A few days later. 

Aidan’s thumb hovered over the bright screen and the list of names or phrases that filled it. A contact list with very few actual names, those being the ones closest to him. The rest were just short descriptions of people in a mostly sexual context. ‘Freckled dick. Nice.’ He remembered being a little envious of that guy. That didn’t stop him from calling him again though, to get another glimpse at what he could have had.

The one he was currently hovering over was an encounter he bothered putting a name to. Cedric. A reminder of who he was or how it went wasn’t necessary, as those letters did enough to give him a full-on flashback. He couldn’t press it yet. He needed to let out his thoughts in some way. Scrolling further down, he saw the one that made the most sense—and clicked on his name.

“Leoo… my favorite…” 

He heard an audible sigh from the other end, along with a chuckle that Leo was trying to conceal.

“Your favorite, what?”

“Uh… everything?”

“Fair enough. I love you too, or whatever.”

Aidan leaned against his phone with a smile, as he simultaneously moved further back on the couch.

“You may say it like that, but I know you mean it. Deep down.”

“Alright, no more of that. Reason for calling me this time?”

Aidan’s face heated up a bit. A reaction he didn’t expect. He usually talked to Leo about these things all the time, but right now it felt different.

“So… you know how I went there again?”

“Uh-huh.”

The very subtle laugh alerted Aidan; Leo knew exactly where it was headed. Aidan’s shaky voice was probably giving it away.

“I think I actually enjoy being… very… submissive. Or… uh… I did. I did enjoy it.”

“You don’t say. I think we’ve both reached that conclusion already. Anything else you want to add to that confession?” Aidan sighed. His friend was quick.

“I kind of want to experiment more with it. See if I can go further. And that guy…”

“That guy again, hm?”

“Right. The one I did it with… I think he’ll be able to do exactly what I want…” He paused.

“He’s so good, Leo. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“Oh, how the mighty have… fallen? It’s good though, to discover things about yourself. I hope you know I thoroughly enjoy watching you go through this.”

“You’re so mean.”

Hearing Aidan’s joking tone, Leo couldn’t help but chuckle.

“All I’ll say is, why not see where this leads? I would if I were you.”

Aidan went quiet. He had to take a moment to appreciate that he was sitting there, talking to someone very important to him. One who bothered to listen to these things, and took them seriously. Despite some lighthearted teasing, of course. It was something to be grateful for.

“Yeah… of course.”

Leo held his phone closer.

“You okay? Your voice… Did you lose focus? I can repeat myself.”

“No, no. It’s fine. I heard you. Just… uh… thank you.”

Now it was Leo’s turn to go quiet. That was a very general thanks, not directed at anything specific.

“You too. Don’t forget yourself.”

“I’ll try. Bye, Leo.”

“Bye …my favorite.”

As they hung up, Aidan smiled to himself, letting his head fall back. Calling him went great, as always. With a smile, Aidan got himself off the couch. The living room he was looking at didn’t seem like much. It was mostly lamps and a television. And his couch, of course. He liked the simplicity. It felt especially calming today since the other apartments were quiet. Some of his neighbors had to be out for it to be so devoid of sound.

Scrolling back up on his phone, Aidan found the one he originally meant to call. He headed for the bedroom, as he tapped on the screen.

“Who is it?” A cautious tone.

Aidan had to wonder what type of person usually called Cedric for him to be answering like that. But damn, his voice was just as deep and smooth as he remembered.

“It’s Aidan. If… you remember who that is.”

“Haha, how could I not?” Luckily, Cedric sounded a lot more comfortable when Aidan was the one responding.

“You demon. You somehow got into my dreams. Only for a second though…”

Oh. Aidan didn’t expect to hear that.

“I’ve been told I’m hard to forget. It’s not surprising.”

“Ahah, right. …You thought of me too, didn’t you?”

Flustered by the sudden accusation, Aidan sat down on the bed with a huff.

“Where’s your evidence?”

“Your moans and the things you said to me. That made it pretty clear. I had a feeling I knew where your mind was going to be for a while.”

Now Aidan’s face was truly heating up.

“…Fuck you.”

Cedric laughed.

“No need to be embarrassed. It was hot. And knowing you thought of me is… nice.” He spoke so softly. It was starting to really get to Aidan, who pressed himself back against the headboard of the bed.

“So, did you call to plan something with me?” Cedric noticed he wasn’t responding as quickly as he had been.

“Aidan?”

“Oh, right. Yeah. Would you want to meet up tomorrow? Or the day after?”

Cedric was getting more and more suspicious. Aidan’s tone didn’t match what he was saying.

“Tomorrow is fine. There are some nice cafés and such near the place we met. Near the place I… fucked you.”

“Nngh…” Aidan swallowed.

“I knew it.”

He writhed against the bedsheets he was desperately clutching and pressing against his crotch.

“You’re aroused. And all I did was talk.”

Aidan inhaled deeply, trying to get himself under control. He could tell Cedric was intentionally dragging each word out. He knew exactly how to get Aidan into this state.

“I don’t know if you came from heaven or hell at this point.”

“I think I’d prefer hell.”

“Sounds about right.”

“Alright, alright. Are we doing it? I’ll just meet you at the entrance, then we can walk from there.”

“Yeah… let’s do it.”

“Perfect. See you there, Aidan.”

Just hearing his own name in this state was enough to send a shiver down his spine.

“See you…”

Right before they hung up, a laugh from the other end cemented itself into Aidan’s mind.

“…What is he doing to me?” Though Aidan was clutching the bed sheets to hide his arousal from, well—no one—it was gaining a new purpose. More deliberately, he felt around in the soft fabric to find what was making his pants feel so tight.

“I can’t believe I’m already doing this… it was just once. And a phone call.”

He might be a little embarrassed by it, but he wasn’t stopping.

The sun was starting to set. A familiar shadow leaned against the building wall, backlit by the sun. A black turtleneck covered by a gray jacket and dark suit pants. 

It wasn’t a bad look. Aidan felt a bit underdressed in his sweatshirt now.

“Do you always look that good intentionally, or were you born with it?” Aidan meant to say it in a spiteful way but realized how much that sounded like a line.

“Getting right to it, huh? No hello or anything?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy that.”

“Perhaps… but you know where those words lead you.”

“Good.”

Cedric narrowed his eyes, surprised by how assertive Aidan was being.

“I swear… If we weren’t in public right now…” He pushed himself off the wall, a dark red tint on his cheeks. With a smile, Aidan gestured to the lively street. Aidan was pleased to have gotten some payback after the phone call. With a smile, he gestured to the lively street. 

“Shall we go?”

Cedric inhaled deeply.

“Yes.”

As they walked, Aidan shuffled through different questions in his mind. There was just something about this person that intrigued him.

“I understand if it’s not very exciting to be asked, but what do you do? You know, for work.”

Aidan swore he saw a scowl on Cedric’s face. But only for a moment. Honestly, that would be his reaction too. He just wanted to keep the conversation neutral since they were out among others.

“It’s really nothing interesting. I work at a nightclub doing pretty basic tasks. Like… cleaning.”

“I mean, hey, if it pays the bills. I work at a convenience store so it’s pretty similar for me.”

Cedric quietly studied Aidan’s expression, searching for… something.

“Don’t you wish you could do more? Be more?”

Aidan was a little taken aback by that question.

“…I’m guessing it’s not just work you’re talking about. I used to feel that pressure a lot. I'm still reminded of it at times. That I failed at most things that came second nature to everyone I knew.”

“But you’re okay with it now?”

“Mostly. I enjoy everything I do. Even if it's not something to proudly tell your family about. I don’t regret a thing.”

Cedric was looking quite enthralled, still not saying anything when Aidan finished talking.

“Cedric?”

A brief hand on his arm broke him out of it. He glanced off to the side where a thin alley stretched into the darkness between tall buildings. He grabbed Aidan’s wrist and pulled him into the depths.

Aidan didn’t have time to react before he was shoved against the cold brick wall. He looked up to see a flustered Cedric towering above him. The visual and somewhat surprising scenario was enough to make his face flare up as well.

“…That was weirdly attractive.”

“What I… said?”

“…Kind of. And the way you carry yourself.” Cedric moved his hand up from Aidan’s shoulder to his neck.

“I don’t know why exactly. …I’ll have to think about that.”

Aidan laughed, placing his hand on the one trailing over his skin. However, when Cedric’s lips brushed against his ear, he froze, aware of their location.

“Not… out here.” That wasn’t just Aidan not being an exhibitionist; acting like he didn’t want to be seen. Cedric could tell that that was the case from how the man trembled and pulled away. He smiled, letting go of Aidan’s neck when the grip on his hand tightened.

“Back to a more comfortable place?”

Despite his worries, Aidan was still very riled up from everything Cedric did. Even just being near him.

“Yes… please.”

When would Aidan ever need cafés and awkward conversation when he could spend that time having someone like Cedric utterly destroy him. There was nothing else that mattered anymore right now.