Salem can't stop shaking.

He hasn't left his room since Wednesday, when he eavesdropped on a conversation he was clearly not meant to hear for a long time. It's been three days, and Salem has hardly done anything. He has barely eaten, or left his bed generally. He's had, like, eight showers—futile attempts to clear his head—and he hasn't taken his medicine at all.

A lot of things are beginning to make sense, though. The secrecy of Jack and Atlas are the main things. Jack most likely didn't tell him out of concern for his mental health and safety. Atlas probably didn't tell him because of who their parents are.

Still, Salem can't help the feeling of betrayal. He feels as though, at the very least, they should have come clean about it when the two broke up. Salem deserved to know anyway, but that knowledge would have given him a lot of peace of mind.

Well, not so much peace, as hope. It's bad to think this way, and Salem knows it, but he's starting to question Atlas' motives behind the break up.

Obviously Atlas being a criminal, generally, was strenuous on their relationship. However, it wasn't enough for them to completely break things off. Atlas coming from the most notorious crime family in the area? The one Jack has spent countless hours trying to get off the streets for good?

That should've been a dealbreaker from the start, if Salem's being honest. As soon as Atlas met Salem's father, he shouldn't have pursued the relationship any further. He knew the consequences, the risks he was taking. He knew that it would never fucking work out.

Salem's father is the Chief, though he was a Captain while they were together. Atlas' entire family—Salem is going to assume he comes from the main, trouble causing part of the family—is essentially the mastermind behind half the serious crime in the city. The city that Jack swore to protect. So, that means that Atlas' father is...

Salem knew one of the kids was near his age. It's all adding up now. The bank, the tattoos, everything. So why the fuck did Atlas even entertain a relationship with him after he found this out? Why would he date Salem for nearly two years, why would he let Salem fall completely and hopelessly fucking in love with him, if he knew they were doomed from the start?

Salem takes a deep, shaky breath. It's now Saturday night, and he's sitting on his bed. He's shaking, and he's angry, and he's hurt, and he doesn't know what to do. When he doesn't take his medicine, his emotions completely consume him. Honestly, they do anyway, but his medicine normally helps with the intensity.

Salem hasn't been remembering to take his medicine. He's not thinking logically, he's operating purely on emotion, and he blames this solely for his next actions.

Salem has stated before that he knows Atlas' schedule. He wishes he didn't, wishes that guy didn't take up such a massive space in his mind to begin with. Although, it's been proving useful as of late.

Saturday evenings are when Atlas fights.

He never shared much information with Salem about it, but Salem knows the venue. Salem remembers the exact building, though for a while Atlas only told him the general area. He made Atlas tell him the exact location one night, when Salem was freaking out about him disappearing for the umpteenth time. Once Salem brought out cheating accusations, Atlas came clean pretty quick.

Salem has only been there one time, when Atlas was hurt and needed a ride home. Salem doesn't know why his family couldn't help, but he didn't ask questions at the time. He just wanted to make sure Atlas was safe.

It's ten o'clock at night when Salem leaves his house. He can hardly focus on anything, including his driving, as he travels to Atlas' current location. Salem can't remember the last time he was this emotional, due to the fact that he really tries to take his medicine regularly. Not even for himself, mostly so everyone around him doesn't have to deal with his bullshit.

Salem doesn't know how to parallel park, which is somewhat essential for the downtown area. He doesn't let that stop him, instead finding a parking garage and paying. It's farther away, so it's more of a walk to reach the stupid underground illegal boxing ring that's always been such a big part of Atlas' life. Due to it being a horrible part of town, he is on high alert the entire way there.

The main floor of the building is a club, which Salem gets into easily due to the fact that he's eighteen. The bouncer gives him a suspicious look upon seeing his ID, probably due to his last name. Salem ignores it, instead making his way to the hallway that parts off to a separate, quieter room. There are a few people lounging about, but Salem walks directly to the cement stairs that lead to the basement. Yeah, their dumb underground fighting shit is actually underground.

There is another guy guarding this entrance, and Salem is sick of dealing with all these people guarding this place.

Salem walks right up to him, feeling strangely confident and making direct eye contact. The guy has no expression on his face.

"Where's Atlas?"

The guard looks confused, before something clicks. "You mean Casket?"

"Whatever." Salem replies, and he's always thought Atlas' fighting alias was so stupid. Casket? Really? Salem knows that Atlas didn't even come up with it, the nickname was given to him, but it's not like Atlas has ever actually killed any—

Salem pauses in that train of thought, remembering Atlas' family line. It casts some doubt on that assumption, and he feels kind of ill.

"He's on in ten. No visitors."

"I don't care," Salem growls, and the guard seems put off. This is understandable, since Salem probably looks insane. He hasn't slept in days, his hair's a mess, and he's wearing a worn, slightly ripped hoodie that he can't remember the origins of.

"I need to talk to him."

"Who are you? You look familiar."

Salem assumes that's because of his father, but he doesn't care. He storms past the guard, because he's completely over arguing. He's expecting to be stopped, and the guard does reach for him, but he surprisingly doesn't do much to keep Salem away.

There are a lot of people here, way more than Salem expected. He doesn't care, although it doesn't aid in his anger at all. He shoves past all of them, towards the hallways that have their little warm up rooms. It's not like the doors are labeled, this entire place is pretty run down, so he just walks around and opens random doors until there is only one left. He can't even remember if he accidentally ran into anyone. He makes a beeline for the room that has to contain Atlas.

Salem doesn't knock or anything, he doesn't even think of it. He just turns the handle and pushes open the door, spotting Atlas pretty quick. There is a punching bag in the corner and some medical supplies, as well as a chair. Atlas has exercise shorts on and boxing gloves. He isn't wearing a shirt or shoes, and he looks up at whoever just barged in here.

Salem isn't surprised when, upon recognizing Salem, he looks confused. He's trying to mask it, to appear emotionless like usual, but he can't hide his shock at seeing Salem here.

"Heart?" He asks, eyebrows furrowed. Salem rolls his eyes, closing the door behind him harder than necessary. He is so fucking sick of that name. "How did you get down here?"

Salem remembers when he thought his last name would be Marino, one day. Obviously it was childish and naive for him to be planning so far ahead to begin with, but he genuinely didn't think they'd break up. Ever.

Salem Marino.

Salem Di Angelo.

"When," Salem starts, walking further into the room. He doesn't stop until he's right in front of Atlas and pointing at him, a manic look in his eyes. "When the fuck were you going to tell me?"

Atlas genuinely looks so confused, though there is a bit of alarm on his features. "Have you been taking your medicine?"

Wow, if Salem wasn't pissed before. How the hell could Atlas have even figured that out so fast? Salem hates that question, but he hates it even more when the person asking it is right. He's aware that he probably looks crazy right now, but he doesn't give a shit. It's not like Atlas has never seen him like that. Salem's always had problems.

"Answer me." Salem hisses. "Di Angelo? Really?!"

Yeah, Salem is making no sense. He's vaguely aware of this, but he's too emotional to care. He's starting to get the sense that he shouldn't have come here, and he probably shouldn't have sat in his room for two days—alone with his thoughts—since that's what lead him to this breaking point in the first place.

Atlas just blinks at him, and Salem sighs, closing his eyes and reaching up to cover his face with his hands. They're still shaking, and he seriously needs to get a fucking grip.

"Slow down." Atlas says, "are you okay?"

Salem drops his hands, catching a flash of concern on Atlas' face before it goes back to the emotionless facade he tries so hard to keep up. He mostly succeeds, too. Salem's surprised he was able to discern any sort of positive emotion from this guy, especially one like concern. For Salem.

"I'm fine." Salem grits out, "when were you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"Your name!" Salem snaps, clenching his fists and glaring at Atlas. "Your real one."

Atlas purses his lips, and he's not even playing dumb. He knows what Salem is talking about, and it's clear on his face. He looks more reserved than ever, and he clearly doesn't want to answer a single one of Salem's questions. Salem can't say he blames him, since this is a pretty huge lie that Salem found out. Still, he wants answers.

"Why do you care?"

At those words, Salem just stares at him like he's lost his mind. Why does Salem care? Seriously? If this guy starts pulling out that whole we broke up and you shouldn't care routine then Salem is going to probably commit a murder. Wouldn't that be ironic?

"Do not start with that shit," Salem is so upset, he actually wonders if he's at risk of crying. Oh well. Not like Atlas hasn't seen that either.

Atlas blinks at him, and it appears as though he's gone back to feeling no emotions. Or at least looking like it.

"I forgot how psycho you were off meds."

"Shut up!" Salem snaps, trying not to let Atlas' bullshit get to him. He knows what he's doing, anyway. He's trying to make Salem mad to distract him from the fact that Atlas completely betrayed his trust. For years. "I need to know why you didn't tell me—I need to know why you stayed in a relationship with me even after you knew who my father was."

"Hey, you're up in five." Salem hears a voice from the doorway. Atlas just nods once in response, and Salem doesn't care how long this little talk takes. He will keep that entire crowd out there waiting an hour before he walks out on this conversation. It's stupid, anyway. He knows Atlas does this for extra cash, as well as the fact that he's good at injuring people and fighting generally. Salem has always thought it was dumb, though.

"Salem, I'm busy."

Salem ignores the joy he feels at hearing Atlas call him by his first name. It contrasts quite a bit with his current emotional state, and he takes a deep breath. See? When Atlas doesn't think about it, he calls him Salem.