"We're going, I'll come back later with the money." Axel shoved Hartley out of the room not entirely gently but honestly, he was trying to save his ass and he was baiting them? What the fuck was that all about? Once they were finally out of the room, Axel huffed and took a moment to look over Hartley, reaching out to take his arm and pulling up the sleeve, just checking his arms for any kind of marks or tracks. He did the same to the other because he just had to be sure he'd been shot up with nothing.
"Jesus Christ, you moron. Learn when to shut the fuck up. Are you a complete idiot? Are you determined to get us both in trouble?"
Axel glared and moved away from Hartley, assuming the other would follow. This was just the worst day he had in a long time.
"We're already in trouble! That fucking asshole gets to mess up your life just because he's bored or whatever the fuck and there's nothing I can do." Hartley kicked the ground, which didn't really help matters, especially since he was already limping. He glared at nothing in particular, hands clenched into fists as he walked next to Axel. He was in pain, but that seemed to matter very little right now.
"You won't even let yourself be angry with him. He's nothing, he's an idiot, but he gets to boss you around just because he lucked out. You'd have let him fuck you in front of me, you'd have done anything. It's not fucking fair!"
"Look, it just is what it is, okay? It's not worth getting angry over." What was the point? Why get angry when he knew he should have expected it. He got cocky because he was enjoying himself and now look where it got him. He lost all of his savings, all of James' savings and his next five 'paychecks' to this guy. And he was probably going to have to buy the products he sold whether or not he took them because him going clean and taking less clients seemed to be an issue. Sure, it hurt but Axel was used to this kind of hurt. Expecting good things was always a stupid move.
"It'd be either fuck me or fuck you and I'd rather he fucked me." Axel was used to it, Hartley wasn't. He'd never do it to him. "I'm going to take you to James and he can sort you out, I'm going to have to work." The sooner he got through five clients, the better. He had a lot of money to pay back to James now.
"I can sort myself out. Better yet, I'll just come with you. There have to be a lot of sick assholes that are into the beaten up kid look, I'll unlock a whole new market." Hartley wished he could at least only be angry, but inside his heart was breaking. He had known that things might go wrong, but this? This was worse and he didn't know how to fight it. He had to find a way. "Look, Axel, I'll get money. I'll find a way. I'm not letting this be all we can have. You deserve so much better and I know I'm not your saviour, but I... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Don't you dare leave me over this."
"It's not about the money though, is it? It's about the power. The guy just wants me to find five clients and work my ass off, literally, to get back in the game. I can pay James back in time, maybe he'll forgive me for robbing him blind but this isn't going to be fixed by us collecting our pennies and getting our money back. The money is pointless." The guy wanted Axel to go right back to where he was before he met Hartley. With Hartley, he aimed higher, he tried harder, he was doing well for once and it was making a lot of people unhappy. He just had to get back to where he was. Axel didn't promise anything, he didn't want to lie to Hartley. "Keep your money for your schooling like I said before. You need your money for you. I can always find cash."
"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."
"If I do better, I bring him less money. I fuck less clients, I buy less drugs to get through it, he losses a good deal of cash from me. I was one of his best earners once." Back when Axel was young, determined and would do literally anything for money. He wasn't so proud of those days, he was never going back to that but he guessed he could put more work in. Once they were outside and at least a few doors down, Axel came to a halt and pulled Hartley in close, just holding onto him for a moment. "God Hartley, I'm sorry, it'll be okay. I won't leave you. Even if it's probably the best idea, I know you like to think outside the box." He smiled faintly and then wrapped his arm around the other, wishing he knew what to do here. Part of him knew he should leave Hartley but he just plain didn't want to. "Can you walk all the way to James' or do you want a ride? I can't afford the bus but I can piggy back you over there."
Hartley leaned against Axel and just tried to pretend that things were all right. He would try calling his parents, maybe they would help. Yeah, right. He didn't really believe that. But at least Axel was here now. At least they were together now. "I love you."
What a great moment to say that for the first time. Hartley snorted and turned his head to the side to kiss Axel. "I'll be fine. I can hobble. Just go... You know. I know you're busy. I'll see you after, yeah?"
For now he wanted to maybe lean back against that wall and try not to think about his boyfriend fucked by disgusting assholes just to give more money to what had to be the biggest asshole.
Wait, hang on, what was happening? Clearly Hartley was concussed. Axel frowned and moved in closer, tilting Hartley's head to the side and wincing. "Yeah, you definitely hit your head. I'll get James to check that out, you might need to go to the free clinic." Yes, that was what Axel's reaction to being told he was loved was. Assuming it was a head injury. It wasn't that he didn't love Hartley, it was more that after everything that happened, it seemed unlikely that Hartley knew what the hell he was saying.
"I think I'll definitely make sure you get to James. You're not in a good state." He looped an arm around Hartley and tried his best to steady him. "Are you sure you don't want a piggy back? They're always fun."
"You're an idiot," Hartley said very drily, which would perhaps assure Axel that he was indeed quite himself, sane and not concussed. Then he turned to properly look at Axel, catching his eyes. He put his hands on his shoulder and finally leaned forward to lightly kiss him, even if his lip was bloody and it hurt. He had to do this right. "I love you, Axel. I've been in love with you for a long time now. Probably since I first kissed you. I'm not about to stop loving you. I love you. I'm yours."
"Oh." How did he even react to this? "Thank you?" Axel didn't know what to do with those words and they made everything inside him feel weird. Not in a bad way but in a way that almost made him wish he could just cry and that was not helpful right now. Emotions weren't something Axel dealt with well and hearing the words he had fantasies over being said by the boy who almost got threatened with rape because of him tonight just seemed kind of jarring. He swallowed hard and leaned over, kissing Hartley on the forehead before he continued to move him along, taking the bulk of his weight. "I love you too."
"Thank you for that too. Now you're never allowed to make fun of me thanking you for kissing me ever again." Hartley laughed, even if this really wasn't a happy day. But still, it was the fight time he had been told that he was loved. Yes, Axel would still have to leave shortly and then it would all come crashing back down, but for now they could pretend that their life wasn't entirely fucked up. At least they had each other, Hartley supposed. He was silent, unable to think of anything else that wouldn't bring them back to reality one way or the other, so he just walked as best he could.
Axel stuck to his word, he walked Hartley all the way down to James's place, practically carrying the other as he buzzed the door and pushed the door open, holding it for Hartley. "Take the lift. Tell James I'm really sorry and I'll pay him back." But Axel didn't feel like confronting him right now, he just want to go out there and get the money. He kissed Hartley one final time and smiled, making his move to leave now he knew Hartley was somewhere safe.
"Be careful, Ax." What else was he supposed to say? That he'd be thinking of him, because he would be? That he wished he would stay, because he did? That this wasn't fair or right and that he wanted to break the face of every man who'd ever dared to lay hands on his Axel? He said nothing of the like and just turned finally, so he could take the lift.
He walked into the flat, feeling like crying and trying to keep himself as composed as he could given the state he was in. "James? Are you home?"
"Oh yeah. So which one of you two little bastards robbed me? What the actual fuck are you two playing at? Do you have any idea how long I was saving?" James yelled angrily as he came from the bedroom ready to yell all manner of things and there was Hartley, on the verge of tears from the looks, beaten, limping and suddenly the text he got from Axel made a lot more sense and he felt his anger melt into sadness. Shit. James sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. "-- Never mind. Who needs money?"
He did if he ever wanted to upgrade in life but hell, he was sure there had to be a good reason. Just one look at Hartley said there was. "Jesus, Hart. What the hell happened?"
Hartley shook his head and leaned back against the closed door, because it stupidly felt like he was closer to Axel. As if he could go out and get him. He shook his head as he tried to think of what to say, not actually looking at James. "Axel's working. He said to tell you he's sorry and he'll pay you back. I'll help. That part's me saying it, Axel never wants me to use my money."
Not that he had that much, but he'd have to. He could find a way. Hartley thought about Axel at work and shuddered, finally stepping away from the door. "Whatever asshole it is that Axel owed money, he went after me with some people and then he just asked Axel for all the money he could get. Threatened to rape me or shoot me up or kill me or all of the above, I don't even know, so Axel panicked."
"Let me guess. Shaved head, tattoo of a dragon on the side of his face, looks like your typical low rent gangster? Yeah, that guy has been all over Axel since the kid was like fourteen." James didn't even try to hide his disgust as he caught Hartley's hand and gently pulled him towards the couch, pushing him down so he could take a seat. "I was kind of hoping we could pay the bastard off but apparently he really doesn't want Axel doing well. Sounds about right. Around here, doing better is like giving people the middle finger."
Moving into the kitchen, he grabbed the first aid kit and came back, sitting on the coffee table as he looked Hartley over. "I don't blame him for panicking, he's a cruel bastard. You're damn lucky all he did was kick your ass."
"He liked that I could speak Spanish. Don't know why." Hartley leaned back against the couch and tried to keep his focus. He didn't want to pass out, it was probably not advisable. "Axel gave him everything and apparently he has to give him the money for his next five clients."
Five men and Axel already in a terrible mood, Hartley could only hope he'd not get any of the more awful clients. He had to hope that the bastards who'd fuck his boyfriend wouldn't do worse than that, because that was what his life was.
"He's going to buy drugs again. He doesn't want to take them, for me. He's only in this trouble because of me."
"Oh please, Axel is always in trouble, it's got nothing to do with you. He was in trouble before I even met him, he'll be in trouble until he finally gets a break. If he ever gets a break." James handed over four lots of painkillers to Hartley and then moved to get him a glass of water. That should get him doped up enough to sleep and maybe worry a little less. "I hate it too, drives me nuts. I want to help but it's complicated. Every time he tries to get better, something drags him down."
And Axel wasn't the only one, James watched so many kids get ruined here and it hurt to see it happen. He hated that he got attached to one sometimes, made his life harder.
Passing the water back to Hartley and returned to where he was sitting. "Shirt off, handsome. I'm going to have to see how bad the damage is."
"I think my ribs might be bruised." Hartley took his shirt off slowly, not yet taking the pain killers. He wanted to stay alert. He didn't even know why. Because what was he supposed to do, even if Axel called for help? Hartley threw his shirt on the ground and looked down himself, not surprised by what he saw. Wonderful. He could hardly wait to go back to his classes and see the reactions on everyone's face. Awful.
"I told him that I loved him. In somewhere positive news. He said he loves me too." So there was that, at least.
"Ouchie." Was how James' so helpfully responded to the sight of all that damage. It was probably just bruising and he checked to make sure none were broken because if they were, he would have known just from the reaction. There wasn't much he could do for bruised ribs so he just slapped a hello kitty band-aid on either side in an effort to at least get a smile from Hartley. "Get Axel to kiss it better later."
He focused instead on cleaning the scraped skin where he must have hit the floor, cleaning the mark with an disinfectant wipe. "Axel said it and meant it? Woah, you must be special. I've never heard him love anything." He paused mid-wipe and looked up at Hartley. "You two are adorable and depressing to watch, you know?"
"I'm sure he will." It was what Axel usually did when Hartley was hurt, only usually his injuries weren't caused by Axel's associates but his experiments. Actually, some of them had been caused by unhappy clients. Or overly eager clients. What a life they had.
Hartley hissed when the disinfectant wipe made his skin burn, but he held still rather bravely, just pressing his lips together. He looked down at James and smiled, but it was a sad smile. "I know. I am all up in it. It's a mess and I thought maybe it could get better eventually. Now I'm not so sure any more."
"Welcome to my world. You don't think I've been down this road before? I wanted to save that idiot kid the moment he asked if I wanted him to suck me off when he was all tiny and baby faced. It was creepy and I had to protect him! Why do you think he calls me his dad? Believe it or not, he was worse than he is now and I literally reigned hell on some of the worse people in his life to help but but you take one down and another appears." Of course it was harder for James, Axel was self destructive by nature and he tended to let others rule him for lack of wanting to fight back. That was why Hartley was so important.
"You stand more of a chance than I ever did. He wants to change for you, he wants to actually try. Even if it'll never be perfect, it's still better than it could be and you did that." He tossed the wipe aside and applied some gauze to the worst of it. "The other day he asked me if he should go back to school. All because he didn't want you thinking he wasn't trying."
"Yeah. But what now? He's back to working a lot. Back to using soon, most likely. I hate when he's high, I can't deal with it." Hartley finally took the painkillers, even if he doubted they'd do anything to ease what hurt the most. "He's the best thing in my life. He's all that really matters and they want to take him from me, just because. I'm lost without him. But... You know, he comes back and then he doesn't even want me near him, he doesn't want me touching him. Because he's out there right now, getting fucked by another damn bastard. Why can't we be happy? Is there a law against that? Damn. I told dragon head he had a small dick, at least that's something."
"You're smart, Hart. You'll find a way. Don't ask me how, I have no idea but I think you'll work it out. I would stake my life savings on it but Axel stole those already." For a noble cause, clearly but that was still a total bitch. "I can help, we'll think of something. I want you two kids to be happy and you won't be as long as dicks like that are playing head games." It wasn't simple, Hartley was in a lot of danger and he was bound to be the target if they wanted to control Axel. "... Maybe you should dump Axel." There was more logic to it than that but he was just going to throw it out there.
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"Jesus Christ, you moron. Learn when to shut the fuck up. Are you a complete idiot? Are you determined to get us both in trouble?"
Axel glared and moved away from Hartley, assuming the other would follow. This was just the worst day he had in a long time.
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"You won't even let yourself be angry with him. He's nothing, he's an idiot, but he gets to boss you around just because he lucked out. You'd have let him fuck you in front of me, you'd have done anything. It's not fucking fair!"
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"It'd be either fuck me or fuck you and I'd rather he fucked me." Axel was used to it, Hartley wasn't. He'd never do it to him. "I'm going to take you to James and he can sort you out, I'm going to have to work." The sooner he got through five clients, the better. He had a lot of money to pay back to James now.
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What a great moment to say that for the first time. Hartley snorted and turned his head to the side to kiss Axel. "I'll be fine. I can hobble. Just go... You know. I know you're busy. I'll see you after, yeah?"
For now he wanted to maybe lean back against that wall and try not to think about his boyfriend fucked by disgusting assholes just to give more money to what had to be the biggest asshole.
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Wait, hang on, what was happening? Clearly Hartley was concussed. Axel frowned and moved in closer, tilting Hartley's head to the side and wincing. "Yeah, you definitely hit your head. I'll get James to check that out, you might need to go to the free clinic." Yes, that was what Axel's reaction to being told he was loved was. Assuming it was a head injury. It wasn't that he didn't love Hartley, it was more that after everything that happened, it seemed unlikely that Hartley knew what the hell he was saying.
"I think I'll definitely make sure you get to James. You're not in a good state." He looped an arm around Hartley and tried his best to steady him. "Are you sure you don't want a piggy back? They're always fun."
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He walked into the flat, feeling like crying and trying to keep himself as composed as he could given the state he was in. "James? Are you home?"
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He did if he ever wanted to upgrade in life but hell, he was sure there had to be a good reason. Just one look at Hartley said there was. "Jesus, Hart. What the hell happened?"
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Not that he had that much, but he'd have to. He could find a way. Hartley thought about Axel at work and shuddered, finally stepping away from the door. "Whatever asshole it is that Axel owed money, he went after me with some people and then he just asked Axel for all the money he could get. Threatened to rape me or shoot me up or kill me or all of the above, I don't even know, so Axel panicked."
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Moving into the kitchen, he grabbed the first aid kit and came back, sitting on the coffee table as he looked Hartley over. "I don't blame him for panicking, he's a cruel bastard. You're damn lucky all he did was kick your ass."
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Five men and Axel already in a terrible mood, Hartley could only hope he'd not get any of the more awful clients. He had to hope that the bastards who'd fuck his boyfriend wouldn't do worse than that, because that was what his life was.
"He's going to buy drugs again. He doesn't want to take them, for me. He's only in this trouble because of me."
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And Axel wasn't the only one, James watched so many kids get ruined here and it hurt to see it happen. He hated that he got attached to one sometimes, made his life harder.
Passing the water back to Hartley and returned to where he was sitting. "Shirt off, handsome. I'm going to have to see how bad the damage is."
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"I told him that I loved him. In somewhere positive news. He said he loves me too." So there was that, at least.
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He focused instead on cleaning the scraped skin where he must have hit the floor, cleaning the mark with an disinfectant wipe. "Axel said it and meant it? Woah, you must be special. I've never heard him love anything." He paused mid-wipe and looked up at Hartley. "You two are adorable and depressing to watch, you know?"
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Hartley hissed when the disinfectant wipe made his skin burn, but he held still rather bravely, just pressing his lips together. He looked down at James and smiled, but it was a sad smile. "I know. I am all up in it. It's a mess and I thought maybe it could get better eventually. Now I'm not so sure any more."
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"You stand more of a chance than I ever did. He wants to change for you, he wants to actually try. Even if it'll never be perfect, it's still better than it could be and you did that." He tossed the wipe aside and applied some gauze to the worst of it. "The other day he asked me if he should go back to school. All because he didn't want you thinking he wasn't trying."
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