"You're becoming quite the man of the season," said Tadashi. He extended and turned the tablet towards Alexander so that he could read the article.

The headline was written in bold pink letters. 'Romance Might Not Be Dead After All.'

Underneath it was a more detailed subtext.
'Multi-billionaire Alexander Kane buys puppy for tattooed mystery boyfriend?'

There was a picture right underneath it; Jet hugged Hades against his chest while they walked back to his car, the plastic crate on his hand. It didn't help that Alexander's other hand snaked around Jet's waist so possessively.

Those fucks.

"They won't give it a rest now," Alexander stated matter of factly.

They were getting on his nerves. For their own sakes, they needed to stop. It wouldn't be the first time he destroyed a media house.

"You got him a puppy? A puppy Alexander?"

"What seems to be the problem here?" He asked his assistant. He knew perfectly well what the problem was.

"You can't be serious," Tadashi said then regarded the Master carefully. "You're getting attached?"

Was he? Was he fucking getting attached?

"Fuck no."

"You can't lie to me Alexander," Tadashi said calmly.

The Master leaned back a little frustrated. "Maybe a little. But it's nothing I can't handle."

"Tell me how I deal with this, I've never seen you like this before so I'm not sure how I'm supposed to. And I hate not knowing what to do," said Tadashi.

He had a right to ask. Every right. "It's not your job to deal with my decisions."

"That's the thing, it literally is," said his assistant. "Everything you do is tied to me one way or another. And when the competition reaches its end, they will leave just like the rest, but I'm not so sure we'll have a perfect finish this time."

"It will be the same," Alexander said despite knowing the opposite. It was not going to be the same, not by a long shot.

"Why did you do it?" Tadashi finally asked.

"I honestly don't know." This time, Alexander decided to go with the truth.

"You don't know, but you got him a puppy."

"He likes dogs."

"You knew that?" Tadashi was surprised that somehow the seemingly broody and closed up Jet had told the Master that. Until he saw the guilty look pass over his features.

"You read the information they shared?" This was definitely worse than he thought. "You never do that."

It wouldn't be a problem, to handle things in the next two months. There was nothing he couldn't do.

The only thing that got in his way was a folly of his own creation. Over the years, he'd learned to care for his boss beyond the boundaries of his job.

Alexander could more than take care of himself, but working for him for so many years and so closely meant seeing the vulnerability through the cracks.

When Tadashi had first come to work for him, the Master was only twenty six. Extremely young to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He'd met him at what could possibly have been one of the worst times of Alexander's life. It was a wonder to everyone that he'd even lasted a year.

Alexander appeared cool and calm, like he was someone who functioned perfectly. It wasn't quite that simple.

Only Tadashi got to see how out of control he really was.

Alexander had the worst temper, it was like working for the devil on his bad days. He watched him manipulate the people who showed any sympathy towards him, then fired them.

No one lasted long enough, certainly not the assistants before him.

Everyone whispered about whatever had happened to him a bit before Tadashi's arrival but no one really got into detail about it. More like they weren't sure about it either.

It further fed his curiosity.

All he managed to put together at the time was that there was an arranged marriage. And seemingly, it hadn't gone so well.

After about four months of putting up with Alexander, his time had come.

It happened on a day just like any other–in fact, on a night. And something seemed to frustrate Alexander more than things usually did.

Tadashi was working later than the late he usually worked to fix a tiny error he'd made. It was all Alexander needed to tell him he was fired.

"On what ground your majesty?" Tadashi had asked and walked straight towards him. "A tiny mistake? One that I'm fixing?"

"A mistake nonetheless."

A heated look passed between them until Tadashi lowered his eyes.

He told him he wasn't going anywhere, and then he kissed him.

No one would have dared to do that, but he'd reached a point with this man where his resolve wasn't weak.

Alexander could have easily pushed him away or punched him for his stupidity. It wouldn't have been so hard, the man was definitely stronger than he was, but he did neither.

He seemed to falter when Tadashi pulled away. Anyone would have been shocked, he even shocked himself a little. But he finally had his attention.

"All of this has to stop. I'll be a distraction if you want me to, but I won't leave until you get yourself together. What good am I, if I can't do at least that?"

Tadashi would never forget what he'd whispered to him that night with his eyes so defeated, almost lost. Nor would he forget what he'd told him after.

"I miss him so much," Alexander had said distractedly.
Finally. Something out of that wall he'd built around himself with stone.

Tadashi didn't know who exactly. He didn't know why or what had happened but it was something. An opportunity.

"If I were him, I'd be ashamed of you," Tadashi replied.

It was a petty thing to say. He'd never say that to someone who was clearly hurting so much. That would be cruel.

But Alexander needed to hear it. And from what he knew, hard facts computed faster than soft words did when it came to his boss.

They never kissed again. But Alexander changed a little more with each passing day until he was back to himself.

Charismatic, quick witted and extremely intelligent. He could charm an entire board within mere seconds of speaking.

He'd refined himself so much that Tadashi almost thought he had a crush on him. It didn't help that he was so unforgivingly good looking.

Tadashi's conflict with himself was resolved after about a month of going back and forth about it. It hadn't been a crush after all. It was admiration.

Eight years later and the pain still wasn't gone from his eyes. The fire behind them had burned away to leave nothing but a coldness behind.

That was fine with Tadashi. Anything other than that hell he was living in before.

He watched Alexander now behind his desk, clearly in debate with himself.

He knew that Alexander would follow every rule down to its core, even if it meant he hurt himself in the end.

It was just how he was wired. A little messed up no doubt, but that was one of the places he came in. They worked really well together.

With the little time they had left, he had the inkling that not everyone would be going home unscathed.

If they'd grown any feelings whatsoever, they should prepare themselves for a disappointment. It would be the most they could do for themselves.

Alexander's heart was one of the things that were unavailable to anyone.

He'd watched him reject and discard competitors over the years with a smile. Tadashi was even convinced he was enjoying it.

But with the way he wasn't smiling so much now, it was complicated. He seemed a little stressed even.

But it was particularly odd that the competition was already more than halfway done, and not even two people had been disqualified.

If Alexander's dark moods lately was any sign of pending doom, Tadashi wondered what he would do.

It was way too little to be anything but there was a fair chance that his boss could be falling.

Tadashi smiled.

༻༺

"You agreed to meet with me," the green eyed man said, following Tadashi's movements.

His brown hair curled naturally as some of it attempted to cover his eyes. His thin lips were pursed at the moment but otherwise, they sort of formed a heart shape.

He would have looked completely boyish if it weren't for his poise, the pride and dignity with which he carried himself.

"To tell you to leave him alone," replied Tadashi. "Can I get you anything?"

His guest shook his head and Tadashi frowned. "I insist," he said.

No one had ever won that battle against him. After a little protest, he'd gotten water for the guest.

"I just need to talk to him, at least just once. He won't even answer my calls."

"He's hurting McClure, he's been hurting for nearly ten years now, I don't think he needs you as a reminder."

"I know, Mr Ishii, but I think he needs this."

"He doesn't fucking need anything from you!" It took a lot for Tadashi to raise his voice at anyone.

He shocked himself with the anger that came out of his voice.

There was a pause as the McClure before him recomposed himself. All of his movements so proper. "I'm sorry if–"

"No," Tadashi quickly dismissed his apology. "I shouldn't have lost my temper, I'm sorry. And please, call me Tadashi."

Dark eyebrows furthered away from the green eyes under them. "Only if you call me Eden."

Tadashi cleared his throat. "Whatever Alexander had with your brother..."

"What they had was rare, beautiful. I've never seen people love so hard before, never seen such raw emotion..." Eden shook his head like he was trying not to get carried away.

Tadashi only watched him.

"There's a letter," he said.

"A letter?"

"From my brother, It's what I've been trying to give him all this time. I think he needs to read it. I don't know what's in it, but it might be good for him, might finally set him free," Eden looked at Tadashi hopefully.

"Or make him regress. I don't know if I want to take that chance," said Tadashi.

"Think about it," said Eden. "Wouldn't you rather he knew?"

Tadashi actually gave it thought. "You're talking about a letter, only a letter? Is that even enough?"

"You've never seen them together, you should have, there was nothing like it," Eden was so sure of his words.

Tadashi really thought about it. "An arranged marriage," he sighed. "They were only engaged, from everything I've heard, they never got married."

"That was where it went wrong," Eden said. He cast his eyes downwards.

Tadashi didn't string it out any further. "Fine," he sighed. More out of frustration because he didn't know if he was doing the right thing. "I'll get you time alone with him. Five minutes."

"I'd have settled fine if you wanted to give him the letter yourself," said Eden.

There was something so utterly pure and honest about him.

Tadashi shook his head. "That isn't my place."

He wouldn't interfere because whatever needed to happen, didn't need him there. He hoped only good would come out of this.

Eden's eyebrows scrunched together. "Do you uh... do you mind if I ask you out?"

꧁___꧂

"Can I talk to you?"

Jet looked to see Mason standing at his doorway again. No. No way.

"I'd rather you just leave," said Jet.

He noticed Mason's eyes roam all parts of his bare chest. He hadn't even thought of the state of undress he was in before swinging the door open.

He'd taken a quick shower and wrapped himself hastily to get to the knocking at the door. The towel now hung low around his hips.

Mason looked back up to look at him. "Just listen to me... for a while at least."

"Why? So that I can hear you call me trash again? Or do you have new ones you'd like me to hear?" It had clearly hurt Jet more than he thought it would.

Mason took a step forward. "I didn't mean any of that. I'm–"

"It really sounded like you did, why else would you say it?" Jet asked.

"I was wrong and–"

"I don't want to hear it, and I don't want to slam the door in your face, so just go–"

Mason was openly staring at his body now, almost like he couldn't help himself. He didn't get to stare his fill because Jet walked away leaving the door but instead of Mason leaving, he followed him inside.

"You got hurt," Mason said. It was one of the worst things he could start with. Jet still winced every time it was brought up.

"It wasn't intentional, it wasn't so I could get your attention and I don't need it."

"I didn't say it was. You don't understand..."

"You don't think I wanted to? I wanted to understand why you looked at me with so much contempt. You wouldn't even tell me," Jet laughed a little. It sounded a little scary.

"Jet–"

"I said no, get the fuck out."

Mason sighed. It was the most frustrated sound Jet had heard in a while.

"Fine, I'll go," Mason lingered by the door. "You should talk to Pierre. He is scared to try, but I think you guys need it."

"I don't want to talk to him either." It wasn't entirely true. He wanted to, the same way he wanted to talk to Mason.

Jet walked to the door to shut it behind Mason, but just then, Hades suddenly ran into the room, barking and running between Mason's legs.

It was so sudden it startled him. As Mason tried not to step on the puppy, he lost his balance and fell forward.

Jet instinctively wrapped his arms around him to stop his fall, but the hyperactive puppy caused Jet to lose his footing and he fell, taking Mason with him.

Jet's back hit the floor with a thud but his hand remained tight around Mason's waist.

Mason was on top of him, looking no where other than into his eyes, but trying to get up.

Jet made a mistake. He rolled them until he was now above, looking down at Mason with his hands on either side of him on the floor.

It was a mistake because at that moment, the towel unfastened around Jet's waist and his cock fell against Mason's stomach. They both looked down at it, then back up at each other.

Mason turned red as Jet felt heat rise in his own face.

"Fuck," Jet rolled off him and wrapped the towel tighter around his waist. Hopefully this time it stayed where it was supposed to.

He held a hand out for Mason to take it, then helped him up. The man was still a little red faced, mostly visible on his cheeks.

Jet turned back around. "Hades!" He shouted at the same time someone else did.

Zel came rushing into the room to find the little dog. Hades immediately jumped into his open arms the minute he saw him, licking Zel everywhere he could.

"There you are. Aww who's a good boy?" Zel asked and Hades barked, his tail wagging like he wanted to shake it off. "Sorry I was sort of chasing him around."

Jet watched in fascination at how fast Zel had bonded with the puppy. It was the most adorable sight.

Maybe Zel had read the situation or maybe he paid them no mind at all but he took Hades and closed the door behind him, whispering how he loved him and they were going to be best friends.

Jet looked at Mason beside him, fiddling with his fingers. "I...I'll go."

Good. Jet thought. He held the door open for him and without a word, Mason left.

Jet leaned against the closed door and let out a long breath.

"I might be going crazy," he said and put his face in his hands. Then he went to find some clothes.

꧁___꧂

"I don't usually ask people this but for some reason I really want to know," the Master moved to sit at the foot of his bed. "What's wrong?"

He beckoned for Linder to come sit where he was. He couldn't help himself and pulled him into his lap instead.

"Nothing is wrong Daddy," said Linder.

The Master moved his hair out of the way and kissed his forehead. "Then why are you hurting people?"

Linder went rigid but regained his calm. The Master held him still.

"Why do you even care?"

"You can stop with the act okay? Be real with me. Starting with the way you talk," said the Master.

Linder gasped at that. The way he spoke, his voice dripping with sweetness. It was music to the ears but it was a facade. It wasn't real. The Master wanted to know why he'd go to such lengths.

If anyone had the toughest shell to crack, it would be Linder. He wouldn't open up so easily, but the Master had time.

"When did you find out?" Linder asked, disentangling himself from the Master.

He let him go. "There, you sound so much better. Like yourself."

He pulled a hard expression on his face. It indicated that the Master was going to have to try a bit harder.

"When?" Linder asked again. His actual voice was just a little rougher and laced with so much pain.

"Your first week here," said the Master.

Linder was so tightly wound that it added considerably to the tension in the room.

"Why didn't you say anything? Why now?" He asked. It almost sounded like he was panicking.

The Master at that point was willing to do anything to calm Linder down.

"Come here," he said, making it sound like an order. If he had thought right, it would spark some defiance and distract the other man.

"No," said Linder. He seemed to return to himself, contempt all over his face. The panic, completely gone.

"Why didn't you say anything then? Or at any other time?" Linder insisted.

"I honestly didn't mind. And it would be fine if you were just jealous or fussy... I've allowed that. But you're hurting the others. I don't find it acceptable."

"Am I supposed to believe that ice box you call a heart actually feels something? I don't get it... why do you even care." The voice was vile, but at least it was his.

"It's nothing personal," the Master said. "There's been multiple people over the years, and I've always liked it best when they are comfortable. That isn't about to change."

"There are other ways to cause unrest among people, without making them feel less about themselves. Only someone petty would do that," the Master looked to him. "Are you petty, Linder?"

"I didn't," said Linder. "I–"

"You can't convince me you're that stupid, because I know you aren't. You're really smart. So what is the excuse for your actions?"

Linder walked to the window and crossed his arms, his expression was now sour. "You'd never understand."

"You know... Pierre begged me to let him go. Was that what you wanted?"

Linder's gaze snapped to him. It definitely wasn't what he wanted.

The Master had told Pierre no. And to his relief, it seemed like the man had changed his mind recently. Whatever had changed his mind, he was glad.

"You refused?"

The Master nodded. "I have no intention of letting him leave."

Linder studied him for a while before finally speaking.

"Your charade isn't going to work," he said. "This... act you're putting up."

At the Master's surprise, there was a look of victory in Linder's eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

"I've seen the way you basically eye rape Riley every time he's not looking," Linder said and the Master bristled. "I know you'd do anything for Zel, he seems to have you trapped every time he talks to you. Mason is your little escape isn't he? Your eyes never settle until they've located him," Linder rolled his eyes. "Jet." It was almost like he was about to spit. "What do you see in that nutcase? And don't even get me started on Pierre."

The Master regarded him coldly, not saying a word.

"I've seen the whole act. Just so you can what? Make them fall for you... hear them admit they love you then disqualify them?" Linder asked with all the resentment his voice could carry. "There's loose screws in that head Alexander, stop playing games and see a therapist."

The Master stilled. Linder had called him by his name. Everything he'd just said also echoed inside his head. Just how much of it was a lie...an act?

"Yes, I know your name is Alexander. I'm smart right? So I figured it out."

"This is the part where you stop talking Linder, and listen for a while," the Master said. Approaching him slowly.

"I'm not done!" Linder raised his voice. If no one is brave enough to tell you, then I'll lay it down for you."

The Master didn't stop approaching him. Linder boldly turned to meet him half way.

"They don't know the monster that you are," Linder laughed. "Men like you are like predators. People like Jet, people like you," he poked a hand at the Master's chest.

"Just what is your problem with Jet?" The Master asked.

Linder ignored the question. "The only justice you deserve is dying alone all wrinkly and ugly on your death bed. I fucking hate people like you," Linder was crying. "I fucking hate you Carl."

The Master pulled Linder in to hug him. For whatever reason, it just felt right.

"I'm not Carl," the Master said. Naturally, and given the circumstances, Linder fought him off.

He let him win.

"I don't know if you'll ever be but right now, you aren't even half the man Jet is, nor do you have half the heart Pierre does," the Master stroked his cheek, trying to wipe away the tears that just wouldn't stop. "You're disqualified."