Greyson sat on a small two person couch with a blanket wrapped around his body. He was curled into a ball, with only his head escaping the embrace of the blanket. His eyes were red-ringed and a short line of hickeys ran down his neck. There was a smell of sex on him.
Derek entered the living room with two mugs in his hand. They were both filled with chai tea. Derek had his plain, though he gave Greyson a few sugar packets just in case.
Derek picked up the remote and turned the TV on.
"Do you have a show you like?" He asked. TV always helped him in rough moments.
Greyson hummed. "Do you have Netflix?" He asked after a beat of silence.
Derek nodded.
"Do you mind sad movies?" Greyson asked, cautious. Louis didn't like sad movies.
Derek shrugged. He didn't hate them, he especially didn't prefer them in moments of sadness. But perhaps Greyson was a man of odd taste. He didn't mind.
"Then, Minari… It's a– it's a good movie I think." Greyson requested quietly without making any eye contact.
"Minari it is…" Derek replied. "How do I spell that?"
–+–
Derek had his hand clasped over his mouth as ending credits rolled over the screen.
Greyson seemed to be calmer now. The blanket was crumpled in the corner of the couch to reveal Greyson in a wrinkled t-shirt and shorts too big for his waist. Derek found it slightly endearing, how sad movies seemed to calm Greyson down.
Both of their mugs were empty and the sugar packets were all used. Greyson appeared to like sugary tea, too.
"The soundtrack…" Derek lowly mumbled, overcome with emotion. He was never the best with sad movies.
Greyson nodded with a small smile, "It's one of my favorites."
Derek mainly listened to EDM and House music, the type of music you hear in the background of workouts. He was always on the search for a good EDM song for the background of his next video. He hadn't heard such devastating instrumentals in years, probably…
"You think my viewers would like sad music in the backgrounds of my videos?" Derek asked, mostly joking.
"I think they would just think you were depressed or something…" Greyson replied, honesty in his voice.
Greyson's gaze shifted to his phone sat by his side while Derek broke into a chuckle.
"Mm, probably, yeah." Derek replied.
Greyson's gaze never left his phone. It was 1:45 A.M..
"I'm sorry." He suddenly said, "I've– I've kept you up."
Derek nodded, "No you–"
Greyson interrupted him. "Thank you for… this…" He said, gathering his phone and adjusting his too-big shorts for probably the tenth time."
Derek wanted to stop the other from leaving, but paused. That would be weird, wouldn't it? He chalked it up to his loneliness kicking in. He hadn't had someone over in a good week or so now. Plus Greyson was probably tired. Sex is hard work, Derek thought.
Greyson left the apartment as quickly as he entered.
Derek looked at the two empty mugs and the crumpled up blanket with a small expression. He immediately missed Greyson's presence.
–+–
"Sir– I'm sorry, but we are out of that vodka…" Greyson reasoned with a passive aggressiveness.
He was at work and what came with work was difficult customers.
An older man, late 50s if Greyson had to guess, clapped as he spoke each word, "Can't. You. Check. The. Back?"
It took a lot of willpower for Greyson to not knock the man out at that moment.
"Sir– I've checked the back. We're out, I'm sorry." Greyson reiterated.
The older man sighed frustratedly. "You gotta be fuckin' kidding me…" He began to pace, revealing a large beer belly. "Where's 'cha damn manager?" He asked.
Greyson clicked his tongue at the question. "I'll get her." He replied the most polite he could.
He walked past a few aisles and spotted Elise stocking some soju on a half-empty shelf. He waved her over with an annoyed gesture Elise understood immediately.
She approached Greyson with a teasing smile, "'nother angry man?" She asked.
Greyson nodded, "Yep."
He watched Elise talk the man down with a bored and tired gaze. He recalled last night with a frown.
Was he an idiot? Sobbing his eyes out over practically nothing… He probably looked like some crybaby to Derek now. He didn't even bother to try to hide the hickeys on his neck when Derek invited him in. And why the absolute fuck did he suggest a sad movie to watch? No one likes sad movies when they're sad. Derek had to think Greyson was some freak now.
He awkwardly grumbled when he watched the angry man storm out of the store after a few seconds of talk from Elise.
Really, wasn't he the biggest loser? Can't deal with customers, cries after having sex, constantly going back to a man who cheats… Greyson was crazy pathetic.
Elise nodded towards Greyson with a thumbs up.
Greyson chuckled and walked over.
"You seem less miserable today." Elise commented.
Greyson hummed. Did he really?
"Did you finally leave Louis?" Elise asked, mostly joking. There was always a hint of truth behind her words, though.
Greyson scoffed, "In your dreams."
Elise exasperatedly sighed, "Whatever…"
–+–
Greyson forced himself to be comfortable when Louis posessively wrapped his arm around Greyson's waist. Louis liked to appear dominant in public spaces for some odd reason. Greyson never really got it. He didn't think there was anything wrong with appearing as a well-rounded couple in public.
They were at a gay bar, one Louis was a regular at. Greyson only accompanied Louis once in a while. He wasn't the biggest drinker compared to his boyfriend.
It wasn't too busy. Some Chappell Roan song played quietly from speakers and chatter filled the air. Louis was chatting up some couple he had apparently met here a select few times. Greyson hadn't yet met them, but they appeared to be nice.
One, Charlie, was on the taller side and dressed unsuspectingly straight. He wore an unbuttoned flannel with a white tee and jeans not skinny enough to be considered "gay". He stood awkwardly behind a shorter man, Rowan, who was wearing skinny jeans. That was all Greyson needed to know.
Rowan appeared to be leading the conversation along with Louis. Greyson only sent a small wave Charlie's way.
"You're Greyson, right?" Rowan asked, trying to include Greyson in the conversation.
Louis tightened his grip around Greyson. Rowan noticed the gesture with a raised brow.
"I am. Nice to meet you…" Greyson replied, removing Louis's hand from his waist.
Really, what was Louis trying to prove right now? Was he not moaning Greyson's name last night in bed?
Rowan was hypervigilant to Louis and Greyson's silent interactions. "Likewise. Is that all you're gonna have to drink?" He gestured to Greyson's Jack 'N Coke.
Greyson nodded slowly, "Driving home…"
Rowan nodded, "Figures, Lou always likes a good time, doesn't he?"
Louis laughed at that, though the comment seemed slightly passive aggressive.
Greyson thought for a moment, "Yeah, he does."
Louis was by no means an alcoholic. Sure he got drunk a lot, but it wasn't too much of a problem to affect their relationship.
"Charlie knows good times too, don't 'cha?" Rowan joked, swatting his boyfriend in his lower parts.
A wave of blush struck Charlie's expression, and a horny smile, Rowan's.
Right in front of my drink? Greyson wanted to say, utterly disgusted.
Louis's expression seemed to lighten at the interaction. Greyson knew that expression all too well. Louis, then, practically shoved his arm over Greyson's shoulder, leaning in as if they weren't in a public place. Greyson wanted to puke.
"Oh, Grey knows a good time." Louis said, swatting his boyfriend on the ass.
Greyson wanted to die then and there. Powerplay was so not his thing.
Refraining from making any shocked yell at the action, Greyson shoved Louis off of him with ease. They were of similar stature, they were both switches in bed, and had never dabbled in the kinky lifestyle Rowan and Charlie clearly did.
It annoyed him. Why was Louis putting on this dominant show in public? It was… really unattractive in Greyson's eyes.
"I'm gonna go pee." Greyson excused himself.
He wasn't having a good time.