Co-op Mode Engaged
GAME HOES
MrAllocke2 Fjord and Yasha are you missing your roommates?
DarkAngel Keep them, we’re busy.
MrAllocke2 That does not explain how they are in my apartment.
DramaKween I told you astrid gave me the key
DramaKween really you are over reacting we brought snacks
DramaKween uyfn
SleevesRBS I’m impressed that hit
Dynamis Should I come over earlier than the study session?
DramaKween this is just a reward for bad behavior
SleevesRBS please no I am trying to cook
DarkAngel Caleb, I’m sorry they said they were seeing Astrid.
DramaKween we saw astrid
SleevesRBS she was at work
Dynamis I am heading over before Fjord finds himself dating a double murderer and I find myself single.
HeySailor WAT
ItsYaBoi The fuck? When did that happen?
SleevesRBS I have only seen him throw something like that when a spider was on it
Dynamis You’re welcome, Caleb. I’ll be over shortly with beer
MrAllocke2 Danke. Neither deserve you.
Dynamis Oh.
Dynamis I am aware.
HeySailor I ASKED A QUESTN
ItsYaBoi It’s okay, Darrow. I still love you.
HeySailor thnx
DaddyTough what about my roommate missing?
The next day, Caleb had been able to tell Fjord about it in person. For his part, Fjord did not chuckle at it though he found the moment funnier than Caleb did. The redhead still bristled a bit, which was why they were now sitting in a Caffé Nero rather than back at the apartment on campus where Molly was doing homework. He had found out too late that Molly had been bored while Fjord had conditioning and took off with Beau to bother Astrid. He would have reminded Molly that only a few hours before the man had complained that she was working, and he would not see her or Essek until the weekend when they were due for Dave and Busters. A night where he was promised the apartment to himself. Now, he simply sat across from Caleb with one hand holding a cup of cooling mocha with the other idly running along the other man’s arm.
It was a simple date, as neither were entirely sure what to do with it. They had wandered the Commons together after Fjord’s practice, which Caleb watched alongside Beau and Yasha. Fjord had showered at the rink to not lose time, of course, but there was no set schedule. He had feared that would have been an issue at first. That the lack of a plan or intricacy would be a problem. He had never planned a date for someone so simple before. Ava was extremely high maintenance and was not afraid to push for the “best” in their outings together. Museums, exhibits, big dinners… the works. But with Caleb, he felt no pressure to come up with anything major. That in itself was stressful.
Still, he felt the easy day had been a success, even if it meant Caleb’s ears and nose glowed red from the wind and the cold.
“You said your cousin… found your other Instagram,” Caleb tried carefully after a few moments of enjoying the calming atmosphere around them. Fjord swallowed and nodded. “How… did that go?”
“It ah. I guess it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I haven’t told Tio yet, but I guess Abuela overheard him talking about it and she took the phone.”
Caleb cringed but he shook his head. Honestly, Abuela seemed unsurprised by this. Said he was always a bit of a funny boy, but it was not a bad thing. After the last girl, she wouldn’t care who he was with just as long as they were not like that. Fjord was still unsure how he felt about the fact that she had such a good read on him, but none of it seemed innately rude or hurtful. And upon explaining that there was someone, she seemed delighted in the fact that this someone had ambition in life. Had the desire to do more than coast. She had promised not to tell his Tio, who was more likely to be aggressively against it, but there was a feeling of a blessing. As though the woman wanted Fjord to be happy and she knew that Caleb was potentially that happiness.
“And how… did that go,” Caleb asked carefully.
“Better than I expected,” Fjord replied honestly with a smile. “I think… in time she will learn to be more open about it.”
The moment hung there, and Fjord felt the momentum he had been hoping for slipping away so he linked their fingers and took a deep breath. Caleb looked up at him, confused. It was strange for him to fear that Caleb would not say yes, as he knew beyond a doubt now that he was interested. That this was all waited on Fjord to be comfortable in himself to ask. That he was all that was in the way of their happiness. But that was the issue Fjord seemed incapable of cresting. He was in his own way and the master at breaking his own heart. Now that something he wanted was within reach, he was too scared to reach out and snag it. And so, it drifted away in the silence, pulling back into the shadows of doubt and self-hatred.
“Fjord,” Caleb’s voice cut in carefully.
He looked up and realized he had begun to grip tight. That it was betraying his own panic and fears. The man tried to release the other hand but found Caleb’s grip tighten and prevent the retreat. They sat in the corner of the café with open rafters and an industrial feel to it with the dark steel and old stonework. No one looked at their corner booth by the mirror and fireplace, not even those who were in the small booths right next to them. The dim setting and warm light was like a bubble. And his panic slowly faded as those blue eyes shone in yellow-orange lights as they watched him with such a painfully open expression that it hurt. Fjord unclenched his jaw and let the other man pull their hands to the center again.
“I am yours, Liebe, no matter how that is,” Caleb explained to him in a soft voice. “If you are never okay with a true label then I can accept that so long as I know you are happy with me. Ja?”
Fjord sighed and took a deep breath. But shook his head. Caleb’s face turned hurt and confused, but Fjord shook his head again and found his words finally.
“I want this. And it shouldn’t be based on just what I want. I’ve been selfish, and I’m sorry. I want you as my partner, boyfriend, whatever you want to call it. After all the waiting, I don’t deserve it, but…” he shrugged as words failed him. They always did with Caleb.
But the smile that slowly crept across his face was worth it. He had stopped talking to look up and therefore was blessed with the chance to see his words make their impact. As the man’s eyes dimmed as he processed then glowed as he realized what was stated. And the smile pulled back into a form of happiness that he had not noticed before in relation to Fjord. No mirth or playfulness. Just utter joy. He found himself smiling in response.
“Ja. Yes,” Caleb breathed after a moment. “Scheiße, I feel embarrassed that I am this...” He chuckled lightly rather than responded and Fjord nodded.
He understood.
“One of these days it will be warm enough to do more than hide in restaurants and stores on these,” Fjord commented after a moment.
“Just never take me to a library as a date,” he teased back as he placed his cup on the tray, ready to return it to the dish washing line. “You may not hear me speak for hours and be completely ignored on accident.”
Fjord knew exactly what he wanted to do on the next true date, now. It would just take longer than usual to prepare.
GAME HOES
HeySailor I HAVE AN ANNOUNCMENT TO MAKE
HeySailor I am divorced from caleb so sad but
MrPalomares2 Was that necessary?
HeySailor yes
DaddyTough I literally texted you 2 mins ago darrow wtf
DramaKween you texted him before me?!
DaddyTough BY A MINUTE
HeySailor I will always b his first
SassyWitch I’d watch it
DramaKween eh same
DaddyTough I hate all of you
DaddyTough except cay
MissJester OMG GUYS!? IS WIDOFJORD A THING NOWQ
MrPalomares2 Was?
DaddyTough somehow this smells of molly
ItsYaBoi That is called desperation. Also please tell me you don’t actually follow your fans’ ship names?
MissJester Okie dokie, I won’t tell you~!
ItsYaBoi Congrats guys, but it is about time.
DaddyTough yeah yeah
MissJester Will you be doing an announcement on the streams!?
MrPalomares2 Ah…
DaddyTough we never talked about that. We were too busy enjoying the moment
MissJester Oooooooh yeah. Oops. I think they knoooooow though~
DaddyTough they will believe what they want to
MrPalomares2 This is not a conversation for the group, I feel.
BigBadWolf uhm congrats I guess?
DM: ItsYaBoi and TeaLeaf
TeaLeaf well that got awkward
ItsYaBoi She means well, but I think she forgets not everyone is as driven by their community.
TeaLeaf and I think she was hoping they wouldn’t get together after all
ItsYaBoi Why? I thought she was over Fjord?
TeaLeaf people are pairing off in and out of the group chat
TeaLeaf all the people shes had crushes on
ItsYaBoi Right. She’ll find someone just…
TeaLeaf oh yeah
DM: FjordTough and ItsYaBoi
ItsYaBoi congrats for real
DM: NottListening and Widogast
Call Duration: 2:15:03
Widogast Thank-you.
Dave and Buster’s. The adult arcade. Home to the overpriced game and drink with bartenders who are either too happy or too annoyed. It was hell and heaven at the same time. It was a good neutral ground for the first true time the two groups came together, excluding some key members. They had met up around eight with the understanding that they would be there until close and stop drinking before last call. They bought the meal pass with the extended game cards and took up two of the booths. For the waitress’ sake, they had decided they would all pay Fjord ahead of time and he would put it on his card. Everything else would-be personal tabs at the bar with the cards. The tips, however, were half in cash and the number kept rising the more she joined in the game of harassing Fjord.
Calianna, their waitress, was charmingly shy and awkward in her new role away from the hostess stand. Her hair was low on one side to hide her wine stain birthmark that covered part of her face. Upon delivering the food, she apologized for the brace on her arm locking slightly and causing her to take longer delivering the food, both of which panged Fjords heart to hear her feel shy or embarrassed about. It was clear she found comfort in the large group, as many of the other tables were small clusters of families or young men who had made a handful of comments at the girls in the group.
Upon settling, she asked if they were from the area and was delighted to know they all, barring a few, were students. She explained hurriedly that she was at Boston University and wondered if they could, perhaps, hang out sometime as they were all so kind and funny. The exchange of Twitter, Instagram, and Discord happened long before they handed her the tip both on the check and in cash. She stammered and blushed through her sign-off statement that the bartender, Reani would be able to help them for the rest of the night, but she smiled after.
The group clattered to the bar, messaging the others that they may have a new name in the chat soon and were explaining how fun and sweet the server was when Beau stopped short. Yasha, who had been holding her hips, slammed into her and Molly after. She blinked with her mouth awkwardly open as they all complained at her. The bartender was a stunning, Black woman with white hair pulled back and impossibly light eyes. Her highlighter had some kind of glitter and made her seem to sparkle or glow in the bar lighting. Yasha’s face hardened for a moment, then cleared.
“Huh,” Molly huffed. “Ain’t that your one-night stand from a few weeks ago?”
He squawked as three people smacked him. Beau nodded.
“You know,” Astrid hummed as she stepped around the pair and prodded Essek in the side as she went. “I’m starting to think Beau has a type. If you were a chick…”
The teased seemed to snap Beau to her senses and she looked over Essek critically. She snorted and shrugged.
“You’re not wrong,” Beau announced with a small smirk.
“Well, that’s a high compliment,” Essek stammered out, then cleared his throat and all but dragged Astrid to the bar.
“You good,” Wulf asked, and Yasha was shocked to look at him and find his stoic face looking mildly unsure.
“I’ll be okay,” she confirmed quietly. “It’d be exhausting to be jealous over everyone she’s been with.”
“Yeah…” Beau agreed. “Sorry.”
Not answering clearly on “What’s your poison” when Reani asked proved to be dangerous. AMFs, Black Supermans, Scooby Snacks, and Melon Bombs later, the party was starting to feel like and a stock to clear and a group of college kids was her dream victim. Worse was they were strong and good. The positive, though, was everyone was having fun.
Essek and Cad folded themselves hilariously into the Walking Dead game. Wulf and Yasha played the Terminator Games while Astrid and Beau spent an hour hitting lights on a wall. Jester called at one point and ended up talking to both Reani and Cali as Molly’s phone got passed around in the slowly emptying venue. A video on DDR for Caleb’s Instagram. Beau and Yasha shooting hoops for their SnapChat. Dozens of blurry, drunk pictures filled the camera rolls.
By the end of the night, it felt like they were a group for the first time. That they were all friends.
They left, bidding Reani and Cali good night. Both had already added them online and Cali accepted the invite to the gaming group. She wanted to play Minecraft with Caleb that weekend and they spent almost thirty minutes discussing Sky Factory as the possible seed they would play. Reani discovered they were friends with Jester and said she would wait, as she was a major fan and did not want to act awkward at first.
And Caleb went back to Fjord’s empty apartment as Molly went back to Amherst with his partners.
The apartment was small as it was a campus one. A room that acted as the living room and dining room in one and a kitchen that made Caleb’s own look enormous. Molly had wasted no time in putting up the posters he had bought, it seemed. Nothing bought at a Walmart, however. Caleb noticed they were all prints that he had most likely picked up in Artist Alleys from the various conventions he attended. One was even from Jester that hung next to the doors for the two bedrooms. The open door of Molly’s shows a room that was in ordered chaos. Fjord’s was sparse and neat with the bed made and everything. Tipsy, Caleb snorted at the thought of Fjord making his bed hours before the sun rose out of habit.
The man stepped back out and hung his jacket on the hooks by the door along with his overnight bag. Fjord was in the kitchen getting much needed water for them at the moment, so he stepped into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. His mouth felt like it was full of cotton from the sugary drinks and he knew his teeth would feel worse in the morning should he forget to do this now. His eyes were closed, so he did not see Fjord approach but knew he was there immediately when the large, firm hands dragged around his waist and lips pressed into his hair and against his neck.
It was something Fjord had done a few times already. Maybe a dozen that night alone, but this one felt different. In the dim apartment with light streaming through the half-closed blinds and only coming from a partially filled vanity, there was a shift in the mood. Caleb felt the pull at the base of his stomach with it and he swallowed. Fjords hands gripped him tighter and the redhead knew he needed to abandon the efforts of brushing his teeth before his boyfriend changed his mind or backed out.
When he stood back up, Fjord kissed at the hinge of his jaw lightly then bit down enough to make Caleb his and grip at the counter. A pleased hum rumbled in Fjord’s chest and Caleb glared at the man’s reflection.
“We’re alone tonight,” Fjord mused against his neck.
“We are,” Caleb confirmed and was distantly pleased at how strong his voice sounded.
“I think I remember someone requesting practice.” Caleb could only hum. “I need a yes, darling.”
“Fu,” he sighed and nodded. “Ja. Bedroom.”
He was steered by his hips from the bathroom into the bedroom, Fjord pushed flush against him like the very thought of letting go was impossible. The short trip was spent feeling the warm breath puffing against his ear and a growing firmness to the small of his back.
Out of habit or maybe the fear that somehow Molly could still ruin the moment, both men pushed the door shut and Fjord pushed in the lock. A beat passed before Caleb found himself pulled in abruptly into a kiss. For the strength in it, Fjord lacked the ferocity that Caleb braced for. It felt desperate and needy. The culmination of so much waiting. His hands gripped at Fjord’s shirt and tugged at it.
“I got a bottle of lube,” Fjord sputtered in between kisses as he walked them toward the bed without breaking contact. “It’s in the… fuck. Hold on.”
Caleb grinned and waited just long enough for him to get a loose grip on the bottle to bite at the column of Fjord’s neck lightly and suck hard as his tongue danced over the skin. A hiss and soft thud precipitated the bottle bouncing onto Caleb’s sock covered foot.
“Fucking menace,” he accused and shoved Caleb lightly.
He fell back easily when his knees hit the mattress. Fjord stooped awkwardly to retrieve the bottle from where it rolled and tossed it on the bed by the foot of it. Caleb had toed off his socks while he waited and looked up as Fjord’s former confidence and drive waivered now that he had Caleb on the bed. The flicker of panic from inexperience flashed in his hazel eyes, so Cay took the initiative and reached under Fjord’s shirt to his belt and tugged him forward between his legs. He then slowly peeled off his sweater and undershirt at the same time. He felt exposed and normally uncomfortable in the light of a side table lamp, but Fjord had always been outspoken about his attraction physically. He could pretend to be confident just long enough for Fjord to remember his former hunger.
And he did. His hand ran over the small tuft of ruddy chest hair on Caleb’s sternum and gave a low hum of appreciation. He nodded his head slightly, indicating Caleb should push back on the bed. He complied and rested back on his hands as Fjord climbed over him and ran one hand up Caleb’s chest while the other supported his weight from by the other man’s head. He smiled down at him for a moment before catching Caleb’s mouth again. Kissing in the club the second time had been an experience. It was confident and hard with their hands and hips pressing for more contact as the music encouraged them. Being horizontal on a bed only made that heightened. Caleb arched off the bed in an attempt the feel the other man’s body and warmth, but he pulled away.
He began to pout and open his mouth in concern when he watched Fjord pull his shirt off and toss it to the side. His lips parted in a perfect “O” as he eyed his boyfriend up from his place on the bed. Fjord smirked and dug out his phone. A few seconds later, music played in the background and the phone, too was tossed to the edge of the bed. Caleb figured he had the permission then to run his hands up Fjord’s body and dance along the hard lines of muscle, over gnarled scar tissue, and trace the patches of lighter skin reverently. He noted Fjord was watching him closely with his eyes blown dark now.
“Take a picture it’ll last longer,” Caleb offered and laid back. The resulting near growl was reward enough.
“Don’t tempt me,” Fjord replied and bent down for another kiss.
He was warm, almost like fire against his skin. The strong legs and thighs ground against one of Caleb’s legs as he thrust up with equal desire. Distantly, he knew that it was easy to get off just like this. And he would not be too disappointed as this was Fjord’s first experience with another man. The obvious interest he held in Caleb’s erection was more than enough proof that he was truly into this. But a hand pushed between their bodies and his pants snapping open told him that Fjord was not about to go halfway with all of this.
It was awkward getting out of their jeans. Fjord took a few tries to pull Caleb’s down. His own refused to drag over his ass until the man dropped onto the bed himself, laughing and lifting his hips up and pushing while Caleb pulled. The man kicked his leg a few times to get the last leg off and Cay climbed over his boyfriend and ignored his lips for the neck again. Fjord hissed and his hips rolled at the contact. Caleb could feel the strain against the gray briefs with each thrust, but he kept himself just out of reach from contact. After a minute, Fjord got frustrated and rolled them back over and positioned Caleb on the pillows and himself between the other man’s legs.
“What do you want me to do,” Fjord asked as he palmed himself.
Fuck.
“I… ah can’t… take you it has been,” his face deepened in color rather than admitting that it had been a while. “Open me and get me off that way.” Fjord’s hiss said he was not objecting to that idea. “Then I can blow you.”
“No,” he replied. Caleb blinked confused. “I want to get off on you.”
Oh, Caleb thought as a shiver ran over him. He really was that possessive. Caleb whined and nodded. He pulled down his own boxers as Fjord reached back for the bottle and peeled off his own. Their lips met once again though carefully this time and exploring. Fjord kept running a finger through the hair on his chest and that trailed down below his belly button to the point where Caleb broke the kiss with a small laugh.
“What is it with you and my chest hair, Schatz,” Caleb breathed as Fjord’s mouth trailed along his jaw and neck.
“It’s something I’ve never experienced before. And I like how red it looks against you.”
“You like that I’m pale,” Caleb countered and hissed as the slightly longer teeth nipped.
“Means it will be pretty obvious when I do this.”
Caleb arched off the bed and against Fjord as his mouth sucked harder as his teeth worked the skin. One hand raked down the other man’s back with his nails. He wanted that mark on his shoulder to stand out angry against his flesh. He didn’t know what that said about him, but he also did not care. He had begun to recover when Fjord tentatively gripped Caleb’s erection and a whine was ripped from his throat. He pumped a few times before sitting back on his heels and opening the bottle. Caleb panted and pushed himself back to a more comfortable spot with his eyes locked on Fjord’s face. A second later, Fjord was holding himself over Caleb with one hand and the other trailed behind his sack to his opening.
Fjord waited until Caleb exhaled and nodded. It took some coaxing. Fjord peppered his lips and neck with feather-light kisses and praise before his fingertip slipped in. The man was gentle, maybe too cautious, in his ministrations as he slowly pressed deeper. The kisses and whispered never stopping. He adjusted his weight a few times and watched carefully.
The second finger was a stretch. Caleb hissed and made a small noise in the back of his throat that stilled Fjord immediately. He was right in thinking that he was not ready just yet. The kisses returned until his body relaxed to the intrusion and Fjord continued. His hand shifted now with a mix of his fingers spreading slightly while searching. His nose wrinkled and brow pinched in concentration now. Despite the feeling of fullness, Caleb was not uncomfortable. At least, he was not distracted enough to not note how cute he was in this moment of confusion. Finally, Caleb took pity on him.
“Up,” he breathed. Fjord’s head snapped to look at him. “Curl up.”
Fjord blinked and tried a few times until Caleb felt the sudden shock of pleasure. A cry was punched out of him. His hand gripped Fjord’s hair and pulled slightly, but the other man looked both hungry and like he had won the lottery. Their mouthed met again as Fjord focused his efforts on brushing that spot every so often as his fingers continued to spread him more. Caleb fished a hand between them for his neglected cock and began pumping lightly. The third finger had Caleb whimpering into Fjord’s mouth, who swallowed the noises. It was not long after all three fingers were pushed in, dancing over his prostate that Caleb felt the pooling heat at his spin. He whimpered he was close against Fjord’s mouth.
The man pulled back and pressed their foreheads together. He watched Caleb’s face with such an intensity that he always wanted Fjord to look away. His orgasm washed over him suddenly and it was almost a relief to get a break from that intense gaze along with the bliss and pleasure that pulsed through him. His eyes were still closed when Fjord removed his fingers, though he made a noise of complaint at the sudden emptiness. A few seconds and some rustling sounds were followed by the click of the cap twice and the rhythmic slick noise any man would know.
Caleb opened his eyes to watch Fjord who was staring back with that same fierce gaze. He hoarsely begged for him to finish. One hand continued to grip and pull the man’s short hair. Finally, Fjord collapsed against him with all but his hips. His face was buried in Caleb’s shoulder and hand buried in his hair. It did nothing to muffle the deep groan of Caleb’s name that came out as he finished on his stomach and chest, then dropped heavily on him with little regard to the mess he now laid in.
After a moment, Caleb nudged Fjord a few times.
“We need to clean up,” he pointed out and got a groan in reply. “I am all for you marking your territory, but this is where I draw the line.”
“I need to invest in wet wipes or something,” Fjord complained as he rolled off Caleb and pulled out some tissues, wiped them inadequately and tossed them to the side with a few others. “Did…”
“Do you really have to ask if I enjoyed that,” Caleb cut him off. Fjord ducked his head in a way Caleb new meant he was embarrassed. “We were momentarily covered in proof, I believe.”
“Fair.” Fjord’s eyes lingered on Caleb’s shoulder and smirked sheepishly. “I may have gotten carried away there.”
“I like it,” Caleb told him. “Just try keep it below the collar.”
“I’ll try. Join me in the shower?”
“Ja, sure. Not sure I’d have the energy otherwise, never mind for much more.”
“Too tired for round two?” Fjord teased. He gave a pleased laugh when Caleb nodded and rolled to get up.
Apparently he was in fact not too tired.