#writtenwillow

It was late, but Tanner couldn't sleep, his mind racing with too many thoughts and all the texts still sitting unanswered on his phone. Both things boiled down to one question: Where the hell was Louis?

It had been five days since they'd slept together, and that next morning everything had seemed fine. He'd been too sore for another round so while Louis had gone to take a shower he'd slipped out, shouting his goodbyes through the bathroom door and heading off to his place to clean up before practice. Luckily his roommate had been out so he hadn't had to explain where he'd been all night, but he'd caught a few curious looks when they'd met up later at the rink. He'd given a vague answer and it had seemed to satisfy Miles, so the subject was dropped.

He'd sent the first text after practice, but that one and every one since had gone unanswered, leaving Tanner wondering if he'd done something wrong.

So now here he was, leaning against Louis' front door and waiting for him to get home. No one had opened it after his knock, and without knowing his fight schedule he'd decided to just stay here, figuring the man had to come home sometime.

He was scrolling through his phone when he heard footsteps approaching, his free hand clenching into a fist in the pocket of his jacket. Here we go.. Sure enough, it was Louis who rounded the corner, and Tanner had to ignore the way his stomach flipped at the sight of him. He straightened, staring the fighter down as he came closer. "What the fuck, Louis?"

two months. almost three. easily the longest he'd gone without speaking to louis since they'd met... and it had been awful. but he'd made a point of their last time together being the last time, and he was sticking to it. he had to grow a fucking back bone, painful as it might be. he owed it to himself. warm body after warm body in his bed, and he still hadn't managed to forget louis. why was it so damn hard? it's not like the other man was out here thinking about him. surely it wasn't difficult to get over someone he'd never really cared about in the first place. he just wished it could be that easy for himself. another lackluster tinder date had come and gone - quite literally, and ace was just about ready for bed... until a sudden, loud pounding came from the other side of his front door. the sight on the other side of the peephole? shocking enough to make him momentarily think he was already dreaming. "what the hell are you doing here?" was his first question, upon answering the door. the second? "and what the fuck happened to your face?"

Tanner slipped carefully through the group of spectators, making sure not to jostle anyone any more than necessary and even excusing himself whenever the need arose. He was remembering what Louis had told him about the people who would be here tonight, and was doing his best not to stoke their already volatile moods. His season would be starting soon and the last thing he needed was to already be injured before he'd even played the first game.

He also remembered that Louis had told him he might want to skip this one, but the fighter wasn't the only stubborn one in this.. Whatever was going on between them. Tanner wanted to be here, and so he was, and he knew that Louis' fight was coming up next so he found the best spot to watch from and staked his claim on it. He was near the middle of the crowd, which probably wasn't the safest place to be, but he wanted to have a good view of the ring and the man who would be in the middle of it. Satisfied he'd be able to do so from here, all he had to do now was wait.

@writtenwillow wanted a starter and got nevada mallory

He's impeccable at reading people, spends his time sauntering around like a black cat hidden in darkness, lapping up secrets like warm milk until he has enough to keep himself safe. When the other stops next to him, he studies the side of their face for a moment, stirring his drink with no real intentions of drinking it, at least not quickly, just enough to savor the taste. "You have quite the reputation..." He says, blue eyes shifting over their face, their frame, before trailing back up and meeting their gaze once more.

In the gloaming, Gabriel can barely make out the sight of a car on the side of the road, it's hazards blinking like two angry eyes flashing in the near darkness. It's the last thing he needs, he thinks, but he's always been a good Samaritan and he's not going to stop now. Especially not when he sees that the person in need is a woman.

He pulls his bike in behind the distressed vehicle and stills the engine, unclipping his helmet before sliding off the bike and standing up to his full height. After hanging the helmet on the handle bar of his bike, he holds out his hand, "Gabriel... couldn't help but notice you might be a damsel in distress out here." He teases with an easy smile. "So, how can I be of assistance?"