[LOUIS]

I need to change my number.

Leo has been making my life a living hell. Why couldn't he just back off? Why couldn't he just leave me alone? I wondered, pulling a trench coat over my alter neck sweater, blue jeans, and brown knee-length boots. The mornings are relatively cold here in Paris.

Opening the three blots of my front door I peeped out into the street to make sure Leo wasn't out there somewhere and planning to follow me. I sighed in relief after concluding he was nowhere in sight. I finally pulled together some guts to walk out the front door; shutting it behind me I repeated the same process.

Chain bolt —  checked.

Key lock — checked.

Padlock — checked.

Zeus had asked me about these locks during his last visit but it's not as if I could tell him I was being followed — stalked even. I yawned, rubbing my eyes with the back of my palm. I haven't been sleeping well, and you could guess why. This Leo thing is really getting out of hand. I miss Zeus; he's probably found some whore in L.A to bang. I can't really deny how heavy it made my heart feel. I've tried to be indifferent about it, but it doesn't quite work out.

I sighed looking walking up the mid-January harassed pavements. There wasn't any snow late last year just rains. For some reason, I made it essential to step on ever puddle I met on the way. The sun wasn't completely out yet so the neighborhood was still quiet.

I shivered, hugging myself. The weather is a lot harsher than I anticipated. I heard the slow approach of a car behind me.

"Louis," I heard Leo's voice say.

Don't look. I mentally kicked myself, quickening my pace.

"Don't ignore me, Louis. I can give you a lift, you know," Leo continued, not taking the hint.

"I'm fine," I said, walking faster but Leo just increases the speed of his car.

"You're freezing," he argued.

"I'm not," I lied, shivering. Damn, I shouldn't have stepped in those puddles, but, no matter how cold it got, I'm not getting into his car.

"You're too beautiful to be shivering." There he goes again — being creepy. I stopped in my tracks, shutting my eyes for a while before opening them again and sighing. Obviously, he had stopped his car too. Can't he just — I don't know? Leave me alone?

"Lay off, Leo! Just let me be, okay?" I complained.

"He's not talking to you is he?" Leo asked, his voice coming out in a quiver. My heart sunk. I was quite ashamed of how he could easily read my thoughts  — at how I was sort of still using him as some sort of emotional punching bag. That was the thing with Leo. I always felt so guilty.

"It's okay, I'll just leave," Leo said, his voice shaky. I turned to look at him for the first time; he looked sad - angry.

"Leo..." I trailed, guilt eating me.

"You know I just wanted to help, I wasn't planning to force you to do anything. I want to fuck you, of course, but I don't want to hurt you. I lov—never mind. Forget about it. You don't even care," Leo muttered, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Leo—"

"I'm not crying!" Leo said in a firm tone, breaking down and trying hopelessly to fetch his tears with the back of his hands.

"Leo I..." I tried saying, but I got cut off.

"It's fine, okay? You don't have to say anything, I'm leaving," Leo mumbled, trying to wind up the window. I got a glimpse of his eyes. They were blood red and misty with tears. Had he been crying before now?

"Leo," I said in a firm voice, watching as Leonardo stiffened in his seat.

"What?" he asked, his voice still a bit shaky.

"I'll go with you," I said, walking to the edge of the pavement, Nose to nose with the almost closed window, staring directly at him. A light blush suddenly crept across his cheeks, His long blond hair sticking to his face due to tears. His green eyes, though sad-looking were a good imitation of Zeus' — that's the problem, they didn't belong to Zeus.

I shook my head. This is not the time for that, for Zeus.

"Are-are you sure?" Leo asked, his grip on the drivers' wheel tightening.

"Of course I am," I whispered, just loud enough for him to hear before heading over to the other side of the car. Getting into the passenger seat, I sighed in relief when I felt the warm air hit me. At least the heater was on. I watched Leonardo increase the heat a bit before looking straight at the open road.

"Where to?" Leo asked. He was visibly shaking, and I wasn't sure what to think of that.

"The phone service office that's about three blocks away," I said without thinking. Idiot. I scolded myself as I watched Leonardo's shoulder slump. He might or might not have. Who am I kidding? He guessed it.

"Oh," Leo tried to say. There's a huge chance he wanted to come off as indifferent, but it didn't work because his voice came out shaky and forced. 

I turned to the window, occupying myself with looking out at the scenery as Leo started the car. We're not talking. I soon graduated to tapping the window with the tip of my index finger. You couldn't blame me. I couldn't stand it  — I couldn't stand the silence. It was so unnervingly thick. So much so, that I doubted a knife would pierce through it.

I could feel Leo staring at me.

"Please don't stare at me like that," I begged, trying to concentrate on the passing scenery.

"God, I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking, just... sorry," Leo mumbled until the car fell into that uncomfortable atmosphere again.

"You can walk from here," I heard Leo say as the car slowed to a stop. I looked out the window for real now, seeing and remembering the narrow street path before the local phone service office after the sharp turn at the far corner.

"Thanks," I heard Leo mumble. I looked up at him in confusion. Why in the world is he thanking me?

"For taking your time to be around me even though you don't like it," Leo finished, his grip on the steering visibly tightening. I sighed, shaking my head.

"Leo, you're a wonderful person—" I started saying.

"But not that wonderful person," Leo sighed, turning to look at me.

"Tell me, Louis. If I'm so wonderful, why won't you have me, huh? Why?" Leo snapped at me, shaking. My eyes widened in fear. Maybe it was a mistake getting in—

Leo's eyes went wide as if realizing what he had done. He became meek again, looking away from me as he took in deep breaths. "God, I'm sorry. I think I need to go on drugs or something," Leo muttered, running a hand through his hair. I could feel my heart contract in guilt. How in the world did I end up hurting someone this much?

"Leo..." I trailed, gasping when he turned to look at me. His gaze was different. He looked broken to his core.

"Leo..." I trailed again, not exactly sure of what I wanted to say. Was it 'Don't hurt me'? I don't want Leo to hurt me. God don't let Leo hurt me.

He leaned closer to me, gazing at me as if asking some sort of permission. I didn't move I just stared at him. Why won't my body move?!

He leaned closer to me just enough for our foreheads and noses to touch. Okay, I'm panicking. What's going on?

He let out a soft breath before covering my lips with his. There was nothing, no movement, just shivering. I gasped, feeling him grasp my cheeks in his palms. He soon covered my mouth again and started to kiss me, forcing his tongue between my lips. I didn't even put up a fight. I was still trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

He took his mouth away from mine before groaning in frustration. He pulled my face to him again, pushing his tongue into my mouth and twirling it with mine, demanding a response. After some hesitation, I kissed back slowly and heard a sort of happy purr erupt in Leo's chest. I leaned into the kiss more. If anything he kissed sort of like Zeus— 

 I can't do this.

I broke the kiss, which was a bit difficult because he kept leaning in. I was eventually able to keep him at arm's length.  

"I can't hurt you again," I mumbled not sure why I allowed him to kiss me in the first place.

"I swear it's okay..." Leo trailed, trying to lean into me again.

"No, Leo, stop!" I ordered, pushing him away. His face still had that predatory look. He's not thinking straight. I thought. There's no way I would agree with this if he wasn't thinking. I couldn't do this again. I couldn't use him again.  

"Louis, it doesn't matter if you're not into me. I know you're lonely right now. I was stupid, okay? You can use me. I swear I don't mind. Pretend that I'm Zeus. Heck, I'll even dye my hair to give you a better visualization. Don't-don't just ignore me," Leonardo begged. His voice was choked, and he sounded like he was on the verge of crying.

"Leo, I can't," I whispered. It was tempting, but I just couldn't use him like that — hurt him like that.

"Just pretend I'm Zeus. I just want you to extend those feelings to me, even if they're not for me," Leo begged and I let the hands restraining him fall from his shoulders. He smiled for the first time in ages before leaning in to kiss me.

"Use me, I'm all yours," Leo whispered roughly against my lips.

"I love you Louis and I'll take anything you have to offer," Leo mumbled, pulling me closer by the back of my neck.

So, I did it. I did what he asked. I used him.

[JULIAN]

I was missing Zeus already.

It's was about two in the afternoon when I left. It's only been three hours but I already feel lonely. I groaned, rolling on the queen sized bed. My bed, Linda's bed, not Zeus' bed.

Looking at the noisy wall clock I frowned. Why isn't Linda back yet? I wonder what's taking her so long. I can't call her because according to her I still don't have a phone.

I looked up at the ceiling and started counting the boxes by habit, starting all over again when the boxes ran out. I knew how many they were, forty-nine in number but I counted them anyway. Maybe an extra box will appear one day to round it off to fifty.

The ceiling was plain compared to the mosaic design on the ceiling of Zeus' room. I pouted. I really don't like staying here alone and I can't just call Zeus. He's at work and I'll probably just be bothering him.

"You need something to do," Zeus had told me when we were lying together on his bed in the morning.

"I think Linda would have an objection," I had answered in a matter of fact tone.

"Do you do everything she says?" he had countered.

I hadn't answered him. I didn't have to, the answer was obvious. I do more or less everything Linda tells me to. I don't know, maybe it's because she demanded not really asked. Just like when we moved in together.

"We have to move in together."

Or when she demanded we get married.

"We've been dating for too long. We're getting married."

Or when we had sex.

"Just pull down your pants. Work was stressful."

I closed my eyes, feeling sort of used. Maybe Zeus was right. Maybe I should stop taking orders from Linda

Stretching, I took my phone from the bedside table, sliding the lock screen to check for an address Zeus had mailed me for a company that would probably take me on first degree alone. I chuckled at myself, remembering I had thought it useless at the time.

Sitting down yoga-style on the bed with my phone in hand, I started to prepare an application CV.

*

"Fuck, I'm so tired," Linda said, barging into the kitchen.

"Give me that," she said, snatching and downing the cup of fruit juice I was holding.

"Thanks," she said, placing it right back in my hands.

"How was it?" I asked, referring to whatever she went to do in New York as I placed the empty cup in the sink. The sore attitude when she got back was something I had to get used to in high school.

The only possible things we share in common are;

(1)We're married.

(2) We like art.

"Hold this," she said, tossing the gray jacket she had been wearing at me, which I caught effortlessly. I'm telling you routine.

"There's nothing to eat," Linda groaned, looking into the fridge. I looked up from folding her jacket, which I had neatly placed on the counter.

"God I need sex, Julian we should do it right here—"

"No," I said, my voice firm, stopping her before she could finish her sentence.

"Wait, what?" Linda asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I said no," I said again, looking her straight in the eyes. I'm not backing down. I don't want her to touch her me. I only want Zeus to touch me.

"Then why the Fucking hell not?!" Linda screamed as if the world as we knew it had tipped off its axis and had been flung into space spinning.

"Well, I don't know, maybe because I don't want to," I said, sarcasm staining my words. I just couldn't stand the nasty look she threw at me so I stared down at the white tiles.

"Just give me a good reason why you don't want to." Linda snapped moving towards me, attempting to shove me with her balled fists.

"I'm tired," I murmured, glancing up at her.

"That's stupid, you're here all day how could you possibly be tired?!" Linda snapped, slamming her fists on my chest. I winched in pain and gently pushed her away.

"I'm tired of you demanding things, I'm tired of always staying in this house, and most of all I'm tired of you," I said, my voice becoming small at the last bit as I hugged myself. Linda's mouth opened then closed. She looked shocked.

"What are you getting at?" she managed after a while of just standing and staring at me with eyes that had grown to the size of dinner plates.

"I'm getting a job and a life," I said in a calm voice as I walked past the ghost of herself. As I got to the door Linda spoke.

"Who stuck a stick up your ass?"

Zeus, only it wasn't a stick it was something more pleasant. Thank you very much. I thought as a chill ran through me.

"I'm going to bed," I managed to murmur before slamming the door shut.