White Lies
By: Ariadne
-W..M..W..M..W..M..W..M..W-
Title: Super Happy Filler Time GO! (No. 4: Uber Fluff Edition)
Chapter Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Plot mine. Characters are Ms. Collins's. Don't sue me.
Summary: He never knew what he was getting into. He never expected that such a small thing could affect his life so drastically.
Author's Notes: Rated for (homo)sexual reference, lots of swearing, and scenes so sweet you'll get diabetes. Hurray for time warp chapters! Next chapter is about a month or so after New Year's, and this is what our lufflies have been up to between that.
I know this is a weird time to update, but I did it today for a reason. It's National Coming Out Day! Whoo, bring on the rainbow streamers and glitter! So. Much. Glitter.
Anyway, the boys are coming out today and so should you! (even if you're het. Just go up to people and say 'I like the opposite sex' except don't.) And so am I, in case no one got this yet, I'm bisexual. Have a good week! Ja ne!
-W..M..W..M..W..M..W..M..W-
Ares was occupied with uploading all of his music onto the new laptop he'd squandered his most recent check on when Bane burst into his room. The boy seemed incredibly excited about something, and he grabbed Ares by the shoulders and pulled him up out of the chair.
The dark haired man was stunned by the sudden intrusion. He hadn't been alone with Bane for the past few days but now that he was standing in front of him Ares was achingly aware of the boy. His hands on his shoulders, pressing into his skin, the nearness of his body and the movement of his lips. He was saying something and Ares had to fight down his urge to ravish the boy and concentrate on his words.
He missed most of it but caught something about "just opened-two miles…best…be back," then as quickly as he came, Bane left, abandoning a confused Ares in his wake. It suddenly occurred to Ares that he had no idea how Bane had gotten in his apartment in the first place when he swore he'd locked the door.
The dark haired man had almost forgotten the strange incident when his door slammed open again. He turned and was only mildly surprised to see Bane in his doorway looking slightly winded and clutching a bag from a popular fast food chain like it contained the Holy Grail.
"You've been gone a while," Ares observed, trying to conceal his disappointment.
"I told you it was two miles away," Bane explained with an exasperated gesture.
"Where did you go again?" Ares questioned as he went to join his friend who settled himself on the couch like it was his own. The pale boy rustled the bag as his answer and emptied the contents on his carefully crafted napkin plate. Ares watched in shock as a vast amount of spiral French fries tumbled out.
"These are the best things in the world," Bane purred with satisfaction as he picked on up reverently. "They taste awesome, they're cheap, they—"
"They're orange," the man observed, chuckling quietly. Ares was surprised how easily they settled back into their old familiar banter, but wasn't sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing? Had Bane blocked out the kiss like he'd blocked out the assault on Twitchtip? Or did this mean he accepted Ares's feelings?
"No they aren't!" Bane protested vehemently.
Ares took the fry from his friend and made a show of examining it closely. "Just what color would you call this then?"
"French fry colored," he said adamantly, trying to snatch the fry back while Ares held it at arm's length. "Orange is gross and these are great so they can't be orange."
"I don't think that's how logic works, Bane," the man told him, waving the morsel tauntingly above his head. Bane, not to be outdone, clambered onto Ares's lap in pursuit of his food. "Anyway, since they're orange and you don't eat food that color, you won't be needing these. Guess I'll just eat them all."
Bane made a noise of protest as he strained to reclaim his precious fry. True, he probably could have eaten the ones on the table, but he didn't want Ares to have this one. It didn't have anything to do with the fact that his squirming around on the older man's lap elicited a blush like no other. As Bane made demanding grabby fingers at the fry, Ares managed to swing his hand under the flailing arms and popped the fry in his mouth. After all the hype Bane had given it he was severely disappointed.
He didn't remain so for long, because as Bane sat and stared at him, the boy realized that at this point Ares had won. Ares had won and he had lost because he couldn't get the fry now…or could he? He didn't think very much about it, because he probably would've backed out if he had. With a determined look the boy swooped down and kissed the shocked man. His tongue pried apart the closed lips and assaulted his mouth, seeming to forget what he had gone in there for as the passion overwhelmed him.
Ares felt like he had gone up in flames. His face was red and his breath was short, and he couldn't differentiate the beats of his heart it was drumming so quickly against his rib cage. He wasn't sure exactly how it had happened, how they had made the switch from fighting over a piece of fast food to a kiss like this, but he was certainly going to take advantage of it. He responded to the aggressive kiss with fervor, twining his tongue around the boy's and pulling him in close.
Then, as abruptly as it had started it was over and Bane was pulling back, breathing hard and staring at him like he wasn't sure what to make of the man. Inwardly Ares cursed at himself, thinking he'd finally gone too far and scared the poor confused Bane.
"Wow," was all he said, ruby colored eyes examining the smallest features of his partner. "You're pretty good."
Ares blushed, "So, what was that about?"
"You like me, right?" Bane asked, with the slightest of satisfied smirks.
"Of course!"
"That's what it was about," he replied simply, sliding off the lap and returning to his food.
-W..M..W-
When Twitchtip opened the door she was as surprised as her lethargic condition allowed her to be. Ares stood, looking anxious and guilty, on the other side. The woman wasn't sure how to respond to the unexpected visit. He was supposed to be her boyfriend after all but since they'd slept together and the…incident, she had barely seen him.
Ares flushed and shifted uncomfortably, "Hey, Twitch."
"Ares," she acknowledged, blocking the door with her body when he looked like he wanted to come in.
"I haven't seen you around in a while," he offered up hesitantly. "Are you alright?"
Twitchtip nearly laughed. Of course she was alright, never been better. She had been missing her medication almost daily, and her symptoms were coming back with a vengeance. Even as she stared at Ares, he seemed distinctly out of focus, while other things stood out with vivid clarity. Her eyes flickered down the hall toward the movement she had seen. Ares followed her gaze but saw nothing, and when he turned back he was disturbed by the strange look he saw on Twitchtip's face. She rubbed her eyes and brushed her hair away from her face. "You haven't exactly been trying to see me."
"I know," Ares said, apologetically, assuming the girl was perhaps tired or just a little out of it. He had come here for a reason, as unpleasant as it was. He and Bane had confessed to each other and kissed a few times now and it was officially time to tell Twitchtip. He shouldn't have gone as far as he had when he'd promised himself to someone else. Being betrayed was painful, he was well aware of that fact, and he was worried about what would happen when he finally revealed it. "And I'm sorry for that. I know it was wrong to avoid you after everything that happened."
"It was," she agreed. Twitchtip glanced over her shoulder and then back to Ares, trying to shake the feeling that someone was standing right behind her. Perhaps a few weeks ago she might have gotten angry or upset, but she had already come to terms with the fact that their relationship was over and it didn't bother her nearly as much as it should have.
"I don't really know how to say this," the dark haired man started. He'd been broken up with enough times that he should know exactly how to say what was coming, but he couldn't recall a single line that hadn't left him feeling like curling up into a ball and dying.
"I know we're not together anymore," Twitchtip said, knowing that if she left it up to the indecisive man they would be there all day. "I don't know why, but I've pretty much made the assumption already."
"I'm sorry, Twitch," Ares said earnestly, trying to get through the shell he could see built up around her. "But well…that's not really why I came here. There's something else…"
"Well?" an eyebrow twitched impatiently as she watched Ares gather his courage and take a deep breath.
"As of a few days ago, Bane and I are kind of a thing," he blurted out, half closing his eyes and bracing himself like he was expecting her to punch him or worse. She just stood there, seemingly struck dumb by this revelation. Twitchtip brushed a hand across her eyes, trying to clear her mind that refused to work through the haze of colors and smells and tastes assaulting her. Maybe she should be more diligent about taking her medication because she could've sworn she'd just heard Ares tell her that-
"You and Bane are dating?" The disbelief was evident in her voice. Ares just nodded and she crossed her arms and leaned against the doorway. "Guess being gay would explain…not much actually."
"I'm not gay," Ares snapped, hearing Nike echoed in the phrasing. "I dated you didn't I?"
"Then what exactly do I call my ex who left me for a man?" the sarcasm was dripping off her words. "Oh and his new boyfriend."
He scowled, "I don't like being called anything other than my name, but I guess you could call me bisexual. And Bane, well I don't know. You'd have to ask him. I think he's pretty indiscriminate, really."
"Great," Twitchtip said tightly, finally letting the entire situation sink in without trying to maintain her emotionless mask. "That's just great for you guys then. You are one classy mother fucker, Ares. I hope you know that."
With that she slammed the door closed, leaving the dark haired man alone in the hallway wishing that she had hit him instead.
-W..M..W-
"I love horror movies…" Bane sighed happily and relaxed into Ares's arms. The dark haired young man chuckled quietly.
"You're a psychopath," he murmured affectionately, stroking the white strands of hair. It was a week after the curly fry incident had occurred, and they had been spending more and more time together. They had gotten over their confusion and embarrassment about discussing their relationship and decided that yes, they did like each other, and they were going to try being together. Since then not much had changed from their first few months of friendship except that Bane came over a little more often and was much more physically affectionate.
"I probably am," the other agreed, twisting around so that he could look Ares in the face. "But I'm an amazing psychopath."
Ares laughed again, and, struck by a spontaneous wave of affection for the boy, kissed him. Unlike the first few times Bane wasn't stunned into immobility, and when their lips pressed together he responded with surprising enthusiasm, leaning forward into the kiss and slipping his tongue between their lips.
Ares took this as a sign of permission and kissed back fiercely, surprised by how aggressive Bane was, actually pushing him back on the couch, hand tangled in his black hair. His hands cupped the back of his neck and pressed against the small of his back, pulling him closer.
"Woah!" Bane cried, jerking back suddenly, eyes wild, e retreated to the other side of the couch.
Ares sat up, worried, "What's wrong? What'd I do?"
"So that's what one of those feels like to a girl," he seemed shocked as if something had electrocuted him. He drew his knees up against his chest, wrapping his arms around his legs in a guarded way.
"Bane, babe, are you alright?" Ares pressed, lust fogged mind clearing in favor of true concern. He leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and brushed the flustered boy's cheek with gentle fingertips.
"Wha? Oh…um, yeah, I'm okay," he looked up at the concerned dark eyes.
"What happened?" Ares prodded.
"Well," Bane said, rubbing the back of his neck and looking awkward. "I kind of forgot you were a guy."
"What do you mean?" he asked, puzzled, not sure if he was being insulted or not.
Red eyes avoided looking at the other and a deep flush spread across his face, "Well, your um-yeah- it kind of poked me. And I wasn't expecting it 'cuz I was sort of imagining you were a girl."
"You did what? Bane, have you been doing that the whole time?" Ares flared. He thought Bane had reconciled the fact that he was a guy, but if he had to rely on imagination like this then there was no way this could work.
"Look, it's not that bad, I just needed to get used to kissing you so I won't be so awkward. This is the only time I did it, and I won't do it again. I'm fine with kissing you now. Just…"
"Just?" Ares prodded, tone of voice telling him he was on thin ice.
"Just don't poke me again, I'm not ready for that yet." Now it was Ares's turn to blush, just now realizing what he was referring to.
-W..M..W-
"Bane, get take that out," Ares demanded, gesturing to the jumbo package of snack cakes that the boy had just stealthily slipped into the grocery cart.
"Aww, but Ares," he whined, making a big show of putting it back on the shelf and then despondently shuffling behind the dark haired man as he continued down the aisle.
"No buts, we both have limited income, and that's a waste," he told the boy, trying to be firm. It was difficult though, because of how ridiculous the tall muscular boy decked out in a collar and pants with chains on them looked pouting like a small child. They had both discovered a complete lack of food in their apartments earlier that day and Ares had, against his better judgment, acquiesced to go shopping with his boyfriend and teach him how to buy things that weren't junk. Oh, wow, he definitely just thought boyfriend. Things were getting very real very fast.
"Hey," Bane whispered into the man's ear, lips grazing it and making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. "Why are people staring at us?"
Ares turned to stare at Bane in disbelief. The white haired boy tilted his head to the side like a confused puppy. "Really, you're really going to ask me that?"
"Yes," he replied earnestly.
The dark man shook his head and sighed, "I dunno, Bane. Couldn't be the fact that we're both gothed out on a Sunday at two in the afternoon, or that you're six foot five and acting like a toddler. So most likely it's that we're two guys shopping together."
Bane chuckled and ruffled Ares's hair affectionately. "Those are silly reasons, and I'm six foot eight inches."
Ares muttered something about overcompensating and received a friendly punch in the shoulder that made his whole arm go numb. He watched Bane stride on down the aisle examining the selection of cookies offered and sending pitiful glances back at the man he was certain would deny any requests for chocolaty goodness. Ares smiled as he watched him but there was still something nagging at the back of his mind, something that shouldn't bother him but still did.
"What's wrong?" Like always, the red eyes seemed to see straight through Ares's defenses and body to see his soul beneath.
"Um, well…" he glanced away but Bane's fingers cupped his chin and turned his face back. "I was just thinking about something stupid. You know that girl?"
Bane gave him a blank look. He knew lots of girls, most of which he wasn't on the best terms with. Ares flushed a little bit. "The girl from the New Year's party, Slicer."
"Yes," he replied, wondering what all this was about, and also wondering how he'd found out her name because he'd never mentioned it before. Ares lowered his eyes to the floor since he couldn't look away with the gentle hand holding his face.
"Did you ever…sleep with her?" The dark haired man bit his lip, afraid of the response.
Bane cast his thoughts back to that night, although it was around a period he had blocked out of his mind. He definitely remembered the intention of sleeping with his old friend, and had been disappointed when she'd denied him. At the time he had been preoccupied with the tension between him and his neighbors, but he had still been well aware of the warmth of her body against his. She was all smooth skin and teeth and soft curves, and he'd wanted to see her spread beneath him. Dark hair splayed across the sheets, eyes glossy and anxious, flushed and needy and—whoa. Calm down, Bane commanded himself as he realized his thoughts had gone much too far. Far enough in fact to give him a physical reaction.
He stepped up onto the bottom shelf of the shopping cart and leaned over it to look at Ares, surreptitiously pressing the front of his legs and hips into the metal. Suddenly he was very serious, speaking in low measured tones. "Why are you concerned about Slicer? It's not like I've ever been secretive about the amount of women I've been with. Or how frequently. Of all the things to worry about, why her?"
"It's stupid, I told you," Ares retorted, trying to end the conversation, but when he pushed the cart the occupant refused to move.
"I didn't, you know. She's an old friend, and she had another commitment," he smiled reassuringly, but also couldn't help laughing a bit. "Of all the times to worry about my sex life, Ares…"
"Well she flaunted her closeness with you, and it bothered me. Plus she just didn't seem like the kind of person you needed," the dark haired man snapped. "And I never saw any of the other girls. It doesn't mean I'm happy about it, you know."
"And now I'm with you, and they don't matter," Bane said simply, dismissing everything else.
"That's lovely," growled a flustered Ares, who was trying to hide just how much that had meant to him. He pushed against the cart and the added weight of his boyfriend perched on the end of it. "Now get off."
"Nope."
"I'm not going to push if you don't move."
"I've got aaaaall day to stand here staring at your pretty face," he sing-songed, making the other man blush hotly.
"You're an ass," he retorted, pushing the cart forward and trying to impale the mocking boy on a center aisle display.
"Hey, Ares."
"What?"
"I'll get off the cart if you let me get the noms."
"Just get the damn snack cakes," Ares shouted, causing people three aisles over to jump and curiously look around for the cause of the outburst. Flashing his disgruntled friend a toothy grin, Bane leapt off the end of the cart, jarring it out of Ares's hands. As he swore, the pale boy retrieved the abandoned cakes from the shelf Ares had put them on.
He pet them comfortingly and cast an affectionate glance back at his furious boyfriend. It made him a lot happier than he would say that Ares had been worried for him and jealous of Slicer. In his odd way the frustration Ares displayed just meant he cared, they weren't as cute or nice as he and Twitchtip had been but Bane never doubted Ares's feelings once. He had a sudden vision of a certain someone's shaggy dark hair spread across his sheets, and the hungry eyes looking up at him were definitely not Slicer's emerald green ones.
"I'm gonna tap that," he confided to the box as he returned to Ares's side.
"What did you say?" the man asked, expecting another taunt.
"Nothing," Bane replied innocently as he deposited the box in the cart and gestured that they could continue shopping. Ares just rolled his eyes, thoughts on more mundane things like grocery lists and food groups, while his partner wondered if three weeks after a first kiss was too soon for a normal relationship.
Never know until you try, he figured.