"What's his fucking problem? How does it hurt him that you could do better?" Hartley stared at the ground and as his anger started to ebb away, he was becoming more and more aware of the pain he was in. Breathing was a bit difficult, as was walking. He wondered just how bad his face looked. "I just want to be with you." Why was the world against that? Sure, they were gay, they were almost homeless and nobody much cared about them, but why couldn't they be happy with each other? "Please don't leave me, Axel. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You matter more than any beatings I'd get. Or anything worse."