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"Get in the car, Aesop." Joseph's voice was stern as he gripped Aesop's arm. Aesop was struggling in his hold, stubborn as ever. He was beyond upset.
"Let go!" He attempted a harsh tug, but Joseph pulled at his arm tight. "Agh, fuck!" He cursed as his arm hurt and looked angrily at the man. Joseph only returned a stern look as he shoved him in the passenger's seat and shut the door.
Aesop slumped inside in defeat. He wanted to smash something as he sat there watching Joseph go to the other side. Joseph quickly went inside and started the engine. It was already embarrassing enough that Aesop's little bandmates witnessed them like this, so he wanted to leave ASAP.
Aesop, his handful boyfriend, sat deathly silent, looking out the window. Joseph sighed, already thinking of ways to soothe his lover when they got home. He stepped on the gas and drove home as they sat in a deafening silence.
---
Luca’s low whistle barely filled the silence of the four as they watched Aesop get into a fight with his lover and dragged into the car. Luca only scratched his head as he looked at his bandmates. Edgar, as always, seemed uncaring, but silent nevertheless. Andrew was fidgeting more than usual, probably anxious for them. Victor pursed his lips in worry, hoping that they would be able to resolve it. ‘Just like the other times.’ But no matter how much or how rarely they did fight like this, it was always scary.
“Give it a night of hot angry sex.” Luca piped.
“Your assurance isn’t working.” Edgar deadpanned, which shut Luca up for good.
‘They’ll be fine… probably.’ They all collectively thought.
---
Aesop quickly got out and slammed the car door as hard as he could, earning a hiss from Joseph. "Yeah, just a little more harder, babe, and you can wreck this car." Joseph raised his voice through gritted teeth as he came out his side of the vehicle.
"Fuck you!" Aesop cursed, walking to the doors of the mansion, leaving behind Joseph who was seriously starting to get pissed. He followed the fuming musician who went straight to their master's bedroom on the second floor and slammed the door shut before Joseph could even enter. He turned the knob to see it was locked from the inside. He closed his eyes, pressed his forehead against the door, and fought the urge to break. Joseph took deep breaths, taking a moment to stay calm.
Aesop was always like this in their fights. This was nothing new. Yet, Joseph would never get used to Aesop's stubbornness and outbursts. His lover's demeanor was calm, quiet, occasionally shy, but when he's mad, he's mad. Joseph took a breath and calmly reached for a spare key to their bedroom in his pocket and unlocked the door.
Aesop knew it was a futile attempt to lock the door. Stupid, even. He could not escape from Joseph, certainly not in his own mansion. He was already curled up on the large bed, looking away as he heard the door opening and closing behind him. Joseph was the last person Aesop wanted to see right now. He wants to be left alone.
"So," Joseph started, crossing his arms. "Wanna talk? Or do you just wanna throw a tantrum and destroy the whole place?"
"If I could, I would destroy this whole place and you." Aesop only mutters to himself, not responding, and remains unmoving on the bed. It was silent for a few moments before Aesop heard Joseph's heavy sigh and shuffling feet. He knew what was coming once he felt the dip on the bed, yet he couldn't pull away fast enough when Joseph suddenly hugged him from behind, burying his nose on Aesop's neck. Joseph’s suddenly breathing on such a sensitive place left a tickling sensation, to which Aesop tried to close. Joseph had a firm hold around Aesop's waist to keep him still. Aesop only shifted uncomfortably to push Joseph away as much as he could.
"Love," Joseph whispered against his ear, his voice soft. "You know when you get upset, you tend to cause problems." Aesop only laughed bitterly at what was supposed to be his lover giving him a lecture and nudged Joseph further away. "We can just talk things out like mature people. We can communicate and save the hassle."
"I see, Mr. Desaulniers." Aesop spat, turning his head around to face Joseph. Joseph disliked it when Aesop called him like he was nobody but a stranger. It was an act of alienating both of them from the relationship they had. "The blame is on me, isn't it? My sudden unreasonable outburst is uncalled for? Is that it? Even though you were the one who fucked me over?" Aesop's voice started mockingly sweet until he raised his voice before slamming the pillow beneath him to Joseph's face.
Joseph didn't utter a word as took the hit, remained unmoved. Aesop pushed himself off the bed and went straight for the door. "Where are you going." Joseph's voice was cold behind him. Aesop momentarily stopped as he weighed his responses and decided to tell the truth.
"I'm going to Victor's." A blunt answer. Hearing nothing from Joseph, Aesop slowly reached for the handle, only for a hand to suddenly grab his wrist and twist him around to pin him against the door. "What the hell!" Aesop squirmed under Joseph's iron grip. The cold gaze Joseph sent as he looked down on his lover terrified him so, and it ceased his struggling. If earlier, Joseph was holding back his temper, now Joseph looked ultimately pissed.
"W... What's that look for." Aesop bit back a stutter when Joseph squeezed his left arm hard, like a warning. The silence in the air that accompanied Joseph’s death stare fueled Aesop’s anxiety. "You're gonna beat me? You're gonna hurt me?" Aesop challenged, but he couldn't hide the fact that he was scared, his eyes reflected so. Even as he tried to act tough in front of Joseph. His lover's usual smiling sweet demeanor was now gone, and there came a cold look that Aesop never saw before.
Joseph never held this expression to Aesop, and he never imagined that he would. Not when they had fought just like this before when Aesop could not control his anger. Joseph was always patient, apologetic, loving. Did Joseph had a bad day at work? Perhaps this was why he suddenly couldn’t deal with him now. Or perhaps did he get tired of him already? Did his anger drive his love away? He was tired of dealing with him like this?
Joseph blinked at Aesop's words and the obvious fear his lover had, seeming to break from the anger clouding his mind. His face was washed over with guilt. An ache was felt in his heart and spread throughout his chest. It was getting harder to breathe. He slowly let go of the tight grip on Aesop's wrist, watching how tense his lover was beneath him. His hand settled on Aesop's shoulder before he pulled on his nape.
A spontaneous act. He kissed Aesop gingerly, his lips doing the apologizing, ever so tenderly against his. His lips captured the other’s, softly kneading the ruby lips he loved so much. He could feel Aesop's tense shoulders slowly drop and relax at the touch and ministrations. Although, it was only relief that Joseph wouldn't hurt him right there. After a few more pecks, Joseph hesitantly pulled away with a shaky breath. "I'm sorry." He muttered.
Aesop immediately shoved Joseph away from him before he darted out the room. A few seconds later, the loud bang of the front door being slammed shut rang throughout the Desaulniers' mansion, followed by a flash of lightning from the bedroom windows. Joseph closed his eyes as he let out a heavy sigh, running a hand over his hair as the thunder rumbled its warning.
---
"Hey, buddy get lost already will ya?" Luca shouted at the obnoxious rapping on their apartment door. The stranger outside was seriously starting to get on his nerves.
“Luca, shh!” Edgar motioned an annoyed shush before gluing his eyes back at the TV screen. The movie was getting more intense, all three of his roommates were staring intently at the scene like they didn’t mind the constant knocking at their front door. Luca feigned a hurt expression.
“Well, I’m sorry for caring about your viewing experience, your highness!”
“Well, could you care about my viewing experience quieter?” And then the two started to bicker. Again. Nothing new. Andrew sunk further into the couch miserably next to Victor, a hand petting the sleeping Wick on his lap. He tapped the mute man’s shoulder lightly, and Victor wouldn’t have felt it if it weren’t for Andrew’s accompanied stare. Victor turned to him.
‘Someone’s at the door,’ Andrew signed. Victor nodded and immediately stood up to get the door. Outside, there was a heavy thunderstorm at that nightly hour, so he wasn't expecting to have anyone. He looked through their peephole to check and saw one Aesop Carl who stood in their front door clutching this jacket, soaked to the bone. Victor immediately opened the door and ushered the shivering man inside.
"Aesop?" Luca's incredulous voice was heard. It seemed like he and Edgar stopped fighting to see their unwelcome visitor step inside their apartment. "Dude, what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be with your boyfriend fucking or something?" Luca casually said, with a loud slurp of his drink.
"God, have you no shame," Edgar shook his head, disappointed in Luca as always.
"I could kick you right now, Balsa." Aesop’s brows were tightly knitted as he shook his soggy overalls from the rain. His frown was deep, and it was never a good sign. Luca put two of his hands up in surrender and Victor only gulped. ‘It seems they didn’t make up.’
‘Let me stay the night, please.’ Aesop’s eyes pleaded as he signed. Victor nodded his head frantically, before replying, 'You're soaking wet, go take a shower, I'll lend you clothes.' Aesop only nodded with appreciation before heading to their bathroom, thanking Victor inside for being such an understanding friend.
"Awww yeah, sleepover! This calls for a large pizza!" Luca exclaimed, already dialing the pizza guy.