Smoke Signals • EarthMix AU

CHAPTER 7. Smoke (Pt. 1)

Pretty heavy update that's why I'm batching it up. Part 2 of "Smoke" will be uploaded within a day or two.

[ trigger warning: sensitive content (implied date rape & sexual coercion resulting in injuries). read at your own discretion. ]

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Mix didn't want to do this again but right now, he doesn't care.

He didn't want to go through the trouble of finding men on the app again. Didn't like agreeing to meet with the first man who showed interest. Detested the fact that he's at the bar, making small talk with the said man who he isn't even the least bit interested in and who's clearly just here for one thing.

But what Mix didn't like more than this—a stranger's hand on his thigh, the loud and deafening music on the speakers, feigning interest—is seeing Nammon walking hand in hand with another man that morning.

Irrational. It made him irrational. That image of Nammon holding another man's hand, happy, sure, and carefree—finally looking free—just teased the bitterness he always knew was there but has always been afraid to admit to himself.

So now, he doesn't care.

Not about the stranger's hand on his thigh, creeping dangerously close to his manhood. Not about the rippling discomfort he feels, like there's bile rising on his throat. Not about how this man is leaning closer and closer still and how Mix didn't really want him to.

And not even about the fact that they're at The Curio, seated on the bar where Earth was just serving them drinks a few minutes ago.

"Excuse me," Mix begins. He needs to get out. At least, step out for a while. All sorts of conflicting emotions that he thought he has shelved and sealed are hitting him squarely now. And he wants an out before he explodes.

"Where are you going?" The man, whose name is Luke, asks.

"Out for a smoke." Mix avoids Luke's eyes and stands up to leave.

"I'll go with—"

"No." He cuts Luke sharply and adds, "I'll be back."

Earth watches Mix exit The Curio and retreat to the back alley. He wondered if it'd be okay to follow him, but the man Mix was with motions for Earth before he gets to decide.

"Hey," the man taps on the bar counter, looking very annoyed, "Get me two more glasses."

Earth didn't want to intrude but he couldn't help but observe the pair from the moment they entered. And he could feel Mix wasn't into this date—if this is even one.

It's in the way he wasn't looking at the other man; Mix looking as if he's someplace else. Eyes vacant, with a wounding tight-lipped smile reflecting something else entirely.

And Earth doesn't like the look of the man he came in with.

Not one bit. He's seen enough of these men crawling their bar to know who passes the vibe check and who doesn't. Knows exactly who the bad seeds are and he is certain, almost too certain, that this one is.

As if to confirm his suspicions, Earth sees bad seed taking something from his breast pocket. He observes him through his peripheral vision, careful not to be noticed. Bad seed takes what looks to be a pill from a clear plastic and briefly scans his surroundings, before dropping it in one of the glasses Earth gave him just a few seconds ago.

Earth is sure this is meant for Mix and he feels his rage flicker—hot and heavy.

But before he could do anything or step in, Mix circles back to the counter. Bad seed swivels in his chair and turns to Mix. Within seconds, he has Mix by the waist and in what looks to be a tight, uncomfortable grip.