ʚ 🍓ɞ

beau's gaze lingered on him, a subtle intensity beneath the surface as the words hung in the air. "i don't give a fuck about their opinion," he echoed, a defiant edge to his tone. the weight of his parents' disapproval loomed, a shadow he was determined to defy. as they stood on the precipice of a decision, he couldn't ignore the ache of longing that pulsed beneath the surface. the unspoken hung between them, a silent plea for understanding and acceptance in a world that seemed determined to dictate their path. in that charged moment, beau waited, the echoes of his parents' disapproval drowned out by the possibility of a connection that transcended societal constraints. The uncharted territory beckoned, and Beau was ready to navigate it with a courage born from the desire to shape his own narrative. ''i don't give a fuck if they don't want me to be with someone.. - like you. they can either get on board, or give up on me. i'm not going to marry someone, not just because it looks good for them. we all know they selected jack for his money.''

the confidence in beau’s tone gives wyatt a minor confidence boost, thankful there was no drawn - out pause or wavering in his timbre . he was always cautious to avoid putting beau in an even more compromising situation , refusing to give ultimatums or let his own insecurities bog down the foundation they had built . unfortunately , the weight on his shoulders had become enough to become a burden within the relationship , needing reassurance that they were both all - in with the looming arrangement beau’s parents had conjured up . naturally , the suitor they selected was everything wyatt wasn’t — making him an ideal match for beau on paper — which made him acutely aware of his shortcomings . sometimes it baffled wyatt that someone of beau’s importance would even entertain him at all , knowing others of beau's stature wouldn’t have even offered him the time of day . “ they’re under the impression that someone like me is going to use you and they see your interest in me as an act of rebellion . that's all this is to them . ” beau’s steadfastness helps wyatt keep his spirits somewhat lifted but apprehension lingers . “ i just need you to be certain that i’m worth it . that potentially giving up everything for me is the best choice for you . ” he reaches out to place his hand on beau’s knee . “ i don’t want you to do this and end up resenting me for it down the line . it’s a lot to ask of a person and i won't ask you to do it outright . it has to be entirely your choice . ”

"you're acting like this shit is one-sided ⸻ like you weren't right there with me blurring the lines. and now, you're asking me to admit i have feelings for you even though it won't make a difference on your end," he replies bitterly, scoff slipping past his lips, "do you know how confusing that is ? i have no idea what you want from me." but he knows what he wants from her. had for quite some time now. head shakes adamantly before he grips at his mouth with his palm, "i can't keep doing this with you, natasha." sucks in a breath, shoulders giving way to defeat. "you're messing with my head."

" i wasn't blurring anything ! " she's defiant and refusing to take any of the blame . knows she's lying through her teeth , able to recall every moment spent with beni that felt far more intimate than a casual hook - up . selfishly , she allowed herself to get caught up in it , unfamiliar with being fed affection and enjoying the taste enough to turn gluttonous . " i'm sorry that you got your hopes up and thought this was something that it wasn't . was i supposed to be calling the uber the second i picked my underwear up off of your floor or — ? " his confusion isn't surprising since she's knowingly taking him for a ride , too afraid to admit that she might want something more . all she had to do was say something honest but that was proving to be a feat . " i can't — . . . " the words start to lose their edge , " i can't be good for you . no matter what i might want . no matter what you might want . i'm not easy to be with . i'm not easy to love . i'm not good enough to be anything more than what i currently am . "

DESPERATION IS EVIDENT ON HIS FACE as he reaches out for the other, hand resting on the other man's arm. « you make me happy, fitz. hell, you may be the only thing in this universe that makes me happy, » he argues, tone urgent. « but your rules ... they don't apply in my world. i don't — i don't get to take you out on dates, or hold your hand in public, or show you off. i would make you miserable. » and, consequently, himself.

the simple touch makes his stomach flip , throat tightening as he insists on biting his tongue . had always hated confrontation but it felt necessary moments ago — now he wishes he had simply left it alone . " i'm not interested in being shown off but i'm starting to think i deserve better than being kept in the shadows . it doesn't feel right . doesn't feel good . " reaching the point of misery sounded extreme but fitz coudn't deny that he'd been less than happy , negative emotions stuck on a loop . he was afraid they'd fester into something darker if left untouched . " so . . . " swallows harshly , voice strained . " is this it then ? is this the end ? because it sounds like you're telling me to walk away . "

' i'm really sorry , harls , ' brows furrow as mouth twitches downwards . situation was far from ideal for either of them , but especially harley . at least koa's band was benefiting from the arrangement . he scoots closer to her , minimizing the physical distance while they still remain emotionally apart . ' you know i'm not choosing her over you , right ? this is strictly business . it's really worked so far so management's not going to accept an excuse to get out of it . i'll be back in a day or two & you'll have my undivided attention . just you & me — the way it should be . '

" it is what it is , " shoulders rise in a casual shrug , body language in direct conflict with the deflated timbre . would never ask him to choose between herself and the faux relationship management fawned over but feels as though she's fallen second by default . " you are choosing her over me because you're leaving , koa . " recently , jealous thoughts started to fill her head when she finally got a moment with him , tainting moments that should be joyful . he may have been harley's but his hands were still dirty after touching the other girl's skin and his lips had tasted both girls just the same . " i can't believe i'm the other woman in my own relationship , " chuckles dryly , fidgeting with the jewelry on her fingers . " what if they want this to go on for a while ? what if you start to — " love her too . " what if you start to enjoy our time apart ? "

"and is that a direct quote from his twitter ?" femme questions with a laugh, head shaking slightly. "it wasn't even like that. he makes me sound like i'm some serial heartbreaker. i'm not nearly as vain as i look."

" right . . . " delivery reveals jackie's doubt despite attempting to toe the line between neutral and curious . the last thing she needed was to derail this before she got what she was looking for . " do you think that other people view you as a serial heartbreaker ? or do they realize that he's just a past lover that's been scorned ? " ⸻ " not to be presumptuous but you don't seem to care about saving face . "

     "do you have a death wish or something? what the hell was that?"

" did you really expect me to stand there and let him talk to us that way ? " their skin still feels warm from the lingering rage and post - altercation adrenaline coursing through . " he wasn't actually going to do anything . all bark , no bite . too many people around for him to get away with it . " they wave a hand dismissively . " we could have taken him anyway , don't you think ? my money would be on us if shit went left . "

" at least i had the decency to keep my nights out of sight . "

" it's really not what it looks like . . . " knows it sounds like such an easy lie but it's the truth nonetheless . " you know how the internet likes to frame things . . . taking someone out to dinner means you're madly in love . " she sighs . " i feel like nothing i say will convince you at this point . i'm tempted to save my breath . "

' oh , you're in love with her ? well , for what it's worth , you'd make beautiful babies . . . & raise them up to be a couple of monsters like their mother & father . '

" funny . . . " says with a dry chuckle , " i didn't think you'd be so bitter about it . didn't really think you'd care at all , if i'm honest . " admittedly , he's elated that she does . " never said i was in love with her or that we were going to be having babies and a house with a white picket fence any time soon . i just think she's a better fit for me than you ever were . "

"you know it's not that simple," she laments before sucking in a breath, "and everyone is going to have an opinion about it." ⸻ "is it so wrong for me to want to keep this for myself ?"

" that's what i assumed you'd say , " replies with a sigh , gaze tearing away from her to look down at his feet . " does everyone else's opinion matter that much to you ? do you think it would change how you feel about me ? " fears the answer , pessimism allowing him to guess the worst . " i just feel like you're keeping me a secret and not us a secret . . . like if i was different , you'd be more willing to be honest about us ."

HE'S PACING THE FLOOR, WISHES IT WAS THAT SIMPLE. « i want you. you know that. » nate only stops in his track to meet the other man's gaze. « doesn't mean we should keep doing this. »

the pacing makes him nervous , unable to slip into a sense of comfort at the other's affirmation . he was merely waiting for the other shoe to drop . to be let down easy . " you clearly don't want me that badly if you want me to walk away , " he says , tone wounded . " i'm obviously not going to guilt - trip you into seeing me or anything . if you want me to stay away , i will . i'll do whatever makes this easier for you . whatever makes you happy ."