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The rhythmic thump of the coffee maker, usually a comforting prelude to morning caffeine, was today a soundtrack to Matt’s internal struggle.
He grunted, wrestling with a particularly stubborn filter basket, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. The sight of him, still in his low-slung pyjama bottoms and a faded black tank, should have been a familiar, almost domestic, scene for his girlfriend, but Ari’s gaze was more fixed on the expanse of Matt’s exposed skin.
Purple bruises bloomed like strange, dark flowers across the left side of his neck and shoulder, interspersed with distinct, almost unnerving, impressions that looked suspiciously like… teeth marks. A wince, a subtle clench of his jaw, betrayed Matt’s discomfort as he shifted, clearly showing they still hurt, despite having been applied yesterday.
Across the room, sprawled against the plush couch with his phone held aloft, Alex’s grey streak of hair fell across his brow, still looking exhausted from getting in from BC last night and even from this distance, smelling like airport stink and stale cologne. His usual playful smirk was in full effect, however, punctuated by laughs from whatever he was watching, eventually looking up when Ari cleared her throat, meeting her gaze. “What’s up?”
“So, question-" Ari’s voice was deceptively casual, her legs crossed primly as she surveyed the scene. “Did you, by any chance, bite other kids at school?”
Alex blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “That’s a bit of a weird one for me, you sure that’s not meant for Matt?” He questions, his eyebrow arching. He was a creature of comfort, perpetually in some form of comfortable loungewear when not on stage or in the studio. “I mean, I was homeschooled until, like, mid high school. Why you asking?”
“Oh, no reason.” Ari’s eyes flicked obviously back to Matt, who was now attempting a more forceful rendition of coffee maker persuasion. The sheer, undeniable evidence on Matt’s neck was impossible to ignore. It wasn't just one or two subtle hickey; it was a declaration. A very enthusiastic declaration of possible ownership that Ari hadn’t seen outside of a really good makeup artist on an adult film set for certain films.
She turned her full attention back to Alex, a knowing glint in her brown eyes as she grinned his way. “Did you at least wait until you were in the house before starting your art project?”
Alex’s entire face flushed pink, but then deepened to a red as he mumbled, the words barely audible, “I…uh…” He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. “I may have started in the car on the way here last night.”
Ari’s grin got even wider before she had to burst out into a laugh, even grabbing Matt’s attention as she flopped back, turning their way as he straightened up, coffee machine left to its own meagre existence, running a hand over his neck as he walked over and wincing again as he inadvertently touched one of the darker marks. He shot Alex a look that was a mixture of mock annoyance and something akin to bewildered affection.
“He started as soon as we were out of the goddamn airport lights.” Matt’s voice was a low rumble, laced with a hint of amusement. He sauntered over to the couch, his movements still a little stiff. He sank down beside Alex, his long legs stretching out before him. The deep purple of the bruises contrasted starkly with his fair skin. “He was practically vibrating when I picked him up. Almost made me crash into other cars on the PCH.”
Alex, still avoiding direct eye contact, mumbled again. “You were…really into it.”
“I was?” Matt chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the couch. He leaned his head back, his blue eyes meeting Ari’s and shaking his head as if to say, ‘What are we going to do with this man?’. “I don’t remember saying I wanted TMZ following me around.”
Ari’s laughter skyrocketed again. “I mean, that’s very TMZ worthy, but still-” She nudged Alex’s foot with her own. “-the car of all places. That’s a new one, even for you guys.”
Alex finally looked at her again, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “I was just…really excited to be here. You know how it is. Why, you jealous?”
“Oh hell no. I get plenty, thank you, you aren’t special.” Ari replied, snorting as Alex clutched his chest dramatically like she had wounded him, her gaze lingering on Matt’s neck. “It looks like you were trying to claim him as your territory, Alex. Thought you were okay with sharing.”
Matt let out a loud groan, burying his face in his hands. “Oh my god, Ari, you’re going to make me and him crawl into a hole.”
Ari raised an eyebrow. “Matt, you look like you’ve been in a wrestling match with a vampire. We are far past ‘crawling into a hole’ territory. You’re in the ‘I’m owned by someone with the artistic sense of a toddler’ territory.”
Matt winced again. “It’s not so bad, but seriously, man-” He turned to Alex, his expression softening. “-you going to leave me any skin unbitten?”
Alex’s flush returned with a vengeance. He grabbed a throw pillow and shoved it playfully against Matt’s chest. “Shut up. You loved it. You’re still touching my handiwork aren’t you?”
“I’m not denying that.” Matt conceded, his voice a low murmur. He leaned closer to Alex, his blue eyes holding a warmth that enveloped both Alex and Ari in it. “-but maybe next time, we can leave the car journeying and not sexual sadism.”
“Noted.” Alex smirked, though it was half-hearted, pink still decorating his cheeks as he peeked over it at Ari, who was watching their interaction. “You going to judge us forever?”
Ari shook her head, her smile, while less cheeky, still in place. “Never. Just… learning new things about my boyfriends and their homoerotic friendship.” She gestured towards Matt’s neck. “I need to take pictures of that before it fades to show my friends. Some of them would die to have that happen to them. You sure you weren’t a troubled kid?”
Alex groaned again, this time a little louder. “No! No, I was not! I promise.”
Matt, however, was already grinning, fingers dancing across Alex’s shoulders. “Lies. I know his parents. Still got the skill level of a virgin in other places though, as you know.”
Alex’s eye twitched. “Fucking sellout.”
Matt burst out laughing, a genuine, uninhibited sound that filled the room before Alex and Ari followed suit, Alex nuzzling into Matt’s shoulder, his flush finally starting to subside as Ari slunk over to curl herself under Matt’s free arm. “I can give you the same treatment later if you want. All you have to do is ask. I can even make it matchy matchy, if you wanna go full couple on it.”
“I’ll think about it.” Ari just smiled as Alex stared up at her affectionately, Matt peering down at the both of them with a sigh that spoke volumes as he pulled them close.
If they ended up falling asleep in the mid-morning sun while the coffee machine bubbled away, that was a later problem.