Jonas carried Hugh on his back from the school to the dorms. As they entered the common area, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Both Jonas and Hugh were covered in bruises, cuts, and dried blood, their exhaustion evident in every step. With a heavy thud, Jonas dropped the gym bag to the floor.

"Jo... are you guys okay?" Travis asked hesitantly.

Jonas nodded with a small grunt.

"Um... who did you fight?" Travis bit his lip, scared of the answer.

Hugh chuckled quietly on Jonas' back. "Each other."

Everyone took in the sight of the two Kings, battered and bruised. Awe and curiosity mingled in their gazes until one finally dared to ask, almost whispering, "Who won?"

Jonas shrugged. "Who knows." Ignoring the curious stares and murmurs, he carried Hugh to their room and locked the door behind them. Jonas took Hugh straight to the bathroom without another word, gently setting him down on the sink before turning on the shower.

Jonas examined the cuts on Hugh's face and sighed. "Dammit, Hugh, why'd you do this?"

Hugh chuckled. "I got some good hits on you too!"

Jonas smiled, shaking his head. "Yeah, but at least I know how to keep my guard up most of the time. Seriously, you need to protect your head a little more."

"I can handle it."

Jonas laughed softly and kissed Hugh's forehead. "You can, but your face is too pretty to get hit. Next time, keep your guard up."

Hugh snorted. "Whatever. Hurry up, take off your clothes, and shower with me."

Jonas winked. "Yes, sir." He pulled off his shirt.

Hugh gingerly pushed himself off the sink, wincing in pain.

Jonas quickly steadied him, eyes full of concern. "What hurts?"

"My ass, you dumbass. Did you forget last night?" Hugh replied with a playful glare.

Jonas gave him a sympathetic look. "Sorry. Are you okay?"

Hugh wrapped his arms around Jonas' neck. "More than okay."

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against Jonas'. Jonas let out a small sigh, returning the kiss. He welcomed Hugh's tongue into his mouth, letting it dance with his own. Jonas lifted the hem of Hugh's shirt, tugging it off and briefly breaking the kiss.

Hugh clumsily helped Jonas undress, their touches growing more urgent as they moved toward the shower. They washed each other with lingering hands, the intimacy deepening with every touch.

After a long, soothing shower, the water eventually turning cold, they hopped out, laughing and dripping wet. As they dried each other off, the mood shifted from playful to practical. Jonas retrieved his first aid kit and meticulously examined Hugh's cuts, taping up the more serious ones while Hugh reciprocated with gentle care.

With the adrenaline of the day fading, the weight of the past twelve hours crashed down on Jonas. He collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. Hugh, sensing the shift, curled up beside him. Their bodies sought solace in each other, and they fell asleep in the quiet of the room.

Surprisingly, Jonas woke up before Hugh, taking advantage of the quiet to admire him. He gently brushed his fingers over Hugh's arms, tracing the contours of his muscles. The soft touch was enough to stir Hugh from sleep.

Hugh blinked awake and flashed a grin. "Morning, sweetheart."

Jonas chuckled softly. "It's actually the evening, babe." He pulled Hugh on top of him and pressed a tender kiss to his lips. "I was thinking of taking you out tonight."

Hugh's eyes lit up with delight. "A proper date?"

"I don't think our luck will let us have a proper date," Jonas said with a wry smile. "So we'll probably end up fighting someone tonight if you're up for it." He hoped for a quiet evening, but with Lukas' recent behavior, he wasn't holding his breath. Still, he wanted to be with Hugh and make the most of their time together.

They quickly dressed in t-shirts and jeans, adding matching earrings for a touch of coordination. They ran a bit of product through their hair to mask the fact that they had just woken up. Hugh tossed the keys to his bike to Jonas as they slipped on their leather jackets. Hand in hand, they paused at the entrance to the common room.

While several students were already heading home for winter break, a sizable group remained in the common room, all eyes fixed on Hugh and Jonas.

Travis had a panicked look on his face when the boys emerged. Their bruises were already forming and turning purple. They both had some tape on their faces to cover the more serious cuts.

Jonas nodded as a greeting and started to walk toward the door with Hugh. Travis suddenly ran up and stopped them. "Guys, stop! We need to talk about this!"

Hugh cocked his head to the side. "About what?"

Travis huffed. "Who did you really fight this morning?"

They both looked at him bemusedly. Travis misinterpreted their expressions, assuming they were surprised he knew about the fight. "We know those St. Vincent's bastards stopped by last night and talked to you. Then you left suddenly this morning and came back a bloodied mess. Who did you really fight?"

Jonas chuckled a little. "They did come last night, but the conversation didn't go far, and they left. Hugh and I had a spar this morning."

Travis glared. "And you ended up like that? I call bullshit. Why would you two fight without gloves?"

Hugh ruffled Travis' hair. "We did use gloves."

When Hugh mentioned the gloves, the atmosphere in the room shifted, the air turning cold. Many of the boys had sparred with Jonas and Hugh recently, but they had always walked away unscathed. Now, seeing the cuts and bruises, they realized the Kings had been holding back, concealing the full extent of their raw power.

Jonas gently nudged Travis aside, his movements careful but firm. With a quick glance at the door, he opened it and pulled Hugh out, their footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Travis called after them.

Hugh laughed. "A date!"

Jonas and Hugh sprinted down the corridor, their footsteps echoing against the walls as they ignored the angry shouts and protests trailing behind them. Travis and a few other boys, who had long figured out that the "dates" were just thinly veiled excuses for brawls, hollered after them, but the duo didn't look back.

Bursting through the exit, they made a beeline for the motorcycle parked just outside. Jonas hopped on first, and Hugh followed, barely settling in before wrapping his arms tightly around Jonas. Without hesitation, Jonas revved the engine and sped off, the bike's roar drowning out any chance of pursuit.

Jonas deftly navigated through the maze of traffic, weaving in and out with practiced ease until they reached the outskirts of town. He slowed down and eventually pulled into the crowded parking lot of an old pub, its neon sign flickering in the evening light. Jonas grinned as he parked the motorcycle, the engine's rumble fading into the night.

Hugh raised an eyebrow. "A pub?"

Jonas shrugged, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "I figured we could use a change of scenery," he said, removing his helmet and glancing over at Hugh. "One of the guys at the gym owns this place, and I spent a couple of summers helping out."

Hugh chuckled, shaking his head. He slid off the bike, wrapping his arm around Jonas' waist as they headed toward the pub entrance, ready for whatever the night had in store.

The inside was large, with one side being a long bar with bottles lining the wall and the other side featuring tables and booths. Edison lights hung from the ceiling, giving the place a warm glow. Light rock music played from the jukebox in the back. Hugh had a broad smile on his face. "This place is amazing."

Jonas smiled, pleased with Hugh's reaction. "I knew you'd like it. It's one of those hidden gems you don't expect to find."

As they made their way through the pub, Jonas noticed a few familiar faces nodding in recognition, but no one bothered them. The atmosphere was relaxed, the kind of place where people could unwind without pretenses. Jonas guided Hugh to a booth near the jukebox, the warm glow of the Edison lights casting a cozy ambiance over their corner.

Hugh took it all in, his grin never fading. "I can see why you brought me here. It's got character."

Jonas chuckled as they slid into the booth. "And the food's even better than the vibe. Trust me." He squeezed Hugh's hand under the table, feeling more at ease than he had in a long time.

With its casual charm and low-key crowd, the pub was the perfect backdrop for the kind of night Jonas had been hoping for—one where they could just be themselves, away from the chaos and expectations that usually surrounded them.

Hugh's curiosity was piqued by the way Jonas' eyes flickered toward the approaching waitress. She was stunning, with a figure that commanded attention—curves accentuated by a low-cut top that left little to the imagination and legs that seemed to go on forever. The room practically held its breath as she walked by, every pair of eyes drawn to her with an almost magnetic pull.

She smiled, a practiced, seductive grin that hinted at a history Hugh wasn't aware of. Bending down, she made a deliberate show of leaning forward, her cleavage now on full display. The look she gave Jonas wasn't just familiar—it was laced with something more, something hopeful as if she was waiting for a reaction.

"Hi, Jonas," she purred, her voice low and dripping with unspoken intentions.

Jonas' jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, the muscles in his face betraying a moment of tension before he forced a neutral expression. "Hey, Becca," he replied, his voice controlled, but Hugh could sense the underlying discomfort.

The brief exchange spoke volumes. Hugh felt a twinge of something—jealousy, maybe, or just protectiveness—but he kept his face calm, watching as Becca's eyes flicked between them, assessing the situation. The silence hung heavy for a moment, her hopeful gaze searching Jonas' face for something that wasn't there.

Jonas didn't give her what she was looking for. His tone was polite but distant, making it clear that whatever connection they might have had was firmly in the past.

Her eyes flickered towards Hugh, taking in the view before turning back to Jonas with a sultry smile. She leaned in a touch closer, her voice low and inviting. "What brings you here tonight? Miss me?"

Jonas' face hardened, and he met her gaze with a steely resolve. "Becca, I didn't come here for you. You haven't crossed my mind."

Her smile wavered slightly, but she maintained her sultry tone. "Oh, come on, Jonas. Don't be like that. You know I'm not easily forgotten." She held his gaze, her eyes glinting with unspoken promises.

Jonas' eyes softened as he turned to Hugh, offering a reassuring smile. "I'm on a date, Becca," he said firmly but gently.

Becca's lips curved into a knowing smile, her eyes lingering on Jonas with a mix of challenge and allure. "Alright, Jonas," she said, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "Enjoy your evening. I'll be around if you change your mind."

"I won't," Jonas said unperturbed.

He took Hugh's hand, lifting it to his lips for a gentle kiss. Hugh leaned forward, propping his head on his free hand, his face breaking into a smirk as Jonas trailed soft kisses down his palm. When Jonas reached the crown tattoo on Hugh's wrist, he paused, his gaze flicking briefly to Becca. He licked the tattoo with deliberate slowness, a tender, intimate gesture that spoke volumes.

Becca's mouth fell open in shock as Hugh emitted a low, possessive growl. The sound startled her, and she took an involuntary step back, her face flushing with embarrassment. Stammering an apology, she quickly made her way to the exit, her earlier confidence evaporating into a mix of humiliation and defeat.

Jonas looked back at Hugh and gave his wrist another kiss before pulling back.

Hugh laughed a little. "Did I meet another one of your exes?"

Jonas rolled his eyes. "She uh... pursued a relationship, but I refused each time."

Hugh glanced toward where Becca had run off and looked her up and down. "Not bad, Jo. But my ass is better."

The comment caught Jonas off guard, and he burst into laughter, his head thrown back in unrestrained amusement. It was a sight Hugh had come to cherish—Jonas letting go and laughing with carefree abandon. Hugh watched with awe and affection, treasuring these rare moments of unguarded joy.

As Jonas calmed down, his chuckles lingered, and he ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Yours is the best, babe," he said, his voice still tinged with laughter.