Chapter Seventy-Two: Brawl

Chapter 72

Brawl

Celeste and Jaxon checked into another room after BahLoon exploded and made a mess of the other room. The room was light purple with a light purple upholstered platform bed with purple neon lights on the edge of the ceiling and floor, a window with a view of Little Tokyo. Celeste stood in the doorway, wearing a black camisole and black lacy panties. Jaxon eyed her hungrily and bit his lip.

Jaxon: “Hot!”

He purred. She strolled over to the bed, lifted the sheets and climbed into bed with him. Jaxon put his arm around her.

Jaxon: “Sweet dreams! My dream came true!”

He purred. Celeste trailed her nails over his chest.

Celeste: “I am thrilled you want to sleep with me, Jaxon. We’re not having sex.”

She grinned showing her razor sharp teeth.

Jaxon: “Are you sure about that?”

He purred, lifting the bed sheets to reveal his naked body to her. She looked down and rested her head on his chest.

Celeste: “I am sure.”

She smiled and nuzzled against his chest. Jaxon gaped at her reaction.

Celeste: “You’re lucky I agreed to this…”

She said softly.

Jaxon: “Yeah… lucky.”

He glanced down at her cleavage.

Celeste: “What do you think of black metal?”

She asked.

Jaxon: “Music for boring nerds and poseurs.”

He laughed. Celeste chuckled.

Celeste: “Deimos and Tristan said Lord Kradula was floating around the Video and Card shop. I also knew of a kid who was into black metal and he huffs roadkill in paper bags and keeps a dead crow in a jar.”

She laughed and traced her fingernails over his chest. Jaxon shivered and laughed.

Jaxon: “Bunch of losers!”

Celeste: “What does the tattoo mean?”

Jaxon: “Oh, I just like dragons!”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Why dragons? I noticed your robe has one on the back, too.”

She said as her voice trailed off.

Jaxon: “I dunno. I just think they’re cool?”

He laughed and shrugged. She nodded.

Celeste: “Fair enough!”

She looked up at him with her violet eyes.

Celeste: “Thanks for using your earring to pierce that balloon thing.”

She said in a small voice.

Jaxon: “No worries! Glad I’m your hero!”

He said loftily. She smirked.

Celeste: “Seeing how I saved you often, I guess you can be my hero for once.”

She teased him.

Jaxon: “I’m happy with that!”

He grinned at her.

Celeste: “What would you do if your ex-fiancée came back for you?”

She looked up at him.

Jaxon: “Run?”

He laughed.

Celeste: “Do you love me, Jaxon?”

Jaxon: “I told you… I don’t do the love thing.”

He said awkwardly and blushed.

Celeste: “I know what you said. What does your body say, though?”

Jaxon: “Well, you tell me!”

He lifted the bedsheet, showing her his hardened member. She flicked her gaze on it.

She leaned back and spread her legs. She put her hand over her feminine core and ran her forefinger up and down her panties, tracing her vulva. Jaxon’s jaw dropped, and he slowly stroked his member as he watched her stroke her feminine core.

Jaxon: “O-Oh god damn!”

He drooled. She locked her gaze on him and flashed him her bare pussy. Jaxon bit his bottom lip, trembling all over with arousal, and his penis throbbed. She continued stroking her vulva, the lace rubbing against her clit. She rolled up her camisole, baring her breasts and stiff nipples. Jaxon threw his head back and moaned as he stroked his dick to her show.

She leaned back, grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and glided it between her breasts and put it into her mouth, thrusting it in. Jaxon bit his bottom lip.

Jaxon: “God damn! Fuck meeee!”

He begged and pleaded with her, stroking his cock. She smiled and thrust the banana deep down her throat. Jaxon grunted, feeling an aching, longing sensation in his balls. He wanted to cum but she was teasing him and toying him. He wanted to release his load in her but he couldn’t hold on any longer. He finally relented and climaxed, cumming all over himself.

Celeste cupped her mouth and giggled. Jaxon flopped back as his penis went limp, panting, as the aching in his testicles started to dispate.

Jaxon: “I want to fuck you sooooo bad!”

He whined. She bared her razor sharp grin.

Celeste: “I know.”

Jaxon: “Come on, you wanna fuck me badly!”

He teased.

Celeste: “Even if I wanted to, I don’t think you can handle it right now.”

She glanced at his flaccid penis and giggled.

Jaxon: “What can’t I handle?”

He asked. She leaned over and kissed his lips softly.

Celeste: “...Me.”

She whispered. He shivered.

Jaxon: “Oh, I think I can handle that!”

Celeste: “We have a mess to clean up.”

She smirked and nodded to the cum all over himself. Jaxon flicked his gaze down at himself.

Jaxon: “That we do.”

~

After Celeste made Jaxon shower and clean himself, she changed the sheets and curled up in bed, sleeping on his chest. Jaxon grinned at her, putting his arm around her. God, how I want you so badly, he thought as he stared down at her as she slept.

~

Fabien sat on the couch. He wore a short-sleeved button-up shirt with an all-over black and white print of Pink Top City and jeans. He was watching Unresolved Enigmas with a bong in his hands. It was a long Pyrex glass piece with a neon green gradient down the neck. There was a chamber in the neck for ice cubes, making it a smoother hit. He lit up the green glass cone piece and placed his mouth over the mouthpiece. He slowly inhaled the smoke as he kept it lit. He then pulled up the glass stem piece and slowly exhaled his smoke.

Craig sauntered into the room, laughing and fanning his face.

Craig: “Ohh, you’re smokin’ hot!”

He teased him. Fabien laughed.

Fabien: “Thanks, I know.”

He drawled.

He watched the segment on Unresolved Enigmas, in which the host showed a picture of an obese white man with a green moustache, unkempt green hair, a dirty trucker hat, and a red plaid shirt. The host said that Finley Lloyd has been missing for a year, and the police are on the lookout for him. Fabien twisted his mouth and changed the channel.

Craig: “HEY! I was watchin’ that!”

He pouted.

A commercial for the Salty Dog Saloon played. It was a bar on the boardwalk where you can adopt dogs, bring your dog, and order a beer. Craig’s face lit up.

Craig: “DOGGOS?!”

He gasped. Fabien shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Fabien: “Yes, you can go down and pet them. That’s it.”

He said quickly and took another hit.

Craig: “B-But what if I find my forever doggo and want to bring him to his forever home?!”

He whimpered with big puppy dog eyes. Fabien winced recalling being cornered and bitten by a dog.

Fabien: “I don’t want a dog.”

He said sharply.

Craig: “B-But you have a dog! Me!”

He gestured to himself, getting down on his knees and circling him. Fabien shifted his eyes and laughed awkwardly.

Fabien: “And that is the only dog I ever want.”

He petted him. Craig rubbed up against him, wagging his tongue.

Craig: “Woof!”

He licked his foot. Fabien burst out laughing and kicked his foot.

Fabien: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

He laughed and set his bong on the end table. Craig pounced on him, slobbered his feet. Fabien laughed and kicked his feet.

Suddenly, they were interrupted by a loud glass smash and a swampy smell filling the room. Craig gasped when he saw the bong shattered across the floor with murky bong water stretching across the floorboards.

Craig: “AH, FUCK! It smells like Gus’ feet!”

He cupped his mouth. Fabien shook his head and slapped the arm of the chair.

Fabien: “Why… WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!”

He snapped at him. Craig knit his eyebrows.

Craig: “I-I’m sorry, Fab! I’ll get you a new bong!”

He whimpered.

Fabien: “It’s NOT just THAT! It’s you acting like a dog and wanting a dog! STOP THAT!”

He shrieked. Craig recoiled, taken aback.

Craig: “Wh-What’s wrong with doggos?!”

He whined. Fabien panted and pulled at his hair.

Fabien: “EVERYTHING! They attack you and they can kill you! I DON’T WANT ONE! How would you feel if we got a snake in the house?!”

He rose and barked at him. Craig’s bottom lip trembled.

Craig: “I never had a dog do that to me! I’ve always had good boys! Shitty people make shitty doggos! WHAT?! A SNAKE?! Dogs ain’t anything like snakes!”

He knit his eyebrows.

Fabien: “Snakes are to you what dogs are to me! I said NO and my say is FINAL!”

He snapped and shoved him. Craig pursed his lips.

Craig: “H-How could you hate doggos?! What did they ever do to you?!”

He pressed him.

Fabien embraced himself.

Fabien: “They attacked me! If I didn’t have these… powers I have, I would’ve been dead or lost a limb.”

He trembled. Craig knit his eyebrows.

Craig: “I’m sorry, Fab… I didn’t know… whoever owned those doggos must have been a shitty person!”

Fabien shifted his eyes.

Fabien: “Before I applied for a waiter position at Danny Donger’s, I was a delivery boy for Pizzas, Gyros, & More! They gave me the car to drive and I would deliver pizzas. So many dogs attacked me…”

He explained as his voice trailed off and he thought of Finley Lloyd. Craig pursed his lips.

Craig: “I’m sorry, Fab…”

He wrapped his arms around him. Fabien relaxed to his embrace and turned around to hug him.

Fabien: “One man… had his pitbull corner and attack me.”

He added and trembled.

Craig: “Fuck that asshole! Why’d he do that for?!”

He growled, getting heated up as he held him close to him. Fabien froze in his arms and looked away.

Fabien: “I guess he didn’t want to pay for his pizzas.”

He muttered.

Craig: “WHAT A JERK!”

He thundered. Fabien didn’t answer him or reply. He just remained in his arms.

Craig: “I ain’t ever gonna let that happen to you again!”

He assured him in his arms. Fabien looked up at him and smiled.

Fabien: “Thanks, Craig. I know.”

He said softly.

Craig: “Let’s get ya a new bong!”

He laughed and shook his head at it.

Fabien: “I should clean this up. Don’t worry about it.”

He muttered and started to sweep up the glass.

Craig: “I should get ya a new one, though.”

He insisted.

Fabien: “All right.”

He smiled and cleaned up the mess.

~

Deimos and Tristan were in Deimos’ bed talking. Deimos wore red plaid pajamas and Tristan wore silver silk pajamas. They discussed the success of Sparaktikós.

Deimos: “Sparaktikós is getting EXCELLENT reviews! So far, it has achieved gold status and this is in the span of a few days!”

He said as his eyes glittered. Tristan found his passion contagious and kissed him.

Tristan: “I am SO proud of you!”

Deimos grinned and snaked his arm around Tristan.

Deimos: “Thanks, it’s all because of you I am here.”

They kissed again.

Deimos: “We had a nice quiet meal of Chinese food… no Celeste to steal it. Where is she? Someone hire a hit?”

Tristan paused and looked away. Deimos gazed at Tristan, feeling anxiety form in his stomach.

Deimos: “Where is she, Tristan?”

He asked, taking on a sharper note. Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan: “After I got out of court, I saw her go in Jaxon’s car.”

Deimos’ expression darkened and he threw his arms up.

Deimos: “WHY am I learning about this NOW?!”

He flared. Tristan put his hands up.

Tristan: “Allow me to finish.”

He said gently. Deimos looked away and cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “They went to Peach Rain to talk. He wants her in his music video.”

Deimos: “She is NOT going to do anything for him.”

He growled through clenched teeth.

Tristan: “She made that abundantly clear, Deimos.”

He said firmly but gently.

Tristan: “Then Robin sent a balloon monster after us that made terrible balloon puns and tried to kill us. I took it out.”

He said quickly. Deimos blinked and then his jaw dropped.

Deimos: “...WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME SOONER, TRISTAN?!”

He knit his eyebrows.

Tristan: “Because whenever Jaxon is mentioned or around, THIS happens!”

He cried. Deimos sighed and hung his head.

Deimos: “I don’t care about that pigfuck! Robin sent a monster after YOU and you could have been hurt!”

He exclaimed and pulled Tristan into a hug.

Deimos: “I don’t care about Jaxon… I don’t want you hurt! You could have told me and it hurts me you didn’t tell me because of the way I am!”

He said as his bottom lip trembled, caressing his hair.

Tristan: “I’m sorry, Deimos…”

He sniffled and put his arms around him.

Deimos: “I am the one who should be sorry…”

He sighed.

He gazed into Tristan’s eyes and the two kissed again.

Deimos: “I love you so much.”

He traced his thumb over Tristan’s soft lips.

Tristan: “I love you, too.”

He whispered and they kissed again.

~

Later that night, Deimos turned his head to see Tristan had fallen asleep. Deimos rolled over and kissed his head. He reached over and put his glasses on. He rose from bed, got undressed and opened his closet. He got a Venom tank top and knelt to his drawer in the bed to get a pair of torn jeans and a pair of socks. He put the tank top on, slid into his jeans, and put his socks on. He got his leather jacket draped over his desk chair and left the room to go downstairs.

When he got downstairs, he shrugged into his jacket, put on his cowboy boots, and went out the door to his car. He got inside, put the key in the ignition, and looked behind his shoulder as he backed out of the driveway. He then shifted into first gear and drove down the road.

~

Deimos drove through Little Tokyo that night. The bright neon lights everywhere were almost blinding. He saw Peach Rain from a distance. He narrowed his eyes, put on his signal, and turned right into the parking lot.

~

Someone knocked on the door to Jaxon’s and Celeste’s room. Someone said on the other end, “Room service! Here to suck you off!” Jaxon smirked and rose, throwing his silk robe over himself.

Jaxon: “Oh, about time!”

He joked, opening the door. Jaxon was then punched across the room. He crashed into the table, knocking the TV over and the screen cracked.

Jaxon: “H-HEY?! WHAT THE FUCK?!”

He wiped his nose and saw blood. Deimos stood before him.

Deimos: “YOU! I told you to stay away from my friends and me, you son-of-a-bitch!”

He roared. Jaxon rubbed where he hit him.

Jaxon: “What are you? Her dad or something? She wants to be with ME, pops!”

He huffed.

Deimos: “You know what? Fuck you! She doesn’t deserve a piece of shit like you!”

He snapped and lunged at him. He got on top of him and delivered a right hook to his jaw. Jaxon screamed in pain.

Jaxon: “ARGHH! Celeste! Your dad is here! Get him off me!”

He cried out for her, rubbing his jaw. Deimos punched him across the room again. Jaxon crashed into the wall, making a huge dent in it. Celeste groggily woke up.

Celeste: “That’s Deimos.”

She laid back down and dozed off to sleep.

Jaxon: “HEY! GET HIM TO STOP!”

He rasped, pleading with her.

Deimos: “Stop getting her to fight your battles for you, you lazy piece of shit and fight me like a man!”

He bellowed, grabbed and slammed him out of the room against the wall.

Jaxon: “ARGHH! NO! GET OFF ME!”

He rasped, kicking at him in his grip. Deimos slammed against the wall, knocking a picture over, and it fell to the floor and smashed.

Deimos lunged at him, grabbed his robe and slammed him on the floor. Jaxon kicked him several times in the sides and kneed him in the stomach. Deimos grunted with each blow. Jaxon slammed his palm against his face, the blow sent Deimos into the door. Deimos panted and sneered at him as blood dripped from his nose. A purple glow surrounded him and he healed himself.

Deimos: “I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!”

He roared at the top of his lungs. He went to strike Jaxon but he blocked the attack and raised his leg to kick him. Deimos grabbed it and flipped him on the floor. Jaxon grabbed Deimos’ leg and pulled him toward him. The two slipped and fell over several flights of stairs.

They landed on the bottom of the stairs with a mighty crash. Deimos was sore all over and ached. A purple glow surrounded him as he healed himself again. Jaxon staggered up with a huge bruise on his face and bruises on his shoulders and sides.

Deimos: “Where’s your fucking sugar daddy, bitch? He can’t grab my brother’s crush to threaten me to heal you this time?”

He asked acidly. Jaxon glared at him, panting and clutching his wounds.

Jaxon: “You wouldn’t kill me!”

He laughed at him. Deimos braced his feet apart and put his fists up.

Deimos: “Don’t fucking tempt me.”

He growled.

Jaxon: “You kill me, Percy will kill you… and take your Ice Prince.”

He taunted. Deimos gave him the coldest death glare.

Deimos: “You did not go there!”

He said coldly and delivered a mighty blow to his jaw. Jaxon fell back hitting the floor. He winced and kicked Deimos into a glass shelf displaying geisha dolls. Deimos fell onto the floor and Jaxon knocked the shelf on Deimos, crashing it on him. Deimos growled and panted as he pulled the glass out of his hand and lifted the shelf off him.

He slammed his body against Jaxon and they crashed outside on the pavement. Jaxon and Deimos both skinned their knees. Deimos bared his teeth and staggered to get up. A purple glow surrounded him and his wounds dissipated.

Deimos: “I’ll fuck you up! You don’t EVER speak of Tristan! You attacked him after he refused your advances! You son-of-a-BITCH!”

He charged after him and raised his fist.

They heard a man call out, “Deimos!” Deimos stopped dead in his tracks as he recognized that voice. He slowly turned his head to see his father, Giorgos, with a middle-aged Asian man with an inverted triangle face, slicked back hair, round glasses over his eyes, and wearing an American-cut suit. The two men stepped out of Club Swan, which was a hostess club in Little Tokyo.

Giorgos: “Deimos! What on Reona are you doing?!”

He queried sharply.

Deimos: “Dad?! What are you doing here?”

Giorgos stiffened his upper lip. Jaxon’s head spun with confusion.

Jaxon: “Dad?! What the hell?!”

He grunted in pain.

Hiroto Tachibana was Jaxon’s father, and Giorgos’ friend.

Hiroto: “What are you doing, Jiro? In this… place and fighting like thugs?”

He asked sharply.

Giorgos: “We did discuss how Jiro and Deimos both disappoint us and this isn’t helping.”

He sneered at Deimos who glared at his father. Jaxon huffed.

Jaxon: “Get off my case, dad! What are you doing with HIS dad?!”

He pointed at Deimos.

Hiroto: “Jiro, we’re good friends. If you kept in touch with the family, you would know this. Why can’t you be more like Ichiro?”

He shook his head and sighed. Jaxon flared at his father.

Jaxon: “I go by JAXON now. I’m NOT ICHIRO!”

Hiroto waved his hand dismissively at him.

Hiroto: “Or Maxwell Malone. George wrote me to tell me his son sold diamond on his latest album. I always knew that boy was a genius.”

He said loftily.

Jaxon: “HE’S NOT A GENIUS! HE’S A CLOWN!”

He screamed. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Deimos: “He only sold so much so people could laugh at him.”

He muttered.

Jaxon: “Fucking THANK YOU!”

He huffed.

Hiroto: “Why didn’t you marry Nariko, Jiro? She’s looking for you. Come back to the family and do your duties and be a good husband to Nariko. It can’t be better than… this.”

He nodded to Jaxon and Deimos who were fighting.

Jaxon: “Because that’s what YOU wanted! I didn’t want to marry her!”

Giorgos: “What can I say, my friend? Jiro and Deimos can’t do anything right.”

He shook his head. Deimos looked away, hurt. He flicked his gaze to Club Swan, noticing Jaxon’s father and his came out of there.

Deimos: “Hey, Dad? What were you and Mr. Tachibana doing in Club Swan anyway?”

He asked coolly. Jaxon quirked an eyebrow. Giorgos’ eyes grew large.

Giorgos: “Having a drink with a friend, Deimos. Why are you asking me this?”

Deimos: “Because it’s a hostess club.”

He replied icily. Jaxon gasped.

Jaxon: “Ohoho, BURN!”

Giorgos’ face turned red as his anger soared. He went up to Deimos and slapped him across his cheek so hard, it turned his head.

Hiroto: “Don’t disrespect your elders!”

He slapped Jaxon across the face. Jaxon winced as he slapped his wounds.

A small Asian man came out of the hotel. He was the hotel owner.

Hotel Owner: “THOSE TWO MEN! THOSE TWO MEN DESTROYED EVERYTHING!”

Giorgos smiled at him.

Giorgos: “Don’t worry, my good sir! Our sons got into a fight and we’re so sorry!”

He withdrew his checkbook from his sports jacket and wrote him out a check. He handed it to the owner and his eyes widened at the numbers.

Owner: “Thank you, sir!”

He bowed and backed away.

Giorgos chuckled and turned to Deimos.

Giorgos: “Since I did you this favor, maybe we can make a deal, Deimos! I’ll be quiet about all this and you stay silent about what you saw. Neither of us saw anything!”

He chuckled and slapped Deimos’ shoulder. Deimos clenched his fists.

Jaxon: “Sounds like a good deal to me!”

He grinned. Deimos flicked his glare onto Jaxon. Giorgos smiled tightly.

Giorgos: “I’ll be around maybe to check on the house. Don’t tell Lazaros to cook anything up because I might not stay.”

He said quickly and walked away with Hiroto, leaving Deimos and Jaxon in the parking lot.

Jaxon: “So your dad sucks too, huh?”

He said noncommittally. Deimos drew a long breath.

Deimos: “Yeah…”

He muttered and removed his glasses, and he grimaced at the cracked lenses.

They heard footsteps behind them and saw Celeste standing there. Deimos glared at her and she bowed her head.

Deimos: “What are you doing with him?! Do you not know his involvement with Klaus or Percy or whatever his fucking name is?!”

He snapped at her.

Celeste: “Yeah, I know, Deimos.”

She mumbled.

Deimos: “Are you forgetting what he did to you?! Ripped your robe off and threw your cake pops on the ground? This seems like a reward!”

He snapped at her.

Celeste: “Of course, I remember! I always snap at him for it and it’s one of the reasons I will NOT dance for his music video!”

She countered, her tone as sharp as his. Deimos raised his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “Hmph. I think you just like to be a hot tease! I saw how you stroked off to me tonight!”

He teased her. Deimos glowered at him.

Celeste: “Like you told me maybe you love me?”

She teased back. Jaxon reddened.

Jaxon: “Maybe…”

He pouted, looking away.

Deimos: “You don’t love anyone but yourself. I know this and so do most people.’

He hissed.

Deimos: “Come on, Celeste. We’re going home.”

He commanded. Celeste bowed her head.

Celeste: “Deimos, I know you mean well, but… why are you angry about this?”

She asked him.

Deimos: “I am SICK of him being rewarded for his shitty behavior! Get in my car and we’re going home! I’ll buy you your own ice cream pie you don’t have to share with anyone!”

He hissed through clenched teeth. Jaxon scoffed.

Jaxon: “Sounds like you’re jealous. She wants to be with me.”

He laughed.

Deimos: “Oh, come on. I’m in love with Tristan. I thought you knew that… you did threaten him to spite me.”

He rolled his eyes.

Jaxon: “So what? Celeste wants to be here with me!”

He grinned, putting his arm around her, smirking at him. Deimos narrowed his eyes into dark, sinister slits.

Celeste: “Neither of you get to decide that. Only I do.”

She said, taking on a trace of irritation.

Celeste: “...But since you’re banned and he’s banned, I have to go home with him.”

She said to Jaxon. Jaxon’s jaw dropped.

Jaxon: “WHAT?!”

She handed him his clothes, wallet, and car keys.

Celeste: “I know, it sucks.”

Deimos: “Doesn’t matter. I don’t go to these places and I have my soulmate, so I don’t need to.”

He smiled a bit.

Jaxon: “What about me?! You’re going to just leave me here?!”

He pleaded with Celeste.

Celeste: “Drive back to your home, Jaxon. I’ll be fine. Deimos is just going to be mad at me but he does this a lot anyway.”

She cupped his cheek. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Celeste: “Tristan will talk sense to him and calm him down, so it’ll be cool. And I get an ice cream pie.”

She smiled.

Jaxon: “Ohh, I’ll give you an even better ice cream pie when you wanna have some fun again.”

He purred.

Celeste: “Of course, but you’re cleaning it up.”

She winked.

Jaxon: “Fine.”

He winked back.

Celeste went with Deimos to his Ferrari Testarossa and got in the car with him. He drove away and left Jaxon there in the parking lot.

~

Celeste went downstairs to her bedroom. Deimos sighed, slid off his boots, shrugged out of his jacket and went upstairs. He slowly turned the knob of the door to see Tristan in bed reading. He raised his head to lock his gaze on Deimos. His smile faded when he saw his glasses were broken.

Tristan: “What happened, mon chéri?”

Deimos pulled his shirt off and bent down to take his socks off. He climbed in bed and Tristan reached out to cup his face.

Deimos: “I got into a fight.”

Tristan gasped and cupped his mouth.

Tristan: “What happened?”

He kissed his neck and chest. Deimos shivered when Tristan’s soft lips met his skin.

Deimos: “When you said Celeste went off with Jaxon, I went to get her and… I lost control of my emotions when I saw his stupid fucking shit-eating grin and I beat the fuck out of him.”

He admitted. Tristan stopped kissing him and raised his eyes to Deimos.

Tristan: “Why did you do that, Deimos?”

Deimos: “Because!”

He huffed.

Deimos: “He ripped her robe off and threw her cake pops on the ground! Why is she in some love hotel with that piece of shit?!”

His features harshened. Tristan gazed at him.

Tristan: “Okay, I will admit… Celeste going with him is not the best life choice or one I agree with. I also believe Papa moping about being romantically involved with Ivy plays a role in this.”

He began coolly.

Tristan: “But Deimos, she is an adult and both of them are consenting adults. This is outside of our control!”

He said as his voice rose. Deimos knit his eyebrows.

Deimos: “But he’s involved with PERCY or KLAUS! Whatever his fucking name is!”

He flared hotly. Tristan drew a long breath.

Tristan: “I am very well aware of this!”

He snapped.

Deimos: “I think you’re underestimating how dire this situation is!”

Tristan: “And I think you’re overestimating it. Jaxon is not Percy and he doesn’t have a deeper reason for doing this other than some ‘thrill ride’. It seems you’re making him out to be deeper than he is.”

He furrowed his eyebrows.

Deimos: “And you’re not? You admitted to wanting to use him for a social experiment! You’re hoping to find some answers as to why he’s a dipshit when the answer is the most obvious straight to the point answer there is: he’s just an idiot!”

He fired back. Tristan glared at him and folded his arms over his chest.

Tristan: “If that is true, why do you let him affect you to the point you drive to a love hotel at two o’ clock in the morning to engage in a fight with him? I don’t see you doing that for Maxx.”

He challenged.

Deimos: “Why would I go through that trouble for a talentless loser? Also, Celeste isn’t teasing him. No one is.”

He rolled his eyes.

Tristan: “I think this runs deeper, Deimos. I think it’s a combination of what Jaxon did to me, and he is a challenge to you in the music industry. Maxx poses no threat to you in either field. Yes, he sold many albums but only so people could laugh at how bad it is, but Jaxon has talent and is a good musician.”

He explained.

Deimos: “He’s NOT a good musician. Just because he’s better than Maxx doesn’t make him good! His stuff is forgettable! Maxx will always be remembered for his bullshit ‘music’ about ‘Fatley’s XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL Underwear’.”

He thundered and threw his arms up.

Tristan: “Yes, I agree with you but he DOES have talent. The reviewers advise him to branch out and try his own things rather than trying to be another Tortugazm.”

He said evenly. Deimos folded his arms and looked away.

Tristan: “Deimos, I made peace with Jaxon’s tantrum at me in the cigar lounge. I exposed him. Anything more would be beating a dead horse. As for the mediation, it’s the same thing.”

He drew a long breath.

Deimos: “Why do you get to torment him but whenever I do, you get angry with me?”

He asked hotly.

Tristan: “I don’t throw my fists at him and get into a full-on brawl in a public place!”

He fired back, his tone as sharp as his. Deimos hung his head and covered his eyes. Tristan softened and put his hands on Deimos’.

Tristan: “Deimos, you can’t control what others do. If Celeste wants to make these life choices, that is her journey. We can advise her to go on the right path, but what IS the correct path? What works for you and me may not work for her. We have no say in how she chooses to lead her life.”

He said gently, and he and Deimos locked their gazes into each other’s eyes.

Tristan: “I made bad life choices. Look at what I did with Ivy… and that has affected other parties, too.”

He declared and looked away.

Deimos drew a short breath.

Deimos: “Don’t worry, Tristan. You had to see for yourself how insufferable she is. I lived with her for years.”

He put his head up to gaze at the ceiling.

Deimos: “It was great at first… like it was when you crushed on her and her relationship with your dad. Then it went downhill fast. Honestly, it got to the point where I only woke up to whack off in the shower. That was the best part of my day when I lived with her.”

He closed his eyes. Tristan gaped at him and cleared his throat.

Tristan: “Whacking off in the shower?”

He blushed. Deimos reddened.

Deimos: “Yeah, it wasn’t because Ivy didn’t have sex with me… I didn’t want to have sex with her, trust me. She is also waiting for marriage and I didn’t want to marry her, despite her pressuring me.”

He admitted and drew a short breath.

Deimos: “I was… thinking of you and seeing you.”

He said slowly and his face turned red. Tristan looked away, and flushed.

Tristan: “Oh…, I see.”

Deimos cleared his throat.

Deimos: “I get it. We made bad life choices and Celeste is now.”

Tristan: “IS Jaxon as insufferable as Ivy was?”

He asked him.

Deimos: “They’re different kinds of insufferable. Jaxon is stupid and loses his shit over the smallest things. Ivy isn’t stupid but she is a huge neat freak and wants everything to play out like a stupid Hallmark movie. Life isn’t like those movies. People have flaws. People make mistakes. People fuck up and life isn’t a fairytale.”

He hugged his legs and sighed. Tristan gazed intently at him.

Deimos: “Everything in those movies is idyllic and perfect. There is no conflict to speak of, guy gets the girl, there is marriage, kids and the whole nine yards but… it’s just a fantasy. Look at my family… Look at yours. My parents refuse to do ANYTHING about that goddamn nursery next to my bedroom. It has been sitting there, untouched, collecting dust for seventeen years. Dad takes Mom on cruises and vacations. She wallows in self-pity. Monica practically raised Lazaros and me. Then after I fight with Jaxon, I run into his dad and mine coming out of Club Swan.”

He said bitterly. Tristan raised his eyebrows.

Tristan: “...Isn’t that a hostess club?”

Deimos nodded soberly.

Deimos: “He paid the owner of Peach Rain to cover the damages from Jaxon and me, telling us not to tell anyone what we saw and they won’t tell anyone else. I don’t engage in emotional blackmail.”

He growled. Tristan rubbed his back.

Tristan: ‘I am so sorry, Deimos.”

He said softly.

Deimos: “Look, I know a hostless club, while not a strip club, has sexual undertones to it. They go to a club, pretty young women tell them whatever bullshit they want to hear, they buy them drinks. I don’t know, maybe Dad needs a break from Mom crying about our dead sister.”

He said scathingly and looked away.

Tristan wrapped his arms around Deimos and kissed him. Deimos finally felt the anger subside as Tristan held him in his arms and Deimos inhaled his sexy cologne. He was calm and content.