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Marc is definitely the love of Nathaniel’s life. He's kind, caring, and laid-back. Any time Marc holds him in his arms, he always felt calmer. At peace. There's something so zen about Marc that makes Nathaniel feel safe. Like nothing could go wrong. His beautiful lips, skin, hair, eyes...oh God his eyes. Nathaniel could stare into the noiret's emerald eyes for eternity.
In contrast, Rooster Bold was charismatic, flamboyant, and pretentious. He had this high-and-mighty attitude which Nathaniel would roll his eyes to. Why did he fall for the rooster in the first place? Rooster Bold would constantly flash his muscles in front of the ginger, like it was a divine gift from the gods. He'd purposely use long-winded words to make Nathaniel feel stupid. Nathaniel should hate him. But he can't. It was only until the hero grabbed his face on instinct and kissed him during one of his visits. It wasn't Nathaniel’s plan to cheat on Marc that night, but he ended up reciprocating Rooster's kisses.
Again, and again.
He should've felt guilty, but didn't. And that's what makes him feel horrible.
Nathaniel wants both of them.
It was a colder Sunday in the middle of the evening. But that didn't stop Rooster Bold to give Nathaniel a visit.
Nathaniel was sitting sideways on the hero's lap, kissing him. They always did this. Rooster comfortably had his hand up the illustrator’s shirt, rubbing his torso in an intimate manner.
Nathaniel’s kisses were stiff, as if he wasn't mentally there. Rooster Bold notices this.
"Hey, you okay?"
"...I don't really wanna talk about it."
The rooster knew there was something off. His enthusiasm just wasn't there. The overall romantic mood dispersed immediately. Rooster Bold awkwardly took his hand out from under Nathaniel’s shirt.
"It's just..." Nath hesitates. "I have a boyfriend and this isn't fair to him at all. I plan to tell him about you."
Damn.
Rooster Bold had no idea how much of a toll he was leaving on the redhead. Pinpricks of guilt stab the hero in his soul. His plan wasn't to hurt him, or make him judge his moral compass.
"This doesn't make you a cheater, Nath."
A bitter laugh emerged from the illustrator. "This is the literal definition of cheating. Marc knows nothing about you. You're basically my side piece."
Ouch. True, but ouch.
Nathaniel was too distracted to notice Rooster's hurt expression.
"I plan to tell Marc tonight. It's why I texted him. Which is why I didn't think you would still come here in this cold weather." Nathaniel ruffled the hero's crimson hair, making a mess. Rooster Bold laughed at the situation.
It took a while for Rooster to comprehend what Nathaniel just said. He was going to expose their relationship to...well, himself. Marc is Rooster Bold. Should he be worried?
He only has two options: Either be reveals his double life, or work out some fake polyamorous relationship. One seems a lot easier than the other.
"I should go. It would be better if you talked to Marc without me here." Rooster panickily stood up, and hopped outside the balcony before Nathaniel could even say goodbye.
That was weird.
But not weirder than going between two guys who know nothing about the other, Nathaniel thought.
Less than a minute later he heard a knock on the door, followed by his mom greeting his lover at the door. His sweet, handsome Marc finally arrived (very conveniently). Nathaniel warned Marc beforehand to tell a white lie to get past his fortress of a mother.
The freckled teen watched intently from the second floor banisters, observing the noiret making his way upstairs.
"Hi, Nath- woah!" Nathaniel quickly dragged Marc into his bedroom, looking like a guilty inmate on death row. "What's going on?" The writer questioned. He already knew, but acting oblivious was his best shot.
"I have something to tell you." Nathaniel's heart was pounding in his chest. Marc nodded and sat next to Nath on the bed.
"There's no easy way to say this but...I'm cheating on you. And I have been for a while."
Silence. Pure silence. Nath continues.
"I-I didn't plan on it — it was a mistake, honestly." Marc could hear the artist’s voice break. His heart sank. Nathaniel used his sleeve to wipe away the incoming tears. "It's okay if you want to break up with me. I...I don't deserve your love, Marc."
Nathaniel dropped his head, waiting for the wrath of his lover. But it didn't happen. Instead, the noiret bursted into a fit of laugher.
"Why the hell are you laughing??" Nathaniel was confused. Even more, he was angry. Marc isn't the type to laugh at bad news.
After a while, Marc calmed down and held his freckled boyfriend's face. He delicately wiped away his tears with amusement written all over him.
"Oh Nath..." Marc begun. "I should’ve made it more obvious. My apologies, really." The noiret giggled.
Before Nathaniel could question him, a huge flash of gold engulfed Marc and filled the room with its shining brilliance. The illustrator blinked a couple times to process who was now sitting infront of him.
Rooster Bold.
Holy shit.
At first, the redhead was completely speechless. Until he rapidly slapped the rooster on his arm and chest in rage.
"Ow- ow! Why are you hitting me?!"
"You made me feel like a horrible human being all these months! I felt like I could never love Marc or Rooster Bold at my full capacity!"
Nathaniel’s words caused a moment of realization for Rooster Bold.
"Is that why you wasn't sure if you wanted to go to prom with me? Because you were 'cheating' on me with...me?"
Nathaniel confirms by nodding his head slowly.
Seeing his freckled boyfriend so distressed...it didn't sit right with him at all. The hero wrapped his muscles around Nath, pulling him into a tight hug. Nathaniel accepted the embrace. Even in his superhero form, Marc's hugs still made him feel better.
"So...will you go to prom with me?" The illustrator asked.
"Hmm, I don’t know." Rooster replied with full mirth, obviously joking.
What a prankster.
The hero pulls the ginger into a searing kiss. Nathaniel uses a hand to grab Rooster Bold by the hair, tugging his head down to deepen the action.
With intent, the rooster lightly pushes Nath down on his back. Rooster upgrades to using his tongue in the illustrator's mouth while slyly putting his hand up his shirt. Nathaniel accepts the hero's effort to make up for the guilty makeout sessions in the past.
"Not bad for a side piece" Rooster says cheekily.
Nathaniel chuckled and squeezed the hero's arm.