#dennis and mac love their feral boyfriend

[bisexualmultifandommess]

I love Charmac and I love Charden so I guess the only solution is Charmacden

Like I don’t like m*cdennis (no hate to the shippers tho i just don’t like them together) but they don’t necessarily have to be dating each other to be dating Charlie so Charlie can get all the love because he is my boy and I love him.

This relationship would be Mac and Dennis being absolutely baffled by Charlie but being annoyed at someone saying they could do better (they couldn’t tbf lmao) because only they’re allowed to say that.

[nightcrawlerzincorporated]

The Gang Texts. I don’t know why exactly but that episode makes me feel like my head is going to explode. I can’t stand miscommunication and I also don’t like when Dennis is written like he isn’t equally dependent on Mac. The ending is good but everything leading up to that makes my head hurt. Interested to hear your thoughts!! Especially if you disagree because I’d love to hear a more positive take on this ep.

~ glenn-howerton-ships-macdennis

That a very interesting take! Good news I do disagree with it lol. But as I said when I was rating fanfic tropes, I love miscommunication and think it’s extremely human so I’m sure that makes me like it more.

I love the Gang Texts! It’s fascinating to me that you interpret Dennis as being not very dependent on Mac in the ep when I see it the complete opposite way lol. The whole reason Dennis gets mad at Mac in the episode is because he’s convinced Mac purposefully sabotaged his chances to see the lion feeding (which he only missed because he left to go look for Mac because he wanted to be able to watch the feeding with him. Boyfriend behavior) because Dennis always thinks people are pushing his buttons on purpose. As Mac points out in his (amazing super shippy and hilarious) text messages to Dennis, Dennis is EXTREMELY dependent on Mac even after all these years (I still can’t get over that he has Mac regularly rub his pecs after a work out like. Talk about scenarios that make me feral to think about lol) and that’s the whole reason he gets so upset because he does rely on and trust Mac a lot so the idea of Mac doing something purposefully cruel to him (which lets be real Mac HAS done before) makes him legitimately sad which makes him angry. That’s why all it takes to calm him down is looking in Mac’s eyes because before when Mac was talking and texting it felt like manipulation to Dennis but seeing the love in his eyes makes Dennis realize Mac didn’t hurt him on purpose and idk I think it’s really beautiful! Big win for macdennis!

And I get why Dennis just refusing to read Mac’s text could be seen as annoying and going in circles, but to me it feels very in character like it feels like the exact kind of fight those two WOULD have, y’know? And the scene where they meet in the bathroom and Mac tries to make it up to Dennis with the petting zoo just makes Dennis think Mac is fucking with him, which again only hurts him more because he is so reliant on Mac and does trust him to make him happy most of the time. Also the sexual tension during the pissing scene is absolutely insane Mac looks down at Dennis’ dick and Dennis just bites his lip like if that guy hadn’t walked in they totally would have fucked (hence the “you guys grindin?” joke). The Gang Texts is just macdennis all the time just pure macden goodness. Even though they’re fighting most of the ep it’s such a couple fight and I love it.

Also Frank in this ep? Hilarious. I love him trying to fuck with the gorilla and ending up the one fucked with. I love that Charlie can understand Frank’s texts even though he can’t read because of their weird little bond. I love that Charlie is way better at texting than Mac in general because and not in spite of the fact that he’s illiterate. I love that Mac is here writing fucking letters when everyone else is texting as short as possible (relatable). I like that Dennis calls Dee out for being homophobic but plays along when Frank does the same thing like ughhhh moments that remind me Frank is Dennis’ dad. There’s a lot of little moments in their texting I feel like you only notice on rewatch. I honestly liked the episode a lot more after I’d seen it a few times because of that lol.

It’s just a such good episode to me I love so many things about it. I hope I can give you a new perspective on it!

[emberphantom]

thots on sunny s14

tbh i can’t wait to watch the last half of s14 with my friends this weekend. they haven’t seen from Mops Twice on so we have basically all the episodes in the back half of this season, which I haven’t watched more than once to go through. they’re the people that got me into Sunny in the first place this  past summer (I kinda ran away with the macden thing because i have no self control) and it’ll be good for me to get a second look with people who are watching it just for the show and without the macden goggles on, especially Big Mo because there were A LOT of metaphors there that I did not catch because I was like wHEN iS DEnNIS goINg To STop fuCKING ARounD and KiSS MAC ON the mOUTH?!?.  it just helps me personally take a step back and more-so watch stuff for what it is instead of just being feral for a single crumb of macdennis content. 

i still think, lack of macden or not, the last half of the season was objectively not as funny as the first half, with the exception of Jumper i really loved that ep, (even d** d** had better moments than some of the entire eps in the later half). I watch all the episodes with my boyfriend and Mops Twice was his favorite episode of the whole season. He hated Chops and didn’t really get Big Mo until the end but thought the entire episode was boring. And he’s indifferent to the others tbh (idk he was playing WoW and only half-watching most of them) 

anyway i guess my point is i really dove headfirst into this fandom once i boarded the macdennis ship for real and i have no ragrets at all but i think back to when i first started Sunny (in august of this year *cough*) and maybe wish I kept that mindset moving forward and kept fandom separate so it wouldn;t impact my overall enjoyment of the show. but then again i wasn’t so feral until TGGR hit and Sunny socials started Doing That so idk man, idk. 

I still love this show and it means something to me in a kind of way that a show about a bunch of problematic assholes who own a bar probably shouldn’t. but it does. and i’ll be here to the end because even if it’s not a great as it once was (like 5-11 and some of 12 are top tier seasons), it still makes me laugh and does put a smile on my face when it all comes down to it. 

[sontagfag]

a song by song explanation for this playlist

1. Shut Up Kiss Me by Angel Olsen

this screams macdennis to me, like just read guardians of a rare thing and you’ll get it. this is like s6 or s7 dennis bc they stopped fucking after s5 and he just wants to get kissed because he has big feelings but also refuses to say them out loud :( 

most macdennis line: “this heart still beats for you why can’t you see it”

2. I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You by Black Kids

ok so this is dennis being jealous as fuck because mac got a boyfriend and now he’s hanging out at the bar being tender w mac. dennis is the narrator and can’t stand watching them be together + the guy knows mac and him are close and asks him for advice....

most macdennis line: “one, im biting my tongue, two, he’s kissing on you, three, oh why can’t you see”

3. Green Light by Lorde

ok so this one’s about right after mac comes out and starts going to gay bars and so dennis tags along and watches him get hit on and gets super jealous so he just dances w him and kisses him but then pretends it didn’t happen....

most macdennis line: “did it frighten you/how we kissed on the light-up floor?”

4. Bastards of Youth by The Replacement

this is a young macdennis song, about when they were just starting to be friends and yknow they both have shitty home lives so they just sit around and get high and complain about their family in one of their basements and talk about opening a bar one day...

most macdennis line: “the ones who love us least are the ones we'll die to please/ if it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand them”

5. I’m Scum by IDLES

ok this song is basically just on here because dennis is a bastard man with no rights, but actually this could just be the paddy’s theme song? while it does have a lefty twist which is probably inappropriate for paddy’s, like, dennis is a bastard man and i just wanna put this one on for him and say to him “you have no rights go be gay you dumb fuck”

most macdennis line: “i’m a minimum wage job/ i’m a mongrel dog/i’m just another cunt/i’m scum, i’m scum”

6. I’m Beating My Head Against the Wall by Jeff Rosenstock

this one is just about both of them being dumbasses who cannot communicate whatsoever, pretty straightforward.

most macdennis line: “talk-talk-talk-talk-talking to you but you don’t wanna hear me speak”

7. Something Soon by Car Seat Headrest

this is a dennis post s12 song about being in north dakota and missing mac...he’s in a foreign place and he doesn’t know anyone except mandy and he’s trying to get a job but he can’t stop thinking about mac....like “only one change of clothes” sounds like someone who just decided to pick up and move to another state...there are so many good dennis lines in this like just listen to it

most macdennis line: “biting my clothes to keep from screaming/taking pills to keep from dreaming”

8. Your Dog by Soccer Mommy

ok, finally one from mac’s perspective! this is him being mad at dennis because he manipulates him all the time and whenever dennis explodes he has to clean up the mess... essentially just the scene from The Gang Dines Out where he says “say something nice to me for once in your life”

most macdennis line: “always talk to other people/ dart my eyes across the room/ forehead kisses break my knees and/ leave me crawling back to you

9. I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts by X

oh this is just pure mac repressed catholic guilt....he loves dennis but he knows he shouldn’t :(

most macdennis line: “walking down the road/ everybody yelling ‘hurry up, hurry up’/ but i’m waiting for you/ i must go slow/ i must not think bad thoughts”

10. Not in Love We’re Just High by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

absolutely about how dennis and mac compartmentalize hooking up when they were high and in high school...poor lil boys

most macdennis line: “songs we started left me broken-hearted/ i have been frozen in time, yeah/ roses on your mind/ will call you home”

11. Should Have Known Better by Sufjan Stevens

this is dennis beating himself up and honestly probably self-harming after doing something dumb to upset mac. he’s too fucking repressed to actually deal with his trauma so of course whenever he upsets mac and they stop talking it reminds him of his parents abusing him when he was young and him crying alone in his room...it’s also about him trying to explain to mac how he has no feelings (ALLEGEDLY) and hasn’t ever since childhood...

most macdennis line: “i should have known better/ nothing can be changed/ the past is still the past/ bridge to nowhere/ i should have wrote a letter/ explaining what i feel, that empty feeling”

12. Old Friend by Mitski

OKAY I HAVE A WHOLE SITUATION FOR THIS ONE. this is like beginning of s13, for one there’s line “we nearly drowned for such a silly thing” which, uh, i know is not literal but THE GANG GOES TO HELL YOU BITCHES. anyway this is exactly like one macdennis fic i read where dennis comes back and mac is dating rex and he’s really jealous but anyway this is them going to a diner and discussing everything that’s happened since he’s left... i can’t remember what fic it is so please help me but there’s an iconic line where mac says “it was always you” to dennis...im feral...

most macdennis line: “i’ll take coffee and talk about nothing baby/ at blue diner i’ll take anything you wanna give me, baby”

13. Doll Parts by Hole

fuck you, dennis absolutely loved Hole in high school because dee bought Live Through This on cd once on a whim and got obsessed and would always listen to it when he was in a crappy mood bc abusive parents though he would never admit it to anyone else...like this is just pure mentally ill dennis self-hatred, and now even tho he’s an adult whenever he is just jumping out of his skin he puts it on alone in the range rover and screams along with courtney love...also it’s about him loving mac so much but because he’s him it just comes out in intense outbursts of anger... 

most macdennis line: “i love him so much it just turns to hate/ i fake it so real, i am beyond fake”

ok i realized that most of these are from dennis’s perspective but like, he’s so easy to pin....dumb bastard man...anyway thank you for reading

[winters-blue-children]

As Mac edges closer to being out of the closet, Dennis finds something in his friend that he hadn’t realized he’d been craving: the thrill of the chase. He tells himself he just wants to see how far he can take it. What he doesn’t realize, is that too far may break them both.

OR: an in depth look at the D.E.N.N.I.S. system, not as a foolproof method of seduction, but as a subconscious, self-sabotaging way of life.

“Where is everyone?”

Dennis looks up from his phone. It must be the ugly scowl on her face that has him straightening in his seat. He immediately pockets the device and shrugs, clearly blowing her off as he wordlessly takes a drink from his beer. “No idea,” he replies lazily. “They’re around somewhere.”

Dee seethes and glares daggers at her brother. Her jaw twitches as she grits her teeth and Dennis frowns as the sight. “I think Charlie might be cleaning the bathroom,” he finally says.

Dee whirls around and strides towards the bathroom. On some level, she knows that she’s a lit fuse burning hot. At the moment, she hasn’t got the energy to care. Sean’s been pissing her off. Of course she had to find the most annoying, useless man in the world to catch Charlie’s attention. It was always easier when she didn’t give a damn. But lately, it’s not been so easy.

And now Charlie’s ignoring her texts. It’s infuriating in a way she hadn’t quite expected. She’s going to tear him a new asshole.

Dee growls when she throws open the door to the ladies’ room and finds it empty.

She narrows her eyes, practically fuming from the ears when she swings open the door to the men’s room and hears a familiar voice drifting towards her.

“Gonna wear a nice shirt, maybe some slacks… Clean. Gotta be a clean shirt… no pit stains because classy women find that unattractive. Gonna take her some place nice, some place to impress her. She’ll definitely say yes, and I’ll be all like, we can move forward, we can have a life together, we can be happy. It’ll be something real and it’s everything you ever wanted! Yeah, yeah… she’ll definitely come around…”

Dee peaks around the corner. Her lips twitch as the fury that had been steadily building inside her drains when she sees Charlie speaking to himself, holding a broom out with one hand and talking to it like a person. It’s almost endearing in a dumb, hopeless sort of way.

“Charlie?”

The other man jumps and whirls around in shock.

“What are you doing?” Dee asks, bemused, as Charlie nearly drops the broom.

“Dee!” Charlie’s face lights up with a grin. “Hey, nothing, I was just… messing around, cleaning the bathrooms, you know…” He has enough wits to look embarrassed, at least.

“Right…” Dee smirks. “Just cleaning the bathrooms…”

“Well, I’m tryin’ to stay out of the drama too,” Charlie nods his head towards the door. “Mac is being annoying as shit. Frank called him the F-word and they’ve been screaming at each other in the office for like two hours. The guy won’t let it go.”

That explains the muffled shouts she heard. But it’s not something she cares enough to get involved in. She tilts her head as she considers Charlie’s flushed expression. “It kind of sounded like you were going to ask someone out…”

“Oh, yeah. Um… just practicing.” Charlie shuffles on his feet as his hands wring around the handle of the mop. He gives her an embarrassed grin. “You know, tryin’ not to get my nerves twisted in a bunch.”

“Charlie…” She starts softly, her tone soothing and calm, despite how she’s screaming internally at their progress. “I don’t think you need to be all that nervous,” she offers gently.

“Yeah?”

“Well, by this point, you know… it shouldn’t be that big of a deal…” She gives him a soft smile to let him know it’s okay.

It goes clear over Charlie’s head. “I don’t know,” he responds distractedly. “I think she still kind of hates me. I mean, I’m not giving up, that’s for sure. But… you gotta be prepared for rejection, you know?”

The smile instantly drops from her face. Her heart thuds heavily in her chest as the realization dawns on her, nearly knocking her off her feet. “What?” Dee growls hoarsely. “Are you talking about the Waitress?”

“Well, yeah!” Charlie blinks at her in confusion. “Who else would I be talking about?”

“Are you kidding me?” Dee hisses through her teeth. “The goddamn Waitress?! I can’t believe this!” She screams. Her anger flares dangerously as she throws her arms in the air. This is what she gets for trying. She’s so tired of trying. She’s tired of caring. “I can’t believe I actually thought you could change!”

“What are you talking about?” Charlie blusters, frowning at her in shock and bewilderment. “Why are you so pissed right now?”

“Are you dumb?”

Charlie blinks but doesn’t answer.

“Are you blind?” Dee screams at him.

Charlie blinks a few more times as if to check for sure. “No. No, I am definitely seeing out of both eyes.”

“So then… just dumb?” Dee accuses as her eyes flash icily. “You son of a bitch.”

Charlie’s frown grows deeper as he slowly puts the pieces together. “Wait, are you… are you mad because I’m going after the Waitress?” Dee’s feral growl is all the answer he needs. “But I’m in love with her! You know that!”

“You don’t even know her name!” Dee shouts.

Her anger is dangerous, and she wants to scream and bite and throw wild fists. But what she does instead is storm forward, closing the distance between them as she takes Charlie’s face in her hands and presses their lips together. Her momentum forces him back against the stall behind him. They kiss and grind and there’s a lot more teeth than either of them would prefer. But Charlie’s hands rest warmly around her waist, and they’re both panting by the time they part.

“You’re not in love with her,” Dee growls against his lips. “You’re in love with the idea of her. If you actually got to know her at all, you’d drop her in a damn heartbeat.”

Charlie swallows heavily. “Well… yeah.”

It’s Dee’s turn to blink in confusion. “What?” She whispers heatedly, hating the way she allows a faint glimmer of hope to light in her chest.

“I know that… I’ve always known that,” Charlie answers bluntly. “But she’s never going to say yes to me. And… that’s kind of the point.”

Dee slowly relaxes her grip on Charlie’s face. Something in his words is breaking through her anger. “Then why are you chasing her?” She asks. She frowns when Charlie winces. “Why have you been chasing her for the past decade and a half?”

The tension in Charlie’s shoulders drains as he shrugs. “She’s safe.” He pauses. And then a beat later, he continues. “Chasing her felt like a purpose. Knowing that she would never say yes to me… it was safe.”

The implication behind Charlie’s words is clear. “And me?” Dee finally asks. “I don’t feel safe to you?”

“You’re different,” Charlie murmurs.

“Different how?”

“It’s…” Charlie shakes his head reluctantly. “It’s too real.”

Dee slowly drops her hands as she forces herself to back off. She hears the undertone of fear and apprehension in Charlie’s voice. “I get it,” she says wryly. “It’s okay, Charlie.”

“It’s good with you,” Charlie manages. “But I don’t know if…”

They both drop their gaze as his voice trails off. Dee takes a half-step back. She lets out a slow breath, not meeting his eyes until a hard expression is firmly placed back on her face.

“It’s okay,” she says again, her voice stronger this time. They had their fun. And she’ll be damned if she comes out of this looking like the weak one when it’s Charlie who’s too coward to move forward. “Don’t worry about it, Charlie.

“Sorry,” he mutters. And his lips hang open like he might have more to say, but Dee shakes her head to cut him off.

“I’m breaking up with Sean,” she says suddenly.

Charlie’s mouth snaps shut. He raises his eyebrows, quickly going from awkward and uncomfortable to curious with mild hesitation.

“The guy’s an asshole,” Dee says simply. She scowls and takes another step back. Right on time, saving her from whatever moment they’re having, she hears Sean’s annoying voice filter through the bathroom door.

She turns on her heel without another word.

Her eyes are bright with anger when she enters the main room of the bar. Her emotions are still running high as she takes in the sight of her brother smirking at her asshole of a boyfriend. Sean leans against the bar, giving Dennis a look that is far too flirtatious for comfort. She’s dealt with months of this douchebag’s behavior, and it was all for nothing. Her nails dig painfully into her palms. Why did she ever think this was a good idea?

“It’s over, dick nose. Lose my number.”

“W-what?!” Sean stutters, looking up in shock. He blinks rapidly, looking like it’s a real struggle to process her words. “Babe-”

Dennis snorts and has the decency to turn away to hide his grin.

Dee rolls her eyes. Ignoring the pitiful protests that reach her ears, she walks away in a huff.

There’s an awkward moment as Charlie watches her go. He thinks for a second maybe he should go after her. But he knows she’d rather be alone. And if he did… he might actually get his head bitten off.

Confused sputters and muffled snickers reach his ears. Charlie looks over to see Dennis peeking his head up. He looks like he’s about to say something to the recently dumped when the moment is interrupted by the office door swinging open with a bang. Out storms Mac, going off hot like a gun.

“Dennis, we’re leaving!” He shouts, righteous anger apparent on his face.

“What?”

“Frank’s being a dick!” Mac clarifies. He nods his head desperately towards the door, barely pausing in front of him. “Let’s go!”

Dennis turns his head away, rearranging his face into a scowl.

“Let’s go, come on!” Mac whines when Dennis doesn’t move.

The other man seems quite insistent about spending the rest of the evening sitting his ass at the bar, getting plastered. Charlie actually thinks that’s not a terrible idea. He sighs softly to himself as he grabs a bottle from behind the bar. Dennis nods at him, a cue to pass him another beer.

“I’m quite comfortable here, Mac. The bar’s empty and I’m only just getting a buzz on.”

“I don’t care!” Mac announces, his words loud and firm. “I want to leave, let’s go!”

“Dude…” Charlie starts, feeling exhaustion burn through his veins like acid. The last thing he wants is to be witness to yet another argument. “Just let it go-”

“Come on,” Sean smoothly cuts him off. “He doesn’t have to go if he doesn’t want to. Hang out awhile. I wouldn’t mind a few beers myself.”

Charlie pulls a face at the thought of this guy hanging out with them. He’s half wondering why he’s even still at their bar when Dee obviously wants nothing to do with him. Dennis’ eyebrows casually go up. But it’s the look on Mac’s face that clearly says he would rather chew on broken glass.

Mac blatantly ignores him. “Dennis,” he forces through gritted teeth. His eyes flicker between his boyfriend and the guy that’s still standing far too close to him. “Can I talk to you in private?”

Dennis rolls his eyes tiredly, an unpleasant, bored expression planted on his face. “Mac, whatever you have to say, just say it.”

“Dennis, come on-”

“Just come out with it already!” Dennis slams his bottle onto the table making everyone jump. “Goddamnit, we go around in circles every goddamn time we have an argument because you can’t just come out and say what you want!”

Charlie’s stomach sinks heavily into his gut. He’s seen this argument enough times to know how it ends. Usually in violence. As Mac stubbornly refuses to back down and Dennis shifts from mood to mood too quick for anyone to keep up.

“Why didn’t you stand up for me?” Mac demands.

Dennis gives him an unimpressed look as he scoffs. “What?”

“What didn’t you stand up for me?” Mac throws him an angry look. “With Frank!” An eye roll and a snort from the other man has his blood boiling hot.

“Act like a man and stand up for yourself,” Dennis orders, his voice low with annoyance. “Talkin’ about bein’ so tough and badass all the time, and what, you need me to fight your battles for you?”

“No, that’s not what I was asking for!” Mac barks at him. “Goddamnit, Dennis! I just wanted some backup! And you’re gay! I figured you of all people would understand!”

Well, that might be the funniest thing Dennis has ever heard, judging from his reaction. “Since when?” Dennis snorts and chokes on a laugh.

Mac blanches. He stares, jaw dropped for a solid few seconds before he finds his words. “You like dick… you’re gay,” he says obviously.

“I like your dick,” Dennis clarifies slowly for him.

“Are you-are you being serious right now?” Mac sputters.

“Deadly.”

It becomes a silent battle of wills as they stubbornly glare with gritted teeth and clenched fists. Mac finally gives in by looking away first. He’s so clearly uncomfortable with the extra pairs of eyes on him that Charlie feels bad enough to drop his gaze. He pretends to busy himself with something behind the bar as Dennis swings around on his stool, giving Mac the cold shoulder.

“Dennis, can we just go?” Mac asks, his voice softer now, almost pleading.

“You can go, Mac. No one’s stopping you. I think I’m gonna hang around a bit. Finish my beer.” Dennis laughs, loud, obnoxious, and fake.

“Whatever,” Mac grumbles under his breath. He gnaws on his bottom lip before stomping off like a petulant child.

“Later, dude,” Sean says faintly after him, his eyes following as Mac storms out of the bar.

Charlie sighs after Mac had gone. “Come on, man.” He gives Dennis a disapproving glare. “You don’t have to be like that…”

They both ignore him.

“That’s your boyfriend?” Sean asks.

“Yeah.”

“Nice ass.”

Dennis chuckles, finally turning to look up at his sister’s ex-boyfriend with a crooked grin. “Yeah. It is, isn’t it?”

Charlie frowns at them over the bar. They pay him no attention as they clink their bottles together. He takes a slow drink of his own beer. He thinks Sean doesn’t look nearly disappointed enough at being newly single. And Dennis… well, Charlie is far too familiar with the look on his face. And he doesn’t like it.

He wonders what Dee’s up to. If she were here, she’d probably tell him the guys aren’t worth his time. He wasn’t exactly surprised that his two best friends started banging. He kind of expected it to happen sooner. But Mac isn’t any less annoying. And Dennis isn’t any less crazy.

What they are, is a slowly ticking time bomb.

Charlie sighs. He kind of really wishes Dee were here.

*

It’s three in the morning when Dennis steps into their darkened bedroom. He’s numb and content in a way only copious amounts of alcohol could offer him. He stumbles through the apartment. Vaguely, he feels the cold that seeps deep into his bones. He can practically see his breath, what the fuck. He imagines himself wrapped in Mac’s arms, and it brings a crooked smile to his lips.

He knows Mac probably turned the heat down just to piss him off.

Mac is never cold, while Dennis is always freezing. They’re like two sides of a coin.

Dennis slowly creaks open the door of their bedroom. His eyes adjust to the dark, and he makes out the figure of Mac sleeping soundly in their bed. Alone. Something akin to sentimentality blooms on his face as he watches his best friend and lover sleep.

He doesn’t know what he had been expecting. Did he expect Mac to stay angry at him? To stay up, awaiting his return, waiting to throw a fit because of his actions? Or to look angry and restless in his sleep? To toss and turn, unable to find peace with the thought that Dennis is displeased with him?

Mac lies still and sound in his slumber.

Dennis softly pads over until he’s staring down at the man before him. Mac has the covers pooled around his waist. His shirtless chest rises and falls, slow and steady.

Mac has always been a heavy sleeper.

Air slowly escapes Dennis’ lips as he watches him with dark, hooded eyes. The thought that constantly plagues him, invades his restless mind again. Why does this man hold such power over him? He’s loathed to admit it, but he knows it’s true. He knows the things he’s done for Mac, the very dangerous things that terrify him to his core. 

Dennis swallows the lump in his throat.

It makes him angry. Admitting this weakness about himself, it makes him feel small. Helpless. Weak. Because this man, this stupid, idiot of a man, who annoys him with his habits, infuriates him with his choices, and constantly has him straddling the line between strangling him and kissing him--Dennis can’t let him go.

That’s the apex of their struggle. Not that Mac would ever admit it.

By far, the worst part is how much he needs him. Dennis hates how much he needs him.

His hand trembles as he reaches out. His fingers gently hook beneath the covers, and slowly, carefully he inches them down.

Mac doesn’t stir.

Dennis bites his lip as he continues to pull the covers down to Mac’s thighs. He takes in the sight of Mac’s cock, soft and flaccid. Heat inevitably pools downwards, and Dennis suddenly freezes in place.

What the hell is he doing?

His mind is hazy with alcohol. Desire and arousal lumped on top of that have his head spinning. A moment later, Dennis pulls his hand back. He sighs softly, suddenly feeling shaky on his feet.

He sheds his clothes as quietly as he can. One of his shoes thumps against the floor when he drops it, and he curses none too quietly to himself. But still, Mac doesn’t stir. Dennis shivers in the cold air, and he wastes no time crawling on top of the other man, eager to get close and beneath the covers where they can share their heat.

Mac jumps awake with a start and a gasp.

“Hey, babe.”

“Wha… Dennis?”

“Go back to sleep,” Dennis whispers.

“What are you doing? Why are you on my side of the bed?” Mac mumbles in his half-asleep state, and he refuses to scoot over to make room.

“Just wanna be close to you, that’s all.”

“Goddamnit, you’re cold,” Mac hisses. 

Dennis grins at Mac’s groggy voice in his ear. “You’re the one who turned the damn heat off,” he replies.

“It’s not my fault you have no insulation.”

“Insulation?” Dennis whispers. “You mean fat?”

“It’s mass.”

Dennis chuckles. He entwines their legs. Despite how their bodies are already pressed together, he somehow manages to pull them even closer, much to Mac’s distress.

“No! No, don’t push me,” Mac protests in a whiny voice.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like feeling cold?” Dennis chides, pressing his cold feet against Mac’s and grinning when the other man jumps.

“Goddamnit, no! Stop!” Mac protests, unable to pull away. “I put itching powder all over your side of the bed,” he finally admits.

Dennis lifts his head to glare at him in the dark. “You what?”

“I was pissed at you,” Mac says frankly. ‘You’re a fucking asshole.”

Dennis shrugs, unwilling to argue. He sighs softly, wondering how the fuck they ended up here. He scoffs silently to himself. A moment later, he presses a kiss to Mac’s lips. The other man’s arms come up to wrap around him.

“Go to sleep,” Dennis whispers.

“M’kay.”

Dennis rests his head on Mac’s chest. His eyes close and he revels in the warmth of the other man’s body. He’s getting the spins. It’s a dangerous thing made worse when he can’t tell if it’s from the alcohol or from Mac.

He swallows the lump in his throat. Mac’s heartbeat pounds beneath his ear. His worst fear, and the one he’s starting to admit is a reality:

It’s definitely Mac.