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As Whit’s boyfriend, it was tough hanging out with Whit and his boyfriend. Ace wasn’t jealous, but it hurt seeing David get all of Whit’s attention. Ace would go quiet, so Whit took it as a sign that Ace didn’t need him either.
He did, but David needed him more, so he kept quiet.
Their whole relationship was still new, so it made sense that the dynamic was still off. Whit relied on David for more of the heavy stuff, but relied more on Ace for entertainment and better times.
David was better equipped to deal with drunk Whit. Ace flinched every time he saw him take a swig. He hated when Whit was drunk, and would cry every time he texted him drunk.
Now was definitely one of the times Ace suffered in silence.
Whit was drunk, cuddled up in David’s arms while he stroked his hair sleepily. He reeked of the alcohol he spilled all over him. A few times David would remind him to take a shower as they watched a movie on Whit’s bed. He kept mumbling, “Later.”
David seem to have finally put his foot down.
“Okay, enough,” he tried sternly, holding Whit by his shoulders as he pushed him off. “Go take a shower now.”
“Only if you go with me,” Whit teased, smiling with more teeth than he ever would when sober.
David’s face was blank, “Keep that up, and I’m not staying the night.”
“I don’t WANT you to stay the night,” Whit snapped in a child-like manner. Ace flinched. His words were still meant to pack a punch. Even if they weren’t directed at Ace, they hit him. David seemed unbothered, crossing his arms.
“I already told you that was enough. Go take a shower now. I will not ask you again.”
Whit rolled his eyes and slid off the bed, angrily tugging at his shirt as he stalked away. He managed to get it off, but ran into the doorframe from being temporarily blind. He slammed the door closed in retaliation.
The room went silent. David seemed to be staring off into space, so Ace hugged his knees to his chest and buried his face to quiet his sobs. He was a quiet crier anyway— his father would tease him and nicknamed him ‘sis’ for ‘suffer in silence’. He had told Ace whatever he kept quiet, he showed with his face and body language.
Sometimes Ace hated being quiet. He was too easy to ignore.
David sighed, “I shouldn’t have threatened him.”
Ace wiped his eyes and looked up at him. His voice shook slightly, “Th- that was a threat?”
“‘Keep that up, and I’m not staying the night.’ That was childish of me. I can’t blame him for getting angry. Awarding bad behavior with punishment. I don’t even believe in rewarding good behavior. Why did I say that?”
Ace tried to think of what to say. David caught him off guard while he was already caught off guard, and Ace wasn’t good at advice. No wonder why Whit always goes to him. “I—“
“No,” David interrupts, putting a hand up. “I don’t need comfort; I was only thinking out loud... I made it about me when you need help, too. What is it, Ace?”
David had always described himself of a shitty person, especially after his talent was given to him. The more Ace talked to him, the more Ace didn’t believe it. They had different views, and David had higher expectations, but he was still one of the most respectable people he ever knew. He was mean, but David wouldn’t go too far, or if he did, he would keep his guilt to himself and suffer in silence... like him.
“Your biggest critic is yourself,” Ace blurted out.
David’s expression turned pained and sour, “I told you I don’t need comfort.”
“B- but it’s okay to want it,” Ace defended. He wasn’t even sure why, David could set him off into another crying fit trying to push him away, no matter how gently.
To his surprise, David just shook his head, voice dropping into a near whisper, “Not if you’re me.”
Ace hugged him fiercely. David squeaked in surprise, freezing as he processed what Ace was doing. It was a little awkward— Ace had his arms wrapped around his whole body, trapping his arms into place and a knee digging into his lap. Perhaps the most uncomfortable part was the side-hug. “I don’t believe that, David.”
“Please... let go,” David struggled.
Ace let go of him. He felt like he could breathe again. He wasn’t being squeezed, David just hated surprise touch. It made him feel like he wasn’t in control. Trapped. Guilty.
That seemed to be a common theme.
“I- I’m so sorry,” Ace started, crying again. “I wasn’t trying t- to make you un—“
David hugged him this time. It was softer, and he held the back of Ace’s neck, pressing his cheek into his chest. Ace hugged him back and started sobbing.
The sobs started as quick as they started, but David still didn’t let him go. He planted a kiss into blue hair and rested his cheek on the top of his head.
They were both half-asleep by the time Whit came out of the shower, locked in a comforting embrace.