Chapter Text
Matt was beyond furious—no, furious didn’t even begin to cover it. He was boiling, livid, ready to explode. Tension had been building for the past two days, and it felt like he was about to snap.
The argument started during the car video. As usual, the three of them were bickering, but this time, it escalated fast. Chris and Nick were locked in their heated back-and-forth, oblivious to Matt’s attempts to get their attention.
He’d been trying to talk for ten minutes straight, trying to make his voice heard, but nothing was working. At first, he wanted to get his point across, but now? Now, all he wanted was for them to shut up.
The dominant energy in the car was stifling, and Matt was suffocating under the weight of it.
“Hey, guys... guys... Chris? Please... guys, please stop... HEY!” He tried, louder this time, but they just kept going, ignoring him completely.
“Matt, shut the fuck up!” Chris snapped, and the sharpness in his voice hit Matt harder than he expected. He tried to shake it off—Chris was angry, but it still stung. His brother’s words always carried weight, even if they weren’t meant to hurt.
Matt tried again. He tapped Chris’s shoulder, then shook him, desperate for his attention. “Chris? Come on... Guys, please just stop... CHRIS... Please stop, I can’t do this anymore…” He begged, his voice starting to crack.
But nothing worked. They were too far gone, and Matt couldn’t take it any longer.
Normally, Nick and Chris never triggered Matt’s anxiety, but today was different. Today, everything felt off. The more they yelled, the more his heart raced, his chest tightening, his body reacting to the chaos he couldn’t control.
He wasn’t sure how much more he could take before it all came crashing down. He just needed them to stop. To breathe.
Finally, Matt snapped, driving home in a fit of frustration. Chris and Nick didn’t even notice at first. Their argument continued, now about him leaving the shoot.
“Matt, what are you doing? We’re filming a video?” Chris’s voice cut through the tension, sharp with annoyance.
“No, we’re going home,” Matt shot back, not even sparing him a glance.
“You don’t get to just decide that we’re not filming anymore,” Nick added, still angry, frustration in his tone.
“You two weren’t even contributing,” Matt retorted, eyes locked on the road, trying to drown out their voices. “Sorry, I don’t want to listen to you scream at each other all night.”
“It’s not your choice, Matt,” Chris snapped, still angry, the frustration palpable.
“Yeah, whatever,” Matt muttered, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “It’s not my choice, but the two of you wouldn’t shut the fuck up. How the hell was I supposed to ask?”
“Don’t swear at me, Matthew,” Chris warned, his voice lowering dangerously.
Matt couldn’t take it anymore. The floodgates opened. “Oh, okay. So the two of you can swear, scream, and punch each other, but the second I do, it’s not okay? Fuck off, Chris.”
In the back seat, Nick could feel the argument spiraling. He was already regretting not stepping in sooner. The anxiety radiating from Matt was almost suffocating, and Nick couldn’t help but feel responsible for letting this go on.
“Don’t talk to me like that, Matt, or I swear to god…” Chris growled.
“What? What are you going to do, Chris?” Matt shot back, his voice a mix of anger and defiance.
“Stop the car,” Chris demanded, his voice firm.
“I’m not stopping, Chris. We’re going home,” Matt retorted, voice dripping with annoyance.
“Matthew, I am ordering you to stop the car,” Chris commanded, the finality of it hitting Matt like a punch to the gut.
Matt’s blood ran cold. In all their years together, Chris had never once ordered him to do anything. He had always been gentle, careful with his power. But now? Now, everything felt wrong.
Matt’s inner submissive screamed for him to obey. His body moved against his will, shaking with anger, frustration, and—if he was being honest—something else, something dark he couldn’t quite name.
Nick, stunned, watched the scene unfold in disbelief. This wasn’t like Chris. He knew it wasn’t. The two of them had never worked that way, not once. Chris never used his authority like this unless absolutely necessary, and even then, it was a rare thing.
“Chris! Don’t be stupid here, let’s go home!” Nick tried to intervene, but his words fell on deaf ears.
“I told you not to speak to me like that, Matt,” Chris said, his tone unyielding. “You don’t get to just swear at me and get away with it.”
“So punish me then,” Matt challenged, his voice dripping with frustration. “What? What are you going to do? You've already broken one of our rules—may as well break another.”
Chris didn’t reply immediately, his eyes fixed on Matt, the silence hanging heavy between them. He wasn’t sure how to react. His anger was dissipating, replaced by something else—regret? Guilt?
“So, what will it be? Do you want to spank me, Chris? Maybe gag me? No, perhaps you want to tie me up, huh? Plug my ass? What’ll it be?” Matt spat, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.
“Stop it, Matthew,” Chris said, voice softening. The weight of the situation was starting to sink in. He realized that what had started as frustration had quickly crossed a line.
“Why? Does it make you uncomfortable? Maybe now you know how I feel,” Matt fired back, his words cutting through the air.
“Hey, guys, maybe we should just go home—” Nick tried again, concern written all over his face. He could see Matt’s anxiety building, and he wanted to stop this before it got any worse.
“Shut the fuck up, Nick!” Chris snapped, making Matt let out a humorless laugh.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Matt cried. “You’ve literally just ordered me to stop driving because I swore at you, but here you are swearing at Nick. And what? We’re all supposed to just be okay with it? You’re an asshole.”
“Is it because I’m not a Dominant like you and Nick?” Matt continued, voice trembling with anger. “Is that your issue here? I’m so sorry that I was born as a Sub, Chris. I mean, there’s no other explanation for it. You fucking swore at me earlier. Did you just do that because you know I can’t do anything about it? That I just had to take it like every other Sub does? Because we don’t have the power to order people like you do?”
The tears in Matt’s eyes started to form, the frustration and helplessness taking over him.
Nick’s heart shattered for Matt. Over the years, he had witnessed Matt’s struggles with his classification, but Matt had never once apologized for it. They had always encouraged him to be proud of who he was, to never apologize for his role as a Submissive. It wasn’t something to be ashamed of. They had always let Matt be unapologetically himself, fully accepting and understanding. But now, hearing Matt break down and apologize for it hit Nick harder than anything else. Matt wasn’t just upset—he was internalizing everything Chris had said, as if he wasn’t worthy of his own identity. It made Nick furious with Chris.
“Matt, you can’t possibly think that,” Chris asked, genuinely shocked by the accusation.
Matt scoffed, the tears still flowing. His voice was rough with frustration. “Can’t I? Why the hell not, Chris? You’re getting mad at me for the same shit you and Nick do. Talk about being classist—prime example right here.”
Chris’s heart sank at the harsh words. The realization of what he had said hit him all at once. Matt was right—he and Nick had been swearing at each other for the past fifteen minutes, and yet when Matt did it, Chris had lost his temper. He had been so caught up in his anger that he had lost sight of who he was really angry at.
“Okay, you both need to calm down. Chris, stop being an asshole. Matt, it’s okay, you’re loved, sweetheart. You know Chris and I don’t care that you’re a Submissive,” Nick said, his voice soothing, as he reached over to give Matt a comforting hug. Matt stiffened for a second, but the warmth of Nick’s embrace grounded him. Chris watched them, unsure of what to say next. The guilt in his chest was suffocating.
“Can I drive now, please? I just want to go home.” Matt’s voice was quiet, worn out from the emotional toll of the argument. He hated himself for feeling like this—his classification making him unable to even drive away without Chris’s permission.
Chris sighed, feeling more guilty than he ever had. Matt was hurt because of him. He had ordered him, something he promised he would never do. He had let his frustration out on the one person he loved more than anything, and now Matt was crying because of him.
“Matt, I—” Chris started, but Matt cut him off.
“I don’t want to talk to you right now. Can I please just go home?” Matt’s words were heavy with sadness. He couldn’t even look at Chris. Chris glanced at Nick, who was already glaring at him, before he sighed deeply and nodded.
“Yeah,” he whispered, defeated.
The drive home was silent, only broken by the occasional sniffle from Matt. Nick gently kept his hand on Matt’s shoulder, rubbing it in a slow, comforting motion, but it didn’t stop the tension from thickening in the air.
Nick wasn’t taking sides, but right now, he was pissed at Chris. He knew Chris was probably just taking out his anger on Matt, but that didn’t make it right. Matt hadn’t done anything wrong. The three of them swore at each other all the time; it was part of their dynamic. But Chris ordering Matt to stop driving was too much. Matt didn’t deserve that.
Matt was the first to leap out of the car when they arrived home, practically rushing inside, still in tears. Nick followed quickly behind, catching up with him just as he reached the stairs. “Matt? Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft and concerned. Matt turned to him, trying to speak, but his face crumpled in an instant, and he broke down into sobs.
Nick’s heart broke. This was the worst fight Matt and Chris had ever had. The pain in Matt’s eyes made Nick’s chest tighten. “Aw, Matt, it’s okay. Come here, babe. You’ll be okay,” he said, pulling Matt into a hug. Matt just trembled in his arms, crying uncontrollably. Nick continued to soothe him. “Shh, you’re okay. I love you, it’s okay.”
Nick heard Chris enter the house, and he knew the two of them needed space right now. “You’re okay, Matt. Do you want to come up to my room for a bit?” he asked, gently. Matt didn’t speak, but he nodded against Nick’s chest. “Okay, sweetheart, come on,” Nick whispered softly.
As Nick walked Matt upstairs, he shot one last glance at Chris. The guilt on Chris’s face was clear, but Nick didn’t have it in him to spare him any sympathy—not right now.
Chris stood still for a moment, consumed by guilt. He knew he had messed up, and the pain in Matt’s eyes was unbearable. He hated that he had caused this rift. But he knew he had to give Matt space. He couldn’t rush in and fix things immediately. He needed to let Matt calm down first.
Upstairs, Nick had helped Matt into some of his pyjamas, then held him close as they curled up in Nick's bed. Matt wasn’t crying anymore; his tears had slowed, leaving him quietly in his own thoughts.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Nick asked gently, brushing a strand of hair from Matt’s forehead.
Matt shook his head, not meeting Nick's eyes. “No.”
Nick nodded, his hand still resting comfortingly on Matt’s back. “Okay, that’s okay,” he replied softly. He desperately wanted to help, to fix the hurt, but he knew Matt needed space. He wouldn’t force him to speak.
The silence between them was heavy, but there was a quiet understanding. After all the years they had spent together, Matt had never slept apart from Chris—not once since they had become a couple. Tonight, it was different. Matt could feel the absence of Chris like an ache in his chest.
They had been together for four years, and for the first time, they were sleeping separately. The feeling was foreign, unsettling. They both hated it.
It had been two days since the argument, and neither Matt nor Chris had spoken to each other. Chris had tried, but Matt wasn’t interested. Instead, he stayed close to Nick, avoiding Chris as much as possible. The tension was palpable, and they had to come up with a lie for their fans to explain the lack of content that week.
“Do you want to go get ice cream or something?” Nick asked, his voice breaking the silence.
The two of them were in Nick’s room, Matt pressed against his brother as he scrolled through Instagram. Nick was holding Matt close, aimlessly scrolling through TikTok when a video featuring ice cream flashed on the screen, sparking a sudden craving.
“Uh, yeah, okay…” Matt replied tiredly, his voice low. “I have to have permission though…”
Nick frowned at that, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Fuck Matches suck ass.
“Shit, yeah. Sorry. We don’t have to?” Nick quickly offered, feeling bad for even bringing it up.
“No, it’s okay. Ice cream could be nice,” Matt said, managing a sad smile before pushing himself off Nick’s bed and standing up.
The two of them made their way downstairs to Matt and Chris’ room. After knocking, they entered without waiting for an answer.
“Oh hey, what’s up?” Chris asked, a confused look crossing his face. Nick stared at him, emotionless, while Matt kept his eyes downcast, feeling the awkwardness of not having been in his own room for days.
“Can I take Matt out so we can get ice cream?” Nick asked, his tone sharp, sensing that Matt wasn’t going to be the one to ask.
“No.”
“No? Are you serious right now?” Nick snapped, unable to keep the frustration out of his voice. Chris’ refusal was getting under his skin. Matt sent Chris a glare, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
“Yes, I’m being serious. No.”
Chris’ tone was firm, but he could see the hurt in Matt’s eyes. He hadn’t spoken to Matt in days, and he didn’t want to let him go until they figured things out. He wasn’t trying to control him; it was just that this felt like his only chance to get through to Matt.
“I actually can’t with you right now. Why the hell not, Chris?” Nick shot back, his temper rising.
“I don’t want him going out. I want to talk to him,” Chris answered, his voice hard but tinged with underlying frustration.
Matt scoffed at him. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
Chris sighed at that, rubbing his forehead. “Matt, you’re going to have to talk to me eventually. You can’t keep ignoring me.”
“Or what? You’ll order me to? ‘Cause apparently, that’s what we’re doing now,” Matt retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
“You know that was an accident,” Chris said, his tone softer now. “I wouldn’t order you intentionally.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Matt snapped. “You don’t even realize the power you have over me.” He shook his head. “And now, you’re not letting me leave the house? Yeah, real nice, Chris. Thanks.”
Chris flinched at the accusation, feeling his heart twist. “Matt, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to order you. I love you, and I hate that I can make you do things you don’t want to.” His voice cracked with sincerity. He hated seeing Matt like this. He’d never wanted to hurt him.
Matt looked up at him, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. “Whatever, Chris,” he muttered, his voice small and defeated. He turned away from him, leaving the room without another word.
Chris stood there, frozen, his hand going to his forehead as he tried to hold back tears. He didn’t want to have hurt Matt, but he had. And now, all he could do was watch Matt walk away.
Nick was conflicted. He knew Chris had been an asshole, but he also knew it wasn’t intentional. Chris loved Matt more than anything else, and Matt was his ride-or-die. It was a stupid mistake, and it was clear that Chris knew it. Nick sighed, his frustration giving way to sympathy. “Just give him some time. He’s hurting right now.”
Chris looked up at him, his face a picture of sadness. “I don’t know what to do. I love him, and I’d never hurt him intentionally. I feel like such an idiot, and now he’s not speaking to me,” he said, his voice breaking.
Nick felt for him. He understood Chris' pain but knew that Matt needed space. Pulling him into a small hug, Nick spoke softly, “I know. But you have to let him be hurt, Chris. You ordered him. He’s allowed to be mad at you for that. You broke your promise, and he’s not just going to let it go.”
Chris nodded, wiping away his tears, guilt still weighing heavy on him. “Will you look after him? Make sure he’s okay?” Chris asked seriously, his voice steadying as he put his trust in Nick. If Matt didn’t want him near him, he wanted to know that his boy was still being cared for.
Nick gave him a small, reassuring nod. “I’ve got him. He’ll be okay,” he said firmly, before stepping away to find Matt.