#thread: diego3

[henrybly]

There had been a number of times when he’d climbed these stairs for other reasons, fueled by a desire to slip his tongue into a certain lead singer’s mouth. With, you know, other appendages also slipping into other orifices to put it crudely. Those times, he’d flirted with the notion that it was a bad idea, which was a sentiment that, right now, he wished he’d given more attention to. Maybe if he had, they would never have been in this situation, Henry pounding up stairwell after stairwell to Diego Rodriguez’s high rise apartment with no idea what he would find on the other side of the door. 

There was a sick feeling weighing heavily in his gut when he realised he could be too late. Not only because the flight here had taken about four hours, but because Diego had definitely got the jump on him and had created about a two hour window separating them both. Two whole hours before Henry had even known he’d gone. 

Breathing heavily, as he rounded the corner and began sprinting up yet another flight, he could still picture the way Poppy’s features had twisted in concern as she tilted her head at Henry and gently told him, “He flew back home.”

Poppy hadn’t seen reason to worry, but maybe she hadn’t heard Diego properly. What he’d said to them. She’d been there though, during sound check when Henry and Diego had been awkwardly sitting at opposite ends of the room, Henry sending furtive glances over to the other man then quickly letting his eyes dart away whenever he looked back. That wasn’t like him at all; Henry was usually direct and to the point, never coy. But he was avoiding Diego, or perhaps Diego was avoiding him. The specifics didn't actually matter, because Harper had of course decided to increase the awkwardness by tenfold and make yet another one of her snide remarks. Truthfully, Henry couldn’t even remember exactly what she’d said, but he remembered watching Diego flinch and Poppy tense up and Michael start laughing as if the whole thing was amusing to him. What had followed had been an argument that Henry had tried his best to stay out of, energy reserves drained to the point of him receiving confused looks from Poppy when he refused to step in and play the mediator as usual. He regretted that now, especially with the image of Diego’s hurt face still playing in his mind, as their frontman stared at all of them - not Poppy, never Poppy - and informed them, “Guess you’d all be better off without me then.”

The words had prompted Henry’s own breath to catch in his throat but all he could do was sit uselessly at his keyboard, frozen, as Poppy sprang into action and chased after Diego. Eventually, he’d had the wherewithal to turn to a cackling Harper and Michael and narrow his eyes at them. 

“You guys are assholes,” he’d said, simply, before getting up and leaving. At least that had shut them up for the time being and he could see the shock registering on their faces as he passed them by. Quiet, placid Henry did not call his bandmates assholes. 

After two hours of pacing in his hotel room and drafting text after unsent text to Diego, trying as best as he could to not think too hard about the other man’s words, he’d gone to find Poppy. 

“How is he?” he’d asked her, expecting her to sweetly reassure him, because he’d managed to convince himself that his worry had been misplaced. That was he was overreacting in an uncharacteristic display of illogical behaviour. All that calm flew out the window when Poppy winced and gently informed Henry that Diego had flown back home. 

At once, Henry’s blood ran cold. He could feel the colour draining from his face as he stumbled backwards, knowing it must have alarmed Poppy when he barely reacted after his back slammed into the wall behind him. Heart racing, he allowed Diego’s last words to play over in his memory again. 

Guess you’d all be better off without me then. 

Diego’s voice shifted a little in his mind. 

You’d be better off without me, Hen. 

He hadn’t said anything to Poppy after that, had turned away from her in a way he’d never have before. And so transpired the next single most anxiety-inducing four hours of Henry Bly’s life. He’d sat on the flight back to New York, picturing Diego alone in his apartment and thinking of all the things he could be doing right now as a man who thought the rest of the world would be better off without him. As he jiggled his leg on the flight, erratic little twitches coursing through his body and probably alarming the pretty air stewardess who evidently recognised him if the way she batted her lashes at him were anything to go by, all Henry could think was that he might be the one to find him. He’d have to be the one to tell Poppy, wouldn’t he? And Diego’s parents?

He’d thrown up in the airport bathroom as soon as the plane touched down at JFK, which was a five minute affair that ate into his time even more. His taxi driver apparently wanted to talk about their music but Henry bluntly ignored him, instead choosing to let his fingernails dig into the palms of his hands until they broke through the skin in bloody, crescent-shaped marks. Remembering how to breathe seemed like an inane thought at that moment, but he tried to focus on that anyway, whole body trembling as he forced himself to reckon with the idea that he’d caused this. Harper and Michael hadn’t. They’d just been pulling their usual shit, but Henry had been the one to push Diego away after the other man had opened up to him, been vulnerable with him. 

Henry had been too wrapped up in not wanting Diego to turn out like Stefan that he’d inadvertently pushed him to, what? Be just that?

Nausea warred with him again. Thankfully, the cab had pulled up outside Diego’s apartment so he didn’t have to fork out extra cash for throwing up over the leather upholstery. Throwing more bills than necessary into the front seat, he climbed out and raced inside, bringing him to the present moment of reaching Diego’s door and hammering frantically on it. 

“Diego?” he shouted, voice cracking. When his knocks subsided, he stood back and waited, unable to keep track of what was seconds and what was minutes, only able to acknowledge that Diego was not opening the door. 

“No,” he whispered, terror clutching at his chest. He reached into his pocket to pull out his phone, unsure who to call first, an ambulance or his own father, when the door swung open and revealed Diego Rodriguez on the other side of it, bowl of half-eaten ramen in hand. 

Distantly, Henry could hear the clattering sound of his phone hitting the ground as it slipped from his fingers. He stared at the other man, blinking rapidly as if to make sense of the fact that he was standing in front of Henry, seemingly okay. Instinctively, his gaze dipped down to Diego’s wrists and there they were, clean and unmarked, albeit adorned with numerous leather and beaded bracelets. But not… cut. Broken. 

A wounded noise left Henry as he took a step back, dangerously close to the stairwell. 

“You asshole,” he managed, voice hoarse. 

[skyguywrites]

thread tracker wheeee

❗️= close to wrapping up. ❓= can be wrapped up/archived if people need/wish. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

ACTIVE.

dan owes ;

max/ivy2 - ivy tells max about her past. (20 jan // 2 notes.)

raff/harlow1 - first meeting. (20 jan // 7 notes.)

rafferty/maverick2 - nye/fireworks. (3 feb // 2 notes.)

ripley/amira1 - church meet. (3 feb // 1 note.)

marley/poppy1 - poppy's bi awakening. (6 feb // 0 notes.)

rae/flynn1 - reunion. (9 feb // 3 notes.)

wardo/flynn1 - reunion. (11 feb // 1 note.)

marley/harlow2 - homeless bucket. (12 march // 3 notes.)

henry/diego3 - diego finds out about stefan. (26 april // 7 notes.)

louis/wardo4 - bar date. (27 may // 2 notes.)

annie/eli2 - valentine's day mixup. (2 june // 2 notes.)

jen owes ;

jax/persephone2 - valentine's day date. (15 april // 3 notes.)

noah/poppy2 - poppy's closet. (28 april // 8 notes.)

killian/amira3 - valentine's day. (29 april // 6 notes.)

jax/matty1 - australia. (29 april // 5 notes.)

harlow/raff/mav1 - valentine's day. (15 may // 3 notes.)

jax/annie1 - miami. (15 may // 2 notes.)

chess/matty2 - post work drinks. (15 may // 4 notes.)

chess/ivy3 - experimenting. (15 may // 0 notes.)

jax/dante2 - monaco. (1 june // 0 notes.)

michaela owes ;

billy/simon2 - michigan. (1 june // 0 notes.)

louis/ivy3 - kittens and christopher street. (2 june // 13 notes.)

ARCHIVED.

dan/michaela.

amira/joey1. (7 notes.)

annie/eli1. (2 notes.)

billy/simon1. (10 notes.)

bradley/persephone1. (5 notes.)

diego/henry1. (14 notes.)

diego/henry2. (16 notes.)

elias/matty1. (2 notes.)

henry/ivy1. (7 notes.)

henry/poppy1. (14 notes.)

ivy/max1. (6 notes.)

ivy/raff1. (6 notes.)

ivy/wardo1. (8 notes.)

jess/marley1. (6 notes.)

mav/raff1. (4 notes.)

mav/wardo1. (3 notes.)

persephone/ripley1. (5 notes.)

poppy/wardo1. (4 notes.)

scotty/joey1. (2 notes.)

dan/jenny.

chess/henry1. (7 notes.)

chess/joey1. (9 notes.)

dante/jax1. (3 notes.)

harlow/marley1. (5 notes.)

louis/max1. (6 notes.)

louis/wardo1. (20 notes.)

louis/wardo2. (8 notes.)

louis/wardo3. (13 notes.)

jenny/michaela.

amira/killian1. (14 notes.)

amira/killian2. (7 notes.)

chess/diego1. (9 notes.)

chess/ivy1. (7 notes.)

chess/ivy2. (9 notes.)

chess/matty1. (6 notes.)

harlow/ivy1. (6 notes.)

harlow/maverick1. (6 notes.)

ivy/louis1. (10 notes.)

ivy/louis2. (13 notes.)

killian/matty1. (2 notes.)

noah/poppy1. (8 notes.)

persephone/jax1. (9 notes.)

[raine-jones]

Communication || Diego & Raine

Location: Pack House Time: nov 19 @ofhumanities

Raine had not done as promised. Not completely at least. 

They had ignored doctor’s orders and went to work. Normally they wouldn’t be so quick to make such a decision. Even if they healed faster now as a wolf than they did as a human. 

But it felt good throwing themselves into something physical that wasn’t training with Diego - because Diego knew of the concussion and would probably not allow them to participate regardless - especially after having promised to take their intake of weed and alcohol to a lower level. Raine decided it might be better to just go completely cold-turkey except for perhaps one joint during the weekend. 

First day had been easy enough, because they had been far too worried about Milo, Hutch, and Evan to care much about wallowing is self-pity. And work kept them from thinking about it. They needed to keep their head on straight when they fixed someone’s car, didn’t matter if they had stumbled upon the problem before, or fixed the exact same car, it forced them to focus. They tended to their job systematically, but also with care, double checking their own decisions. They still hated cars, but the mechanical part of the job always held their attention. Plus, the pay was good, and their boss liked them a lot. They were glad for that, because despite disappearing two to three months a year for the last four years, they were still welcomed back every February or January. 

It might also be the only place where a whole crew of people didn’t question their decisions or had certain opinions about them. They did their job, they were flexible - aside from those three months - and they kept some costumers coming back. 

The pay was good enough to support the pack, and they saved up a whole lot to pay for the rent during those three months. It wasn’t much different from when they had lived at home, and thus it was easy to continue the routine. 

They returned home after having texted Diego that they should talk. They agreed upon that last Sunday, and Raine was intend on discussing matters as soon as possible before their brain could tell them to do something different. And with different, it was probably going to be worse than communicating. It was hard though. Raine had actually put an alarm during lunch that told them to communicate. 

They were going to do this, and they were going to do this right.... for now. 

With a deep breath Raine sat down on the porch, still wearing their filthy overalls, and smelling like motor-oil and other chemicals. They felt a little on edge, but they guessed they could blame that on the lack of substances. They were still doing this, they had to. They kept on telling themself that they would need to be sober, that by being sober they would be more capable of protecting the pack. That last Sunday had only happened because they hadn’t been.

They looked up when Diego’s car drove up the drive, feeling the knot in their stomach clench at the idea of communication. 

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

rory/bonnie1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

simon/billy2 - 10 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 15 nov // 5 notes // opp: michaela

lando/théo1 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/valentina1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/valentina1 - 13 dec // 1 note // opp: michaela

simon/billy3 (mini) - 4 jan // 0 notes // opp/ michaela

micah/joey1 - 5 jan // 3 notes // opp: michaela

eli/annie3 - 5 jan // 2 notes // opp: michaela

heath/elodie1 - 5 jan // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️rafferty/maverick2 - 6 jan // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ariadne/billy1 (mini) - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo5 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 (mini) - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 17 oct // 10 notes // opp: danielle

killian/amira4 - 08 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

chess/ivy3 - 10 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 11 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/colin3 (flashback, mini) - 14 nov // 6 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/marcus1 (mini) - 27 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/valentina1 (mini) - 31 dec // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/simon1 - 2 jan // 2 notes // opp: danielle

matthias/colin4 (mini) - 5 jan // 5 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/raff/maverick1 - 6 jan // 6 notes // opp: danielle & michaela

michaela owes.

persephone/bradley2 - 16 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

théo/jax1 (mini) - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

persephone/charlie1 (mini) - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

poppy/noah3 - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️jasper/ariadne1 (mini) - 24 nov // 4 notes // opp: jenny

kian/ezra2 (mini) - 5 dec // 4 notes // opp: michaela

amelia/ripley1 - 2nd jan // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ARCHIVED.

amira/joey1. | amira/killian1. amira/killian2. amira/killian3. annie/eli1. annie/eli2. | annie/jax1.

billy/simon1.

bradley/persephone1.

charlie/elodie1.

chess/diego1. | chess/henry1. chess/ivy1. chess/ivy2. | chess/joey1. | chess/matty1. chess/matty2.

colin/matthias1. colin/matthias2.

dante/jax1.

diego/henry1. diego/henry2. diego/henry3.

eli/matty1.

flynn/rae1. | flynn/wardo1.

harlow/ivy1. | harlow/marley1. | harlow/maverick1.

henry/ivy1. | henry/poppy1.

ivy/louis1. ivy/louis2. ivy/louis3. | ivy/max1. | ivy/raff1. | ivy/wardo1.

jax/matty1.

jess/marley1.

joey/scotty1.

kian/louis1.

killian/matty1.

louis/max1. | louis/scotty1. | louis/wardo1. louis/wardo2. louis/wardo3.

mav/raff1. | mav/wardo1.

noah/poppy1. noah/poppy2.

persephone/jax1. persephone/jax2. | persephone/ripley1.

poppy/wardo1.

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amelia1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

rory/bonnie1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

simon/billy2 - 10 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian2 (mini) - 14 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 15 nov // 5 notes // opp: michaela

lando/théo1 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/valentina1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/valentina1 - 13 dec // 1 note // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ariadne/billy1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/elodie1 - 02 oct // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 - 7 oct // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 17 oct // 10 notes // opp: danielle

killian/amira4 - 08 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

chess/ivy3 - 10 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 11 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/colin3 - 14 nov // 6 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/marcus1 - 27 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

micah/joey1 - 6 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

persephone/bradley2 - 16 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/raff2 - 16 oct // 5 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/harlow/raff1 - 17 oct // 5 notes // opp: jenny & danielle

théo/jax1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

persephone/charlie1 - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

poppy/noah3 - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

jasper/ariadne1 - 24 nov // 4 notes // opp: jenny

kian/ezra2 (mini) - 5 dec // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ARCHIVED.

amira/joey1. | amira/killian1. amira/killian2. amira/killian3. annie/eli1. | annie/jax1.

billy/simon1.

bradley/persephone1.

chess/diego1. | chess/henry1. chess/ivy1. chess/ivy2. | chess/joey1. | chess/matty1. chess/matty2.

colin/matthias2.

dante/jax1.

diego/henry1. diego/henry2. diego/henry3.

eli/matty1.

harlow/ivy1. | harlow/marley1. | harlow/maverick1.

henry/ivy1. | henry/poppy1.

ivy/louis1. ivy/louis2. ivy/louis3. | ivy/max1. | ivy/raff1. | ivy/wardo1.

jax/matty1.

jess/marley1.

joey/scotty1.

kian/louis1.

killian/matty1.

louis/max1. | louis/scotty1. | louis/wardo1. louis/wardo2. louis/wardo3.

mav/raff1. | mav/wardo1.

noah/poppy1. noah/poppy2.

persephone/jax1. persephone/jax2. | persephone/ripley1.

poppy/wardo1.

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amelia1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

rory/bonnie1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

simon/billy2 - 10 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian2 (mini) - 14 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 15 nov // 5 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ariadne/billy1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/elodie1 - 02 oct // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 - 7 oct // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/poppy3 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 17 oct // 10 notes // opp: danielle

killian/amira4 - 08 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

chess/ivy3 - 10 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 11 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/colin3 - 14 nov // 6 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

marcus/maggie1 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

théo/lando1 - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

micah/joey1 - 6 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

persephone/bradley2 - 16 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/raff2 - 16 oct // 5 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/harlow/raff1 - 17 oct // 5 notes // opp: jenny & danielle

théo/jax1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // opp: michaela/jenny

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // opp: michaela

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav2 - 19 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

❗️rafferty/harlow1 - 8 sept // 9 notes // opp: jenny

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

billy/ariadne1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/elodie1 - 02 oct // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 - 7 oct // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 (mini) - 7 oct // 7 notes // opp: michaela

noah/poppy3 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

kian/louis1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

marcus/maggie1 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

billy/simon2 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

kian/ezra1 (mini) - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

théo/lando1 - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

scotty/louis1 - 5 oct // 3 notes // opp: jenny

❗️matty/chess2 - 5 oct // 9 notes // opp: jenny

micah/joey1 - 6 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

flynn/noah1 - 8 oct // 2 notes // opp: jenny

amira/killian4 - 8 oct // 3 notes // opp: jenny

[skyguywrites]

key:

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // opp: michaela/jenny

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

joey/micah1 - 12 aug // 1 note // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // opp: michaela

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

❗️rae/flynn1 - 4 sept // 5 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav2 - 19 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 25 june // 8 notes // opp: danielle

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

matthias/colin1 - 29 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 12 aug // 1 note // opp: michaela

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

louis/scotty1 - 14 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

killian/amira1 - 31 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

matthias/colin1 (moment) - 24 sept // 5 notes // opp: michaela

billy/ariadne1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (moment) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️chess/matty2 - 29 sept // 8 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

colin/matthias1 (moment) - 24 sept // 6 notes // opp: jenny

kian/louis1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

marcus/maggie1 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

billy/simon2 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

kian/ezra1 (moment) - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

théo/lando1 - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

elodie/charlie1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

[skyguywrites]

key:

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

simon/billy2 - 6 june // 1 note // started 2 mths ago

dante/marcus1 - 16 june // 0 notes // started 2 mths ago

lando/théo1 - 26 june // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 july // 4 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // started 7 mths ago

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // started 2 mths ago

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // started 1 mth ago

teddy/colin1 - 11 aug // 2 notes // started 1 mth ago

joey/micah1 - 12 aug // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

❗️rae/flynn1 - 4 sept // 5 notes // started 7 mths ago

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // started 1 week ago

wardo/louis1 (moment) - 19 sept // 0 notes

❗️raff/mav2 - 19 sept // 4 notes // started 9 mths ago

jen owes.

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 25 june // 8 notes // 9 mths ago

harlow/marley1 - 26 june // 4 notes // 8 mths ago

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // 5 mths ago

louis/kian1 - 26 june // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

maggie/marcus1 - 23 july // 1 note // 2 mths ago

matthias/colin1 - 29 july // 4 notes // 2 mths ago

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // 1 mth ago

charlie/elodie1 - 8 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

matthias/simon1 - 11 aug // 0 notes /// 1 mth ago

noah/flynn1 - 12 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 3 mths ago

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 1 mth ago

louis/scotty1 - 14 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

matthias/colin1 (mini) - 31 aug // 2 notes // 3 wees ago

killian/amira1 - 31 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // 5 mths ago

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // 2 mths ago

louis/wardo1 (moment) - 19 sept // 1 note

michaela owes.

théo/keeley1 - 6 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

billy/ariadne1 - 6 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

colin/teddy1 - 11 aug // 2 notes // 1 mth ago

❗️matty/chess2 - 12 aug // 7 notes // 5 mths ago

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // 1 mth ago

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // 1 week ago

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // 4 mths ago

marcus/charlie1 - 19 sept // 1 note // 1 mth ago

[skyguywrites]

key:

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

simon/billy2 - 6 june // 1 note // started 2 mths ago

dante/marcus1 - 16 june // 0 notes // started 2 mths ago

lando/théo1 - 26 june // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 july // 4 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // started 7 mths ago

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // started 2 mths ago

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // started 1 mth ago

joey/micah1 - 12 aug // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

❗️rae/flynn1 - 4 sept // 5 notes // 7 mths ago

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // 2 days ago

jen owes.

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 25 june // 8 notes // 9 mths ago

harlow/marley1 - 26 june // 4 notes // 8 mths ago

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // 5 mths ago

❗️louis/ivy3 - 26 june // 14 notes // 5 mths ago

louis/kian1 - 26 june // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

maggie/marcus1 - 23 july // 1 note // 2 mths ago

matthias/colin1 - 29 july // 4 notes // 2 mths ago

charlie/marcus1 - 6 aug // 0 notes // 1 mth ago

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // 1 mth ago

charlie/elodie1 - 8 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

matthias/simon1 - 11 aug // 0 notes /// 1 mth ago

noah/flynn1 - 12 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 3 mths ago

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 1 mth ago

louis/scotty1 - 14 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

matthias/colin1 (mini) - 31 aug // 2 notes // 1 week ago

killian/amira1 - 31 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // 5 mths ago

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // 2 mths ago

michaela owes.

théo/keeley1 - 6 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

billy/ariadne1 - 6 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

colin/teddy1 - 11 aug // 2 notes // 1 mth ago

❗️matty/chess2 - 12 aug // 7 notes // 5 mths ago

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // 1 mth ago

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // 1 day ago

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // 4 mths ago

❗️mav/raff2 - 15 sept // 3 notes // 9 mths ago

[skyguywrites]

thread tracker wheeee

❗️= close to wrapping up. ❓= can be wrapped up/archived if people need/wish. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

ACTIVE.

dan owes ;

eli/annie1 - nye/annie gets stood up. (19 jan // 2 notes)

max/ivy2 - ivy tells max about her past. (20 jan // 2 notes.)

raff/harlow1 - first meeting. (20 jan // 7 notes.)

rafferty/maverick2 - nye/fireworks. (3 feb // 2 notes.)

ripley/amira1 - church meet. (3 feb // 1 note.)

marley/poppy1 - poppy's bi awakening. (6 feb // 0 notes.)

joey/scotty1 - scotty opens up about ex. (6 feb // 2 notes.) ❓

rae/flynn1 - reunion. (9 feb // 3 notes.)

dante/jax1 - gym session. (9 feb // 3 notes.)

wardo/flynn1 - reunion. (11 feb // 1 note.)

eli/annie2 - valentine's date mixup. (11 feb // 0 notes.)

ripley/persephone1 - reunion. (13 feb // 5 notes.) ❓

marley/jess1 - drunk jared. (6 march // 6 notes.) ❓

marley/harlow2 - homeless bucket. (12 march // 3 notes.)

henry/diego3 - diego finds out about stefan. (26 april // 7 notes.)

jen owes ;

jax/persephone2 - valentine's day date. (15 april // 3 notes.)

louis/ivy3 - kittens and christopher street. (27 april // 12 notes.)

noah/poppy2 - poppy's closet. (28 april // 8 notes.)

harlow/maverick1 - meetcute. (28 april // 6 notes.) ❓

killian/amira3 - valentine's day. (29 april // 6 notes.)

louis/wardo4 - 'platonic' bar date. (29 april // 1 note.)

jax/matty1 - australia. (29 april // 5 notes.)

harlow/raff/mav1 - valentine's day. (15 may // 3 notes.)

jax/annie1 - miami. (15 may // 2 notes.)

chess/matty2 - post work drinks. (15 may // 4 notes.)

chess/ivy3 - experimenting. (15 may // 0 notes.)

michaela owes ;

n/a.

ARCHIVED.

dan/michaela.

amira/joey1. (7 notes.)

billy/simon1. (10 notes.)

bradley/persephone1. (5 notes.)

diego/henry1. (14 notes.)

diego/henry2. (16 notes.)

elias/matty1. (2 notes.)

henry/ivy1. (7 notes.)

henry/poppy1. (14 notes.)

ivy/max1. (6 notes.)

ivy/raff1. (6 notes.)

ivy/wardo1. (8 notes.)

mav/raff1. (4 notes.)

mav/wardo1. (3 notes.)

poppy/wardo1. (4 notes.)

dan/jenny.

chess/henry1. (7 notes.)

chess/joey1. (9 notes.)

harlow/marley1. (5 notes.)

louis/max1. (6 notes.)

louis/wardo1. (20 notes.)

louis/wardo2. (8 notes.)

louis/wardo3. (13 notes.)

jenny/michaela.

amira/killian1. (14 notes.)

amira/killian2. (7 notes.)

chess/diego1. (9 notes.)

chess/ivy1. (7 notes.)

chess/ivy2. (9 notes.)

chess/matty1. (6 notes.)

harlow/ivy1. (6 notes.)

ivy/louis1. (10 notes.)

ivy/louis2. (13 notes.)

killian/matty1. (2 notes.)

noah/poppy1. (8 notes.)

persephone/jax1. (9 notes.)

[skyguywrites]

thread tracker.

❗️= close to wrapping up. ❓= can be wrapped up/archived if people need/wish. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

ACTIVE.

dan owes ;

eli/annie1 - nye/annie gets stood up. (19 jan // 2 notes)

max/ivy2 - ivy tells max about her past. (20 jan // 2 notes.)

raff/harlow1 - first meeting. (20 jan // 7 notes.)

rafferty/maverick2 - nye/fireworks. (3 feb // 2 notes.)

ripley/amira1 - church meet. (3 feb // 1 note.)

marley/poppy1 - poppy's bi awakening. (6 feb // 0 notes.)

joey/scotty1 - scotty opens up about ex. (6 feb // 2 notes.) ❓

rae/flynn1 - reunion. (9 feb // 3 notes.)

dante/jax1 - gym session. (9 feb // 3 notes.)

wardo/flynn1 - reunion. (11 feb // 1 note.)

eli/annie2 - valentine's date mixup. (11 feb // 0 notes.)

ripley/persephone1 - reunion. (13 feb // 5 notes.) ❓

marley/jess1 - drunk jared. (6 march // 6 notes.) ❓

marley/harlow2 - homeless bucket. (12 march // 3 notes.)

louis/wardo4 - 'platonic' bar date. (25 april // 0 notes.)

henry/diego3 - diego finds out about stefan. (26 april // 7 notes.)

jen owes ;

jax/persephone2 - valentine's day date. (15 april // 3 notes.)

chess/matty2 - post work drinks. (27 april // 2 notes.)

louis/ivy3 - kittens and christopher street. (27 april // 12 notes.)

noah/poppy2 - poppy's closet. (28 april // 8 notes.)

harlow/maverick1 - meetcute. (28 april // 6 notes.) ❓

killian/amira3 - valentine's day. (29 april // 6 notes.)

jax/matty1 - australia. (29 april // 5 notes.)

michaela owes ;

annie/jax1 - miami. (29 april // 1 note.)

mav/harlow/raff1 - valentine's date. (29 april // 2 notes.)

ivy/chess3 starter.

ARCHIVED.

dan/michaela.

amira/joey1. (7 notes.)

billy/simon1. (10 notes.)

bradley/persephone1. (5 notes.)

diego/henry1. (14 notes.)

diego/henry2. (16 notes.)

elias/matty1. (2 notes.)

henry/ivy1. (7 notes.)

henry/poppy1. (14 notes.)

ivy/max1. (6 notes.)

ivy/raff1. (6 notes.)

ivy/wardo1. (8 notes.)

mav/raff1. (4 notes.)

mav/wardo1. (3 notes.)

poppy/wardo1. (4 notes.)

dan/jenny.

chess/henry1. (7 notes.)

chess/joey1. (9 notes.)

harlow/marley1. (5 notes.)

louis/max1. (6 notes.)

louis/wardo1. (20 notes.)

louis/wardo2. (8 notes.)

louis/wardo3. (13 notes.)

jenny/michaela.

amira/killian1. (14 notes.)

amira/killian2. (7 notes.)

chess/diego1. (9 notes.)

chess/ivy1. (7 notes.)

chess/ivy2. (9 notes.)

chess/matty1. (6 notes.)

harlow/ivy1. (6 notes.)

ivy/louis1. (10 notes.)

ivy/louis2. (13 notes.)

killian/matty1. (2 notes.)

noah/poppy1. (8 notes.)

persephone/jax1. (9 notes.)

[skyguywrites]

THREADS;

it's completely possible i've forgotten some or gotten smth wrong but anyway

DAN ;

bradley

persephone1

elias

annabelle1

annabelle2

matthew1

dante

jackson1

henry

chess1

diego1

diego2

diego3

ivy1

poppy1

joey

amira1

chess1

scotty1

marley

harlow1

harlow2

jessica1

poppy1

max

ivy1

ivy2

louis1

rae

flynn1

rafferty

harlow1

harlow/maverick1

ivy1

maverick1

maverick2

ripley

amira1

persephone1

simon

billy1

wardo

flynn1

ivy1

louis1

louis2

louis3

maverick1

poppy1

JEN ;

chess

diego1

henry1

ivy1

ivy2

joey1

matthew1

harlow

ivy1

marley1

marley2

maverick1

maverick/rafferty1

rafferty1

jackson

dante1

persephone1

persephone2

killian

amira1

amira2

amira3

matthew1

louis

ivy1

ivy2

max1

wardo1

wardo2

wardo3

noah

poppy1

MICHAELA ;

amira

joey1

killian1

killian2

killian3

ripley1

annabelle

elias1

elias2

diego

chess1

henry1

henry2

henry3

flynn

rae1

wardo1

ivy

chess1

chess2

harlow1

henry1

louis1

louis2

max1

max2

rafferty1

wardo1

jessica

marley1

matthew

chess1

elias1

killian1

maverick

harlow1

harlow/rafferty1

rafferty1

rafferty2

wardo1

oliver

n/a

persephone

bradley1

jackson1

jackson2

ripley1

poppy

henry1

marley1

noah1

wardo1

scotty

joey1

[henrybly]

Why all this shit is worth it.

“What?” Henry frowned, blinking curiously at Diego, like he hadn’t heard him right. He stared at the other man through bleary eyes, uncomprehending for a few seconds before he started to process what Diego was telling him. Even when understanding began to dawn on him, he still couldn’t quite believe the words.

Henry knew how much Diego was struggling when it came to his sexuality. He hadn’t quite accepted it yet and although Henry was patient to wait, he had wondered when this thing between them would become too messy. Part of him thought it might have already gone too far, when he realised that Diego not being around had painfully carved out a piece of him that he suddenly thought he might not be able to do without. He’d been bold enough to admit, just to himself, that he missed the other man when he wasn’t around and that was dangerous territory. The terror that had struck him when Diego flew back home to New York had been indescribable. Surely that enough for Henry to know he was totally fucked.

He’d been careful not to say that out loud though, not wanting to scare the other man off. 

But maybe Diego felt the same. He was still struggling, that much was for sure and Henry doubted that Harper’s words had been anything other than a further setback for him. But right now, he wasn’t talking like a man scared of being loved. 

Instead, he was talking calmly. Reassuring Henry. Seemingly intent on stopping Henry from taking back all the parts of him that wanted to curl themselves protectively around Diego until he could safely redistribute them when they were re-labelled as something safe and palatable for a man who didn't want to be cared for by another man. Henry stopped, halting himself as he tried to pull away from Diego.

With their foreheads pressed together and a whisper of a kiss being pressed against his lips through Diego’s own will, Henry hoped the fight would leave him. Eventually, it did. Seeping out of his bones in one fell swoop as he slumped against the other man, a hand reaching up to curl in Diego’s hair, feeling the inky black strands slide through his fingertips, silky and warm and a clear indicator that Diego was here.

“You’re safe,” he mumbled, almost needing the reminder to come from his own mouth. His eyebrows were still furrowed together, but he was quick to hide them by pressing his face into Diego’s shoulder. He felt boneless and floppy and like he was about to have the headache of his life in the morning - the kind his Grand-Mere used to get which led to Maman pressing a finger to her lips to stop them stampeding around the house when she visited. But mostly, he felt safe too.

He leaned into Diego’s warmth, feeling the other man’s arms around him. It was enough to help him relax, just for now.

With each word that Henry uttered, his throat hoarse from the choked-out sobs that racked his body, it became all too clear to Diego just how much he’d fucked up by hopping on that plane. He hadn’t been thinking – not about Henry, not about anybody. He’d just known he was angry and needed to clear his head, to get the fuck out of there and be alone with his thoughts. It hadn’t ever occurred to him that Henry might be afraid. That Diego’s actions could have caused such an outwards spiral was incomprehensible to him and yet there he sat next to the boy he’d grown so fond of, watching as his hands trembled, eyes bloodshot, looking as though he’d just endured the worst few hours of his life. 

Yet even all that concern and fear that Henry had felt in the last twelve hours, it didn’t even begin to touch upon the truth. He’d suffered through far worse than Diego dipping out on him. He’d been through the unimaginable and Diego had forced him to relive it. 

“No, Hen, you can’t think like that,” Diego gasped, eyes blown wide by Henry’s honesty. As awful as what had happened to Stefan was, he couldn’t imagine having to carry the weight of what Henry had just told him. All that guilt must have been eating him up this entire time and Diego had no idea. 

Carding a hand through his hair, Diego felt helpless. Nothing he could say right now would bring Stefan back, and there wasn’t anything he could do to mend that wound for Henry. The only thing he could do was remind Henry that he was there, and he wasn’t going anywhere, that they’d be able to get through whatever shitstorm life threw at them. Maybe it was an empty promise – hell, he’d just hopped on a flight mid-tour over the slightest inconvenience – but he wasn’t so desperately for it true. He wanted to see this through with him. 

“Whatever Stefan was dealing with... Whatever shit’s going on in my head? That’s not you, babe. That’s the rest of them, the rest of this stupid, shitty world...” he shook his head, edging closer to the other boy on the sofa. He pressed his hand to Henry’s shoulder, squeezing gently in some dumb, misguided attempt to offer sympathy. He had no idea what to do with his hands, no clue what the right thing to say was. All he wanted was to offer him the comfort he needed, to prove to him that he wasn’t alone and that none of this was his fault. “You’re my number one fucking reason why all this shit is worth it, you hear me?” 

He could see Henry working to protest, a look of indignation settling onto his features as he shook his head, muttered Diego’s name in protest. But he meant what he said, and he’d spend the rest of his pathetic life trying to prove it to him if he had to. He wasn’t always brave, nor was he always honest with himself or the people he loved, but Henry Bly was the surest thing in his life. 

For the briefest moment, he thought he’d gotten through to him. Before he knew it, Henry’s mouth was against his, the taste of him that Diego had grown so used to mingled with damp, salty tears. He moved in to press a hand to the other man’s waist as he parted his lips, desperate and ready to accept the other man’s affection, to let him seek comfort in whatever way he needed it right now. But then Henry was pushing him away, features screwed up in frustration as he apologised repeatedly. 

“Hen, no, c’mon. It’s okay, honey. It’s alright,” he reassured him, free hand moving to cup the nape of his neck.  

His fingers tickled his skin, thumb gently tracing his jawline as he dipped his head carefully, pressing their foreheads together. He held him there, firm and unwavering as he pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to the corner of Henry’s mouth, a reminder that he was there and that everything was okay. That he still wanted him more desperately than either of them could begin to imagine. 

“I’m safe, okay? We’re safe. And you’re gonna stop apologising and you’re gonna let me hold you for the rest of the night, alright? I won’t hear any arguments, baby,” he whispered, gently scolding him. 

[henrybly]

He heard Diego’s faint warning and nodded numbly. As much as he appreciated the effort that Diego was putting into being gentle right now, he didn’t want him to think it was necessary. He didn’t want the other man to treat him like he was something fragile and easy to break. Henry was meant to be the dependable one, the one that people came to when they needed someone to lean against, a shoulder to cry on. He wasn’t the one that usually needed comfort.

Saying that, he didn’t shy away when Diego wrapped his hand around his. His breath caught in the back of his throat when he felt Diego’s lips against his knuckles and he lifted his gaze to stare at the other man.

He was sure that he looked a sight right now, especially after catching a flight from the other side of the country. His hair was sticking up in all directions, he knew that to be true, and he could only imagine the mess of his face. Flushed with red-rimmed, watery eyes, his eyelashes most likely clumped together. He’d never been a particularly beautiful crier, not like his sister, Val, was. She had movie star tears, their mother used to say. When Val cried, the sight was so beautifully heartbreaking and tragic that it inspired tears in the onlooker’s eyes as well. When Henry cried, it just made people uncomfortable. Probably because he didn’t do it very often and when he did, it felt like he shouldn’t. A sobbing Henry Bly? There were few people in the world that knew quite what to do with that.

Amongst his eldest sister though, and then Sylvie who had found him locked in the under-the-stairs closet on the day of Stefan’s funeral, Diego Rodriguez was a wildcard in that category. He seemed to be doing everything he could to calm Henry down at that moment and Henry directed all of his attention to the other man listening with a pained chest to his words.

“I keep thinking I pushed him to do it. That he couldn’t see another way out because he thought I expected something from him that he couldn’t give me, but I never - D, I swear, I’d never…” A trembling breath left him again as he pressed his knuckles harshly into his lips.

He wanted to make it clear to Diego that whatever the two of them were right now, whatever they might end up possibly being, Henry wasn’t the kind of person to drag someone out of the closet. He liked to think that he had never pressured Stefan into coming out, would never dream of it. But what if how much he’d loved the other boy had been pressure enough? Stefan had thought it was a burden, something heavy to carry. He was surprised that that particular realisation hadn’t scared Diego off yet.

“Diego…” he said softly, shaking his head. He knew that the other man meant well with his words, and he appreciated them, he really did. However, he couldn’t help but think that Diego didn’t really know what he was talking about. He’d only seen the good parts of Henry’s love, the parts that playfully wrestled with him underneath tangled hotel room bedsheets and left hidden bells on Poppy’s Animal Crossing island to surprise her. He hadn’t seen the jagged parts of Henry’s love, the parts that spilled over like slivers of glass because of the muchness of it. 

Henry’s parents had always praised him for how he regulated his emotions, even from a young age. Sitting on Diego’s couch right now though, he thought that was a woefully inaccurate assessment of his feelings. He didn’t feel like he was skilled at holding them at bay. Some days, Henry felt incapable of holding any feeling back at all, although he made sure to dampen them down out of necessity. 

Today, after a cross-country flight and a burst of fear that he hadn’t felt in years, he wasn’t sure that he could hold any of it back any longer.

He leaned in and quickly pressed his lips to Diego’s. A warm mouth against a warm mouth. He screwed his eyes shut, salty tears falling from them and spilling down his cheeks as his hands came up to gently push the other man’s shoulders back, as if they had a different brain than his mouth did.

Pulling back with a soft, agonised groan, Henry shook his head.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I didn’t… Fuck,” he cursed.

It had taken some convincing, but Henry finally agreed to step inside Diego’s apartment. Though there had been an element of selfishness to his original desire to move their discussion inside, none of that seemed to matter to Diego right now. All he cared about was allowing his boyfriend – though, he supposed, they’d never called themselves such before – a moment of privacy, a safe space for him to just cry and be held. He wasn’t entirely convinced he was the best man for the job, but he was the one Henry had sought out, the arms in which he’d made a home for himself over the past few months. 

As Henry settled on the sofa, apologies tumbling from his lips, Diego felt helpless. He didn’t want apologies from the other man, at least not for the reasons Henry was supplying. Then again, he hadn’t wanted him trembling on his doorstep, hands curled into the cuffs of his sweater, frantic as tears spilled down his cheeks as he lamented over Diego’s potential ill-fate. 

“Hen, honey? You don’t have to apologise, okay?” he breathed, setting himself down beside the man. 

He kept a careful distance on the couch, not wanting to encroach upon his space, but his palm was flat against the cushion between them, close enough for Henry to touch should he want to reach out, should he feel able. 

He was the first guy I... 

Diego tried not to fill in the gaps, not wanting to do a disservice to Henry, nor to Stefan. He could come to his own conclusions – first guy he had fucked, first guy he had loved – but it would do neither of them any good. There was no denying the sting that Diego felt even as Henry told him he’d loved Stefan; Jealousy was a cruel and unreasonable thing, and Diego suddenly loathed himself for having allowed the emotion in. He was jealous of a dead man for how he’d made Henry feel, and yet how he’d continued to make Henry feel had turned his bandmate into a grief-stricken mess. 

He watched in despair as Henry crumbled in on himself, head falling into his hands, body racked with sobs. It didn’t bear to imagine a world where the sweet, smiley Henry that he thought he’d known so well could be reduced to such misery, and yet there he sat. 

“Baby? I’m gonna reach out now and touch you, okay?” he told the other man, his voice careful. 

It seemed silly, in a sense, to hand out warnings for something so mundane. He and Henry had done far more explicit things than anything as demure as Diego holding his hand, but he didn’t want to catch him unawares, either. It could only cause further distress if he put added pressure on Henry now. 

Carefully, he placed a hand over one of Henry’s own, gently tugging it free so he could look the other man in the eye. Bringing their hands close to his lips, he smattered tender, chaste kisses to Henry’s palm before slowly entwining their fingers and pulling them into his lap. His free hand worked to tip the other man’s jaw up, their eyes meeting; Diego’s overcome with love and concern, Henry’s shining with fresh tears. 

“Your love has never been, and could never be, too much. Y’hear me, baby?” Diego told him, keeping his voice clear and stern. 

No matter how Henry was hurting right now, however soft the frontman should have been with him, he wasn’t about to let him take the blame for something that was well beyond his control. Henry was just about the kindest, most loving person that Diego had ever met, and he couldn’t imagine a reality where being loved by him wasn’t the greatest gift the world could offer a person. 

“I need you to understand, okay? What happened to Stefan was bad. What Stefan went through, all that pain and anguish and fear? It fucking sucks, Hen. But that’s not you, sweetheart. You didn’t push him to those lengths. Your love didn’t break him, it wasn’t too much to contain,” he paused, exhaling slowly as he felt his voice crack at the sheer thought that Henry could even think that. “This fucked up, evil world we live in? That’s what did this, okay? This crazy, hate-filled planet that convinces good people that they shouldn’t just love who they wanna love and feel at home in their own skin.” 

It was a sentiment he’d recited – though in different words and contexts – time and time again, for his sisters and other queer friends. Despite all his own self-hatred, his internal and external battles with his sexuality, Diego had always hated the idea that a few loud assholes in red baseball caps with faces like a donkey’s scrotum could convince anybody that love could ever be wrong. 

“I’m so sorry about Stefan, honey. I really am, and I appreciate it can’t have been easy telling me all of this? But your love, Hen? Your love did not do this. Your love makes this whole damn planet spin on its axis, baby.” 

[henrybly]

It was out there now, Henry’s secret. Although he had never been the one that wanted to hide Stefan away in the shadows. Once upon the time, he had loved that boy with a fierceness that he’d thought could make miracles happen, but it was a love that had terrified Stefan. Instead of shouting it from the rooftops like he was in some sort of John Hughes movie, Henry was never allowed to tell Stefan he loved him. Even when he wanted to press it to the bare skin of the other boy in the confines of their own bedrooms, Stefan would wriggle away and grow angry.

“Stop guilt tripping me,” he’d tell Henry, as if Henry showing him affection was a weapon used to pry open the closet he’d hidden himself away in. Henry had never wanted to force Stefan to come out and he could never force Stefan to accept the way he felt about him either, but he’d stupidly thought that telling the other boy that he loved him would somehow stop Stefan from hating himself even a little bit. Like he could fill in the jagged pieces of Stefan’s whole being with something that was molten and soft and warm.

It had never worked in the end.

In hindsight, he didn’t know why it would have. Henry was built on practicality. True, he would always spare a moment for a romantic notion but if it seemed unlikely to align itself with reality, then he would shut it down and focus on being more reasonable, more logical. Stefan had been the only person to turn that on its head, up until Diego Rodriguez had come into his life.

He gasped a little when Diego called him ‘baby’, not that it was the first time he’d heard the pet name from Diego’s mouth, but he didn’t think he was in a place to deserve to hear it. Not after everything that had gone down in the past few days. But Diego was talking softly to him, as if his own fragility didn’t matter and that Henry was the only thing he had to focus on. Henry didn’t want it to be like that; he was the one meant to look out for Diego, not the other way around. 

“D, I don’t know if…” he said, trailing off as soon as he felt Diego’s lips against his forehead. His eyelids fluttered shut as he allowed himself to be selfish, to lean into the feeling of someone else comforting him. It wasn’t meant to have ended up like this and, in the back of his mind, he wondered with no small amount of guilt if he had unwittingly manipulated the situation to make Diego feel sorry for him and had prompted his anger to vanish. He hadn’t meant to, would never dream of taking advantage of Diego that way, but there were many inadvertent ways for a person to gain the upper hand in a situation. Even if Henry didn’t feel like he had any grasp of control on what was happening right now.

“I’ll come in,” he agreed, eventually.

As he sank down onto Diego’s sofa, he had to wonder if this was some sort of betrayal to Stefan. He’d sworn to the other boy that he would never tell anyone about them and he had intended to keep that promise, but then Stefan had moved the goalposts and shattered Henry’s world. He hadn’t thought his convictions had collapsed alongside all of that, but he knew that the implications of Henry opening up about their relationship to a third party were inconsequential now. At least, in the way Stefan had always worried they would fail to be.

“Sorry,” he muttered as he wiped at his eyes again. “I didn’t mean to get like this.”

He sniffed and shuffled around on the sofa cushion a little, angling his body towards Diego and blinking rapidly to clear his vision again.

“His name was Stefan,” he said without any preamble. “He was my first friend in New York and our families got along well so we spent a lot of time together. He was the first guy I…”

Guilt wrapped itself around his throat again as the admission once more felt like he was outing Stefan. In a way, he was. But not to anyone who would ever hurt the other boy’s memory. This was Diego, and Henry trusted him more than he ever thought he would have when he first met the rockstar, sweat slicking his hair so it hung down around molten brown eyes that had stared at Henry and made his stomach flip with arousal. He hadn’t known then just how monumentally fucked he would be over this man, and now it was too late to ever go back.

“I was in love with him and he…” Henry shook his head. “That was too much for him. He couldn’t take it. How I felt, what we were to each other and so he…”

A shuddering gasp left him and he squeezed his eyes shut, determined not to cry anymore but it felt like the wound of finding out about Stefan’s death had been opened anew. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to verbalise what had happened as if Diego wouldn’t have already worked it out. Feeling his resolve falter, Henry allowed his head to tip forward, swallowing back more sobs as he pressed his face into his hands.

It happened before. 

It made sense. The harsh, cruel reality of Henry’s truth acted as an answer to questions Diego hadn’t even realised he’d had. His words wove like vines around Diego’s heart, an icy sensation filling his chest, suffocating him. He had known Henry for a few years now, they’d worked together tirelessly on stage and in the studio – Diego had even believed they’d had at least the bare bones of a friendship before things had progressed further. And yet he’d never known. If Diego was reading the situation correctly, interpreting Henry’s words as intended, then that meant that the sweet, happy-go-lucky boy they’d all grown to love and adore – ‘pretty Henry, with a smile like sunshine’ as Poppy as so often put it – was masking an incomprehensible kind of pain behind it all. 

“Henry?” he breathed, the other man’s name tasting like salvation on his tongue, even in the most difficult of times. 

The crack in Henry’s voice seemed to shatter something inside of Diego. He shook his head, concern coating his features, quietly willing away the tremor in his hands as he watched Henry wipe away fresh tears. He wanted to be strong for him, to be calm; He wanted to show him that he wasn’t alone in this internal war waging in his mind, that he could rely on Diego to look after him too, rather than carrying the weight of the world on his own. 

A door opened on the floor below, the pitter-patter of another wealthy resident’s footsteps within throwing distance. The soft whine of hinges carried up the stairwell, the creak of a floorboard like the crack of whip to Diego’s sensitive ears. He didn’t know his neighbours – though it was likely they knew him – and he couldn’t be sure if they were coming or going from their apartment, but the possibility of unwanted ears listening in on their conversation unsettled him. It was selfish, given Henry’s current state, but it frightened Diego to feel so exposed. Furthermore, he was worried about Henry. He wanted to wrap him up in his arms, to carve a space for him to hide away in to ensure he felt protected in his grief. 

He knew, though, that his actions only gave voice to Henry’s fears, to his concerns that his desire might prove too much for Diego to handle. It would be impossible to miss the way Diego’s gaze had flickered down the stairwell to the floor below, right before straying back to Henry’s face; The absent, but altogether notable, treat of his foot as he’d cringed backwards, mere inches, the movement causing him to clumsily tug Henry forward just slightly where the other man’s hand had found purchase against his wrist. 

“Hey, baby?” he tried again, forcing himself to lift his voice an octave higher. Feeling braver now, he carefully pressed a hand to Henry’s waist, his fist curling around the fabric of the other man’s t-shirt. “Why don’t we go inside, okay? We can– we can sit down, and we’ll talk about all of this, okay?” 

His voice quivered as he spoke, and he knew that the pain on Henry’s face – the tears that threatened to roll down his cheeks –was a sight that would never leave him. His heart clenched in his chest as he inched forward, nosy neighbours be damned, and pressed a kiss to his bandmate’s forehead, a strangled whimper falling from his lips. 

“I got you, okay? I’m not going anywhere, baby. I’m right here,” he assured him, lifting a hand to cup his cheek. His thumb swiped carefully against Henry’s soft skin, catching fresh tears as they spilled. “Tell me about him, Hen. Tell me what happened.”