Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Two: Fabien's Freedom

Chapter 122

Fabien’s Freedom

That evening, Percy was in his living room with his black pug, Shiro, beside him. He wore his red silk robe left open, exposing his nude body. He heard the door open and those familiar footsteps. He turned to see Jaxon standing in the entryway to his living room. He wore a black dress shirt with gold and red ombre paisley patterns and the buttons undone to expose his chest tattoo, tight black leather pants, and Chelsea boots. He had his Ray-Bans over his eyes. He lifted them and rested them on his head.

Jaxon: “What do you want, Percy?”

Percy smiled at him and batted his eyelashes. He rose and spread his arms out to Jaxon.

Percy: “Jaxon! A purr-leasure to see you, my pepper prince!”

He rested his hand on the small of Jaxon’s back and led him out to his bar.

Jaxon: “Is it more tickling from that fat guy in the frog suit?”

He groaned. Percy smirked and rubbed the small of his back.

Percy: “Is that something you want?”

Jaxon shook his head.

Jaxon: “Fuck no!”

He snapped. Percy smirked.

Percy: “Non, mon chéri, nothing like that.”

He massaged his shoulders and pulled out a bar stool for Jaxon. Jaxon sat down.

Jaxon: “Must be my lucky day.”

He said dryly.

Percy: “Define lucky.”

He winked and trailed his fingers through Jaxon’s hair.

Jaxon: “Not getting tickled by a fat guy in a frog suit?”

He shrugged. Percy threw his head back and gave a harsh bark of laughter. Jaxon withdrew a cigarette. Percy whipped out his lighter, and Jaxon leaned over as the flame lit his cigarette.

Percy: “No, my pepper prince, you’re in for a treat.”

He smiled tightly at him. He rested his head on his palms and gazed at Jaxon.

Percy poured one and a half parts each of apricot brandy, sloe gin, and lime juice into a cocktail glass and stirred it together. He garnished it with a red pepper on the rim. Jaxon took the red pepper and ate it. He then sipped the drink and raised his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “This is nice. Did you ever bartend?”

He asked him. Percy gazed at Jaxon.

Percy: “No, darling, I did not. It was something I picked up because no one could ever make cosmopolitans to perfection as I could, and now I make drinks for myself and special gentlemen in my life.”

He explained.

Jaxon: “I guess that’s lucky.”

He teased and inhaled a long drag.

Jaxon: “So what did you want to tell me?”

He asked and took another sip of his drink. Percy leaned in close to his face.

Percy: “Oh, it’s about brother dearest.”

Jaxon froze.

Jaxon: “What about him?”

Percy: “He thinks he can beat the trickster who invented the game.”

He whispered, taking a strand of Jaxon’s hair in his fingers and threading it through them. Jaxon pulled a face and inhaled sharply.

Jaxon: “Go on.”

He waved his hand at him. Percy took his hand and trailed his forefinger over it. Jaxon laughed and yanked it away, rubbing it on his thigh.

Jaxon: “No!”

He waved his forefinger at him. Percy smiled.

Percy: “Shall we dance?”

Jaxon: “More riddles?”

Percy held his hand out. Jaxon extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray.

Percy: “You know me, mon chéri.”

Jaxon nodded and took his hand. Percy turned on some smooth jazz music.

Percy rested his hand on the small of Jaxon’s back while taking his right hand in his left hand.

Percy: “Ichiro-kun has to feed the birds to get what he wants… He could say, ‘This day is for the birds.’ ”

He laughed and gazed into Jaxon’s almond brown eyes. Jaxon gazed up at the ceiling.

Jaxon: “Ichiro was never a bird lover. He was into cats. He has a cat named Lucifer.”

He explained as his voice trailed off.

Percy: “I never said he was a bird lover, my pepper prince.”

He teased.

Percy: “Her eyes are like the sun; don’t stare into them.”

Jaxon pursed his lips as he pondered his riddle. When it clicked, he locked his gaze on Percy with wide eyes.

Jaxon: “Hypno-bitch?!”

He gasped. Percy nodded.

Percy: “Exactement, my pepper prince.”

Jaxon laughed awkwardly.

Jaxon: “I, uh, knew about them from… Seashell Cove.”

He said as his voice trailed off.

Percy: “Of course, darling… but you see, Ichiro-kun has been ghosting her… and now that he needs her, he is back.”

He said softly. Jaxon looked away. He wasn’t surprised by this. He knew Ichiro was only around those who could further push his agenda.

Jaxon: “So you’re saying Ichiro needs Robin for something. What?”

He drummed his fingers on Percy’s shoulder. Percy chuckled.

Percy: “A teacher will learn a lesson in violence.”

He whispered. Jaxon gaped at him and drew a rough breath.

Jaxon: “What the fuck am I supposed to get from that?!”

He asked irritably. Percy laughed.

Percy: “The answer lies within these riddles, darling.”

He massaged the small of Jaxon’s back. Jaxon inhaled sharply.

Jaxon: “Yeah, and Ichiro will kill someone else while I figure out what you’re trying to tell me.”

He said wryly. Percy laughed a bit.

Percy: “Is that so bad?”

He teased. Jaxon pouted. He flicked his gaze to the pole on the stage in the bar and got an idea. I don’t have the time to deal with these fuckass riddles, he thought.

Jaxon: “Tell you what: if you get horny for me, you tell me the answers.”

He smirked. Percy’s jaw dropped, and he reddened.

Percy: “Wh-What?!”

He laughed awkwardly. Jaxon reached over, grabbed the remote, and changed the track. A funky beat with a soft snare drum and bass line plucked. High-pitched and soft feminine vocals hummed over the beat.

Jaxon turned around, put his hands behind his head, and swayed his hips. Percy placed his hands on Jaxon’s hips. He jumped away and turned to face him, waving his forefinger. He jumped on the stage with the pole, grabbed it, and started unbuttoning his shirt slowly. He pulled his shirt out of his pants and had his bare chest and torso exposed.

Jaxon spun around on the pole and grinned. He thrust his boot onto the table and bent his knee, leaning forward and swaying his hips side-by-side with his hand on his hip.

Percy gazed at him, mesmerized by his moves, his body, and him. Jaxon leaned on the stage, threw his head back, and locked his gaze on Percy, smirking at him. He kicked off his Chelsea boots, revealing his black sheer socked feet. He then slipped his socks off and fanned his toes out.

Jaxon lifted his leg, snaking it around the pole, and he slid himself against the pole, hanging his head upside down, bending his knee, and pointing his bare feet at Percy’s flustered face in a “Helix” position. Percy’s cheeks matched his ruby red eyes. Jaxon grinned and performed the inverted pike pose, pointing his bare feet at Percy. Percy licked his lips, drooling at the sight of him and the hint of peppermint.

Percy reached out to grab Jaxon’s feet. Jaxon jerked them away and playfully smacked his hand, waving his forefinger at him. Jaxon twirled around the pole and then leaned back, massaging his neck.

When the song ended, Jaxon knelt on stage.

Jaxon: “Well?”

He grinned.

Percy: “Nice show, darling!”

He clapped his hands.

Jaxon: “Did I turn you on?”

Percy: “I enjoyed watching you, but it didn’t hit the right note.”

He smirked. Jaxon’s face crumpled.

Jaxon: “What am I supposed to do then!?”

He snapped and jumped off the stage, buttoning his shirt and tucking it into his pants.

Percy chuckled.

Percy: “Riddle me this, love!”

He embraced him from behind. Jaxon wrenched from his grip.

Jaxon: “Don’t touch me!”

He hissed. Percy grabbed his ass, and Jaxon pulled it away from him.

Jaxon: “FUCK OFF!”

He slapped him hard across his face. Percy chuckled and touched his reddened cheek.

His hands flew out, grabbed Jaxon’s wrists, and pinned him against the wall. Jaxon glared furiously at him.

Jaxon: “Let me go.”

He hissed through clenched teeth.

Percy: “You’re helpless in my grasp, my pepper prince.”

He chuckled.

Jaxon: “Let. Me. Go.”

He said it slowly.

Percy: “Rather than playing your games, you could have solved my riddles, my sexy little spice prince.”

He laughed at him.

Jaxon: “I don’t have time to solve your cryptic bullshit when Ichiro is out causing mayhem!”

He spat.

Percy: “That doesn’t bother me, darling!”

Jaxon’s ire soared, and he tried to wrench from Percy’s grip.

Percy: “This reminds me of when we first met.”

He whispered. Jaxon bared his teeth.

Jaxon: “FUCK YOU!”

He screamed and tried to wrench free from his grip.

A wry smirk curled on Percy’s lips as he held Jaxon’s wrists with one hand and reached out to tickle his ribs and sides with the other. Jaxon burst out laughing and tried to squirm away.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! FUCK OHOHOHOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOFF!”

He shrieked with laughter and laughed harder when Percy tickled his neck.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHA!! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!”

Percy released his wrists, snaked his arm around Jaxon’s ankles, and dug his fingertips into Jaxon’s soft soles. Jaxon screamed with laughter.

Jaxon: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! YOU AAHAHAHAHAHHAHASSHOHOHOHOHOHOLE! FUHUHUCK YOHOHOHOHOHOHHU! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAAAA!!”

He laughed hard, writhing and thrashing around as the tickling overwhelmed him.

Jaxon then got a waft of Percy’s footstink and gagged on top of laughing.

Jaxon: “GEHEHEHEHEHEHEHET THOHOHOHOHOHOSE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA FUUHUHUHUCUKING FEHEHEHEHEHEHET AWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAY!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAA!!”

He laughed hard and coughed, trying to yank his head away from Percy’s feet.

Percy: “Oh, you like that, do you, my pepper prince?!”

He teased and smothered Jaxon’s face with his feet.

Jaxon: “AUUUGHHHHH!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! ARGH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed in between gagging and felt as if he was going to vomit.

Percy inhaled Jaxon’s soles and loved the sweet scent of peppermint. He then licked his soles with his split tongue.

Jaxon: “NOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO WAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! ARGH! FUUHUHUHUHUCK OHOHOHOHOFF!”

He whined.

Jaxon laughed, gagged, and coughed in between laughing. Percy stopped tickling him to gape at him and smiled widely. Jaxon puked all over his oriental rug. Percy’s ruby eyes sparkled as he witnessed Jaxon getting sick and took pictures of him.

Percy: “I love my princes, flaws and all!”

He cooed.

Jaxon: “Sh-Shut up, weirdo!”

He panted.

~

Jaxon sat on the couch in his house with Celeste snuggling him and sitting across from Tristan and Deimos, pouting after he told them all what happened at Percy’s house.

Tristan: “Next time, send me to deal with him. I can solve his riddles.”

Deimos put his hand on Tristan’s arm.

Deimos: “No, Tristan! It’s much too dangerous for you! I must accompany you to protect you!”

He said doggedly.

Celeste: “Jaxon did a sexy pole dance, and he didn’t give him the answers but made him sick.”

She lay on his lap. Jaxon smiled at her and patted her head.

Jaxon: “I didn’t want to solve his fuckass riddles; I wanted to know when Ichiro would strike.”

Tristan nodded.

Tristan: “Ichiro is going to strike on Friday night at Pink Top High to attack Toby Collins, who didn’t pay Robin’s bill.”

He folded his hands in front of his face.

Deimos: “Next time, bring Celeste, Jaxon, or bring me.”

He insisted.

Jaxon: “He doesn’t like you or Celeste. He would budge for me.”

Tristan: “Somewhat.”

He tilted his head. Jaxon’s face twisted with disgust.

Jaxon: “It’s those fucking gnarly feet. He was literally rubbing my face in them.”

He groused.

Jaxon: “And I puked on his oriental rug.”

He gagged and groaned. Celeste smirked.

Celeste: “Good boy!”

She pecked him on the lips. Jaxon returned the smirk.

Deimos rose from the couch.

Deimos: “I’m ordering Chinese take-out. It’s on me. What do you want?”

Celeste’s eyes lit up.

Celeste: “Ooooh, spring rolls, egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken, shrimp chow mein, beef fried rice, and pepper steak.”

Deimos: “Yes, Celeste, order the entire fucking restaurant.”

He said dryly.

Tristan: “The royal quintet is fine for me, along with some egg rolls.”

Deimos: “Tristan, you can get more. Anything for you.”

He said sweetly. Tristan blushed.

Tristan: “Almond chicken gai ding is also fine…”

Jaxon: “What is the royal quintet?”

Tristan: “Oh, it’s a stir-fry dish consisting of Chinese vegetables with five meats: lobster, shrimp, pork, beef, and chicken.”

Jaxon: “If they have curry chicken, fuck yeah. General Tso’s chicken, gyozas, beef lo mein, ginger beef, spring rolls, and egg rolls.”

Deimos: “Great, you and Celeste just eat the entire fucking restaurant.”

He huffed.

Celeste: “What about crab rangoon?”

Jaxon pulled a face.

Jaxon: “Babe, that’s gross. It has cream cheese in it. I got sick from Percy’s feet. I don’t need to have that in my face.”

He gagged. Deimos rolled his eyes and drew a long breath.

He picked up his cellphone and dialed the number for the Chinese restaurant.

~

The four were eating at the dining room table. Deimos, Tristan, and Celeste used forks, whereas Jaxon used chopsticks. Fabien entered the house and waved.

Fabien: “Hey, guys!”

Celeste: “Hey, Fab!”

He sat down with them.

Jaxon: “We didn’t invite you.”

He huffed.

Fabien: “I’m inviting myself!”

Jaxon: “You’re doing that a lot lately.”

He muttered. Tristan scrutinized Fabien and pondered. He’s not wrong, he thought.

Fabien helped himself to some of the food with a fork.

Tristan: “Is everything all right, Fabien?”

He asked him. Fabien smiled.

Fabien: “Yeah, I’m here with my favorite people! Why wouldn’t I be?”

He grinned. Celeste’s smile spread to show her razor-sharp teeth. Jaxon rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “Don’t you have to work tonight?”

He asked as he thrust a forkful of lo mein in his mouth.

Fabien: “Yeah, I do, but I want to eat and be with you guys before I go.”

He smiled and ate a spring roll. Tristan slowly chewed his food. He believed that, but something was off about Fabien’s responses and behavior lately.

~

After they ate, Fabien gasped. He took out some curry Cup Noodles from the cupboard.

Fabien: “Jaxon! This is from Shin-Yamato! Where you come from! Can I have it?”

Jaxon: “Fuck no! It’s MINE! Get your own!”

He snapped.

Tristan: “It’s just instant ramen, Jaxon.”

Jaxon: “And it’s mine!”

He huffed.

Fabien: “How do you and Celeste keep this place clean?”

Jaxon: “Noah cleans it for us. Celeste and I can get forgetful about that.”

He waved his hand.

Celeste: “Not our personal hygiene!”

She waved a cat feather wand at Jaxon’s neck.

Jaxon: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and squirmed.

Fabien leaped and rested himself over Jaxon’s lap. Jaxon gaped at him. Tristan raised an eyebrow.

Jaxon: “Uh, get the fuck off me.”

He huffed.

Fabien: “Spank me.”

He smirked.

Jaxon: “Fuck no!”

He snapped. Celeste grinned and raised her hands. She spanked his ass as if she were playing the bongos.

Jaxon: “What are you doing, babe?”

He laughed.

Fabien rose.

Fabien: “I get more action from a girl.”

He mumbled. Tristan locked his gaze on him.

Tristan: “Is there something you want to discuss, Fabien?”

Fabien: “No, I have to go to work. Thanks for the ramen, Jaxon.”

He smirked and blew a kiss. Jaxon flipped him off. Fabien chuckled and left.

Celeste: “Bad boy!”

She tickled his neck with the cat feather wand.

Jaxon: “AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! BAHAHAHBE?!”

He laughed and squirmed.

~

Fabien stepped out of his bedroom in his Danny Donger’s uniform and gaped at the mess of his house. He saw Gus on the couch, drinking beer from Craig’s stinky sneaker. He said nothing to him and left the house.

When he went to his Shelby, he saw Tristan standing on his lawn.

Tristan: “Salut.”

He waved.

Fabien: “Salut!”

Tristan: “Ça va, Fabien? Y a-t-il quelque chose dont tu dois discuter?”

He asked gently. Fabien put his hands up and smiled sadly.

Fabien: “Tout est merveilleux! Je suis très, très heureux!”

He opened his car door.

Tristan: “Es-tu sûr?”

He surveyed him. Fabien paused.

Fabien: “À plus tard, Tristan.”

He shut the car door and started the engine. He heaved a deep sigh. He shifted into first gear and drove down the driveway and onto the road. Tristan watched him go.

~

Percy sat at a long table at Danny Donger’s with Tickles the Clown, Louis, and a slender Asian woman whose face was obscured with an onna mask. She wore a hoodie, a pleated skirt, thigh-high stockings, and loafers.

Percy: “To celebrate my pepper prince getting sick on my antique rug, we’re dining at this fine establishment!”

He spread his arms out.

Percy: “And to welcome our newest member: Tsukiko! She doesn’t like to talk much or remove her mask. I can’t divulge the latest member just yet, but let me say this: Robin and Ichiro-kun are in deep doodoo.”

He chuckled.

Tickles: “Oh, boy, Ichiro may not be as ticklish as his brother, but Tickles the Clown always turns that frown upside down!”

He giggled.

Louis: “Well, the frog prince can give both brothers lots of tickles! And if they don’t want a frog, I can be an ice cream cone!”

He laughed.

Percy: “That would be wonderful, darling. I will not allow anyone to kill Ichiro, as that is reserved for my pepper prince, but I can toy with my prey.”

He giggled.

Fabien approached their table.

Fabien: “Hello, welcome to Danny Donger’s. My name is Fabien and I will be your waiter. What can I get you?”

He smiled at them.

Percy: “To start, darling, a cosmopolitan would be lovely.”

He purred.

Tickles: “A unicorn ice cream float!”

He tickled Fabien’s tummy. Fabien drew back and laughed.

Fabien: “Hahahahahahahahahaha!”

He laughed and put his hands up.

Louis: “Kero, kero! A grasshopper because frogs eat them!”

Percy: “And a cola for her. She doesn’t speak, darling.”

Fabien jotted it down on his pad.

Percy peered into his face and rested his hand on the small of Fabien’s back. Fabien shivered and flashed him a smile.

~

As Percy and his gang ate, Percy locked his gaze on Fabien. He signaled him to come over. Fabien nodded and approached them.

Fabien: “Is it all on one bill?”

Percy: “Yes, love. Come sit down.”

Fabien paused and was going to sit on the empty chair, but Percy took his hand, guided him toward him, and gently rested him on his lap. Fabien reddened.

Percy: “You look downtrodden. Is everything okay, my darling?”

Fabien paused.

Fabien: “I’m fine.”

He stammered. Percy raked his fingers through his hair.

Percy: “Non, darling, I don’t believe that.”

He purred. Fabien pursed his lips.

Fabien: “Uh, I don’t know. I think things are getting… crappy with my boyfriend. We’ve been… growing apart.”

He admitted. Percy trailed his finger over his nipple, and Fabien shivered all over with arousal.

Fabien: “I don’t know what happened… It was going south before, and… when I told a friend of mine about… an attempted sexual assault, he went ballistic at me for not telling him… My house is a mess. He sits around in his underwear watching crappy shows.”

Percy: “With you around, this is what he does?! Scandalous!”

He purred. Fabien blushed.

Percy: “How could anyone take their eyes off you?”

He smirked. Fabien bit his bottom lip and reddened.

Percy: “You deserve more, Fabien… So much more…”

He whispered and leaned closer to him. Fabien’s eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to Percy as they kissed deeply.

Ivy sat at the table with Yoshi and Blair, taking pictures with her Polaroid of Fabien and Percy kissing.

~

Craig was holding up a sign at Voyage Burger that read, “Bogo: Destrukto Meals.” Ivy approached Craig.

Ivy: “Ni Hao, Craig!”

He waved her hand at him. Craig turned to her with a glare.

Craig: “The fuck do you want?”

He asked sharply.

Ivy: “Is that any way to greet someone who is here to tell you about something?”

She reached into her purse and withdrew Polaroid photos.

Ivy: “Your boyfriend is in a rut and won’t be coming home tonight.”

She smirked. Craig’s eyebrows rose surprisingly.

Craig: “The fuck is that supposed to mean?! What do you mean Fab won’t come home?!”

He gaped at her for answers.

Ivy showed him the Polaroids of Percy resting his hand on Fabien’s back, Fabien on his lap, Fabien and him making out, Fabien leaving with him, and Fabien entering Percy’s home. Craig’s heart sank at what he saw.

Craig: “Who does that shiny pink fuck think he is?!”

He rasped and crushed the photo in his fists.

Ivy: “Go confront him and fight for him, Craig.”

She grinned tightly. Craig had a determined glint in his eyes for some violence.

Craig: “HE’S GOING THE FUCK DOWN!”

He removed and threw his burger head to the ground, and marched to his jeep. Ivy watched him go and grinned.

~

When Craig’s jeep arrived at Percy’s home, he stormed out and entered the house. The lights were off, and he heard Fabien moaning coming from upstairs. Craig’s heart hammered in his chest.

Craig: “Fab?”

He knit his eyebrows and trembled.

Fabien was in Percy’s bedroom, on top of him, moaning as Percy’s entered his anus and thrust into him.

Fabien: “Oh, fuck!”

He threw his head back as he rode on Percy’s dick. Percy sat up and trailed his mouth over Fabien’s neck, inhaling his sweet cologne and caressing his soft body.

Suddenly, the door burst open with Craig’s boot in the air.

Craig: “OI! GET THE FUCK OFF MY MAN, YOU PINK CUNT!”

He protested, glaring at Percy. Fabien jumped and turned around. Percy smirked at Craig.

Percy: “Who are you to barge into my home uninvited, caveman? Can’t you tell we’re two adults and busy? It’s past your bedtime.”

He grinned at him.

Fabien’s heart hammered in his chest. Who told Craig?! He wondered. Craig swallowed the lump in his throat and trembled, looking at Fabien with hurt written across his face.

Craig: “H-How could you, Fab?!”

He whimpered.

Craig: “How could ya do this to me with THAT pink thing!?”

He wailed, pointing at Percy with disgust and hatred. Percy smirked at Craig. Fabien eased himself out of Percy.

Fabien: “I don’t know, Craig. I guess I am SICK OF MY HOUSE BEING A MESS! I AM SICK OF YOU SITTING AROUND AND WATCHING SHITTY SHOWS IN YOUR UNDERWEAR! And you broke my bong! You never replaced it!”

He snapped and pounded on his chest with tears in his eyes. Craig recoiled, and his bottom lip trembled.

He shifted his rage onto Percy.

Craig: “YOU! This is all YOUR fault!”

He rasped and marched up to Percy, picking up a cheetah ornament and throwing it onto the floor.

Craig: “You fuckin’ CHEATER!”

He huffed. Percy zipped to him and grinned.

Percy: “Aren’t you the witty one?”

He delivered a karate chop to his neck, the impact sending him out of the room and into the corridor. Craig winced and wheezed in pain.

Percy sauntered out of the room and into the foyer.

Percy: “Foolish caveman. DO you think you can take me on?”

He grinned. Craig panted with rage, locking his glare on him.

Craig: “Fuckin’ oath, dickhead! Bring it on! Fab is MY man!”

He staggered to his feet, spreading his legs apart in a stance with his fists raised to take him on and fight for his man. Percy zipped to him faster than the speed of light and delivered a roundhouse kick, sending Craig flying and crashing downstairs. Craig grunted and wheezed as he was thrown around like a ragdoll.

Percy laughed as he went downstairs.

Percy: “Give up, darling! You can’t beat moi!”

He bowed. Craig glared at him.

Craig: “Darling?! Don’t fuckin’ call me that, dickhead!”

He rasped, staggering to his feet to lunge at him. Percy delivered a high kick, sending Craig flying and crashing into his cheetah coffee table, smashing it. Craig rasped in pain as shards of broken glass pierced his rough skin.

Craig: “Y-You fucker!”

He struggled between short breaths.

Percy: “I admire your determination, my magical friend.”

He said genially.

Fabien came downstairs dressed in his Danny Donger’s uniform.

Fabien: “That’s enough!”

He said firmly to Percy. Percy grinned and raised his eyebrows.

Fabien: “Craig and I need to talk.”

He said to him and drew a long breath. Fabien knelt to Craig to tend to him. He knit his eyebrows. Craig knit his eyebrows and gazed up at him with hurt in his eyes. Fabien helped Craig up.

Fabien: “Come on, let’s go home.”

He said softly.

Craig: “Let's get the fuck outta here.”

He said between clenched teeth, glaring at Percy. Fabien nodded and drew a long breath.

~

When Fabien and Craig were home, Fabien tended to Craig’s wounds with peroxide and cotton balls.

Fabien: “I don’t know if Jaxon will heal you, but Deimos will when I see him.”

He muttered. Craig wordlessly pouted.

Fabien: “...What’s going to happen to us, Craig?”

He finally said and put the peroxide on the table. Craig froze and paused.

Fabien: “Because I don’t know about you, but I am done with whatever this is. I’m sick of the constant mess, you sitting in your underwear watching shitty shows, you break my things and don’t attempt to replace them, and you fucking snapped at ME because someone else almost raped me a year ago! I thought if you got powers, it would improve but no, it’s the same shit, except you have gils now!”

He snapped with hurt in his tone.

Craig: “What, so you’re leavin’ me for that pink fucker cos I sit around in my underwear?! I said I was sorry for snapping at ya! You told fuckin’ JAXON instead of me!”

He snapped with hurt.

Fabien: “I never wanted to leave Jaxon… I had a connection with him, but he’s with our stray, and I am happy for her, but a part of me feels I missed out because of YOU!”

He thundered and threw the bottle of peroxide at Craig. Craig froze as he felt like a jagged blade was being driven through his chest.

Craig: “I FUCKING’ KNEW IT! You STILL wanted him! You wanted that rockstar douche who threw ya at a mirror instead of me?!”

He snapped at him.

Fabien: “I THREW MYSELF IN THE MIRROR! I wanted him to be punished because he was hot for Tristan!”

He fired back. Craig’s eyes widened with shock.

Craig: “WH-WHAT?!”

He gaped at him.

Craig: “HOW COULD YOU, FAB?!”

He bawled.

Craig: “You cheated on me with that rockstar douche and that pink fucker!”

He bawled.

Fabien: “Because I am unhappy with you, Craig!”

He cried.

Fabien: “I wanted to be with Jaxon! We had a connection and I ruined that because of YOU!”

He sobbed. Craig recoiled and staggered back. His bottom lip trembled.

Craig: “I-I thought WE had a connection?! Why the fuck did you stay with me then?!”

Fabien: “I don’t know?! I ruined that bond with Jaxon because of you! I ruined a lot because of YOU, and you dare to snap at me for not disclosing something I KNEW you wouldn’t understand?!”

He bawled through hot tears.

Craig: “FINE, Then go be with your rockstar douchebag!”

He snapped back at him.

Fabien: “He’s with my stray!”

He cried.

Craig: “FINE! Then go be with that pink dickhead then!”

He cried and fired back at him.

Fabien: “I just met him and he invited me back for sex. I don’t have a connection. I was craving a man’s touch.”

He embraced himself.

Craig looked away from him.

Craig: “WHAT ABOUT ME?!”

He snapped.

Fabien: “Yeah, sitting in your fuckin’ underwear and watching shitty shows. Maybe I just don’t want it from you anymore, Craig.”

He huffed.

Fabien: “You fucked it up when I went with Jaxon. I should have stayed away from you. I never should have thrown myself in the mirror. I could have worked it out with him. I could have been happy with him, but no, I threw that away for a useless idiot.”

He said venomously. Craig glared at him, overcome with hurt.

Craig: “Oh, I fucked it up?! YOU fucked it up when YOU went off with another man ‘n now you’re whining about HIM?! You fuckin’ CHEATED on me, Fab! If you weren’t happy with me, why the fuck did you stay with me?!”

He spat furiously, feeling betrayed.

Fabien: “Why did you stay after I went with Jaxon?”

He asked him. Craig threw his head back and laughed bitterly.

Craig: “I dunno, cos I’m an IDIOT? I thought you loved me ‘n I didn’t think you’d do this shit again!”

He said bitterly.

Fabien: “Well, you’re right that you’re an idiot, but wrong about me doing it again because I did. I would have done it with Jaxon, and I keep flirting with him.”

He shrugged.

Craig: “Then go fuck him then! Oh, wait, YOU CAN’T! He doesn’t love ya! But I did ‘n you threw me away for some fucker who doesn’t love ya!”

He snapped. Fabien looked around at the messy house and then at Craig.

Fabien: “...You love me? Why is my house a mess? Why do you break my shit and never replace it? Why do you NEVER indulge my fetishes? Why did you snap at me for NOT disclosing when someone ALMOST raped me?! You don’t fucking love me!”

He said bitterly. Craig recoiled at the sharpness of his words, stabbing at him like a jagged blade.

Craig: “You think Jaxon would’a been any different?! He doesn’t love you, and where is he fightin’ for ya? Oh, yeah, I was fighting for ya ‘n saving your life!”

He fired back.

Fabien: “When I told Jaxon I was almost raped, he was actually very kind and supportive… unlike you.”

He growled.

Fabien: “If Celeste told him that, he would be kind and supportive of her, too. He’s very good to Celeste. He treats her well. It’s nothing like how you treat me. You treat me like shit, Craig. Andreas relies way too much on his children’s card game, but he is right about you. A broken clock is right twice a day.”

Craig swallowed hard.

Craig: “So that’s it then?! If I’m so shitty, why the fuck are you still here?!”

He fired back.

Fabien: “...It’s my house…”

He said slowly.

Fabien: “Why are you here?”

Craig’s heart sank, and everything seemed quiet except for the crickets.

Craig: “I… don’t know anymore.”

He frowned and bowed his head.

Craig: “I’m outta here.”

He stormed off to the bedroom, grabbing his guitar and his pile of clothes to leave. Fabien drew a long breath and wiped his eyes. He went to the couch to sit down and didn’t have a bong to smoke from.

Fabien: “Au revoir, Craig.”

He finally said. Craig wiped his eyes as he stormed out.

Jaxon was sitting on the front patio, having a smoke and reading a manga in Japanese. He had his sheer socked feet resting up on the railing when Craig barged out of the house like a mad hornet. He flared up with rage when he saw him.

Craig: “YOU FUCKING HOMEWRECKER!”

He snapped at him.

Craig: “HE’S ALL YOURS NOW!”

He added. Jaxon lowered his book and gaped at him.

Jaxon: “The fuck are you on about?”

Craig glared at him.

Craig: “HE FUCKING WANTS YOU! AND CHEATED WITH SOME PINK DICKHEAD!”

He snapped at him.

Jaxon: “...Why is that my problem?”

He glared at him. Craig threw his arms up.

Craig: “YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!”

He snapped at Jaxon through heartbroken tears of betrayal.

Jaxon: “Not my fault, I’m so lovable.”

He said smugly.

Craig glared at him.

Craig: “FUCK YOU!”

He rasped, delivering a punch to his face. Jaxon knocked back from the blow and healed himself. He glowered at Craig.

Jaxon: “Big fucking mistake.”

He rasped. He delivered a blow to his stomach, grabbed his arm, and tossed him in the cactus garden.

Jaxon: “Take that, you fucking bogan.”

He spat at him. Craig winced and wheezed, wailing in pain as he was pierced all over with catci needles.

Tristan stood over Craig.

Tristan: “Leave. Now.”

He ordered.

Tristan: “Whatever you had with Fabien was over when he first went with Jaxon. Leave or I will interfere.”

He said coolly. Craig glared at them all.

Craig: “FUCK ALL OF YOU CUNTS!”

He snapped and glared at them all, marching to his Jeep and getting in. He turned up his speakers and drove off with a loud screech, knocking over Jaclyn’s mailbox as he sped off.

Tristan: “Keep it classy, Craig. You’re as pleasant as always.”

He said dryly. Celeste was behind Jaxon and looked up at him and at Tristan.

Celeste: “Is he gone for good?”

Jaxon: “I hope so, babe.”

Tristan: “I want that but no, I don’t think so.”

He turned to Fabien’s house.

~

Tristan entered Fabien’s house and saw Fabien going around cleaning up.

Tristan: “Need help?”

Fabien: “Yes, I would love that.”

He said genially. Tristan took a garbage bag and went around gathering the mess.

Fabien: “You know…, I thought I would be sad about this… but I’m not? I feel relieved.”

He said breathlessly.

Tristan: “Fabien, this relationship should have ended when you first went to Jaxon to that hotel.”

Fabien bowed his head.

Fabien: “Jaxon and I had a connection… I threw it away for that idiot, but… I’m not angry.”

He looked out the window at Celeste snuggling Jaxon on their front patio.

Fabien: “I’m happy our stray found love.”

He sighed wistfully.

Tristan: “You need to apologize for the mayhem you caused Jaxon. I already did. I didn’t do it for any ulterior motive. He has been through enough, Fabien, and his brother, Ichiro, is making things worse.”

He said firmly but gently.

Fabien: “Yeah…”

He drew a long breath.