff like that, just on the fly. I’ve never been creative like that.” 

“Hmm…well, how about this? You pick someone you think is interesting, and I’ll come up with something.” 

“Alright,” he scanned the casino floor once more. He pointed towards a man at a blackjack table, wearing a white suit that stood out from the crowd, black gloves on his hands. “What about that guy?” 

“White suit is a bold choice. He looks kinda scary, but also not. Almost like a cartoon villain, like he’s gonna rob a lemonade stand. But…maybe that’s his plan. To look like he isn’t a threat. Keep ‘em on their toes.” 

Alex smiled, “alright, I see what you mean.” They watched as the man stood up, walking from the table and hurriedly yanking off the gloves. “Looks like he’s a sore loser, he just got up and left midway.”

“Yeah, he seems mad. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, that’s what my dad always told me.”

“Does your dad come to places like this a lot?”

“He owns it. He owns most of the casinos in the East and West sides of the city. He makes me help him out at the one Eastside, closer to the school, but…I like this one better. Maybe it’s just ‘cause I don’t work here, though,” he laughed. 

‘Explains why the gate guard just let my sorry ass through. This guy must be fucking loaded,’ he thought. “I wouldn’t wanna hang out where I work either.” 

“What did-” he was interrupted by the sound of a cell phone ringing. “Shit, it’s my dad, uh…” he stood up, “just give me a second.” He walked towards the edge of the roof, out of earshot.

Alex watched as he spoke, a growing look of annoyance on his face followed by a groan. He hung up the phone, walking back over. 

He sighed, sitting back down next to Alex. “I uh, I gotta go, I’m getting called in,” he spoke quickly, his tone anxious and hurried “Here,” he reached into his pocket, grabbing his wallet and giving Alex the ID card that granted him access to the Teleporters. “Think you know how to get back?” 

It wouldn’t be difficult if he could use the stations, only needing to follow the signs back to campus, but there was still the issue of holding an ID that wasn’t his. “I mean, it’s not hard, but this isn’t mine.”

“They’ll let you in, trust me,” he nodded. “I…I really wish I could stay, but…” Callon looked back at him, the two staring at each other in silence. He leaned his head in closer, and Alex did the same, his heart beating out of his chest as their lips brushed together. 

Callon pulled in, kissing him softly. Alex barely knew him, yet he had no desire to stop. He returned the kiss as he placed his hand over Callon’s, as if silently asking him to stay. 

Callon pulled away, his face illuminated by the bright casino lights, his cheeks red. He smiled, standing up and walking back towards the edge of the rooftop. “You don’t need to run all the way back, there’s a ladder down over here,” he said, pointing to the ledge. He turned back to face him once more, “thank you, for tonight. I had a lot of fun.” 

Alex stood up, finding his way to the ladder. “Thank you for showing me this. I uh, after you.” 

“What a gentleman you are,” he teased. “But I’m headed in a different direction,” he ran forward, jumping onto the rooftop in front of them, heading north. He landed effortlessly, looking over at Alex one last time, a grin on his face.

“See you at school, Alex.”

Then, he was gone. 

‘It’s been barely 48 hours and I’ve gone to a party, ran across rooftops, and kissed a guy.’ 

The only thing Alex regretted about his night was not asking the boy for his number. He made it back to his room, his roommate seemingly still at the frat party. He looked over Callon’s ID; the only information he had about him was his name. 

‘Once the semester actually starts it shouldn’t be too hard to find him.’ 

In the coming days, Alex realized he had severely underestimated what a school of 50,000 students looked like. 

The first day passed. Then the first three days. Then the first week. He hadn’t been able to find Callon at all, now coming up on the first two weeks of the semester being nearly complete. 

‘I have his fucking ID, he has to find me eventually.’ The more Alex thought about it, the more doubts he had. ‘You worked your ass off to be here,’ he thought. ‘He’s cute, but is spending your time with someone who does ketamine and runs across rooftops really the best idea?’ 

He had earned plenty of scholarships already due to his accomplishments; a 4.0 GPA, valedictorian (at a high school of only two-hundred people), and plenty of extra curriculars. Yet he still hadn’t fully covered the cost of tuition, a few thousand dollars left to go.

So long as he passed the auditions for marching band and wind ensemble, he’d be eligible for two more scholarships, and likely secure enough funds to avoid taking out loans entirely. He literally couldn’t afford any distractions. So, he focused on his studies and practiced the audition material as much as he could, still keeping Callon’s ID with him wherever he went. 

The day for wind ensemble auditions arrived, and he entered the audition room with a clear head, confident in the material. The wave of sound hit him as soon as he opened the door, dozens of people were spread out and practicing in preparation for their audition. He walked inside, holding the clarinet case in his right hand and his music and score sheet in his left, determined to stay focused. 

There in the waiting room was Callon, playing through the trumpet selection with ease. ‘Holy shit. Why is he here?’ It was a silly question, given the instrument in his hands, but still unexpected. Sure, the band kids back home all hooked up and smoked, but nothing like what Callon was doing at the party. 

His crop top and shorts had been replaced with a suit vest and tie, the sleeves of the pressed shirt rolled up to his elbows; a typical ensemble for a college audition. 

Alex focused on Callon’s sound, zoning in on his performance through the cacophony of noise. He was poised, focused, moving with as much grace as one could while playing the trumpet. His performance was a far cry from what Alex had heard in high school; his phrasing was elegant and smooth, with no notes over-articulated, a warm and inviting sound; words he’d never used to describe a trumpet before. 

He finished the excerpt, lowering his instrument before glancing over and meeting Alex’s gaze. His eyes lit up, smiling. “Took you long enough,” he laughed. 

Alex walked closer, struggling to hear him. “What?” 

“Took you long enough to find me, I didn’t think it’d be here, admittedly.”

“I uh, yeah, I should’ve asked for your number. Oh,” Alex reached into his pocket, grabbing his wallet to return the ID card. “Sorry. I did try to find you, it’s just-”

“It’s cool, don’t worry about it,” he said as he put it away. 

‘He seems way too nonchalant about not having his station pass for two weeks.’ 

“But uh,” Callon continued, “actually, before I forget, give me your phone.” Alex nodded, handing it over before Callon punched his number in. “There. I’m sure that’ll save future headaches. I’m really sorry I had to leave so quickly,” he sighed. “Trust me, I didn’t want to, but if I keep my dad waiting too long, he gets really pissy about it.”  

“No, no it’s okay. I uh…” he trailed off, once again thinking back to their kiss, and what it could’ve led to. “I just, you know.”

The boy raised an eyebrow, a small smile forming on his face. “I don’t, actually.”

“I would’ve,” he blurted out. “Would’ve hooked up with you, I mean. I just, it would’ve been wrong, at the party, you were high. But on the rooftop, after we kissed, I just..." he trailed off. 

He hadn’t ever been so flustered before. ‘Gods, I’m an idiot. What the fuck am I doing?’

Callon walked closer, his face close enough to touch him. “Well, I’m sober now. I’m here now,” he whispered in a low tone. He grabbed the score sheet from Alex’s hand. 

“Number 29, please come forward,” said a voice at the front of the room. 

Callon looked over Alex’s sheet. “Number 45. I’m 39. Seems they’re running behind,” he smiled. “It was unfortunate that our time on the roof was cut short, I had other ideas too. But… we have plenty of time now.”

He never could have predicted that sort of response. “I…yeah, sure, why not,” he said softly, trying to feign confidence. 

Callon saw right through him, yet seemed to find it charming, smiling back at him. “Put your stuff down, then come meet me in the bathroom in five minutes. Okay?” 

Alex nodded quickly, “yeah, yeah for sure.” Before he could say anymore, the boy had walked out of the room. Alex found a place to set his things, carefully watching the clock. As soon as the five minutes passed, he walked over to the bathroom. 

He looked underneath the stalls, spotting the dress shoes in the last stall of the row. He opened the door, and there Callon was, leaning against the wall with the same devious smile as before. “We’ll have to be careful. I don’t think either of us wanna get too messy,” he grinned, pulling Alex in for a kiss. 

He eagerly kissed him back, his lips tasting faintly of vanilla chapstick, wearing the same perfume as last time they met. 

Callon’s hands wandered down his body as they kissed, feeling the outline of Alex’s hard cock through his pants. It felt downright pornographic; knowing someone could walk in on them at any moment only made things more exhilarating. 

Callon broke the kiss, starting to undo Alex’s belt. “I was so mad our time was cut short a few weeks ago. I was thinking about this, you know?”

“Yeah, uh, I was too,” Alex mumbled as he felt Callon’s hand on his cock, stroking him slowly. 

“Well,” He moved down in front of him, “I hope I can live up to your expectations,” he teased, licking the tip of Alex’s cock. He looked up at him with eager eyes, “your cock is so pretty,” he trailed off, running his tongue along his shaft, slow strokes from the bottom to the tip. 

“T-Thanks,” he moaned under his breath. Alex couldn’t help but pet his head, his hair just as soft as he had imagined. His hand moved to hold his face; an intimate gesture for a bathroom blowjob, but a natural one nonetheless. 

Alex tilted his head back against the stall wall, the sensation overwhelming as he felt Callon take his entire length, the tip hitting the back of his throat. It sounded as if he was choking on it, but he kept going, undeterred as thick spit coated Alex’s cock. He petted his head once more with his free hand, letting out soft praises, “you’re so good at this, fuck.”

He kept going, looking up at him with wide eyes. He let go, taking a deep breath, “can you do me a favor?”

“I-Yeah, sure.”

“Call me a good boy,” he pleaded quietly before taking Alex’s cock back in his mouth. 

‘If you keep sucking my cock like this, I’ll call you whatever the fuck you want.’ He nodded, “you’re such a good boy,” he moaned as he held his face, running his thumb along his cheek. He knew he couldn’t last much longer like this, the thrill of hooking up with someone he barely knew, where anyone could walk in. He moaned louder, “fuck, you feel so good.” 

Callon stopped, pulling away. “If you want…” he stood up, wiping the spit away from his face. “We can go even further,” he said as he slowly stroked his cock.

Alex’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you, and we don’t have-”

“Why did you think I asked you to give me five minutes?” He smiled, “it’s there to take if you want it. You don’t have to, but…if you did, I’m ready. You can see for yourself,” Callon said as he started to undo his belt.

‘Did he just have it in his pocket? Was it in his bag, and maybe he had grabbed it before he walked over? Do people just carry lube with them, should I be doing that?’ Alex wasn’t sure, but he was too horny to question it further. 

He watched as Callon turned around, taking his belt off and pulling his pants down to his ankles. He bent over, pulling apart his ass cheeks to show off his asshole. It was clear he had prepared, the lube spread across his hole glistening under the fluorescent lights.

“We have time, but we don’t have that much time. There’s more in my right pocket if we need it.” He sounded almost proud; it seemed he might’ve had the same fantasies Alex did after their first meeting. 

He was terrified of hurting him, so he leaned down and reached into Callon’s pocket, a small, travel size bottle of lube inside

“You haven’t even touched me,” Callon teased. 

“Yeah, but I don’t wanna hurt you,” he said as he rubbed lube onto his cock.

“Aww, how sweet,” he laughed. 

He continued to stroke his cock as he admired his partner’s ass. Despite how thin he was, it was soft, just enough for him to grab onto. He pushed a finger inside, Callon taking it with ease as he started to move back and forth. He seemed to relax quickly, eager for more.

Alex slid another finger inside, watching Callon reach to stroke his own cock. “Just fuck me, I can take it.”

He pulled his fingers out, rubbing the head of his cock against Callon’s hole. He slowly pushed inside, listening to the Callon’s shallow breaths and whimpers. He was tight, almost painfully so. He stopped halfway, “you sure you’re ready?”

“I’m okay, it’s just…” he bit his lip, keeping his eyes on the ground as if embarrassed. “It’s a lot,” he stammered. Despite being so forward, he was struggling, Alex’s cock thicker than what he was used to. 

“Stand back up,” Alex said, keeping the head of his cock in his ass before leaning over and kissing Callon’s neck while reaching around to stroke his cock. “We don’t need to rush that much.”

“No, no I can do it,” he insisted, “just go for it, I’ll-”

“Shh,” he interrupted, running his thumb across the tip of his cock, feeling the precum leak out as he spoke. “I’m not gonna hurt you, we can take our time,” he stroked Callon’s cock faster as he pushed inside just a little more, feeling him start to relax further. “You’re doing great,” Alex kissed his neck once more, this time lightly biting him.

The sound of his voice seemed to excite Callon even more, drawing a whimper from his lips, “thank you.” He started to move his hips, fucking into Alex’s hand as he fully relaxed. 

“Good boy,” Alex cooed, holding his sides and pushing the rest of his cock inside. He wrapped his arms around his waist, keeping him still as he adjusted to his full length. “Ready?” 

He nodded, breathing softly. “I’m ready. For real this time, I promise.” 

He started to move slowly, petting Callon’s hair and whispering more praises into his ear. “You’re doing so good, you’re taking my cock so well.” 

His voice was sweet, but once Callon had relaxed, he only wanted more. He could feel Alex’s cock just barely hitting his prostate, his girth stretching him out. “Faster…faster, please! You feel so good, fuck!” 

Alex quickened his pace, yet Callon kept begging for more, deeper, faster. He fucked into this boy like his life depended on it, the sound of skin against skin echoing through the bathroom. 

“Yes! Just like that, oh fuck!” He cried out, pushing himself back to feel him even deeper. He was nearly on the brink of tears from pleasure. 

Alex gripped his hips tight, feeling himself getting close.He reached over, stroking Callon’s cock. “I’m gonna cum,” he moaned, biting his lip in an attempt to keep himself quiet.

Callon let out another whimper as he felt Alex’s hand against him. “Cum inside me, I don’t care, just don’t stop!” 

Alex jerked him off faster, feeling his own cock twitch as he came deep inside him. He kept stroking Callon’s cock, listening to him whimper in pleasure. 

Callon’s entire body shook as he came all over Alex’s hand, some of it even spraying onto the bathroom stall door. “Holy fuck,” he moaned quietly, exasperated. It took him a few breaths to collect himself, leaning onto the wall to stay balanced. “This…this was really fun,” he let out a weary laugh, straightening his back and starting to clean himself up. 

Alex still hadn’t caught his breath. “Yeah, yeah uh…I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect that, but…” He trailed off, unsure what to say. “But I enjoyed it.”

He nodded, leaning in closer. “You know, if all goes well, we might be seeing each other a lot more soon,” he gave him one last kiss. “Good luck.” 

Alex texted him sparingly after auditions; he wanted to say more, he wanted to do more, but his coursework kept him busy.

He sat at his desk, studying away when an email notification popped up; it was the audition results. Rather than sending individual emails, all that went out was simply a list; a list with both his and Callon’s names on it for both ensembles. 

He got a text from Callon shortly after receiving the email. 

🔵: glad to see you made it in :3 🔴: likewise :) 🔵: I had a lot of fun during auditions ;)  🔵: we should do that again 🔴: you’re right, we should  🔵: wanna come over after rehearsal?

The first rehearsal was tomorrow, ending at seven. He looked over at his schedule; his earliest class the day after wasn’t until 11:00 AM. 

‘I’m allowed to have some fun, one night isn’t going to fuck up my grades.’ 

🔴: sure

When Alex eventually arrived at rehearsal, it was nearly impossible to find Callon. The ensemble contained at least a hundred people, all trying to find their seats and get their music. The first rehearsal was always the most chaotic. He had no hope of finding him until rehearsal had ended. 

He looked over the music, yet struggled to focus. Even when rehearsal started, all he could think about was what awaited afterwards. 

--

The sex was even better the second time. Not being in a public bathroom certainly helped. 

Callon was nothing short of beautiful. His slender, smooth yet toned body, his sharp jawline, his long eyelashes. He was otherworldly, looking like he had walked out of a painting from hundreds of years ago, an androgynous appearance not dissimilar to that of the Gods. He had the same elegance as the nobles and magisters of old, yet spoke with unadulterated vulgarity. 

Alex fucked him from behind, the only thing quieting Callon’s moans was his face shoved into the mattress. “Yes! Oh fuck, harder, fuck me! Fuck me harder! I’m gonna cum, I’m gonna cum, fuck!” It sounded almost like he was about to cry from pleasure, nearly screaming. 

Alex thrusted into him, grabbing his ass as he felt himself getting close, his balls slapping against Callon’s stretched and lubed asshole. He thought back to Callon’s reaction when he whispered in his ear, the way his cock had twitched in his hands he leaned forward. “You’re gonna cum just from my cock? You’re not even going to touch yourself?” His tone was sweet, as if mocking him. 

“Yes! It’s so fucking deep,” he let out another moan through gritted teeth as he commanded Alex, over and over. “Fuck me, fuck me daddy, fuck me like a slut, I want you to fuck the cum out of me!” He let out another cry, whimpering as he came all over the sheets. 

Alex pulled out, stroking his cock fast. Callon wasted no time moving in front of him, still breathing heavily as he stuck his tongue out, mouth open wide. He placed his hand on the top of Alex’s cock, and Alex let go, watching Callon quickly stroke him off. He seemed so eager, so ready for his cum; it didn’t take long for Alex to blow his load all over Callon’s face. 

‘He looks so cute,’ he thought, resting his hand on his head, absentmindedly petting his hair as he came down from his orgasm. 

Callon stood up, shakily walking to the bathroom to clean his face off. He was quiet, paying Alex no mind as he turned on the sink, washing his face. 

Alex sat on the bed, unsure of what to do while he waited for him. 

‘Did I do something wrong? He got up so quickly.’ 

Callon walked back out, noticing Alex still naked in his bed. He stopped, the two of them just staring at each other, both still entirely nude. 

“I uh,” Callon crossed his arms, looking away from him. He had been the one to initiate their intimate rooftop kiss, to suggest hooking up in the bathroom. Yet now that the sex was over, staring back at Alex brought a sense of vulnerability; vulnerability that terrified him. “Thanks. For coming over.” 

Alex sat up, “yeah, of course. You okay?” 

“Yeah, I just…” he scratched the back of his neck. “I’m just not used to people staying afterwards. I expected you to be half dressed by now.” 

Alex didn’t have the most experience with hook-ups, but he’d never think of just leaving. “I mean, I can get going if you’d like.” 

“No, no, I just…” he let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not usually super like, cuddly or whatever,” he said as he walked closer to the bed, wiping away his cum from earlier. 

“We don’t have to do that if you don’t want to. I can just go, if that’s what you want.” 

He looked up at him, “no, no, I…I mean, do you want to?” 

Alex shrugged. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want to do. But I like taking care of my partners, typically. I don’t want you to walk away feeling shitty if I can help it.”

He nodded, turning to dispose of the dirty towel before crawling next to him on the bed. At first, he laid still on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He looked back at Alex, seemingly content and relaxed, his chest rising and falling slowly. He had kissed him, blown him, let him fuck him in the ass, yet the thought of resting his head on his chest made his heart race. 

Hesitantly, he moved closer, feeling Alex’s arm around him before laying down on his chest. He listened to the sound of Alex’s heartbeat, its rhythm much slower than his own. 

“That okay?”

He nodded, speaking softly. “Yeah, this is…this is good.”

“Just so we’re on the same page, I don’t really do relationships, to be honest.”

Alex nodded, looking back at Callon as they laid next to each other after another afternoon rendezvous. “That’s fine. I’m not asking you to.” The statement came out of nowhere. 

‘I wouldn’t have been opposed to it, though.’ 

“But like…I like the thing we have going,” he sat up, looking down at him. It was the third time they had hooked up, now two weeks into the school year. “I guess I was wondering if you wanted to do like, a friends with benefits type thing. Like you know, you’re cool, we hang out, we fuck, but it’s not like, serious, you know?”

“I’m not opposed. Honestly, I don’t think I’d have time for a relationship either.” There was truth to his words, the amount of pages he needed to read between classes growing by the day. Yet it felt almost like he was trying to convince himself that it couldn’t work, that he’d never have the time. 

“Cool, I’m glad we’re on the same page. Did you still want to grab food before rehearsal?” 

“Yeah, actually,” Alex sat up, grabbing his phone. “A friend of mine also asked if I could hang out before rehearsal, would it be okay if he tagged along?” 

Despite his precious statements, Callon couldn’t deny the twinge of jealousy. “Yeah, yeah that’s fine. Uh, who is he?”

He got up, starting to get dressed. “He’s in marching band, but he’s also in my math class. He sits next to me and recognized my face, I guess. He’s fun, I think you’ll get along with him. His roommate is coming with him too, so you know. It’ll be a thing.”

“That’ll be fun, sure.” Callon couldn’t explain his worry. He had just established that they could only be friends, nothing more, yet the idea of Alex potentially being with anyone else made him uneasy. ‘It’s literally just a friend from his class, you’re being a fucking freak,’ he thought to himself. ‘It could never work. Not with him, not with anyone.’

They left for dinner, Callon trying to ignore the intrusive thoughts plaguing his mind. The two of them sat outside to eat, savoring the nice weather while it lasted as they waited for Alex’s friends.  

“Hello!” 

Walking up to them was an Elvish boy, a human behind him. Callon looked up, “oh, hi.”

“This is Taleisin,” Alex gestured towards him. “Like I said, he’s in my math class.” 

“You must be Callon,” he smiled. “I’m Taleisin, and this is my friend Anthony. He’s kinda quiet, but he’s cool.” Anthony simply nodded, giving a small wave as the both of them sat down. “

‘He’s talked about me? I mean, I guess it makes sense, we do spend a lot of time together, come to think of it. What does this kid know? He does look familiar.’ 

“Nice to meet you, Taleisin. Wait, you’re in jazz band too, right?” 

“Yeah! I’ve seen you around, we’re in all the same ensembles. I mean, I’ve like, noticed you, not like I’m stalking you. You’re kinda hard to miss sometimes, but I’m not trying to say you stand out in like, a bad way, but a good way, and…” he trailed off, letting out a sigh. “Sorry. I’m not very good at talking to people.”

‘Oh my god, he’s like a puppy.’ Callon smiled, “no, no, keep going, you got this.” 

He quickly realized he had nothing to worry about. 

Something was wrong.

“Callon? Callon, are you okay?” Alex looked up at him, his head between Callon’s legs. Their night together had started like any other, their routine consistent as months passed; Callon had sent Alex a risque photo of himself, Alex came over, and their activities commenced. Yet it wasn’t like Callon to be so quiet, and Alex quickly noticed something was off.  

He looked in a daze, as if his mind was on another plane of existence. “I…I’m not sure. I just,” his breaths quickened, “just give me a minute.” Alex moved away from him, watching as Callon pulled his legs close to his chest. His voice shook, “I’m fine, just give me a second.” 

Alex wasn’t sure how to react. He wasn’t sure if he should reach out and embrace him, or leave him be. “Can…can I help?”

Callon glanced towards Alex, his eyes welling with tears before quickly looking away. He stared down at the floor; “I’m sorry, I don't know. You don’t have to stay here if you don’t want to, I’m sure this isn’t how you wanted to spend your night,” he said quietly. 

“No, no, I want to stay. I mean, I’ll go if you want me to, but I wanna make sure you’re okay.”

It was clear Callon didn’t believe him. “You really don’t have to do that, I won’t be upset if you go.”

“No, that’d be shitty. I mean…you’re my friend. Whether we’re having sex or not, that doesn’t change.” 

Callon stared back at him. ‘At the end of the day, he’s my only friend. Being undecided is fucking lonely.’ He took another deep breath, rubbing his eyes and looking out the window; tiny snowflakes beginning to fall from the sky. “Do you care if I smoke?”

'I feel like getting high after this isn't a great idea, but...he knows himself better than I do,’ Alex thought. “If it would help you, then…go ahead.”

“Thanks,” he got up, walking to the closet and reaching into a box of pre-rolled joints. He walked back to the bed, “can you give me a light?” 

Alex nodded, a small flame from the tip of his finger, briefly illuminating the room as he lit the joint. 

Callon took a long drag, blowing the smoke away from Alex’s face. It quickly dissipated into the air, silver flakes wafting in the air. He offered it to Alex, “want a hit? It’s got like, some enchantment thingy on it, it won’t smell or fuck with the smoke alarm.” 

‘Even the fucking weed is magical, holy shit,’ he hadn’t seen anything like it. “Yeah, sure.” 

He handed the blunt over, and Alex inhaled. He immediately started coughing, the sensation stronger than anything he was used to back home. 

“Whoa, you gotta breathe out dude,” Callon said, taking it back from him.

“No, I’m fine, it’s just…different, than what I’m used to.” 

“What you’re used to? I didn’t take you for a bad boy, Alexander. With all your scholarships and honors college applications.” 

It was strange, hearing him say his full name, yet it rolled off his tongue effortlessly. Alex shrugged, “it’s stressful, that’s all. If I don’t maintain my scholarships, I can’t afford school. Plus, honors college gets me another resume booster for med school.” 

Callon’s expression fell. He looked genuinely shocked, as if the concept of being unable to afford school was foreign to him. He nodded his head slowly, “that…makes sense. Is that your goal? Medical school?”

He nodded, “yeah. It’s hard, but…it’s what I want to do.” 

Callon smiled, taking another hit. “I wish I was like you.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I wish I had goals, or aspirations,” he stared out the window, the same dazed look on his face as before. “Alex…we’ve been doing this for what, four months now?” 

He nodded, “give or take, yeah.”

“You’ve held me. You’ve kissed me. You’ve fucked me. You’ve woken up next to me. Yet we still hardly know each other, if you think about it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess it’s better that way,” he continued. “I don’t want you to pity me.” 

“Why do you think I’d pity you?”

He sighed, “I don’t know. I just…I have these moments where sometimes I’m not present, I guess. Like I’m not in this reality, I’m somewhere else.”

“…where are you, then?”

He shrugged, “depends. But it’s never somewhere I wanna be, if that makes sense. I don’t know what triggers it, sometimes it just comes out of nowhere.” 

Alex slowly nodded his head, “I think I get it.”

“Don’t take it personally, you didn’t do anything wrong.” he held himself tighter, as if to make himself appear smaller. “Sometimes I just…disassociate, I guess, I don’t know.” 

“…can I help?” 

He turned to face him, “could you…could you just hold me for awhile? Like you do afterwards?” 

“Sure,” he moved so Callon could sit between his legs, wrapping his arms around his waist. He leaned his head against his back, planting a single kiss on his shoulder. 

Callon let out an exhale, the weight of Alex’s body against his felt almost like a blanket, the drugs clearing his head as his heart rate slowed. Both shared the same, unspoken sentiment. 

‘I wish I could stay like this forever.’ 

The new semester had started, and Callon had become accustomed to Alex’s affectionate nature. He enjoyed it, being treated like a prince after sex; a welcome change after previous partners leaving without so much as a goodbye. They were still only friends, and shared little about their lives outside of school, but it wasn’t uncommon now for them to just nap together, or for Callon to lay in Alex’s arms while watching movies or playing games; so long as they were alone. 

“It’s so fucking cold,” Callon mumbled, underdressed for the winter weather. A thin sweater, skirt, and thigh-high socks were all far too thin to offer any real warmth.

Alex was unphased, the winters back home much more intense. He couldn’t help but tease him, “I thought you said hoes don’t get cold?”

“This is different,” he pouted. “It never gets this cold, this is an act of the Gods or some shit.”

“Have you considered wearing, I don’t know, a jacket?”

“You’re a dick,” Callon spat, unamused. 

He laughed, “come on, this is nothing. I don’t think it's even an inch of snow.”

“I don’t care about the snow, it’s like, the air,” Callon groaned as they walked inside. “Now stop being mean to me, or I’m not sucking your dick.”

Alex blushed, looking around to see if anyone overheard him before they walked inside Callon’s building. “Dude, don’t say that so loud.”

Callon turned to face him, “then don’t be mean to me,” he grinned, letting out a laugh before leading Alex to his room.  

As soon as the door behind them shut, Alex cupped his hands around Callon’s face, his skin frigid as he shivered, his cheeks and nose bright red. “Fuck, you are cold,” he mumbled, looking up at him. 

“That’s what I’ve been saying!” 

‘I really hope this isn’t too much, but he’s being a brat, and it’d be really funny,’ Alex thought. In one quick motion, he grabbed Callon from behind, lifting him up into his arms. 

Callon let out a yelp, “what the fuck are you doing?! Put me down, asshole!” Despite his words, he made no effort to escape Alex’s hold. 

“I don’t know,” he walked towards the bed, “you could say please.”

Callon tried to hide his laughter, but failed, “fuck you,” he said as he wrapped his arms around Alex’s neck. 

“Alright fine, close enough,” he said as he set him down on the bed, leaning down to kiss him. Callon kept his arms around him, eagerly returning the kiss, moments of laughter between the two occasionally pulling them apart. 

The cold faded away as Callon felt their tongues brush together. He could feel Alex’s warm hands run along the sides of his body, in no rush as the kiss deepened. 

‘Fuck, he’s really taking his time. I don’t mind, though,’ Callon thought. It was intimate, soft, the feeling of Alex’s lips against his own. He always allowed Alex to take control, relaxing into the bed and letting him do as he pleased. Yet he simply kept kissing him, over and over as they both ran their hands along each other’s bodies. 

Callon finally pulled away, both of them gasping for air, “Fuck, that was…something.”

Alex sat up, “Sorry. I got carried away, I guess.”

“No, no it’s okay, I just didn’t expect it. It’s…it’s fine,” he trailed off. 

“Are you sure? If you don't like it, I won’t be offended.”

“No, no, I did, just…” he started to mumble, “how do I explain this? You know how sometimes you just really rail the shit out of me?”

“…I’m vaguely familiar with the concept, yes.” 

“And you’re like,” Callon sat up, pantomiming as he spoke. “You choke me, and then you’re like, ‘yeah, take it bitch, take my cock,’ and then I’m like,” he started moaning dramatically, raising the pitch of his voice, “‘oh fuck yes daddy!’ And it’s hot, but it’s really slutty, you know what I mean?” 

Alex sat in silence, trying to hide the smile on his face. ‘I feel like I should be offended, but this is fucking hilarious.’ He failed to stifle a laugh, “I think I get it.” 

“What we did just now, that was more…soft, I guess? I don’t know, I want like…a combination of the two. Like you’re still in charge, but it’s less slutty. Does that make any sense? I feel like I’m talking out my ass.” 

‘I feel safe with him,” Callon thought as he awaited Alex’s response. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way about anyone I’ve fucked. Maybe it’s because we’re friends, we’ve been doing this for nearly six months now,’ he thought. 

“So…what we usually do, but softer? Still dominant, but gentle?”

Callon smiled, “yeah! You get it. That.”

He hadn’t realized how much he craved intimacy until he truly felt it. The way Alex whispered in his ear, how he’d embrace him as he fucked him, the endearing tone of his voice, the endless praises, the kisses when they came together. 

It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, gentle and sweet, sensual even, as Alex took the time to worship his body.

Callon rested his head on Alex’s chest, both of them coming down from their shared ecstasy. He couldn’t help himself, wanting to be as close to Alex as he could. He’d nuzzle his face against Alex’s beard and neck,kissing him wherever he could. He clung onto him tightly, as if he was a teddy bear bringing him comfort. ‘Fuck, I’m going soft. I’ve never been this clingy. But Gods, it feels so nice.’ 

Alex turned to face him. He ran his fingers through Callon’s hair. “You okay, baby?” His voice was soft and sweet, almost protective. 

‘Fuck. We are not doing pet names, don’t call me that. We’re not dating, I’ll fucking kill you. But he’s so hot, I just want to make out with him forever and ever. Fuck you for making me think about feelings, this is so gay. But I just want him to hold me, and kiss me, and tell me I’m a good boy. I want him to be gentle to me, and take care of me. I hate him, fuck,’ Callon thought. 

“Yeah, I’m alright.” Despite his chaotic internal dialogue, he maintained a calm tone. “I liked that a lot.” 

“You did fantastic,” Alex smiled, planting a kiss on his forehead.

‘I’ve always thought the term ‘love-making’ was stupid. Just call it what it is; sex. Fucking. But that…that was different. Not some cringy romance novel shit, but…I don’t know. I feel so pathetic, clinging onto him like this, but I can’t bring myself to stop.” 

He held him a little tighter, allowing his heavy eyelids to close, letting his guard down long enough to fall asleep in his arms. 

The semester was nearly over. The two had spent almost an entire academic year ‘hanging out’ at least once a week. 

There were times where the sex was still rough and messy, but now there were occasions where the sex was far more intimate. 

Callon had made a habit in the last few months of falling asleep on top of Alex afterwards, something which Alex welcomed. He’d pet his hair, kiss his forehead, and hold him close; it was as if he was a warm blanket, wrapped around Callon to keep him safe. 

Alex watched as his back slowly rose and fell as he slept. Both were exhausted with finals quickly approaching, but Alex felt a desire to care for him. After all, Callon was still getting calls to come into work late at night, sometimes not returning until four or five in the morning. 

He didn’t know exactly what Callon did when he was at work, but he understood the exhaustion. He had spent countless nights at rehearsals and practices, coming home after the sunset to work late with his father, then completing mountains of homework late into the night. It had paid off, given his scholarship and the school he had gotten into, but he was now painfully aware of how it affected him, the burnout still lingering at times. Doing something like that now, in college, he couldn’t imagine. 

So he let him sleep on his chest as long as he needed, happy to provide whatever rest he could. He looked around Callon’s apartment as he absent-mindedly pet him. 

At this point, he spent more time here than he did at his own dorm room. Sets of his clothes sat on the top shelf of Callon’s closet, an extra toothbrush by the sink. He had bought another laptop charger to keep near Callon’s desk, and Callon’s address was the default on food delivery apps. 

He looked back down at him, the butterflies in his stomach undeniable during tender moments like these. “Are you asleep?” He asked softly. He received no response, Callon still peacefully resting on top of him. . 

He started talking to himself, quietly mumbling, “I feel like we’ve gone beyond friends with benefits at this point,” he said with a soft laugh. “I just…I don’t know.” 

He thought back to his last relationship; a girl he met at band who he simply didn’t have time for. “I know we’re both busy, but…if we have time for this, then surely we must have time for other things too.” 

What was the difference between what they were doing now, and dating? They hung out together. They slept together. They ate together. They’d cuddle and watch movies together. Throughout their first year, both had made other friends. Yet they were always each other’s first choice. 

“Maybe we’ve been dating for awhile now, and I’m just too stupid to realize it,” Alex mumbled. 

“What?” Callon started to stir, half awake as he looked up at Alex. 

“I…I didn’t say anything.” 

“Yes you did,” Callon laughed, sitting up. “What was it?” 

‘I could just lie,’ Alex thought. ‘But…I’ve been denying how I really feel for so long. Still, would anything truly change if there was a label on it? Although…maybe I want a label on it.’ He held Callon’s face, running his thumb along his cheek. 

Callon clearly didn’t have the same intention Alex did, reaching over and playfully biting his thumb.

Alex laughed, pulling his hand away, “what are you doing?”

“I don’t know, intrusive thoughts I guess,” he shrugged, laying back down on his chest and looking up at the ceiling. “What did you say though?” 

He sighed, “Callon…I know when we started doing this, like regularly, you and I both didn’t want things to get too serious.”

Callon was quiet, keeping his gaze away from him. “That’s right.” 

“I guess…” he sighed, unsure how to verbalize how he felt. “I guess I’m just wondering if you still feel that way?” 

Callon kept his eyes on the ceiling, letting out a deep exhale. “I don’t know. To be honest, I’ve…never been in an actual relationship before. I’ve hooked up with plenty of people, but…I don’t know what’s different from that, and what we’re doing.” 

“I don’t know either,” Alex admitted. “I mean, I’d call you my boyfriend, or whatever you’d like to be called.” 

“You could call me your bitch,” Callon snorted. 

He rolled his eyes, unable to stifle his laughter. “Shut up.”

“No, but like…would that be it? I mean, we’d be exclusive, but…I haven’t seen anyone else since we started doing this, to be honest.”

“Me neither. I guess…do you remember a few months ago, when we were walking back from rehearsal, and you kept complaining about being cold? And then we came back here and just-”

“Yeah. Yeah, that…I think about that a lot. I’m glad we started doing stuff like that. I don’t know, I always thought the term ‘lovemaking’ was kinda gay.”

“Well-”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But,” he moved to face him once more. “I don’t know what love is, honestly. But I know I feel…safe, around you. That probably sounds stupid.”

Alex smiled, “not at all. I mean, I want you to feel safe around me.”

“I feel like I should have something more to say,” he said with a nervous laugh, “but I don’t really have the words to describe it. All I know is I like what we’re doing. The kissing, the sex, the hanging out, the talking about stupid shit. I want more of it, I just don’t know what that means.” 

Alex wrapped his arms around his neck. “It can mean whatever you want it to mean. I’m not the most experienced with this stuff either, but right now I don’t want to be with anyone else.” 

“I don’t either.” Callon grinned, letting out a sigh, “I feel like this should be a bit more monumental,” he joked. 

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. I’m your boyfriend now, I guess.”

Alex pulled him in for another kiss, “I guess so,” he kissed him once more, the two entangled yet again. 

“One more thing though,” Callon said between kisses.

He paused, running a hand down his back, “what?”

“You’re a dick for bringing this up right before summer break.” 

Summer break began, and the new couple soon found themselves separated by thousands of miles. They still found plenty of time to talk to each other, however their schedules never quite lined up; when Callon returned from work, Alex was just waking up. 

Alex had always been one to rise with the sun, slowly opening his eyes and grabbing his phone; in his tiny hometown village, it was 5 AM, whereas in Libreverde, it was 1 AM. 

He looked over his notifications. There was a message from Callon, from ten minutes ago.  

🔵: are you awake I just got back from work and I’m sad  🔴: I just woke up, what’s wrong? 🔵: I’m just stupid  🔴: no you’re not, I’ll call you 

He leaned over his bedside table, grabbing a pair of earbuds to make sure none of his family could hear him; with his great-great-grandmother being a fully Elvish woman, he learned how to be sneaky quickly, finding ways to stay up late and avoid the enhanced hearing elves benefitted from. 

She was also 900 years old. 

Still, it wasn’t a risk he wanted to take. He put them in, and gave Callon a call. 

He answered the phone almost immediately, “hey,” he said softly, his voice weak as if he’d been crying. 

Alex spoke slowly, still not fully awake. “Hey, what happened?”

“I just…” he sighed, his breath shaking. “I just didn’t do what I was supposed to do. I fucked something up. I didn’t do it on purpose, but everyone’s angry at me.”

“What’d you do?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it, to be honest. I just, I fucked something up in a really stupid way.”

Callon was always vague with work stories. It wasn’t the first time he had left his job so distraught, nor would it be the last. “That’s alright, I’m here,” he cooed, his voice raspy and deeper than usual as he yawned. “You want me to just stay on the phone with you?” 

“Yeah, if that’s okay,” the sound of something hitting the phone echoed through the ear buds, before it became clear from the rustling sheets Callon had hopped into bed. “How’d you sleep? You saw your high school friends yesterday, right?” Despite the small talk, Alex could still hear his voice shaking, a sharp inhale coming through the phone speaker. 

“I slept okay. Callon, are you sure you don’t wanna talk?” 

“I…” another sharp inhale. “I just wanna go home.” 

‘Wasn’t that where he was already?’ Alex thought. “Where are you? I thought you said you were back.”

“I mean, I’m at my dad’s house, but like…I don’t know. It’s weird. This should be home, but it doesn’t…feel like it, I guess? Even though it is? It has been for yearsI…I wanna go back to school. I know that sounds crazy, but…that felt more like home than here does.”

“Why’s that?” 

“I don’t know if I can explain it. I miss you,” he mumbled. “I wish you could hold me,” his voice barely above a whisper. 

‘Fuck, how bad was it? I’ve never heard him this distraught.’ 

“I wish I could too. But…I’m here now.”

“Could I ask you for a weird favor?” 

“Sure, what is it?”

“Could you just…read me something? It can be anything, even some weird nerdy science thing, I just wanna hear your voice while I fall asleep.” 

Alex let out a quiet laugh, slowly getting up. “I can do that.” He walked over to his desk, clear of any books or notes since he had left for college. Most of his books were still packed away from when he moved out, not bothering to unpack them during the break. “Give me a second, I’m sure there’s something.” He opened up his backpack, a few textbooks sitting inside, “there’s biology, chemistry, intro to medical magic, and remedial magic.”

“Wait, you had to take remedial magic?” 

“Yeah, didn’t I tell you?”

“No,” Callon said with a soft giggle. “Why the fuck did you to take that?”

“Because this fucking village that refuses to get with the times,” he groaned, lowering his voice even further. “Our schools suck in terms of magic, so I was pretty behind, apparently.” After all, his great-grandmother was one of the village elders dead set on maintaining tradition, even if it came at the expense of young mages. 

“I remember at my elementary school they had the like, special classes for mages? One of my friends was in it, they’d like, pull you out of class or some shit. Did you have something like that?” 

“Yeah, but they only started doing it when I was in third grade, and then the school board got all up in arms about what magic they could and couldn’t teach. It was just like, one guy organizing it for the entire county too, so…” he shrugged. “I’m sure it wasn’t great, compared to what’s over there.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Callon mumbled. “But they just didn’t teach you enough stuff?”

“Pretty much. It wasn’t hard, but I can’t cast spells I don’t know.” 

“Huh. I’m sure it’s because I’m not a mage, but hearing people explain magic makes my head hurt. Could you read me the chemistry one? It sounds boring.” 

He smiled, grabbing the book. “Sure.” 

Callon didn’t understand half the words Alex said, but that didn’t matter. All he wanted to was to know he was still there on the other side of the phone. 

Callon didn’t spend much time by the international gates at the Teleporter Stations. He re-read their messages from earlier. 

🔵: can you write down what gate you’re coming from I’m stupid  🔴: You’re not stupid, stop calling yourself that 🔴: It’s the B gate  🔵: ohhhhh ok   🔵: when should I come get you  🔴: I’m leaving at noon, but I’m sure it’ll be backed up, so I’ll probably get there around 12:15 🔵: ok 🔵: I’m here

He sat on a bench, surrounded by gates from places he rarely heard of. He tapped his foot anxiously, gripping the bottom of the bench. 

A bell rang out, and the large doors to the Teleporter chamber opened, a flood of businessmen and women pouring out. He stood up, scanning the crowd. A glimmering, pink aura emanated from the doors; remains of the moonstone used to power the Teleporter. 

Alex walked out, carrying only his backpack on his shoulder. Callon didn’t hesitate, running towards him and throwing his arms around him. He almost knocked Alex over, nestling his head in his neck. 

He smiled, wrapping his arms around him once he regained his balance. “I take it you missed me?” 

“Something like that,” Callon laughed. “When will your stuff get to school?” 

He shrugged, “probably like, an hour or two. I’m sure it’s not as busy here as the other gates, but it sounds like a lot of the cargo Teleporters are backed up. When did you move back in?” 

“A few days ago. I still have some shit to unpack, but it’s not too bad.” He grabbed his hand, “come on, there’s plenty we can do before your stuff gets here.” 

They made their way back to the college, and as soon as the door shut to Callon’s apartment, there was no time to waste. They rushed to the bed, Callon sitting upon Alex’s lap as they embraced. An entire year since their first meeting, yet each kiss felt more electric than the last. 

The two pulled away, Callon catching his breath as he looked back down at Alex. He rested a hand on his face, “I’m…I’m really, really happy, by the way. Not just to see you, but like…in general.”

Alex smiled, “I am too. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.” 

If they were lucky, those feelings wouldn’t change. 

Part 1

JESUS CHRIST IM RLY HAPPY WITH THIS LOWKEY I HOPE YOU LIKE IT