TW: Contains depictions of self-harm and light gore.

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The break room gang were close, and I know that's like saying water is wet but these six people were like a family. But just like in real families, some people keep their darkest fears and secrets locked away from them. People know Carlton wears a phone mask, but nobody knows why. That's because Carlton is good at lying to himself and others about his mental state.

The end of the day had approached the Pizzaplex, all of the guests had gone home and the employees were heading home too. The six members of the break room gang were saying goodbye as usual. Oliver walked with Sam to his car and chaperoned him home before he drove himself home. Janet scuttled into a cab with Alex to get to their house together. Carlton watched as the cars pulled away. He started at the floor as the last vehicle pulled out of the car park, he let his mind drift off for a moment. He felt really worn out after today and just wanted to collapse in his bed and wind down.

Carlton's trip to dreamland was soon interrupted by a soft voice next to him

"You alright Carlton?".

Carlton's head turned to the source of the voice and saw it coming from Charlie. Carlton had only heard him use this softer quieter voice when there was that brief period where Carlton waited with Charlie for his taxi. Carlton thought that he only used it due to his tiredness but the more he hears it the more he believes he uses it to soothe Carlton. He only started using it after he noticed how much of a wreck Carlton becomes when he's extremely tired from his work.

Carlton gave the man a small nod

"Yeah, I'm fine..."

Carlton went quiet, he stared into Charlie's deep, grey eyes in wonder for a moment. He never truly knew how he viewed Charlie, he always felt there was something different about him but he could never really tell. He felt this conflict burn brighter after Charlie's stunt in the arcade earlier. That stunt of his made Carlton happy to feel that sorta passion and warmth. He didn't know much about how to feel about Charlie but he knew one thing for sure...he wanted more.

"Hey, um, Charles?"

Carlton nervously tried to get his attention. Charlie turned his head to face Carlton with a raised eyebrow

"Mhm. Also why are you being so formal all of a sudden, Carly?".

Carlton took off one of his gloves and shoved it in his pocket so he could scratch his arms as his sort of coping mechanism

"Well, I...it's just that...we".

Charlie gently pulled Carlton's hand off of his arm and held it in his own

"What's the matter, Carlton?"

He said in his soft and calming tone. Carlton took a deep breath and swallows the nervous lump that had appeared in his throat and spoke "Tomorrow after work, can I...come over to your house so we can spend time together...like a date?".

Charlie was obviously taken aback by this offer, a thin dusting of blushing had crept onto his face. He thought for a moment but before he could say anything he was interrupted by his taxi honking his horn at him.

"Oh, my taxi"

he said bluntly to Carlton

"So um, I'll call you later and we can talk then" Charlie turned his back to Carlton and rested in the seat. Carlton waved to Charlie but Charlie was too lost in thought to notice him as the car pulled away.

Carlton stood outside the Pizzaplex, alone. He placed the glove from his pocket back on his hand, he pulled a coat out of his bag and huddled himself in its warm and snug safety. He crossed his arms to give himself more body heat and moped his way home on foot, he wasn't in the state for the shitty and cramped buses to get home in this area. The air was bitter and cold as it brushed on Carlton's neck and irritated the scars upon it. Carlton just wanted to go home and cry at this point, he was just feeling overwhelmed and alone. He felt stupid for asking Charlie on a date, he only kissed him that one time and it probably didn't even mean much to him. He didn't even wave back to him.

"He hates me"

he mumbled as a single tear rolled down his cheek and hit the pavement.

Eventually, he reached his home, he reached his weak hand out to the door handle. He pushed open the darkened oak door and a large alsatian shepalute dog came and plonked himself in front of him, the dog placed down a bottle of medication in front of Carlton. Carlton knelt next to his dog and clutched the bottle of medication in his hand

"Oh Trooper, today's just been absolute shit. The only good part was spoiled because of my big ass mouth".

Carlton sighed and pat Trooper's head. Trooper was Carlton's service dog, he was given to him after he had gotten out of therapy. Carlton popped open his bottle of 'happy pills' and tipped a few into his hand, he tossed them into his mouth. He never really felt as if these pills did shit all but he had to take them according to his doctor.

He pulled himself from the floor and closed his door, not bothering to even lock it. He threw off his mask and tossed his work clothes in the washing machine. He only stayed in his boxers mainly because he had no energy to go and find anything and it's also just more comfortable for him. He placed his phone on his living room table before leaning on a countertop in the kitchen of his house and stared at the knives he had displayed on a small wooden rack. He wouldn't stop staring at them. He desired for them, his pills weren't helping so maybe this would. He reached out one of his hands and freed one from the rack. He brought this small, steel bit of relief to his living room and sat on his sofa.

The steel was cold against his skin, and the feeling of the blade's edge on his skin brought him a twisted sense of comfort. His hand brushed past the X-shaped tattoo on his right wrist and felt the sharp edge of the knife. He brought the blade to an unscathed patch of skin and lightly dragged it across it. He soon sighed, thinking about Charlie. He knew Charlie genuinely did nothing wrong or nothing at all but in his head, the situation was bigger to him than it seemed. He swiftly sliced his skin, the skin broke and warm blood dripped from it. He stared at the knife for a moment more, the new red coating on its blade. He had given himself a moment of relief from his thoughts as a sharp pain came from his arm. He looked over at the now sleeping Trooper and grinned

"Such a good boy"

he placed the knife on the coffee table in front of him and held his head in his hands "For fuck sake, why do I have to be this pathetic?"

he sobbed quietly.

He looked at his phone and saw it light up saying 'Charlie 3 wants to call'.

He looked back at the knife placed precariously next to it. Carlton reached out his hand for his phone but hesitated, he almost made a grab for the knife bit instead pulling the phone from the table and to his ear.

"Hello?"

He said, still sounding like a wreck.

"Hi, Carly! Right so you know earlier?".

Once Charlie said that he physically winced and broke down again.

"Are you ok, Carlton?"

Carlton simply hung up after that and threw his phone at the wall.

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Charlie's POV:

Charlie responded like clockwork to this as something similar to this happened before, he didn't make it in time and Carlton got himself hospitalised. Although that wasn't due to Carlton asking Charlie on a date and being rejected. He wasn't gonna let that happen again. He grabbed his phone and rushed out of his house in his pj's and a dressing gown with a first aid kit, from his house, slung over his shoulder. Charlie ran like his life depended on it, well really Carlton's did. And he looked like a crazy person.

He stood at the door and swung the unlocked door open and rushed to the kitchen then the living room. In the living room, he saw Carlton making a deep cut on his chest as his other arm violently scratched his leg. He had expected the worst but even then, this took him off guard. Charlie rushed to Carlton and gripped both of his arms

"C-Charlie?!"

He spoke as tears rolled into his chest and mixed with the blood scrawling along his chest. Charlie yanked the knife away and placed it back in his kitchen and sat down next to Carlton.

Carlton let out spaced-out breaths heavily as he recovered from his breakdown. Charlie silently opened the first aid

"Do you mind me fixing you up then?".

Carlton gave a grin to him

"You? Touching up my body while I'm in boxers? Sign me up"

he teased the other male. Charlie smiled at him, he had calmed down enough to tease him. That was a good sign to him. Charlie patched Carlton up nice and good.

"Now I look like an ancient Egyptian mummy" he chuckled. Charlie nodded with a wide smile

He placed a hand on Carlton's shoulder

"So Carlton, honestly this time. Talk to me, tell me what's wrong"