Zay's POV

      "I don't know, it might work if you say it like that." Ares says and I look at him for a moment, wondering if being in a relationship has turned him into a complete dumbass.

        "See this wouldn't be so hard if he wasn't human. If he was literally anything else, he would already know." I say with exasperation, throwing my hands up in the air and Beth nods at me softly with a sympathetic gaze.

        "And we can't forget the whole girlfriend thing." She says and I glare at her.

        "And the straight thing." Ares adds and I groan in frustration before looking at the two in annoyance. I point my finger at Beth first who's trying not to laugh at my expense.

        "You are supposed to be making me feel better." I turn my finger towards Ares accusingly, even if, as always, he appears unbothered by everything I do. "And you are supposed to be giving me advice. I hate to tell you, but you're both shit at your jobs." I tell them and Ares chuckles before motioning me to follow him.

        "Come on, I already told Thomas we were going to come see him after I got off work." He says and I perk up a bit at the idea of seeing Ares' Lock. The two of them are the best couple I know, very sassy and extremely funny to be around. Back when I first met the Vampire, I used my moves on him but of course, Ares wasn't having it. I turn around and wave at Beth who returns the gesture as she continues to get herself ready, more than likely waiting on Syd and Brice.

        "Bye Beth! We're going to see our boyfriend." I tell her and Ares snorts ahead of me as I throw my string bag over my shoulder as we make our way to the door.

      It's then that I notice that Elliot didn't come and say goodbye when he left, or even check the locker for all of his stuff. I guess I upset him more than I thought. Maybe I should just do us both a favor and give up. Following Ares, I punch in my time and grab my ticket, shoving the flimsy paper in my pocket.

       He holds the door open for me as I come out of the locker room and we walk down the hallway in comfortable silence.

       "Hello, boys." Ms. Wendy greets when we pass her desk and Ares gives her a genuine smile instead of a smirk, the only person to get one besides Thomas himself.

        I wave at the receptionist and blow her a kiss which she dodges with a laugh as we continue on our way out of the building. The security guard station is empty as we pass it and I'm slightly upset, missing some platonic flirting isn't good for the soul. Ares and I separate to our own cars that we drove this morning, that happened to be parked next to each other.

     I throw my bag in the passenger seat and start up the car just as Ares pulls out of the parking space and begins to drive off. I throw my car into reverse and once I'm clear, I follow his car out of the parking lot.

      The drive over to the restaurant that Thomas works at isn't far, and we reach it in less than ten minutes.

      I park beside Ares and hop out of the car, following him to the door and into the restaurant. His excitement, though not shown on his face, is clear in his speed to get to his lover. The greeter at the podium goes to welcome us, but I guess he recognizes Ares and he lets us pass with a nod and a smile.

      We walk to the back where the bar is, and sure enough there's Thomas mixing drinks for the customers he has at the bar.

        When he sees his lover, his whole face lights up in excitement, and I can't help the pang of jealously that flies through me at the sight, so much more prominent than before now that I have someone. And while I'm jealous of their closeness, I also know that they are the one couple I know that deserves it all. Every inch of happiness and blessing that they are able to get. They deserve it all.

       Ares and Thomas both had a hard life before they even met each other, and while you think everything would go perfect then, it got worse when Thomas was kidnapped. He was gone for two months while Ares and the rest of our old crew struggled to find him.

        I couldn't tell you everything that the two went through during those two months, but they deserve the world after enduring it all.

       After Thomas gets his kisses from his lover, his gaze falls to me as I set myself up on one of the stools on this side of the counter. His smile is big as his cheeks heat up a little, just like they always do when I come around.

       "Well hello there." He says and Ares grunts while pushing Thomas away slightly from me making the both of us laugh. "I'm happy you guys came to see me, but what's the occasion?" He asks with a small smile still in his lips. Ares turns to me as if giving me the floor but I'm not quite ready to share it yet, so instead I ask for a drink.

        "Can I get a spiked lemonade? Vodka, please." I tell him but of course, Ares has to ruin my fun.

        "A regular lemonade, kitten. And a water for me." He says, sliding a couple dollars across the bar, but Thomas ignores it as he goes to do as he says. It doesn't take long, his enhanced speed coming in handy for a job like this. In no time, we have our drinks in front of us and the two are looking at me expectedly making me groan.

      "I found my Chain." I tell Thomas, well technically I tell my cup of lemonade, but he seems to hear it anyway.

       "Oh shit! That's great!" He says in excitement until he reads the room and settles down. "Right?" He asks and I shake my head before pausing and nodding instead.

        "Yes but no. I mean, I'm glad I found my Chain. I've been waiting for what seems like forever to find them and now I have, which I'm excited about." I tell him honestly, sipping my drink as I vent to my two closest friends.

        "But?" Thomas encourages and I sigh before I continue.

        "But, there's three factors that make this whole Soulmate bond between us damn near impossible. He's human, he's straight, and he has a girlfriend."

         "Well, fuck." He says with a whistle and then he turns to Ares before turning back to me with an understanding smile. "And this is why you needed to talk to Ares." I nod my head in agreement and he smiles before leaning over to give his Bond a kiss before leaving to go attend to some customers at the other end of the bar.

     Ares turns to me with his water in hand and a slight frown in his brows. "I get that we're friends and all, and I don't mind helping, but why do you think I'm the best one to help in this situation?" He asks, only curious.

      "Even though Thomas wasn't straight, he was a top that couldn't even think about being a bottom. And he was against you from he beginning. Though they were reluctant in different ways, I figured your experience with that could maybe help me with Elliot." I tell him and he hums in agreement before he looks off into space for a bit.

     I let him get his thoughts together before he turns to me with a serious look in his eyes that makes me straighten up automatically.

       "The biggest thing you have to have is patience. A shit ton of it. You can't rush it, even if you make progress you have to keep going the pace he's comfortable with. Let him come to you. You have to talk to him first and foremost about what he is to you, and see where he wants to do from there. And no matter what his decision, don't fight him on it. Things will happen the way they're intended to. Just have faith." He tells me.

       And this is why I always go to him. He's not the smartest or the nicest or even the easiest to get along with, but Ares will be there for you through anything, and he will always tell you what you need to hear, even if you don't like it.

       He's right.

       I have to have that talk with Elliot. Even if this shit feels like a thousand knives in my heart, this is his bond too, even if he doesn't understand it yet.

       Even though I feel like I know what he's going to choose: not me.

       But just maybe if I take the the other portion of my friends advice and just have faith, everything will work out the way it's supposed to. I drown the rest of my lemonade in one go. This is going to be one long ass week and dammit if I don't just want to go hide myself in a hole somewhere.

       Pussy? Maybe.

       Self preservation? Definitely.

~~~~~~~~~~~
I miss Zack and Thomas content. They're my babiiiesss. My poor baby Zay I feel so bad for him. todays updates are gonna be so crazy. I hope you guys are as ready as I am, even though I started writing late.

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Comments?

QOTD: What were you bullied for?