A.N,(Panda's pronouns are; her, and she.)

    He commented, "you are beautiful, haters should die," on his friend's post, who was flaunting her buttocks tattoo and cursing her online trolls. Panda, Bash's best friend was a beautiful genderqueer that was naturally blessed with feminine curves.

    She was an influencer marketing for different brands but of course, they would always be those who would hinder her progress.

    Panda, Cassandra, and Bash grew up in the same orphanage and were all friends even after Panda got adopted. Bash and Panda got along more than anyone which birthed their enduring friendship. Panda immediately replied to Bash with a message.

    Panda, "Hey hun."

    Bash, "hey..."

    Panda, "are you okay? How's your zaddy?"

    Bash, " if by okay you mean that I feel like shit right now then yeah am okay."

    Panda, "OMG fr? freaking talk to me, wassup!"

    Bash, " Storm didn't like me, and he said stuff."

    On Panda's side, Bash was still typing and her patience ran thin as she replied, " what stuff?"

    Bash, "he called me a faggot, am not mad about that but because he said he would never be with a person like me. ಥ‿ಥ What is wrong with me?"

    Panda, " nothing is wrong with you, own that shit. We'll fags out here but how did you guys even get to that point? Didn't you just arrive at the house?"

    Bash looked up to his ceiling and groaned before bringing his gaze back to his phone.

    Bash, "he remembered that night, he even tried to pay me off, I turned down his offer, and I wanted to tell you but you weren't online, I guessed you were busy or something. "

    Bash, "An hour ago I went to paint art that I was going to gift him but he came to where I was working and said all those mean things to me and broke the art."

    Panda, "did you flirt with him in any way?"

    Bash, "sorta..."

    Panda, "(replied to, he remembered that night...) I had a meeting with a brand that wanted me to be their ambassador, sorry I wasn't online. I am not going to lie to you mi Amor, you got your hopes too high."

    Panda, "To be honest I kinda hate this Storm guy but then again, he had been a straight man all these years your approach must have overwhelmed him. I told you to take things slow, you can't expect him to reciprocate the feelings you have towards him just yet."

    Bash deadpanned as he replied, " so you are blaming me now?"

    Panda, "no but ...you know what let's facetime, am calling you right now before you do something stupid."

    Seeing the last text from his friend, Bash turned off his data and threw his phone a few inches away from his body. He ran both hands that were balanced his knees through his hair and groaned in frustration.

    Getting out of his bed, he walked to a coat hanger he hung his denim jacket and hung it over his shoulder. He Skidded to his bed and picked up his phone and car keys before leaving his room. He didn't feel like staying in the house anymore, he needed to release all these negative emotions and he only knew one way to do so...

    *

    Sipping on a glass of whiskey, Storm's eyes were darted to a bottle in his wine cellar, lost in thoughts. 'Calling him faggot was too much right? but he was too audacious ', he thought, he had been battling with his conscience ever since he insulted Bash.

    He busied himself with work after he left the garden and when it was time for supper, he refused to eat in the dining room but was informed that the boy wasn't in the house. He inquired about the time he left and it corresponded with the time they had the altercation.

    With one gulp, he drank the remains of the whiskey in the cup and got up to leave the cellar. 'Am getting worked up over a silly deliquescent, this is not right' he absorbed.

    He climbed up the stairs that led to the surface since the cellar was like a basement. It was already late and most of the servants were asleep and the house lights were off but some corners had a light that illuminated. Hearing the front door beep, Storm stopped to see who was coming in so late at night and wrapped his arms around his chest as he waited.

    Bash unsteadily pushed the door and almost fell but managed to support his weight on the handle. With shaking hands, he tried to put his key card in his wallet but missed it a couple of times before he succeeded.

    Storm narrowed his eyes as the boy staggered toward him and shook his head with his lips twisted to the side in disapproval.

    Finding it hard to look at the figure standing before him, Bash swung his hand loosely at the image and met a hard chest. He lifted his head to look into the eyes of the figure staring down at his glossy eyes.

    He retreated backward and missed a step but Storm was fast enough to catch him before he fell. Grinning from ear to ear Bash said," Mr. Storm please don't soil your(*burbs*) hands by touching this faggot (*burbs*)who is beneath you."

    "You wreak of alcohol and weed, are you so childish? Because I said somethings to doesn't give you the right misbehave!"Storm muttered in a low tone, he didn't want anyone to see Bash in this state, frowning at the boy in his embrace whose knees had suddenly become too weak to stand without falling to his feet, his brows tightened.

    Pushing on the hard chest weakly, Bash voiced, "lemme go, it's my life, I can do whatever (*burbs*)I like."

    "Idiot, you leave under my roof you must abide by my rules, "Storm said, holding Bash became slightly uncomfortable because the drunkard was gradually falling asleep in his arms. Storm's frown deepened, he was speaking and the intoxicated boy dared to sleep, he shook his body to wake up.