Chapter Text
Attraction
The cold, blistering winds of December made it unbearable to be outside. Even the commute from home to school and then back again was such a pain that all the students looked forward to their short winter break. The high school cafeteria was packed during lunch; at least half of the students who usually enjoyed the outdoors during their meal break were now forced to keep warm in the crowded area. Martyn, BigB, and Pearl sat at their usual table, and they had been joined today by their three rowdy friends, who had exciting news to share—news that, for once, didn’t involve mischief or a prank of any kind.
Grian, Joel, and Jimmy informed them that they were planning to apply to a nearby university for a degree in Interactive Media Design and Game Art. Considering they were in their last year of high school, they had been thinking seriously about what kind of future careers they would like to pursue.
“Dude, that sounds like a great idea!” BigB lit up, feeling inspired after hearing all the details about the field of work.
“Yeah! I wanna study game design too!” Pearl’s eyes were shining; she had spent her entire life playing video games in her room since she wasn’t allowed to go out after school.
“If all of us take this career path, heck, we could even make our own indie game someday together.” Martyn could see the possibilities in this new opportunity.
“That’s what I was thinking!” Grian stood up, placing both hands on the table and leaning over excitedly. He was thrilled to see that his friends were onboard. Grian had already emailed all three of them the application and course information for the university, offering to get together at school to work on it.
Martyn looked over the information, thinking carefully about whether this was really the path he wanted to pursue. He had never given much thought to life after high school—probably something in accounting or finance, since those jobs were always available and paid the bills. But now, he was suddenly captivated by something he had not even considered.
During dinner with his family, both his parents were busy talking about work. Martyn waited patiently to bring up the topic of his future, nervous about what they would say. While picking at his food, he raised his gaze and made eye contact with his six-years-younger brother, only to be met with a look of annoyance as his brother scrunched up his face in disgust. Martyn let out an annoyed groan and looked away, hating the fact that his younger brother didn’t like him. No matter how hard he tried, they just couldn’t get along.
Clearing his throat to get his parents’ attention, he succeeded when his father glanced at him with a questioning look. Martyn enthusiastically told them what he was thinking of studying and how he planned to apply together with his friends.
“That’s nice, Martyn,” his mother said in a dismissive tone before turning back to her conversation with his father, oblivious to Martyn’s hurt expression.
“Cringe,” his younger brother muttered under his breath.
Martyn’s fury bubbled up as he felt like a fool for thinking his parents might actually care, for once, about what he wanted to do with his life. He swallowed the heavy lump in his throat and ignored the tightness in his chest, hating every moment he spent in his family’s presence.
During the last year of university, Grian approached Martyn and their friends to share a job opportunity in the development of a mobile RPG app. A talented game developer had reached out to Grian, offering him the position of head of the Design Department. Grian was tasked with assembling a team of skilled students in their final year of university, with the flexibility to work around their class schedules until graduation.
Martyn had taken a few design classes in university, but unlike his friends, he decided to focus on the mechanics and programming of game development. The blonde was welcomed by the Development Team, and his skilled colleague, Ren, took him under his wing, teaching him techniques and skills he hadn’t learned at university. The rest of the Development Team quickly warmed to him, and he easily fell in sync with them despite their years of working together.
Etho and Bdubs were practically inseparable, their close bond evident in how well they worked together. Martyn hoped that one day he could form a similar connection with Ren. Tango, Impulse, and Skizz frequently teamed up for tasks and projects, producing their best work as a trio, according to Ren. Mumbo, a cheerful and kind man, stood out not only for his friendliness but also for his extraordinary talent and intelligence. Everyone on the team sought Mumbo’s advice and input, trusting his vast programming knowledge. Martyn could see why Mumbo had been put in charge of the project and why the parent company had so much faith in him. He was a visionary leader, earning respect effortlessly, and Martyn admired the man almost as much as his impressive mustache.
By putting in their best efforts and working together under the supervision of Grian and Mumbo, the team brought the game to life in under a year. The mobile game EpicLife was highly acclaimed for its refreshing storyline, innovative gaming mechanics, and outstanding graphics. It quickly gained popularity, climbing the charts by the end of its first year.
Having worked at the small gaming company for over two years, Martyn found the experience exciting and fulfilling. Being involved in a game’s development before its release and contributing significantly to its creation was rewarding. He appreciated the trust placed in him, the creative freedom he was given, and how his ideas and input were consistently well received by his friends and peers.
Martyn also had the chance to work with the Design Department, often called over to help with projects. One of his collaborators was their university classmate, Cleo, who worked on animations. He was entrusted with side projects alongside Grian, which allowed him to refresh and improve the design skills he had learned in school. Despite his involvement, Martyn often felt that his design skills weren’t on par with his colleagues.
So, when Grian approached Martyn early that year and asked if he would consider transferring to the Design Department, Martyn was taken by surprise. Grian praised his creativity and expressed that the Character Department could greatly benefit from his contributions. Martyn was uncertain at first. He enjoyed working with his team and felt loyal to them for the knowledge and support they had shared.
Martyn asked Grian for some time to think it over. Grian gave him a warm, reassuring smile and told him to choose whatever made him happiest. After days of deliberation, Ren noticed something was bothering Martyn and asked if he was all right. Bashfully, Martyn confided in his team, fearing they might react poorly or tease him for considering the offer. Instead, they reassured him he wouldn’t be making a mistake and encouraged him to take the opportunity. They pointed out that two of the characters Martyn had helped create for the game were among the most popular, which proved he had much to offer the Design Department.
“No matter what, my dude, you will always be a nerd,” Ren reassured him with a chuckle, the entire Dev Team laughing at the inside joke.
“Yeah, and it’s not like you’re quitting or anything. You’re just gonna be in another department,” Tango reminded him.
“And if you ever need to get away from those pretentious jerks, you’re always welcome to come and hang out here,” Skizz added with a smile.
“Hey! What about me? I’m leaving too!” Bdubs exclaimed, feeling jealous that the team was making a big deal about losing Martyn while he was also transferring to join Cleo’s new team.
“Oh, right! We’re gonna miss you too,” Etho reassured him, though Bdubs simply scoffed, feeling the comment lacked sincerity.
It was now March, and that morning, as Martyn arrived at work, he noted how strange it felt to walk down the opposite hallway to his new office in the Design Department. As soon as he opened the door, he was bombarded by the loud shouts of “Surprise!” from Pearl and BigB. Both of his friends wore big, happy smiles and cheered with excitement. Martyn couldn’t hold back his joyful laugh, amused that his friends acted as if they hadn’t seen him in a long time. He happily welcomed Pearl’s tight hug and BigB’s strong pat on the shoulder.
Scott, the head of the Character Department, stood nearby and greeted him with a warm, delighted smile, enjoying the reunion of friends who were now going to be working together. Martyn was led to his desk, which was right beside Scott’s. It was decorated with a colorful “Welcome” banner and multiple bags of his favorite candies and treats.
“Wow. What a nice setup. Do I get new snacks every week, or is this a one-time thing?” Martyn wondered as he took a seat at his desk.
“We can’t have you bouncing off the walls all the time, so maybe a once-in-a-while kind of deal,” Scott replied playfully with a charming smile. He sat down in his chair and gave Martyn the rundown on his new job responsibilities and how the two of them would be working together. Pearl and BigB settled down at their own desks, which were right across from them, and got to work. They knew better than to distract their new teammate and risk upsetting Scott.
The first half of the day had been fun. Learning something new was always exciting for Martyn, and it came easier to him as a fast learner who caught on quickly. He was already familiar with the digital design programs used at the company. Grian had given Martyn many opportunities to create his own designs, which Grian would later polish up for him so they could be added to the game.
When lunchtime finally arrived, his new team members took him out to eat at his favorite burger joint. It was a fun and enjoyable time. BigB and Pearl were the same as always, and Martyn realized how much he had missed spending time with them. Ever since he started working at the company, he had spent more time with the Dev Department, which resulted in him neglecting his longtime friends.
Scott and Martyn had interacted at work before, but they had never spoken casually or comfortably with each other. Now, seeing how Scott had grown close to both Pearl and BigB over the years, he was able to match Martyn’s energy and easily join their conversations.
Martyn had heard a lot about Scott, who was highly regarded for his strict work ethic, determined mindset, and visionary outlook—and, of course, for being very charming. Pearl, BigB, and Cleo often spoke highly of him. While Scott was feared, it was only because he was respected, and everyone wanted to meet his expectations. Grian had truly chosen the perfect person to lead the Character Design Department, and Martyn was looking forward to working with him.
The first couple of weeks flew by, with Martyn quickly getting the hang of his tasks. He would become so absorbed in his designs for hours on end that, at times, he didn't even feel like going home. He enjoyed bouncing ideas off his teammates, especially Scott, since the two of them were partners working on the same projects while BigB and Pearl lost themselves in their own work. Martyn also appreciated that his job required him to go back and forth between departments to submit work or retrieve assets. This gave him the chance to chat with his friends in other departments more often.
One day, Martyn was pleasantly surprised when Scott praised his ideas and character backstories, feeling thrilled that someone other than Grian appreciated what his mind was capable of creating.
"I cannot believe we had such a gem hidden away in the wrong department this whole time," Scott sincerely confessed, leaning forward in his chair as he glanced at Martyn's monitor. The blonde let out a hearty laugh, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink from how much he appreciated the compliment.
"And I still can't believe that the head of the Character Department is actually this sexy," Martyn teased, his voice turning deep and suggestive as he gave Scott a sly smile.
"Oh my! Well, thank you." Scott's mood shifted, his voice taking on a sweeter tone as he carefully pushed a teal lock of hair behind his ear. His lips curved slightly in a smirk, and he fluttered his eyelashes in an alluring way. "I hope I don't become too much of a distraction for you."
"Don't worry, l'll try my darn hardest to resist your oozing sex appeal," Martyn replied in a low, playful tone.
"Well, you're free to do whatever you want to yourself at home, Martyn. Here at work, I expect you to keep your urges under control," Scott quipped with a wink before sitting up straight in his chair and returning to his work. He felt giddy that Martyn was willing to play along.
"So you're giving me consent, is what I'm hearing?" Martyn chuckled, his attention shifting to the door as he heard Pearl and BigB's voices approaching from the hallway.
"You're allowed to fantasize about whatever you want when you're alone, Martyn."
"What are you two talking about?" Pearl asked, a note of worry in her voice. She suddenly hoped Scott wouldn't answer.
"Masturbation," Martyn replied calmly, causing Scott to let out a faint chuckle.
"Oh god, what did we walk into?" BigB groaned. The day he had feared had finally arrived.
"You had to ask!" Martyn teased, pulling his chair closer to his desk as he returned to work with a big, joyful smile on his face. Martyn was known among his friends for making racy jokes, and sometimes they felt he took it too far. There were only a handful of people who would go along with his comments, and even fewer who could match his titillating banter.
A month quickly went by, and Scott noted how Martyn had brightened up their office in a way he wasn't used to. The blonde was constantly cracking jokes, making puns, replying to questions with witty comments, and, of course, delivering his unforgettable salacious remarks every now and then. One afternoon, with only a few hours left before the end of their shift, the four of them were chatting when Pearl accidentally let slip a very interesting piece of information.
"I'm not really the type to get hung up on something for too long," Scott shared as they discussed guilty pleasures and current obsessions.
"Says the guy who had a crush on Jimmy for over three years," Pearl blurted out with a chuckle.
"What's this?" Martyn's eyes widened, and he raised an intrigued eyebrow, a big amused smile spreading across his face. He turned all his attention to his partner. "Scott, you have a thing for Timmy?"
"No, I had a crush on him. But not anymore," Scott clarified, slightly annoyed that Pearl had revealed this to someone who had been close to Jimmy since high school.
"Are you sure? Because if you don't mind, I can help set you two up," Martyn offered, confident he knew his friend well enough to play matchmaker.
"Dude, we tried setting them up, but it didn't work," BigB explained with a disappointed tone.
"Yeah, BigB and I were Scott's matchmakers. But no matter how hard we tried for almost a year, nothing worked," Pearl added. She had been excited when she first heard about Scott's feelings, eagerly giving him advice and helping arrange 'dates' for the two of them. But all their efforts were in vain— Jimmy was simply not interested. Martyn listened, pondering silently before leaning back in his chair with a sigh.
"Well, l'm gonna be honest, Scott-I don't really see you with someone like Tim," Martyn admitted.
"Why not?" Scott wondered, turning his body toward the blonde, who stared at him intently.
"You two would definitely look cute together. But you look like someone who likes it rough, and Jimmy is a virgin. He wouldn't be able to satisfy someone like you." Martyn gave him a sensual look, causing both Pearl and BigB to groan.
"Martyn!" Pearl scolded.
"What?! It's true! Scott looks like he likes to be manhandled," Martyn laughed as Pearl and BigB shouted at him again. Scott also laughed at the comment, enjoying how bold Martyn was for voicing such thoughts.
"It's true. I do like it rough," Scott admitted with a smirk, prompting loud sighs from his teammates. "But I'm a power bottom, so it wouldn't have been a problem."
"Wow." Martyn's voice was full of amazement as his eyes widened in appreciation. "You are really kinky, Scott. Preying on innocent virgins."
"Well, I do like to make my partners cry in bed— usually from overwhelming pleasure," Scott chuckled. Martyn let out a big laugh, while both BigB and Pearl got up from their seats with groans. Pearl's face was red as she left the room with BigB, sparing themselves from any more information they didn't want to hear.
Pearl went over to her girlfriend’s department, apologizing for interrupting, but Cleo greeted her with a big smile. Scar and Bdubs were excited to see her, welcoming her inside and asking her to take a seat, curious about what she wanted to share with them today. Even though both Scar and Bdubs knew it was a conversation between the couple, it was always shared out loud, and they were encouraged to comment or join in with their own opinions.
Pearl told them about the conversation that had just taken place in her office and how both Scott and Martyn could get really vulgar. Cleo laughed and reminded Pearl that this was just how Scott was, but the brunette insisted it was worse now that Martyn was around.
Bdubs commented that Martyn was definitely vulgar, but it was all in good fun, recalling similar conversations from the Dev department. Scar added that they were all adults, and there was no need to feel uncomfortable, but Pearl insisted she didn’t want to know about their sex lives, her cheeks reddening again.
“You know, I think Scott and Martyn would actually make a great couple,” Cleo shared her thoughts. Scott and Martyn were both great friends of hers for separate reasons, but important to her nonetheless. She could definitely see the two of them making each other happy—they deserved it, after all.
“Oh yeah! They already talk a lot about sex; I’m sure there won’t be any surprises there,” Bdubs agreed with a nod.
“Yeah, Pearl, you should be their matchmaker,” Scar suggested.
“I’ve already tried being a matchmaker, and I think I’m not good at it…” Pearl confessed with a sigh, saddened by her repeated failures while trying to help Scott with Jimmy. She had been so hopeful and excited, imagining how it would make a beautiful love story she could look back on and proudly say she helped create. It had broken Pearl’s heart to see Scott so sad and dejected whenever he came to her and Cleo to share his latest experience, which never went to plan. It made Pearl slightly angry, and she had wanted many times to grab Jimmy by the collar and shake him, demanding to know what was wrong with him for not being attracted to Scott.
“You can’t force attraction,” Cleo had reminded her many times, and though Pearl refused to give up, in the end, Cleo had been right—they couldn’t force Jimmy’s feelings.
“Well, those two weren’t compatible, but maybe Martyn and Scott will be,” Cleo said with a hopeful tone.
“Which two? What are you talking about?” Bdubs asked, intrigued, as he looked between Pearl and Cleo.
“Oh, nothing.” Pearl giggled at Bdubs’ disappointed noise, almost forgetting that not everyone knew about Scott’s crush. She didn’t want certain individuals finding out and then teasing either Jimmy or Scott.
When it was time to leave for the day, Martyn still felt giddy from his earlier conversation with Scott. He enjoyed the laughter that significantly lifted his mood. His dynamic with Scott was unlike anything he had experienced before. His coworker brought out a different side of him, one he liked—he was happy that he didn’t have to hold back around Scott and that he was appreciated for who he truly was.
It felt wonderful, and it made Martyn want more of those interactions. He wanted to hear more of Scott’s beautiful laugh and couldn’t deny the little tingle of excitement he felt whenever Scott lightly flirted with him—the flutter of his eyelashes or the way he narrowed his eyes suggestively. Martyn knew it was all in good fun, but there was something deep within him that wanted to come out and play along with Scott. He held himself back, knowing that once he let that side of himself loose, there would be no turning back.
“Goodnight, everyone,” Scott’s voice snapped Martyn out of his thoughts, and he turned to look at him. Scott stood by the door, waving goodbye with his beautiful, charming smile. The other teammates replied while gathering their belongings to leave for the day.
When Martyn and Scott’s eyes met, the blonde’s heart skipped a beat as Scott gave him a flirty wink before walking out the door. That wonderful feeling returned, and Martyn chuckled with a satisfied sigh, already looking forward to the many more days to come in the Design Department with his amazing coworkers.