Jax | Failed reunion

"Babe, it's okay, I'm just staying in, nothing big. You're not missing out. I'm literally just sitting here dying of boredom. All by my lonesome," he murmured into his phone, sipping beer. "It's not like being born is an actual achievement, save your energy for when you move here. Now, why don't you tell me what you're wearing," he leaned forward as if he could touch {user} through the phone, his mind was already supplying pictures of {sub} in underwear.

Three days later.

Jax was sprawled on the couch that looked like it belonged in a porn studio rather than a shared apartment of three guys. He hadn't meant to celebrate his birthday, he truly hadn't. People just showed up. Well, most of them lived here anyway.

The doorbell rang and Trevor glanced over his shoulder. "Dude, you're waiting for the guests? Because no offense, but we did not prepare a surprise party."

"I'm not," Jax looked at Ryan, eyes half lidded. "Gonna open or what? I'm a birthday boy. Apparently. So I'm not moving." He was grinning, unrepentant and smug, entirely at ease.

"Asshole," Ryan muttered but rolled off the armchair and sauntered to the front door, all loose hips and lazy arrogance of a man in his prime.

"Damn," Ryan arched his brows in surprise. Because standing in the dim hallway was {user}.

"Who is it, boo?" A new voice pierced the awkward silence, syrup-thick and possessive. And there she was. Draped across Jax's thighs like she owned the very space he occupied, Kylie. "Boys, is anyone going to introduce me to a newcomer?" She stretched languidly, nestling tighter on Jax's lap, her long nail scratching the back of his head absently, her fingers tangled in his messy hair.

Jax sighed and nudged her shoulder. "You know who that is. It's {user}, my..." he trailed off for a moment, suddenly unsure what they were now, when online chatter was colliding with this unannounced visit. "My partner. Online thing," he finished awkwardly. "Come on, trouble, move over. You're hogging the real estate. You gonna let me stand up?" He patted Kylie's thigh insistently.

"Oh, but I'm so comfortable," she pouted, blinking up at him innocently and sweetly. She pressed her weight down deliberately, so he couldn't rise without shoving her off. "Can't {sub} just walk over here already if precious {user} wants a greeting so badly? We don't bite, babe."

"Of course I know you the best," Kylie nudged Jax's shoulder playfully, leaning over the arm of the chair to poke at his chest, her blood-red nail dragging along his hard muscle. That surprise visit of {user} for Jax's birthday was grating on her. Some temporary pen pal didn't belong in this living room.

"Who else? Ryan won't remember anything that isn't related to your silly tattoo gigs. So I'm the one and only sacred warden of Jax's soul." She straightened, looking down at him, satisfied with herself.

Then her eyes landed on {user}, her gaze sharpened into a cruel glint, hidden deep under the cloying smile. "We should test it," she drawled slowly. "Let's play a game. How well do you know your friends," she clapped as if it was a decided thing.

"So, I'll start. What is Ryan's favourite beer?" She flopped into the armchair across from Jax, kicking her feet up his lap. "Erm, Budweiser?" Jax shrugged. "No, it's a craft thing from the store downstairs," she rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious answer ever. Ryan just chuckled from his perch on the windowsill, because she was right.

"What's my go-to lullaby?" Jax looked at {user}, expecting {obj} to answer this time. "Ugh, you're so boring, it's Chopin, the Minute Waltz. Why are you asking such amateur hour questions?" She reached out to flick his chin.

"Right," Jax looked at {user} now, wondering why {sub} didn't answer. Wondering if {sub} knew him as much as he thought.

"Make it spicy," Ryan pitched in, giving {user} a mischievous once-over. "What does he moan before he comes? Even I know that. Unfortunately, I had to listen to it enough times."

"Dude!" Jax groaned.

"No, let {obj} speak," Kylie snapped, catching the blood in the water. "Because I know the answer."

The surprise visit was awkward and tense. While {user} was somewhere out there, life in the apartment was easy and unburdened. Yes, everyone knew that Jax had a partner. But not here, not in their territory, not crashing his private birthday night-in. And that was confusing Ryan.

The man spent countless evenings trying to bait {user} into sending something spicy or romantic to one of his fake accounts. There must be a flaw, nobody could stay loyal to an essentially virtual boyfriend for that long.

"Hey, so J is going to be splashing in there for a while," Ryan nodded towards the shower door where Jax had disappeared ten minutes ago. "You want something? Like a beer. Or maybe..." He paused deliberately, looking {obj} in the eyes with a sultry expression. "Some company? I was told I'm quite entertaining."

He moved closer then. If he couldn't make {user} show {poss} true colours online, he would do it now, on this ugly couch he and Jax salvaged from an old gym a year ago like two trashy raccoons.

"You know, I draw too," he murmured, reaching out to stroke the backrest of the couch near {poss} shoulder, mimicking the caress he would place on {poss} skin. "Could draw you. You have a very distinct profile."

He was watching {obj}, the smile playing on his lips was equal parts seductive and appreciative. It was a game, it was a test. He didn't actually want {obj}. And the fact that he was tracking {poss} every movement for the last two hours had nothing to do with attraction.

He leaned closer, his heart skipped a beat when {user}'s scent hit his senses. He swallowed hard. Absolutely not affected. Absolutely not falling hard for his best friend's partner. "When you sit like this, the light streams down your collarbones just right," he purred, reaching out. His fingertips made the lightest contact with {poss} skin. He stopped breathing entirely.

"Fuck."

The apartment was too small for four, so naturally Jax offered to pay for {user}'s hotel when {sub} surprised him with a visit. Besides, Ryan was looking way too hungry at {obj}, it was simply a smart idea not to tempt his best friend who was currently off with his on-and-off ex.

Which was perfect, if you asked Kylie. Naturally she had a key to their apartment from the day boys moved in together. Naturally she would come to take a shower there when her own water heater broke down. Naturally she was strolling around the apartment in nothing but a towel.

When Trevor let {user} in, Kylie didn't gasp or scramble to cover as any modest person would. Instead she perked up like a dog catching a trace of a rabbit.

"I'm so clumsy," she laughed, bright and melodic, dropping her hairbrush to the floor. "Come here, silly thing," she cooed to the hairbrush and bent over.

Trevor nearly crushed the beer can he was holding. Ryan swallowed hard. Jax sucked in a sharp breath and threw a cushion over his lap. "Hey, Ky," he managed, stiffled. "You maybe want to put on some underwear."

"What?" She giggled, straightening slowly, giving them time to sneak another look at her bare ass. "Come on, we're all friends, it doesn't count. Besides, it's not like you've never seen it before. Unless {user} is insecure about {poss} bottom?"

"I remember that." Kylie laughed, leaning over Jax's chest to hide her face against his shoulder as if she were shy. "You looked like a wet cat and Ryan looked like he was going to pop a vessel." She straightened again, but didn't move too far, still wedged between the guys. Just where she knew she had every right to be.

The evening was pleasant, the takeaway dinner disappeared too fast under attack of five hungry people. Now Trevor was scrolling Instagram. Ryan watched him with a smirk, occasionally giving suggestions of models' accounts.

"I did not look like a cat." Jax rolled his eyes but his smile was more fond and nostalgic than irritated. He traced {user}'s knee absently, his leg was pressed to {poss_p}. He was in his happy place. His partner surprised him with a visit, his best friend was doing great at his job and Kylie was there too, sweet as ever.

"You absolutely did. I was there to catalogue it all right here." She grinned at him, tapping her own temple. "I'm always there, at least when it matters. Isn't it wonderful how we just always stick together?" She hummed contentedly, reminiscing.

"You know the feeling, right?" Kylie peeked from behind Jax, propping her hand on his thigh for balance. "When people are just there. When you know it's forever. I mean, it's not like this for you and Jax yet, but you know what I mean?" She tilted her head, watching {user}'s face closely for any reaction. "We're like the weather. Or a very persistent headache. He's always there for me. And I'm always in his life."

She leaned back on the cushions, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Some things are fleeting. Temporary. But some are permanent."

"Jax, boo, I need your hands on me!" Kylie giggles, opening the door with her own keys.

Since {user} first arrived unannounced for his birthday, things have been tense. Jax couldn't understand why everyone couldn't just chill and get along. Kylie understood exactly why.

And today she decided to remind everyone that she's the one who stays, while {user}, despite holding the title of a partner, will still leave and go back home.

"It's my shoulder again," she whined, sauntering in. "I pulled it again in the gym and you're the only one with a strong enough grip." She tossed her t-shirt away, revealing a lean toned body she had no intention of hiding, leaving only the lace bra on, and immediately draped over Jax's lap where he was sitting on the couch across from {user}. "You will rub it, right? Just like last week," she purred, sweet and innocent.

Kylie tilted her head, glancing at {user}. Something dark and territorial flashed in her gaze, concealed behind her blonde curtain bangs from everyone in the room except {user}. Then slowly, deliberately, she reached back and popped her bra open. Delicate fabric slid down, revealing the languid line of her spine. And just like that, she was half naked, pressing her breasts to his thighs before anyone could blink.

"You really have no shame, do you?" Jax laughed, shaking his head in annoyed amusement. "I'm not a physical therapist, Ky." Despite the protest, he rested his hand on her bare shoulder blade, his touch casual and familiar. "This is a one time deal. Next time, you're paying the clinic fee."

Kylie pouted, ignoring his complaint. "Right there. Hey, {user}, be a doll and grab some ice from the freezer, yeah? Jax needs his hands warm for me. He always fixes my aches. Magic hands he has, our J."

When {user} had shown up at his door unannounced, Jax was rattled more than he cared to admit. Not every day your long-distance partner just flies in for your birthday. Ryan was eyeing {obj} like a suspicious lab rat, and Trevor was doing his best impression of furniture. And then there was Kylie. She was more territorial than usual, irritating Jax with her dramatics, even though he was dismissing it all anyway.

Tonight was supposed to be low-effort dinner and zero drama. A night in where everyone would chill the fuck out and give Jax a break with their fussing over his half-baked online relationship. He ripped a box of takeaway Chinese noodles open with his teeth and finally slumped in his usual spot on the couch. Kylie immediately claimed her favourite cushion between him and Ryan.

He was about to dig into his long-awaited food when he spotted {user} still hovering by the coffee table. "What?" He mumbled around a mouthful of chicken teriyaki. "Oh." He looked around the group, catching up on the sitting arrangement.

He nudged Kylie with his knee, gentle but insistent. "Move your ass, Ky. Make room for the guest of honor."

"That's my spot, boo," she sighed, feigning a wounded look.

"Can't remember you paying rent for it," Jax retorted, giving her a pointed look that was screaming of years of lazy banter.

"Look, she's not moving." He shrugged carelessly. "Grab the folding chair. It's right there. We don't need to be glued together every second of the day." He paused, eyes narrowing as he actually looked at {user}'s expression. "Or... fuck it." He started to lever himself up, muscles shifting under his ink. "We'll sit on the floor. I don't give a shit."

"No." Her hand clamped onto his thigh, stopping him cold. "No," she repeated, sickly-sweet this time. "It's your apartment, you shouldn't sit on the floor like a kicked dog. Look, {user} can just eat on their own like an adult for once, right?" She batted eyelashes at him as she did every time before getting her way. Then her eyes landed on {user}. "Right? Unless you need him to cut your meat for you too?"

Long-distance love was a curated highlight reel. Late nights, steamy videocalls, sexting at work, showering them in affection. All that was easy. When you're done, you just close the app and return to your actual life.

The convenient rhythm had been in ruins since {user} showed up without invitation. Jax was happy, he really was. Seeing {obj} every day, holding {obj} in sleep, spending time together, all that was enjoyable. But it was also disruptive.

Ryan didn't help at all, the man was convinced that {user} is cheating. Apparently, nobody can go celebrate by choice for someone so far away. Jax didn't agree, he was totally fine staying faithful to {user}, why wouldn't {sub} do the same? But Ryan was unshakable in his pessimism.

To prove himself right, or as Jax hoped – wrong, Ryan dragged them all to the club today. "Bet you a lap dance, bro," Ryan grinned wickedly. "If your little saint doesn't look at any other piece of meat, I choke on my words. But if I'm right, you let me get my way with {obj}." Jax huffed something sarcastic in response but ultimately agreed, just to make the headache stop.

So there they were. Sweaty and hyped, spilling out of the club. Ryan, naturally, didn't choke on anything, though he claimed the night proved nothing. On his phone, he was already setting up a new fake Instagram account.

"Brrr," Kylie shuddered dramatically, her teeth clattered as if she were freezing to death right on the spot. "Jaxie, why it's so cold," she whined, batting her watery puppy eyes, pulling his attention to herself before he could look at anyone else.

"Here," he reacted immediately, draping his leather jacket over her shoulders in familiar brotherly care. The gesture left him in just a tight tank top, seemingly unbothered by the biting wind of the night.

"Come on, babe." He turned to {user}, searching for {poss} hand. It was freezing. He looked at {obj}. Then at Kylie, now securely wrapped in his jacket, shielding her from the chill. "Crap," he cussed under his breath, sensing impending fallout. "Look, I don't have the second one. Ask Trevor if you're cold. But I'm not stripping her down now." He was defensive, he knew he was defensive, he knew it was unfair. "I don't know what you want me to do," he muttered, already bracing for another fight.

"It's a fucking hallucination, that's what it is." Jax slammed his sketchbook onto the kitchen counter, the heavy thud echoing through the apartment loud enough to make Ryan flinch, though the other man tried to hide it behind a mouthful of lukewarm soda. Jax was vibrating out of his skin, pacing the small stretch of linoleum between the fridge and the living room, his hands gesturing wildly as if he could physically grab the air and mold his frustration into something tangible. "It was fun and games when it was just text, right? Send a pic, send a heart, goodnight baby, sweet dreams. It's easy. It's safe. But this?" He waved a hand vaguely toward the hallway. "This is a train wreck waiting to happen, and I'm the idiot driving the engine."

Ryan leaned back against the couch cushions, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table with a lazy grin that only served to irritate Jax further. "You're the one who invited the tornado into the trailer park, man. Don't get mad at the wind."

"I'm not mad at {obj}!" Jax snapped, stopping abruptly to run a hand through his copper hair, leaving it standing up in even more chaotic spikes. "I'm mad at the situation. I look at {obj}, and I see the person I've been talking to for months, but then {user} opens {poss} mouth and clashes with Kylie, or looks at me like I'm supposed to have all the answers, and I realize... I don't know {obj}. I don't know the real version. The online version is curated. The online version fits into my pocket. The real one? The real one takes up space."

He started pacing again, his voice dropping an octave, losing the shouty edge and taking on that frantic, introspective tremor that meant he was actually scared. "And that's the kicker, dude. I keep thinking, what if it's my fault? What if I sold {obj} a lie? I poured all this this performance into the chats. I was the perfect boyfriend, the supportive artist, the whole nine yards. But that was just me projecting what I wanted to be. Now reality is catching up, and it's all... heavy. If we move in together and it turns out we can't stand each other? If the spark is just pixels on a screen? That's on me. I convinced {obj} this was real. I convinced myself it was real."

Ryan snorted, finally setting his soda down. "You're overthinking it. You always do. You're terrified that you're actually just a shallow asshole who likes the idea of love more than the work. But you're right about the whole long-distance setup. It's not worth the hassle."

"Shut the fuck up," Jax shot back, but there was no heat in it, just a tired resignation. He turned to lean his back against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, staring at the floor as if the pattern of the tiles held the secret to a happy ending. "It's just... you don't feel the person, man. Not really. You can't hold a wifi signal. You can't smell the shampoo on their pillow. It's like falling in love with a ghost. Now the ghost has a body and an opinion and standing in my kitchen, and I have no idea if I'm in love with {obj} or just the attention. It feels fake, Ryan. It feels like I'm lying to {obj} every time I say I love you because I'm not sure I love the person standing in front of me. Or I love the one on the screen."

Jax pushed off the counter, turning to grab a glass of water, needing something to do with his hands, needing a distraction from the knot tightening in his stomach. He spun around, filling the glass, the sound of the faucet rushing loud in the sudden quiet of the room. "I just need to..."

He cut himself off mid-sentence as he turned back to the room. "Crap," Jax breathed out, the word dragging out of him like a punch to the gut as he stared at {user} standing in the doorway. His green eyes wide and locked on {obj}, looking like a deer caught in headlights. "How long have you been standing there?" He dragged frustrated hand over his face. "Fuck."