A/n: waluigi made me do it

Genre: smut

Wordcount: 11.4k

Summary: It's literally just sin, but loose pastelxpunk themes as curious Dan goes to a biker bar and attempts to seduce himself a top. Also available on tumblr, mangothatismelancholy

Warnings: choking, public, kinda sizekink

*Third Person*

He gets around, it's as simple as that. He spent his entire college experience studying, hardly giving himself a chance to interact with other humans he was so determined to get his degree. Then, he graduated to difficult eight hour days working to land his first clients and make a name for himself in the business. Finally, as things had started to pick up, he found himself with spare time for what felt like a first in his entire adult life.

So yes, he uses it wisely as a chance to embrace the things he didn't have time for until now. The simple pleasures in life really, ones he should have taken a shot at long before now. He's experimented with cooking, fitness, dieting, even visiting the renowned tourist sites around the city he's lived in for years now and never taken the time to explore. And, at the end of the day, he enjoys sleeping with near anyone who will have him.

His friends look down on him for it, which he doesn't really understand, but he pretends to listen each time they chastise him for bringing home another man. He's being safe about it, as safe as you can be when you're sleeping with strangers. There are always condoms involved and he goes to the clinic regularly to make sure there haven't been any mishaps, he doesn't understand why he gets shamed for enjoying sex. What did they expect him to do when they gaped at him each time he admitted he was still a virgin, when they constantly suggested he meet someone all throughout their college years?

It seemed like a bit of a double standard to him, to encourage it right up until the moment it started to actually happen.

Tonight is no different than his usual weekend plans. He's dressed up nicely, wearing soft colored clothes and tight-fitted jeans as he strolls into a gay bar on the east side of the city. He's never been here before, or even anywhere located close to here, and he finds himself instantly intimidated by the unfamiliar atmosphere. Sure, he'd been expecting to see some rougher looking blokes after spotting the rows of motorcycles outside, but the way they all turned to watch him walk in like a pack of hounds to a bone was the slightest bit more unsettling than he'd been prepared for.

They were eyeing him the entire time as he crossed the room and settled at the bar, nervously twiddling his thumbs against the wooden surface. Seconds later the first friendly face he'd seen came into view, smiling widely as he dried his hands off on the towel he was holding.

"Hey." Dan swooned as the thick northern accent addressed him, feeling relieved that he now had an equally as attractive voice to put to the gorgeous face. This man wasn't entirely unlike the rest of the men that littered the building, he had the tattoos and the black clothes, even had a few piercings dotted across his features, but he was missing something. While everyone else seemed to pride themselves in their ability to intimidate with their looks, this guy was content to contrast his pre-established persona with a personality completely different.

To put it simply, one nice smile could go a long way, and he seemed to be the only person willing to offer as much.

Dan realized he was staring when the bartender started to chuckle, leaning over the counter slightly so their gazes could meet at the same level. "What can I get you tonight?"

"Laid, preferably." It was supposed to be a joke, or at least sound like one, but somewhere along the way between his brain and his lips the memo had been lost. His voice was high and nervous, like he was truly asking this stranger to help him out with that.

He blushed fervently as the man lurched back with eyebrows raised, standing taller so he could stare down at Dan with obvious disbelief. He was kicking himself for the comment now, worrying if he might have compromised the casual flirty atmosphere they'd had going for them. This was really the only person in here that had caught his attention, if things didn't work out with this bartender there was a chance he might end up going home alone.

He definitely wasn't about to approach anyone else in here.

However, a moment later Dan decided he didn't regret it quite so much after all, watching as a devilish smirk engulfed the man's lips. It made him look a bit more like the rest of the rest of the men around them, rugged and mysterious, but for some reason he seemed to pull it off much better than anyone else did.

"Just your luck then, that's the house specialty." He practically purred the words, voice low and sultry in a way that had Dan automatically sitting up straighter in his chair, a last-ditch effort to ward away the corresponding shiver than ran up his spine.

There was no doubt about it, there was no way in hell Dan was gonna settle for anything less than the man in front of him tonight. He'd made up his mind, now it was only a matter of getting his way, and he happened to be very good at that.

"Give me a shot of something strong, I don't care what." He ordered, shifting forward on his stool to lean further over the bar, subconsciously eliminating the space between them as the bartender turned to start preparing his drink.

It was only a matter of seconds before a shot glass was placed in front of him, the clear liquid inside sloshing slightly at the force of the drop. Dan picked it up without any hesitation, tipping it back and swallowing the liquid in one languid gulp. It was only after it had made its way down his throat that he had the chance to taste it, his eyes watering immediately as his tongue stung in protest. He hissed, leaning forward and falling into a fit of shallow coughs.

The bartender was laughing somewhere above him, thoroughly amused as Dan buried his face into his hands in embarrassment. So much for looking cool, he'd just made a total idiot out of himself. He rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve, looking back up at the man through his lashes with a glare. "What was that?!"

"I don't know what bars you've been going to but when you ask for 'strong' here, that's exactly what you're gonna get." He was still struggling to get his giggles under control and Dan had half a mind to be insulted, but there was something undeniably cute about watching the man laugh. His head tipped back, eyes scrunched shut, even the tip of his tongue made an appearance poking out between his teeth.

Up until that moment Dan had never found someone covered in tattoos and piercings to be so very adorable, but he decided that it was a welcome change of pace.

As the man fell silent he turned around to grab some cleaning supplies and start absentmindedly rubbing the bar down, almost like he was using it as a distraction to pass the time. He seemed dazed, clearly not all that invested in the action, and Dan found himself taking that to his own advantage.

There was only so long you could stare at a person when their attention was directed at you, now that the bartender was invested in something else Dan was faced with the perfect opportunity to ogle him a bit. He'd be damned if he wasted that chance.

Dan first found himself invested in watching his arms as they worked, muscles flexing as he dragged the cloth across the surface. Then he grew more invested in the art that covered the skin, furrowing his eyebrows together in confusion when he recognized a slew of video game characters and plants done up in black ink where he'd been expecting to find skulls and flames.

Dan wasn't sure what to think of the guy now, wondering if he was even half as hard-assed as he let on.

Not that it mattered to him anymore. Though originally he had come to this bar in particular looking to find someone rather 'manly', now he didn't care.

You see, like most new aspects of his life, Dan was still in the process of experimenting with guys, and with that he'd chosen to try the easier things first. Kissing, touching, blowjobs, even topping. He'd just been the slightest bit hesitant to try reversing the roles, chickening out every time he set out to find someone willing to dominate him and instead opting for someone even more submissive than he was.

It's not that he didn't like the things he'd tried already, he just wasn't sure that it was for him. He had no way of knowing that though, not until he tried something different, so he'd set out tonight to the place he'd figured he would find someone that fit the necessary criteria. As it turns out, bikers seem to be Dan's idea of dominant men.

Instead he'd found this cute bartender though, to the point that he felt more than willing to throw his plan out the window if this man turned out to be the less domineering type. He could always try being the bottom some other time, he'd be happy just as long as he managed to get this guy into bed.

Dan turned to look around the room, scoping out the other options and coming up short with each pair of beady eyes he found already staring in his direction. No, he'd definitely made up his mind, there wasn't even any considering someone else at this point.

"Like what you see?" Dan blinked, whipping his head around to look back to the bartender who was now talking to him, wordlessly watching him as he watched everyone else in the room. Dan shrugged, wondering how he was meant to answer that question.

"Do they always stare at new people like they plan on eating them?" He asked, genuinely curious if this was something personal or they greeted all newcomers like this. A knowing smile found the man's lips and he shrugged, winking quickly as he replied.

"Only when they plan on eating them."

"Somehow I'm not reassured."

"Phil! We need three more beers!" They both looked up in unison to watch the drunken man sway on his feet, making a beeline for the bar. Dan watched as the bartender rushed to greet him, grabbing the beers on his way to hold out to the older gentleman.

An epiphany struck Dan as he watched the exchange, putting two and two together and realizing he'd just learnt the name of the man he'd been eyeing since sitting down.

Phil. The bartender's name was Phil.

Once again, another thing about him that doesn't seem to match his punk-like exterior.

"I'm gonna have to cut you off soon, Derick." Phil laughed, sliding the bottles into his reach and accepting the money accordingly. He only received a disgruntled groan of annoyance at the comment, though that seemed to be response enough as he didn't press the issue, instead allowing the man to stumble off in the direction he'd came from.

Dan grinned as Phil turned back to him, eager to regain his attention. The bartender sauntered back over to stand near him, a secret victory that had Dan beaming. It was quite obvious that he was quickly becoming the preferred customer.

Phil leaned closer, drumming his fingers against the slab of wood, hand drawing nearer to Dan's own by the second. "You look way too cute to be coming here, you know that?"

"I do, I'm just weighing my options." He answered smugly, flipping his hand to lay palm-up in a more welcoming position. Understanding the unspoken message, Phil's fingertips brushed across his, the touch light and lingering. Dan cleared his throat, trying desperately to seem composed while trying to make conversation. "I've never really fooled around with a biker before."

"I can tell."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Dan didn't even try to hide the way this comment irked him, rearing up and preparing himself for an argument. Phil didn't seem near as bothered, just snickering under his breath and shaking his head, dismissing the request that he elaborate.

Dan was pouting, he realized this, Phil probably realized this as well, but he still couldn't bring himself to stop. His bottom lip poked out and his eyes darting in every direction but where Phil's calm blue ones were watching him, he was acting like a petulant child. He grumbled, muttering under his breath in a tone filled with some none too subtle spite. "You don't really fit in with the rest of 'em either."

"Not supposed to, I'm the eye candy that draws them in." Phil answered without missing a beat, like this was something that went without mentioning. Curiosity overcame bitterness and Dan found himself looking up through the sweep of his fringe, lifting an eyebrow.

There wasn't much space between them left in the first place, but for some reason Phil took it upon himself to lean in even closer as he whispered an explanation. "Up until you walked through the door, I was what they considered small and fuckable."

"O-Oh?" He was painstakingly aware of the way his voice cracked, but that alone wasn't enough to stop it from happening. He wasn't used to being treated like this, usually he was the one spouting flirty lines and making moves, the other person usually the flustered mess who hadn't any idea how to respond. He had to admit, he was already starting to prefer this.

It took the pressure off, all he had to do was sit there and respond, continuously encourage the other person to keep saying filthy things to him.

"Little bit offended you stole my title, actually." Phil muttered, pointer finger tracing its way from the swell of Dan's thumb to the soft vulnerable flesh of his wrist, just above the faint blue veins found there. He gulped, eyes falling shut as the air around them seemed to go up a few degrees. "I don't get near as many tips when there's someone prettier than me in the building."

"My bad." He was so overwhelmed he was only half aware of what he was apologizing for, but it seemed like the right move. Whatever he had to say to make Phil happy was something he was more than willing to offer up.

He earned a quiet laugh at this, the hand previously exploring his instead darting to grab a cocktail shaker from beneath the bar. Phil turned to start preparing whatever drink he'd just decided to make all the sudden, humming softly under his breath as he went about his job.

Dan watched him work with rapt fascination, from the way he stood on his tippy-toes to reach the top shelf stacked with bottles to the way his deft fingers worked to undo each cap on each bottle. He couldn't help but think about how Phil would handle other things, how it'd feel to have those hands working over him instead.

He was so caught up in the fantasy he didn't even register reality until a drink was shoved into his hand.

"Try this, I think it'll be more your speed." Dan didn't even ask questions before bringing the cocktail to his lips and taking a sip, though he was slightly more cautious about the way he gulped it down this time, just in case it had a similar taste to the last drink.

It didn't. It was the sort of deliciously fruity drink he'd never dare to order in public, though he had to admit that he much preferred them to anything else. He continued to drink with more enthusiasm, locking eyes with Phil's expectant ones over the rim of his glass. "Good?"

"It's alright, I guess." He teased, purposely avoiding stating how much he'd actually enjoyed it. Phil rolled his eyes, looking like he was about to call him out on the bullshit, only to freeze last second and switch expressions entirely. He looked different, closed-off and intimidating like everyone else in the room. It wasn't until Dan heard the screech of the stool next to him sliding out that he realized why.

"Hey, pretty boy." The man slurred, hand reaching to settle on Dan's thigh. He pulled a face of mild disgust, scooting further away on his chair and feeling a flood of thankfulness when the wandering hand retreated out of his personal bubble.

He didn't even have to look in the stranger's direction to know that he wasn't the type of guy he'd be interested in, he'd spotted the wedding band on the hand that'd come suspiciously close to his lap and that was all he needed to know. He slept around, sure, but that didn't mean he had no standards for himself.

That said, he couldn't deny being the slightest bit tempted to play along. Not because he felt interested in seeing where things would go by any means, but because the jealousy Phil was radiating seemed to roll off of him in waves.

The thought of Phil making a stand and proving that he had intentions of doing more than just talking with Dan alone was what had him cautiously replying to the stranger.

"Hi." He spoke in a resigned rehearsed tone, the type you would expect to hear from someone approving in this situation. Or so he assumed, considering he'd never actually had someone come onto him before now and it'd always been the other way around.

"Can I get you a drink?" Dan furrowed his eyebrows together, looking down at where he very obviously already held a drink in his hand. He didn't really have any need for another.

"He actually just got me one." He didn't even have the chance to point in Phil's direction before the man was getting to his feet again, sounding mildly dejected as he huffed his response.

"I see."

"Do they not know how to have a conversation with someone if they don't buy the drinks? Why did he just run off like that?" He'd at least waited until the man was out of earshot before asking this question, while Phil had been poorly stifling laughter ever since the man had accepted his rejection. Dan didn't understand it, why he looked so cocky about it when it was no guarantee that he was about to gain from the fact things hadn't worked out with that other guy.

"Unspoken code, you accept a drink from someone here and that usually means you're planning on sleeping with them." Phil explained with a smirk, gently picking up the drink Dan had just held and shaking it lightly, making a point of sloshing the liquid around in the glass.

"You're a fucking bartender, who else am I supposed to accept a drink from?!" He huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. It wasn't that he was disappointed really, he'd had no intentions of going home with that man in the first place, but his plan to make Phil jealous had been thrown in the trash bin along with the remainder of his dignity. It's not his fault that he was used to a more modern setting, one where you couldn't call 'dibs' on a living person so easily.

"Just the way you said it, made it sound like I'd already staked my claim."

"I thought you were the cutesy submissive one, why would he assume something like that?" Dan found himself questioning further, somehow still trying to make sense of the different atmosphere.

"I said that they thought I looked small and fuckable, figured you'd know better than to assume it was true." He leaned closer to Dan as he whispered this, regaining the earlier sultry drawl. He was making a very public show of things, considering there were still many people around the room eyeing them, but Dan couldn't be bothered to care. If anything he found myself liking the exposure, leaning closer toward Phil until those pale pink lips brushed against his neck as they spoke. "Also, I never said anything about submission, don't put words in my mouth."

"Is there something you'd rather I put in your mouth?" Phil groaned at the poorly executed play on words, pushing off the counter away from Dan. He hesitated for a moment before clicking the edge of Dan's glass with his nail, snapping his fingers at him.

"Finish your drink." Dan listened, downing it without any further instruction. He watched as Phil went to greet a new customer then, a woman with short choppy hair and a leather jacket hanging from her shoulders. He got her a drink and spent a moment making small talk before he returned to his preferred customer's side, the pair of them both mirroring a satisfied smile.

"When are you off?" Dan asked immediately, not bothering to be formal about it. At this point it was pretty clear how the night was going to go, no use pretending otherwise. He was growing impatient, more so the longer the other man teased him about the potential, he just wanted a yes or no answer as to whether he could expect to get his way or not.

Phil looked skeptical though, reaching up to fix the collar of his shirt as he eyed Dan curiously.

"I hardly know you, what makes you think I'm gonna go home with you? Do you have any idea how sketchy this part of town gets after midnight?" Dan debated listing exactly what made him think they would be going home together, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth putting the effort into. He'd just had a better idea, one closely inspired by the thrill he'd gotten from having Phil so close with other's eyes on the two of them.

"We don't have to go home together then, we can figure something else out." He blinked, taking a moment to realize what Dan was implying. He seemed to approve the second he had though, a knowing smirk situating itself across his lips.

"I thought you wanted to try hooking up with a big burly bear?" Phil teased, tongue darting across his lips. Dan's eyes went wide as he spotted the glint of metal, an admittedly embarrassing amount of lust pooling in the pit of his stomach. He found himself speaking without really thinking it through, driven forward by a simple desire to make things move along as quickly as possible. He wanted that mouth on him, and fast.

"Change of plans, I'm open to trying all new things. Never been with someone who has a tongue piercing before either, so that might be fun." Phil quirked an eyebrow, looking amused.

"I'm not sure I like what you're implying." He huffed, leaning closer again so they could lock eyes at a much closer proximity. He pursed his lips, looking almost chastising as he continued. "If anyone's about to get on their knees in the back stall of the washrooms, it's you."

"Says who?" Dan huffed, feeling flustered as he struggled to regain his earlier confidence. There was just something about the certainty in Phil's tone that made it difficult to disagree, or even have a desire to.

"Your outfit." And there it was, the one comment that could have killed his buzz. Dan glared up at the latter, feeling anger swelling where only longing had been moments before.

"You shouldn't stereotype, Phil." He muttered, a strong need to defend himself welling up in his chest. It's not like he was wrong, Dan was actually pretty certain he was spot-on after the events of tonight, but to assume it like that bothered him. It wasn't hot anymore as much as it was rude. He felt insecure and called out on it both at the same time. "I can be dominant and still wear pink."

"Shit, I guess you're right." He seemed genuinely sorry for making the assumption now, looking puzzled as he debated how to move on from the awkward pause. Finally he seemed to think of a way to get answers, moving the empty cup between them so he could lean impossibly closer. "So you're a switch then?"

"Maybe." Dan mumbled, only causing the other man to look even more confused. He felt guilty now, realizing that he was giving the poor guy incredibly mixed signals. He sighed, shrugging his shoulders and already feeling the corresponding blush taint his cheeks. "I don't exactly know yet."

Realization dawned across Phil's features, an apologetic look settling on them as he realized his earlier mistake. Confusion replaced it then, he looked slightly impressed as he studied Dan.

"You've never bottomed and you thought it'd be a good idea to hook up with one of these guys?"

"I figured there would be some that didn't look so... scary." He defended weakly, wondering now why he'd ever thought this place had been his best bet. Phil was the only person he'd met that he didn't feel like running from. "I was trying to think of the best place to look for a bunch of willing tops, okay? I didn't really take into account that they might be the furthest over on the spectrum and look like they're into choking people during sex."

"What do you have against choking people during sex?" Dan rolled his eyes at this question, deciding to answer by just noncommittally shrugging his shoulders. Phil leaned forward, grinning at him. "Besides, you can't get mad at me for stereotyping and then do the same thing with these folks, maybe some of them are very gentle caring lovers."

At this Dan looked over his shoulder to study the people around the room, the amount of shouting and drinking going on, even the couple aggressively sucking each other's faces in the back corner. He shook his head, turning back to Phil.

"I'm still skeptical." He announced, hesitating before nervously continuing, eyes glued to the barren bartop between them. "I'm pretty confident that I've got my eyes on the best option anyway."

When Dan finally grew confident enough to look back up, albeit through his long lashes, he was shocked to see that he'd managed to make the older man blush. He looked bashful, like the comment had caught him off guard. Realizing that he was being scrutinized, Phil wiped the look off of his features quickly.

"Would you do it then?" He asked, tone suddenly serious. Dan tilted his head to the side, wondering what the other man was asking of him. "Would you get on your knees for me?"

"You can't just ask that!" Dan spluttered, ducking his head to hide his own blush at the question. Phil didn't seem discouraged, if anything the reaction he'd received seemed to encourage him. Dan had been nothing but forward the entire night, but now that the roles were reversed it was like he had no idea how to handle it. Phil found it adorable.

"How's about this then, you take care of me on my break, and then later once I'm off for the night I'll take you home to walk you through the rest."

"The rest?" Dan knew what he meant, of course he did, but he was stalling for time now. He could suddenly remember very clearly why he'd chickened out every time before this, nerves steadily amounting throughout him. What if it hurt? What if he turned out to be just as rough and unforgiving as everyone else in the bar looked?

Realizing that he was overstepping boundaries, Phil tried a different approach. His voice wasn't so much sexy now as it was soft, an unspoken promise to take Dan seriously in the way he'd been so quick to rethink his methods the second the younger boy had shown hesitance.

"Come on, doll, don't make me spell it out for you." He prompted, making it clear what he was implying without having to outright say it. Dan nodded slowly, eyes wandering to the clock hanging behind the bar.

"When does your break start?" He questioned, a vague feeling of uncertainty still lingering despite Phil's efforts to comfort him. The other man looked over his shoulder toward the clock as well, though he only seemed eager when he saw what it displayed.

"Now." He beamed, turning back to Dan with a wide grin. It faltered when he saw the spooked look on the other man's face, concern coloring his expression. "We don't have to do anything if you don't want to, just say the word and I promise to listen."

"N-No, I want to." Dan hadn't even been completely certain of this until he was faced with the chance of things not playing out that way, his anxious thoughts taking a backseat to his desire to see things through for once.

Phil beamed an encouraging smile, hurriedly excusing himself before ducking around the corner to go and get whoever was supposed to fill in for him. He came back moments later, that same grin still glued to his face. He darted through the swinging door, coming around the bar to offer Dan help down from his seat. He weaved his arm around the boy's waist, hugging him close to his side.

"Right this way, angel." He muttered under his breath, sounding concentrated as he worked on leading the two of them through the crowd. It likely wasn't the intended result, but Dan couldn't help but find the serious tone alluring. Then again, he was so far gone at this point even the hand resting innocently on his hip was enough to make his heart race.

The walk to the washrooms was surprisingly short, so much so that he hardly had the chance to be nervous about where they were headed. He only had time to register the stares they were getting and the chorus of wolf whistles, everyone in the bar apparently knowing exactly where they were headed and for what reason. Something about it only drove him on more, to the point that he found his hand dropping to dip pointedly into the back pocket of Phil's pants. The crowd they'd gained went into an uproar at that, like it was amusing to see the boy dressed in pretty pastel attempt to stake a claim on the one clad in all black.

Of course it was a short-lived victory, considering the roles switched the very second the door swung shut behind them and separated them from the public eye. Phil spun around to face Dan, eyes dark as he backed the younger boy up against the closest wall. Something predatory glinted in his gaze and it was all Dan could do to keep from bursting into apologies for even attempting to call the shots, instead settling for a weak gasp when Phil lurched forward.

He'd been expecting a kiss. He pressed his lips out in a slight pout, eyes falling shut in a way that left him completely vulnerable. A choked moan filled the room as soft, determined pecks were instead placed at the hollow of Dan's collarbones, his loose sweater tugged haphazardly to the side to expose more of his chest. He probably should have warned the poor guy before they'd gotten to this point, but he'd always figured he had a neck thing.

He wasn't exactly in a position to explain this right now though, not when Phil was mouthing along the pale skin beneath his jaw and proving his suspicion completely and utterly true. It felt heavenly, even more so when teeth were introduced, dragging lightly over the swell of his Adam's apple and making his breath hitch.

At some point his head had fallen back against the wall behind him and had he not been so preoccupied with the other sensations going on, he may have registered the corresponding ache in his skull, but currently he found himself incapable of caring.

"Oh, f-fuck." He stuttered, shaky hands coming up from where they hung limply at his sides to instead grip at Phil's hips, lacing fingers through the belt loops on either side of the man's jeans and yanking him forward. He felt rather than heard the groan Phil gave when their bodies collided, the swift gust of air across his slick skin sending a shiver down his spine.

The other man pulled back for a moment and instantly Dan felt the need to protest, whining loudly before a hand was clamped over his mouth. He glared at Phil in silence, uncertain why he'd prompted them to stop when he was making Dan feel so good. Of course he realized a moment later when a man shuffled into the bathroom, casting a sideways glance their way and smirking to himself before heading into one of the many stalls lining the far wall.

His cheeks were beet red as he looked back to Phil, catching a glimpse of his dishevelled appearance in the mirror behind the other man. His hair was already curling at the ends and his entire body covered in a pleasant flush, even from this distance he could spot the bruises darkening along the curve of his neck.

They stood there unmoving as they waited for the unwelcome guest to leave, catching their breath as the man stumbled out of the room minutes later.

As soon as they were alone again they continued where they'd left off, Dan's hands grabbing needily at Phil's shirt and pulling him closer again. This time Dan didn't even grant the other man a chance to go for his neck, instead crashing their lips together with a desperate keen. They bypassed close-mouthed kissing entirely, tongues and teeth present from the start as Phil eagerly licked into Dan's mouth.

The younger boy allowed him to, his knees buckling slightly as he felt the metal ball of Phil's piercing flick against the roof of his mouth. Thankfully his grip on the other man's shirt meant he didn't fall to the ground entirely, instead just ending up pressed into the wall even more.

As they lost themselves in the kiss Dan began to grow impatient, one hand struggling free of the shirt it was tangled in and darting up to grip at the black locks Phil had cut at such an inviting length. When someone wore their fringe that long it was almost like they were asking to have it pulled, and judging by the answering growl that rumbled in the back of the man's throat, that was exactly what he wanted. The encouragement made Dan's cock twitch with interest, a weak whimper panted out against the lips working with his.

"So responsive already, we're hardly even doing anything yet." Phil muttered as he pulled away, just enough so they could lock eyes at the close proximity. The gaze was so intimate that Dan was caught completely off-guard when hips rolled forward into his, grinding roughly against the bulge steadily forming in the front of his pants. He cried out, pulling at the shirt in his left hand and tugging desperately at the hair he still gripped in his right.

Phil chuckled and ducked out of Dan's reach just long enough to be free of his grip. He gathered both of Dan's wrists in one hand, shoving them above boy's head and leaving him helpless. He received a blatant glare again as Dan rolled his hips forward, searching for some form of contact but ending up thrusting uselessly into the air between them. Phil had been careful to keep his distance, knowing that this was coming.

He waited until Dan had stopped panting and squirming against the wall before tugging him forward by the grip he still had on his wrists, leading the pair of them toward one of the sheltered stalls in the back of the room. Realizing where this was headed, Dan suddenly stopped resisting and instead stumbled eagerly forward, walking close enough to Phil's back that he could easily share the body heat the other man was giving off.

He darted into the stall as the door was held open for him, turning to stare expectantly back at Phil as he locked up behind them. It was taking too long though, seconds were passing and no attention was directed his way and Dan found himself acting on an impatient whim.

Stepping cautiously forward, he silently leaned in to press a chaste kiss to the nape of the other man's neck. He had to stand on his tippy-toes to reach it though, meaning he nearly lost his balance entirely when Phil's hand came back to grab at his ass. He was jerked forward until he stood flush against the other man. He couldn't complain though, not as he buried his face into the dip between Phil's shoulder blades and took him up on the invitation, rutting against Phil's backside and panting as he received some of the much needed friction he was after.

It didn't last long though, only until Phil had finished fumbling with the lock. Then it was back to the same as earlier, pressed against a wall as swift hands ran over his chest. Dan's face scrunched up in pleasure as the pads of Phil's thumbs ran over his nipples through the thin material of his sweater, so sensitive at this point that everything seemed to be contributing to his pent-up frustration.

Phil only worked on this though, seemingly driven forward by the obvious desperation he was reducing the other man to. In one rough tug he'd shucked Dan's sweater up until he wore it on his shoulders, an unfairly sweet smile on his lips as he shoved the bottom hem between Dan's teeth and ordered him to keep it that way.

Dan listened obediently all the same though, watching spitefully as Phil bent forward to swipe his tongue across both of Dan's exposed nipples. If the fleeting touch earlier had been overwhelming, this was outright unbearable. He mewled loudly, back arching up into the touch despite how cruel Phil's teasing was. Feather-light flicks of the tip of his tongue across the hardened nub eventually amounted to broad and slick lapping across it, tracing around the sensitive flesh with the unforgiving cool temperature of his metal piercing. The air conditioned room was hardly doing anything to help, goosebumps rising across his arms for more reasons than one.

"Can't imagine you being the one to press someone up against the wall, what were you thinking?" Phil snickered, as he tugged the sweater free of Dan's teeth and allowed it to fall back over his now overly tender chest. He hissed slightly at the way the fabric rubbed up against him, biting his lip to try and prevent any further noises.

Phil hummed, reaching up to push Dan's hair out of his eyes.

"Dunno, it seemed easier. I like this more though." Dan answered hesitantly, unsure if he should commit to that aloud or not. By this point there really wasn't any denying that he liked being the submissive one, but to admit to that felt like something tangible when he was still so nervous about it all.

Phil didn't react like he'd been expecting him to though, not lingering on the confession in a serious way but instead smirking at the implications. Dan couldn't lie, he felt incredibly thankful that they hadn't dwelled on that for long.

"You like having someone else in control, huh?" Phil prompted, pushing Dan's legs apart with his knee before slotting it between the two of them. The boy gasped, hips jerking forward against Phil's jean-clad thigh. He whimpered at the friction, head falling forward against the chest in front of him. He didn't get to rest long though, not before Phil was grabbing hold of his jaw and forcing him to look back up into dark eyes lined blue. "Answer me."

"Y-Yeah." Dan spluttered, his head tilted at the perfect angle to watch as Phil took to unbuttoning his jeans with one hand. He was quick and precise in the movement, leaving Dan's mouth practically watering at the thought of his finger's working elsewhere. It didn't even come close to the desire that coursed through him once the jeans had fallen around Phil's ankles though, the tight way the man's boxers had been drawn to his skin leaving little to the imagination.

"Get on your knees for me then, show me how well you take orders." Phil whispered, pressing forward with the weight of his thigh once more and relishing in the dizzying effect it had on the younger boy.

Dan nodded dazedly in approval as he pried his hands off of Phil and slowly sunk to his knees in front of him instead. Given what this left him at eye-level with, it really wasn't any surprise that Dan started to flush pink at the connotations.

He'd definitely done this bit before though, out of everything Phil could have asked of him this was definitely what he'd be most confident performing. Dan loved going down on the men he was with, there was nothing he loved more than the awed way they'd looked down at him and praise him for the things he could do with his mouth. Except, well, maybe the act of sucking them off itself. The way he could feel their cocks hot and heavy against his tongue, pulsing with need. He even liked the taste, he'd swallow every last drop and then lick them clean afterward to get his fill.

He couldn't wait to show this off to Phil.

Dan leaned forward slowly, taking his time assessing the situation despite how blatantly obvious Phil was being about how he wanted to move things along. He ignored the heavy panting coming from above him, instead leaning forward and pursing his lips over the damp outline of Phil's leaking tip. A soft groan sounded from above, but Dan ignored in favor of closing his mouth around that same spot and sucking gently.

Long fingers wove their way through his hair and he just hummed his appreciation, knowing exactly what the vibrations would do to the other man even before his hips jerked erratically forward. Dan chuckled in a smug way, letting his tongue slip past his lips to flick across the now-soaked patch along the front of Phil's boxers.

When that didn't get him a verbal reaction, only a soft reprimanding tug on his hair in a silent order to stop teasing, Dan spitefully decided to take things to the next level. He pulled back, remembering earlier when Phil had teased him the exact same way as he blew a breath of cool air across the damp fabric. Phil hissed out a noise of protest through his teeth, yanking Dan away by his hair without thinking. He looked guilty immediately afterward, so much so that Dan didn't have the heart to break it to him just how much he'd loved the rough handling.

Instead he stayed silent as he regained his senses, ignoring the concerned way he was being stared at as he reached up to hitch his fingers underneath Phil's waistband. He tugged the boxers down in a rush, deciding that he'd spent more than enough time exploring the things he could do to a semi-clothed Phil, he was starting to feel curious what they could get up to without the barrier between them.

Even more once the article of clothing was out of the way and he could clearly see Phil's length for the first time, noticing easily the way it arched upward and glazed pre-cum across the man's stomach. God, he was huge, the thought of that inside of him was oddly exciting. He could already imagine taking it into his mouth, how much he'd have to struggle to keep his jaw slack enough for it to fit without brushing up against his teeth. Even taking half of it would probably press against the back of his throat, probably leave him struggling to breath around the size of it.

This time Phil didn't even have to try and coax him into stopping the teasing, Dan was trailing his tongue up the underside of his shaft before there was even time to react. Delayed as it may be, Phil did react a few seconds later though, when Dan was already halfway to the tip and had allowed his eyes to fall shut in ecstasy. That's why he wasn't expecting it when Phil cursed, drawing Dan's curls taut again with two unforgiving fists and then rutting upward.

Dan whimpered, not the slightest bit put-off by the way this choppy movement ended up streaking a mixture of pre-cum and saliva across his cheek. If anything he found it added to the moment, made him think about how nice it'd be to have Phil paint his face white until he had nothing left to give. That was always the hardest part, figuring out where he wanted it most.

He leaned forward again, one of his hands sliding away from Phil's hip and tracing the dip of the 'V' inclination leading him to where he wanted to be. He smirked as his fingertips brushed against Phil's balls and a tense gasp rushed through the room, the noise only encouraging him to take them into the palm of his hand and massage them as he finally took the head into his mouth completely.

He gulped, digging the nails of his resting hand into Phil's hip and trying desperately not to do the same with the other. Dan managed, though it wasn't easy thinking sane when he could taste Phil on his tongue, feel him gently edging his hips forward and slotting himself further into Dan's mouth.

He had to resist the urge to moan as he took the hint and slowly sunk down as far as he could go, pacing himself and trying not to feel too overwhelmed by the feeling of his breath catching each time he'd try to inhale. He pulled back just enough to manage a quick gulp of air before going back down, making it an inch more this time and feeling his nose just barely brush against the patch of dark curls at the base of Phil's length.

He looked up through his lashes, smirking as best he could manage given the situation when he saw the awed way Phil was staring down at him, exactly how he'd been expecting him to. And the cherry on top, always going above and beyond to please, Dan winked as he swallowed around Phil. Despite the sting behind his eyes he held it until he heard the corresponding deep whine that came from Phil's own throat, taking that as the cue that he'd earned a break.

He pulled back completely then, panting as Phil slipped past his lips and allowed him a chance to catch his breath. He didn't take longer than a couple seconds to recover though, he was too eager to prod and hear his praise. By this point it was pretty obvious that Phil wasn't the type to be vocal in the heat of the moment, that he shared all of his lines before he got down to the actual act, but Dan was willing to push if he had to.

He'd had dozens of men tell him how good he was with his mouth, he couldn't even deny that he had a gift for it at this point and he damn well wanted everyone he was with to comment on it.

He looked up at Phil, licking his lips as he debated what would be just the right way to coerce Phil into saying the things that he desperately wanted to hear. It took a few seconds of prolonged eye contact, Dan's dazed pleasured ones glued to Phil's dark lust-riddled glint, but an idea struck him that he cursed himself for not thinking of before now.

"How was that, Daddy? Am I doing a good job?" This time Phil didn't even attempt to stifle the sultry moan that left his lips, tilting his head back to stare up at the ceiling like he couldn't even look Dan in the eyes after calling him that. Had it not been for the noise akin to something a pornstar would make, Dan might have wondered if he'd even liked the term. Phil was blushing like mad and Dan could tell that much even from his poor vantage point, but he still hadn't looked back down at where Dan rested on his knees in front of him. And worse yet, Dan still hadn't heard him utter a single word of praise.

He huffed, giving a petulant pout and guiding the head of Phil's cock to settle against it. Desperate to get a reaction, Dan was willing to try anything at this point, mouthing along the tip in sloppy open-mouthed kisses. Phil grit his teeth at even this gentle touch, cursing under his breath despite those precautions when Dan's tongue slipped out to dip into his slit. "Well, am I?"

"You're doing a very good job, baby, you're making daddy so hard," the words were very obviously strained as he struggled to say them, but if anything that made it hotter. Dan smiled triumphantly, unintentionally toying with the other man even further with the expression shift given where Phil was still pressed against his lips. Dan pulled back, going back to licking his lips clean and trying not to make it too obvious how much he was enjoying the task.

Luck wasn't on his side though, because as he finished and looked up expecting to find Phil still staring skyward, he found narrowed eyes raking longingly over his features instead. Dan didn't expect him to say anything on the matter, even planned on just leaning in and going straight back to work, but the sound of Phil's voice speaking low and sultry had Dan freezing before he'd even started. He gulped, listening all too closely to the gravelly way the man above him formed the words. "Mm, wanna fuck that hot little mouth of yours."

"Go ahead, I don't mind." Dan tried to be discreet about just how very much he didn't mind, but at this point the strain against his jeans was beyond obvious and the whimper that preceded the words made it rather self-explanatory how he felt on the matter. He might have had the time to feel embarrassed, but the thought of Phil gripping either side of his face and thrusting hard into his wet mouth had him rushing to make it a reality.

Dan gulped, taking a deep breath and clambering closer across the tiled floor until he could let his jaw go slack at just the right angle for Phil to use it to his advantage. Phil hummed his appreciation, sniggering quietly under his breath at Dan's eagerness as he took himself in hand. Dan didn't care, only opened his mouth even wider and ignored the strain it put on his jaw. He was too busy mewling as Phil finally slid past his lips to care about much else.

Dan had anticipated that Phil would take things slow and restrain himself from being too rough on his mouth, though even the careful pace they started with felt overwhelming with Phil's size. Dan didn't think twice of it before he dropped his hand to start rubbing at the bulge forming at the front of his jeans, taking more of Phil in when he refused to move forward. Phil huffed at the impatience, jerking his hips forward and startling Dan with the punishing thrust.

As soon as Dan had registered what was happening though, he was back on track. He blinked, eyes already starting to water as Phil worked to set a pace. He used Dan's mouth freely now, not holding back in the slightest as he grabbed fistfuls of brown hair and started to give short, erratic drives of his hip into the tight heat.

Dan spluttered beneath him, concentrating on keeping from gagging around it as the head of Phil's cock started to hit the back of his throat. The quick, desperate tempo had quickly been replaced with something slower as Phil's stamina grew short and his ability to keep focused faded. He was getting closer now, rolling his hips upward into Dan's mouth.

He was impossibly hard where he sat uncomfortably on the floor, the pressure of the heel of his hand over two layers of fabric doing little to relieve the issue. It didn't help that Phil had started to make sinful noises the closer he got to his climax, little grunts and indistinct praise as he muttered about what a good boy Dan was being for him. The words were hardly distinguishable and yet Dan felt on the brink of coming from hearing the tone alone.

It was in the middle of a particularly deep thrust that Phil froze, holding Dan in place despite the wide-eyed and blubbered noise of shock the other boy gave. The initial fear of no longer being able to draw air into his lungs soon faded and instead Dan felt lost in the rush of it all, the submissiveness of being left completely at Phil's mercy. His head was gently pushed forward until the whole of the cock had been sheathed inside his mouth.

He whimpered, starting to feel lightheaded with the need to draw a breath. Thankfully it seemed he wouldn't have to wait much longer, low moans rumbling deeply from both of their chests as Dan felt warm liquid shoot across his tongue and throat. Despite the need to pull away already, Dan didn't have the heart to pull away in the middle of Phil's high. Instead he stayed dormant, allowing Phil to abuse his bruised lips with a few more lazy ruts forward before he would make a protest.

Just as it started to look like Phil had finished and he'd finally catch a break, he was yanked forward by his long fringe. He whined loudly in need as he felt Phil hit the back of his throat again, the movement this time aided by the amount of cum he still hadn't managed to swallow.

It still wasn't easy to take though, so when his eyes started to water and coughs filled the room he could only hope that Phil would understand. Except the other man didn't seem the slightest bit put-off by the noises when Dan looked up at him, if anything he seemed enthralled.

"Look so pretty like this, choking on my cock." Phil muttered, causing Dan to instantly forget that he'd ever considered air a priority. He squeezed his eyes shut as a wave of heat began to coil in his lower abdomen, the pressure building as he struggled not to come untouched difficult to combat when he was still so pre-occupied. This was the longest someone had ever stayed in his mouth after reaching their orgasm, the feeling of Phil's cock starting to go soft against his tongue oddly satisfying.

Finally, after what felt like far too long for Dan to survive through but had probably only been a matter of half a minute, Phil pulled out without a word. Instantly Dan collapsed forward, bracing his hands against the floor and using his arms to hold himself up as he drew ragged breaths to make up for every last one that he'd missed out on. He stayed there on his hands and knees desperately gasping for air for a long moment, until the need to fill his lungs subsided enough to prioritize the amounting lust pooling through his body instead.

He looked up at Phil for the first time since, vision blurred by the wetness in his eyes but still precise enough to make out the broad smirk the other man wore. Someone was very clearly satisfied with themselves, and though part of Dan felt the slightest bit spiteful, for the most part he was just proud that he'd managed to put such an expression on such an attractive man.

"I can't believe you told me not to stereotype and then had the audacity to prove it true." Dan rasped out, eyes going wide as his own scratchy voice startled him. Phil chuckled, running his hands through Dan's damp hair and silently encouraging him to continue. He probably got off on the ruined sound of Dan's voice as well, knowing that it'd been his doing and he'd reduced the younger to a mere fucktoy for his own benefit. God, it was hot, Dan felt himself growing more desperate to cum by the second.

He looked up at Phil in a glare, though the smile on his lips contrasted that. "The people in this bar are totally into choking people during sex."

"Yeah, but the part you're bothered by most is actually how much you liked it." Phil teased, leaning over to press his lips to the other man's. Dan winced slightly, not realizing how swollen his had gotten throughout the process of getting Phil off until he could feel them against another's.

Phil traced his tongue across Dan's bottom lip lightly, both asking for permission to take the kiss one step further and tasting himself on Dan's mouth. Dan whined at how filthy the gesture was, gulping and allowing Phil to lick back into the space he'd just dominated in a different way entirely.

Apparently he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd claimed Dan in every way possible though, effortlessly taking control of the heated embrace and leaving the other writhing with need beneath him. He snickered into the kiss, nipping at Dan's bottom lip as he pulled slowly away. Their eyes locked and Phil leaned in to rest his forehead against Dan's, eyes dark and filled with need as he started to speak. Dan wasn't sure what he was hoping for exactly, perhaps a cheesy cliche love confession right here in the back stall of a dingy bar washroom, but whatever it was Phil blew the expectations right out of the water when he continued.

"Don't act like you don't want it. Bet you can't wait for me to get my hands on you again, you'll beg me to pin you down and wrap my hands around that pale neck of yours until you're shaking with the need to breathe again." Dan was trembling with poorly-contained desire now, his hand starting to fumble back to the front of his jeans before Phil caught it and pulled him to his feet instead. It wasn't an easy process, Dan had long ago lost the ability to stand he was so far gone, but thankfully Phil was there to steady him before he fell. Kind soul that he was, he decided to use his entire body to press Dan against the wall and make sure he was safe.

Dan tipped his head back and gasped, grinding forward and attempting to get off by using Phil's close proximity to his advantage. The other man simply stood before him, carefully trailing his fingers across the dip of Dan's prominent collarbones as the boy thrust fervently against him.

As Dan's desperate quick jolts of his hips slowed to something more determined and slow, Phil noticed the sign and pinned the boy closer to the wall so he couldn't continue chasing his high. The drawn-out whine of protest was so stubbornly loud that the people outside of the washrooms probably overhead it, but Phil decided to cross that bridge when they came to it. Currently he was far too busy trying to keep Dan from touching himself as the boy desperately tried to wrench his hand down into the limited space between their bodies. "Just wait, love, I'll leave even more bruises for you to remember tonight by."

"Please," Dan whimpered pitifully, looking up from the task to lock eyes with Phil and pout. The older man shook his head, ignoring the answering frown as he leaned in to breathe across the hickeys littering Dan's neck. He nuzzled into the dip found there, inhaling deeply.

"Gonna make you feel so good."

"I know." Dan huffed, clearly not too happy that he was still waiting on his own chance to cum. Deciding that he would have to tempt him into taking his time and waiting until they were alone to fully embrace the moment, Phil grabbed the boy's hips and hoisted him up. Dan took the hint easily, wrapping his long legs around Phil's torso. Seconds later he was crowded back against the wall, though this time the tent in his pants was instead pressed tightly against Phil's stomach.

"You're so tiny, I could take you just like this." The man observed, using one hand to steady them both as he traced the other around his hips to splay his fingers across the dip of Dan's back.

"Do it, please." Dan whined, the pleading seemingly knowing no end. Phil had to admit that he liked it though, how shameless the boy was when it came to getting what he wanted most. He was almost tempted to give it to him.

"Not for your first time, you're gonna need somewhere a little nicer for that." Phil murmured carefully into the skin at the base of Dan's neck, gliding his lips across the soft flesh and working to dot another bruise across the plane. He felt the whine that tore out of Dan's throat as he kissed across the boy's Adam's apple, nipping and sucking at it all the while. "Aw, come on, surely you can last a little bit longer. You're not even all that h-"

Phil had only meant to make an observation and prove his point, but the second his hand cupped Dan's bulge he knew that he'd made a mistake. The brunette went completely rigid in his arms, a choked gasp leaving his lips and a poorly stifled moan that made it clear he actually had been attempting to hold his reaction to the touch at bay. It didn't work though, he couldn't hold his noises back more than he could stop the wet patch underneath Phil's hand from forming as he came fully-clothed.

"F-Fuck! Fucking shit, Christ!" He started to shout, apparently giving up on filtering his response all at once as he took to grinding into Phil's palm as best he could in their position. Phil watched silently as Dan went through his climax, eyes dark as the boy shook and trembled between him and the wall. His head tipped back and his jaw went slack, allowing the noises he was emitting to grow even louder while showcasing all of the pretty dark bruises Phil had coated his neck with.

Dan flung his head to one side before thinking better of it mere seconds later and doing the same in the other direction, constantly squirming against the wall as he rode out his orgasm. The pure bliss of it was overwhelming, and it seemed to be the same for Phil given the way he was growing hard again and Dan could feel it perfectly with his ass seated against the other man's crotch.

He couldn't decide whether he wanted to jerk into his hands or grind down against his growing erection to coax a reaction, so he ended up doing a mixture of both that left them both spent as he started to finally come down from the high.

He sighed contently as he finished, falling forward and collapsing boneless against Phil. His forehead fell against Phil's shoulder as he continued to pant, wrapped in a giddy post-orgasm haze. He yawned, turning his head so he could kiss at the older man's neck for a change, even managing to drag his teeth across it once before Phil grunted his disapproval and shoved him back. Dan just lurched back twice as fast though, this time simply kissing close-mouthed pecks along the older man's defined jawline.

He hummed as their lips met in a gentle kiss, one that was over soon enough to leave Dan wanting so much more. He pulled back, opening his eyes for the first time since coming and relishing in the flustered state Phil was in. It looked like he was blushing head to toe, something that Dan took great pride in, knowing that it was thanks to him. "Daddy, please."

"Please?" Phil questioned, wondering what the boy could be begging for. He'd gotten what he was after, surely he wasn't ready to go again so soon, even if his intense high had brought Phil to that point all over again.

"Please take me home." Dan whispered sweetly, nipping at Phil's earlobe. Blue eyes went wide as the realization that Dan still wanted to go through with their plans for the rest of the night clicked, a wide grin stretching across Phil's lips as he nodded his approval.

Within minutes they were dressed and relatively cleaned up, both of them blushing red as they shuffled out of the bathroom to a variety of catcalls and shocked stares directed toward them. Phil darted quickly behind the counter to excuse himself for the rest of the night before rushing back to Dan's side, hardly surprised when the boy ducked under his arm and nuzzled into his side the second he was near enough to do so.

They walked out into the cool night air huddled together, staying wrapped up in a satisfied mutual silence until Phil finally came to the back corner of the parking lot where he'd parked. At this, Dan perked up and squirmed out of their embrace. He stumbled forward, eyes wide and fascinated as he studied the bike in front of him. "That's yours?"

"No, I'm stealing it." Phil replied in a heavily sarcastic tone, though he thought better of it when Dan hesitated just before running his hand over the seat. He smiled, stepping closer and handing the sole helmet to Dan. He didn't like riding without one, but his house was only a block away and he figured it'd be best to reassure Dan by giving it to him instead. "Yes, it's mine."

Dan took the helmet and placed it on his head as soon as he saw the chance to, turning back to Phil with a whine when he couldn't figure out the straps. The punk laughed and rolled his eyes, reaching forward to adjust them to fit the other boy properly.

He settled on the bike then, ready to go. When he didn't feel the weight of another person sink down behind him though, he turned to look over at Dan with a questioning stare. He rushed forward at that, slinging one leg over the seat and sliding forward until he was pressed against Phil's back.

"Do I just-"

"Put your arms around me, yes." Phil laughed, grabbing both of Dan's hands out of the air where they were hovering over his hips and instead wrapping them tightly around his waist. He was really about to take off this time, but once again Dan proved to be a distraction as he let his arms relax and the weight settled against the bulge in Phil's trousers that was finally starting to subside. He hissed a breath of air out through his teeth, debating whether to let it slide or correct Dan.

He decided it was better to be safe than risk it, even if it was an awkward thing to point out. He turned with intentions of telling Dan what he was doing wrong, but as blue eyes found mischievous hazel ones staring brightly back at him, it was clear that Dan was already fully aware of exactly what he was doing to Phil. "Do that while I'm driving and you'll get us both killed."

"But what a way to go." Dan giggled, smiling broadly and allowing his dimples to show. Phil tried his best to stay reprimanding, but it was extremely difficult looking at that warm expression and knowing all of the fondness was directed toward him, solely his. He really hoped this wouldn't turn out to be one-time thing.