#the knight and his princess: 005

[rencissancealpha]

Nathan felt a small sense of relief as he felt Mike cling to him and begin to let his emotions out. He didn't like the other being in pain, of course, but he felt better having the other safe in his arms than running around in the dark or walking around with something clearly on his mind. He hadn't expected Mike to start pushing him away, however and when he felt the other doing it- at first, admittedly, not doing much as Nathan had been holding him quite securely, but he loosened his hold a little bit instinctively and Mike moved himself backwards with the continued push, Nathan, the powerhouse of muscle, unmoving in his boyfriend's efforts, and he looked at Mike confusedly. "Huh?" he asked a bit stupidly, "What are you talking about, Princess?" he followed up more clearly, his voice staying gentle and not escalating like Mike's had. "Calm do-" he started, reaching back out to Mike, but the other was clearly only getting started and cut him off. He listened to the other, worry still on his face despite letting him speak, "Break up with you?" he asked, now more confused than ever, "Princess, I'm n-" he tried again but Mike cut him off once more, this time in a voice so sad and broken that Nathan felt himself starting to get emotional just hearing it. He swallowed hard, his arms moving back to his side and his fists balling up as he tried to keep himself together.

Mike wasn't wrong that he wasn't the biggest fan of Travis still getting the title of Mike's boyfriend and he didn't. But he'd made peace with that being semantics and the way Mike looked at him, spoke to him, made love to him … that all spoke volumes and mattered so much more to him than any flimsy title. But the more Mike spoke, the more he began to see things from his lover's eyes and part of him felt a pang of guilt for the unfortunate circumstances that had lead Mike here but a bigger part of him felt a surge of hope as found himself continuously wanting to stop Mike, to cut him off and explain things, hoping that if he could get Mike to understand the truth of what was going on, then they could fix this together. Some things that Mike had clearly misinterpreted were so absurd that Nathan's knee reaction was to laugh but he daren't do so in the moment. Mike was clearly at his lowest and all Nathan wanted to do now was find his opportunity to comfort and assure Mike and help him through all of this hurt. It was the hardest thing of all to just stand there and let him get it out and he needed to keep reminding himself that it was what Mike needed - what they both needed.

Despite the disastrous setting, Mike was opening up to him and confirming all of the things that Aria had confided in him, all of his insecurities and worries. In the midst of it all, it was silly how much his heart fluttered when Mike said how much he loved him. That was all he needed. That was all he wanted. He didn't care about the rest- everything else they could work through as far as he was concerned. Mike's attempt at a break up which followed, honestly, fell on deaf ears because, as cliche'd as it might be for the professional warrior, Nathan had absolutely no intention of letting Mike go without a fight. He took in an incredibly deep breath and let it out in a slow shudder when Mike started turning around, finally seeing his opportunity to speak and start clearing things up- he walked after Mike, reaching out to him, "Prin- Princess!" his gentle tone turning to a shout of worry as he reflexively lunged forward to swiftly catch Mike as the other had began to fall to the ground. He looked down, his heart racing and his breath short as his brain rushed to catch up with what had happened at the punctuation of Mike's revelations. The other was passed out in his arms and for a moment he feared the unbelievable worst but his brain then registered how the other had refused food and water since they'd been at the fair and he'd not been feeling well at home before this either and he couldn't remember seeing him eat or drink there either. He let out a shaky sigh, pressing his forehead to Mike's, "You're gonna be the death of me, Princess," he murmured, slightly smiling as he said it. He reached into Mike's hand for the keys - a task that was a little more difficult than it sounds as he tried his best to keep Mike elevated and in his arms while opening the car, but thankfully he had enough strength to do so without too much exertion and soon he carefully laid Mike on the passenger seat, lowering it down as the other could lay comfortably and he couldn't stop himself from pressing a kiss to the other's forehead after he did so, gently closing the door.

He pulled his cellphone out and called Aria who picked up with the speed of a 9-1-1 operator, "He's fine," he said before Aria could ask, "He was upset and not feeling well but he's gonna be fine- I'm gonna take him home," he informed her and the relief in Aria's voice was palpable, "Don't worry about us, we're gonna be okay- you guys have a wonderful time and take as many photos and pictures as your phone can handle, okay? And give Kate a big smooch on the cheek from her uncles for us and let her know we'll see her tomorrow," he smiled as he set himself down in the driver's seat of Mike's car, "Thanks, Aria ... bye," he said before hanging up and starting the car, pulling out and off from the parking lot. Once they were on the road, he let one hand rest on Mike's thigh as it always did when they drove together and it was possibly a blessing that the other had fainted as it gave him some time to think and really process everything Mike had said and what his next steps would be. He had time to breathe and calm down and by the time they returned to the Montgomery residence, he had made his decisions.

Fortunately, Mike's parents had also gone out for the evening so they had the house to themselves and nobody to question or disturb them. Nathan walked them to Mike's room where he gently laid the other on his bed before taking off his outer layers including his jacket, hoodie, shoes and socks. He then quickly left the room to grab the giant water bottle he used when he worked out and filled it, as well as grabbing a plateful of snacks from the kitchen and returning to Mike's room. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he set everything down then took off his own jacket, then his shoes and also shedding his shirt before climbing onto the bed beside Mike. He looked at the other's peaceful face for a while and couldn't help but think that he'd truly never loved anybody or anything more than he did Mike and that he'd truly never seen anyone more beautiful. Nathan leaned in and softly kissed him on the lips, "Princess ..." he said softly, gently waking Mike up and following it with another little kiss, repeating both the name and the motion until he could get the other to wake up.

"Hey," he smiled when the other's eyes finally opened, "We're back home," he explained, his voice staying soft, reaching over and cupping Mike's face, "You're safe, you're fine," he assured, stroking the other's cheek with his thumb, "You passed out because you haven't been eating or drinking anything all day, you silly," he hummed, "There's food and water right there if you want," he nodded towards Mike's within-reach side table. He couldn't help but keep smiling warmly at the other, "Also - I'm not breaking up with you," he said simply, this time unable to stop a little chuckle that escaped his lips as he pressed another kiss to the other's lips before he could protest, "I'm staying right here with my incredibly beautiful, sexy boyfriend," he continued. "Also, I'm sorry that you didn't get a chance to properly meet my cousin, tonight," he said sweetly, "She's a big time model who flies around the country and the world for work like I do and we only really see each other by chance or if we're doing a shoot together," he explained, "She's some of the only family I have and I've been telling her about you since we met," he said sweetly. "And you should also know that she agreed that she didn't think it was possible, but, you are somehow even more beautiful in person than you already are in all your photos."

"By the way- speaking of the most beautiful man in the world ... I have another bone to pick with you," he teased and then moved so he was now on top of Mike, settling between his legs and pressing their chests together, "-if you ever call my Princess ugly again, I'm gonna have to beat you up," he said playfully, kissing the other once more, "Because, my Princess should know, that ..." he pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips, " ... the only reason ..." a kiss to the corner of his jaw, "... I haven't ..." a kiss to his neck, "... fucked his brains out ..." a kiss to his clavicle, "... was because ..." a kiss to the center of his chest, "... I was trying to be ..." a kiss to one nipple, "... a good boy ..." a kiss to the other, "... for his family and ..." a kiss to his belly, "... obey his parents wishes to try and make a good impression," he lifted his head, "And also because I thought he was too sick and tired to want it or that it might hurt him more," he admitted, then resetting and pressing a final kiss to the other's lips, "And my Princess should also know that I don't give a fuck how much weight he gains-" he spoke lowly, in that particular tone that only came out when Mike turned him on, and the other would easily recognize it, "- you'd still always be the sexiest man I've ever seen," he said, kissing the other again. He then paused and looked Mike in the eyes for a few long moments, "You're the only one I want ... the only one I ever want ... I don't think about anybody how I think about you - and all I ever do is think about you," he gushed softly, "I love you more than the stars love the night sky, more than the ocean loves the shore, and more than the sun loves to warm the earth," he said without hesitation, "Now ... I know there's some other stuff for us to talk about, but ..." he held Mike's face once more, their bare chests still pressed against one another, able to feel each other's heartbeats, "If you have the strength and aren't feeling too sick ... I really fucking wanna make love to you right now."

As he practically ran to his car, the fair becoming further and further behind him, Mike wondered how Nathan would get back home. Then he pictured the mysterious woman and Nathan making out in her car and doing even more. The emotions were becoming more and more difficult to control. Everything around him became a blur as his car came into sight. He hadn't realized it was Nathan calling out to him until he felt the familiar embrace and heard the calming voice he was used to. Once in Nathan's arms, Mike let it all out and completely broke down, holding onto him tightly. In that moment, Mike forgot about everything, and the only thing that mattered was being with the man he loved. He found solace in Nathan's soft reassurance until he heard the end of his words. Everything hit him, and Mike knew Nathan was lying. "I'm here, angel," Nathan said, but Mike knew it was just temporary until Nathan ended things with him. Immediately, Mike pulled back and pushed Nathan away with all his strength, though he wasn't sure if it would do much since Nathan was much stronger and more muscular than he was.

"Don't fucking say that," Mike's voice cracked with anger and brokenness. "Just fucking do it, Nathan. Why wait and lead me on any longer?" Tears escaped despite his efforts to hold them back. Mike didn't really give Nathan a chance before he went off. "I know you're a good guy and don't want to hurt me, but it's going to hurt even more when you do break up with me. Why don't you just get it over with? I can take it! It wouldn't be the first time, nor will it be the last," Mike choked out, his heart heavy with pain and uncertainty.

"I knew this was never going to last or even work out," Mike said in a soft, broken voice. "It all started over a stupid bet with your rival, whom you probably wouldn't have even given me a second glance. Don't even get me started on that. God, the fact that I have a boyfriend and I'm cheating on him… To top it off, I'm cheating with someone whom he absolutely hates, and you're okay with being the other person. I don't even know what to call you. It's not like I can call you my boyfriend. I know secretly and deep down, you hate it. How messed up am I that I brought the person I'm cheating with to my family function and pretend like it's nothing? It's like I'm still a goddamn teenager making stupid decisions. I know my dad is just thinking that I'm being the biggest hypocrite right now. The difference is that he tried to hide it, while I'm not," Mike let out a bitter laugh, the weight of his words heavy on his heart.

"I was counting down the days until it would come to an end. Do you know why I haven't broken up with him? It's because I saw this coming. You're way out of my league. I mean, let's take a look at the people you've been with. i mean look at her! The way you look at her in those photos… I'll never be a hot supermodel that you can show off! Travis is what I deserve. Actually, not even him, because he hasn't done the things I've done to him. While he isn't the best boyfriend, he hasn't cheated or stopped loving me. I deserve Connor! I didn't want to say it, but you can call him one of my exes, I guess. That's the guy I deserve to be with, no one else. He's going to love me. He's already seen me at my worst. Look at me! I'm ugly and fat, which I know you've noticed but haven't said anything about. I know that's the reason you haven't touched me. You couldn't keep your hands off me before. Now it seems like you're purposely trying to keep your distance from me. I see the way you look at me! I know there's something you want to say. Maybe even someone told you about my past and how fucked up I am. It's not good for you or your brand. God knows, you'll probably lose so much." Mike's voice trembled with self-doubt and despair as he poured out his feelings to Nathan.

"I'm not the princess that you probably thought I was. That's why you're looking elsewhere. In fact, I'm probably the monster lurking in the shadows, ruining everyone else's lives. You may not have realized it until now, but it's true. I truly don't have any idea why we're together or trying to make it work. I destroy everything that I touch or come in contact with. I'm sure anyone can vouch for that. If you knew all the things I've done, how many people I've hurt, I promise you would want nothing to do with me. You really do deserve someone who can make you happy, someone who can make you proud. I'm not that person. In fact, I'm the furthest thing from it. I'm going to ruin your career and bring you down socially as well. You don't deserve that. You're such an amazing guy, and you deserve someone as great as you. I know for a fact that anyone who ends up with you will be so lucky, happy, and blessed. I wish it could be me, but unfortunately, we both know it's not."

His hand came up to wipe the tears from his eyes with the cuff of the sweatshirt he was wearing. "You want to know the type of person you're so-called in love with? The princess who can't seem to do no wrong! I hurt my mom when all she did was try to help me. I blackmailed my sister into staying quiet because I wanted to commit felonies. Yeah, I got arrested for breaking and entering because it was easier to break the law than to deal with my emotions. I actually broke into a police officer's house to look for a gun, which I was going to use to run away. I lashed out at basically everyone. You were probably wondering why I don't have many friends, that's why! I'm surprised my family is still around! Why Aria even lets me near Kate is beyond me! I slut-shamed her for multiple things and refused to stand up for her when it counted. I came between my mom and her happiness. I got involved with someone who literally tortured my sister and blamed her for it. Then I missed out on my parents getting remarried because I couldn't forgive my dad for what he did to her. Once again, proving what a fucking hypocrite I am." his heart weighed down by the burden of his past actions.

There was so much left unsaid, secrets that he hadn't revealed, but Mike wasn't sure he was going to hold it together before he completely and utterly fell apart. "I love you, Nathan. Let there be no doubt about that. It's insane how much I love you, or how much it will sadden and hurt me that I won't have you in my life. But I understand. Like I said, I knew this was bound to happen. I don't hate you or blame you for what you have to do. I'll never forget how you made me feel or the special moments we shared. I won't regret it, ever, despite how short it was. Although I'll save you the trouble of having to do it. Let's just go our separate ways and leave it. There's no point in ruining everything when things can still be amicable. I'll stay out of your way and won't bring up what happened. I only ask you to do the same. So... go back to your new girlfriend and the future the two of you will have. She said good things about you when i ran into the night of the bet was made. I wouldn't have gone for it if it wasn't for her. It wasn't a lie, and i know she'll appreciate you. Goodbye, Nathan." He turned around and reached for his keys when everything felt dizzy, and the world spun around him. Then, he fell to the ground as he fainted overwhelmed by everything and lack of food and water.

[tokyogruel]

💕 of course ruv will ask about favorite characters :3

RUUUUUVVV thank you<3 i got two asks for this prompt so i think i may answer this in two parts hehe

(link to pt2.)

💕 tell us about one of your favorite characters and why you like them!

^ i cant pick a favorite character to save my life so im going to talk about All of the characters & why i like them

part 1.

001. Sakurai Haruka

ive gone on a thousand rants about haruka and ill go on a thousand more. he breaks my heart, and his first MV was the entire reason i got into MILGRAM! i know i said it's hard to pick a favorite, but i feel it's a little obvious that he's my favorite... youve all seen my son

002. Kashiki Yuno

i really hope more people can look into yuno and talk about her more. ive gotten so stumped on who she is as a person- i need to know more!! i love both of her videos so much. all the attention is on her, her, her. she did what she had to do. i love this girl, shes so silly

003. Kajiyama Fuuta

you cant show me a character with explicit knight imagery and expect me to be normal about them. he's got a complex & im not here to make him better, im here to make him worse

004. Kusunoki Muu

she's actually the best girl. my little nonbinary bug. queen of self hatred & being beautiful. shes a lesbian, shes a boy, she's a princess & she deserves it. my sweet bug

005.

I CANT STAND THIS MOTHERFUCKEEEEERRRR AAGAHHHGGGGHHHHHHHHHHGAHHHHGGGGAHH (said while gripping a shidou body pillow and a ringbox)

[elgaberino-mcoc]

MCOC Wishlist Poll Snapshot: Entire Rankings

001 Mystique 002 Quicksilver 003 Beta Ray Bill 004 Sandman 005 Adam Warlock 006 Kitty Pryde 007 Lizard 008 Morbius the Living Vampire 009 Kraven the Hunter 010 Cloak & Dagger 011 Spider-Man 2099 012 Black Cat 013 Bullseye 014 Jessica Jones 015 Ares 016 Shang-Chi 017 Gladiator (Kallark) 018 Baron Zemo 019 Lady Deathstrike 020 Enchantress 021 Valkyrie MCU 022 Knull 023 Morgan le Fay 024 Scorpion 025 Captain Britain 026 Galactus 027 Dazzler 028 Silver Samurai 029 Black Knight 030 Dracula 031 Hobgoblin 032 Pyro 033 Fantomex 034 Spider-Woman 035 Jean Grey 90s 036 Silk 037 Polaris 038 Silver Sable 039 Sif 040 Anti-Venom 041 Mister Negative 042 Crystal 043 Legion 044 Shocker 045 Malekith the Accursed 046 Destroyer Armor 047 M'baku the Man-Ape 048 The Mandarin 049 Emplate 050 Multiple-Man 051 Shuri 052 Banshee 053 Onslaught 054 Warpath 055 Sunfire 056 Cannonball 057 Dark Phoenix 058 Blue Marvel 059 Prowler (Aaron Davis) 060 Okoye 061 Mockingbird 062 Spiral 063 Madame Hydra / Viper 064 Hydro-Man 065 Red She-Hulk 066 Agent Anti-Venom 067 Blackheart 068 Gorr the God-Butcher 069 Songbird 070 Quasar 071 Absorbing Man 072 Whiplash 073 Armor 074 Daimon Hellstrom 075 Wendigo 076 Nimrod 077 Graviton 078 Gwenom 079 Deathlok 080 Firestar 081 Vulcan 082 Wonder Man 083 Selene 084 Blob 085 Klaw 086 Rachel Summers 087 Thor (MCU Stormbreaker) 088 Shadow King 089 White Tiger 090 Tombstone 091 Jack O'Lantern 092 Valkyrie Classic 093 Toad 094 Moonstone 095 Weapon H 096 Jocasta 097 Dani Moonstar 098 Monica Rambeau 099 Wolfsbane 100 Franklin Richards 101 Ancient One 102 Arnim Zola 103 Exodus 104 Forge 105 Supergiant 106 Madelyne Pryor 107 Hank Pym 108 Hawkeye (Kate Bishop) 109 Negasonic Teenage Warhead 110 Spider-Man Noir 111 Phantom Rider 112 Blink 113 Sebastian Shaw 114 Clea 115 Black Tom Cassidy 116 Kurse 117 Danger 118 Daken 119 Omega Sentinel 120 Grim Reaper 121 Radioactive Man 122 Shatterstar 123 Darkstar 124 Werewolf by Night 125 Hope Summers 126 The Magus 127 Union Jack 128 Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) 129 Crimson Dynamo 130 Pixie 131 Conan 132 Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly) 133 Azazel 134 Jigsaw 135 Boom-Boom 136 Swarm 137 Xorn 138 Machine Man 139 Black Widow (Yelena Belova) 140 Madame Masque 141 Misty Knight 142 Chamber 143 Mistress Death 144 Skaar 145 Morlun 146 Thanos (Endgame) 147 Leader 148 Sleepwalker 149 Deacon Frost 150 Black Swan 151 Agent 13 (Sharon Carter) 152 Fin Fang Foom 153 Ka-Zar 154 Arcade 155 Iron Spider 156 Dust 157 Gorgon 158 Lash 159 Namora 160 A-Bomb (Rick Jones) 161 Ikaris 162 Nick Fury (Classic) 163 Rescue 164 Nico Minoru 165 Volstagg 166 Weapon Hex 167 Stingray 168 Maximus the Mad 169 Cyttorak 170 Skurge the Executioner 171 Doc Samson 172 Maverick / Agent Zero 173 Sauron 174 Baron Blood 175 Captain America Falcon 176 Wong 177 Mantis 178 Whirlwind 179 Firelord 180 Magma 181 Molecule Man 182 White Fox 183 Nova (Sam Alexander) 184 Satana 185 Dum Dum Dugan (LMD) 186 Holocaust 187 Shiklah 188 Valkyrie Moonstar 189 High Evolutionary 190 Bloodaxe 191 Magus (Technarch) 192 Nighthawk 193 Punisher: War Machine 194 Goliath (Bill Foster) 195 Nova (Frankie Raye) 196 Ghost Rider (Danny Ketch) 197 Dr. Cecilia Reyes 198 Sentinel X (Shogo Lee) 199 Thena 200 Hellcat 201 Cosmic Spider-Man 202 Attuma 203 Shroud 204 Doctor Nemesis 205 Siryn 206 Nate Grey 207 Iron Monger 208 Black Mamba 209 Agent Carter 210 Kluh 211 Tiger Shark 212 Purple Man 213 Snowbird 214 Ice-Thing 215 Lilandra 216 Superior Spider-Man 217 Thane 218 Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur 219 Jackal 220 Jean Grey (X-Men Red) 221 Punisher: Frankencastle 222 Puck 223 Rockslide 224 Red Ghost and his Super-Apes 225 Deathbird 226 Hydra Supreme 227 Strong Guy 228 Zarda the Power Princess 229 Sage 230 Quentin Quire (aka Kid Omega) 231 Prowler (Hobie Brown) 232 Slapstick 233 Stardust (Lambda Zero) 234 Titanium Man 235 D'spayre 236 Colleen Wing 237 Thunderbird (John Proudstar) 238 Iron Maiden 239 Gorilla-Man (Kenneth Hale) 240 Jack of Hearts 241 Titania 242 Avalanche 243 Toxic Doxie 244 Death’s Head 245 Impossible Man 246 Worthy Captain America (Mjölnir/Endgame) 247 Outlaw (Higgins) 248 Scarlet Spider II (Kaine Parker) 249 Beetle 250 Typhoid Mary 251 Bloodscream 252 Serpent (Cul Borson) 253 Ms. America Chavez 254 Ghost Rider (Reyes) 255 Hummingbird 256 Mercury 257 M (Monet St. Croix) 258 Black Tarantula 259 Spitfire 260 Wizard 261 Superior Octopus 262 Maria Hill 263 Minotaur (Dario Agger) 264 Echo 265 Morph 266 Karolina Dean 267 Zarathos 268 Thundra 269 Smasher (Kane) 270 Hyperstorm 271 Boomerang 272 Stature (Cassie Lang, AKA Stinger) 273 Meggan 274 Caliban 275 Hollow 276 Abyss (Styger) 277 Silverclaw 278 Red King 279 Doctor Druid 280 U.S. Agent 281 Sersi 282 Molten Man 283 Zzzax 284 Singularity 285 Agatha Harkness 286 Blastaar 287 Korvac 288 Citizen V 289 Carter Slade the Satan-Stomper 290 Post 291 Shuma-Gorath 292 Sin 293 Triton 294 Quasar (Kincaid) 295 Martinex 296 Iron Man (Mark I) 297 Wiccan 298 Speedball 299 Paladin 300 Amanda Sefton 301 Overmind 302 Diamondback (Rachel Leighton) 303 Feral 304 Charlie-27 305 Rom: Spaceknight 306 Juggerduck 307 The Uranian 308 Blazing Skull 309 Starfox 310 Living Laser 311 Hiro-Kala 312 Namorita 313 Jack Flag 314 Stormborn 315 Doctor Bong 316 Crescent & Io 317 Gamora mcu 318 Wave 319 Ironheart 320 Venom Rocket 321 Doctor Spectrum 322 Davos the Steel Serpent 323 Lady Hellbender 324 Falcon classic 325 Bloodstorm 326 Tempus (Eva Bell) 327 Voyager 328 No-Name the Brood 329 Demon Bear 330 Moondragon 331 Arachne 332 Aero 333 Andromeda 334 Speed Demon 335 Phyla-Vell 336 Xemnu the Living Hulk 337 Aleta 338 Araña 339 Human Torch (Jim Hammond) 340 Constrictor 341 Iso 342 Arkon 343 Genis-Vell 344 Shanna the She-Devil 345 Volcana 346 Batroc the Leaper 347 Arclight 348 Scientist Supreme 349 Yukio 350 N'kantu the Living Mummy 351 Gentle 352 Caiera the Oldstrong 353 Beetle (Janice Lincoln) 354 Penance (Baldwin) 355 Super-Adaptoid 356 Ajak 357 Future Colossus 358 Moses Magnum 359 Vampire by Night 360 Superia 361 Puppet Master 362 Chimera 363 Count Nefaria 364 Stick 365 Hellion 366 Agent May 367 Mister Hyde 368 Spot 369 Cobra 370 Doop 371 Lyja 372 Wrecker 373 Stargod/Man-Wolf 374 Stilt-Man 375 Machinesmith 376 Spider-Bitch 377 Madame Web 378 Corsair & Sikorsky 379 Thor (Groot) 380 Balder 381 Random 382 Power Man (Alvarez) 383 Starhawk 384 Sun-Girl (Selah Burke) 385 Arcanna 386 Scream 387 Kree Sentry 388 Agent Phil Coulson 389 Thunderstrike (Kevin) 390 Talos 391 Carmilla Black 392 Uatu 393 Jennifer Kale 394 Warwolf 395 Enigma (Aikku Jokinen, AKA Pod) 396 Belasco 397 Swordsman 398 Trevor Fitzroy 399 Dazzler Thor 400 Hepzibah 401 Atlas 402 Ogun 403 Yellowjacket (DeMara) 404 Hala the Accuser 405 Entropy 406 War Machine (Infinity War) 407 Animax 408 Captain Universe 409 Whizzer 410 Hogun the Grim 411 Cottonmouth (Clemens) 412 Blizzard 413 Storm (Queen of Wakanda) 414 Silhouette 415 Immortus 416 Beast (Hex-Men) 417 Solo 418 White Rabbit 419 Aurora 420 Equinox 421 Hellcow 422 Owl 423 Arsenic & Old Lace 424 Beetle mk iii 425 Valeria (Age of Conan) 426 Trapster 427 Throg 428 Mimic 429 Hulkling 430 Iron Lad 431 Angel (Black Vortex) 432 Marionette 433 Phastos 434 Hobgoblin 2099 435 Razor Fist 436 Asp 437 Baymax 438 Captain America (Peggy Carter) 439 Sp//dr 440 Tarantula (Kaine) 441 Silver Scorpion (Barstow) 442 Midnight Angels of Wakanda 443 Demolition Man 444 White Wolf (Hunter) 445 Synapse 446 Kingo 447 Grey Gargoyle 448 Gilgamesh the Forgotten One 449 Justice 450 Atlas Bear 451 Iron Fist (Orson Randall) 452 Victorious 453 Lincoln Campbell 454 Luna Snow 455 Zadkiel 456 Crystar 457 Husk 458 Gravity 459 Kaecilius 460 Marrina 461 Ghost Rider (Circle of Four) 462 Nighthawk Supremeverse 463 Fixer 464 Cardiac 465 Capwolf 466 Kull the Conqueror of Atlantis 467 Noh-Varr 468 Korath the Pursuer 469 Miss America (Joyce) 470 Blackjack O'Hare 471 Bi-Beast 472 Vance Astro 473 Bushmaster (Quincy) 474 Krugarr 475 Poundcakes 476 Yo-Yo 477 American Son 478 Mister M 479 Cottonmouth (Stokes) 480 Manphibian 481 Infamous Iron Man 482 Paibok the Power-Skrull 483 Shatter 484 Daredevil Shadowland 485 Nakia 486 Garrison Kane 487 Makkari 488 Elloe 489 Northstar 490 Spiderling 491 She-Hulk (Lyra) 492 Proteus 493 Grey Hulk 494 Doorman 495 Toro 496 Nuke 497 Acroyear 498 Blonde Phantom 499 Drax MCU 500 Orrgo 501 Marvel Girl NPC 502 Fandral the Dashing 503 Spider-Girl 504 Ms. Thing 505 Captain America 2099 506 Veranke 507 Haechi 508 Mulholland Black 509 Mighty Destroyer 510 Eclipse 511 Powell McTeague 512 Druig 513 Copycat 514 Terror 515 Ahab 516 God-Emperor Doom 517 Doombot (V Series) 518 Sword Master 519 Cyclone 520 Black Mariah 521 Zenzi 522 Thor: Herald of Thunder 523 3-D Man 524 Hulk Endgame 525 Tetu 526 Doctor Octopus (Liv Octavius) 527 Margali 528 Molly Hayes 529 Sinara 530 Aldrich Killian 531 Goldballs 532 Mindless Ones 533 Nikki Gold 534 Foolkiller 535 Darkwing Duck 536 Thunderstrike (Eric) 537 She-Thing (Ventura) 538 Killmonger (Emperor Symbiote) 539 Iron Duck 540 Ms. Marvel II (Ventura) 541 Spymaster 542 Scalphunter 543 Spider-Man (Miles Morales Movie) 544 Karn 545 Gun-R 546 Terminus 547 Achebe 548 Llyra 549 Bushmaster (John) 550 Sugar Man 551 Great Lakes Avengers 552 Xarggu 553 Human Fly (Deacon) 554 Shogun 555 Plantman 556 Brawn 557 Elixir 558 Litterbug 559 Smasher (Rokk) 560 Bug 561 Mammomax 562 Synch 563 Anaconda 564 Wolvie 565 Dirk Anger 566 Captain [****] 567 Ezekiel 568 Diamondback (Stryker) 569 Unworthy Thor 570 Master Mold 571 Masked Marauder 572 M.O.D.A.M. 573 Hellsgaard 574 Hulkbuster 2.0 575 Forgetmenot 576 Ghaur 577 Arcturus Rann 578 Ultimate Green Goblin (Movie) 579 Dragoness 580 Porcupine 581 M-11 582 Taskmaster MCU 583 Dansen Macabre 584 Lady Bullseye 585 Harpoon 586 Unicorn 587 Bushwacker 588 Loki variant 589 Night Nurse 590 Psyklop 591 Mack 592 Eel 593 Water Snake 594 Chaos King 595 Red Hulk (Maverick) 596 Kaluu 597 The Russian 598 Geena Drake 599 Jimmy Hudson 600 Slayback 601 Mentallo 602 Skull the Slayer 603 Karkas 604 Dominic Fortune 605 The Buzz 606 Doctor Crocodile 607 Ox 608 Dorrek VII 609 Needle 610 Krang 611 Dino-Thor 612 Stegron 613 Zeitgeist 614 [VACANT] 615 [VACANT] 616 [VACANT]

[kayawagner]

ZELART SCHOLARSHIP MEGABUNDLE [BUNDLE]

Publisher: Postmortem Studios

This special bundle product contains the following titles.

Zelart 001 - Male Faerie - ZIP FileZelart 002 - Peacock Dancer - ZIP FileZelart 003 - Armoured Shaman - ZIP FileZelart 004 - Unimpressed Trader - ZIP FileZelart 005 - Wandering Bard - ZIP FileZelart 006 - Saucy Blacksmith - ZIP FileZelart 007 - A Boy and his 'Dog' - ZIP FileZelart 008 - Overdressed Courtier - ZIP FileZelart 009 - Chain Gladiator - ZIP FileZelart 010 - Posing Princess - ZIP FileZelart 011 - 'Horny' Satyr Girl - ZIP FileZelart 012 - Magitech Knight - ZIP FileZelart 013 - Naga Diplomat - ZIP FileZelart 014 - Spinner of Webs - ZIP FileZelart 015 - Come on then! - ZIP FileZelart 016 - Blade Maiden - ZIP FileZelart 017 - Hammer, Nails - ZIP FileZelart 018 - The Many Armed - ZIP FileZelart 019 - The Puppet Master - ZIP FileZelart 020 - Trollish Huntress - ZIP FileZelart 021 - Winged Demon Prince - ZIP FileZelart 022 - Skeletal Imp - ZIP FileZelart 023 - Serpentine Demoness - ZIP FileZelart 024 - Grotesque Demon - ZIP FileZelart 025 - Crocodilian Demon - ZIP FileZelart 026 - Horned Imp - ZIP FileZelart 027 - Chubby Demon - ZIP FileZelart 028 - Horned Famine Demon - ZIP FileZelart 030 - Pig Demon - ZIP FileZelart 031 - Vulture Demon - ZIP FileZelart 032 - Posing Succubus - ZIP FileZelart 033 - Baps in the Belfrey - ZIP FileZelart 034 - Succubus Booty - ZIP FileZelart 035 - Sleepy Succubus - ZIP FileZelart 036 - Steampunk Clacker - ZIP FileZelart 037 - Steampunk Butler - ZIP FileZelart 038 - Steampunk Military - ZIP FileZelart 039 - Steampunk Navvy - ZIP FileZelart 039: Antagonistic Ape - ZIP FileZelart 040: Dragonhead Trophy - ZIP FileZelart 042: Elven Pair (Scholarship Winner 2013) - ZIP FileZelart 043: Tusk Serpent (Scholarship Winner 2014) - ZIP FileZelart 044: Elven Crystal Mage (Scholarship Donation) - ZIP FileZelart 045: Adventuring Party (Scholarship Donation) - ZIP FileZelart 046: Samurai-Ko & Dragons (Scholarship Donation) - ZIP FileZelart 047 - The Dragon Tome - Watermarked PDFZelart 047: Elven Butterfly Mask (Scholarship Winner) - ZIP FileZelart 048 - Sea Elf Pirate - ZIP FileZelart 049: Geckoman - ZIP FileZelart 050: Steampunk Lady & Octopus - ZIP FileZelart 051 - Scion of Bast - ZIP FileZelart 052 Cyberskull - ZIP FileZelart 053 Cyber Rock - ZIP FileZelart 054 Dark Elf Scout - ZIP FileZelart 055: Cartoon Cleric - ImageZelArt 056: Dark Elves - ImageZelart 057 Goblins - ImageZelart 058 Proud Knight - ImageZelArt 059 Mushroom Men - ImageZelart 060 Orcs - ImageZelart 061 Sneaky Thief - ImageZelart 062 Old School Wizard - ImageZelart 063: Messenger Magpie - ImageZelart 064: Mile Marker or Obelisk - ImageZelart 065: Vaporous Potion - ImageZelart 066: Occult Wax Seal - ImageZelArt 067: Wolf Statuettes - ImageZelart 068: Arrogant Deposed Space Princess - ImageZelArt 078: Alien Crab-Man - ImageZelart 079: Exotic Leader - ImageZelart 080: Strange Little Creature - ImageZelart 081: Strange Little Lizard - ImageZelart 082: Candle Rope - ImageZelart 083: Veiled Warrior - ImageZelart 084: Exotic Weaponry - ImageZelart 085: Frilled Lizard - ImageZelart 086: Rabbit type thing - ImageZelart 087: Gaudy, Arrogant Noble - ImageZelart 088: The Golem - ImageZelArt 089: Swamp Town - ImageZelart 090: Scheming Noble - ImageZelart 091: Wizened and Wise - ImageZelart 092 Fantastical Cityscape - ImageZelart 093: Coddled Noble/Merchant - ImageZelart 094: Weaselly Noble/Merchant - ImageZelart 095: Primitive Knot - ImageZelart 096: Sailing Port - ImageZelart 097: Canal Town and Port - ImageZelart 098: That's Fedorable - ImageZelart 099: Priestess - ImageZelArt 100: Fantasy Dancer - ImageZelart 29 - Shadow Demon - ZIP FileZelart041 - Shiny Rocks & Fossils - ZIP File

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Price: $289.52 ZELART SCHOLARSHIP MEGABUNDLE [BUNDLE] published first on https://supergalaxyrom.tumblr.com

[rencissancealpha]

Nathan had visibly softened when his eyes had found her; Julia. He'd gone from seeing one of the worst people possible to one of the best and it made his heart a lot lighter. When she was within reach he opened his arms and gave her a solid hug, lifting her off her feet in the process, "What're you doing here? Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, huh?" he quoted with a happy chuckle. Julia laughed as she was returned to the ground, smoothing herself down and replying, "We're shooting a campaign here for a couple of days and I got so bored of my hotel room- and you know me, I had to get out of there. The real question is what are you doing here?"

Before Nathan could respond, Connor had raised his voice and loudly let them know that he recognized the two of them and it took the boxer more self discipline not to roll his eyes and tell Connor exactly what to do with himself than he had ever used in all of his training up to now. He decidedly turned back from Connor and sighed softly, "Ignore him," he murmured to Julia, "I want you to meet the guy I've been telling you about. My Pr—" but, again, before Nathan could turn to pull Mike into the conversation, suddenly Connor was far too close for comfort and this time, Nathan couldn't hide his frown. The man became a true pest as each time Nathan tried to get Mike's attention, Connor would swiftly move into his way and bug him with a question or statement, all of which both Nathan and Julia brushed off - sadly, both of them used to some people behaving like this - but he didn't seem to get the hint.

Eventually, Nathan physically took Connor - albeit gently - by the shoulders and moved him out of his way so that he could speak to Mike, but by then he'd caught the other saying he would be walking Kate back to her parents and had started heading off, "No! Princess- wait!" he called after him, but it was too late. Nathan was visibly disappointed and Julia reached out a gentle hand and rubbed his arm and when he looked over she gave him a comforting look, "Don't worry, I was planning to hang around for a while - I'll meet him later," she offered and he sighed and nodded, watching Mike disappear into the crowd. It was true fate that he got a chance to introduce the two and it meant a lot to him that they would. But, Julia was right, Mike had said he was just dropping Kate off and after that the three of them could spend some time together and hang out. Connor seemed affronted at Nathan having physically moved him out of the way but now that Mike wasn't there, he had no reason to pretend to want to interact with the guy so he began to flat out ignore him and he offered Julia his arm, "He's even prettier than his pictures," she smiled and Nathan blushed as they began to walk slowly and catch up,

It would seem that fate was in a festive mood herself this evening as it wasn't a few minutes before Nathan bumped into Aria and the rest of the Montgomery clan and he smiled widely as he greeted them, Kate clearly buzzing with her new toy and the fun and sugar of the fair all kicking in. He introduced Julia to them and then looked confusedly at Aria, "Where's my Princess?" he asked, looking around, "He said he was bringing Kate to you and then I thought he would be coming back?" Nathan's anxiety immediately spiked when Aria failed to hide the concerned look on her face and explained that Mike said he was leaving because he didn't feel well. Nathan's heart sank because Mike had told him that he was feeling fine. Something had been off since they'd run into that Connor guy- no, it had been off before that and he had chalked it up to Mike being sick but if Mike was just sick, he would've told him that he felt that way and told him that he was leaving. There was more to it. He apologized to Julia and told her he needed to find Mike immediately and she nodded with complete understanding, already pushing for him to move in the direction that Aria had pointed him.

Nathan began sprinting towards the exit he'd been told Mike had headed towards, nimbly and dexterously weaving through the crowd, his eyes darting everywhere. He got to the exit-slash-entrance of the fair and he finally spotted him, "Princess! Mike!" he called, sprinting towards him and without having to see the other's face or even from the front, he knew that Mike was upset and when he reached him he immediately pulled him into his arms, "Hey, hey, hey-" he said softly, "What's going on, baby?" he asked, his chest rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath but all he cared about was Mike right now and his instincts were right about the other being upset as he soon heard him quietly crying, and he let him press his face into his chest, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here, I'm right here, angel. You're safe," he said soothingly, rubbing Mike's back and pressing a kiss to the top of his head as they stood in the slight darkness of the exit, the noise of the fair a bit more distorted and distant now.

From Nathan's demeanor, the look in his eyes, and his body language, Mike sensed that something was off. It resembled the reaction Nathan had whenever Travis was around or mentioned, but this one seemed even more intense. There was no way Nathan could know Connor or about their history—unless someone had told him, which caused Mike to panic for a moment before realizing it would have to come up in conversation. But no one would bring it up; it was all in the past. It had to be jealousy, maybe. Though it didn't quite make sense, considering Nathan was likely going to break up with him. Unless there was still a chance that deep down, Nathan still had feelings for him. Or perhaps Nathan could read that Mike was nervous and almost scared of Connor, not that he actually was, but more or less afraid of what he could say. It meant that Mike would have to swallow his pride and everything else.

There was no doubt in Mike's mind that he needed to take control of the conversation and steer it away from potentially explosive territory. He had already had a close call, and if Connor hadn't changed, he would love the opportunity to talk about himself as long as Mike stroked his ego. It was the only thing Mike could do to prevent the situation from blowing up in his face, while also hoping Nathan wouldn't say or do anything to set off Connor. Mike could already hear the insults in his head: "Crazy Montgomery made some friends at the psych ward," "Psychotics stick together, huh?" or "Is he off your meds like you were?" And then there was the possibility of what Nathan might say. But Mike forced himself to stop dwelling on those thoughts, feeling his emotions start to bubble up. For now, at least, Nathan seemed to be playing nice. But Mike knew he had to tread carefully.

Mike hadn't expected anyone else to enter the scene, but all attention turned to her. Nathan and the mysterious girl were so focused on each other as if the rest of the world faded away. Connor seemed to move closer to him, whispering something just loud enough for Mike to hear: "Who's the hottie?" Normally, Mike would have rolled his eyes at the comment, but he was too distracted. He had always wondered who the girl was; he hadn't seen her since that night. He knew almost everyone from Travis' team and eventually got to know everyone on Nathan's side as well, and hung around the venue to know the staff there. But not once had he seen the girl again, and yet here she was, apparently acquainted with Connor. "Damn, I was going to ask if she was single, but I guess not," Connor remarked, causing Mike's heart to drop. He closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath to try not to overthink things.

"Oh! Wait a minute, now I know who you two are or where I know you from!" Connor exclaimed loudly, reaching for his phone to search something up before showing them. "You're a model for one of the clothing brands I wear, and you're a famous boxer. I thought you looked and sounded familiar, but I didn't think you were the Nathan McIntyre." He pushed the phone into Mike's hand and went to chat with the two celebrities. Mike's hands scrolled from photo, to photo, to photo, feeling sick to his stomach. He couldn't brush it off as jealousy because Nathan had the same look on his face when Mike looked at him. Did they used to date? Did she push them together in an attempt to show Nathan what he had and to get them back together? Was this all part of some long con? Mike felt his heart slowly start to crumble.

He always thought she was some sort of figurative angel sent to bring them together, but now he wasn't so sure. She seemed to personally know Nathan when she spoke about him. Handing Connor his phone back, Mike knew he needed to get out of there. Kate wasn't paying attention to the group, focused instead on her bear and the fair around them. "Hey, let's get you back to your mom, okay? I know she wanted to take some pictures on the carousel and go on the ferris wheel with you and your dad," Mike said, trying to sound cheerful. Kate nodded excitedly.

"Hey, I'm going to bring Kate back to Aria and Ezra…" he trailed off, realizing no one was really paying attention. He just grabbed her hand and began walking, feeling his heart shatter into a million pieces. He could brush it off as Nathan being a really good model, but that would mean that look was fake, which also meant Nathan could have faked his feelings for Mike. It had happened before they got together, so it could be explained as Nathan thinking of him. Either he had feelings for this girl, or it was all a lie. Luckily, he spotted Aria not too far away. She seemed to be having fun, but one look at Mike made her concerned and aware that something was wrong. "I'm not feeling well and would rather not ruin anyone's time here, so I'm going to head home. Nathan ran into some 'friends,' and I didn't want to leave Kate with him. I'll see you later, take lots of pictures, and Kate, be good, okay? I owe you," Mike said, pressing a kiss on Kate's head. Aria didn't seem to fully believe him, but she didn't have a chance to say anything else as Mike bolted toward the exit.

He wasn't sure if he even wanted to head home at this point. Nathan was staying with them, and even if he wanted to come back, Nathan didn't even seem to notice Mike's departure. Maybe he would stay in a hotel or even hop on a plane back to his apartment. But Nathan knew where he lived and would probably seek him out. Perhaps he would ask Travis to let him move in. It was a matter of time, Mike should have known that Nathan was out of his league and everything was too good to be true. Tears began forming in his eyes as the world became blurry. He could hear someone shouting his name, but he didn't care or make out who. All he wanted was to be left alone.

[alphamalesprincess]

Despite the lingering feeling that Mike wasn't getting any better, or any worse for that matter, he decided to suck it up and attend the Christmas fair. They had put it off until he was feeling much better, but whatever bug he had seemed to come and go. Everyone had been urging him to see a doctor, but Mike was adamant about waiting until after the holidays. It was only after he made the appointment and showed them proof of it that people hid their concern and didn’t bug him as much.

There had been tension between the two, with Nathan looking at him like he wanted to say something. Nathan seemed to be more affectionate than usual, which both comforted and scared Mike a bit. If experience was anything to go by, it was a bad sign. Still, he pushed those thoughts aside, especially since they hadn't really had much alone time lately, with Nathan staying in the family guest room.

The fair was on its second-to-last day, with the last day falling on Christmas Eve. They could still attend, but they wouldn't be able to spend as much time together, given the pre-Christmas preparations that needed to be done. Kate, however, was the most excited, eager to get a giant teddy bear. Mike had offered his own, but she insisted it belonged to him, as his boyfriend had given it to him.

As they walked through the fairgrounds, Mike held Kate's hand, feeling a major craving for all the food he saw, though he was starting to notice he was gaining a little weight. Clothes felt tighter and Mike had started to wear baggy clothes to hide it. He wondered if Nathan was fully aware of it, and perhaps that's why they hadn't been intimate in a while. The last thing Mike wanted was for Nathan to be even more disgusted by him. Maybe the male was planning to end things. His answer to that was to hit the gym and go on a strict diet as soon as he got better or returned home. "What do you want to do first?" Mike asked Nathan, trying to focus on enjoying the fair with him. “There is lot, we can go on rides, play games, watch some shows” he suggested even though he felt himself hungry. Mike couldn’t blame it on an empty stomach as it’s been a day and a half since he’s thrown up. // @rencissancealpha

[rencissancealpha]

Nathan stood tall and imposing, unmoved by the other's words as he narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out who this was and why he scared Mike so much. He stayed silent and listening- then he heard it; the guy's name. Connor. It immediately clicked into place and Nathan felt his blood boil within seconds. This was apparently the guy that made Travis seem like an angel for how he treated Mike, and by extension, his sister. Nathan's muscles tensed, his powerful body quickly flitting between the decision to keep the peace or to knock the guy's lights out. He looked like a scumbag and he had a face just like Travis did- one that begged to get punched. Nathan's eyes stared daggers into the guy as his reflexive mind worked overtime- he wasn't supposed to know who Connor was, not as far as Mike knew. His next thought was that Connor wasn't Travis; in the sense that he didn't have a legal excuse to beat the crap out of him and walk away. If he started a fight, right here in public, there would be consequences and not to mention Kate, the tiny new light in his life, was only a step or two away and the last thing he wanted to do was scare her. As much as he hated it, he quickly realized that he was going to have the be the bigger person here, despite everything.

"Uncle Nathan ..." Kate's small voice managed to ring through the din of the fair and he felt a tug at his pants, he turned his eyes from Connor and to Kate's, his expression immediately softening, "... Should I get the brown one or the pink one?" she asked, pointing at the bears she could pick from and he took a deep breath, letting it out and trying to calm himself down, smiling genuinely at her, crouching down and turning his attention to her as he heard Mike speaking to Connor, "You know, Uncle Mike's favorite color is pink," he said softly for just her to hear, "That's the color for princesses," he whispered and she giggled with delight, clearly well distracted from the situation that had momentarily caused her stress earlier. He straightened back up and motioned for the booth owner that they would take the pink one, thanking him and handing Kate her prize. He'd heard most of what Connor and Mike had been saying and by the time he turned back towards them, he had gathered himself a bit more. Luckily he hadn't seen Mike hug the other as that might've incited a lot more of a reaction out of him and made it significantly harder than it already was to keep his cool and play along. He looked down at Connor's extended hand and for a moment considered not taking it, not wanting to give this lowlife any courtesy but, glancing over at Mike and seeing his wide, hopeful eyes. From what he knew, Mike wasn't lying about how he knew Connor, but he also wasn't saying the whole truth. Yet again. Despite this, Nathan stayed resolute in his decision to be the bigger man and did so, shaking Connor's hand briefly.

Nathan began to grind his teeth a little, staying cordial and also thinking that maybe this might be a good thing- maybe this would finally be the catalyst to getting Mike to open up to him about his past. Suddenly, he heard his name being called; it was a female voice and instinctively, he assumed it was Aria looking to collect Kate who was gurgling contently with her bear in one arm and the other wrapped around one of Nathan's legs. But when he turned to look, he couldn't see Aria anywhere and confusedly scanned the crowd around them for a few moments, trying to figure out who called him until the woman who had broke through close enough for him to lock eyes right on her and he smiled widely, his demeanor completely changing, and even letting out a pleasantly surprised laugh as he called, "Hey, you!"

It felt like life was conspiring to knock him down when he was already at his lowest. All his past lies, mistakes, and secrets seemed to be catching up with him, and the stakes couldn't have been higher. If Nathan discovered his troubled past, he would surely end their relationship without a second thought. And if Travis found out about Nathan, Mike would be left alone. Rumors would spread like wildfire, and Mike would face judgment and shame for his actions. The thought made Mike sick to his stomach. Thankfully, the only people who knew about Connor and the situation were his parents, Aria, Ezra, and himself. The rest of the town only heard rumors and gossip, and nothing ever came of it. Besides, it all happened in high school, so many people dismissed it as youthful mistakes. But what would Nathan think?

Mike felt trapped between a rock and a hard place, uncertain about what to do next. Normally, he would have welcomed Nathan's presence, but his slip-ups and protective behavior only added to the tension. Connor's expression shifted from surprise to confusion as he addressed Nathan, "Who are you? Are you family, or… Did you and Travis break up?" Mike knew he had to intervene before things spiraled out of control. "No, no, it's a misunderstanding! Just give me a second," he said, gently setting Kate down and approaching the booth. The guy running it looked ready to intervene if needed. Mike noticed him hesitate before informing them that Mike had won and could choose a prize. Though he still had more shots left, but the guy must have saw it as a chance to diffuse the tension. "Kate, why don't you pick out what you want, okay?" he suggested, diverting her attention to the giant teddy bears. Turning back to Nathan and Connor, Mike stepped in front of them, forcing another smile and going in for a forced bro hug. Despite how much he hated and despised Connor, Nathan couldn't know or suspect anything. it would lead to questions and conversations that he wasn't ready to have. "Connor, good to see you again. Nathan, this is Connor. We went to the same high school and played on the lacrosse team together. Nathan works with Travis, and we're all good friends. Nathan didn't have any holiday plans, so we invited him to join us. Unfortunately, Travis had some last-minute work thing come up, so it's just us two," Mike explained, hoping to smooth over the situation and avoid any further questions or suspicions from Connor.

Connor seemed to relax, and Mike hoped that Nathan would buy and play into the cover story he had just spun. He knew that many people weren't closely following Travis' boxing career or his personal life, and maybe not recognize Nathan. While they might follow him, Travis or Nathan on social media, neither of them had posted about their relationship, providing some anonymity. Mike forced a smile as Connor extended his hand to Nathan. "Nice to meet you and know that Montgomery's has friends. He was a bit of a—" Mike quickly interjected, not wanting Connor to say too much. "Yeah, so what brings you to the fair? Are you visiting, or do you still live here?" Mike asked, trying to steer the conversation in a safer direction. He had no idea what kind of person Connor had become, or if he was still the same jerk he'd always been. Every fiber of Mike's being wanted to punch him for what he'd done to him and his sister. Just as the conversation was about to continue, Nathan's name was being shouted. Mike turned in the direction of the noise and saw the woman he had encountered in the bathroom walking towards them. She was the same person who had advised him to go on the date, or go through the bet that Nathan and Travis made.

[rencissancealpha]

Nathan could sense how tense Mike was, but, again, he shrugged it off and didn't take it personally. Maybe being around family was triggering for Mike, all things considered from what he knew of Mike's past, maybe he was feeling sick despite what he said, maybe the stress of having your not-really-boyfriend around and trying to dodge everyone's questions was a lot for him- the more Nathan thought about it, the more reasons he found that the other would validly be on edge and he accepted that and continued trying his best to be a rock for the other, a source of comfort and safety during tumultuous times.

One day, Mike would look back on this holiday with him and he wanted to make sure they had nothing but sweet memories to reminisce over. Kate was on top form and he loved that she got to share in these moments with them. She would point and be amazed at various things and he would nod and smile, encouraging her. He felt like a real part of Mike's life, like a part of his family- and that brought him more joy and comfort than words could describe. Mike suddenly pulled away and he looked over, surprised for a moment but then smiling when he saw the direction he was headed, "Look what Uncle Mike found!" he said excited with Kate, "Let's cheer for him, Kate- c'mon, Uncle Mike, woop woop!" he cheered cutely with the little girl on his hip, laughing happily at her joining in with him. His heart was so full and his eyes were filled with stars and hearts as he watched Mike, continuing to cheer even when he missed a few hoops. He hadn't heard someone calling to Mike but he noticed the other suddenly whipping around and he looked over to see who it was.

From where he was standing, the noise of the fair and the little but loud Kate on his hip, Nathan hadn't heard the first few words exchanged between Mike and the mystery man and Nathan walked in closer, smiling widely and warmly, "Hey, what's up? You must be a friend of Pr- Mike's," he said, holding his hand out before the scene fully registered to him. Being a professional fighter, Nathan's reflexes and reaction time was significantly quicker than the average person and time almost slowed as he suddenly picked up some key information— one; Mike's face seemed to drain of all color and it wasn't the look he had when he was about to be sick, it was fear. Two; Kate suddenly clung more tightly to his side, burying her face against his neck and turning away from the man. Three; the look on the man's face was undeniably maniacal. Nathan's protective instincts flared within split-seconds and he smoothly retracted his hand and instinctively moved to stand in front of Mike, covering most of him - shielding him.

"Buddy, I don't know who you are or what the deal is- but we're actually in the middle of a family thing right now and you're not part of that, so ..." he said calmly and gently handed Kate over to Mike to hold so that his hands were free if this were to progress in any kind of way, "... I suggest you just say your goodbyes and be on your way, okay?"

As Nathan continued to show him affection and act lovingly, Mike knew he had to create distance between them. Getting too involved would only deepen the hurt in the end. Yet, he had to maintain the façade of normalcy to avoid a public scene and ruin the holiday spirit. After all, he was the one who had invited Nathan in the first place. Mike was skilled at concealing his emotions and pretending everything was fine; he had years of practice, so a few more days wouldn't be a problem. One thing was certain: he couldn't let his family grow too attached to Nathan. He wouldn't be sticking around for long. The last thing Mike needed was his family prying and reminiscing about how great Nathan was, how well they fit together, and how much they missed him. All he wanted was to bury his feelings and pretend they had never been a couple.

One thing Mike refused to let Nathan do was ruin Kate's chance to win that bear. Not only would it tie a memory to Nathan, but Mike knew he wouldn't be able to just get rid of it. He was determined not to bring any unhappiness to his niece, even if it meant having to associate Nathan with the bear. Perhaps he needed to revert to his old self, the one who hid his feelings and thoughts from everyone. His train of thought was interrupted once again by Nathan's cheerful voice, the man seemingly having the time of his life despite the circumstances. Mike pushed aside the uncomfortable feeling that washed over him at Nathan's compliment. He forced another smile onto his face, finding it easier with each passing moment.

Mike's body tensed up as Nathan held him, but he didn't allow himself to relax or melt into the embrace as he used to. It was becoming increasingly difficult, but Mike had to resist. He could only hope Nathan didn't notice. "No, I'm not hungry," Mike said, shaking his head. "If I do get hungry, I'll grab something or let you know." He shrugged his shoulders, brushing off the physical affection as merely friendly. Fortunately, Kate joined them, putting an end to any potential awkwardness or confrontations. Mike scanned the area, looking for one of the games with the giant bears Kate wanted so badly. Ignoring the thoughts about how great of a dad Nathan would be—he was so good with Kate—Mike hesitantly took Nathan's hand as they began to move. The crowd was larger than expected, with a few familiar faces, but everyone seemed lost in their own enjoyment, paying no attention to Mike. Finally spotting a hoop shot game, Mike quickly pulled his hand away, walking ahead to pay for a couple of rounds before Nathan could intervene. He could sense them behind him, especially when Kate struggled to decide which bear she wanted. Mike began shooting hoops, missing a few shots when someone called out his name. The voice was all too familiar, causing Mike's heart to race and a panic attack to bubble up inside him. There stood the last person he ever wanted to see—or thought he would see—Connor. "C-Connor?" Mike stammered, watching as the smirk he knew all too well spread across Connor's face. "Montgomery, it's been a while. I didn't think I'd see you here. Last I heard, you and Travis ran out of town the moment you graduated. Is he here too?"

[alphamalesprincess]

As Nathan continued to show him affection and act lovingly, Mike knew he had to create distance between them. Getting too involved would only deepen the hurt in the end. Yet, he had to maintain the façade of normalcy to avoid a public scene and ruin the holiday spirit. After all, he was the one who had invited Nathan in the first place. Mike was skilled at concealing his emotions and pretending everything was fine; he had years of practice, so a few more days wouldn't be a problem. One thing was certain: he couldn't let his family grow too attached to Nathan. He wouldn't be sticking around for long. The last thing Mike needed was his family prying and reminiscing about how great Nathan was, how well they fit together, and how much they missed him. All he wanted was to bury his feelings and pretend they had never been a couple.

One thing Mike refused to let Nathan do was ruin Kate's chance to win that bear. Not only would it tie a memory to Nathan, but Mike knew he wouldn't be able to just get rid of it. He was determined not to bring any unhappiness to his niece, even if it meant having to associate Nathan with the bear. Perhaps he needed to revert to his old self, the one who hid his feelings and thoughts from everyone. His train of thought was interrupted once again by Nathan's cheerful voice, the man seemingly having the time of his life despite the circumstances. Mike pushed aside the uncomfortable feeling that washed over him at Nathan's compliment. He forced another smile onto his face, finding it easier with each passing moment.

Mike's body tensed up as Nathan held him, but he didn't allow himself to relax or melt into the embrace as he used to. It was becoming increasingly difficult, but Mike had to resist. He could only hope Nathan didn't notice. "No, I'm not hungry," Mike said, shaking his head. "If I do get hungry, I'll grab something or let you know." He shrugged his shoulders, brushing off the physical affection as merely friendly. Fortunately, Kate joined them, putting an end to any potential awkwardness or confrontations. Mike scanned the area, looking for one of the games with the giant bears Kate wanted so badly. Ignoring the thoughts about how great of a dad Nathan would be—he was so good with Kate—Mike hesitantly took Nathan's hand as they began to move. The crowd was larger than expected, with a few familiar faces, but everyone seemed lost in their own enjoyment, paying no attention to Mike. Finally spotting a hoop shot game, Mike quickly pulled his hand away, walking ahead to pay for a couple of rounds before Nathan could intervene. He could sense them behind him, especially when Kate struggled to decide which bear she wanted. Mike began shooting hoops, missing a few shots when someone called out his name. The voice was all too familiar, causing Mike's heart to race and a panic attack to bubble up inside him. There stood the last person he ever wanted to see—or thought he would see—Connor. "C-Connor?" Mike stammered, watching as the smirk he knew all too well spread across Connor's face. "Montgomery, it's been a while. I didn't think I'd see you here. Last I heard, you and Travis ran out of town the moment you graduated. Is he here too?"

Nathan hadn't really taken Mike's outburst too seriously when it happened. It wasn't the first time the other had snapped a little sharply at him since he'd been feeling ill. But, the world renowned boxing champion took it in stride and didn't take it personally, knowing full well that Mike was ill and he didn't expect him to be all sunshine and rainbows when he was clearly feeling ill- that wouldn't be fair to either of them. That was why he'd just kissed the other's temple soothingly afterwards, a subtle and physical way to offer the other some love and kindness and to help calm him down. Nathan wasn't scared of the other being emotional or worried about him being less than perfect- in fact, it was the opposite, he cherished the other for being himself and he was also grateful that despite feeling sick and temperamental, Mike still allowed him to stay and to be close to him. He didn't look too closely or critically at Mike's actions, knowing and trusting in their bond more than a superficial mood swing or two.

Nathan smiled when Mike promised to win the bear for Kate, which is what he'd offered to do for the little one, but it was a sweet moment and he figured that the other must be feeling much stronger than he had seemed lately. He nodded and with a few comically large final bites, he finished his food so that he'd have a free hand to record. He wiped the greasy hand on the napkin it came with before tossing it in a near trash can, then pulling his phone out to catch a few clips and shots of Kate on the ride in front of them, cheering her name whenever she spun into view and within earshot and in some of the clips he included a shot of Mike in the foreground, smiling in his signature goofy, love-struck way when he did, narrating as he took the video, "There is the most precious girl in the world ..." he said out loud for the video, zooming in on Kate in the near-distance, then zooming out and panning to Mike, "... and there's the most beautiful boy in the world."

After a couple minutes, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and his arm back around Mike, holding him close and letting out a happy sigh as he looked out at the fair. He was truly happy and content - a combination of feelings he'd found himself in more often than not since he'd arrived for the holidays. "You really don't wanna eat?" he asked, gesturing to Mike's treat, "I can get you something else? What're you in the mood for, Princess? You can have anything you want," he hummed, pressing a kiss to the top of Mike's head, rubbing the arm he held. Kate's ride came to an end not long after that and Nathan moved to collect her, picking her easily up off the seat and deciding to rest her on his hip and carry her for a bit- something the little girl seemed quite happy with and he received a tight hug and another thank you for the ride. Nathan felt that surge of happiness and contentment again as he reached out and took Mike's hand with his free one and they started off again, "Let's go find that bear now, huh?" he said to Kate excitedly.

[rencissancealpha]

Nathan hadn't really taken Mike's outburst too seriously when it happened. It wasn't the first time the other had snapped a little sharply at him since he'd been feeling ill. But, the world renowned boxing champion took it in stride and didn't take it personally, knowing full well that Mike was ill and he didn't expect him to be all sunshine and rainbows when he was clearly feeling ill- that wouldn't be fair to either of them. That was why he'd just kissed the other's temple soothingly afterwards, a subtle and physical way to offer the other some love and kindness and to help calm him down. Nathan wasn't scared of the other being emotional or worried about him being less than perfect- in fact, it was the opposite, he cherished the other for being himself and he was also grateful that despite feeling sick and temperamental, Mike still allowed him to stay and to be close to him. He didn't look too closely or critically at Mike's actions, knowing and trusting in their bond more than a superficial mood swing or two.

Nathan smiled when Mike promised to win the bear for Kate, which is what he'd offered to do for the little one, but it was a sweet moment and he figured that the other must be feeling much stronger than he had seemed lately. He nodded and with a few comically large final bites, he finished his food so that he'd have a free hand to record. He wiped the greasy hand on the napkin it came with before tossing it in a near trash can, then pulling his phone out to catch a few clips and shots of Kate on the ride in front of them, cheering her name whenever she spun into view and within earshot and in some of the clips he included a shot of Mike in the foreground, smiling in his signature goofy, love-struck way when he did, narrating as he took the video, "There is the most precious girl in the world ..." he said out loud for the video, zooming in on Kate in the near-distance, then zooming out and panning to Mike, "... and there's the most beautiful boy in the world."

After a couple minutes, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and his arm back around Mike, holding him close and letting out a happy sigh as he looked out at the fair. He was truly happy and content - a combination of feelings he'd found himself in more often than not since he'd arrived for the holidays. "You really don't wanna eat?" he asked, gesturing to Mike's treat, "I can get you something else? What're you in the mood for, Princess? You can have anything you want," he hummed, pressing a kiss to the top of Mike's head, rubbing the arm he held. Kate's ride came to an end not long after that and Nathan moved to collect her, picking her easily up off the seat and deciding to rest her on his hip and carry her for a bit- something the little girl seemed quite happy with and he received a tight hug and another thank you for the ride. Nathan felt that surge of happiness and contentment again as he reached out and took Mike's hand with his free one and they started off again, "Let's go find that bear now, huh?" he said to Kate excitedly.

There was no holding back the laugh that escaped when he saw Nathan take a bite. He probably should have warned him that, although it looked like a corndog, it wasn't meant to be eaten like one—delicious but very messy. Despite his amusement, he composed himself and offered Nathan an apologetic and sympathetic smile. However, his expression quickly shifted when Nathan began to show concern for him. "No, I'm just not hungry," he said, trying to play it off, though panic began to flutter within him. His anxiety only heightened when Nathan reached out to touch his stomach. Part of him wanted to swat his hand away; surely he could feel the weight he'd gained. "No! I mean, no, I just want to spend as much time as I can with her since it'll be a while before I come back," he interjected, forcing a smile onto his face to mask his unease. Fortunately, a distraction arrived in the form of Kate, who had gotten too excited and nearly wandered off ahead of them. He reached out to pat her head as they continued walking.

Mike nodded his head in agreement, though he knew he wouldn't be indulging in food, no matter how much he craved it. Perhaps he'd persuade Aria to sneak one for him to enjoy in secret. He'd just have to ensure he kept track of his calories for the day or take an early morning walk to burn it off. Nathan's words, though kind, sent a surge of panic through Mike. Maybe Nathan sensed that Mike was aware of his plans, and was trying to make it seem as his weight and body weren't the issue. Mike felt like he might be sick, but he forced a smile onto his face despite the urge to cry. "Thank you," he responded, his voice strained. The hoodie he wore happened to be one of the only baggy ones he owned, a result of a sizing mix-up when he bought it. Surprisingly, it worked in his favor now, providing some comfort.

He fought the urge to correct Kate when she called Nathan "uncle." After all, they weren't married or engaged. But if he did, Nathan might suspect something and act on it. The worst part was the anticipation, knowing that it was coming. He just wanted Nathan to get it over with. Yet, perhaps he should cherish the last few moments they had together. It was a relief that he hadn't broken up with Travis. At least he wouldn't be alone, even though he had also noticed changes in Travis's appearance lately. Mike was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't realize they had already boarded the ride. "Oh, you can go ahead and record. I'm sure Aria and Ezra will want to ride with her again. Besides, you can always send it to me," he said, forcing another smile. Kate reached for his hand, eliciting a genuine smile from him. "You've been so good, so after this, I'll win you that bear you want," he promised, noticing how her happiness seemed to intensify. Maybe all he needed to distract himself was to focus on doing the things he loved with the people who loved him.

[rencissancealpha]

Nathan took a huge bite of the deep-fried fair delicacy, laughing when some of, what he assumed was melted cheese, spilled from the food unexpectedly and down his chin and his eyes went wide, pulling the bite from his face which only made the cheese stringier. He pointed at how silly he looked with the mess to Mike, still laughing with his mouth full and using the napkin to clear it off. He looked concerned when Mike said he didn't feel hungry, swallowing his bite so he could speak again, "Are you not feeling well again, baby?" he asked, his hand moving from Mike's back to his stomach, "We can sit down for a bit- Kate can go hang out with her folks and we can rest," he offered sweetly, wrapping his arm now around Mike's shoulders to hold him closer as they slowly walked, "Kate," he called out sternly but gently when the other was a step or two too far for his comfort and the little one's ears immediately perked and she apologized before stopping and waiting for them to get closer before continuing again, happily munching at her treat.

"Tell you what, you hold onto it while I finish mine and have a couple nibbles," he suggested, "Then, if you still want me to have it, then I will, okay?" he smiled kindly, hoping the other would find his appetite before then as he knew Mike had been looking forward to the fair and all it had to offer and also he just liked seeing the other happy and providing for him. "Did I tell you yet how pretty you look tonight?" he asked, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Mike's temple, "You always look so good in pink," he hummed. He meant every word, though, truth be told, Mike would look pretty to him if he wore a trash bag. He took another bite of his food as they walked, consciously walking slower in case Mike was feeling nauseated again. He nodded and reacted enthusiastically whenever Kate would turn around to point out something excitedly. He stopped them at a stall to get drinks for everyone to help wash down the food before they carried on.

"Uncle Nathan! Can I go on that one please?" Kate suddenly cried out excited, pointing at a dainty and ornate carousel ride, "Of course you can, sweetheart," he nodded, looking to Mike to see if he was in agreement before they moved to stand in the line. Within a couple minutes, Nathan paid the man up front, passing his food and drink to Mike to hold momentarily and helped Kate up onto one of the beautiful unicorn figures at the very edge of the ride so they would have clear vision of her with each spin around. Once the ride started, Nathan took the food and drink back in his hands, "Do you wanna take some photos or record this?" he suggested sweetly, "I'll hold your stuff if you do," he nodded, shifting things around so he could. They now stood on their own, out of earshot from Kate who squealed with utter delight and who waved at them each time she managed to find them again, "Or, if you wanna eat, I can take some on my phone."

It was evident that his parents wanted explanations and had questions regarding Travis and Nathan, but they didn't really get a chance to ask as they were never left alone. His sister explained a bit, but didn't go into much detail, knowing it was Mike's business. That at least fended them off for a bit longer, but it didn't put everything to an end. Mike caught the looks that both his mother and father shared whenever Nathan showed any affection towards him. There were also the strange looks exchanged between Aria and Nathan. It was clear that something was going on between all of them, but Mike was dealing with too much to actually get to the bottom of it.

Mike silently waited for the moment when Nathan would dump him. He felt it was due to happen any day now. Maybe Nathan was waiting until the holidays ended, or perhaps that's why he had flown out in the first place. However, with Mike's stomach bug, Nathan had held off. It made sense why Nathan was being extra affectionate and gentle but still kept some distance. Maybe he had heard things about Mike and decided that he had too many flaws and baggage. Perhaps Nathan had realized that Mike wasn't the innocent, pure, and perfect person he thought he was. Or he got tired of being Mike's secret.

His free hand played with the string of his hoodie, feeling disgusted with himself for allowing his weight to increase and becoming less appealing. Nobody wanted a fat, out-of-shape guy, he thought. Nathan wanted someone he could show off and be proud of. It was no wonder why Nathan didn't want to touch him anymore. The man couldn't keep his hands off him before, but now it felt like that was the last thing he wanted to do. Mike didn't feel sexy anymore. He felt himself getting emotional again, but quickly composed himself before anyone could notice.

The family had split up, with Kate tagging along with them for the sake of getting her giant bear. Aria had told them that if Kate became too much or they wanted alone time, they could take her. Although his niece was the furthest thing from a burden and acted as a nice buffer from the awkwardness and tension that was growing between them. Nathan seemed happy and like he was enjoying everything, but Mike wondered if it was a front. It wouldn't be a total surprise, as Nathan was a nice guy and would never ruin a holiday. He and Kate seemed to have taken a liking to one another and struck up a friendship. Mike forced a smile on his face, trying to act like nothing was wrong. When food was mentioned, he felt his heart speed up. Maybe this was a test, as Nathan seemed to remember him talking about the food, seeing if Mike would indulge or watch his figure. "Yeah, but… I'm good," he said, even though he was craving it. The food in question could only be described as a pizza corndog — delicious but fattening for sure. Although that didn't stop Nathan from getting each of them their own. Mike stared at it but didn't move to eat it, only looking away when Nathan talked to Kate. Even he was better with his niece than Mike was. "If you need to go to the bathroom or want to go back to your mom, let me know too," Nathan added before falling silent, his eyes on Kate. "Hmm… okay, not really feeling hungry so you can eat this if you want," Mike said, offering the food to Nathan. "One of the few highlights of my hometown."

[alphamalesprincess]

As he practically ran to his car, the fair becoming further and further behind him, Mike wondered how Nathan would get back home. Then he pictured the mysterious woman and Nathan making out in her car and doing even more. The emotions were becoming more and more difficult to control. Everything around him became a blur as his car came into sight. He hadn't realized it was Nathan calling out to him until he felt the familiar embrace and heard the calming voice he was used to. Once in Nathan's arms, Mike let it all out and completely broke down, holding onto him tightly. In that moment, Mike forgot about everything, and the only thing that mattered was being with the man he loved. He found solace in Nathan's soft reassurance until he heard the end of his words. Everything hit him, and Mike knew Nathan was lying. "I'm here, angel," Nathan said, but Mike knew it was just temporary until Nathan ended things with him. Immediately, Mike pulled back and pushed Nathan away with all his strength, though he wasn't sure if it would do much since Nathan was much stronger and more muscular than he was.

"Don't fucking say that," Mike's voice cracked with anger and brokenness. "Just fucking do it, Nathan. Why wait and lead me on any longer?" Tears escaped despite his efforts to hold them back. Mike didn't really give Nathan a chance before he went off. "I know you're a good guy and don't want to hurt me, but it's going to hurt even more when you do break up with me. Why don't you just get it over with? I can take it! It wouldn't be the first time, nor will it be the last," Mike choked out, his heart heavy with pain and uncertainty.

"I knew this was never going to last or even work out," Mike said in a soft, broken voice. "It all started over a stupid bet with your rival, whom you probably wouldn't have even given me a second glance. Don't even get me started on that. God, the fact that I have a boyfriend and I'm cheating on him… To top it off, I'm cheating with someone whom he absolutely hates, and you're okay with being the other person. I don't even know what to call you. It's not like I can call you my boyfriend. I know secretly and deep down, you hate it. How messed up am I that I brought the person I'm cheating with to my family function and pretend like it's nothing? It's like I'm still a goddamn teenager making stupid decisions. I know my dad is just thinking that I'm being the biggest hypocrite right now. The difference is that he tried to hide it, while I'm not," Mike let out a bitter laugh, the weight of his words heavy on his heart.

"I was counting down the days until it would come to an end. Do you know why I haven't broken up with him? It's because I saw this coming. You're way out of my league. I mean, let's take a look at the people you've been with. i mean look at her! The way you look at her in those photos… I'll never be a hot supermodel that you can show off! Travis is what I deserve. Actually, not even him, because he hasn't done the things I've done to him. While he isn't the best boyfriend, he hasn't cheated or stopped loving me. I deserve Connor! I didn't want to say it, but you can call him one of my exes, I guess. That's the guy I deserve to be with, no one else. He's going to love me. He's already seen me at my worst. Look at me! I'm ugly and fat, which I know you've noticed but haven't said anything about. I know that's the reason you haven't touched me. You couldn't keep your hands off me before. Now it seems like you're purposely trying to keep your distance from me. I see the way you look at me! I know there's something you want to say. Maybe even someone told you about my past and how fucked up I am. It's not good for you or your brand. God knows, you'll probably lose so much." Mike's voice trembled with self-doubt and despair as he poured out his feelings to Nathan.

"I'm not the princess that you probably thought I was. That's why you're looking elsewhere. In fact, I'm probably the monster lurking in the shadows, ruining everyone else's lives. You may not have realized it until now, but it's true. I truly don't have any idea why we're together or trying to make it work. I destroy everything that I touch or come in contact with. I'm sure anyone can vouch for that. If you knew all the things I've done, how many people I've hurt, I promise you would want nothing to do with me. You really do deserve someone who can make you happy, someone who can make you proud. I'm not that person. In fact, I'm the furthest thing from it. I'm going to ruin your career and bring you down socially as well. You don't deserve that. You're such an amazing guy, and you deserve someone as great as you. I know for a fact that anyone who ends up with you will be so lucky, happy, and blessed. I wish it could be me, but unfortunately, we both know it's not."

His hand came up to wipe the tears from his eyes with the cuff of the sweatshirt he was wearing. "You want to know the type of person you're so-called in love with? The princess who can't seem to do no wrong! I hurt my mom when all she did was try to help me. I blackmailed my sister into staying quiet because I wanted to commit felonies. Yeah, I got arrested for breaking and entering because it was easier to break the law than to deal with my emotions. I actually broke into a police officer's house to look for a gun, which I was going to use to run away. I lashed out at basically everyone. You were probably wondering why I don't have many friends, that's why! I'm surprised my family is still around! Why Aria even lets me near Kate is beyond me! I slut-shamed her for multiple things and refused to stand up for her when it counted. I came between my mom and her happiness. I got involved with someone who literally tortured my sister and blamed her for it. Then I missed out on my parents getting remarried because I couldn't forgive my dad for what he did to her. Once again, proving what a fucking hypocrite I am." his heart weighed down by the burden of his past actions.

There was so much left unsaid, secrets that he hadn't revealed, but Mike wasn't sure he was going to hold it together before he completely and utterly fell apart. "I love you, Nathan. Let there be no doubt about that. It's insane how much I love you, or how much it will sadden and hurt me that I won't have you in my life. But I understand. Like I said, I knew this was bound to happen. I don't hate you or blame you for what you have to do. I'll never forget how you made me feel or the special moments we shared. I won't regret it, ever, despite how short it was. Although I'll save you the trouble of having to do it. Let's just go our separate ways and leave it. There's no point in ruining everything when things can still be amicable. I'll stay out of your way and won't bring up what happened. I only ask you to do the same. So... go back to your new girlfriend and the future the two of you will have. She said good things about you when i ran into the night of the bet was made. I wouldn't have gone for it if it wasn't for her. It wasn't a lie, and i know she'll appreciate you. Goodbye, Nathan." He turned around and reached for his keys when everything felt dizzy, and the world spun around him. Then, he fell to the ground as he fainted overwhelmed by everything and lack of food and water.

Nathan had visibly softened when his eyes had found her; Julia. He'd gone from seeing one of the worst people possible to one of the best and it made his heart a lot lighter. When she was within reach he opened his arms and gave her a solid hug, lifting her off her feet in the process, "What're you doing here? Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, huh?" he quoted with a happy chuckle. Julia laughed as she was returned to the ground, smoothing herself down and replying, "We're shooting a campaign here for a couple of days and I got so bored of my hotel room- and you know me, I had to get out of there. The real question is what are you doing here?"

Before Nathan could respond, Connor had raised his voice and loudly let them know that he recognized the two of them and it took the boxer more self discipline not to roll his eyes and tell Connor exactly what to do with himself than he had ever used in all of his training up to now. He decidedly turned back from Connor and sighed softly, "Ignore him," he murmured to Julia, "I want you to meet the guy I've been telling you about. My Pr—" but, again, before Nathan could turn to pull Mike into the conversation, suddenly Connor was far too close for comfort and this time, Nathan couldn't hide his frown. The man became a true pest as each time Nathan tried to get Mike's attention, Connor would swiftly move into his way and bug him with a question or statement, all of which both Nathan and Julia brushed off - sadly, both of them used to some people behaving like this - but he didn't seem to get the hint.

Eventually, Nathan physically took Connor - albeit gently - by the shoulders and moved him out of his way so that he could speak to Mike, but by then he'd caught the other saying he would be walking Kate back to her parents and had started heading off, "No! Princess- wait!" he called after him, but it was too late. Nathan was visibly disappointed and Julia reached out a gentle hand and rubbed his arm and when he looked over she gave him a comforting look, "Don't worry, I was planning to hang around for a while - I'll meet him later," she offered and he sighed and nodded, watching Mike disappear into the crowd. It was true fate that he got a chance to introduce the two and it meant a lot to him that they would. But, Julia was right, Mike had said he was just dropping Kate off and after that the three of them could spend some time together and hang out. Connor seemed affronted at Nathan having physically moved him out of the way but now that Mike wasn't there, he had no reason to pretend to want to interact with the guy so he began to flat out ignore him and he offered Julia his arm, "He's even prettier than his pictures," she smiled and Nathan blushed as they began to walk slowly and catch up,

It would seem that fate was in a festive mood herself this evening as it wasn't a few minutes before Nathan bumped into Aria and the rest of the Montgomery clan and he smiled widely as he greeted them, Kate clearly buzzing with her new toy and the fun and sugar of the fair all kicking in. He introduced Julia to them and then looked confusedly at Aria, "Where's my Princess?" he asked, looking around, "He said he was bringing Kate to you and then I thought he would be coming back?" Nathan's anxiety immediately spiked when Aria failed to hide the concerned look on her face and explained that Mike said he was leaving because he didn't feel well. Nathan's heart sank because Mike had told him that he was feeling fine. Something had been off since they'd run into that Connor guy- no, it had been off before that and he had chalked it up to Mike being sick but if Mike was just sick, he would've told him that he felt that way and told him that he was leaving. There was more to it. He apologized to Julia and told her he needed to find Mike immediately and she nodded with complete understanding, already pushing for him to move in the direction that Aria had pointed him.

Nathan began sprinting towards the exit he'd been told Mike had headed towards, nimbly and dexterously weaving through the crowd, his eyes darting everywhere. He got to the exit-slash-entrance of the fair and he finally spotted him, "Princess! Mike!" he called, sprinting towards him and without having to see the other's face or even from the front, he knew that Mike was upset and when he reached him he immediately pulled him into his arms, "Hey, hey, hey-" he said softly, "What's going on, baby?" he asked, his chest rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath but all he cared about was Mike right now and his instincts were right about the other being upset as he soon heard him quietly crying, and he let him press his face into his chest, "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here, I'm right here, angel. You're safe," he said soothingly, rubbing Mike's back and pressing a kiss to the top of his head as they stood in the slight darkness of the exit, the noise of the fair a bit more distorted and distant now.

[alphamalesprincess]

From Nathan's demeanor, the look in his eyes, and his body language, Mike sensed that something was off. It resembled the reaction Nathan had whenever Travis was around or mentioned, but this one seemed even more intense. There was no way Nathan could know Connor or about their history—unless someone had told him, which caused Mike to panic for a moment before realizing it would have to come up in conversation. But no one would bring it up; it was all in the past. It had to be jealousy, maybe. Though it didn't quite make sense, considering Nathan was likely going to break up with him. Unless there was still a chance that deep down, Nathan still had feelings for him. Or perhaps Nathan could read that Mike was nervous and almost scared of Connor, not that he actually was, but more or less afraid of what he could say. It meant that Mike would have to swallow his pride and everything else.

There was no doubt in Mike's mind that he needed to take control of the conversation and steer it away from potentially explosive territory. He had already had a close call, and if Connor hadn't changed, he would love the opportunity to talk about himself as long as Mike stroked his ego. It was the only thing Mike could do to prevent the situation from blowing up in his face, while also hoping Nathan wouldn't say or do anything to set off Connor. Mike could already hear the insults in his head: "Crazy Montgomery made some friends at the psych ward," "Psychotics stick together, huh?" or "Is he off your meds like you were?" And then there was the possibility of what Nathan might say. But Mike forced himself to stop dwelling on those thoughts, feeling his emotions start to bubble up. For now, at least, Nathan seemed to be playing nice. But Mike knew he had to tread carefully.

Mike hadn't expected anyone else to enter the scene, but all attention turned to her. Nathan and the mysterious girl were so focused on each other as if the rest of the world faded away. Connor seemed to move closer to him, whispering something just loud enough for Mike to hear: "Who's the hottie?" Normally, Mike would have rolled his eyes at the comment, but he was too distracted. He had always wondered who the girl was; he hadn't seen her since that night. He knew almost everyone from Travis' team and eventually got to know everyone on Nathan's side as well, and hung around the venue to know the staff there. But not once had he seen the girl again, and yet here she was, apparently acquainted with Connor. "Damn, I was going to ask if she was single, but I guess not," Connor remarked, causing Mike's heart to drop. He closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath to try not to overthink things.

"Oh! Wait a minute, now I know who you two are or where I know you from!" Connor exclaimed loudly, reaching for his phone to search something up before showing them. "You're a model for one of the clothing brands I wear, and you're a famous boxer. I thought you looked and sounded familiar, but I didn't think you were the Nathan McIntyre." He pushed the phone into Mike's hand and went to chat with the two celebrities. Mike's hands scrolled from photo, to photo, to photo, feeling sick to his stomach. He couldn't brush it off as jealousy because Nathan had the same look on his face when Mike looked at him. Did they used to date? Did she push them together in an attempt to show Nathan what he had and to get them back together? Was this all part of some long con? Mike felt his heart slowly start to crumble.

He always thought she was some sort of figurative angel sent to bring them together, but now he wasn't so sure. She seemed to personally know Nathan when she spoke about him. Handing Connor his phone back, Mike knew he needed to get out of there. Kate wasn't paying attention to the group, focused instead on her bear and the fair around them. "Hey, let's get you back to your mom, okay? I know she wanted to take some pictures on the carousel and go on the ferris wheel with you and your dad," Mike said, trying to sound cheerful. Kate nodded excitedly.

"Hey, I'm going to bring Kate back to Aria and Ezra…" he trailed off, realizing no one was really paying attention. He just grabbed her hand and began walking, feeling his heart shatter into a million pieces. He could brush it off as Nathan being a really good model, but that would mean that look was fake, which also meant Nathan could have faked his feelings for Mike. It had happened before they got together, so it could be explained as Nathan thinking of him. Either he had feelings for this girl, or it was all a lie. Luckily, he spotted Aria not too far away. She seemed to be having fun, but one look at Mike made her concerned and aware that something was wrong. "I'm not feeling well and would rather not ruin anyone's time here, so I'm going to head home. Nathan ran into some 'friends,' and I didn't want to leave Kate with him. I'll see you later, take lots of pictures, and Kate, be good, okay? I owe you," Mike said, pressing a kiss on Kate's head. Aria didn't seem to fully believe him, but she didn't have a chance to say anything else as Mike bolted toward the exit.

He wasn't sure if he even wanted to head home at this point. Nathan was staying with them, and even if he wanted to come back, Nathan didn't even seem to notice Mike's departure. Maybe he would stay in a hotel or even hop on a plane back to his apartment. But Nathan knew where he lived and would probably seek him out. Perhaps he would ask Travis to let him move in. It was a matter of time, Mike should have known that Nathan was out of his league and everything was too good to be true. Tears began forming in his eyes as the world became blurry. He could hear someone shouting his name, but he didn't care or make out who. All he wanted was to be left alone.

Nathan stood tall and imposing, unmoved by the other's words as he narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out who this was and why he scared Mike so much. He stayed silent and listening- then he heard it; the guy's name. Connor. It immediately clicked into place and Nathan felt his blood boil within seconds. This was apparently the guy that made Travis seem like an angel for how he treated Mike, and by extension, his sister. Nathan's muscles tensed, his powerful body quickly flitting between the decision to keep the peace or to knock the guy's lights out. He looked like a scumbag and he had a face just like Travis did- one that begged to get punched. Nathan's eyes stared daggers into the guy as his reflexive mind worked overtime- he wasn't supposed to know who Connor was, not as far as Mike knew. His next thought was that Connor wasn't Travis; in the sense that he didn't have a legal excuse to beat the crap out of him and walk away. If he started a fight, right here in public, there would be consequences and not to mention Kate, the tiny new light in his life, was only a step or two away and the last thing he wanted to do was scare her. As much as he hated it, he quickly realized that he was going to have the be the bigger person here, despite everything.

"Uncle Nathan ..." Kate's small voice managed to ring through the din of the fair and he felt a tug at his pants, he turned his eyes from Connor and to Kate's, his expression immediately softening, "... Should I get the brown one or the pink one?" she asked, pointing at the bears she could pick from and he took a deep breath, letting it out and trying to calm himself down, smiling genuinely at her, crouching down and turning his attention to her as he heard Mike speaking to Connor, "You know, Uncle Mike's favorite color is pink," he said softly for just her to hear, "That's the color for princesses," he whispered and she giggled with delight, clearly well distracted from the situation that had momentarily caused her stress earlier. He straightened back up and motioned for the booth owner that they would take the pink one, thanking him and handing Kate her prize. He'd heard most of what Connor and Mike had been saying and by the time he turned back towards them, he had gathered himself a bit more. Luckily he hadn't seen Mike hug the other as that might've incited a lot more of a reaction out of him and made it significantly harder than it already was to keep his cool and play along. He looked down at Connor's extended hand and for a moment considered not taking it, not wanting to give this lowlife any courtesy but, glancing over at Mike and seeing his wide, hopeful eyes. From what he knew, Mike wasn't lying about how he knew Connor, but he also wasn't saying the whole truth. Yet again. Despite this, Nathan stayed resolute in his decision to be the bigger man and did so, shaking Connor's hand briefly.

Nathan began to grind his teeth a little, staying cordial and also thinking that maybe this might be a good thing- maybe this would finally be the catalyst to getting Mike to open up to him about his past. Suddenly, he heard his name being called; it was a female voice and instinctively, he assumed it was Aria looking to collect Kate who was gurgling contently with her bear in one arm and the other wrapped around one of Nathan's legs. But when he turned to look, he couldn't see Aria anywhere and confusedly scanned the crowd around them for a few moments, trying to figure out who called him until the woman who had broke through close enough for him to lock eyes right on her and he smiled widely, his demeanor completely changing, and even letting out a pleasantly surprised laugh as he called, "Hey, you!"

[alphamalesprincess]

It felt like life was conspiring to knock him down when he was already at his lowest. All his past lies, mistakes, and secrets seemed to be catching up with him, and the stakes couldn't have been higher. If Nathan discovered his troubled past, he would surely end their relationship without a second thought. And if Travis found out about Nathan, Mike would be left alone. Rumors would spread like wildfire, and Mike would face judgment and shame for his actions. The thought made Mike sick to his stomach. Thankfully, the only people who knew about Connor and the situation were his parents, Aria, Ezra, and himself. The rest of the town only heard rumors and gossip, and nothing ever came of it. Besides, it all happened in high school, so many people dismissed it as youthful mistakes. But what would Nathan think?

Mike felt trapped between a rock and a hard place, uncertain about what to do next. Normally, he would have welcomed Nathan's presence, but his slip-ups and protective behavior only added to the tension. Connor's expression shifted from surprise to confusion as he addressed Nathan, "Who are you? Are you family, or… Did you and Travis break up?" Mike knew he had to intervene before things spiraled out of control. "No, no, it's a misunderstanding! Just give me a second," he said, gently setting Kate down and approaching the booth. The guy running it looked ready to intervene if needed. Mike noticed him hesitate before informing them that Mike had won and could choose a prize. Though he still had more shots left, but the guy must have saw it as a chance to diffuse the tension. "Kate, why don't you pick out what you want, okay?" he suggested, diverting her attention to the giant teddy bears. Turning back to Nathan and Connor, Mike stepped in front of them, forcing another smile and going in for a forced bro hug. Despite how much he hated and despised Connor, Nathan couldn't know or suspect anything. it would lead to questions and conversations that he wasn't ready to have. "Connor, good to see you again. Nathan, this is Connor. We went to the same high school and played on the lacrosse team together. Nathan works with Travis, and we're all good friends. Nathan didn't have any holiday plans, so we invited him to join us. Unfortunately, Travis had some last-minute work thing come up, so it's just us two," Mike explained, hoping to smooth over the situation and avoid any further questions or suspicions from Connor.

Connor seemed to relax, and Mike hoped that Nathan would buy and play into the cover story he had just spun. He knew that many people weren't closely following Travis' boxing career or his personal life, and maybe not recognize Nathan. While they might follow him, Travis or Nathan on social media, neither of them had posted about their relationship, providing some anonymity. Mike forced a smile as Connor extended his hand to Nathan. "Nice to meet you and know that Montgomery's has friends. He was a bit of a—" Mike quickly interjected, not wanting Connor to say too much. "Yeah, so what brings you to the fair? Are you visiting, or do you still live here?" Mike asked, trying to steer the conversation in a safer direction. He had no idea what kind of person Connor had become, or if he was still the same jerk he'd always been. Every fiber of Mike's being wanted to punch him for what he'd done to him and his sister. Just as the conversation was about to continue, Nathan's name was being shouted. Mike turned in the direction of the noise and saw the woman he had encountered in the bathroom walking towards them. She was the same person who had advised him to go on the date, or go through the bet that Nathan and Travis made.

Nathan could sense how tense Mike was, but, again, he shrugged it off and didn't take it personally. Maybe being around family was triggering for Mike, all things considered from what he knew of Mike's past, maybe he was feeling sick despite what he said, maybe the stress of having your not-really-boyfriend around and trying to dodge everyone's questions was a lot for him- the more Nathan thought about it, the more reasons he found that the other would validly be on edge and he accepted that and continued trying his best to be a rock for the other, a source of comfort and safety during tumultuous times.

One day, Mike would look back on this holiday with him and he wanted to make sure they had nothing but sweet memories to reminisce over. Kate was on top form and he loved that she got to share in these moments with them. She would point and be amazed at various things and he would nod and smile, encouraging her. He felt like a real part of Mike's life, like a part of his family- and that brought him more joy and comfort than words could describe. Mike suddenly pulled away and he looked over, surprised for a moment but then smiling when he saw the direction he was headed, "Look what Uncle Mike found!" he said excited with Kate, "Let's cheer for him, Kate- c'mon, Uncle Mike, woop woop!" he cheered cutely with the little girl on his hip, laughing happily at her joining in with him. His heart was so full and his eyes were filled with stars and hearts as he watched Mike, continuing to cheer even when he missed a few hoops. He hadn't heard someone calling to Mike but he noticed the other suddenly whipping around and he looked over to see who it was.

From where he was standing, the noise of the fair and the little but loud Kate on his hip, Nathan hadn't heard the first few words exchanged between Mike and the mystery man and Nathan walked in closer, smiling widely and warmly, "Hey, what's up? You must be a friend of Pr- Mike's," he said, holding his hand out before the scene fully registered to him. Being a professional fighter, Nathan's reflexes and reaction time was significantly quicker than the average person and time almost slowed as he suddenly picked up some key information— one; Mike's face seemed to drain of all color and it wasn't the look he had when he was about to be sick, it was fear. Two; Kate suddenly clung more tightly to his side, burying her face against his neck and turning away from the man. Three; the look on the man's face was undeniably maniacal. Nathan's protective instincts flared within split-seconds and he smoothly retracted his hand and instinctively moved to stand in front of Mike, covering most of him - shielding him.

"Buddy, I don't know who you are or what the deal is- but we're actually in the middle of a family thing right now and you're not part of that, so ..." he said calmly and gently handed Kate over to Mike to hold so that his hands were free if this were to progress in any kind of way, "... I suggest you just say your goodbyes and be on your way, okay?"

[alphamalesprincess]

There was no holding back the laugh that escaped when he saw Nathan take a bite. He probably should have warned him that, although it looked like a corndog, it wasn't meant to be eaten like one—delicious but very messy. Despite his amusement, he composed himself and offered Nathan an apologetic and sympathetic smile. However, his expression quickly shifted when Nathan began to show concern for him. "No, I'm just not hungry," he said, trying to play it off, though panic began to flutter within him. His anxiety only heightened when Nathan reached out to touch his stomach. Part of him wanted to swat his hand away; surely he could feel the weight he'd gained. "No! I mean, no, I just want to spend as much time as I can with her since it'll be a while before I come back," he interjected, forcing a smile onto his face to mask his unease. Fortunately, a distraction arrived in the form of Kate, who had gotten too excited and nearly wandered off ahead of them. He reached out to pat her head as they continued walking.

Mike nodded his head in agreement, though he knew he wouldn't be indulging in food, no matter how much he craved it. Perhaps he'd persuade Aria to sneak one for him to enjoy in secret. He'd just have to ensure he kept track of his calories for the day or take an early morning walk to burn it off. Nathan's words, though kind, sent a surge of panic through Mike. Maybe Nathan sensed that Mike was aware of his plans, and was trying to make it seem as his weight and body weren't the issue. Mike felt like he might be sick, but he forced a smile onto his face despite the urge to cry. "Thank you," he responded, his voice strained. The hoodie he wore happened to be one of the only baggy ones he owned, a result of a sizing mix-up when he bought it. Surprisingly, it worked in his favor now, providing some comfort.

He fought the urge to correct Kate when she called Nathan "uncle." After all, they weren't married or engaged. But if he did, Nathan might suspect something and act on it. The worst part was the anticipation, knowing that it was coming. He just wanted Nathan to get it over with. Yet, perhaps he should cherish the last few moments they had together. It was a relief that he hadn't broken up with Travis. At least he wouldn't be alone, even though he had also noticed changes in Travis's appearance lately. Mike was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't realize they had already boarded the ride. "Oh, you can go ahead and record. I'm sure Aria and Ezra will want to ride with her again. Besides, you can always send it to me," he said, forcing another smile. Kate reached for his hand, eliciting a genuine smile from him. "You've been so good, so after this, I'll win you that bear you want," he promised, noticing how her happiness seemed to intensify. Maybe all he needed to distract himself was to focus on doing the things he loved with the people who loved him.

Nathan took a huge bite of the deep-fried fair delicacy, laughing when some of, what he assumed was melted cheese, spilled from the food unexpectedly and down his chin and his eyes went wide, pulling the bite from his face which only made the cheese stringier. He pointed at how silly he looked with the mess to Mike, still laughing with his mouth full and using the napkin to clear it off. He looked concerned when Mike said he didn't feel hungry, swallowing his bite so he could speak again, "Are you not feeling well again, baby?" he asked, his hand moving from Mike's back to his stomach, "We can sit down for a bit- Kate can go hang out with her folks and we can rest," he offered sweetly, wrapping his arm now around Mike's shoulders to hold him closer as they slowly walked, "Kate," he called out sternly but gently when the other was a step or two too far for his comfort and the little one's ears immediately perked and she apologized before stopping and waiting for them to get closer before continuing again, happily munching at her treat.

"Tell you what, you hold onto it while I finish mine and have a couple nibbles," he suggested, "Then, if you still want me to have it, then I will, okay?" he smiled kindly, hoping the other would find his appetite before then as he knew Mike had been looking forward to the fair and all it had to offer and also he just liked seeing the other happy and providing for him. "Did I tell you yet how pretty you look tonight?" he asked, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Mike's temple, "You always look so good in pink," he hummed. He meant every word, though, truth be told, Mike would look pretty to him if he wore a trash bag. He took another bite of his food as they walked, consciously walking slower in case Mike was feeling nauseated again. He nodded and reacted enthusiastically whenever Kate would turn around to point out something excitedly. He stopped them at a stall to get drinks for everyone to help wash down the food before they carried on.

"Uncle Nathan! Can I go on that one please?" Kate suddenly cried out excited, pointing at a dainty and ornate carousel ride, "Of course you can, sweetheart," he nodded, looking to Mike to see if he was in agreement before they moved to stand in the line. Within a couple minutes, Nathan paid the man up front, passing his food and drink to Mike to hold momentarily and helped Kate up onto one of the beautiful unicorn figures at the very edge of the ride so they would have clear vision of her with each spin around. Once the ride started, Nathan took the food and drink back in his hands, "Do you wanna take some photos or record this?" he suggested sweetly, "I'll hold your stuff if you do," he nodded, shifting things around so he could. They now stood on their own, out of earshot from Kate who squealed with utter delight and who waved at them each time she managed to find them again, "Or, if you wanna eat, I can take some on my phone."

[alphamalesprincess]

It was evident that his parents wanted explanations and had questions regarding Travis and Nathan, but they didn't really get a chance to ask as they were never left alone. His sister explained a bit, but didn't go into much detail, knowing it was Mike's business. That at least fended them off for a bit longer, but it didn't put everything to an end. Mike caught the looks that both his mother and father shared whenever Nathan showed any affection towards him. There were also the strange looks exchanged between Aria and Nathan. It was clear that something was going on between all of them, but Mike was dealing with too much to actually get to the bottom of it.

Mike silently waited for the moment when Nathan would dump him. He felt it was due to happen any day now. Maybe Nathan was waiting until the holidays ended, or perhaps that's why he had flown out in the first place. However, with Mike's stomach bug, Nathan had held off. It made sense why Nathan was being extra affectionate and gentle but still kept some distance. Maybe he had heard things about Mike and decided that he had too many flaws and baggage. Perhaps Nathan had realized that Mike wasn't the innocent, pure, and perfect person he thought he was. Or he got tired of being Mike's secret.

His free hand played with the string of his hoodie, feeling disgusted with himself for allowing his weight to increase and becoming less appealing. Nobody wanted a fat, out-of-shape guy, he thought. Nathan wanted someone he could show off and be proud of. It was no wonder why Nathan didn't want to touch him anymore. The man couldn't keep his hands off him before, but now it felt like that was the last thing he wanted to do. Mike didn't feel sexy anymore. He felt himself getting emotional again, but quickly composed himself before anyone could notice.

The family had split up, with Kate tagging along with them for the sake of getting her giant bear. Aria had told them that if Kate became too much or they wanted alone time, they could take her. Although his niece was the furthest thing from a burden and acted as a nice buffer from the awkwardness and tension that was growing between them. Nathan seemed happy and like he was enjoying everything, but Mike wondered if it was a front. It wouldn't be a total surprise, as Nathan was a nice guy and would never ruin a holiday. He and Kate seemed to have taken a liking to one another and struck up a friendship. Mike forced a smile on his face, trying to act like nothing was wrong. When food was mentioned, he felt his heart speed up. Maybe this was a test, as Nathan seemed to remember him talking about the food, seeing if Mike would indulge or watch his figure. "Yeah, but… I'm good," he said, even though he was craving it. The food in question could only be described as a pizza corndog — delicious but fattening for sure. Although that didn't stop Nathan from getting each of them their own. Mike stared at it but didn't move to eat it, only looking away when Nathan talked to Kate. Even he was better with his niece than Mike was. "If you need to go to the bathroom or want to go back to your mom, let me know too," Nathan added before falling silent, his eyes on Kate. "Hmm… okay, not really feeling hungry so you can eat this if you want," Mike said, offering the food to Nathan. "One of the few highlights of my hometown."

Nathan couldn't lie that things felt a little different since his talk with Aria. Mike's sister had revealed a lot to him and had cleared up a lot of the fog that Mike had been keeping him in and he looked at the other differently since. He wanted more than anything to talk to Mike about everything he'd learned, to hear his side and to use this as a chance to get even closer to the man that he cared so deeply for. Since he'd spoken with Aria, he felt closer to Mike but, as she had so sagely suggested, he decided to not reveal any of what he knew or to press the other for anything more.

Despite this, Nathan found himself grateful that he had made the decision to join Mike for the holidays. They'd gotten to spend real quality time together, albeit that most of that time was Nathan helping care for Mike through the ups and downs of his illness. Nathan figured that actions spoke louder than words and him staying by Mike's side not only while he was feeling bad, but spending the holidays with him and his family, would show the other, clear as day, how committed he was to him and also that he was safe with him.

He'd noticed Mike looking at him sometimes, as though he were analyzing him or waiting for him to do something - but Nathan embraced it and when he caught those looks, he would just smile, plant a kiss on him and ask how he was feeling. The only downside of this entire experience was he and Mike hadn't gotten to really be alone together, in any sense of the word. There was always someone around or within earshot or one of them being asked to do something. Also, when Mike's parents had given him the guest bedroom, he got the message loud and clear that they didn't want him sleeping in the same bed as Mike, which had been incredibly difficult for him to respect - especially since, he didn't know why, but something about Mike made him just want to be all over him lately. But he bottled his carnal needs up, knowing that it was more important for him to make a good, lasting impression on Mike's family, than to be intimate right now. Besides, with the shape Mike was in, he felt bad about pushing for anything sexual. There would be plenty of time for that after the holidays and after Mike was feeling better. He had plenty of pictures and videos on his phone from the other to keep himself happy at night for now.

It all just felt so nice to him though- having never gotten to experience Christmas with a big family, or with a partner. It gave him a taste of what being in a real relationship with Mike would be like and it had him wanting it even more than before, if that were even possible. He walked now, holding Kate's opposite hand, the little girl walking between the two of them happily. "Hmm?" Nathan smiled over at Mike, "Well, I know a certain somebody definitely wants to find themselves the biggest, fluffiest bear at the fair," he grinned down at Kate, "But let's get some chow first?" he suggested, "Hey, aren't those the things you said you were craving and get every year at the fair?" he nodded over to nearby stall that smelled amazing, "After we get some fuel in the tank we can start the bear hunt," he winked. Without really waiting for a response, he lead them over to the stall and ordered three of the delicious snack, handing one to Mike first and then a smaller portion down to Kate who giddily and thankfully accepted. He took his own after paying and then nodded for them to head towards the games and challenges that offered all sorts of prizes to the biggest winners, "Kate, you know the rules, right? You stay within ten steps of us at all times, okay?" he reminded her as they began walking, "And don't eat your food too fast, you'll feel sick," she nodded and began eagerly eyeing up each attraction, measuring up their plushie rewards and she nodded and dutifully followed his guidelines, all the meanwhile clearly buzzing with excitement from the stimulation of the loud, colorful and bustling fair and the anticipation of getting the bear she'd been promised. "How're you feeling, Princess?" he asked, his free hand rubbing the small of Mike's back, "This place looks just as magical as you said it would."