Archive of Our Own ^beta

The Monday so far has been what Mondays usually are. Tiring, slow-paced, boring, uneventful. The list goes on.

Gekko’s alarm had indeed gone off, though he wishes it hadn’t. Up and ready for the day, out and about at seven in the morning was not what he would consider a good start to his week.

But, no one asked for his opinion, so there he was. At least the last energy drink in the vending machine on the way to the lecture hall had been a mango-flavoured one. A silver lining he would have to settle for.

He didn’t pay nearly enough attention to the lecture. But, it was like only the third one in the course, so it was fine. They were basically still going over the basics. He’d look over someone else’s notes sometime else. Maybe.

But it’s not like it was his fault that he couldn’t concentrate. He had forgotten about the message he was avoiding, and he had, of course, faced it head-on when his alarm had gone off. It was basically exactly what he had expected.

‘poor guy :( hope he feels better soon’

He hadn’t responded to it.

He wasn’t even supposed to think about it. Or Phoenix in general. Or Yoru. But the heavy feeling sitting in the pit of his stomach didn’t allow him to really focus on anything else. He had hoped that the anxiety would ease overnight. Reset his body, or something. But it hadn’t. He felt just the same, though more tired.

And Monday wasn’t off to a better start even after the lecture was over. It was a little short of two hours, letting Gekko return to freedom at ten in the morning. All too early to even think about lunch, all too late to catch up on some more sleep. Great.

And, just to top it all off, none of his friends were anywhere to be found. The main buildings seemed almost eerily empty. No one in their right mind would be spending the day outside in the rain, either. It was like the entire protocol had just decided to collectively leave Gekko to his devices, by himself to think about what he had done.

So, that’s what he ends up doing. Back in the safety of his own room while waiting to grow hungry enough to leave for lunch.

He uses his time wisely by examining the pit in his stomach, over-intellectualising why it’s there, what it’s made of, and why it won't leave. He knows it isn’t going to help him deal with the feeling, but it allows him at least some control over it.

It feels like a black hole, slowly sucking in anything and everything it comes across, only growing in size the longer he leaves it unattended. He knows it’s the anxiety. He knows it’s there because he did something stupid while drunk. He knows it’ll ease if he gets some clarity about the events that took place, some comfort that his friends haven’t turned their backs on him because of it.

But, to get that clarity and comfort, he would have to actually face the consequences of his actions. Face the people who could tell him what he wants to hear. It doesn’t even have to be what he wants to hear. Anything that would make him able to move on from this feeling was welcome.

Unless it required confronting Phoenix and Yoru.

Phoenix or Yoru he could maybe manage. But not both.

It was going to eat him alive at this point.

He had already spent the better half of a month riddled with anxiety, regret, guilt, shame, or a mixture of the four. All because he happened to need a moment alone in a goddamn restroom. He would laugh at the predicament he was in were it not him who was in it.

It was so stupid. He could be living his life normally, not a care in the world, had he just exited that restroom when he had the chance. Or, better yet, not been there at all. Sucked it up for another ten to fifteen minutes before barricading himself in there. But no. Of course not. That would make everything entirely too easy.

So, instead of just existing peacefully like he had for the first month in the protocol, he was now stuck with whatever the fuck this was.

The more he thought about it, the more it started to annoy him. He was quite literally wasting his time and letting his anxieties take away from the time he could be spending with his teammates, friends, literally anyone besides his group of radivores. Not like the little guys weren’t good company, but still. Human interaction is human interaction.

Normal human interaction, to be more precise. Not the kind where he has to avert eye contact out of shame, have backup lies ready for everything, or think about everything he would say beforehand. Just regular, normal, uneventful, boring, mundane human interaction.

And he could have it. To his little heart’s desires. Were it not for those two bastards unable to keep it in their pants for one goddamn night.

Rationally, he knew it wasn’t their fault. Not really, at least. But he was also done blaming himself for it. So, now it was Yoru and Phoenix’s fault. At least blaming them would give him something - or someone - concrete to channel his feelings towards.

And he was getting annoyed. Annoyed at the two of them for ruining over two weeks of his time as a member of the protocol. Over two weeks of being a rookie that he literally could not get back. He was becoming less and less one of the new guys as time passed, and that just wouldn’t slide anymore.

He had to do something at this point. It couldn’t be that hard, right?

For starters, they would be easy to spot. And they - more often than not - moved as a unit; you find one and you find the other. That’s two steps already. He could easily do it. Then, just bring up last Friday. Say he’s sorry and that it was a mistake and they should all forget that it ever happened. Then, a swift one hundred and eighty degrees, and get the fuck out of dodge. And he would be in the clear. Back to normal. Business as usual. Easy.

What their friendship would evolve into afterwards is left undecided. He'd rather not think about it.

He gets up from his couch, unsurprisingly having ended up there after lunch, an almost three-hour-long training course, and dinner. He gets himself moving as quickly as possible before he can think about his decision too much.

His group of radivores reacts to his sudden movement, startled out of the naps they were taking. They slow the rushed plan down just a little as Gekko doesn’t want to leave them in his room by themselves - especially if they are awake. They could probably fall asleep within minutes if Gekko just had the patience to wait. But he didn’t. So, he grabs the crew, lets them find their designated spots, and heads out.

Where he was heading to would become clearer along the way. Either Yoru or Phoenix’s room would be an obvious choice, but he didn’t know which one to head to, nor did he want to think about what he could be interrupting this time.

The mess hall is a good second choice. Some agents like to treat it like a cafe after they stop serving dinner - much to the staff’s dismay. But it’s empty.

The new rec room should have been his first objective, now that he thinks about it. It was basically the go-to spot for all the younger agents now that the old one got turned into a storage room of sorts. But still, no luck.

Where else would two twenty-somethings be on a Monday evening?

Gekko’s thoughts circle back to his first option. It sends a shiver down his spine. He has learned his lesson already; no more intruding. He could find them somewhere.

Another lap around the base takes him along hallways he doesn’t remember walking before. And his radivores would agree, actively observing their surroundings and taking in all the new sights, sounds, and smells. The hallways are unsurprisingly empty, the doors sporting names he hasn’t run into before.

So, again, nothing.

Maybe it was a sign from the universe to not go through with his - oh, so well-constructed - plan.

He tries not to think about how much time he has wasted already as he starts his walk back to the main area to check the shared rooms again. They could have entered the rooms just as he had left them, who knows?

He checks the time on his phone and tries not to groan. Not at the fact that he now knows he has been running in circles for twenty minutes already, but at the realisation that he could have easily just messaged Phoenix and asked about their whereabouts. Though, that would mean - instead of bringing it up casually - having to admit that he has been thinking about this. Not like there really was a way to bring it up casually to begin with.

Still, he opens the app and stares at the conversation, thumbs hovering over the keyboard as he keeps blindly navigating the halls. Should he? After all, it would make things easier. And he’d take any lifeline he was granted.

He swallows his common sense and starts typing.

‘hey where are you?’

Nope. He’s not the goddamn feds. He erases the words.

‘what’re you up to?’

Even worse. Might as well send him a ‘you up?’ at that point. He tries not to laugh at the thought as he again erases the message.

‘wanna fuck?’

This time, he can’t even suppress the giggle.

This is the dumbest thing ever.

And wasn't he supposed to do the exact opposite?

Whatever. It would be at least a little funny were he to accidentally send it. He shakes his head lightly and tries to talk himself out of accidentally sending it as he starts to erase the message.

Still focused on his phone screen, a shadowy frame appears in his line of vision and he accidentally bumps into them.

“Sorry,” he apologises on instinct and locks his phone - just in case.

“There you are.”

What?

Gekko’s head snaps up to look at the unfortunate stranger in his path.

Yoru smiles down at him.

“You’re not busy, are you?” he asks.

Phoenix emerges from the doorway of the old rec room as well, taking a stance partly behind Yoru.

The old rec room. Of course.

Gekko freezes for a second.

“Uh, yeah, I was just-” he starts, immediately regressing to his original mindset. Fuck the plan. Fuck trying to tell them anything. He can’t do it. He can’t take the confrontation. It’s not happening. Not today. He can take one more day - or week, or month - of anxiety and daydreaming. Easily.

He forgets to finish his sentence, letting the sentence fade into artificial silence. He gestures at the room behind them, like that helps communicate the lie he can’t come up with.

Luckily, Dizzy steals everyone’s attention by emerging from her tranquil state, curled up on Gekko’s shoulder. She lets out an excited squeak at the sound of Yoru’s voice, trying to reach towards him. A dry laugh leaves Gekko’s lips as he doesn’t have to come up with a lie after all and he can avert his gaze to focus on Dizzy.

“Hi to you too,” Yoru smiles as he reaches his hand out to pet Dizzy’s shell, stabilising his hand on Gekko’s shoulder. Dizzy leans against the touch, her eyes closing as she relaxes. Gekko tries not to focus on Yoru touching his shoulder. He did that at the bar, too, didn’t he? 

“You were just-?” Phoenix interrupts Gekko’s little moment of relief, prompting him to give a proper answer. Gekko wants to think he’s being genuine with the question.

He sighs. “Nothing,” he admits, knowing he’s not going anywhere without Dizzy’s protest.

“So, you have a minute?” Yoru confirms.

Gekko tries to relax under the gazes that have shifted away from Dizzy and onto him.

“Yeah, what’s up?” He knows exactly what’s up. His heart rate picks up. At least his voice stays calm.

“I think we should, uh, talk,” Phoenix continues, stumbling over his words a little. His sentence ends up sounding like a question. “Maybe not here, though.”

“Yeah,” Gekko agrees with both of his points. “I was just going to my room anyway.”

He manages to take a singular step past Yoru before a high-pitched noise from Dizzy stops him. The real star of the show. Gekko doesn’t mind shifting the spotlight away from himself. 

“She wants you to hold her,” he tells Yoru. “You can just hold your palm out for her. If you want.”

Yoru blinks a few times, considering it. He reaches his hand out carefully, his other one emerging from his pocket to secure Dizzy on his palm. Dizzy rolls onto her back and curls into a comfortable ball, closing her eyes. Yoru freezes again, not sure how to move with the little creature in his hands. He smiles at her and holds her close to his chest.

Gekko steals a quick glance at the sight, a smile forming on his lips as well. It helps him calm his nerves a little; at least the two didn’t seem mad at him.

They start the walk to Gekko’s room - Gekko leads, and Yoru and Phoenix walk side by side behind him. Gekko taps his fingers again.

Phoenix takes a few quick steps to catch up to Gekko.

“So, do they understand English?” he asks, watching as Thrash turns to him from the sound of his voice.

“They do,” Gekko says. “But they don’t really listen to anyone but me,” he explains. He can only assume why Phoenix wants to know that. “They react more to tones than actual words, though,” he can’t help adding.

Phoenix hums as he turns to look back at Yoru and Dizzy. His lips curl into a smile immediately at the sight. Yoru smiles right back at him, holding Dizzy closer to his chest. One of her little legs curls around the fabric of Yoru’s shirt and holds tight.

Gekko hears Yoru’s breath shudder behind him, and he turns around immediately to check on the two. The sight he’s met with calms his nerves before they even flare up. Dizzy is fine - more than fine, apparently. Gekko smiles as he turns back around to not run into the rookie walking towards them.

They arrive at his door; it finally has his name placard next to it. It is still white text on a black background, but the designers had decided to change the font sometime after Phoenix and Yoru got theirs.

ARMENDÁRIZ, M.
“GEKKO”

He still had nothing to personalise the placard or the door with. Phoenix frowns - was he the only one who did so?

Gekko unlocks the door, holding it open for the two entering after him. The door falls shut heavily on its own, startling both Yoru and Phoenix.

Gekko drops to one knee to let Wingman and Thrash jump onto the floor before reaching for Mosh’s satchel. He follows the two heading for the couch, letting Mosh onto their designated pillow before gathering the others’ things they like to sleep on.

Dizzy starts moving anxiously on Yoru’s palm, eagerly wanting to join her friends. Gekko doesn’t even need to look in their direction to sense it. 

“You can just let her on the floor,” he tells Yoru. “She can climb up here on her own.”

Yoru does just that, copying what Gekko had done earlier.

Dizzy quickly makes her way to her buddies, jumping on the couch and curling around Mosh, returning to her familiar tranquil state; always ready to sleep.

The three of them watch the group for a little while, Phoenix and Yoru with fondness, and Gekko with paternal care. All four radivores fall asleep quite quickly - not like it was ever difficult for them.

Yoru clears his throat as quietly as he can to catch Gekko’s attention without disturbing the crew’s sleep. It works, startling Gekko a little as he turns to look at Yoru. Yoru simply nods towards the door, and Gekko takes the hint. 

Opening and closing the door as quietly as possible is a skill acquired over time, and Gekko has had his fair share of practising.

The walk to - what Gekko assumes to be - Yoru’s room is even more quiet than the one to Gekko’s own. He tries to keep his breathing stable, tapping his fingers in the same rhythm as he breathes. He tries to revise his plan and rehearse some things he wants to say in his defence, maybe a bit too unprepared for the confrontation he assumes is to come. 

What was the third step again? Was this the third step? Was there a third step to begin with? There probably should be. 

The walk being brought to an abrupt stop leaves Gekko with no real answers. At least he had guessed right earlier as he looks at the door with a placard with writing in Japanese script on it. Yoru opens the door and heads in, and Gekko waits for Phoenix to follow next. He doesn’t, and Gekko feels a warm hand on the small of his back, gently pushing him towards the door instead. A glance back at Phoenix and he’s met with a small smile and another shove. He returns the smile quickly before heading inside, Phoenix’s touch lingering.

The door shuts and locks behind Phoenix, stealing Gekko’s attention away from overlooking the room. In what little time he had had, he had gathered that Yoru’s room is practically the same as his. It has the same layout, but it looks smaller because his bed is bigger. And there are no bags and boxes filled with radivore equipment, toys, medicine, and food. Overall, his room is surprisingly tidy, the only exception being one of the nightstands.

Yoru stands in the middle of the room, between the small sofa and the end of the bed - and effectively blocking the path to the other side of the room. Phoenix stays in front of the door, leaning back against it. Whether or not he purposefully blocks the only real exit of the room is up for Gekko to decide. He stands somewhat caged between the two. The only way he could back away is closer to the partly-made bed. That doesn’t seem appropriate.

Gekko’s gaze ends up darting between the two. The silence in the room is somehow heavier than in the hallway just outside the door. He opens his mouth to say something, wanting to hear anything other than his quickening heartbeat between his ears. But he has no words to say, not wanting to start the conversation. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he manages to tell himself that Friday never happened.

Both Yoru and Phoenix notice that he was about to say something, and they keep quiet. Gekko watches as Yoru takes a step closer and crosses his arms on his chest. He looks over at Phoenix and sees him lean his shoulder against the door, body turned towards him. He looks back at Yoru, unsure what to do with his hands - the tapping doesn’t feel natural anymore.

“Go on,” Yoru finally ushers him, voice only a little taunting.

Gekko tries to swallow, his mouth goes dry.

“I’m not usually like that,” he manages to say, his voice small. He scratches the back of his neck, letting his gaze fall to the floor.

“No?” Yoru asks, clearly trying to hide a smirk.

“Like what?” Phoenix asks, almost interrupting Yoru. He doesn’t even try to hide the amused look on his face, clearly enjoying the confrontation. 

Gekko’s eyes widen, again darting between the two. His breathing picks up a little but he tries to hide it.

“No,” he repeats. “I'm not-” He doesn't want to say it out loud. He tries to buy himself time by focusing on literally anything and everything but the two men in front of him. He knows they’re not going to accept silence as an answer. But he also knows they would probably drop the act and have a normal conversation about it with him if he sincerely asked.

But that’s not what he wants.  

“I'm not that desperate,” he finally says, almost whispers. He focuses on his hands, not daring to look either of the two in the eye. A heavy feeling sits in his gut, making all of his movements feel forced. It feels good. Much better than the black hole he had been housing. He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, trying to dissolve the tension in his body. It doesn't work. He doesn’t mind. 

“How desperate are you, then?” Phoenix continues the interrogation all too quickly for Gekko's liking. The smug grin on his lips suits him infuriatingly well. He should stop looking at Phoenix's lips.

“I'm not,” Gekko simply states. He tries to sound convincing but his voice is barely more audible than a whisper.

“No?” Phoenix taunts him as he pushes himself to his feet and takes a step away from the door and towards Gekko. He was having too much fun with this. “So you could walk out of here right now and continue your day normally? Not even think about us for the rest of the day and night?” he continues, the words rolling off his tongue as easily as ever. 

Gekko doesn’t want to respond. The intense stare Phoenix keeps on him slows even more of his thoughts down, making him freeze. 

Phoenix takes it as a cue. He tilts his head to the side. 

“Bet night-time’s the toughest, huh?” 

The smile on his lips almost makes his words slur together. 

Again, Gekko opens his mouth to say no - or yes, depending on which part he was supposed to answer - but he can't. Like his tongue refuses to find the right position to get either of the words out.

He looks over at Yoru, silently pleading him to be the voice of reason here; keep Phoenix on a leash, or something. But Yoru just returns the look, raising his eyebrows - just as silently telling him to answer the question.

With a deep sigh forced out of his lungs, Gekko gives in. “No. And yes. In that order,” he finally admits. Whatever game they were playing, he was not going to emerge victorious from it. He doesn't know which of the two to look at, a flush threatening to form on his cheeks from his admission. 

Phoenix looks physically taken aback. “Huh,” he utters, a little surprised. “So it was that easy,” he says, mostly to himself, before turning to Yoru and smiling. “Thanks for the tenner.”

Gekko looks over at Yoru just in time to catch him rolling his eyes. Did he miss something? What did that mean? He tries to seem like he's unaffected, shifting his weight from one foot to the other again and crossing his arms on his chest - a shield. 

Much to Gekko’s surprise, Yoru actually seems to read his anxieties. 

“Ignore him,” Yoru tells him, glancing at Phoenix. “Let's just focus on you.”

Gekko just nods - like he had a choice, really. His heart beats all too quickly and the blood rushes between his ears entirely too loudly for him to even try to force a sentence. At least his nervous system calms down a little from Yoru’s words. Maybe he was in the clear.

“So, is it a thing for you? Listening to others fuck without their knowledge?” Yoru asks casually enough to make Gekko think he misheard. 

Nevermind. 

If Gekko thought he was at a loss for words earlier, he might as well have his lips sealed shut by this point. Deducing from the intense gaze Yoru holds on him that he had indeed heard correctly, Gekko stumbles over his words, just trying to force them out. Anything is better than letting those words hang in the air for any longer than necessary. 

“What? No- I didn't- it wasn't on purpose.”

“No?” Phoenix chimes in again, absolutely not letting Gekko ignore him. “So, you just accidentally sat there for the, what, ten, fifteen minutes while I got my dick sucked?”

It was seven and a half.

Gekko blinks, startled.

“No, I- I mean yes. I mean, I didn't mean to-”

“Did you at least get off to it?” Yoru asks, interrupting Gekko's poor defence.

Once again, Gekko's jaw drops open, ready to say something, only to let the silence settle. He immediately averts his gaze, knowing he had been caught without saying a word. A familiar warmth spreads across his cheeks. 

“You did,” Phoenix answers for him. “Damn,” he chuckles.

“And that's why you left so early,” Yoru connects the dots and huffs. “I can't say I blame you.”

Gekko still keeps his eyes glued to literally anything else than either of the two. The tapping of his fingers shakes his entire hand.

He doesn’t know what to do, what to say. Is this the moment he’s supposed to leave? The interrogation is over. They got what they wanted out of him, right? Time to shout it from the rooftops; he’s a creep who likes to spy on his friends. That’s his legacy now. Great.

His focus shifting from an unfocused point to another stops.

The motion of his fingers stops just as suddenly.

Gekko loses the fight to an impulsive thought.

He lifts his gaze to dart between the two, an abrupt wave of confidence washing over him. The thought doesn’t get another review before being voiced.

Though he really shouldn’t-

“So, is it a thing for you two, then? Publicly talking about fucking your friends?” Gekko asks, managing to make his voice sound clear. The momentary upper hand makes him straighten his posture, occupy more room. He could play this game, too.

“Touché,” Phoenix admits, laughing a little. “But that's just what you get for having such fuckable friends,” he continues, shamelessly letting his gaze wander up and down Gekko's body before ending up focusing on his eyes again, a smirk on his lips.

Gekko feels flustered under Phoenix’s unrelenting gaze, trying to hide the way he feels the need to shift around again. Phoenix wasn’t supposed to have an answer ready so quickly. He was supposed to stumble over his words, at least. This isn’t fair.

But, he could play this game, too - Gekko repeats to himself as he doesn't know what to say. He hates this game. 

“Is that something you'd be interested in?” Yoru asks, saving him from having to respond to Phoenix’s comment. Not like this question was any easier to admit to.

“You didn't seem too opposed to it back then,” Phoenix adds, the grin on his lips never faltering. Smug bastard.

Gekko's eyes can't find a target to focus on, alternating between the two again. Do they really expect him to answer? Were they being serious about this? Was he being serious about this? He looks at Yoru for guidance as he nods slowly; he was answering Yoru’s question after all.

Instead of registering the gesture, Yoru just quirks a brow at him. Gekko sighs in defeat for one last time and lets his gaze drop. “Yes,” he whispers.

“Knew it.” Phoenix sounds almost victorious. “Knew you couldn't get enough just from eavesdropping.”

The words make Gekko freeze, his eyes widening. This wasn't some sort of fucked up test, was it? To get him to confess that he wants to fuck his friends? In addition to just getting off to them? 

A bolt of panic shoots through him; electricity that leaves his fingertips tingling. He tries to dull the feeling by tapping his fingers again, dissolving the static.

Now they were actually going to ridicule him, weren't they? Call him a gross degenerate who can't keep it in his pants around his platonic friends. 

Gekko's breathing picks up again, his eyes darting between the two men and the door Phoenix is still partly blocking with his frame. He hopes his expression doesn't reveal a thing. He can play this game, too.

Something in Yoru's expression seems to soften, and he looks over at Phoenix.

“Go sit down.”

Phoenix turns to look at Yoru, making sure the command was directed at him. His assumption is confirmed when Yoru looks right back and gestures at the bed. Without another word - though he could think of many - Phoenix walks past Gekko and sits on the edge of the bed, leaning back.

He watches as Yoru walks up to Gekko, unsure which of the two he wants to focus on. Yoru towers a modest couple of inches above Gekko - a familiar difference. Phoenix has to bite his tongue at the sight. He knows the way Gekko tilts his chin up is not necessary. 

Probably aware of it as well, Yoru rests his hands on Gekko's shoulders, feeling the tension the poor man holds in his body. He almost feels bad about interrogating him like that. Almost. He spares Phoenix a quick glance. 

“Don't mind him.” He turns back to face Gekko. “He can be a bit of a-” He tilts his head slightly, tasting the word on his tongue before speaking it. “Brat.”

Phoenix furrows his brows at the word, reaching to nudge Yoru's shoe with his own. Yoru doesn't acknowledge it in the slightest, his eyes staying on Gekko.

Gekko lets out a quiet huff, relaxing a little.

“You're sure this is what you want?” Yoru asks him, fingers gently massaging his shoulders.

Gekko nods without hesitation.

Yoru's lips curl into a fond smile.

“With your words.”

“Yes,” Gekko says, voice more unsure than he is.

“Good.”

Yoru’s smile lingers as he takes a small step back, his fingertips still brushing against Gekko’s skin as he eyes Gekko up and down. He can feel Gekko’s arms move as he taps his fingers. Now he feels just a tiny bit bad about interrogating him like that. It really wasn’t that serious to begin with, after all. Just a little fun. 

Yoru tilts his head to the side a little as he moves his touch down Gekko’s arms. A silent acknowledgement of Gekko’s nervousness as he feels the tendons move under his touch.

“Do you need a moment?” he asks in a voice quiet enough to make Gekko think Phoenix wasn’t even meant to hear it.

Gekko shakes his head.

“No,” he clarifies, just as Yoru is about to quirk a brow at him.

“Then, just relax,” Yoru smiles at him.

There is something in that smile that Gekko doesn't fully trust. Still, he tries to dissolve the tension still lingering in his body, his limbs feeling heavy with it. He takes a deep breath and even closes his eyes as he exhales. He feels Yoru's hand move across his shoulders and onto his arms.

“There you go,” Yoru says almost in a whisper.

The words make Phoenix shift on the bed, deprived of attention. His fingers keep tapping a silent rhythm against the duvet, legs unwilling to stay still as well. Still, he keeps his mouth shut - for now.

And he could get attention by other means anyway.

He pushes himself to sit straight, his hands moving to his belt to undo it. The familiar sound of the metal buckle makes Gekko glance over at him - only to have Yoru turn his head back. Phoenix rolls his eyes as he pulls the belt off and lets it drop to the floor.

“He'll get his turn,” Yoru tells Gekko when their eyes meet again, his touch lingering on Gekko's cheek.

Unsure if he's expected to reply or not, Gekko just nods.

Yoru's fingers dip under the neckline of Gekko's shirt, the cold touch sending a shiver down his spine.

“Do you want to take this off for us?” he asks, voice low and sweet.

Gekko has never heard Yoru speak like that; definitely a rare treat reserved - mostly - for Phoenix. He nods again. 

Yoru takes a step back to give Gekko room to peel his shirt off. He takes the short moment to finally spare a glance for Phoenix - only to find him intently staring at Gekko. He can't help but smile at the sight; Phoenix looks entirely entranced.

He takes the shirt from Gekko and lets it drop to the floor somewhere near Phoenix’s belt. Following Phoenix’s lead, he also takes his time unapologetically staring, letting his eyes take in the sight before him.

Because Gekko looks good. Really good. The few tattoos he kept hidden underneath the slightly oversized shirt curve beautifully around his toned torso, moving alongside him. He has one long and pale scar stretching across his chest, sitting right below his pectoral muscles. It’s old, fully healed. Properly taken care of. It suits him, really.

Gekko's nervous shift under the two focused gazes breaks at least Yoru out of it.

“Look at you,” he mutters as his hands return to Gekko's shoulders.

Definitely not used to being on display like that, Gekko tries not to blush over the words. He tries to avert his gaze, but a cold hand on the side of his neck makes him look back at Yoru.

“Won't you show Jamie, too?” Yoru asks, a small smile playing on his lips.

Not saying a word - and thankful for the guidance - Gekko turns to face Phoenix as Yoru's hands retreat from his skin. The coolness lingers for a brief moment before the flush he can't contain replaces it. Because Phoenix's warm brown eyes look right through him, ready to devour. Even though he's only short of one item of clothing, he feels more naked than ever.

Yoru's cold hands returning to his skin makes him flinch a little. In silent worship, they move from Gekko's shoulders and down his sides, ending up on the buckle of his belt. Frozen, Gekko doesn't know what to do with his own hands. Was he even allowed to touch?

“Tell me to stop,” Yoru whispers right next to his ear.

Gekko shakes his head lightly, certain that he couldn't get the word out if he tried.

This time Yoru seems to accept the non-verbal answer as he starts to unbuckle the belt. It gets disregarded on the floor as well.

Phoenix is one step ahead, having already unbuttoned his pants and trying to shuffle them down to the best of his ability. His shirt comes off next in a swift move, quickly forgotten on the ground as well.

Yoru's fingers move to unzip and unbutton Gekko's pants as Gekko keeps looking at Phoenix. It feels intrusive to watch him undress - but then again, Gekko was getting the same treatment in return. He still doesn't know what to do with his hands as Yoru doesn't seem to need any help with getting rid of his clothes. He ends up fidgeting with his fingers, testing how many joints he could crack.

The fabric of his pants is heavy enough to pool at his ankles without much added help and he steps out of them, kicking them to the side along with his shoes.

Phoenix had managed to do the same, waiting surprisingly patiently.

“C’mere.” He reaches an arm towards Gekko.

Now more unsure than ever, Gekko goes to glance at Yoru for his approval - something he gets in the form of a light push towards the bed. Gekko tries not to stumble on his feet as he takes a step closer to Phoenix, standing between his legs and towering over him. 

It’s a view he can’t comprehend. Everything seems to happen so fast. Even with the multitude of fantasies he has rifled through, Gekko feels more than a little lost. Is this really happening? What even is ‘this’ that is happening? 

The almost familiar, lingering cold touch is contrasted by a pair of warm palms sliding across Gekko’s skin and forcing a shaky breath from him. From his thighs and up his sides, the warmth seeps through his skin. It's everything he had thought it would be. His own hands rest on Phoenix's shoulders, rubbing small patterns into his skin.

The moment is almost sweet - serene, even - until Phoenix’s hands end up on Gekko's ass and squeeze. He pulls Gekko closer and makes Gekko momentarily lose his balance. Though, it was more intentional than Phoenix would like to admit as Gekko’s hold on his shoulders tightens and he takes a small step forward. His surprised expression quickly turns into an equally poorly concealed mischievous one as the one Phoenix is looking up at him with.

One more tug to get his point across and Phoenix finally gets Gekko to sit down on his lap. Gekko makes this transition easier for himself by simultaneously pushing Phoenix to lie on his back. It creates enough room between the two of them so he doesn't have to think which lines he'll be allowed to cross just now.

Not resisting the change in the slightest, Phoenix's hands find Gekko's hips and he helps Gekko get comfortable on top of him. Gekko shifts his weight around a little, his hands testing the waters that are the areas of Phoenix's skin he is allowed to touch.

Phoenix looks up at him, met with an uncertain expression. A fond smile quickly turns into a cheeky little grin as he watches Gekko eye him up and down.

“I know, I know. Just take it all in.”

Phoenix almost laughs at the cocky tone he tries to keep. He can practically feel Yoru rolling his eyes from the bathroom.

But Gekko doesn't seem to notice - or mind. He starts to trace the little divots and shapes moulded onto Phoenix's skin from the fat and muscle and bones laying underneath. From soft to firm to solid, feeling Phoenix’s stable breathing underneath his touch. His fingertips map all the scars, moles, and little persistent bruises he can find. Phoenix’s stomach, his ribcage, up his sternum and across his collar bones. All the while Phoenix watches, thoroughly enjoys the attention. It’s not the reaction he was expecting but he’s not one to complain. 

Trailing his hands back down, Gekko's thumbs brush across Phoenix's ribs - where his own scar would be. He doesn't find the familiar tissue, and looks up to meet Phoenix's awaiting gaze. With another glance at Phoenix's chest, he silently asks for permission to touch. Phoenix grants it with a smile on his lips, guiding Gekko's hands to rest on his chest.

The little gesture silences the nagging anxiety in the back of Gekko's mind as he uses the leverage to readjust his position. Phoenix's chest is soft, the muscle underneath undeniably defined. Gekko tries to hold back a smile as he looks down at Phoenix. Emphasis on the word ‘tries’.

His smile lingers as Phoenix’s hands move back to his hips and adjust his position. The only change in his expression is his eyelids fluttering shut as Phoenix finds the right spot to help him grind down against his lap. His inhale is shaky at best, the first actual contact he’s experiencing sending little shockwaves through his nervous system - even if it is just from the fabric of his boxers shifting slightly. He is more than glad to let Phoenix initiate it. At least that way he wouldn’t be crossing any lines; though it feels like he’s done that multiple times already. 

It doesn’t take long for Gekko to follow the same pattern Phoenix is slowly moving him in, grinding against his lap with more force. He hears Phoenix gasp quietly, and that is enough motivation for him to open his eyes and have a look. And a worthy sight it is; Phoenix’s lips curled into a small, satisfied smile, his eyelids fighting to stay open, contentment clear on his face. Gekko wants to believe he can see a slight flush spread across Phoenix’s cheeks.

The creak of the bathroom door breaks both of them out of the moment they’re having, both of them instinctively turning to look in the direction of the sound. They find Yoru standing in the doorway, a roll of black tape in hand. The sight ignites a short-lived panic in Gekko, partly from realising he’s currently in bed with Yoru’s boyfriend and now he’s there as well, partly from the tape. The former source of anxiety lingers, whereas he almost wants to laugh from noticing the black tape on the sides of Yoru’s chest. Of course. 

Though, technically, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of-

“I see you two are getting familiar with each other already.” Yoru interrupts Gekko’s wandering thoughts before they get too far.

And just to prove Yoru right, Phoenix pulls Gekko harder down on his lap, getting him to gasp softly. Gekko’s hands leave Phoenix’s skin as he pushes himself to sit up, straddling Phoenix’s hips again.

Yoru can’t help smiling at the sight as he makes his way over to them, dropping the tape on the nightstand on his way. He gets up on the bed on one knee, his body turned towards Gekko. He reaches to grab a hold of Gekko’s jaw, tilting his head to look at him.

The added attention on him makes Gekko flustered, though he tries to hide it. Phoenix doesn’t make that easy for him as he keeps grinding him down on his lap. Gekko bites his tongue to stifle a quiet moan, his eyes barely staying open.

“So, what was it that you wanted?” Yoru asks him - all too casually in Gekko’s opinion. His grip holds steady even when Gekko tries to turn his head away out of embarrassment. He feels Gekko swallow under his hold.

“I- you to do what you said you would,” he manages to stumble through the words, vague as ever but hoping to get his point across.

He watches how Yoru and Phoenix share a look, definitely knowing what he was talking about.

“And what was that?” Yoru continues, gaze shifting back onto Gekko, determined to get the information he wants.

Gekko wants to groan. He tries to drop his gaze, let his head hang, escape the confession somehow, but Yoru’s grip on his jaw forces him back up. A shaky inhale later, he collects himself to the best of his ability.

“Share me,” he practically whispers. The admission burns his cheeks immediately. Yoru can probably feel it against his fingers. He wants to turn his head away again.

Yoru and Phoenix share yet another look, satisfied with the answer.

“I think we can do that for you,” Yoru speaks lowly, finally letting go of Gekko’s jaw.

He pushes himself off the bed, Gekko trying not to follow where he’s going. Luckily, Phoenix steals his attention again, his grip tightening on Gekko’s hips and pulling him harder down. Though an almost familiar feeling already, it still makes Gekko’s pleased little sigh quiver. A smile lingers on his lips in the aftermath as the embarrassment of being perceived as vulnerable is slowly replaced with desire. 

The need to touch Phoenix now that he was allowed to returns, and Gekko goes to slide his hands on top of Phoenix’s, only for Phoenix to pull one of his hands away. He instead trails his thumb under the elastic waistband of his boxers, lightly pulling on it. His hand is so close to Gekko’s crotch it almost makes Gekko miss the words leaving his lips.

“Wanna help me out here?”

Gekko hopes the way he’s startled wasn’t visible as he nods maybe a bit too quickly. Phoenix answers with a smile, hands returning to Gekko’s hips to push him back enough to prompt him to get on his feet again.

Gekko does just so as he keeps his eyes on Phoenix, who just stays where he is. He watches as Phoenix reaches for a pillow to prop his head up, leaving his arms folded under his head. With a satisfied smile on his lips, the only move Phoenix makes to get his boxers off is lifting his hips ever so slightly off the bed, waiting for Gekko to do the rest.

Yoru really has spoiled him rotten.

But Gekko still does as he’s silently asked, reaching to pull Phoenix’s boxers off for him. He lets them pool at Phoenix’s ankles, giving him enough room to kick them off.

Even though he’s most likely more than welcome to do so, Gekko still feels a little shy as he tries not to let his gaze wander too much. Phoenix probably revels in it; the attention Gekko is unsure about giving him. He is, after all, fully on display and looking more relaxed and content with himself than ever. He shifts around, gets more comfortable, even spreads his legs some more. All invitations for Gekko to look.

After a moment of hesitation - and a tasteful glance at Phoenix’s splayed-out frame - Gekko follows Phoenix’s lead, stepping out of his boxers. Surprisingly enough, he feels less naked than he did with just his shirt off in the company of fully clothed others.

Done with his little act, Phoenix finally retreats one of his arms from behind his head, instead reaching towards Gekko and gesturing to him to return to his rightful spot. This time, with no hesitation in sight, Gekko climbs back onto Phoenix’s lap, letting Phoenix carefully guide him where he wants.

Not like he minds the seat himself, Phoenix’s surprising precision allowing him to rub his dick right against Phoenix’s. The first skin-to-skin contact makes him inhale sharply, spread his legs further to sink lower to get more long-awaited pressure. This time he doesn’t even try to hide how much he likes it, letting his eyelids fall shut and his head tilt back, giving into the rhythm Phoenix wants to set for them.

And Phoenix can’t help but just watch in awe as Gekko rocks his hips against his own, already looking utterly blissed out from the small contact. The movement is easy, slick already. Gekko hopes it’s not just him.

A sigh escapes Gekko’s lungs when Yoru’s cold hands return to his skin as he takes a stand behind him, between Phoenix’s legs. Gekko instinctively leans closer to the body behind him, feeling Yoru’s hands on his sides, eventually taking over Phoenix’s and resting on his hips. He helps Gekko grind against Phoenix, his lips mere centimetres away from the back of Gekko’s neck. The steady breaths Gekko feels against his skin send shivers down his spine.

Gekko moves his hands to rest on top of Yoru’s - something Yoru takes as a sign to continue further.

“Sit up.”

Not even giving Gekko time to react, he tightens his grip and guides Gekko to sit up a little higher, denying him of more contact. Even though he whines in protest, Gekko still follows along. He gets rewarded with one of Yoru’s hand sliding up along his spine, pushing him down while his other hand on his hip keeps him in place. And again, he is more than glad that Yoru has seemingly everything under his control. All he has to do is follow along. 

Gekko takes the hint and moves to prop himself up with his hands on each side of Phoenix’s head. His necklaces dangle in the space between the two of them, and Gekko can see something flash behind Phoenix’s eyes.

Using the situation to his advantage, Phoenix reaches to tug on them to bring Gekko further down. Gekko hesitates for a moment, unsure if he’s allowed - an unnecessary fear if he gave it a second thought. It seems to be apparent on his face as Phoenix’s hold persists and he tugs again, a smile on his lips.

“I don’t bite.”

Fuck it.

He would blame it on Phoenix.

He leans down to connect their lips.

Phoenix’s kiss is just as warm as he had hoped; surprisingly gentle considering the growing desperation to be touched again building within Gekko. A quiet whine gets suppressed against Phoenix’s lips - a plea for him to deepen the kiss. The almost literal lead is in his hands as his fingers stay hooked under the thin chains hanging from Gekko’s neck. Yet, he doesn’t continue further, keeps the kiss light and sweet. 

Lucky for them, Yoru takes that next step for them. With a single, cold, lubed finger that he brushes over Gekko’s hole, he makes Gekko gasp loud enough to make him break the kiss. Parted lips brushing against Phoenix’s, Gekko arches his back and tries to push against the fleeting touch.

Yoru lets out a quiet, demeaning chuckle at Gekko’s reaction.

“I’m going to have fun with you,” he mutters before repeating the movement. He presses down a little harder, making Gekko unable to lean into a new kiss, his breaths growing heavier instead.

“Please,” Gekko whispers against Phoenix’s lips, now curled into a smile.

The amount of himself Phoenix can see in Gekko is amusing at the least. He caresses Gekko’s cheek with his thumb, knowing exactly what he’s feeling. Gekko leans against the touch, eyelids falling shut.

Yoru tries not to let another, meaner laugh slip.

“Begging already?” he almost scolds Gekko. “You’re worse than Jamie.”

Gekko feels his cheeks burn from the words, wanting to hide his reaction in a kiss - that subsequently also muffles the second plea he tries not to let out. It also muffles whatever Phoenix was about to say about the remark, his only complaint being the furrow in his brows.

Showing some mercy, like the kind person he is, Yoru finally pushes his finger in. He doesn’t let Gekko even catch his breath from the gasp he lets out before pulling out and pushing right back in. He sets a steady, surprisingly slow pace that leaves Gekko squirming and breathing heavily against Phoenix’s lips.

Yoru has to clench his jaw to keep himself from commenting on it - again. He can tell it’s at least somewhat of an unfamiliar feeling for Gekko, somewhat of a foreign situation. And he can also tell Gekko is trying to hide it, trying not to let his lack of experience show. It’s cute. And so transparent. 

Trying to contain the feeling, trying to have a little control, Gekko leans in for another kiss. It’s difficult to keep up as it feels like he can’t breathe steadily enough, small moans escaping into it.

Not like Phoenix minds one bit. Or Yoru.

Phoenix gets to drink in these pretty little sounds. He gets to feel Gekko shift around on top of him, try to find a position to stay still in. He doesn’t manage.

And Yoru gets to listen to Gekko slowly but surely unravel from his touch, slowly but surely lose control. Or, not even lose control, but submit it to him. He trusts Yoru enough to allow him such power, such control, when he has no real reason to. No conversation, no talk of boundaries. Nothing. Just blind trust.

Yoru shouldn’t love it as much as he does. He was going to make sure Gekko knew he had placed his trust in the right hands.

The slow pace he tries to keep steady almost unintentionally quickens. The way Gekko arches his back and tries to push back against the intrusion only fuels his need to give Gekko what he seems to want. His other hand holds onto Gekko’s hip to keep him in place as he tries to keep the way he picks up his pace at least somewhat stable and intentional. 

Gekko moans into the kiss he still manages to keep up with Phoenix. He drops his weight onto one forearm propped next to Phoenix’s head. His other hand rests on the side of Phoenix’s face to keep his head tilted to where he wants it. The position helps him arch his back and push against Yoru’s touch as well. A win-win.

A win-win-win when Yoru takes it as a hint to push another finger in. His index finger alongside his middle finger slide in with little to no resistance. Yoru wants to make a comment about it, how eager and ready Gekko is, but he’s all too focused on listening to the moans Gekko tries to muffle against Phoenix’s lips.

The attempt is futile as he has to lean more of his weight on his forearm, breaking the kiss to rest his head on the pillow next to Phoenix’s. Though a loss of contact, it allows Phoenix a front-row seat to every single shaky breath and little whine Gekko lets out as Yoru quickly resumes his original pace.

It’s so little, just two fingers, but still so much. And Gekko is selfish. He wants more. Something bigger, harder, faster, anything more. But all he can do is try to keep breathing, try to get his message across to Yoru quietly by pushing against his touch.

He knows Yoru wants him to use his words. But he won't.

He wants Yoru to make him use his words.

Unfortunately, the stars don’t align to support his desired version of events. Not like he really minds. Because instead of being forced to voice his wants, he gets to feel Phoenix’s warm hand move down his torso, trying to find space between their bodies. Gekko moves higher up on his knees, just enough to allow Phoenix to move his hand further down.

Something between a sigh and a moan leaves his lips as Phoenix’s fingers trace along his dick. Phoenix’s touch is explorative, something Gekko wants to interpret as teasing.

“This alright?” Phoenix asks, just in case. Every signal he was reading from Gekko was telling him ‘yes’, but it was still polite to ask. 

Gekko hopes Phoenix accepts nonverbal answers as all he can do is hum an agreement. And just to confirm his consent, he tries to push against Phoenix’s hand and Yoru’s touch at the same time, unsuccessful. He could, and should, use his words. He knows that’s what they want, or at least what Yoru wants. But the only thing wanting to roll off his tongue is a plea.

And he already knows how Yoru feels about that.

So he keeps rocking his hips in an almost matching rhythm to the movement of Yoru’s fingers, keeps meeting Phoenix’s touch in the same move.

Phoenix finds the space to finally take Gekko’s dick in a proper hold between his fingers, his thumb rubbing the same patterns he likes traced onto his skin. It seems to be at least a somewhat universal experience as Gekko arches his back from it, a low moan escaping next to Phoenix’s ear. The sound is pretty, it’s desperate, it’s everything Phoenix wanted to hear - and he tries not to grind against his own knuckles from it.

So, Phoenix keeps repeating the movement.

And Gekko wants to bite down on something.

But the pillowcase is a sensory nightmare, and he doesn’t know whether or not Phoenix’s skin is off-limits. So, he just presses his face harder into the pillow and lets a little whine after another escape from his lips right by Phoenix’s ear. Phoenix’s other hand moving to the back of his neck to keep him right there tells him everything he needs to know - in a mindset where he can comprehend three whole thoughts.

Phoenix’s thumb nudges against just the right spot, right where he couldn’t even verbally guide him to, and Gekko tries to meet the touch by spreading his legs more.

Yoru’s hand on his hip tightens in response, only partly halting his efforts.

“I know, but try to keep still.”

The little taunt steals Gekko’s focus back on what Yoru’s fingers are doing. Or maybe it’s from the new angle Yoru’s fingers are thrusting into him at, an entire onslaught of new sensations.

His focus gets stolen back to Phoenix from another precise nudge of his thumb.

He doesn’t know which one to focus on. Both at the same time isn’t an option, his brain unable to process the inputs of sensations at the same time.

All he can do is lie there, let Yoru keep his hips where he wants them and let Phoenix keep his head where wants it. The rest is for him to decide, try to figure out a position to try to stay still in order to best experience both of their touches. The more he thinks about it, the more difficult it gets. He shifts his hips by what feels like mere millimetres to the side, getting Phoenix to focus on just the spot he wants him to.

“There,” he gasps out. “Right there.”

Phoenix can’t help but smile, satisfied with the almost instructions. Unsure which one of them the words were directed at, Yoru keeps his fingers aimed at the same spot as well - something Gekko really doesn’t mind.

It takes him an embarrassingly short amount of time to feel the pressure building within his core reach the tipping point. Though, then again, he doesn’t really know what is the norm with the two. He hopes his eagerness - or desperation - comes at an acceptable time.

Even though he tries to control it, Gekko’s back arches. He disregards Yoru’s touch, focusing only on Phoenix’s fingers; how precise they are, how warm they are, how-

How his breath gets caught in his throat as he tries to grind against the touch. The breath turns into multiple shallow ones to keep him grounded as his muscles tense and he tries to meet Phoenix’s touch by rolling his hips against his hand. A gasp leaves him breathless as he squeezes his eyes shut and tries his best to stifle a moan. 

Should he have given a warning? It was good enough a warning, right? Did they expect him to give a warning? Was he even allowed to come?

Gekko would ask at least one of these questions were it not for Phoenix’s fingers still toying with his dick, caressing over the same sensitive spots. It nullifies whatever brain activity he had going on, his means of communication reduced into gasps and sighs and choked-off moans.

Phoenix seems to read the signals correctly, his caresses slowing down to a teasing and light touch.

“You’ve got more in you, don’t you?”

The question barely registers in Gekko’s mind as the warm fingers still keep moving in little patterns, Yoru’s fingers not letting up either.

All Gekko can do is hum in agreement and nod into the pillow he’s burying his face in.

Phoenix and Yoru share a knowing look, both in slight disbelief. They were just getting started. 

Neither of them stops the movement of their fingers when Gekko’s breaths turn heavy again, his body unsure of how to react. Though, Phoenix is the first one to give in as his fingers slowly retreat whereas Yoru’s only seem to pick up their pace. Even with the lingering touch, Gekko lets out a drawn-out whine. He wants nothing more than for Phoenix to comment on how wet he is, on how easy he is. Anything degrading. Or maybe that’s Yoru’s thing. He can’t decide. He just wants to hear something.

A prolonged whine leaves his lips, his head turned towards Phoenix enough to hopefully sound desperate enough to prompt a reaction or two. And hopefully not seem that desperate.

“That’s right,” Phoenix mutters, turning to brush his lips against Gekko’s ear. Seemingly changing his mind from the reaction he got, his fingers return to keep toying with Gekko’s dick, touches turning careful. He knows how it can turn too much too quickly. Not like Yoru was helping the case in the slightest.

The angle is too odd for Phoenix to twist his hand around to properly finger Gekko, no matter how much he’d like to. He could try to get Gekko to sit up higher to allow more room to maybe do so, to give him a little taste of what’s coming for him in the future, but Gekko seems to be in no situation to hold himself up.

But even with the poor angle, Phoenix dips his fingers as deep as he can, gathering as much of Gekko’s cum as he can. He slowly retreats his fingers, listening to the quiet whines Gekko can’t hold back. Having had an orgasm while Yoru keeps fingering him with no signs of him stopping or slowing down or anything - it’s just too good.

With his hand on the back of Gekko’s neck relaxing, still squeezing lightly to prompt him to lift his head, Phoenix tries to meet Gekko’s gaze.

“Look at me,” he whispers.

Gekko does as told, though through heavily lidded eyes. It’s hard to focus but he tries his best.

Phoenix’s slick fingertips press against his bottom lip and Gekko parts his lips on instinct. Phoenix pushes his fingers deeper, met with absolutely no resistance.

Gekko tastes himself - not for the first time - and he knows just how pretty he sounds whining around the digits. It’s not for show but it’s not his fault for knowing what he’s doing.

“Good boy.”

Phoenix pushes his fingers deeper into Gekko’s mouth as the praise almost instinctively leaves his lips.

Not the person nor the way he was expecting to hear the words, but Gekko does not complain. All he does is moan around the digits, letting Phoenix almost fingerfuck his mouth - like he had much of a choice.

The pressure starts to build up within him again, but with no way to release it. It just feels good. So good. So fucking good.

The only thing that dulls it - far from easing it - is the kiss Phoenix plants on his lips immediately after retreating his fingers. Phoenix tastes Gekko in it and immediately tries to deepen the kiss. The only thing that stops him from doing so is the way Gekko has to focus on his breathing as Yoru’s fingers keep fucking him at a steady pace.

What was supposed to be a dynamic that compliments each other turns into a loop that feeds the other, turning into a quick spiral into desperation.

As soon as Phoenix’s tongue brushes against Gekko’s, the kiss breaks from the gasp Gekko has to take as Yoru pulls his fingers back - only for his ring finger to try to push back in with the other two. Startled, Gekko lightly shakes his head and lets out a sound Yoru interprets as one of disagreeing. He gives in regardless of much he wants to ask for a proper answer. Gekko seems to be going through enough as is.

Phoenix’s still spit-covered fingers retreat to the back of Gekko’s neck as Yoru’s fingers fully pull back as well. The empty feeling is foreign, making Gekko unsure what to feel - especially with the loss of contact Phoenix leaves him with. He still tries to push back against the touch that isn’t there.

Much to his dismay and to no one’s surprise, there is nothing there.

That doesn’t mean Yoru doesn’t notice the attempt. He almost feels bad. Almost. But more than that, he feels like Gekko is ready to proceed. Not like he had everything planned out already. Absolutely not. 

He takes a few steps to somewhere Gekko can’t see. He retreats the first strap he had picked out for the occasion. 'Picked out' aka deliberately ordered for this specific purpose with Phoenix's input. He hands the dark purple silicone towards Gekko, the cold material pressing against his skin pulling him from his thoughts.

Gekko is a little startled as he sits up properly again to free his hands. He holds the strap in his hand, inspecting it. He’s a little unsure what he’s asked to do - somehow still not realising just why Yoru makes him voice his wants and needs. Phoenix helps him out, turning the strap in the position they had agreed on - the short end towards himself.

Gekko blinks, trying to take the non-verbal hint. He could go for spoken communication as well. 

Phoenix helps him by bringing the strap lower, prompting Gekko to scoot back and make more room for it.

And it’s something he should have done a while ago; Phoenix is almost pathetically hard already. Gekko can’t help himself. He leaves the toy alone for a moment and just tests the waters. He gently traces his fingers along Phoenix’s dick, mirroring what Phoenix had done to him earlier. A shaky exhale escapes Phoenix’s lungs, and he closes his eyes. Gekko takes it as a cue and presses down a bit harder, focuses on the spots he likes to have focused on. He feels how Phoenix tries to spread his legs under his weight, managing to only slightly give Gekko more space.

A little smirk makes its way onto Gekko’s lips from how Phoenix tries to get more pressure, more touch, more release, more anything. All in control and in charge just a moment ago - and now silently pleading for more. Beautiful.

He focuses back on the toy, inspecting it some more. It’s a short inspection as he wastes a mere second before lowering the silicone dick to rub against Phoenix’s, replacing his fingers. Phoenix is wet enough to make the glide easy as Gekko moves the shorter end of the toy against his dick.

It’s only a little control but Gekko revels in it. Phoenix’s breath hitches a little from the contact and he again tries to spread his legs more. It takes a few more caresses against his dick to get him squirming, rocking his hips to meet the touch. And Gekko gives it to him. He was in the same position just minutes ago, fully knowing how it feels. At least he thinks he does. 

When Phoenix starts breathing heavily while meeting the touch, Gekko reads it as another almost silent cue. He slows the movement he traces, leaving Phoenix anticipating. It works just as he had intended and Phoenix gasps quietly as Gekko finally pushes the toy in. As a strap, it’s barely long enough - not meant for this very specific purpose anyway - but it’s something. The part of the toy made just to rub against Phoenix’s dick seems to help a little bit, too. It does just that: rubs against his dick every time Gekko moves the strap.

Gekko shifts a bit forward on top of Phoenix’s lap, just close enough to rub his own dick against the toy as well. He wasn’t selfless enough to just focus on Phoenix.

Phoenix relaxes from the contact, enjoying the attention finally cast onto him. His hands move onto Gekko’s thighs, gripping them tightly. His hold is stable for a few seconds before using it to grind Gekko against himself again. He closes his eyes as a satisfied smile forms on his lips from the contact. Though the touch is little, it’s still nice.

And Gekko helps him with that. With the additional help from Phoenix, he grinds against the toy to make it rub against Phoenix’s dick as well. He could easily just use his hand to move it, but the restrictiveness of grinding against it makes the feeling even better. And it allows Gekko some attention too. Their breaths shudder almost in unison. 

Yoru watches from a few metres away, already preparing his harness - entirely without Gekko realising. The satisfaction in his expression matches Phoenix’s. He could keep watching for as long as the two felt like going at it. 

Phoenix arches his back into the touch, his grip only tightening, warm fingers digging into the uncharted flesh of Gekko’s thighs. The short end of the strap isn’t satisfying enough, but he’ll take what he can get. A deep sigh escapes his lungs as he further sinks into the mattress under Gekko’s weight. He tries not to let a plea slip as he tries to meet the little movement Gekko repeats with the toy.

Yoru finally moves to take a stance behind Gekko, halting his movements. It wasn’t an intentional change, but neither of them mind. Phoenix does. He whines as he keeps trying to grind against the silicone, keeps trying to chase his release. Gekko looks down at him with an indecipherable smile.

“Were you-?” he doesn’t even get to ask before Phoenix answers with another whine. “Sorry,” Gekko practically whispers. He’s not at all sorry. Not even slightly. Phoenix knows. 

Gekko shifts back a little to allow enough room for himself to take the toy in a proper hold again. It’s slick from where his dick rubbed against it, and Gekko has to bite his tongue to not make a sound. He spreads the mess he made on the silicone further, nudging the toy against Phoenix’s dick some more. Phoenix exhales deeply, still on the brink of an orgasm. Gekko can tell - and so can Yoru. 

A cold hand on his forearm makes Gekko stop moving his hand. Phoenix whines in protest and tries to still grind up against the toy. The attempt is futile, and he tries not to whine again. With his eyes closed, he misses the way Yoru moves to hold Gekko’s waist and guides him to sit higher up. The quiet “Go on,” he hears barely registers in his mind, unsure which of the two it’s directed towards.

The shifting weight he feels on top of him answers that question for him. Gekko leans his weight forward again to find his balance, propping himself up with his hands on either side of Phoenix’s head again. Phoenix opens his eyes just in time to watch as Gekko hovers above the toy, seemingly waiting to catch his attention. Phoenix’s eyes widen at the sight and his grip on Gekko’s thighs tightens, already guiding him to sit down.

Not in any real hurry - as Phoenix’s impatience doesn’t count - Gekko takes his time. He reaches for the strap with one of his hands to guide it at a right angle, a better angle. Phoenix bites his tongue to not whine at the little contact he gets from the change, from the toy moving the smallest amount. 

Though the change is nothing compared to the way the toy continuously moves against him as Gekko rubs his end of it against his dick. Phoenix’s breath shudders from the contact as he tries to push harder against the silicone. Gekko isn’t much better as the pattern he can move against the toy is far from satisfying. But the pressure, the contact, is nice. And seeing Phoenix teeter on the edge of his release right below him is even nicer.

And Yoru just watches, listens to the two slowly unravel in unison. He stands behind Gekko, his leg pressing against Phoenix’s and his hands on Gekko’s waist. The smallest show of his undivided attention. A reminder that both leads are in his hand. 

It’s not his patience but his eagerness to proceed that makes Yoru retreat one of his hands from Gekko’s skin to reach around him and nudge the toy a bit backwards. Gekko gasps at the change as he instinctively leans back to adjust. Phoenix’s grip on his hips already guides him to sit down, the toy only barely inside him.

“I said you can go on,” Yoru repeats, voice calm but commanding.

All Gekko can do is nod, an apology staying unspoken. He stabilises his balance and tries to breathe normally as he finally starts to sink down onto the strap. He’s not sure whether he’s grateful or disappointed that the two let him do it at his own pace. Truthfully, he was expecting Yoru’s grip on his waist to pull him down, or Phoenix to buck his hips up to move the toy an extra inch deeper. But no. He slowly but surely takes it in, shifting around in small movements to make the intrusion easier.

Phoenix breathes heavily underneath him, as the added pressure on the strap pushes it harder against his dick. The little movement Gekko adds to it only makes his breaths shudder more. He’s laughably close again, starting to grow desperate. The corners of Yoru’s mouth twitch into a smirk at the sight.

Gekko lets out a quiet “Fuck,” under his breath as the toy sits snugly inside him, up to the hilt. Again, he’s not sure if he should be grateful or disappointed that the fit is just right. Maybe it should hurt a little, maybe the stretch should be a little uncomfortable at first. Maybe he would be praised for taking it so well regardless of the pain.

“There you go.” Yoru tries not to let the tone of his voice turn too sweet just yet. His grip on Gekko’s waist tightens a little as he uses it to help Gekko rock his hips against Phoenix’s.

Both of the two let out shaky breaths from the contact, neither of them fully in control.

Gekko takes the first initiative as he sits up a bit higher before dropping his weight down again. This time the breath turns into a quiet moan and he repeats the movement. The short amount of time it takes before Gekko feels comfortable enough to properly fuck himself on the toy leaves Yoru with a surprised expression on his face.

Phoenix, on the other hand, is fighting for his life.

The continuous movement that never keeps the combined pressure and friction against his dick leaves him with his lips slightly parted and his brows knit together. Every time Gekko sinks down on the toy, he feels so close to a release. But it’s never long enough to actually get him there. And even though his eyes are squeezed shut, he still feels Yoru’s gaze on him, still keeping him under control. For now, at least.

In what Phoenix hopes to be an apology, Gekko leans further forward, moving the centre of his weight higher up and giving Phoenix the pressure he's so desperately after. It takes one quiet gasp for Phoenix to react and reach for whatever surface of Gekko's thighs and ass he can, his fingers digging in. Entirely shameless and bordering on frantic, Phoenix uses the grip he finds to rock Gekko's hips against his own in an attempt to chase his release - something he wasn't about to slip by his fingers this time.

Yoru reads his desperation - not like the continuous little moans are difficult to decipher - and helps Gekko lean further with cold fingertips tracing up his spine. Gekko's back arches beautifully under the touch, something Yoru almost feels bad for dissolving by gently pressing him down. But Gekko takes the hint nonetheless, dropping his weight on his forearm and using his other hand to hold the side of Phoenix's face again when he leans into a kiss. Though, it’s less a kiss than a combination of heavy breathing and quiet whines. Gekko can't help but smile into it as he follows along the rhythm Phoenix has set for him.

It doesn't take long before one of Phoenix's hands reaches to the back of Gekko's neck to hold his head in place and his attempts to keep up the kiss are overshadowed by the need to breathe. Still, he keeps Gekko close, practically panting against his lips as he tries to stifle at least some of the moans escaping alongside his breaths. Gekko's attempt is just as futile as his lips curl into a smile and he fights Phoenix's hold just enough to move his kisses along Phoenix's jaw and down his neck. He tilts Phoenix's head to the side - a change Phoenix doesn't fight - and leaves surprisingly gentle marks in his wake.

All the while Phoenix just focuses on the sensation of finally being granted the right amount of pressure and friction to get him somewhere. The combination is almost perfect, but he needs something more. Something his overworked mind can't conceptualise, let alone verbalise. He arches his back and writhes to meet the touch of the silicone at a better angle, with more force, anything. But it's not what he's missing. His brows furrow in frustration; this isn't what he endured the teasing touches for so many minutes. Even the quiet and muffled moans Gekko leaves on his skin with his kisses aren't it. Even focusing on how good it must feel for Gekko isn't it.

Phoenix tries to get Gekko to pull back and pull him into a kiss again, but Gekko stays latched onto his neck. A groan leaves Phoenix's lips as he finally opens his eyes to try to meet Gekko's to change his mind, or something. But, instead, he's met with the sight of Yoru looking down at him. Yoru's hands are on Gekko's lower back, rubbing small patterns into his skin and prompting him to stay where he is, keep his back arched. He smiles at Phoenix; a small, content, and - still somehow - cocky smile.

That's what tips Phoenix over the edge. He tries to keep looking at Yoru as he feels the first wave of pure ecstasy wash over him, but he can't. His breath gets stuck in his throat, escaping a mere second later alongside a moan he tries to muffle against Gekko's skin. His breaths turn unsteady and heavy immediately as he rides out the high, grinding up against the toy in uncoordinated movements.

Yoru reads his attempts like an open book. He watches how the furrow in Phoenix’s brows slowly disappears, how he clenches his jaw shut, and how he can't hide the little twitches of his facial muscles. He decides Phoenix has had enough. He'd have his seconds later.

Yoru's hands move from Gekko's lower back to his hips, and he gently pulls him back. A little lost in his own pleasure as he keeps grinding against the toy, Gekko needs a stronger tug to react. A small, displeased whine leaves his lips, but he lets Yoru guide him more upright. Much to Phoenix’s dismay, he returns to his earlier position by propping himself back up on his hands on either side of Phoenix's head. The added pressure is no longer there, and what little patterns Phoenix manages to move Gekko in are halted by Yoru's hand prying his away. Though, Gekko keeps rocking his hips in small movements, unable to stay still after getting to experience the opposing end of Phoenix's orgasm. For some unknown and unfair reason, Yoru lets him keep moving, whereas Phoenix is guided to retreat his hands.

That reason doesn't stay unknown for long - though unfair for sure - as the movement pattern Gekko's hips were tracing is abruptly brought to an end as his body jolts and a gasp leaves his lips. The hand that had just pried Phoenix's grip away now holds onto Gekko's hip. But that's not what stops Gekko in his tracks. Because that would be Yoru's other hand; his fingers already coated with lube, again reaching down and just blindly feeling how Gekko stretches around the strap sitting inside him. Cold, slick fingers trace as much of the silicone as they can reach, as if only accidentally brushing against Gekko's dick in the process.

“Like it was made for you, isn’t it?” Yoru thinks out loud, not really looking for an answer.

And all Gekko can do is try to keep his breaths stable. He likes the thought of that more than he’d care to admit. He bites his tongue, stops himself before he can say anything stupid.

Yoru's fingers help with that as he slowly pulls them back, only to continue where he left off earlier. Though, this time, he pushes his two fingers in slowly to help Gekko adjust to the difference.

Yet Gekko doesn't seem to care for the consideration at all as his head tilts back from the familiar - but still foreign - feeling. The arch of his back only deepens as he pushes back against Yoru's fingers, his movement only slightly hindered by the strap showing him his place. Still, he keeps trying to push back against the intrusion, his breaths turning heavy, the coherency he once held in his thoughts quickly dissolving.

Yoru's other hand attempting to keep Gekko in place with a grip on his hip does just that. Attempts. Because Gekko's movements don't even falter when the fingers dig deeper into his skin. He only moans quietly and tries to push back harder.

Phoenix is blissfully unaware of the silent command Gekko is disobeying with no repercussions. Because that, if something, is unfair. As a distraction - and an apology for the special treatment he's witnessing - Phoenix gets to admire the view above him. Gekko’s chest rising and falling at a quick pace, his head tilted back like he's getting his hair pulled, and a deep flush spreading across his skin. The little movement he makes consequently making the toy they share rub against Phoenix's dick is also definitely far from a complaint.

Yoru steals Gekko's attention by swiftly curling his fingers, making Gekko let out a short, high-pitched whine he had no chance of suppressing. He'd clamp a palm over his mouth if he could, cheeks burning. But Phoenix just looks enamoured underneath him, Yoru's satisfied smile unseen by him.

“I was going to ask if you're ready for more, but I think you just answered that for me,” Yoru says, trying not to sound more adoring than demeaning. It was a pretty sound, after all.

All Gekko can - or wants to - do is nod. Yoru's fingers curling inside him again get the answer in the form he was looking for.

“Yes.”

It’s only a breathy utterance, followed by a gasp - just what Yoru wanted to hear.

Yoru thanks Gekko's cooperation with a few more thrusts of his fingers, suppressing the want to try for three again. He knows Gekko could handle it. Maybe some other time.

“Stay there.”

Gekko nods again before letting his head drop. Out of the corner of his eyes he sees Yoru retreat to the nightstand. But he doesn't get to follow further along as Phoenix's hand on his jaw guides his gaze elsewhere. He looks down at Phoenix, left in almost the same position they were in earlier, and he can't help a dumb smile from forming on his lips. Before Phoenix can ask what it's for, Gekko silences the question by leaning down and connecting their lips.

The kiss is all sweet and smiles until Gekko makes an unfortunate move against the strap, getting hushed moans out of the both of them. Naturally, he has to do it again as he deepens the kiss. Phoenix has just enough time to buck his hips up once to meet the touch before Yoru interrupts them. The smack that lands on Gekko's ass doesn't even leave a red mark, but it's enough to make Gekko freeze in place.

“Behave.”

A simple command. Should be easy to follow. Yet Gekko finds himself holding back a giggle as he leans in for another kiss. Phoenix reciprocates it but ushers Gekko to break it by gently pushing him back. He knows better than to let Gekko go against such an easy command. Though, in Gekko's mind, it sounds more like a suggestion.

And Yoru is able to tell that. He tries not to look amused as he readjusts his harness and secures the tightened straps around himself. The glass one is heavy, but it's going to be worth it. He already knows it.

He returns to his earlier position behind Gekko.

“Get up.”

Like Gekko really has a say in it. A familiar grip on his waist pulls him up and makes him break the kiss he was longing to continue further. Some part of him wants to lean back down, just to see what it would get him. The other part wants to do as he's told, to see what good boys get. Either way, the deliberation leaves him mindlessly trying to rub against the silicone that is again only gently pressed against his dick.

Phoenix doesn’t mind the contact - or the view - in the slightest. He relaxes further into the mattress, a satisfied sigh following. Gekko’s necklaces dangle above his head again, practically daring him to pull him down into another kiss. Deciding for once to fight the initial urge, he occupies his hands by running his palms over what skin he can reach. Gekko is so wonderfully situated on top of him, he can’t waste the opportunity.

For a moment, the situation is almost sweet. Phoenix’s warm hands showing silent worship accompanied by an adoring expression. Gekko tries to keep his eyes open to fully revel in it, to not miss the little gleam in Phoenix’s eyes and the dimples that form when he smiles wide enough. But the longer he looks at Phoenix, the more he wants to lean in for a kiss again. And he really, really wants to lean in for a kiss again, has wanted to since the moment he was made to break the last one.

But he can behave. He can be good.

Yoru's grip on his waist tightens momentarily to catch Gekko's attention and make him stop the little pattern he had kept mindlessly rolling his hips in. He doesn't know what he's waiting for, really. Yoru's fingers? A punishment? Another toy? Degradation? A mixture of two or more of them?

Even with the uncertainty and the temptation right underneath him, he stays still. He tries not to let his anticipation show as he tries to keep breathing steadily, stay relaxed - even if just for a short moment.

Because his entire body tenses the second the cold and hard tip of another toy pushes against him. One of Yoru's hands retreats from Gekko's skin to adjust the angle just right. The little, unfamiliar contact sends a shiver up Gekko's spine as he keeps trying to stay still. His body betrays him and he can't help but arch his back to push against the toy at least a little. To his surprise, Yoru actually helps with his attempt, his hand still holding Gekko by his waist pulling him only ever so slightly closer.

Even with just the tip of the strap, the stretch is much more than just from two fingers. A small huff leaves his lungs at the thought of having let Yoru choose the toys he thinks would be the best for him. He probably should have had at least a little say in what he's going to get fucked with, but at least so far Yoru's judgement has been rightly placed. With blind trust that the pattern will continue, Gekko tries to push further back against Yoru. Again, Yoru lets him. And, again, Gekko doesn't know whether he wants him to or not. He had fully expected Yoru to lose his patience with him, maybe hold him down and ignore all the whines and complaints about the stretch turning uncomfortable.

It's really not what Gekko had expected. He thought he was at least on the edge of breaking a rule of some sort, misbehaving at the least. But no. Yoru lets him have at least some control over how quickly they proceed, reading the silent cues he wishes were verbalised instead.

Gekko had had his chances to do so. Maybe he just needs a little encouragement.

Yoru's other hand retreats from his strap, wipes the lube left on his fingers on his boxers before holding Gekko's waist properly again. The touch is even colder than before. Gekko expects to be yanked back at any second, anticipates it, holds his breath.

But, no.

“How does it feel?” Yoru asks instead.

A shaky inhale later, Gekko's brain actually registers the question. He deepens the arch of his back to give his answer before even opening his mouth.

“Good,” Gekko manages to breathe out. He tilts his head back again.

The answer gets a satisfied smile for Yoru. Of course it's good.

“Good,” he repeats. “Do you think you can handle it?” He nudges the toy a little deeper to accentuate the question and make Gekko gasp out.

His agreement comes in the form of a hum and a nod, and Yoru furrows his brows a little.

“I need your words, Mateo.” He runs one of his palms up Gekko's spine, fingers ending up resting on the back of his neck. A quick squeeze gets Gekko to speak up.

“Yes.” The short answer is followed by a sharp inhale. “Please.”

The words bring a smile to Yoru's lips, a warm feeling to his core.

“That's a good boy.”

His hand moves down Gekko's spine and onto his waist again. He watches as Gekko lets his head drop again, hears his breaths shudder. A perfect timing, really.

He slowly pushes more and more of the toy in while keeping Gekko still. Gekko seems to need the assistance as he immediately starts pushing back against Yoru, eager as ever. And he wasn't lying. The strap is buried up to the hilt with little to no resistance or noises interpreted as ones of discomfort.

Gekko is breathing heavily, shakily, as he adjusts to the feeling. It's so foreign - but in the best way possible. It's difficult to really comprehend. It's overwhelming. Now he's glad the two of them are giving him the time he needs, letting him get used to the new sensations. Whatever little fantasy he had had about the two having their way with him without his input or say in it is far out the window by now.

Phoenix seems to read it from his expression. He reaches to hold the side of Gekko's face, caressing his cheek. The warm and gentle touch makes Gekko smile and lean heavier against it.

“You're doing so good,” Phoenix almost whispers.

The praise makes Gekko's head drop further, his eyelids falling shut and cheeks burning. Phoenix corrects his position with his hand moving to cup Gekko's jaw and tilting his head to look at him. Their eyes meet and they share a smile, Gekko blissed out of his mind already. Phoenix just enjoys the view.

“Can you move?” he asks, fighting the urge to buck his hips up just to test what he can get away with.

Entirely unsure if he can, Gekko still nods.

Phoenix’s fingers caress his cheek again before retreating.

“Go on, then.”

Gekko lets out a groan. He fixes his position, tries to move his knees to better spots, and ignores the uncomfortable feeling in his wrists from having to keep his weight propped up. Phoenix's hands move to hold Gekko's hips while Yoru's hold stays on his waist. Phoenix's fingertips rub little patterns onto his skin, Yoru’s stay still. They're just in the position to help him move, but neither of them does.

The first uncoordinated roll of Gekko's hips already leaves him gasping for air. The two toys sitting snugly inside him shift just enough for him to feel them both, and it's so much. The movement is so little, but the feeling is almost overwhelming. Yet, he does it again without even giving himself time to recover or catch his breath. Quiet moans escape his lips with his shaky breaths as he grips Phoenix's pillowcase in a tight fist.

“Look at you.” Phoenix's voice is low and full of adoration. His hands move to caress Gekko's thighs, his fingers pressing down harder with every precise nudge of the toy between the two of them.

The words of encouragement are exactly what Gekko needs. He lifts himself up higher on his knees - though it's barely a centimeter or two - before dropping his weight back down. A surprised moan breaks from his throat at the feeling, still just as foreign, still so much. He has to do it again. His movements are far from coordinated, but they manage to scratch some itch under his skin that he can't reach on his own. He keeps repeating the pattern, keeps ever so slightly fucking himself on the two straps while trying to keep his breaths stable. It's difficult when more and more little moans keep escaping instead of air.

The moans turn to whines as the feeling grows more familiar, as he gets used to it. The combined stretch turns from surprising to unsatisfying the more he repeats the little movements. He needs more. He lifts himself up higher and higher each time, drops his weight down with more force, but it's still not enough. It's too controlled, too slow, too bearable, too much under his control. It's frustrating. His expression turns into a frown as he keeps trying to chase that something more - still unsuccessfully.

“You need some help there?”

Phoenix's words make Gekko open his eyes again. They're glassed over, desperate. He looks down at Phoenix and nods as he keeps grinding down against the toys. He hopes the contact he's providing to Phoenix makes him give him what he wants.

Phoenix moves his hands to Gekko's hips again, but he doesn't help him. Not just yet.

Gekko breathes heavily.

“Please.”

The correct magic word.

Both pairs of hands holding onto Gekko tighten their grips almost in unison. Gekko inhales sharply before he's guided to sit up higher, the exhale turning into a choked moan as he's pulled back down, the toys buried deeper inside him than before. His elbows almost buckle at the feeling, threatening to drop his weight completely. Still, he's not given even a second to recover, to readjust, as the two pairs of hands prompt him to sit higher up again. The second time he's pulled down, Phoenix meets his hips by bucking his own up and burying the strap deeper. All Gekko can do is whisper out the first curse word that comes to mind and move to sit up higher again.

Holding his weight up during it all gets increasingly more difficult as the seconds - not even minutes - roll by. He doesn't want to keep himself upright, waste his energy on trying not to collapse on top of Phoenix. He wants to lie down and let the two do their parts - and his part - for him. Or, better yet, he wants to just float in the space between the two of them, weightless, and be able to relax completely while he gets the life fucked out of him.

But, no. He has to have a physical body, material weight that he has to hold up in order to allow Yoru and Phoenix to fuck him. It's stupid, but it's frustrating. Having to focus on anything else than the feeling of the two straps being moved in and out of him. At least his annoyance about it seems to be masked behind the continuous little moans he can't suppress. The last thing he needs is either of the two thinking they're doing something wrong.

A nicely familiar warm hand caressing the side of his face breaks Gekko out of his spiralling thoughts. Though, the question comes from behind him, leaving him just a little confused. He's sat still and left grinding against the strap he shares with Phoenix to hopefully be able to focus on the words.

“Still good?”

Gekko can only nod, the confirming hum turning into a whine as he keeps grinding against Phoenix's strap.

Yoru lets out an amused huff.

“I'll take that as a yes.”

Gekko tries to hum in agreement again, letting it turn into a whine again. It makes him a little embarrassed, but he tries not to think about it too much.

Whether intentionally or not, Yoru helps him with that. He leaves guiding Gekko to sit up higher to Phoenix as he finally pulls the strap back himself - in tandem with Phoenix's guidance. With a swift move of his hips, he buries the toy right back inside Gekko as Phoenix pulls him down on his.

And Gekko sees white. His arms finally give up on him and he less than gracefully drops his weight down on top of Phoenix. The side of his head presses against Phoenix's as he manages to gasp out the word “Sorry,” right next to Phoenix’s ear. Phoenix accepts the apology by sliding his hands from Gekko's hips to his back, holding him close like the change in position was planned. Gekko's wishes he could reciprocate the act, only managing to find a grip on Phoenix's locks.

Now it's only Yoru who's guiding Gekko to keep moving, and the pace he's set doesn't falter from the change. He knows it's nothing short of overwhelming for Gekko - it doesn't take an expert to read the situation - but he keeps going. From the noises Gekko keeps making, and though he tries to muffle them against the pillow, Yoru's choice is the correct one. Yet he keeps his impulses under control, keeps the pace stable no matter how much he wants to move Gekko down with enough force to make him cry out. Again, maybe later.

With little cooperation from an overwhelmed Gekko, the range of motion Yoru is able to guide him in gets more limited. Not like any of the three seem to mind, as Phoenix helps compensate for it by bucking his hips up in what he hopes to be the same rhythm Yoru has set. It’s all very experimental, just testing what works and what feels the best. And judging by Gekko’s reaction, it’s more than good enough.

The pressure Gekko feels building up in his entire system is nothing like he'd experienced before. It’s so much, almost too much. The pure pleasure is too overwhelming to even conceptualise, to try to pinpoint or realise coherently. It's just there. Occupying his every sense, setting his nerves on fire and almost tranquillising his physical body. The worst - or best - thing about it is that there is nowhere to release it to. The silicone part of the shared toy presses against his dick in ever-so-fleeting movements that it's not even nearly enough to get him there. So the feeling just builds. And builds. And builds and build and builds. He'd cry in frustration were it not the most entrancing feeling in the world.

Gekko uses all his willpower - and physical power - to lift himself back up, to prop himself back up on his hands. Phoenix's hold around him relaxes and lets him do so, his hands moving to caress over whatever skin he can reach. Yoru doesn't try to hide the surprise on his face from Gekko's efforts. A little voice in the back of his head is telling him to fuck him harder just to make these efforts null and void, but he tries to ignore it. Again, maybe later. At this point he needs to start writing his future plans down to not forget any of them. 

Gekko leans down to kiss Phoenix again. It's still nothing short of uncoordinated as Yoru's hold on him combined with his strap still moving in and out of him rocks his entire frame back and forth as a result. It probably shouldn't be that endearing of a moment, but Gekko still can't help but smile into what little he can against Phoenix's lips, further disrupting the kiss. It’s almost funny; Yoru fucking him hard enough to make kissing his boyfriend difficult. Like dangling this prize in front of his face, unwilling to let him have it.

Finally giving up on the effort, Gekko tries to sit up a bit higher. His parted lips still brush against Phoenix's, the air they share turning heavy.

“Touch me,” Gekko manages to whisper before his breath hitches. “Please.”

There is not enough room for Phoenix to get his hand between their bodies, and he knows that. They both know that.

Yoru knows it, too.

“I think I have something better for you.”

He buries himself as deep as he can inside Gekko before finally staying still. He leans forward and wraps an arm around Gekko's torso, palm splayed across his chest, and pulls him back to sit fully upright. Phoenix reluctantly relaxes his hold further, settling on just holding Gekko's thighs again. Yoru keeps his hold around Gekko as he gives him a short moment to readjust, to make himself comfortable, to get his breathing under control again.

As if the change in sensations makes that easy for him. It’s like returning to square one again, getting used to everything for the first time again. Even when he stays still - or at least attempts to do so - the feeling is foreign. The angles of the toys sitting inside him are just a few degrees too odd to ignore and he tries to get familiar with them by shifting his weight in whatever restricted movement he can in Yoru’s embrace.

When Yoru decides Gekko is of somewhat sound mind to continue, he pulls him flush against his chest, further restricting his range of his movements. It's the most contact the two of them have had so far and Gekko revels in it. He's waiting anxiously for what Yoru has planned, unable to keep himself from slightly rocking his hips to rub against the silicone again. He's teasing himself. So close to a release but not doing nearly enough to get there. He's probably not even allowed to do so on his own - at least that's what he had gathered.

Though he could try. Reach a hand down to touch himself. See what that would get him. Just the thought of it makes him squirm, the thought of whatever repercussions he would face. Would Phoenix try to silently talk him out of it like he had before? Grab his hand before he could do it because he knows firsthand what the repercussions would be? Gekko’s breath shudders just from entertaining the idea.

Yoru's hold on him readjusting and tightening stop the thought process from continuing further. He places his hand on top of Yoru's arm, finally able to touch him. Though he tries, he can't reach Yoru's other arm, bent somewhere behind his back. He manages to take one calm breath before a soft click of a button makes his eyes widen.

Phoenix's strap, buried and sitting deep inside him, starts vibrating. The next breath Gekko manages to take is far from calm anymore, the oxygen almost refusing to enter his lungs. He wants to let his weight fall forward and on top of Phoenix again, enjoy the feeling as weightless as he can, but Yoru's arm around him keeps him in place. Stuck in place.

Yoru tucks the remote control back under the waistband of his boxers before wrapping his other arm around Gekko as well, stabilising his hold further. He starts slowly fucking into him again, knowing to be a bit more gentle as Gekko seems to be struggling to contain himself already. He can't help the satisfied smile forming on his lips.

“Is that good?” he asks, the smile clear in his voice. The question is a little condescending - of course he knows the answer already.

And Gekko loves it. Loves that it's a little taunting, loves that the positive answer he tries to give turns into a whine as he tilts his head back to rest on Yoru's shoulder. Especially loves how Yoru's hand moves from his chest to the base of his throat.

“Tell me to stop.”

Gekko has to gasp for air before Yoru's fingers even move around his neck.

“Don't,” he manages to utter as he nudges Yoru's arm to get him to proceed further.

Yoru takes the hint, displeased that he's even silently being told what to do, and moves his hand higher up. At first he doesn't even press down, just maps the area he's so nicely provided to work with. It's not difficult to guess the spots he should focus his fingers on, but feeling Gekko tilt his head even further back, feel him swallow under his fingertips is more than half of the fun. He finally presses down on the sides of Gekko's throat, restricting the blood flow to his brain just enough to make Gekko feel lightheaded, just enough to add to the pressure his system is already doing its best to try to contain.

All Gekko can do is close his eyes and lean heavier against Yoru. And Yoru makes him feel more than welcome to do so with his hold securing around his waist. Like a hug. Gekko tries not to choke on his shaky breaths or his need to reciprocate the embrace. He wants to - needs to - hold on to something. Not even for the grounding or to keep him stable, but to have that physical closeness. His grip on Yoru’s forearm tightens, his only lifeline. He can feel the muscles and tendons moving underneath his touch as Yoru moves his arm, just like Yoru can feel his pulse under his fingertips.

Yoru's entire stature is more defined and much colder than Phoenix's, but Gekko still feels more than safe and welcomed in his arms. As nice as it is, the feeling quickly turns overwhelming again. Yet again, stuck in place, this time held upright, while Yoru keeps fucking him and the momentum from that helping him grind against the vibrating strap sitting just snugly inside him. And again, no release in sight, just different sensations. He needs the direct contact. 

Yoru seems to read these frustrations just from the way Gekko squirms in his hold. Momentarily tightening his hold on Gekko's neck and the choked moan he gets only confirms his assumptions. He relaxes his grip and moves his hand to the base of Gekko's throat again, giving him a moment to recover. Looking over at Phoenix, he finds him with pure adoration in his eyes as he keeps caressing Gekko's thighs - and masking just how much he's desperate for his own release as well. He smiles at the sight and nudges Phoenix's leg with his own to get his attention.

“Help him out, would you?”

Phoenix takes a second to react, brought back from wherever his wandering thoughts had taken him. He looks at Yoru and tries to keep his gaze on him for at least a few seconds before inevitably letting Gekko steal his attention again. Phoenix confirms the request with a smile and Yoru takes it as a sign to trace his fingers back up on Gekko's throat. He presses down again.

This time the choked little moan Gekko lets out turns into a whine as he feels Phoenix's thumb caress his dick. The contact immediately makes him writhe - something Yoru tries to control with a stronger hold around him. It contains him a little. The whines he lets out turn desperate within seconds as Phoenix applies more pressure and keeps rubbing his thumb in small circles against his dick. He would feel embarrassed about how quickly it gets him to the edge of his second orgasm later. Right now, the only thing he cares about is the fact that it is taking him close to his second orgasm.

He barely manages to give any sort of warning before getting tipped over the edge. The pent-up feeling reaches a boiling point before he can even comprehend it, the degree of the buildup being underestimated at best. The hand around Gekko’s throat chokes back some of the sounds he can't hold back himself as his entire body tenses, his hold on Yoru's arms tightening as well. All the tension is alleviated with a strangled breath, followed by a slew of little whines as he keeps riding out the ecstatic feeling against the toy and Phoenix’s touch.

The only thing he can get out is a strained groan as the feeling slowly starts to dissolve, leaving him breathless and leaning against Yoru's embrace. Though it calms down, the feeling never fully goes away - something the continuous vibrations inside him make sure of.

Not wanting to derail what plans Yoru inevitably wants to follow through on, Phoenix retreats his hand back to Gekko's thigh and watches Yoru relax his hold around Gekko. Though seeing how Gekko’s dick twitches against the shared silicone makes him second-guess his decision, and make holding his gaze up more difficult. But he manages, trusting whatever Yoru has in mind. Looking back up, he notices a little frown on Gekko’s face, displeased that he has to hold his weight up on his own again. He has to bite back a smile at the sight.

With a buck of his hips, Phoenix manages to break Gekko out of his little trouble. The strap readjusting inside him makes him gasp quietly in surprise, the corners of his lips turning into a small smile as he meets Phoenix’s gaze. The look on Phoenix’s face is inviting enough for Gekko to lean his weight forward again, Yoru’s relaxed hold still around his waist allowing him to do so. He goes in for a kiss immediately, and Phoenix doesn’t protest it for a single second.

Getting to feel the physical contact again is almost more overwhelming than getting fucked through his second orgasm. Though it’s easier to contain and conceal; just a growing, warm pressure behind his ribs, pushing against his organs, begging to be released. Gekko wants to melt into Phoenix’s embrace, a little sting of annoyance still in the back of his mind from not being able to hold on to anything yet again.

The change into the familiar position prompts Yoru to start moving again. Slowly, gently again. He knows it can get overwhelming easily, and he doesn’t want Gekko to tap out just yet. The little momentum his thrusts again adds to the messiness of the kiss as Gekko can’t stay still. Not like Phoenix is doing much better on his own, writhing and trying to get something more out of the constrained touch. He had been patient enough for a year’s worth already.

Surprisingly enough, the kiss breaks with Phoenix’s brows furrowing as he can’t get enough out of the contact to his liking. He grinds up against the toy, only granted the slightest bit of stimulation as the vibrations from Gekko’s end of the strap are barely noticeable against him. A dissatisfied groan breaks from his throat, almost muffled against Gekko’s lips. He turns his head to the side to look over at Yoru.

Gekko sees the chance to focus on Phoenix’s exposed neck, and he takes it - completely forgetting there might be a boundary there he wasn’t supposed to cross. At least he doesn’t get interrupted, which he interprets as a green light to keep going, leave more visible marks this time. He feels Phoenix swallow, try to get himself composed enough to get some words out. 

His eyes are glued to Yoru’s. The silent plea is enough to get his need across, but Yoru waits for the verbal confirmation. Phoenix’s breath shudders, interrupting his - definitely otherwise well-thought-out and concise - thought patterns.

“Can I- Can you-?” The attempt is followed by an annoyed sigh. “Please.”

He feels Gekko smile against his neck, amused by his struggle. His brows furrow. 

Two can play that game.

His place wasn’t at the bottom of this hierarchy.

Phoenix repeats his earlier strategy, bucks his hips up a bit harder than before while keeping Gekko seated still. And, sure enough, the added force wipes Gekko’s smile right off and turns it into a muffled moan against Phoenix’s skin, his arms almost giving up under his weight. Phoenix’s huff replaces an almost victorious laugh, the little exchange momentarily somehow more important than his release. 

And Yoru just watches the interaction and tries not to show how fond of the two he is. It’s almost adorable, really. Watching Phoenix and Gekko fight for at least a fraction of an upper hand beneath him, knowing that he can have them give that up with just a press of a button.

A press of a button he knows Phoenix is asking for. Or at least trying to ask for. Yoru can’t help but smile. Phoenix has been good; he deserves it.

Yoru reaches a hand behind himself again and retreats the little remote from underneath the waistband of his boxers. He toys with it for a second, twisting it between his fingers, and waits for Phoenix to focus on him again. It would be a long wait without his intermission; Phoenix is entirely too occupied with trying to get Gekko to whine again. Yoru shakes his head lightly, still smiling.

“Which one do you want?” he asks.

Phoenix almost chokes on his breath as his answer interrupts a gasp.

“Both.”

Yoru shouldn’t be surprised. He tilts his head a little to the side, watching Phoenix. He knows Phoenix can do better than that.

Phoenix’s inhale shudders as he gathers himself once more.

“Please. Both, please.”

That’s better.

Yoru’s thumb swiftly finds the correct buttons on the remote. The first press gets a sharp inhale from Phoenix. The second makes the two below him moan in unison. Yoru looks down at them, takes the sight and sounds in, all too satisfied with himself. He tucks the remote back and grabs a hold of Gekko’s hips again, his fingers brushing against Phoenix’s.

At first, he gently pushes Gekko a little forward to make sure the now vibrating part of the strap sits nicely against his dick - and gets pressed down against Phoenix’s as well. Judging by the shaky breaths coming from below him, he deduces that it’s doing just that.

Phoenix again grows impatient first. Not waiting for Yoru’s lead, he guides Gekko to lift his weight up before giving him no time to adjust and pulling him right back down. His end of the strap - now also vibrating - shifts inside him from the movement, and punches the air right out of his lungs.

God bless modern technology.

With the added pressure against his dick from Gekko on top of him, Phoenix’s mind completely blanks out. All he knows is to repeat the movement again and again, blindly chasing the feeling.

And Yoru graciously helps him with that. His grip on Gekko’s hips holds tighter than Phoenix’s as he helps Gekko lift himself up, letting Phoenix pull him back down. They find a good rhythm, a good pattern to keep Gekko moving with little to no effort from him. All Gekko needs to - and all he can - do is just try to keep at least some oxygen flowing through his system.

The feeling is familiar to an extent, somewhat easy to adjust to. Yoru keeps the pace slower than last time, which Gekko is grateful for. But the added stimulation from the shared part of the toy vibrating right against his dick every time he’s pulled down, flush against Phoenix’s lap? That makes the little consideration Yoru grants him almost null and void.

Even though Phoenix has some control over the movement, it’s still less than he thinks he has. The toy inside him shifts around almost constantly, finds new spots to press against, but doesn’t stay there long enough to get him anywhere. With the added pressure he gets against his dick coming in waves as Gekko moves on top of him, he can’t help but grow frustrated.

Everything is so perfect for a couple of seconds at a time before it gets taken from him. Even though the few seconds between the moments Gekko sits pretty on top of him are just that - a few - it’s still too long. It’s still enough for his body to recover from the stimulation, enough to make the next time feel like he’s picking up just a little too far behind. Every couple seconds of pressure takes him two steps closer to his release, every refractory period takes him three steps back.

If he could just have Gekko sit still for just a little longer. Just a few seconds longer.

But, no.

Of course not.

Every time he tries to keep Gekko there, Yoru uses his hold to pull Gekko right back up. The fight for control is tipped in Yoru’s favour right from the beginning, Phoenix’s attempts futile at best. Like it should be. Gekko would celebrate somehow winning what little battle he had had with Phoenix earlier, were he not struggling to just hold himself together. He’d have to remember to rub it in his face later.

Unbeknownst to Phoenix, Gekko is struggling with the exact same situation. He just seems to be a little better at hiding it. Or he just has more to focus on with Yoru’s hands on him and the other strap he’s taking. Or Phoenix is selfish enough to not care about anything else but his own pleasure. Most likely all of the above.

Still, Gekko tries to do the same as Phoenix; tries to keep himself seated on Phoenix’s lap just a little while longer every time he’s pulled down. He even rolls his hips a little forward each time he’s guided to sit back down, just for a little bit more friction. But, of course, it’s not enough. It’s still just a few seconds too short, the feeling of release nothing but fleeting.

“Please.”

Gekko is the first one to give in, the single word breathed out as Yoru once again makes him sit up higher. He has no way of communicating the plea directly to Yoru, but he hopes it’s still acceptable.

Completely missing his moment to be victorious in their power battle, Phoenix only notices how the corners of Yoru’s lips twitch into a smile from it. Just that sight makes him almost whine - partly helped by the stimulation he was once more denied. He moves his hand on Gekko’s hip to sit more on top of Yoru’s, and squeezes.

Yoru’s seemingly unfocused gaze darts to meet Phoenix’s awaiting, silently pleading one. The smile stays on his lips at the sight. He knows exactly what he’s doing.

The way Phoenix’s sight starts to get blurry from tears of pure frustration forming is his last straw. He was no better than Gekko.

He was a little better than Gekko.

“Please,” he whispers as he tries to keep holding eye contact with Yoru.

It looks like Yoru’s smile only widens. Surprisingly enough, he is the one to break the eye contact as he closes his eyes, revels in the feeling. They need him, his guidance, his authority, his care, his mercy. They need him. They need him . And they plead for him so nicely. It’s all he could ask for. And what he would grant them.

With one more torturously long second of keeping Gekko sitting up high enough to deny contact from both of them, Yoru finally loosens his hold and lets Phoenix pull Gekko down. Their desperate little whines combine into what Yoru can only describe as his favourite sound from now on. He lets the two grind against the toy, against each other to their hearts’ desires, grants them their releases. He moves one of his hands to press down on the small of Gekko’s back to keep his back arched while he keeps fucking into him - maybe a little biased about the power struggle.

His favourite sound in the entire world gets another contender as he gets to listen to Gekko and Phoenix hurriedly try to deliberate how and where the shared toy feels the best, trying to find the right spot to grind against each other. Their words get replaced with gasps and little moans, still managing to talk over each other between shaky breaths.

And Yoru can only smile.

“Right there.”

“No. Left.”

“Fuck- here?”

“My left.”

“How was I su-?”

“Shut up.”

Not giving Phoenix an opportunity to do anything else, Gekko leans down to connect their lips in what should be a kiss, but it ends up being more heavy breaths and moans as they still try to find the angle that’s just right for the both of them. It’s poorly coordinated at best, desperate and frantic at worst.

Yoru notices the second they find it.

Gekko shifts his hips ever so slightly to the left, immediately followed by a hastily stifled moan. He moves to kiss Phoenix again, needing the contact as the familiar feeling builds up and reaches the boiling point within seconds of finding the right position. Phoenix reciprocates the kiss to the best of his ability as his grip on Gekko tightens and keeps him in place.

And that’s really all they can do. The toy is stuck between the two of them in a way that they can’t properly move it without moving alongside it and therefore nullifying whatever friction it would have provided.

Gekko can do even less. Nothing but his body weight pressing him down against the strap, Yoru’s continuous, steady thrusts making him move the toy just slightly against Phoenix. Phoenix, who tries to keep Gekko as close as possible, his grip on Gekko’s hips unrelenting. Despite their best efforts, neither of them can stop themselves from squirming, just hoping it gives them something more.

Enamoured by the sight, Yoru shakes his head lightly but doesn’t intervene. He presses Gekko a little harder down against Phoenix, hoping it’s not too painful of a stretch for his joints. It almost is, but Gekko doesn’t seem to care about the repercussions in the slightest as a louder moan gets muffled against Phoenix’s lips and his entire body tenses. An amused, self-satisfied look on his face, Yoru keeps Gekko in place, keeps fucking him through his shaky gasps and the whines they cut off.

Left to just watch and listen as Gekko reaches yet another orgasm first, Phoenix frowns a little. Or a lot, actually. Not like he really minds the position he’s in, feeling how Gekko is struggling to hold his weight up as he lets his head drop, every little noise he makes right by Phoenix’s ear. But he wants his share as well.

Instead, he gets to watch, listen, feel Gekko ride out his third high. He doesn’t want to say he’s jealous, but it’s also not far off.

Gekko slowly but surely reaches the end of his ecstasy, the uncoordinated rolls of his hips slowing to a stop before the feeling gets too overwhelming. Yoru takes it as a sign to stop as well, though he still keeps himself buried inside Gekko.

Phoenix’s eyes are still watery. He wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that it was unfair that Gekko is getting extra attention and - even more importantly - release. And Gekko wouldn’t even be getting it were it not for him. Yoru had listened to him when he had pleaded for more contact and pressure. And now he wasn’t even benefitting from it. Not in the way he would have wanted to, at least. He frowns. His hands can't reach a satisfactory grip on anything. He wouldn’t be surprised if it had been Yoru’s plan all along to make him cry, to show Gekko just how tightly he is wrapped around Yoru’s finger, just how much he would let Yoru get away with without a single attempt at resistance.

Gekko manages to sit up higher, denying Phoenix the simple pleasure of his body weight pressing the toy against him.

Phoenix closes his eyes as his entire face burns hot.

His quivering inhale meant to calm his nerves is cut off by a gasp.

“Here?”

Gekko uses his thumb to press the toy harder against Phoenix’s dick.

Phoenix almost chokes on his breath as his entire body twitches. Even the hum he gives as confirmation is cut off by another breath he doesn’t manage to take. His hands give up on trying to hold on to Gekko’s thighs and his fists tighten around the sheets. All he can do is nod. He leaves his head tilted back as he’s finally allowed to just give into the feeling. The power battle he was so keen on winning is buried in the back of his mind, cushioned into silence by a cotton lining.

The time it takes for Phoenix to finally reach his orgasm would get him degraded in any other setting. His gasp for air turns into a prolonged whine as his back arches and the feeling of pure relief washes over him, making his vision white out behind his eyelids. Nothing exists outside of the warm shroud covering him, his senses filled with white noise.

Floating on cloud nine with a satisfied smile on his lips, Phoenix’s body finally relaxes. Lungs finally granted full breaths, his grip on the sheets relaxes.

But then it becomes too much. Gekko still hasn’t moved his thumb. Phoenix twitches.

He reaches an uncoordinated hand to move Gekko’s away before moving the toy just enough to press against the opposite side of his dick. He tries to find Gekko’s hand again.

“Again. Do it again.”

His voice is wrecked. Just a whisper. Desperate.

Gekko’s eyes widen in surprise. He doesn’t react immediately, his hand staying where Phoenix left it, a little surprised that Phoenix doesn’t try to chase his second release on his own. 

Yoru finally intervenes as he helps Gekko do what he was asked - commanded? Pleaded? - to do with his hand on top of Gekko’s pressing down. The second the toy makes contact with Phoenix’s dick again, Phoenix lets out a groan. Just a centimetre to the left and he’d cry out from the overstimulation. But Yoru - if anyone - knows just where to keep the pressure, and he does it with Gekko’s hand under his.

Again, it’s otherwise an embarrassingly short amount of time, but to a desperate Phoenix, it’s more than acceptable. Hopefully. With the buildup from the past - God knows how many - minutes, another orgasm builds within seconds. Chasing after the high that still hasn't settled, Phoenix arches his back to meet the touch. His composure starts to unravel before it ever fully rebuilt itself.

And again, left gasping for air with poorly muffled moans in exchange for breaths, Phoenix's body tenses as he simultaneously tries to get closer and further away from the touch. It's just on the brink of too much. One little move and the ecstasy overtaking his body would make him jolt. But he trusts Yoru. Trusts that Yoru is kind enough to let him have this moment of pure bliss without the added ‘fuck you’ of interrupting it with a sting of overstimulation. He deserves this. But, he also deserves a little reality check. He can only hope Yoru lets him stay in his delusions.

And Yoru does. He keeps the toy pressed right where Phoenix wants it for as long as Phoenix wants it. And then for a little while longer. Gekko tries to pull his hand back from the first frown on Phoenix's face, but Yoru's hand on top of his denies the attempt.

Phoenix writhes, tries to move around to get away from the increasingly overwhelming feeling, but to no avail. A shaky inhale later, he opens his mouth to say something, protest the treatment, and the pressure retreats. Just like that. And he can breathe again. He lets his head sink into the pillow once more as he looks at Yoru with warm eyes fighting to stay open. Yoru looks smug - he just wanted to show off just how well he knows Phoenix. Phoenix would roll his eyes were it not a show of possession right to his tastes.

The toy still vibrates between the two of them when Gekko shifts his position again. He can already feel the dull ache in his joints, but he ignores it as he tries to find a comfortable position again. Or, as comfortable as he can with two straps still buried inside him, and one of them vibrates. The weight shifting on top of Phoenix makes the shared toy press against his dick again, and Phoenix flinches. Gekko flinches too, startled by Phoenix's reaction. He lets out a little huff as he realises what happened, but Phoenix isn't feeling that light-hearted.

“Turn it off.”

He tries not to make it sound like a plea.

Yoru spares him a glance as he retreats the remote once more, his thumb ghosting over the buttons.

“Please.”

At least there was an effort.

A satisfied smile on his lips from being asked so nicely, Yoru turns off the middle motor of the strap, leaving the other two still on. Phoenix lets out a sigh of relief, Gekko poorly hides a frown, and Phoenix’s sigh almost turns into a laugh. Gekko looks confused.

“You two- you can have at it,” Phoenix says, voice strained but still smiling. “But, I'm out.”

Gekko looks even more confused. He doesn't notice how Yoru shrugs behind him.

“Suit yourself.”

With another click of a button, the vibrations on Phoenix's end of the strap stop. Phoenix can't help but squirm a little, now with no stimuli - even though it's what he asked for.

All attention is once again on Gekko, and - once again - he feels naked, on display. Exactly what he is.

Being reduced - or promoted in Yoru's books - to the role of observer, Phoenix again caresses over what he can reach of Gekko's skin. It's like they're moving backwards, towards where they started. Except now they're both multiple orgasms in and slightly out of their minds. But still, Gekko is back in his spotlight with two pairs of hands on him, and two toys still filling him up.

Tucking the remote away again, Yoru's fingers almost brush against Phoenix's as he mimics what he's doing. His hands map the skin Phoenix's can't reach; Gekko's sides, chest, shoulders. Were he not multiple orgasms in and filled up by the two toys, Gekko would feel flustered by the attention. But now he just enjoys it, basks in it. Starts to slowly move against the straps in it.

Yoru can't help a little grin from forming, a little amused and in disbelief. He rests his chin on Gekko's shoulder.

“Still not done?” he asks, his voice lighter than his expression would lead on.

Gekko huffs out a little laugh as he looks down at Phoenix with a gleam in his eyes.

It's not a competition.

He still bites back a stupid little smirk.

But if it was…

He shakes his head.

“No.”

Phoenix rolls his eyes and digs his fingertips deeper into Gekko's thighs. It was moments like this when he wishes he could just telepathically communicate with Yoru. ‘Make him regret it’ loses a certain kick when the ‘he’ in question hears it as well.

But Yoru reads his reaction regardless of the lack of telepathy. It's endearing, really. Still refusing to give up on the battle they had managed to start along the way. But as tempting as the thought and the mental image are, he's not going to make Gekko regret his choice. It's his first time with them, so it should be good for him. Yoru files the non-verbal suggestion away for later - alongside the many others.

He wraps one of his arms around Gekko's torso to keep him flush against his chest, the other moves to Gekko's lower stomach.

“What do you want?” 

His question is perfectly deadpan and he feels Gekko squirm in his embrace from it. A smile forms on his lips as he glances at Phoenix and finds him intently staring at Gekko. There is a small furrow to his brows as he can't entirely figure out what he's feeling, or how he should feel about his current position. 

Yoru's attention is brought back to Gekko as his hand is silently being guided further down. He yanks his hand back and places it back where he left it, pressing down a little harder. Gekko squirms again, stifles a disappointed whine.

It was a good attempt. But not good enough.

Gekko suppresses the need to complain and plead. He can only assume - concluding from the past how many minutes - that it's not what Yoru really wants to hear. 

He sighs.

“Touch me.”

It's almost a whisper. And it makes him more flustered than it probably should. He doesn't dare look at Phoenix. He can't handle knowing that he's being watched, observed with nothing to hide behind. Even if it's just Phoenix, who has seen him in a worse condition already, it's too much. It was fun, the little competition that wasn't a competition at all, but having that little control taken away from him to submit to Yoru right in front of the man who had just lost to him in a competition that wasn't a competition? It changes the hierarchy too much, shifts it away from Gekko's favour. And he couldn't have that.

Luckily, he doesn't have to think about it further as Yoru accepts his request and slowly moves his hand further down. Just like in the very beginning of whatever this was, Gekko doesn't know what to do with his own hands again, feeling like holding onto Yoru was off-limits. He reaches for Phoenix's hand, hoping the little contact is enough of an olive branch. Phoenix seems to allow it, accept the truce as his other hand holds Gekko's thigh tighter.

The second Yoru's fingers graze his dick, Gekko can't help the sharp inhale. He quickly realises it's the first time Yoru has touched him like this, and that makes the feeling even more difficult to adjust to. He knew Yoru's fingers would be cold; he had felt them on his skin already. But he still wasn't prepared to feel them against such a sensitive spot like his entirely overworked dick.

When Yoru's fingers grab a hold of said entirely overworked dick and start stroking him, the sharp inhale turns into a quivering whine. He squirms again, making both of the toys inside him move more. The movement eases him into mindlessly rolling his hips on top of them and against Yoru's fingers. It's not large enough a movement to disrupt Yoru's precise work, so he's allowed to continue it.

Yoru keeps his chin on Gekko's shoulder as he holds Gekko close to his chest. Every single little noise, every quiet gasp, every stifled moan he hears goes right to his head. He loves it. Loves that Gekko didn't give him more instructions, but trusts him to know what he wants and needs. Loves that he gets to have what's left of Gekko, loves that he gets to take every last bit of composure Gekko has in him. Loves that Gekko wants him to take it. 

He tries not to think about how it’s quite literally what Phoenix had proposed some two weeks ago. 

Instead, he focuses on starting to slowly meet the little movement of Gekko's hips with his strap. He keeps the motion small, moving just an inch or two back before pushing back in and burying himself as deep as he can. He doesn't want it to steal Gekko's focus away from what his fingers are doing, but he still wants to make Gekko feel it. 

And Gekko feels it. He tries to lean forward to arch his back more, but Yoru holds him tighter to his chest, stuck on top of Phoenix's lap again. He doesn't fight it, instead leaning back against Yoru and tilting his head back and resting against the side of Yoru's head. 

Finally closer to Yoru than ever before, Gekko waits for some sort of contact. A kiss on his cheek, or even Yoru’s cheek just resting back against his. He had gotten that and much more from Phoenix, so it only feels natural to get the same affection from Yoru now that he has his complete attention. Were he in a more clear state of mind, he’d recall his earlier attempts and how unfruitful they were. But he isn’t, and he doesn’t. He just wants the contact, the comfort, the affection.

But, no. Yoru stays still, doesn't initiate anything. The frown on Gekko’s face and the little whine that slips past his lips can easily be misinterpreted as ones from Yoru's touch, not from the lack of it. 

Losing the fight to an impulsive thought, Gekko tries to take the matters into his own hands. He turns his head towards Yoru and tries to plant a little kiss on his cheek, press his face against Yoru's, anything he can.

Though fully focused on other things, Yoru easily dodges the attempt by leaning further away. The furrow in his brows and the bolt of annoyance last for less than a second as he reminds himself that he shouldn't get upset by the attempt. He hadn't told Gekko to not try anything, and he had allowed such contact with Phoenix. It really wasn't Gekko's fault.

That doesn't stop Yoru from driving his point home physically before making it clear verbally. The change from a stroke between his thumb and his index and middle fingers quickly turns into a pinch as Yoru drops the middle finger and tightens his hold between the two fingers.

Gekko’s entire frame twitches in Yoru’s hold. He lets out an almost pained gasp that soon turns into a moan as Yoru's earlier hold returns. He almost misses the words spoken right by his ear as he once again gets pulled flush against Yoru's chest, his attempt to get away happening almost on autopilot - and getting just as automatically denied. 

“Don't try your luck.”

Yoru spits the words out, hoping to sound stern enough to be taken seriously, but not too mean to discourage Gekko too much.

Gekko can only nod, the apology staying unspoken as his attempt turns into a whine.

Phoenix looks a little too victorious as he follows the exchange. He gets a little feeling of superiority knowing both that he wouldn't have done that in Gekko's position, but also knowing that were it him in Gekko's position, Yoru would have allowed it. The exclusivity of their relationship - regardless of the fact that Yoru has a strap buried in Gekko and his fingers around Gekko's dick - overruns the initial smugness with a warm feeling.

He keeps watching as Yoru keeps both of the paces he's set stable regardless of Gekko's increasing amount of writhing. It's more understandable to him than anyone else that the position is anything but easy to stay still in. Especially after experiencing his last orgasm through entirely different means. 

Yoru's fingers are precise, changing the pressure a little here and there to steal Gekko’s focus to the contact every time it deviates from it. It's more controlled, somehow less stimulating but more rewarding. The skin-on-skin contact keeps him grounded, and he can't help but compare it to how Phoenix's fingers felt when he had been brought to his first orgasm through them.

And now, Gekko knows it's going to be his last one. The feeling is already just on the brink of too much. One wrong move, one wrong spot to apply pressure to and he'd flinch. The feeling only grows closer to too much as Yoru keeps going, keeps stroking Gekko through all his little whines and adjustments on the straps.

It hits a point all too familiar to Gekko. The point where he would on his own take a little break, let his body recover just for a moment before continuing. It would be mere seconds and it would make such a difference. But he doesn't tell Yoru to pause. It's much easier to get through the hurdle that is the overstimulation before his orgasm when he has no control over it. He doesn't have to worry about whether or not he can push himself through it - Yoru has made that decision for him.

And Yoru sticks to his decision, even though he isn't even aware of having made one. He only feels Gekko's shaky, forced breaths make his chest rise and fall in unnatural, almost twitchy patterns. He holds Gekko tighter, closer to him, and keeps the pace he has set. He can't help the small smile on his lips.

“Breathe,” he whispers right next to Gekko's ear.

Gekko inhales sharply, unintentionally.

“I'm try-”

He doesn't get to finish his sentence as the word turns into a moan. The arch of his back deepens as he tries to push harder against Yoru’s hand - something Yoru's hold around him contains just a little. Not allowed to move around as much as he wants to, needs to, Gekko's hands try to find purchase anywhere they can. Phoenix helps a little as he intertwines their fingers and lets Gekko tighten his hold as much as he can. Gekko’s other hand grips Yoru’s forearm again - a familiar gesture at this point.

As much as he tries to stay still, be good for Yoru, he can’t help but grind against Phoenix’s lap and Yoru’s fingers as the feeling washes over him. His attempts at breathing stay as attempts as he has to replace them with whines as Yoru’s fingers carefully work him through his orgasm, unrelenting. 

Only when Gekko’s body starts to relax, to lean heavier against Yoru, does Yoru slow his movements and lighten his touch. There is something different in Gekko’s whine, but Yoru can’t quite decipher it. He fully retreats his fingers, just in case.

“No, keep going,” Gekko breathes out. His voice is strained, the words closer to a plea than a suggestion or an instruction. 

Yoru raises his eyebrows in surprise, his eyes widening. But who was he to say no to that?

“You're sure?” he still has to ask.

Gekko whines and nods, tries to push against Yoru's hand again while his body is giving every signal to get away from the source of discomfort.

“Yes.” The word is almost cut off by a gasp. “Please.” 

With the confirmation loud and clear - quiet and stifled, really - Yoru keeps going. He feels Gekko's dick practically pulsate under his touch as an aftermath of his orgasm. He feels Gekko's body twitch in his embrace as Gekko fights every single nerve ending in him trying to get the stimulation to stop. Because he doesn't want it to stop. Even if he wanted to, he's physically too worn out from his orgasms to try to fight it. And with his seat on top of Phoenix, there was no way for him to close his legs or deny Yoru access. His fingers are intertwined with Phoenix's, keeping them away too.

And he loves every second of it.

The feeling gets closer to the brink of painful every time Yoru's fingertips move closer to the tip of his dick. He's so sensitive, his entire body flinching every time Yoru's touch moves.

He doesn't know when to make it stop. He doesn't know when he's had enough. He just knows to keep his eyes screwed tightly shut and his head tilted back and resting on Yoru’s shoulder. 

The feeling stays neutral; it doesn't build up. It's the same overwhelming feeling dipping its toes into the realm of pain every few seconds. He knows he's not getting another orgasm out of it. He knows he's only doing it to torture himself.

But the torture feels so good. It won't feel good tomorrow, but Gekko can't bring himself to think about the future beyond a few seconds.

Luckily, Yoru makes the decision for him again. He changes his touch, changes to simply trace a fingertip across the entire length of Gekko's dick. From the underside and right over the tip, far enough up until Gekko's breaths don't shudder, and right back down.

Every time Yoru's finger moves against the tip of his dick, more sensitive than ever, Gekko can't help the desperate whines that threaten to turn into cries. 

Yoru notices. He wants to see just how much Gekko would let him get away with.

Instead of continuing the new pattern further, he stops to just toy with the tip of Gekko's dick. He doesn't even have to press down, just gently rub a fingertip against it, to make Gekko jerk, make his body twitch even in the tight hold he has on him.

Gekko’s hand moves lower and grabs Yoru's wrist. He wants to yank Yoru's hand back. Make the overwhelm stop. But he doesn't. He just holds Yoru’s hand in place - not like Yoru needed much space to continue the little movement of his index finger.

He wants to tell Yoru to stop, wants the increasingly painful feeling to stop. But he doesn't want to. He knows the second he lets the word out, it's over. And he doesn't want it to end. He knows when it ends he'd lose the contact, the intimacy, the feeling of pure bliss. He wants to spend the rest of the night right there, and this is the only way he knows that would allow him to do that.

But, realistically, he can't. He knows that. His body would fail him at some point if he didn't get that single word out. He squeezes his eyes tighter shut as the tears begin to form.

He doesn't want to.

“Stop.”

The word is barely more audible than the breath he takes.

Yoru stops. Right in his tracks. He lifts his finger just a couple of centimetres off of Gekko's skin as Gekko's hold on his wrist persists, turns lighter.

Gekko breathes heavily as he sinks deeper onto Phoenix's lap and lets his entire body slouch against Yoru's. He barely notices when Yoru moves the hand he holds to wrap around his waist. The hold Yoru has on him tightens, and it somehow makes breathing easier.

Yoru reaches his free hand to get the remote as Gekko's hold on his wrist persists. He turns the last motor off, and Gekko can finally take a real, proper breath for the first time since they started. He returns to hold Gekko in his arms, squeezing him tightly.

Phoenix still holds Gekko’s hand as he tries to do his part by caressing what skin he can reach. Yoru's embrace feels more and more like a hug as he rests his chin back on Gekko's shoulder.

The touch that was once teasing, controlling, is now just comforting. But it's still too much, just in the entirely opposite way. The comfort, the reward, the closeness, it’s all too overwhelming. The mental overwhelm is infinitely worse than the physical. Because the physical effects can be stopped by removing the stimuli. The mental side cannot. It stays there, lingers. Until it’s released in sobs. And he can’t do that. Not now.

“You did so good,” Yoru whispers as his fingers rub little patterns onto Gekko’s skin.

Gekko's inhale quivers and he blinks away the tears that yet again want to form. Not now. He thinks Phoenix still sees them, so he doesn't look him in the eye. He tries to get his breathing under control, forces it to follow normal patterns.

Yoru seems to fall for it.

“Can I pull out?” he asks right next to Gekko's ear.

Gekko nods again, still not trusting his voice. Yoru doesn't ask for a better confirmation.

“Alright.” He fills the silence Gekko has left behind.

He wastes no time before leaning back and holding Gekko by his waist to keep him upright for a little longer. He slowly pulls out, tries to read Gekko's reaction just from his body language to make sure he's okay and the feeling isn't too much. His hands rub soothingly at Gekko's sides as an alternative to a hug when he has finally fully pulled out.

He misses the frown on Gekko's face from the entirely foreign feeling. It makes him feel empty, but not completely with the other strap still inside him. It's just weird. Phoenix can tell. He doesn't even need to ask before Gekko leans forward and guides the other strap out as well. Phoenix tries to help with it, but Gekko manages on his own surprisingly well.

His initial plan was to just ask to shower before leaving, but he can't bring himself to even sit back up. He moves one of his legs to the space between Phoenix's to avoid the strap before letting his weight drop half on top of Phoenix, half next to him. For the first time in what feels like even longer hours, he gets to extend his legs. The relieving but uncomfortable feeling is accompanied by a groan of the same calibre, and it gets almost muffled against Phoenix's pillow.

Phoenix's arms wrap around him on an instinct and hold him tight. The room is starting to feel cold - something the sheer layer of sweat on his skin only worsens - but Phoenix is so warm. Gekko swears he could fall asleep right then and there. He buries his face in the crook of Phoenix's neck, finally allowed to hide. It’s a blessing and a curse; finally a spot he could fully relax into, but also the exact opposite of it. A facade of privacy. 

He doesn't notice Yoru leaving, barely registering the words telling him he can stay there for as long as he needs. He only feels one of Phoenix’s arms retreat from his skin, feels how his legs spread a little underneath him, followed by a quiet gasp against his hair. He’s too tired to create a mental image of it, just waiting for Phoenix’s full embrace to return.

And it returns soon thereafter, accompanied by a little kiss Phoenix leaves almost against his temple. The angle is odd, but he tries his best. The small show of affection lights something within Gekko, an empty feeling that has nothing to do with the physical sensations. He lifts his head up to look at Phoenix. Their faces are mere centimetres apart. He glances down at Phoenix's lips; they're curled into a small smile. He forces his eyes back up.

“Can I still-?”

Out of everything that he has done with him, asking if he can still kiss Phoenix feels like the most intimate, the most forbidden act. He can't even get the words out.

But Phoenix's smile persists, his embrace growing warmer.

“You can.”

Gekko processes the permission he's granted for a second before leaning closer and connecting their lips. He forces himself to keep his weight up in order to hold the side of Phoenix's face. The kiss is soft and sweet, and Gekko tries to hide how desperate he is to keep it just like that. He breaks the kiss just to get the initial feeling again and again. The difference to when he was first allowed to kiss Phoenix is so stark he'd laugh about it were his thoughts not entirely too occupied.

He breaks the kiss and finally pulls back a little, just enough that the tips of their noses still brush against each other. A quick smile appears on his lips before he speaks, trying not to let the feared feeling of assumed rejection be audible.

“Why didn't he let me-?”

His voice is hushed, the sentence still far from finished, but Phoenix understands nonetheless.

“Believe it or not,” he starts, forcing the apologetic tone out of his voice. “He's exclusive. At least in that sense.”

Gekko looks confused for a short second before accepting the answer with a short hum and going in for another kiss. He was fine getting his affection from Phoenix. He was fine with it. He was fine.

Another furrow of his brows and Gekko breaks the kiss again, finding Phoenix with an amused look on his face. He ignores it.

“Wait, did he even-? He didn't even come?” The further the sentence goes on, the quieter he speaks. He doesn't know where Yoru went, but he couldn't have gone that far from earshot.

The look on Phoenix's face persists. He had guessed right. It wasn't really his place to disclose the details, so he just shakes his head.

It only makes Gekko more confused.

“Why not?”

Phoenix sighs and holds Gekko tighter.

“Don't you worry your pretty little head about it.”

Not like Gekko really has an option. He sighs and returns to his original spot, lets his weight fall on top of Phoenix again. He closes his eyes and gets comfortable, just enjoys the warmth of the body beneath him.

He feels like being on the edge of falling asleep when one of Phoenix's arms retreating from his skin brings him back to reality. He opens his eyes to watch as Phoenix reaches his arm out towards Yoru and gets him to get on the bed as well. Phoenix's fingers tangle in Yoru hair to pull him down into a kiss, Yoru's balance almost faltering from the guidance. Gekko doesn't know if the two know he's watching, and he doesn't even care. What he does care about, however, is the stupid little stinging feeling of jealousy he gets from watching the two share a kiss, one just like he and Phoenix had. Yet, he can't look away.

He watches as Yoru pulls back to break the kiss, a smile on his lips as Phoenix protests the change.

“You're alright?” he asks and tries not to let Phoenix pull him back into another kiss without giving an answer first.

Phoenix's confirmation comes in the form of a hum as he gets Yoru to connect their lips again.

Gekko should look away, close his eyes. He's intruding again. But he can't bring himself to do it. He justifies it with Yoru having watched him and Phoenix earlier - if he remembers correctly. Not like the power dynamic was even remotely similar to that, but Gekko doesn't care. He cares about the affection Yoru won't give him, even though he was so good for him. He frowns again.

This time when Yoru manages to free himself from Phoenix’s hold, he turns to meet Gekko's awaiting gaze. It startles Gekko a little, and he hopes it doesn't show. Yoru smiles at him, his expression almost uncharacteristically soft.

“You're alright, too?” he asks.

Gekko nods.

“Yeah.”

Yoru reaches to touch Gekko's arm, giving it a little squeeze.

“Good.”

Phoenix wants his attention again, but Yoru keeps his eyes on Gekko.

“I can get the shower ready for you, if you want.”

Gekko isn't sure if it's a statement or a question, but he nods nonetheless.

“Thank you,” he practically whispers.

Yoru gives his arm another quick squeeze before retreating his hand.

“Of course.”

He turns back to Phoenix and taps his cheek lightly.

“And you'll just have to wait.”

Phoenix frowns but lets Yoru get back up. No matter how much he wants Yoru's attention now, he wasn't going to take that time out of what care Gekko was given. He'd just have to wait.

They hear a little commotion coming from the bathroom, followed by the sound of water running. Gekko braces himself for having to get up and he shifts his position to test if his limbs still work. The little movement makes him accidentally rub his entirely too sensitive dick against Phoenix's side and he flinches, barely stifling a displeased whine.

Phoenix shouldn't be amused, but he still lets out a huff and caresses little shapes onto Gekko's skin. Physical comfort so he can be a little annoying in other ways.

“Was it worth it?” he asks, unable to keep his words from turning into a laugh.

Gekko really isn't sure. Phoenix doesn't need to know that.

He lets out a huff as well.

“Yes.”

Phoenix shakes his head lightly in disbelief.

He doesn’t have to think of a snarky little comment to make as Yoru interrupts their moment by emerging from the bathroom again. He gathers a clean set of clothes - assuming his would fit Gekko better than Phoenix's - and looks down at the two. They look almost peaceful, just laying there, calm enough to make Yoru think they're asleep. Still, he has to interrupt it by nudging Gekko's leg with his own.

“Shower's ready,” he informs the two.

Gekko groans quietly, faced with the fact that he couldn't actually spend the rest of his hours awake right there. He knows the shower will do him good, but the effort is too much. He's being dramatic.

He pushes himself up and fights the urge to kiss Phoenix again. It feels weird to do so while Yoru is looking at them. With another groan, he gets himself to sit on the bed for a moment, letting his blood flow return to normal instead of staying in his head. Yoru reaches an arm towards him, and Gekko gladly takes his hand and accepts the help. Yoru pulls him up to his feet and wraps an arm around his waist. Gekko's hands hold on to Yoru's shoulder as he tries to find his balance again. His knees ache. He expected nothing less, but he still wants to complain about it.

Yoru's hold around him relaxes a little, tests if he can stand on his own.

“Still alright?” he asks.

Gekko nods as he takes a stabilising step. He lets go of Yoru's shoulder as the pressure between his ears dissolves and he can think again. Yoru's hand slides to the small of his back and gently pushes him towards the bathroom, a stack of clothes still in his other hand. He sets the clothes on the bathroom counter next to a clean towel. He glances over at Gekko once more and finds him rubbing his eyes.

“You'll be okay?” he has to ask again, care overriding the initial worry in his voice.

Gekko nods again but doesn't look Yoru in the eye.

“Yeah, I'm good.”

Yoru has to take his word for it.

“Alright, just let me know if you need anything.”

Gekko gives him a quick, tired smile. Their eyes meet for a fleeting second before Gekko turns his head again.

“Will do.”

And with that, Gekko steps under the warm stream of water and separates the space between the two of them with the shower curtain, leaving Yoru a little lost. He can only hope Gekko is being truthful. He sighs deeply and returns to the bedroom to check up on Phoenix again.

He stops right in his tracks at the bathroom door.

Phoenix is exactly where he had left him, except he now has the strap he shared with Gekko in his hand as he rubs the shorter end of it against his dick in small movements. His eyes are closed and he's breathing heavily, his hips moving to meet the constrained touch. He doesn't even seem to notice Yoru's return. Not like Yoru really minds. He leaves the bathroom door slightly open - just in case Gekko tries to call out to him - and makes his way to Phoenix. But not without a little detour to the nightstand where he left the remote control earlier.

Phoenix only notices Yoru's presence from the click of a button as the toy starts vibrating again. A satisfied moan leaves his lips as his back arches. He opens his eyes to look at Yoru with a smile on his lips. Yoru meets the gaze with a light shake of his head.

Insatiable.

“Still out?”

Phoenix's smile only widens - the only answer Yoru really needs.

Yoru returns to the spot he was in earlier, half next to Phoenix, half on top of him, and leans down into a kiss, just like earlier. He feels how Phoenix can now only partly buck his hips up against the toy, and he can't help the smile that makes him break the kiss. His hand moves from where he was holding the side of Phoenix's face, tracing every curve down his torso before he reaches Phoenix's hand. He slips his fingers underneath Phoenix's light hold on the toy. Phoenix doesn't retreat his hand. He can practically feel the surprise on Yoru's face.

“I'll be good,” he reassures Yoru with a smile on his lips.

Yoru considers it for a second before trusting Phoenix. He leans in for another kiss before choosing his own rhythm, pace, and pressure to move the toy in.

The first gasp gets muffled by Yoru's lips against Phoenix's own, and keeping his grip on top of Yoru's hand proves to be more difficult right from the get-go. It's not even because he wants to be the one in control, he just wants to hold on to something. But he can be good. He adjusts his position slightly, moves around to spread his legs just a little bit more. His thumb caresses over the back of Yoru's hand.

The situation probably shouldn't make Phoenix as smiley and giddy, but he can't help it. I mean, what was there not to love? Having Yoru's full attention, getting to be so close to him as he does what he does best; knows Phoenix better than the man in question knows himself. And he loves the surrender, loves to let Yoru show just how well he knows every single little thing that sends shivers down his spine and makes a warm feeling pool in the pit of his stomach. It makes Phoenix feel more loved than a thousand ‘I love you's would. Though he still gets those as well.

And Yoru would agree. The control stopped being an ego thing after maybe the third time Phoenix let him fully take the lead. It no longer feeds whatever immature, insecure part of him that needs to show his superiority in any and every sense possible. Now it just makes him feel loved, valued, trusted, the list goes on. To have Phoenix trust him to such an extent is the greatest compliment he could ask for.

They both smile into the kiss.

Though taking a softer approach, Yoru is still very much in control. He nudges the toy just a bit higher up, and feels how Phoenix tries to not tighten his grip on it as well when his body flinches a little. A surprised gasp quickly turns into a satisfied moan as Phoenix tries to deepen the arch of his back.

“Right there?” Yoru asks in a half-whisper. He knows it's right where Phoenix wants it.

Phoenix nods, his hum of confirmation turning into yet another quiet moan as Yoru moves the toy against him in small patterns.

His breathing - though never really stable - starts to turn heavy as he tries to meet the touch again and again. The feeling is more than enough as it is, but he just can't help himself; he was never one to stay still. He tightens his hold around Yoru, tangles his fingers around strands of Yoru's hair. He tries not to pull too hard.

He knows he should break the kiss - though it's barely a kiss at this point - to get a good breath in. He knows it would make the release he feels building within him feel even better when he finally gets there. But he doesn't want to do it. He'd rather sacrifice the little extra something he'd get for the added intimacy that is letting Yoru's lips muffle the little noises he can't stifle himself.

Yoru stops moving the toy, and instead just presses it against the spot he found earlier; just a little bit to the side of Phoenix's dick. He feels Phoenix flinch underneath him, the uncontrolled movement only confirming the correct placement of the toy.

This time Phoenix has to retreat his hand from on top of Yoru's. There is no way he has the self-control to keep himself from trying to do something more - even though Yoru is giving him just what he wants. There could always be something to make it even better, but now wasn't the time to look for it. So, instead, Phoenix's fist grips the duvet, finds some grounding there.

The little show of submission makes Yoru smile again. He would reward it were he not already giving Phoenix the best he can, so it'd have to wait. Not like Phoenix really seems to mind as he tries not to squirm too much to change the spot Yoru was pressing the toy against even just a little bit. He almost lets the word ‘harder’ slip past his lips and against Yoru's, but the little pleased sigh he hears from Yoru tips him over the edge before he can do that. Such a small reaction, but Phoenix can't help himself. He pulls Yoru even closer, mind blanking out enough to not allow him to come up with an apology for pulling Yoru's hair just yet.

Instead, he lets what little focus he can muster be directed onto the way Yoru's hand keeps the toy stable regardless of how much he moves against it. His breaths come out in whines as the familiar, warm feeling makes him tense and hold on to whatever he can.

He only realises he's been holding his breath when it gets punched out of his lungs as the continuous vibrations turn to the side of overwhelming. A louder whine breaks from his throat at the feeling, and he shifts under Yoru again. Yoru takes the hint and slowly moves the toy to the other side of Phoenix's dick and presses it down. He's rewarded with a gasp and even more squirming from Phoenix.

There is no time for Phoenix to come down from his high before the feeling starts to build up again. Not having to start from zero, it builds up all too quickly. Just like before. His breaths weren't even close to steady, and he's almost gasping for air again. His hand stays in Yoru's hair and keeps Yoru close, even though the kiss is long forgotten. He just wants Yoru as close as he can get him.

His second - technically fourth at this point, was it? - orgasm reaches the tipping point and leaves Phoenix entirely breathless. His body is sending him signals to relax as his entire frame tenses, his muscles overworked at this point. The first breath he gets in turns into a moan he doesn't even try to suppress. It's followed by an array of shaky inhales that turn into more and more desperate whines that barely count as exhales. And all of it gets buried against his pillow and whatever of Yoru he can press his face against. There is no reason for him to hide, but it feels so safe to nullify at least one of his senses to keep his focus on the shroud of bliss that washes over him.

A deep sigh against his skin is the cue that makes Yoru retreat the toy enough to let Phoenix recover - but it’s still not fully off Phoenix’s skin. He traces the slick silicone ever so lightly against Phoenix’s dick, feeling how it twitches under the toy. He has to bite his tongue to hold back a self-satisfied smile. The way Phoenix’s - though more stabilised - breaths turn laboured again doesn’t help hide Yoru’s satisfaction in the slightest. Yoru experimentally presses the toy down a little harder again, still moving it in precise movements, just to see how Phoenix feels. 

And Phoenix surely feels it. He gasps, almost panicked but settling on surprised. He opens his eyes and looks over at Yoru, finding him propped up on one elbow and looking back at him.

He shakes his head lightly, lips parted and eyes fighting to stay open.

“No.”

The whispered word turns into a whine as he draws it out.

The last thing Phoenix can see is Yoru nodding, mocking, before he squeezes his eyes shut again. He feels Yoru drop his weight back partly on top of him, Yoru’s breath against his neck.

“Yes.”

Phoenix groans - mostly at Yoru’s attitude, only partly at what he’s doing. Though he doesn’t get to choose what to nonverbally complain about for long as Yoru presses the toy down a little harder again.

Phoenix’s entire body jerks at the increasingly uncomfortable feeling. He tries to sink deeper into the mattress to get away from it, but Yoru’s hand follows. At least he’s gracious enough to also retreat his hand when Phoenix returns to his original spot, kindly not making Phoenix face the consequences of his actions.

Though there is not nearly enough brain activity going on in Phoenix’s head to be thankful for it. What little there is going on gets short-circuited out of existence as Phoenix feels Yoru’s lips against his neck, followed suit by teeth grazing against the sensitive skin.

All too worn-out already, Phoenix doesn’t even know - or manage to find the energy - to react properly. He lets his shaky, whiny breaths communicate what he needs, even though he doesn’t know what he needs.

Luckily, Yoru does.

He dips the toy a little bit down, making Phoenix think he’s pushing it back inside, only to move it back up, the glide even slicker. The change in sensations makes Phoenix flinch again. He doesn’t even register how Yoru smiles against his skin. Neither does he register how the bathroom door slowly opening makes the hinges creak quietly.

Yoru notices.

He turns to look at Gekko, standing wide-eyed in the doorway, appearing to be frozen in place, space, and time. Yoru’s genuine smile turns mischievous as he keeps his eyes locked onto Gekko’s and presses the toy harder against Phoenix’s dick.

Phoenix answers with a prolonged whine that sounds a lot like a plea.

There’s a gleam in Yoru’s eyes that Gekko hopes he isn’t imagining.

“What was that?” Yoru asks, the words spoken towards Gekko yet directed at Phoenix.

Phoenix, who’s still staring at the ceiling through his eyes screwed shut. Blissfully unaware of the observer. He inhales shakily.

“Please,” he repeats, his quiet voice almost breaking.

The desperation in the single word only makes Yoru’s smile grow. He hums, as if contemplating, as he keeps moving the toy against Phoenix’s dick in small patterns, alternating between gentle caresses and heavier nudges. Phoenix still squirms under the touch, no matter how much he tries to keep still.

But one move a little too precise, a little too hard, and a little too close to the tip of Phoenix’s dick, and Phoenix flinches suddenly enough to catch Yoru off-guard as Phoenix loses the battle to his initial reaction and pushes Yoru’s hand and the toy away from his skin.

As soon as the act registers in Phoenix’s brain, his eyes shoot open to hurriedly try to find Yoru’s gaze as he props himself up on his elbow, his system suddenly full of adrenaline. He barely notices Gekko’s frame in the blurry background of his vision as his eyes focus on Yoru.

“I’m sorry, I-”

Even though the words don’t appear in his mind, he immediately goes to apologise for what he had just done, the circumstances not registering in his mind in the slightest.

Because it was Yoru’s fault, really, since he was focusing on Gekko as well instead of giving Phoenix his full attention.

“You can- I’m- continue.” Phoenix struggles to get the words out. “Please. I’m sorry.”

Still, Phoenix’s hand seeks out Yoru’s still holding the toy to guide it back. He’d take his punishment.

Yoru’s expression softens immediately, and he resists Phoenix’s hold. Instead, he reaches for the remote where he left it on the mattress behind him and turns the motor off before dropping it back down alongside the toy.

Phoenix follows along, a little confused. Then it clicks. Yoru would use his fingers, just like he had done with Gekko. Make it even more intense. Make him regret it. Phoenix’s breath shudders from the thought as he lets his head hit the pillow again. He squeezes his eyes shut, anticipating. 

He feels a cold hand cradling the side of his face, followed by Yoru’s lips on his. A little disoriented, Phoenix reciprocates the surprisingly soft kiss, his hand finally letting go of the duvet and reaching to hold whatever he can of Yoru. He gives into the initial feeling, lets his guard down from the sweetness of the kiss and relaxes, smiling into it. He lets Yoru’s body weight push him deeper into the softness of the mattress.

The small smile is wiped from his lips as the kiss breaks and Phoenix is brought back to the moment.

“But I-” he starts again, voice weak. Yoru interrupts him.

“No.”

He leans in for another kiss before Phoenix can say anything back.

And Phoenix doesn’t complain - even if he could. He holds Yoru close, the once tight grip he had held on Yoru’s hair finally softening and turning into caresses.

The kiss stays soft and sweet - and Gekko has never felt more like an intruder. He fidgets with his fingers. He should look away. 

“You did so good,” Yoru basically whispers against Phoenix’s lips as he’s allowed a second to breathe.

Phoenix answers with only a tired, unsure smile. An invitation for Yoru to continue.

“It was my mistake. You were good.”

This time Phoenix hums a quiet ‘thank you’ against Yoru’s lips as he brings him down into a kiss. It’s soft and sweet and nice and calm and Yoru feels Phoenix relax further into the mattress.

They rest their foreheads together as they break the kiss, smiling. Phoenix mouths a love confession against Yoru’s lips, prompting yet another quick kiss.

“Let’s get you in the shower too, yeah?” Yoru asks as he finally props himself up, already answering the rhetorical question for him.

Phoenix hums and nods, mind still too blank for real words.

Yoru gets up and reaches an arm towards Phoenix, who - just like Gekko earlier - accepts the help. Only when brought up to his feet does Phoenix finally look at Gekko. He’s met with wide eyes and an unreadable expression. He can’t help a sheepish smile from forming on his lips as he wants to avert this gaze, suddenly too shy from how Gekko just saw him.

He lets Yoru guide him to the bathroom - his turn to be taken care of. The shower takes little to no time to warm up again, and he’s left to his devices for a moment as Yoru checks up on Gekko, still a little worried.

The clothes Yoru picked out for Gekko fit loosely around his slightly smaller frame. Not like Gekko really minds. They’re comfortable. Like a hug. He really wants a hug.

“How’re you feeling?” Yoru asks, leaning against the doorframe to try to somehow keep an eye on the both of them. “Still alright?”

Gekko holds the eye contact for a little while before looking away - before his eyes get too glossy for Yoru to notice. He answers in an almost unnoticeable shrug, not bothering to see whether or not Yoru notices that either. He just tries not to let his expression fall into a frown.

But, of course, Yoru notices. He pushes himself to his feet and takes a few quick steps towards Gekko, Gekko already reaching his arms towards him. Yoru’s arms wrap around Gekko’s shoulders and he can feel Gekko’s torso shuddering as he tries to take a deep breath. Gekko wraps his arms tightly around Yoru’s waist and squeezes - a cue that Yoru mirrors. One of his hands reaches to the back of Gekko’s neck, his thumb caressing the short hairs.

“What’s wrong?” he asks in a quiet voice meant just for the two of them.

Gekko shakes his head a little in the constrained space in Yoru’s embrace.

An almost apologetic smile appears on Yoru’s lips.

“Can’t speak?” he confirms.

Gekko shakes his head again.

Yoru sighs. He knows the feeling. He fixes his hold around Gekko, holding him even tighter.

“That’s alright. Do you want to stay like this?”

Gekko nods.

“Okay. I’ve got you.”

There’s a little stinging feeling in Yoru’s heart from having to leave Phoenix by himself. But he knows Phoenix can handle himself - at least for the time being - and Gekko was undeniably a priority.

The seconds and minutes pass and he feels how Gekko’s breathing slowly stabilises against him, how the hold around his waist relaxes a little. Still, he keeps Gekko in a tight embrace himself, fingers caressing small patterns into Gekko’s hair and skin through his shirt.

They stay like that for a while, until Phoenix emerges from the shower after deducing that Yoru was too busy elsewhere to check up on him. Standing behind Yoru, he can’t catch his gaze, and Gekko doesn’t open his eyes either. Trying to read the situation right, he doesn’t say anything, just watches.

Yoru can practically feel his presence and he tries to look over at him. The shifting makes Gekko open his eyes and pull back a little from Yoru’s hold. Yoru lets him, still keeping him close as he turns to face Phoenix more properly. Gekko gives Phoenix an apologetic smile, a ‘sorry’ for occupying Yoru. Phoenix just looks concerned.

“Everything alright?” His question is directed at Yoru - a sign he already knows the answer.

Gekko still nods a little. Yoru caresses his hair.

“Mute,” he simply states.

Phoenix nods. He knows the feeling, too.

“So, he’s staying the night?”

It’s more of a statement than a question.

Yoru turns to look at Gekko.

“If you want to.”

Gekko nods.

“Great.”

They share a quick smile.

So, it was that easy. Gekko tries not to let out a laugh. 

Yoru squeezes Gekko tighter against himself before letting his hold relax entirely. He lets Gekko take a step back, take a deep breath in.

Gekko looks at the two of them before something changes in his expression, his stance. He sighs and gestures vaguely with his hands - more to himself to alleviate the stress his system was suddenly hit with. He doesn’t try to further explain anything as he reaches for his pants left as a bundle of fabric on the floor and scrambles to get his phone out of the pocket. Phoenix follows along and does the same, again already knowing what he’s expecting.

And he would be right. His phone vibrates in the pants pocket he left it in as he lifts the item of clothing off the floor to retrieve it. A message from Gekko.

‘wait can i get my buddies?’

Phoenix smiles as he shows the text to Yoru as well.

“Of course you can.”

Gekko gives the two of them a hurried smile before making a beeline for the door. He hadn’t meant to leave the crew by themselves for so long to begin with, so he can only hope they were doing alright.

The walk to his room is not long, but it’s still too long. Gekko feels weird about being out and about in Yoru’s clothes. Not like anyone would probably even notice - if he were to even run into anyone - but it still felt odd. He tries not to laugh at how he was making the most unconventional walk of shame known to man.

Unlocking the door as quietly as he can, just in case any of them were still sleeping, Gekko enters his room. The entire crew is awake again, Dizzy and Mosh right where he left them, watching as Wingman and Thrash pass a bouncy ball across the room to each other.

The sight makes Gekko sigh in relief; they were fine. The little game of unusual football is interrupted as the contenders turn to look at Gekko and hurriedly make their way towards him. They had missed him, concern for him sadly one of the worries they could be riddled with.

Gekko drops to one knee to get the two up and on their designated spots. Thrash sits on his shoulder, but Wingman refuses to let go of his palm, wanting to stay there instead. Gekko holds the little radivore against his cheek as an apology for leaving them by themselves, and accepts Wingman’s proposal.

He goes to retrieve the other two; Dizzy had stayed next to Mosh regardless of her excitement to see Gekko again because she didn’t want to make Mosh feel left out. Dizzy climbs up on Gekko’s other shoulder and Mosh sits on his other palm. Though not for long as Wingman moves further back and reaches his arms out to get Gekko to move Mosh next to him.

Gekko does just that, and watches Wingman hold Mosh in the best hug his little arms can manage. It’s an endearing sight, but Gekko tries not to get caught up on it. He gathers some of the crew’s favourite things and treats to bring with them, trying to balance it all in one hand.

He still has to set Wingman and Mosh on the floor to unlock and open his door again. But the duo doesn’t seem to mind. As soon as Gekko gets the door open, Wingman takes Mosh in his arms and sprints out. The most energetic of the crew - and Gekko definitely didn’t mind him burning off some extra energy before having to settle down once again.

He lets the door fall shut behind him before following Wingman, who turns around and starts running back to him. He has no directions to go off of, so he just continues making little sprints between where he thinks they’re going and where Gekko is leading them to.

Gekko knocks on an unknown door to the rest of them, having to wait only a couple of seconds before being let back in.

The radivores take in the new environment, quickly growing accustomed to the similar layout of the room.

An open window makes the room a bit chilly. Gekko sets the equipment he had with him on the couch to rub his forearms, trying to settle the hairs standing up on his skin. The radivores quickly follow to the couch, intrigued by the familiarity.

It suddenly dawns on Gekko that he doesn’t even know if the crew was allowed on the couch. Not like they were messy or anything, but he had no idea what the policy for any sort of pets were. He quickly turns his attention back to Yoru or Phoenix - whichever he can find. He ends up finding both of them, in various stages of changing their pillowcases, practically frozen and just watching Gekko's parenting. They smile at him when they catch his gaze - a confirmation. Gekko returns the smile before tending to his group of radivores.

Yoru throws his pillow onto the bed before walking over to Gekko. He watches along as the group fixes the stuffing on their pillows to make them comfortable again, how they settle down and share a little bag of snacks. The group chatters in little squeaks and grumbles - a language Gekko seems to understand as well, just like they seem to understand Gekko’s non-verbal communication.

“Do they need anything else?” Yoru asks, stealing all of their attention.

Dizzy makes a high-pitched sound, waving her little arm at her - second - favourite human.

Yoru has an endearing smile on his lips as he waves back at the little radivore.

Gekko nudges Yoru’s side, showing him an unsent text to Phoenix.

‘water’

Yoru nods.

“Gotcha.”

He hopes they have a water bottle somewhere. Though the tap water is drinkable, it might not be the best for such small creatures. Only the best for their guests.

After a little rummaging around the room, Yoru ends up finding a forgotten, unopened bottle from the depths of Phoenix’s messy nightstand. He hands it to Gekko and gets a thank you in the form of a smile. He watches along as Gekko pours the water into smaller bottles that look like sippy cups and hands them to the group.

With the additional little pillows and toys the crew finds comfort in, Gekko leaves them to get comfortable on the couch and returns his attention back to their generous hosts. Again, they’re both looking at Gekko already.

The room is quiet apart from the sounds of the radivores talking amongst each other.

Gekko takes out his phone again and types a quick message. Phoenix’s phone screen lights up.

‘thank you’

Phoenix shows the message to Yoru as well, both of them smiling.

“Of course.”

A weight is lifted off of Gekko’s chest.

The radivores start to settle down when they run out of snacks, their quiet sounds of chatter dwindling into silence as they get comfortable enough to chase their sleep.

The night is still on the younger side - not even nine p.m. yet. Even though maybe a little too early to sleep, both Gekko and Phoenix feel tired enough to give up on any more plans for the night. They sit down on the bed, cross-legged across from each other, waiting as Yoru takes his rightful turn finally showering. The silence persists for a moment.

“Does this happen often?” Phoenix asks in a quiet voice to keep the radivores their peace.

Gekko gestures with his hands, looking for the words. He reaches for his phone, his thumbs hovering over the screen for a moment before typing.

‘sometimes’

‘like after rly intense stuff’

Phoenix nods. He glances at the bathroom door before focusing back on Gekko, biting back a smile.

“Hope he doesn’t kill me for this, but Ryo’s the same. Though he doesn’t even want to be talked to then. We just text each other.”

Gekko smiles as well. It’s comforting to know that the two have an idea of what he’s experiencing. The last thing he needs is to have to explain what he can and cannot do in his state. He picks up his phone, his finger taps the side of the device as he thinks, wanting to say something.

But Phoenix is quicker, some dots connecting in his mind.

“But you didn't- weren't you-?” He tries to get the words in the right order, not wanting his question to come across the wrong way. “But we talked right after, no?”

Gekko can't help but drop his gaze as he nods. He wants to and doesn't want to have this conversation right now. Phoenix's warm hand moving to rest on his knee makes him glance back up.

“Did something happen? While you were showering, or something?” Phoenix's question sounds unsure.

Gekko picks up his phone before he can think twice about whether he wants to lie or not.

‘cried’

He locks his phone on instinct before opening it right back up.

‘lol’

He has to stifle a huff of bitter laughter - an immediate defence.

Laugh about it. It’s not that serious.

Phoenix doesn't know how to react as he looks up from his phone, concern clear in his expression. He squeezes Gekko's knee gently to show that he at least read the messages, that he's there, even though he doesn’t know what to say.

A new message appearing on his phone screen makes him tear his eyes away from Gekko.

‘im fine now dw’

The corners of Gekko's mouth twitch into a forced little smile. Phoenix answers with an empathetic one, not entirely believing him. He wants to believe Gekko, hopes he’s being truthful. He really wants to.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Phoenix asks, words leaving his lips careful as ever.

Gekko shrugs. He looks at his lap, his fidgeting hands for a second, almost anticipating that Phoenix pushes the topic further, tries to get more out of him.

But Phoenix stays quiet, keeps his hand on Gekko's knee, rubs small, comforting patterns through the fabric of his sweatpants. He's just there. Close, but not too close. Warm and secure.

Gekko swallows the lump in his throat and picks up his phone again.

‘shoyldntve been alone’

He rolls his eyes at the typo, wanting to focus on anything but the sincerity of his words. Because it’s a difficult thing to admit, especially since it’s the first encounter he shared with the two. His first time and he already had to take it too far, push his limits. And for what? The sliver of a chance that the two would somehow understand what he’s feeling and comfort him? Keep him company?

The more he thinks about it, the hotter his cheeks start to burn. It’s stupid. He feels stupid. Like he couldn’t just have stopped where Yoru had intended and then asked to stay the night. That would have been a normal thing to do, right? 

He doesn’t know.

The spiral is on the brink of starting.

He’s being stupid, manipulative, a bad friend. He’s guilt-tripping his friends into giving him comfort by being a crybaby about something he wanted to do. They have no choice but to console him because he’s infiltrating their space. They can’t just ask him to leave; that wouldn’t be a nice thing to do. He’s manipulating them. If he would have just asked in a neutral state, at least then they would have had a chance to say no. He’s a horrible friend.

He knows he should leave. On his own accord. Say he’s fine. It doesn’t matter if the two believe him or not. If he just gets out of there, it’s no longer their issue. He’ll handle it on his own.

He holds back the tears again. It makes it even more stupid. He cried about it already. He should be fine. It’s out of his system. He’s fine.

He misses how Phoenix's eyes dart between the text and his face.

“I'm sorry,” Phoenix whispers. “I didn't know.”

Gekko freezes. The black hole in his gut sets in again. The spiral stops.

His widened eyes lock with Phoenix's and he quickly shakes his head, panicked. The hurt look on Phoenix’s face makes his heart drop right into the black hole inside him, only making it grow.

He can’t think straight. This is even worse than the hole he dug for himself in his mind. Because the hurt is there. Right in front of him. In the eyes of his friend. Outside of his reach, his control, his thoughts. It’s real. And his fault.

He wishes he didn't have to look away to respond, but he couldn’t force his words either. He quickly picks up his phone again.

‘no’

‘not your fault’

‘or yorus’

‘ryo’

‘whatever’

Phoenix watches as the short messages appear on his screen one by one. They make him feel a little better, but they don't silence the voice still in the back of his mind telling him he did something bad. And Gekko is still visibly upset, no matter whose fault it is - if anyone’s. 

He has experienced this with Yoru, too. He has some idea of what happened and why. At least he hopes he does. He really, really wants to trust Gekko; trust that he’s being truthful and not taking the blame just to take the easy way out of it.

Gekko reads Phoenix’s uncertainty. His fingers tap again as he tries to come up with the words to sound sincere. Not like he has many options.

The messages on Phoenix’s phone screen move again. He glances down.

‘trust me’

‘please’

Phoenix’s gaze moves back up to meet Gekko’s. This time the smile on Gekko’s lips is more persistent, calm. He lets his phone drop to his lap to place his hand on top of Phoenix’s, squeezing gently. He hears Phoenix let out a sigh, sees him relax his posture. Phoenix reciprocates the act by squeezing Gekko’s knee, giving him a small smile.

“I trust you.”

Gekko’s hand moves higher up on Phoenix’s forearm, caressing the warm skin.

Writing another message with his other hand is a small struggle.

‘thank you’

Phoenix drops his phone as well, his smile lingering.

The distance and position of the two of them is a little bit too much, a little bit too awkward, but Phoenix still reaches to wrap his arms around Gekko’s shoulders to pull him into a hug. He wants nothing more than to squeeze Gekko in the tightest embrace he has ever felt.

Gekko doesn’t resist the attempt one bit. Getting his ribs crushed has never sounded so comforting. His arms wrap around Phoenix’s torso to pull himself closer, bury his face in the crook of Phoenix’s neck. He unashamedly inhales Phoenix’s scent, tries to find comfort in it. Phoenix smells like coconut body wash - and Gekko wants to laugh. Not really what he wanted to smell, but he’ll take it. It’s Phoenix, and that’s enough for him.

The embrace allows him to file the feelings for later inspection. He knows they will make a return the second he has to be alone again. No matter what Phoenix or Yoru convinces him of, he will feel bad about it. But not now. Now all he knows is Phoenix’s warmth all around him, slowly seeping into his bones. 

Phoenix’s grip relaxes first, allowing Gekko to pull back if he wants to. He doesn’t want to. He stays holding onto Phoenix, glued as close to him as he can. He feels how Phoenix's chest moves as he lets out a huff before tightening his hold again.

They stay like that until the familiar creak of the bathroom door breaks them out of it. Though a little startled, they part slowly. Phoenix’s hand lingers on the back of Gekko’s neck, keeping him close enough to plant a quick kiss on his forehead.

The smallest act of affection, and Gekko feels more flustered than ever. The way Phoenix’s hands trail down his arms and end up holding his hands doesn’t help contain the flush either. He glances up at Phoenix, meeting his awaiting gaze, his warm smile. The corners of his mouth curl into a genuine smile from the sight, his racing thoughts finally slowing down.

Thankful for the little interruption - and not having to deal with the almost embarrassing reaction to Phoenix’s attention - Gekko turns to look at Yoru.

He emerges from the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his hips, his hair poorly brushed back while damp strands still hang over his forehead. Gekko’s gaze instinctively drops to Yoru’s chest as the black tape is no longer there, before he even more instinctively looks away, cheeks heating up as he goes to tear his hands away from Phoenix’s gentle hold to unlock his phone and type out an apology.

Hearing Yoru’s voice makes his fingers halt before he gets to send the message.

“You can look.”

Gekko blinks a few times before lifting his gaze again, following where Phoenix is already looking. He lets his eyes wander across the skin - and frame in general - he wasn’t able to or allowed to look at earlier.

Yoru still has his natural chest, just like Phoenix. His skin is a little red and irritated from the tape. 

“Should have taken it off yesterday,” Yoru mutters as he tries not to address the damage with his fingertips. He should leave it alone.

“Told you.”

Phoenix’s tone contrasts his choice of words. Of course he has to be a little bit of an ass about it; he just wants the best for Yoru.

Yoru sighs and shakes his head. He goes to get dressed as the two pairs of eyes stay glued to him.

The three of them are dressed in practically the same clothes as Yoru switches the towel into a t-shirt and shorts.

The two gazes follow along as Yoru walks to the opposite side of the room to close the window. Yoru turns around to look back at them. Only Gekko looks away, like it was a bad thing to be caught doing. Phoenix keeps staring, a dumb little smile on his lovestruck face.

“Do you have an early alarm for tomorrow?” Yoru asks Gekko, getting his attention again. He knows Phoenix’s schedule already.

Gekko shakes his head. His first scheduled duties would start at ten.

Yoru huffs.

“Lucky bastards, both of you.”

He had landed the unfortunate duty of overseeing another, a little younger group of agents during their training. Weapons handling, or something. At least he didn’t have to lead the group, just supervise. It was the earliest possible shift, too. Who the hell even needs to train at six in the morning?

At least they’d hopefully be able to have breakfast together.

Phoenix and Gekko take the question as a hint to start getting ready for bed.

It almost feels like a sleepover. Except they’re well into their twenties. And just got done fucking one of the participants to the brink of tears.

Oh, well. A sleepover is a sleepover.

Gekko goes to check up on his crew, making sure they’re all okay and settling into their temporary bed well enough. He leaves his old clothes on the couch as well, hoping the added familiarity brings the little guys some safety in the foreign environment. When he returns to his own temporary bed, he finds Yoru and Phoenix getting comfortable already, Phoenix trying to find a proper angle to rest his head on Yoru’s chest, his shirt already ditched somewhere. 

He watches for a little while, again reminded of his position in the dynamic. The third one. An addition. Outsider. He clenches his jaw. 

He starts tapping his fingers again, growing a little anxious.

Both Yoru and Phoenix look over at him, reading his discomfort. Phoenix props himself up on his elbow and gestures at Gekko to join them, hoping to look inviting.

Gekko shakes his anxieties out of his fingers - more literally than figuratively - and makes his way to the bed. It’s infinitely more intimate than when he was prompted to do so what feels like hours ago. Even though he’s currently clothed and so are the people he’s joining, it’s still so much more to handle, to process.

Phoenix throws the duvet to the side to make room for Gekko, the weight of the blanket on top of it giving him a small struggle.

Gekko’s movements are a little forced as he accepts the invitation and crawls onto the bed, mirroring Phoenix’s position. Yoru’s arm wraps around him in an instant, a welcoming gesture Gekko more than appreciates. He sighs deeply as he finds a comfortable position on Yoru’s chest as well. He tries not to think about why this is an acceptable amount of affection from Yoru. 

Gekko can’t help but let out a little huff of a laugh at how close he is to Phoenix. It relaxes his nervous system a little. He almost wants to inch higher, bury his face into Yoru’s neck, but he doesn’t think that’s allowed. He doesn’t know what to do with his arm, either. Every position seems unnatural. He’s thinking about it too much.

Once again, Phoenix eases his anxieties. He moves the covers back up and over Gekko’s shoulders. The room isn’t that cold, but that’s not what the blanket is there for either way. He wouldn’t mind a heavier pressure, but the blanket does its job. It makes finding a comfortable position easier, the pressure feeling like a hug. A hug that calms Gekko’s overworked senses and nerves, muffles the thoughts ricocheting in his mind. He relaxes against Yoru, sinks deeper into the mattress as Yoru squeezes him closer.

Everything is calm.

Phoenix moves his arm enough to caress Gekko’s own under the covers, his fingers blindly tracing Gekko’s tattoos. His touch is warm. Gekko smiles against Yoru’s chest.

Gekko doesn’t remember the last time he fell asleep so quickly, so peacefully. Like his entire being, on this physical plane of existence and otherwise, was cushioned with the softest cotton known to man. Not a single care in the world, not a single worry, not an ounce of discomfort. Just tranquillity.

Beautiful, peaceful, comforting tranquillity.

The peace is disturbed only by Yoru's alarm going off at 5:30 am, followed by his weight shifting off the bed. Gekko instinctively turns to occupy the space, the warm shape left on the mattress. Only half-awake, his hand reaches blindly to find Phoenix, managing to get a lazy grip on his arm. He doesn't have to do much more as Phoenix pulls him closer, prompting Gekko to find a comfortable spot snug against his chest.

The weight on the bed shifts again as Yoru leans down to leave a kiss on Phoenix's temple and gently ruffle Gekko's hair. He fixes the position of the duvet and pulls it over Gekko’s shoulders, tucking both of them in. 

Gekko feels Phoenix's lips curl into a smile from the light kiss on his forehead.

They fall asleep again.