Prompt: Bobby dates a jerk. Scott gets defensive
Bobby got home from his date, cheeks pink and eyes half-lidded, lazy with lust. Scott was waiting in the living room, a scowl on his face. He was tapping his fingers on the ruler he used to scratch at his leg underneath his cast. He didn't like Bobby's boyfriend, Romeo. Not at all. He didn't trust him, because Romeo was an Empath and could manipulate people's emotions. Scott just didn't trust him because of that; what if he was just manipulating Bobby? What if he seriously hurt Bobby?
This wasn't a possessive type of protection; Bobby was his friend. He told himself that time and time again. He wasn't jealous or envious. He was protective of his friend. Bobby walked into the living room, carefully biting his kiss-swollen lips and Scott had to fight back the anger that suddenly boiled up in his stomach. "How was your date?" He asked absently, trying to pay more attention to the itch under his cast than to the itch in his brain.
It took Bobby a second for the empty look in his eyes to disappear and answer Scott. "It was pretty nice," he answered, a faint hysteria in his tone. "Romeo's a real gentleman," he said, flopping down beside Scott. "Holds the doors and everything; treats me like the perfect lady." He laughed, snatching up the television remote and beginning to channel surf. "How was your date with the tv?
Scott scoffed, "boring. Hardly anything good on. Besides, my friend itchy leg kept me more company than it."
"Sorry your date was such a flop," Bobby laughed, settling on a movie from their real time, a crappy rom-com with equally crappy acting. Scott was more an action person.
They sat their in silence for a while, watching the protagonists dance around each other in their horrible attempts at getting together, often being set up by friends, only for the attempts to end… horribly. Bobby laughed a few times, curled up against the arm of the couch.
Scott's chest squeezed as he watched Bobby out of the corner of his eye. The empty look from his eyes was gone, a genuine sparkle filling them. His suspicions only grew more and were confirmed more after each and every date Bobby went on. "So, what's Romeo like?"
Bobby jumped slightly, before turning to look at Scott with a raised brow. "What? Why the interest?"
Scott fumbled for words, feeling his throat go tight and his chest cave in. "You're my friend Bobby. I'm just looking out for you."
"Gonna help me hook up with someone when we go back," he said, voice almost angry. He sounded accusatory.
"What?"
"Nothing. Never mind. He's great. Really thoughtful. Like I said, a real gentleman. Great kisser." Bobby sighed. "Look, I'm tired, I had a long night. I just wanted to watch a movie, but I think I'm going to head to bed."
There was a distinctive change in Bobby, Scott had noticed. He wasn't around as often, and when he was, he was fairly quiet. That wasn't like Bobby, to not joke and kid around. Pranks weren't a given anymore and as relieved as he should be, Scott was worried about Bobby.
That night, Bobby came home from his date. Like always, he was dazed, disgustingly happy, with his heavily-lidded eyes and brightly coloured cheeks. Scott didn't like that he knew, in about half an hour, that abundance of emotion would disappear, leaving Bobby dazed and unusual. Scott sat in silence, reading on his phone as Bobby watched a movie. When it was over, Bobby set his phone on the side table and mumbled something about grabbing a shower. Scott gave a noncommittal grunt, but as soon as he heard the water from the shower starting, he slide down the couch.
He ignored the pain that flashed up his spine as he grabbed Bobby's phone, unlocking it. He opened Bobby's messages and stared at Romeo's name for a long time, guilt eating away at him. He could lock the phone and set it down, pretend he never had it. Or he could open it and read their private messages. His stomach churned in agony. He opened the messages.
When Bobby got out of the shower, Scott was back in his seat, absently staring at the television, which was turned off. There was a hard set scowl on his face and he was playing with a loose thread on the arm of the couch, gritting his teeth. Bobby sat down and gave him a quizzical glance. "You alright over there, Scott?"
[We're going out tonight, dress nice.]
[I don't feel too well, can we set up a different date?]
[Bobby, I've already made reservations. You're coming on this date.]
[C'mon Romeo. My head is killing me. I promise, some other day.]
[You're coming on this date, end of debate.]
[Hey Romeo, hate to cancel, but the xmen have some business to take care of. I can't go out tomorrow]
[The fuck you can't. Tell them you made plans already.]
[Romeo, this is like, life/death level stuff.]
[You're my BOYFRIEND Bobby. You aren't canceling on me. Only I get to cancel.]
[Send me pics, Bobby, I'm bored and thinking about you.]
[I… I'm not comfortable doing that, Romeo.]
[Come on, it's not like anyone but us will see them.]
[Yeah, but I really… The thought of doing that… I'm not comfortable, Romeo. Please don't make me.]
[I can send you one first if that helps ;)]
[Um… no, it doesnt. Not really. Please, Romeo, dont make me…]
[Hey, Romeo… I think we should break up. I'm sorry. I'm just not as happy with you as I used to be. And my friends are starting to worry about me and… I really just need to figure myself out before I try to bring another person into. I'm really sorry.]
[WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE BREAKING UP WITH ME OVER TEXT?]
[I'm really sorry, Romeo. I just lose my nerve every time I try to tell you in person. I really am sorry.]
[No, fuck that. You're coming over here to explain yourself.]
[I can't Romeo.]
[Then I'm coming over there.]
{NO! Fine, fine. I'll come over]
[I love you so much, Bobby. Please never scare me like that again.]
[No worries… It won't ever happen again.]
[That's good. Because you know I only did what I had to, right? I had to show you how much I love you and how much you love me. And I didn't HURT you. I just showed you how much I love you.]
[I know. I love you too.]
Scott let out a heavy breath. "No, Bobby. I'm not alright. Because I feel like a huge fucking jerk doing this but… I think you should break up with Romeo."
Bobby's eyes flashed before hardening. He stood up. "Why? I… I don't understand why you think I should do that, Scott. Aren't you happy for me?""
Scott swallowed hard, "I am! I'm happy that you're embracing yourself in a way we never could back home, alright? I'm happy that you're learning to love who you are. But I'm not happy with who you're with. He's a jerk, Bobby."
Bobby sat back down on the couch, rubbing his arms like he was cold. He was quiet, a somber, pained expression on his face. Scott sat there, looking at him, his own body tense. He watched as Bobby swallowed a few times, his face hot in the cheeks. "You think I haven't figured that out, Scott?" He hugged himself tighter, a bitter laugh leaving him. Scott's heart ached. "At first, I was just… head over heels for him, you know? I was positive it was all me because even when he was gone I thought about him and shit. I knew at first, it wasn't because he was an Empath. But he got mean, he got rough, he got scary. And every time I tried to cut things off or end things, I wound up coming home, blissfully happy and unaware of what had happened. But at night, everything would come back and I knew after a while, he was just twisting around my emotions and using his own powers to… to keep me around." He laid his head back, looking so tired and aged. There were dark circles under his eyes and tears welling up. "I tried to break up with him once, when Evan and Idie got really worried and told they didn't trust him. My gut told me the same thing but I knew I couldn't do it in person." He laughed again, tears spilling over. "You should read some of the texts on my phone."
"I did," Scott breathed, scared to move in case Bobby got frightened or tried to leave.
"I'm not even mad. I've been leaving my phone out, hoping, hell, praying someone would pick it up and read what he's been doing and saying." More tears ran down his face, "I can't break up with him, though. If I do it over the phone again, he's going to come here. I don't know how strong he is. He could make us all love him so much that no one ever tries to break us up again."
"Has he been hurting you? Physically?" It pained Scott to even ask that question, his heart was hammering hard in his chest. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear the truth, especially if it was the opposite than he thought.
Bobby turned his head to look at Scott, eyes watering and red. He nodded his head slightly, lips quivering. "I'm c-covered in bru-bruises…"
Scott clenched his jaw. "Listen, Bobby. Block his number. Don't go anywhere alone. Always have someone else with you. Always. We're going to end this. He's going to stop hurting you. Everyone will know that if they see this Romeo asshole, they are to keep him away from you. If he approaches you, we are allowed to clock him in the jaw." He scooted down the couch some, ignoring the pain in his ribs. "You're our friend, Bobby. None of us want to see you get hurt or be hurt." He turned his body awkwardly to cup Bobby's face, wiping at his tears. "I wish you would have told one of us sooner, Bobby. Because trust me, he's going to pay for hurting you."
As a side note, I know very little about Romeo's character. I based this solely off the fact that he can manipulate people's feelings and that every cute guy named Romeo ends up being more trouble than they're worth. Also, I'm not going to call out the person, but I'd highly appreciate it if you stopped harassing me to do your prompt. If it continues, I will not write it for you. I am taking time out of my day to write these stories and as much as I enjoy doing so, I do not enjoy being pestered and told that my take on things are wrong. You will get your prompt written out. Patience is a virtue.