Plus One S2 - Chapter 4: Fuck (but eloquently)

[deedee_sims]

Warnings: Emotional discussion, homophobia (mentioned, multiple times), bad puns, sexual topics, Rhett being Rhett



"We could go out on a picnic! We could sunbathe, and chase off bees, and make sandwiches! I bought that nice sandwich cream, which is so tasty, and I love it, and we could put some tomatoes in them, and maybe cucumber? Do we have cucumber?"
"Um, I think we do."



"Great! I can make the sandwiches, and maybe we could bring some sweets too, and-" I take a breath, and notice that he's looking at me with wide eyes, his hand with the mug frozen mid-air. "Uh, sorry, I'm rambling again. Um, so, what do you think?"



"Sounds nice," he says finally with a small smile.
"Amazing! I'll make the sandwiches!"
"Just don't cut off your fingers," he smirks, the cheeky bastard.



"Why, would you miss my fingers?" I smile up at him, stroking his thigh. He shivers under my touch.
"Most definitely."



I resist the urge to tackle him and kiss him stupid, but only the hot coffee he holds in his hand saves him from it. So I just wink at him and jump up.



"I'll be careful! Be prepared for the best sandwiches of your life!"

***



"You brought sunscreen?"



He purses his lips while he’s trying to smear the cream on his face. "My skin is very sensitive, okay?"
I laugh at him, but just a bit. "Do you need help?"
"Did I smear it evenly?"



"Absolutely not," I chuckle, and carefully smudge the white lines on his face. He leans into my touch, and lets out a small whine as a protest, when I finish it, and remove my hand. "C’mere then."



Olls obediently lays his head on my lap. I remove his hairband, and start playing with his soft hair, just how I like it. I think he likes it too, judging his face, and I can’t stop smiling.



We stay like this for a short while. I’m starting to think that he drifted off when he asks:
"When did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That you’re bi?"
"Dunno," I answer honestly and wrap one of his hair strands around my finger. "There wasn’t a big revelation or anything. Kissing girls was nice. Then I kissed a guy in eighth grade and it was also nice."



He hums. "And when did you come out to your family?"
"I… didn’t." He raises an eyebrow at me. "That’s the truth. I just kept bringing people home, and they assumed. They never made a big deal about it." They gave up on me being normal a long time ago, I want to add, but I bite back the words.



"I think I knew it since I was a kid," he starts quietly. "I was thirteen when I first came out to someone. It was Lainey, of course. I was terrified. I thought she would never want to be friends with me again. But she said it was okay, and she’s proud of me, and we cried a lot about it."
"Of course it’s okay," I tell him, stroking his head. He looks up at me, with his beautiful ocean blue eyes, squinting a bit from the sun.



"Coming out to my family was… harder. My father never had anything good to say about people who were anything else than ‘normal’. I told Mom first, and she was very supportive. I mean, you know her, she's always supportive" He smiles at this. "I think she already knew. She said she would be there when I tell my father. It was… worse than I thought."
He averts his gaze, and I once again, welcome the idea to knock the shit out of that man.



"I can never forget the way he looked at me." Olls’ voice is so tiny that I hardly catch his words. "First, in disbelief, then in utter disgust. He started shouting things like he didn’t raise me to become this, and I’m a disappointment. Then Mom started shouting things back at him. I don’t remember half of it, because I was trying not to drown in my own hiccups."



"Baby," I say, my heart hurting for him.
"Eventually, Mom told him she didn’t want to see him anymore if he treats me like this. He left the house immediately. I saw him once since then when they signed the divorce papers."
"I’m so sorry," I whisper.



"Anyway," he continues, closing his eyes completely. "I was feeling shitty about the whole situation. I was the catalyst for the whole divorce thing after all, even if it was building for a while. I… wanted to become normal. I… tried to not look at guys like that."



Oh, my Watcher, he’s breaking my heart. I shift and put my other hand on his and give it a squeeze. I just want to protect him from everything that ever hurt him.
"Of course it didn’t work, but Mom noticed something was off. She sat me down and we talked about it a lot. She said I should never try to be anyone else but me. It… got better after that."



He finally looks up at me and lets out a wet chuckle. "Anyway, I didn’t want to load this whole thing on you right now, when we’re here to enjoy the nice weather."
I carefully wipe a tear off of his face.



"You’re amazing."
"Rhett." He rolls his eyes at me.



"I mean it. You’re amazing and beautiful, and clever, and you have such a huge dumb heart. And I’ll fight anyone who tells you otherwise."
Olls smiles at it, his small, self-conscious smile. I continue wiping his face dry.



"I-" he starts, then pauses, and averts his gaze. "I think my sunscreen is completely ruined now."
I can decipher it by now, it means he’s done with this conversation, and I can’t blame him, and I’m not going to push him. "I can fix it for you if you want."
"Please do."



So I do as I told, carefully smearing the sunscreen on his face, but still thinking about all the things he said. I’m glad that things turned out better in the end, but still, it’s a lot to take. And what about those, who are not that lucky to have a supportive environment? People like… Max?



"Simoleon for your thoughts?" Olls asks, and I feel like he can look right into my brain.
I shake my head. "I’m just happy that you’re in a better place now."



He smiles up at me and reaches up to stroke my cheek. I place a kiss on his palm. This whole setting is so weirdly domestic, but I don’t mind it. At all.
That’s when his stomach rumbles loudly.



"Oof, I’m starving!" He laughs and sits up.
"Time for the sandwiches!" I whoop and start digging them out of his backpack.
"Where did you put my… ah, it’s here, okay."



"Can I do your hair?"
He looks at me, eyebrows raised. "You’re just going to give me some ridiculous ponytail."
I grin at him. He sighs and gives me his hairband. I’m going to do this right.



After two minutes of combing, tugging, and gripping, I give it up.
"How do you even do this?"



He turns around and easily arranges his hair to a bun. "Like this."
"Ugh. I just found out that I have a competency kink."



He just rolls his eyes at that. "Let’s just eat, shall we?"
"Shall."

***



"Max?"



I stop abruptly on the stairs. He's standing right there, in front of my (our) door, with a suitcase, looking distressed. My mind is ready to jump to the conclusion. Fuck.
"Um, hi," he says warily, then lets out a defeated sigh. "Sorry, I... it was a stupid idea, I'll just go-"



"No!" I shout at him, making Olls jump. My legs finally start working, and I catch up to Max. I haven't expected him to turn up that soon, but after the conversation we had with Olls in the park, I'm glad to see him. "Come inside," I tell him, fumbling with the keys.
"Hello," Olls says, looking at Max with a bit of a confusion.



"Oh! Olls, Max, Max, Olls." I introduce them, pointing at one another. I'm such a mess. "I know you heard some stuff about each other."
They politely shook hands. I manage to open the front door and usher them inside.



"What happened?" I shoot him the question.



"I did it," Max answers in a tiny voice. "I couldn't do it anymore."
Somehow I feel a strong urge to hug him, but we never really hug like this, and it would be weird to start now. "I'm glad you did. Let's sit."



"I just had enough," he slumps down on the armchair. "You know I went on that date, and... I guess it was the last straw. I just told her everything."
"Who was it?"
"Annalisa Templeton."



"Fuck, it was Lisa?" I force my brain not to think more than two seconds of her long, flexible legs.
"Yeah, and she was so sweet and understanding!"
"Um, I might've slipped her that you were gay like... four years ago."



Max shoots me a look. "What the fuck?"
"It was an accident!" I explain. "Lisa is chill!"



"Just remind me not to trust you with any secrets anymore." He rolls his eyes. "Anyway, right, she was chill and actually offered to be my gay beard, just to help me out. But... I can't do this to her. I can't do this to anyone." He rubs his face. "I don't want them to live in a lie, and I don't want to live in a lie anymore. So I just told my parents, I don't want to do this anymore, and... I left. They didn't even want to understand me or anything, they just tried to convince me that I'm acting irrationally, on a whim. I got every Simoleon out of my account before they could lock it or something."



Okay, this just makes me fucking furious. I knew his parents were threatening him with this, but I never thought they would actually do it. Fuck them, honestly.



"It's okay," Max says because my rage is probably written all over my face. "I have enough money to rent an apartment, I have a plan, I had years to think about it, even if it was just a daydream back then."
"I can't believe they did this!"
"Well, I do." He sighs. "So, um. I just need to crash somewhere for a-"



"You can stay here," I tell him firmly, and we exchange a knowing look with Olls, who also seems angry. "We talked about it."



"Well, in this case, thank you so much. I promise I'll try not to disturb you. Just tell me if I need to put on some loud music to stifle your moaning."
"I guess you're not interested in free 3D porn then."
"No, thanks," he chuckles.
"But honestly." I change back to a serious tone. "How do you feel?"



"Uh, dunno. Weird? Kinda free? But mostly confused."
"I'm glad you left."
"Yeah, you already said that." He smiles. "And me too. I just... need to get used to it, I guess."



"You can stay here for as long as you want."
"I-"



"You can sleep in my room! I just need to reduce the mess." I jump up and start towards my room. "I'll sleep with Olls! I'm sure he doesn't mind!"
"You're right about this," Olls says, smiling at me.



I spend a good ten minutes putting my stuff away (why do I have so much stuff, and why is everything on the floor?), changing the sheets, and airing out the room. When I get back I find Max and Olls in deep conversation.



"The suite is ready," I announce, bowing. Max chuckles, and rolls his eyes.



I settle on the couch, next to Olls.
"I'll go and check the suite then," Max announces and pulls his suitcase into the room.



Olls looks at me with a soft expression.
"Are you sure you don't mind?" I ask.
"No." He hesitates a little. "I mean, it was a little unexpected, but he's your friend and he needed help. And..."
"And?"



He shakes his head. "Nevermind."
"Olls?"
He lets out a sigh. "You're just so comfortable with each other."



I look at him, confused. "Of course, I've known him for ages."
"Yeah... sorry."
I'm still confused, and I spend probably longer than I should to try to figure out what the fuck is going on.
But once I do... oh.



"He's my friend, Olls."
"I know," he grunts. "I'm just being silly."



"Baby." I pull him closer and he leans into my touch. "You're the only one for me."

***



We agree on watching some action movie at night. It's not a very exciting one, I have to say, and I think Olls agrees because he dozes off halfway through it.



"Promise me, next time we watch a comedy or something," Max says when the movie ends. I laugh at his face, which wakes Olls up.



"Uh, sorry, I fell asleep," he grunts sleepily, rubbing his eyes. "You could've woken me up."
"But you were sleeping so cute!"
He just rolls his eyes at that, then stands up. "I think I'm going to bed then."



"Alright! Kiss?"



He smiles and gives me a quick peck on the lips.



When I look back at Max, he's watching me with a knowing smile.
"What?"
"Nothing!" He laughs. "I think I'm going to bed as well."



"Okay! Do you need anything? Should I tuck you in? Read you a bedtime story? Give you a goodnight kiss?"
"I'll be fine, thanks."



"Great!" I jump up. "You know where you can find me if you need anything!"
"Yeah."



I'm about to open Olls' door when Max speaks again.
"Rhett?"
"Hm?"



He fiddles with his fingers, nervously. "Thank you for everything."



"It's nothing," I smile at him. "Good night!"

***



I tuck myself in behind Olls.
"Are you asleep?"
He hums.
"Are you talking in your sleep then?"
"I'm having a wet dream."



Hm. I slide my hand down. He's not even half hard.
"It can't be a very good wet dream," I claim.
"I'm in the water."



I snort into his neck, and he starts shaking from holding back his laughter.



He turns to his back to face me. I can hardly see the outlines of his face in the dark. "How's Max?"
"I think he'll be alright," I say, hopeful. "I was thinking about him... Max. When we were talking earlier." I admit. "And you were right, it needed to be his decision. But I'm glad he's here."



He reaches up, pulls me close by my neck, and kisses me softly. This kiss is a reassuring one.

***



To my surprise, I find Max in the kitchen, already wide awake, busy browsing his phone.
"Hey, good morning, man! You up so early?"



"Yeah, I was looking for rooms to rent," he admits, glancing up from the device. It's been about two thousand years since I've seen him in glasses, and he still looks like a bug.
I force myself not to comment on that.



"And? Found something interesting?" is what comes out of my mouth instead, while I take a seat beside him.
"A couple. Will check out some of them tomorrow. I don't wanna disturb you longer than necessary."



"You're not disturbing us," I say, shooting him a look. "You want coffee?"
"That'd be nice, thanks."



Olls enters the kitchen when I start making the drinks.
"Good morning, babe!" I smile at him.
"You just wished me good morning about ten minutes ago."
"But my morning just got a thousand times better, now that I get to see you again!"



"Silly boy." He rolls his eyes but smiles into our kiss.
He needs to stand on his tiptoes, and it's adorable.



"You like pancakes, Max?" He turns, putting on his apron.



Max startles because he was buried in his phone again. "Hm? Yeah, sure, sure."



"Here's your coffee."
"I feel like I'm in a fucking hotel," Max laughs.
"That'll be fifty, then."



I sit down next to him again. He sighs dreamily, stirring his drink. "Is he really making pancakes for breakfast? You're the luckiest bastard alive."
"I know," I admit. "He usually does this with only the apron on, though."



Olls turns to give me a scrutinizing look.
"Luckiest bastard, as I say."



"Just don't try to steal my man." I poke his shoulder, playfully.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it."



We both watch Olls, only the occasional clinking of spoons disturbs the silence. I marvel at how smoothly he moves in the kitchen, and I fight the urge to walk up behind him and press myself to his back.
Let's be real, I'm getting really good at this self-preservation thingy.
"Rhett?" Olls' voice snaps me out of my sinful thoughts.



"Hm?"
"How many pancakes do you want?"
"Two, three? Dunno. It's not pancakes I'm hungry for, right now."
I can't see his face, but I bet he's rolling his eyes. I love teasing him.
"Max?" Olls ends up turning to him instead.



"I'm only hungry for two pancakes, thank you," that bastard answers with a grin, and I hit him on the arm.



Olls just sighs. "I can't believe I agreed on having both of you under the same roof."



"Hey," I laugh. "Be gentle to our guest!"
"I'm literally making him breakfast."
"And I'm thankful for that," Max chimes in.



Olls comes to us with our breakfast, putting a bottle of maple and a bottle of chocolate syrup in front of me. He knows me too well by now.
Max pours some maple syrup on his pancakes, but Olls eats his without any topping, which is a travesty.



"I still don't understand how you can eat it like this." Max grimaces at my wonderful pancakes.



"Tastes better than your ass-"



I look at Olls, and shit. He's looking back at me with raised eyebrows. Did I just...
Fucking hell.



I should tell him about Max, right?

---
Well, guess who can't shut his mouth for five minutes 🙄 The decision is in your hands! Should Rhett tell Ollie about Max? VOTE HERE! I'll close the voting in 2 weeks, as usual, on the 22nd of January!

I really thought I'd be able to finish this chapter last year, but December sucked, so... but it's done now! And it has some of my favorite scenes, some that I wrote first when I started writing the season! I hope you liked them! :)

The park is Nanashi's 3t2 Central Park, what a great lot!

Btw I'm soooo excited for the next chapter! Ahhhh

Thank you for reading! Please vote and comments are appreciated as always! 😊

Comments

[hemfbg]

Oh my god Rhett no! 😂 Ah geez. I was happy to see Ollie and Rhett talking through things earlier in the chapter, so I voted for Rhett to tell Ollie about Max. I don't think it'll be pretty, but it's better than trying to keep it a secret IMO.

[deedee_sims]

Yeah lol, Rhett can't shut his mouth XD But the truth is... it would come out eventually, so... and it's not like Ollie doesn't suspect anything.

[potentialfate_sims]

ahhhhhhh what an awkward joke LMAO.

I am obviously voting for telling him though, as I value transparency and honesty in realtionships, though I can see it being a bit awkward for a minute, and ramping up Ollie's insecurity in general for a while >_< better to find out honestly though, than accidentally later, or from someone else.

[deedee_sims]

Maybe Rhett needs to learn to think before talking? XD
Yeah, I completely agree with you! Maybe it's better if he gets over with the confession. We'll see!