Chapter Text
Saturday April 4th 2026, 5:30 am
23 year old Hayden Pike.
Hayden Pike was not a morning person. Just four hours ago he went to bed and now he already had to wake up again.
Tragically this was his reality, his sleepless, repetitive reality.
Everyday was the same; they blurred together into one ambiguous feeling called life.
His life was mundane, he went to grad school, worked on his papers, assisted his professor, went out on the weekends and then repeated that cycle.
McGill was fun though. Good for him, even. He had friends he liked, papers to write, people to hook up with. Still, there was a little prickle in the back of his mind telling him he couldn’t do this forever. He couldn’t wake up one day old and withered in a hospital bed with nothing meaningful to say about his life.
Because right now, was he even living?
But then again it was early in the morning, and Hayden Pike was not a morning person, so yes, he had the right to feel a bit pessimistic.
Hayden’s hand aimlessly stretched to grab his phone and his glasses. First, he languidly put his glasses on. Once his glasses were secure on his face he took his phone and slid the alarm off, then sank into his pillow with his phone still in hand.
He had exactly 15 minutes of social media time before he had to get out of his plush duvet and become a functioning participant in our society.
The second he opened Tik Tok he was greeted with a myriad of noises and color. They aren’t overwhelming, he was acclimated to it by now. Each scroll, giggle and comment went straight to clearing the fog in his brain. It helped to think of nothing for a bit, to consume useless media for a quick boost of serotonin.
Flick up.
Something new, something oversaturated, something funny.
Again.
And Again.
The 15 minutes went by too quickly.
So now (begrudgingly) he was up, he changed into a pair of light blue jeans, they weren't baggy, but not at all skinny, well fitting; a bit tighter on his hips and looser as they travel down his legs, the back pockets were embroidered with a brown v that stretched from corner to corner.
Then he put on a thin white cotton t-shirt. It was a bit sheer, but he couldn’t have cared less.
Hayden moved on autopilot. He shuffled to his bathroom, plucked his tooth brush out of the mug on his granite counter top and started brushing. With his tooth brush still in his mouth, he left the bathroom to grab his black headphones, placing them around his neck.
He traveled back into his bathroom and spit out the paste, ran the brush under the faucet, brushed and spit again. With a clink his tooth brush was placed back into the mug, right next to his roommate’s.
The faucet stayed on and in a dazed state he watched water collect his spit-toothpaste mixture and take it down the drain.
For a second he got lost in the image, and then he blinked. The toothpaste was gone, and water was the only thing left.
He turned off the faucet. Silence rushed into the bathroom.
Dewy spring air drifted through the cracked window.
He looked up in the bathroom mirror and was met with his face. Strikingly sometimes he doesn’t quite recognise his reflection. His hair was messy and darted in different directions, his eyes had slight dark circles under them, and his circular wired glasses made him look a bit peculiar.
Or in concise words, he looked like shit
Hayden cleared the sleep under his eyes before leaving the bathroom.
He was in desperate need of a black coffee: a straight concentrated dose of caffeine to pump life into his sleep deprived body.
He turned his head phones on and placed them over his ears as he walked out the door of his apartment.
He shut it quietly and opened Spotify. He played his playlist titled “Rise and Shine ” and quickly, music cascaded through the speakers.
—----------
The door to the café chimed as he opened it. Soon the smell of coffee whipped up his nostrils and trailed right to his heart.
He slid his headphones back around his neck and paused the music as he made his way to order.
“Hi Shane,” Hayden said to the barista behind the counter.
Shane Hollander got to a register looking stupidly energized. His black hair was perfectly styled, his face glowing with youth, and his brown eyes surprisingly bright.
"Hello roommate," Shane remarked, “ I’m making you black coffee. No offense Hayd but look like you need it,”
“ Offence taken,” Hayden groaned, pulling out four dollars and handing them to Shane, “ Chop, chop, coffee boy.” He said now snapping his fingers ,“Mama needs her fix,”
Shane let out a snort before turning around to make his drink.
The door chimed meaning someone else had entered. He didn’t look behind him, rather he slid to the slide so the other customer could order.
Hayden yawned, waiting for his drink. The café was virtually silent despite the hum of different coffee machines and the sound of the new customer conversing with a female cashier.
His drink was made quickly.
“ Here you go Hayd,” Shane said, handing him a large insulated cup filled with black coffee.
“Thanks Shane,” Hayden replied, taking the coffee,“ Have a good day at work, and…”. He snapped his fingers, smirking, “Let's do something tonight, hm?’’
Shane smiled, then nodded in agreement before he turned around and got back to his job.
Hayden took a sip of his coffee slowly, like it was delicate. The hot bitter liquid hit his tongue like a breath of fresh air. The sip instantly went in veins and pumped his heart back to a normal pace.
Maybe life wasn’t so bad after all.
Hayden turned on one foot to head out. As he walked toward the exit he looked down at his phone for a second, cup secured in the other hand.
Hayden’s journey stopped abruptly when he felt a body softly collide with his own.
Saturday April 4th 2026 6:24am
27 year old Clifford Marleau.
Marleau stood in a suit and tie. His suit was navy blue, and tie was a soft butter yellow color, the button up he wore under was plain white. His blazer was on, hair tame and smelling of too much expensive cologne. He stuck out like a sore thumb.
The rising sun peeked in over the horizon and softly illuminated the small café. It was a simple beauty. The room smelt of jasmine and coffee. The floor, chairs, and tables were all the same honey wood. A large glass display beside the counter showed off rows of buttery and ambitious pastries. On the wall laid an elaborate drink menu, the majority of it unfamiliar to Marleau.
With his phone in one hand, and pastry box in the other, he headed to leave the quaint café. However, before he exited he ran into a body.
They didn’t even make eye contact yet, Marleau knew exactly who he ran into: It was the man he noticed immediately when he walked into the café, and not just because he was the only other customer.
The guy had this presence; he exuded a confidence that radiated off him.
Marleau hadn’t even seen his face in the line, still he was aware that the man in front of him had been gorgeous.
Weirdly at the time he couldn't stop looking at the man's jeans, they were simply light denim but they contoured the man's body beautifully. And then there were the arms — his thin white shirt stretched tighter around his biceps whenever he moved.
“ Oh sorry,” Marleau said, stepping back and looking down.
Big blue eyes peeked at him through the frames of circular wired glasses. The glasses tilted slightly to the left of the blue eyed man's face, the stranger quickly pushed them back up onto the bridge of his nose.
For a second Marleau felt all the air escape from his lungs. Everything around him slowed, yet his senses heightened. He could practically smell each particle of pollen; could hear the drip of espresso, could feel the weight of the pastry bag in his hands, and could taste the coffee in the air.
The stranger's face was even more enchanting than he would have assumed. His eyes were ocean-deep, his eyelashes long and brown, his hair the color of brown sugar and slightly ruffled, his lips plump and his skin milky smooth.
“ No, I am sorry, sir.” The man in front of him said, cadence slightly raspy.
The man's voice poured into Cliff’s ears, rich, and thick as honey. His tone crackled like the roar of waves crashing onto shore.
Marleau’s mouth went dry. It was as if a vacuum sucked out all of his charisma at once.
However the stranger didn’t seem embarrassed at all. If anything, he looked entertained, even intrigued.
Then the blue eyed man smirked at Marleau.
The smirk was barely noticeable, not big enough that his skin crinkled from the movement, the right side of his lips were just pulled slightly upwards; still, the smirk was deliberate; it was dangerous.
The stranger’s eyes lethargically scanned up his body. They lingered on his throat for a second too long; Cliff swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. The man’s gaze then focused on his lips; Marleau resisted the subtle urge to bite them and instead let out a shaky exhale. The blue eyes trailed up his face until their eyes met. His body gave off a soft heat, despite the distance between them. Somehow the stranger noticed everything: the swallowed breath, the hesitation, the way Cliff’s fingers tightened around the pastry box.
“ Well, have a good morning sir,” The pretty man said, unmoving with his coffee in hand.
“ Yep,” Cliff breathed, “ you too.”
Marleau didn’t move away either, they stood in the practically empty coffee shop just looking into each other's eyes. He didn’t want the moment to be over, he wanted to memorize this man's face, the blue in his eyes, the browns in his hair, the build of his body.
The stranger in front of him leisurely took a sip of coffee, while remaining eye contact. Something laid in his eyes, electricity. The man moved lazily, deliberately, like he already knew the effect he had on people. A single bead of coffee didn't make it into his mouth, and Marleau watched as it dripped down the man's face, slowly. The man's throat moved as he swallowed the hot liquid, his eyes not tearing away from Cliff’s. After the stranger swallowed he used the back of his hand to wipe the bead of coffee off his chin.
The man exhaled, warm coffee scented air floated into Cliff’s nostrils
“ Bye,” the blue eyed man said before adding,“Sir,”
Before Cliff could say anything the stranger turned on one foot and moved through the door. Cliff watched helplessly, as the man walked away. Marleau’s eyes followed the fabric as the stranger’s walk made the material stretch around his ass.
Fresh morning air whooshed through the coffee shop as the man exited, when the door closed Marleau had one question:
Who was that?
—-------------------------
The office tower still felt half asleep at this hour. Computer monitors glowed against glass walls, the city washed pale blue beyond the windows. Somewhere deeper in the floorplan a printer whirred to life, followed by the muted ring of a desk phone.
Early mornings were the only time the office felt peaceful. Before the intense meetings, the polished smiles, the million-dollar conversations.
“ Good Morning Mr. Marleau,” the lady working at the front desk greeted, “Do you need anything?”
“ No thank you Lydia,”
Cliff walked past the desk to set the pastry box he was carrying down onto a table in a communal area of the office. He opened the box and revealed a vast variety of pastries: almond, chocolate and regular croissants as well as fruit danishes sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Cliff decided on a chocolate croissant, as he took it out of the box he felt a strong hand squeeze his shoulder.
Immediately a woody, musky cologne hit his nostrils, beneath the scent Cliff could smell the sharpness of vodka.
“ Ooo, treats,” a deep Russian voice cooed, stepping to the side and assessing the pastries, “Delish.”
Cliff ignored Ilya Rozanov and instead took a bite of his chocolate croissant. The crumbs flaked on his button up, and he carelessly brushed them off of his expensive suit.
The croissant was the perfect mixture of chocolate, and buttery pastry.
He let out a high pitched hum, swallowed, then pointed to the croissant in his hands, “Good fucking croissant, man.”
Ilya reached for an almond one, bit down, and let out a dramatic moan.
“Mh,” he held his hand to his heart. “Where are these from?”
“ A cute little café near Mcgill,” Cliff said, before taking another bite.
“ Ah, never been,”
A few moments passed, and both of them just stood by the table, enjoying their pastries.
Cliff swallowed and cleared his throat, “I think I found my dream person there this morning.”
Ilya’s eyes brightened for a second, “Aww Cliff. Who was she?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
" No, it was a guy.” Cliff corrected.
Correcting Ilya about the gender of the stranger felt weird. Ilya’s assumption just reminded Cliff of his limitations because the stranger was a man, even if that man was absurdly attractive.
Ilya was the only person that knew Cliff hooked up with guys as well as girls. Men existed in a separate compartment of Cliff’s life. He only allowed himself sex with men. He had set rules, boundaries that he couldn’t pass when it came to guys. No kissing on the mouth, no public appearances, no introducing them to his family, and definitely no settling down. His rules were easy, straight forward.
“Okie,” Ilya’s voice cut through his thoughts, “ So what did this guy do to be love of your life”, he asked, making air quotes around the “love of your life” part.
“ Rozy,” Cliff got back into the easy banter, putting a hand on Ilya's shoulder, his face serious. “You should have seen him, I mean he was gorgeous, like…Wow.” Cliff retracted his hand from Ilya to brush crumbs off his suit again, “He was also so confident, and his eyes were so blue.”
“ Scary blue?”
“Nah,” He turned to face Ilya, “like an I-want-our-children-to-have-your-eyes sort of blue,”. Marleau took another bit of his croissant, covering his mouth as he chewed ,“And the build on that guy, holy fuck.” He motioned still chewing, “Mmh this croissant is good” he grunted as he swallowed.
“ So, did you get the man's number…” Ilya gestured for Cliff to tell him more.
“ Nah,” he replied, “ I froze. I know stupid. But he was looking at me with those eyes and then he just left,”
Cliff took the last bite of his croissant then slid his hands together to dust the crumbs away.
“Nice ass?” Ilya questioned.
He hummed in agreement,“ What’s the saying: hate to see them go but love to watch them leave,” He swallowed, “Yea that,”
“ Ugh, I hate your stupid fucking sayings, what does that mean?”
“It means,” Malreau looked at Ilya, stoic as ever, “He had an amazing ass.”
Ilya groaned, “I need to see the man that intrigued Montréal's #1 bachelor,”
Saturday April 4th 2026 9:36pm
23 year old Hayden Pike.
Track: Roomates by Malcom Tood
“The Uber is coming in 25 minutes!”
A fresh torrent of mint flavored liquid swished through Hayden's mouth. His cheeks slightly stung, the strength of the mint was so concentrated it tasted almost alcoholic.
Hayden spit his mouthwash into the sink.
The bathroom mirror was fogged faintly around the edges from Shane’s shower earlier. Hayden leaned forward to look at himself anyway.
His eyes focused on how his light brown hair fell perfectly into place, slightly covering his forehead. He applied chapstick to his lips, making them moisturized and plump, then puckered them at his reflection. He lifted his eyebrows, instead of glasses he wore contacts now, making his eyes appear brighter. He fixed the collar on his white button up that was purposely unbuttoned to the point that it exposed his chest.
It was moments like these where Hayden was suddenly aware of his beauty. He had always been called handsome but now he really looked it.
Music blasted through his speaker, he hummed to the melody as he looked at himself. Hayden smiled at the mirror, and then traced his tongue over his top teeth, before clicking it to the roof of his mouth.
After, Hayden spun around to check how his ass looked in his jeans, satisfied he gave himself an encouraging pat.
“Fuck, I am hot,”
Hayden shimmed outside of the bathroom to find Shane ready.
Shane stood in the kitchen beneath the warm pendant lights, smelling of soap and floral perfume. His black t-shirt fit snug against his shoulders, sleeves hugging his arms just enough to be irritatingly flattering.
Hayden took Shane's hand and lifted it up to spin him around.
“ Why are we so sexy, man,” he groaned, grabbing onto both of Shane’s hands and dancing so they were in a sort of salsa position.
Shane giggled, “ What had gotten into you?”
“ Can’t a man be happy?”
“Mhm.” Shane hummed sarcastically, "Did that man also clean up his shit in the bathroom?” Shane pulled Hayden closer, “Go,” he demanded before spinning Hayden out, and heading toward the kitchen.
“I hate you,” Hayden complained feigning offense, “ Dude, using your sex appeal against me is manipulative.” He added as he headed towards the bathroom.
He quickly shoved his products into the glass cabinet overhead. Next to Shane’s carefully lined up toiletries his looked a mess, he hastily closed the cabinet before could feel guilty about his lack of organization.
Hayden went to sit at a stool on their island, he dropped down and spread his legs, quickly getting comfortable.
Their apartment smelt faintly of tequila and bergamot, music hummed playfully in the background.
Shane was behind the bar, taking out shot glasses.
“ Ok bartender, do we have time for a little pre-gaming?” Hayden asked, drumming the countertop excitedly.
“ Always.” Shane said slowly, “ Only shots though, and I can’t drink that much,” he winced, “I have work tomorrow”
“Boo, you hate fun don’t you?”
Shane rolled his eyes, ignoring Hayden as he started to pour shots. He filled three glasses with tequila. Shane spun around to grab lime slices out of their fridge, he put them on the counter then slid a shot to Hayden.
Hayden took the shot off the counter top and didn't hesitate, quickly he put the glass to his lips and tossed his head back, letting the liquid burn down his throat. He hissed, shaking his head back and forth.
Shane chuckled and gave Hayden a lime slice.
“Ok” Hayden coughed, “Another shot please.”
“Are you sure bud?”
Hayden simply nodded his head.
Shane raised an eyebrow before he complied, sliding another shot to Hayden and taking one for himself. They clinked their glasses together and in unison they took the shots back.
The Montréal city lights sparkled through the wide glass window planes that took up a wall. Red, white, green, blue and golden dots lit up the otherwise black night, and cars looked insignificant from this height.
“ What was with that business guy this morning?” Shane coughed, squeezing his eyes closed, “ I hate Alcohol,”
“ Mhm,” Hayden agreed, hissing slightly, “Yea um, not sure I was tired and a bit delirious.” He clears his throat, “I think we just exchanged some intense eye contact.”
“ That you did,” Shane said, putting their glasses into the sink. “You should have seen the poor dude after you left,” He turns to face Hayden, placing his hands on the counter behind him, “He looked starstruck.”
Hayden recalled the suited man from this morning and felt a small flicker of delight in his stomach. The man was handsome: flushed cheeks, black hair, slight stubble, a sharp jaw, nice build, and a deep mysterious voice.
Hayden nodded, suppressing a smile “Yea he was cute, too bad I will never see him again”
“ Yeah, he was… an old money type,” Shane added.“ Masculine but not too harsh, sort of like superman with stubble," he joked.
Hayden let out an airy chuckle, before getting up from his seat, “ He didn’t seem like he was interested in men.”
“ I don’t know…” Shane cooed, grabbing his wallet from a small table next to the front door, “You clearly had an effect on him”
“ I have an effect on everyone though,” Hayden simpered, slipping on his shoes and sliding on a brown leather jacket. He rolled his shoulders back briefly.
Shane sighed, unlocking the door and opening it wide.
“Ok, Hayd.”
Hayden skipped backwards so he was facing Shane, “ You’re saying you could resist this,” he said, motioning to his body with his hands
“ Gladly, though I do admire your self confidence,” Shane replied, clicking the button for the elevator.
Soon the door dinged open.
“If we weren’t like best friends I’d hit,” Hayden said unprompted, before stepping inside.
“Oh, I know you would,”
Shane clicked the button down to the lobby.
“ Would you…” Hayden’s voice trailed off , “ I don't know let me hit, y’know if we weren't bestfriends,” He asked, smiling goofily at Shane.
“ Umm,” Shane shrugged, his pitch slightly heightened, “Yea, probably.”
Hayden let out an exaggerated gasp, "So you are physically attracted to me,”
“Shut up, please.”
They walked out of the elevator doors. The lobby to their apartment was practically empty; it was clean, smelling of laundry detergent and citrus. Their footsteps echoed softly as they walked.
“ Shane Hollander thinks me, Hayden Pike is handsome?” Hayden repeated, amusement clear in his tone, “I don’t know if I feel safe in the Uber alone with you,” he joked, scrunching his face “I don’t want your grabby little hands all over me do I?”
Hayden pressed his back against the door to open it, letting Shane walk out first.
It was chilly outside, the constant chill Hayden had been quite used to. Lights from buildings and passing cars lit up the sidewalks crowded with groups of university students in dark coats and tiny tops despite the cold.
“ You know I would never touch you without consent Hayd,” Shane mumbled, then pulled out his phone.
“I know,”
A sleek black car pulled up, windows slightly tented, shiny and reflecting the lights around them beautifully.
Shane walked around the car, looking down at his phone then back at the vehicle's licensing plate before hopping inside. Hayden shuffled in soon after.
The car smelt new and slightly of artificial cherry, the black interior matching its outside.
“ For Shane?”
“ Yep,” The driver in the front seat replied, before shifting the gear stick into drive and pulling onto the slightly busy street.
—---------
“Thanks,”
Hayden and Shane shuffled out of the Uber. The night hummed with potential, cigarette smoke curled into the air outside packed bars.
Hayden’s chest warmed at the feeling of opportunity: he could literally do anything tonight. He usually had a goal for nights out, to kiss someone or to get a number, maybe make a friend, but right now he just wanted to be inside the club, to feel the bass and taste the sweat.
They made their way to a brick building, the ground already pulsing under their feet. Hayden and Shane went down the stairs, slipping past the line of people waiting outside until they met the entrance.
The club’s neon sign almost felt like a halo, a divine signal that told Hayden tonight would be great.
Shane walked up to the bouncers, one was a built guy who held himself with poise and looked to be about thirty, the other a similar archetype but a bit leaner and with an added rigidity.
“Hi, Mike, Hi Steve,” Shane smiled, his voice went customer servicey and his poster straightened.
“Shane the goat! And Hayden, my boy, our favorite duo. ” Mike,(the leaner one of the two), bolstered.
Hayden approached the bouncers letting out an obnoxiously loud, “ Yes sirr,” before crisply dabbing them up.
“Come on in,” Steve howled once Hayden finished, smiling and unclicking the rope.
Before turning back Hayden gave the two a furtive wink, then dipped into the club.
“You play straight so well,” Shane muttered as soon as they slipped past the bouncers' ear shot.
“Technically I am half,”
“Ugh, evil bisexual,” Shane smirked, pushing Hayden’s shoulder.
“Ok evil gay,”
Red light instantly surrounded Hayden, the light dreamily coated everything as if he had stepped into another world. He felt like he was Alice and had entered some sort of wonderland, half heartedly he expected the Cheshire Cat to appear in the mist.
People filled up the space but not to the point of suffocation. The crowd danced as if in molasses, moving their bodies imperfectly to the sound of music.
Air mixed with nicotine, creating a fog, and smelling like tobacco and Miami Mint. The scent already made him feel lighter, but in the best way possible—he felt free.
He scanned the crowd, people drank, yelled, kissed, danced, yet somehow in the haze of nicotine and cast of red light everyone looked the same.
Hayden's eyes then darted towards the bar, the endless bottles that were displayed behind it glowed, warm light shined through them as if calling for him.
Hayden quickly answered their call.
The bartender looked to be a little over thirty and tatted, she had a bob which Hayden couldn’t decipher whether it was blue or purple. The bartender was handing someone a drink when Hayden and Shane walked up.
Quickly they made eye contact.
“Can I do a rum and coke?” he asked, “ Your hair is sick by the way,”
“Thank you,” She smiled softly at Hayden, then focused her attention on Shane “And for you?”
“Just a ginger ale please,”
The bartender turned around to make their drinks.
“Of course you ordered a ginger ale,” Hayden teased .
“Well, I did tell you I wasn’t drinking much.”
“Yeah man but you could have just gone with a non alcoholic beer,” Hayden explained but Shane just grimaced. “ Or maybe decided against staying sober and gotten tipsy with me,” he added playfully, nudging Shane.
“Yeah, maybe, then both of us will die of liver failure," Shane snarked.
“Haha,”
“Here you go boys,” The bartender said, handing them their drinks, “ Would you wanna open up a tab or go ahead and pay?”
“We will start a tab.” Shane and Hayden responded at the same time.
Shane chuckled before pulling out his card and handing it to the bartender, before Hayden could object the card had already been swiped.
“You spoil me,” Hayden said, his voice sincere.
“Just don’t order drinks for random girls, please,”
“But what if the ladies are thirsty?”
“Hi, um excuse me?” a girl's voice came from behind Hayden, the timing was almost comical.
He turned his head to meet gaze with the girl. She was pretty: smooth melanated skin, plump lips, glitter on her face that reflected as she shifted, a low cut black top, and sharp brown eyes.
“Hello,” He smirked, holding his rum and coke with one hand.
”I saw you,” She blushed, “ Thought you were kinda handsome, wanna dance?”
“One question gorgeous,” Hadyen said, turning backwards to put his drink down on the bar table before facing her again,“Are you thirsty?”
She chuckled, her eyebrows furrowing “ What?”
“He’s joking,” Shane replied quickly, forcing a smile at the girl, “He wants to dance.” he added through gritted teeth.
Hayden took the girl's hand, it was small and surprisingly not clammy. As they made their way to the floor he turned back one last time to look at Shane who just shot him a thumbs up.
Hayden sighed, shaking his head as he led the girl into the middle of the dance floor before letting go of her hand. The girl pressed her back against Hayden's front, as his hands traveled up and down her small waist.
Everyone around them danced differently, some jumped, some outright flailed, others skipped dancing and went straight to kissing.
The girl moved her hips skillfully against him, as if she knew exactly what to do, still Hayden couldn’t help but let his mind wander.
A feeling washed over him, a sort of numbness in which his mind felt separate from his body.
What even is this girl's name? He asked himself.
Touch was fun sometimes but that was it, touch was all he was capable of recently, no intimacy, just skin, skin hungry for contact, bodies greedy for attention.
He reacted to her movements, his hand roaming absentmindedly as he felt the familiar prickle of arousal on his skin.
He knew exactly what would happen, they would either make out on the dance floor, or go into the bathroom for more, and maybe if he was lucky she would come back to his place.
The music turned into background noise; the girl moving her hips on his crotch became simply a feeling, a genderless, amorphous sensation.
The crowd just looked like movement, he scanned his eyes around only to see a mixture of unrecognizable figures.
Wait–
His eyes hone in on a man sitting in the farthest end of the bar talking to someone, the man was in a white button up, unbuttoned slightly and navy blue suit pants–different.
Hayden’s gaze trailed up the man's body to find a familiar face, stubble, wavy styled black hair (although now it looked a bit messier), and a sharp jaw.
It was the guy he ran into this morning.
And Hayden hadn’t been noticed yet.
His stomach dropped, his eyebrows shot up to his hair line, and he felt gratitude rattle through his body.
He squinted, the brunette man wasn’t alone anymore, he had a blond friend dressed almost exactly the same.
“ Hi love,” Hayden tapped the girl grinding onto him, she turned around slightly confused, “I gotta go,” Hayden said, before adding. “I’m Hayden, by the way.” (maybe chivalry isn’t dead).
“I‘m Kallie,” She scoffed ,“ Bye Hayden,” Kallie gave him a tight smile.
“ Bye Kallie,”
Hayden slipped through the crowd quickly, muttering apologies whenever he bumped shoulders with someone. Heat clung to his skin now, a thin sheen of sweat gathering beneath the collar of his shirt. The bass followed him everywhere, deep and relentless, vibrating through the floor.
Shane sat at the bar, but he wasn't alone anymore. There was a man talking to him , still Hayden didn’t care to register the frame.
He grabbed his abandoned rum and coke from the counter and took a long sip. The ice had melted slightly, dulling the sharpness of the alcohol.
“ Shane, buddy. Business guy is here,” He said ignoring the stranger.
Shane turned to face him, and let out an annoyed “Hm?”
“ Superman with stubble is here,” Hayden explained, Shane’s eyes lit up with recognition,“And he has a super friend.” he continued.
“ You mean the guy from the café is here?” Shane straightened, putting down his ginger ale.
“ Yes,” Hayden confirmed enthusiastically, grabbing another gulp from his drink..
He nodded once, trying and failing to look casual as he glanced toward the far side of the bar again.
Shane followed his line of sight.
The brunette was still seated at the end of the bar, posture composed even in the middle of chaos. Beside him sat the blond man who now was speaking animatedly with his hands, though the brunette seemed quieter now. More distracted.
The stranger next to Shane spoke, irritation clear in his tone “ Excuse me man I was talking-”
“So sorry,” Hayden dismissed before turning his attention back to Shane, “ Can you go up to him with me?”
“ What are you twelve?”
“ I am not drunk enough to talk to super sexy business man alone. ”
“ You seemed confident in the café,"
“ Yeah cause I thought I would never see him again,” Hayden wined.
“ Ok let’s go” Shane sighed, he turned to face the stranger, “ I am sorry but I gotta…”
“ Yea I understand,” the guy replied.
“ Thanks man,” Hayden said, shooting the stranger a smile before pulling Shane towards where he had seen the suited man, and weaving through the crowd of people.
When they got close Hayden’s steps slowed, suddenly it felt harder to move as his heart pounded in his chest.
“ Do you see him?” He asked Shane, as he tried his hardest to look at the man without making direct eye contact.
Shane turned to look in the same direction as Hayden,“ Oh fuck,” Shane faced Hayden again, his eyes windening, “I didn’t realize how hot the blond one was ”
“ Let’s just be men” Hayden took a deep breath, “ Let’s walk up to them,”
Before Shane could object Hayden had already pulled him to the bar where the strangers sat. The blond one was the first to notice them, a grin already on his face.
“ Hi,” Hayden blurted.
His voice caused the brunette one to turn around. Instantly he saw the man’s face flicker with recognition, then something else. The man held his gaze, not even addressing Shane standing beside him.
“I ran into you at that café this morning," He said, mirth clear in his tone, “ You kept calling me sir,”
“Yes I did,” Hayden chuckled, “ And you blushed the cutest shade of pink,"
“Yeah, cause you looked at me with those pretty blues,” The brunette replied, pointing at Hayden, “You ditched the glasses?”
“Mhm,” Hayden simply hummed before turning to face the blond,“ And who is this?”
“Hi, I’m Ilya,” the deep Russian voice greeted, before pointing at his friend “Cliff,”
“Hi Ilya and Cliff, I am Hayden,” He said before nudging Shane with his shoulder, “ And this is Shane,”
“Hello Hayden,” Ilya turned to face Shane, “ Hi Shane,” he added, his voice dropping ever so slightly.
“Hi Ilya,” Shane blushed, “Is that Russian?”
“Da, the motherland,” Ilya replied sarcastically and Shane barked a laugh.
Hayden shifted his attention toward Cliff. He looked like he shouldn’t belong yet he did: shirt slightly open, watch too expensive for a casual club, red light sharpening his dark features, making him look more intimidating than he probably intended.
“Do you wear a suit to every club? Or is this just a one-day thing?”
Cliff’s eyebrow quirked, a smirk tugging at his lips. “It’s called a demanding job. Maybe you’ve heard of it.”
“What is this job that requires constant suits?” Hayden asked.
Cliff hesitated for a second. “Mergers and acquisitions.”
Hayden’s mouth curved. “Impressive.”
“That felt sarcastic.”
“No, actually,” Hayden said lightly. “It’s a very sexy profession. Mergers and acquisitions. Thinking about old, wrinkly, bald businessmen in suits really gets me all hot and bothered.”
Ilya burst out laughing. Shane scoffed under his breath. Cliff only grinned slightly, eyes narrowing.
“You’re funny,” Cliff said flatly, setting his glass down.
“So I am told.”
Hayden waited for a beat. “So, evil business man, how on earth did you end up in M&A?”
Cliff ignored the question, “I am not evil.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“I am not your first ‘evil businessman,’ then?”
“Ha,” Hayden pointed at him. “You admitted it. And I never said that.”
Cliff exhaled through his nose. “You’re intriguing.”
“So I am told,” Hayden repeated.
“And confident.”
“Wow,” Hayden leaned his elbow on the bar. “You’re good at this. Tell me more about myself, Mr. Mergers and Acquisitions.”
“I can’t give you everything you want that quickly.”
Hayden tilted his head. “Or maybe I’m not as much of an open book as you think. Can I say something about you?”
“Go ahead.”
“You’re affected by me.”
Ilya stilled and Shane simply smirked.
Cliff didn’t answer right away. He turned slightly, picked up his glass, took a slow sip, then set it down again. A small nod. “Continue.”
Hayden’s voice softened just a fraction. “The café. I took a sip of my coffee, and you flushed. Almost like you didn’t want me to have an effect on you.”
Cliff’s mouth twitched. “Would you like a prize?”
“Depends what you have in mind.”
Hayden felt Cliff’s eyes assess him, it felt calculated, as if he was trying to see into his soul. They swept his body, not lingering on specific areas. It felt different than it did in the café this morning, more intentional.
“ Depends on what you want,” Cliff mirrored, voice dropping an octave.
Hayden, slipped past Cliff and up to the bar. He flagged down the bartender and ordered another rum and coke. On his way back instead of pasting Cliff he leaned in to whisper into his ear,
“ I think you know what I want,” Hayden breathed.
Cliff stilled ever so slightly, jaw tight, posture straightened, and Hayden can’t tell if it is the red lighting or if his checks had flushed.
“A drink,” Hayden added, smiling and pulling away from Cliff.
“Mhm,” Cliff hummed sarcastically before turning around to grab his own drink. He took a slow slip while remaining eye contact with Hayden, his lips pressing against the small black straw in his Old Fashioned.
Cliff’s brown eyes sparkled with something deeper, a challenge. An amber caught in Hayden abdomen, the quiet burn of interest.
“Kiss already,”
Ilya’s Russian voice cut through their tension, just like that the moment was over.
Hayden turned to Ilya, and let out a tiny laugh, shaking his head slightly.
“Do you wanna go back to my house?” Cliff asked, his face still on Hayden’s and eyebrows slightly pushed together as if debating the idea himself.
The burn in Hayden’s stomach became brighter, a mixture of surprise and want. Suddenly the ground beneath his feat felt real.
Hayden looked at Shane for approval who simply shrugged, and caught gaze with Ilya who was making a crude hand gesture.
Hayden laughed under his breath, suddenly aware of how close Cliff was standing.
“ Sure?” He questioned, softer now. “You’re eager,”
Cliff’s expression barely changed. “You make it difficult not to be.”
Hayden quickly gulped his drink down his rum and Coke, the condensation slighting wetting his fingers.
“Shots before leave?” Cliff asked.
Hayden sighed, his brain buzzing, “Please,”
“ Count me out,” Shane said, his ginger ale still in his hand.
Ilya flagged down the bartender, “ Two rounds of vodka. The good stuff ”
The bartender nodded and then went to pour the shots. She quickly placed the rounds on the table, and Hayden grabbed his first one immediately.
Out of the corner of his eye Hayden saw Cliff bend forward to grab his shot, exposing his muscular tanned skin ever so slightly, and permitting for the travel of a rich musky bourbon scented cologne in his direction. The sight and smell was enough to make him throw his glass back, in an attempt to extinguish the flame in his stomach.
It didn’t work.
Hayden took his second shot directly after his first without thinking, he just closed his eyes and threw it back.
Soon he felt a strong hand pat his back, followed by a thick Russian voice, “ Impressive Hayden, didn’t know such a small creature could pound shots back like that.”
Hayden coughed a little, the burn hitting him abruptly.
“ I’m not small,” he scoffed,“ You guys are just giants, I’m 5 '11, that's above average.”
“Mhm short king whatever you say,” Ilya said, a smirk on his lips.
Shane chuckled and Cliff grinned. The white of his teeth showed ever so slightly, in a way that made Hayden burn with want. He wanted those teeth on his neck, marking him. Hayden’s gaze caught Cliff's, his eyes darkening slightly.
“ Let’s go,” Hayden said quickly, then added, “Your Russian friend is irritating.”
Before Cliff could respond Hayden grabbed onto his wrist, and pulled them towards the exit. A sheen of sweat covered his body as the club teemed with energy. Cliff allowed himself to be dragged by the smaller man.
As they left Hayden was sure he heard Shane yell, “ Stay safe kids!”, quickly the voice was followed by another, this one Russian, “ Use protection!”
Hayden scoffed, holding back a smile.
The outside greeted them abruptly, it didn’t feel cold, rather Hayden’s body was radiating off heat.
Hayden noticed how Cliff commanded the space he was in without even knowing, he wasn’t arrogant or loud, just noticeable. He walked with certainty as they reached the street.
All Cliff had to do was look at a taxi before it stopped and pulled over. Cliff opened the door for Hayden, and he quickly shuffled into the car
The taxi smelled like leather and cigarette smoke. Inside everything felt darker, the outside lights were dulled by the car’s glass windows.
Hayden was rarely nervous, but oddly he felt a bit sick, maybe it was the alcohol hitting him now or maybe it was the fact the man next seemed strikingly important.
“Why did you ask me to come home with you?” Hayden asked once the driver pulled onto the street.
“The answer is obvious,” Cliff deadpanned.
Hayden didn’t respond right away, because the answer was obvious. Sex, that's the only reason he agreed to get in this car. He wanted sex, they both did.
Hayden turned his gaze to the window, the buildings burling past him.
Cliff was a very predictable person Hayden thought. Cliff was so corporate, so media trained, so posh, which is exactly why it perplexed him that Cliff had chosen him to take home, and not some hot blond chick.
“ D’you think I’m charming.” Hayden teased, turning to face Cliff.
Cliff met his gaze, his face still serious. Hayden didn’t know if it was the slightly unbuttoned shirt, or the navy blue suit pants but Cliff felt intimidating.
“ I think you’re hot,” Cliff corrected.
“Hmm,” Hayden turned to face the window again, “ Tomato, tomat-tooh, ”
—------
It took everything out of Hayden not to drop his jaw, or gasp, or pump his fist in victory because Cliff’s apartment was insane.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the far wall, overlooking Montréal like the city existed solely for decoration. Lights glittered below them, thousands of tiny gold and white stars scattered across the darkness. A spiral staircase led up to a second level. Dark hardwood floors ran throughout the space. A charcoal sectional sat facing a low black coffee table. Built-in bookshelves lined one wall, filled with thick hardcovers, framed photographs, and objects Hayden couldn't immediately identify but instinctively knew were expensive.
Everything had a place, everything was structured, organized, and categorized.
A faint scent of cedarwood, leather, and Cliff's cologne lingered in the air. Hayden wandered a few steps farther inside.
The kitchen looked like it belonged in a magazine. Matte black cabinets. White stone countertops. Lights hanging above an island large enough to host a small conference.
The apartment was an extension of Cliff, quiet, wealthy, and attractive.
“ Do you actually live here?”
Cliff slipped off his loafers, “ Yes, why?”
Hayden walked around the island, and put his hands on the cold granite. “ Nothing, it's very mediocre,” he sighed, “ Just, how many souls did you have to harvest to afford this?”
“Only three,” Cliff replied, the ghost of a smile on his lips as he made his way toward Hayden.
Hayden hummed in amusement, and Cliff was close now, wrapping a hand around Hayden’s waist. The touch made his skin spark delightfully.
Cliff bent down, his dark curls brushing Hayden’s jaw as he whispered, "Bed room’s a bit more interesting.”
“Lead me to it,” Hayden breathed, not missing a beat.
Cliff smiled against Hayden’s neck before pulling off and walking up the long spiral staircase, Hayden quickly followed.
From above the apartment looked even more spectacular.
They walked past a door, and at the next one Cliff stopped and opened it.
The room was large but sparsely furnished. A king-sized bed sat centered against a dark walnut headboard. The bedding was crisp white, and the sheets were practically perfect except for a slight indentation on the right side. The only decorations were a large black and white photograph of a woman and two small navy blue pillows on the bed.
Cliff closed the door and Hayden began unbuttoning his shirt, after he got the first button undone he felt a strong hand around his waist again.
“No,” Cliff said, looking down at where his shirt was unbuttoned to expose his chest.
“Hmh?” Hayden moved his hands down, then looked up at Cliff, eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
“I wanna do that,” Cliff motions to his shirt, “You relax,”
“Okay?”
Cliff dipped his head down to softly kiss Hayden’s neck. His lips were warm and delightful, each small touch increasingly made it harder for Hayden to regulate his breathing. The kisses began to grow sloppier as Cliff opened his mouth more, traveling toward his collar bone. Hayden’s breath hitched as Cliff tenderly bit on the sensitive skin.
Cliff placed a hand on Hayden's lower back as they neared the bed, still working his mouth on his neck. Cliff leaned forward onto the mattress, taking Hayden down with him.
With a ruffled thump, Hayden’s head hit a soft cotton pillow.
Cliff quickly straddled Hayden, his heavy toned body pressing Hayden down as he continued to kiss his neck. Each kiss left a small residue of saliva that added to the fame inside of Hayden.
The night encompasses their bodies. The only light in the room was from the windows showing the city down below.
Alcohol made everything feel slower, his breaths felt labored as Cliff mouthed at his chest.
He opened his eyes, to find that Cliff had slipped both of their shirts off. Hayden propped himself on his elbows as he watched Cliff’s kisses trail lower down his stomach. His eyes grew half lidded at the sight of Cliff’s back muscles contracting sinfully.
Cliff lifted his mouth only to unbutton Hayden’s jeans. Hayden has to lift up a bit to get them off, but soon the jeans get tossed on the hardwood leaving him exposed in tight black briefs.
Cliff dropped to his knees before pulling Hayden towards the edge on the bed. Hayden sat up as he looked down at him with his mouth agape while Cliff met his gaze, his pretty brown eyes sparkling mischievously.
Cliff pressed his cheek onto the soft tissue inside of Hayden’s thigh, the warmth sent waves of heat towards Hayden’s already throbbing length.
Hayden bit back a moan as Cliff’s mouth hovered over his briefs. Cliff lowered to mouth at Hayden’s length through the thin layer of cotton that covered it. Cliff took one hand down to rhythmically squeeze Hayden's balls as his mouth began to wet Hayden’s cock.
Even though fabric separated Cliff from his cock Hayden still felt every movement. He lolled his head back as Cliff’s mouth grew more eager. Hayden snaked his hands through Cliff’s dark curls, he didn’t pull, just stabilized himself.
He let out a small huff as Cliff swilled his tongue, making the black fabric even darker and slick with saliva.
Cliff lifted his warm mouth off of him, and cold air hit Hayden’s covered cock. Cliff’s teeth bit down on the waist band of his briefs, and Hayden watched, almost hypnotized as Marleau lewdly pulled them down.
His embarrassingly hard cock sprung up, slightly hitting his stomach. Cliff wasted no time, he placed a firm hand on the base of Hayden’s cock as his tongue dipped into the sensitive slit.
Hayden threw his head back when Cliff started to move his mouth expertly up and down his length. Cliff hollowed his cheeks as he took him further down his throat.
Lewd wet sounds rung in the practically silent room.
“Fuck,” Hayden groaned when Cliff’s mouth totally engulfed his cock.
Cliff was stupidly good at this, his head moved fluidly up and down Hayden almost like a robot. He didn’t gag, just performed, knowing exactly how to give Hayden the most pleasure.
Cliff moaned on Hayden’s cock, and the soft vibration only added to the pleasure building in his gut. A heat coiled tight in his stomach, the pressure building up. Hayden’s toes curled as he slightly pulled on Cliff’s hair.
“M’Gonna come soon,” Hayden whined, before biting his lip to suppress a moan.
Cliff immediately pulled off of his cock making a wet pop sound.
Hayden’s skin was hot to the touch, his whole body flushed a crimson red. He scooted back and further onto the bed. Then, Hayden flipped over so his stomach and his slightly wet cock hit the soft duvet.
“Can you open me up?” Hayden breathed.
The air smelt human, and thick with arousal. Hayden felt Cliff moving around the room for a second before a cold gel dripped on his hole.
Hayden shuttered an inhale while Cliff’s large finger circled around his opening. The contact felt electric, it sent lightening to his stomach, making his head swirl.
Cliff’s finger teased at Hayden’s hole a second time, making Hayen let out a quick breath.
Lazily, Cliff slid a single digit into Hayden’s warmth, causing his back to arch up. Hayden bit into a pillow to not make noise but as Cliff’s finger curled inside of him he choked out a soft moan.
“ Don’t try to act shy now,” Cliff said, stopping the movement, “ Let me hear your pretty sounds.”
Hayden hummed, pressing his forehead on the pillow before propping onto his elbows.
Cliff added another finger, and Hayden took a sharp inhale. The stretch burnt addictively as he slowly relaxed into the new addition.
Cliff continued to move his fingers, occasionally hooking them in a way that shot pleasure throughout Hayden’s body.
When Cliff slipped a third one inside his warmth Hayden could help but moan. He felt full yet still greedy for more.
“I’m ready,” Hayden groaned, moving his hips back impatiently onto Cliff’s hand.
Cliff ignored Hayden’s command, “ You’re pretty like this.” he observed.
“Like what ?” Hayden huffed.
“Needy,”
“ I’m no–”
Cliff crooked his fingers again; he hit the muscle inside of Hayden that made his whole body surge with delight. Hayden moaned at the sensation, his rebuttal quickly dying in his throat.
Cliff finally pulled his fingers out of him, emptiness suddenly rushing through his body. Hayden heard the quiet ruffle sound a condom makes when getting put on a cock. Soon he felt more lubricant being applied to his hole.
The tip of Cliff’s dick slowly pressed inside of him, and stretched his tight warmth.
Cliff was big, at least seven inches and with a heavy girth. Hayden took long and deep breaths so his body could fully relax.
When he bottomed out, he felt so full.
Satisfied.
Cliff slowly started to move his hips, their skin making soft clapping sounds. Cliff placed his hand on Hayden’s back, pushing down so he could arch deeper. The new angle allowed Cliff’s cock to hit Hayden’s prostate relentlessly.
Hayden’s lips parted and with every thrust he little short moans. After a while Hayden started to move his hips, rolling back onto Cliff.
He let his mind go blank as Cliff’s hands slipped up and down his sweaty soft skin, each touch stimulating another part of his body.
“ You take me so well,” Cliff grunted.
Hayden didn’t reply, he simply whimpered into the humid air .
“Fuck you’re beautiful,” Cliff continued, his voice a deep rumble.
Hayden dropped his head down as another helpless moan slipped from his lips. His brows twitched inwards while Cliff kept the same sickening tempo.
“ Such a good job–fuck,” Hayden groaned.
Cliff reached to take Hayden’s cock in his big hand. He twisted lazily up and down, slowing when his hand neared the head of Hayden’s length.
Cliff continued to trust into Hayden while his hand traveled up and down his cock.
Cliff's hand slowed before tightening his grip and more paying intention to the sensitive pink head of Hayden’s cock.
Their heavy breaths filled the air.
Cliff thrusted again, this time at the perfect angle as his hand thumbed over the slit of Hayden’s hardness.
The spring of heat coiling in his stomach snapped, his whole body overcoming with pleasure. Hayden jerked with release, decorating the linen beneath him.
“ Fucking hell Cliff,”
Hayden’s legs trembled as Cliff thrusted into him more frantically.
Finally Cliff's whole body stilled, before Hayden felt Cliff’s cock pulse inside of him, the condom filling with seed.
Cliff quickly pulled out, tied the condom and disposed of it.
Hayden laid face first into the covers, his body suddenly exhausted.
“ I am dead,” Hayden mumbled into the blanket as Cliff came back with a wipe.
Cliff chuckled before cleaning Hayden’s body off, flipping him to collect sweat and come off his stomach. Hayden melted into Cliff’s touch, he became limp in the other man’s hands.
Once Hayden got into the covers (with a little bit of assistance from Cliff) he drifted off the sleep.
Saturday April 5th 2026 6:30am
27 year old Clifford Marleau.
Golden rays of sunlight lit up the quiet bedroom, the hum of the AC softly whistling through the air.
Cliff stretched, quickly realizing something was gone.
His bed felt empty, the warmth of the body he slept next to last night was missing.
Cliff rolled over on his side, and didn’t see Hayden, rather on his night table there was something new, a bright yellow note.
Cliff scooted to the edge of the bed and picked up the yellow paper.
Dont be a stranger
234 323 4853
xxx