“Hey, beast boy. Is that bitch Dan at your place? Can’t reach ‘im. Call me back if he is.”

 

Ino stares blankly at his phone screen. The voice message was sent half an hour ago, which meant he was still knee-deep in council work to notice. Luan’s voice was furious, breath hot on the receiver. Ino debates calling back whether or not he’s seen Dan today. Does this guy even know I have school today…

 

Wait, Luan knows my number. He’s got it on his phone. Fuck, I’m melting.

 

He’s about to press the dial when Namie pats him on the back. “Woah there, bunny. You look absolutely lovesick. It’s almost gross.”

 

“Ah, sorry. Just had a missed call.”

 

“From who? Your new boy-toy? Heard you went to a practice match with someone from the basketball team three weeks ago. Absolute tabloid material,” She’s toying with the edges of the report Ino wrote up last night. He wants to be annoyed, but he’s in too good a mood.

 

“Ah, no. A friend of a friend.”

 

“Is he hot? Introduce me.”

 

“Namie!” A ball comes flying towards them. She catches it with a grunt. “What, Kenji? And we may be dating but balls in the classroom is still a violation.” 

 

“Wow, someone’s finally acting like a president today!”

 

“Shut up.”

 

The two banter while Ino fidgets with his phone. It’s no use calling him now since he hasn’t seen Dan since last week when Jun called them over for Misa’s barbecue. Doing so would only make him angrier.

 

Ah, shit. But that’s the goal, right? If Luan got angrier, would he come over and teach him a lesson? Beat him up for wasting his time? Maybe verbally abuse him through the phone?

 

Ino’s knees buckle, and suddenly he realizes he has to get home. Fast.

 

“Ah, Ino! Don’t forget you have to do the club inspections for me next week!” Namie calls out from under Kenji’s arms. 

 

“Yeah, yeah.”

 

-

 

On the train home, Ino tries to keep himself standing, arms tense on the strap.

 

I have lube, I have batteries, I have tissues. Grab my headset, and then close my eyes. Replay that voice message maybe 30 times. No, 40. 

 

He bolts out of the cart the moment the doors open. When he gets into his apartment he throws his backpack to the carpet, head already spinning with all his made-up scenarios.

 

What if, on that train, he was with me? Grabbing me by the hair, angry I didn’t call back?

 

He goes through his closet, his hands finding his special box without much effort. This is a practiced affair.

 

Maybe he'd grind into me from behind, whisper about how much he wants to embarrass me on the train. 

 

Shit.

 

He makes himself comfortable on the floor. Er, as comfortable as he could be with a raging boner.

 

If he was in my house, would he step on me? Say I'm disgusting for getting this hard over a phone call?

 

He bites his shirt to keep quiet. The squeeze of his hands on the packet releases too much lube, making a mess on his floor.

 

Ah, angry Luan… I wonder if he finally found Dan. If he did, did he hit him? I bet Dan would like that.

 

(Because I would)

 

The lubricant gel is cold when it breaches his entrance, the fat head of the vibrator stretching him taut, making him curse under his breath. 

 

Fuck it, maybe I SHOULD call him. Just to try. Just once, just once…

 

He’s shaking as he pushes it in all the way, till it makes him feel bloated in fullness. Then he turns it on, and his body nearly folds in half from the intensity. He reaches for his phone with one arm, panting heavily with his back against the sofa.

 

He was about to dial Luan’s number when another number popped up on the screen.

 

Calling: Guy from basketball match

 

Well, that killed the mood. Fuck. Fucking fuck. And it was getting good, too. 

 

Ino was about to close his phone when it slipped on his slicked fingers, thumb digging into the answer button as he caught it. 

 

“Heeeeeeey! It’s me, Tobi! Remember me? We met at that match 3 weeks ago when you went with your friend? Oh, speaking of, does he remember me, I wonder? Hey, hey, did he ask about me? I’ve been thinking–”

 

Ino wants to die. There’s a 7-inch vibrator buried in his ass turning his insides into soup and this guy wants to talk about whatever his name was. Hiroshi? Hiragi?

 

“Inoooo? Hello? Are you busy? That’s alright if you are…”

 

Ah, he sounds so sad. Ino is weak to sad little things.

 

“Yeah, ‘m here. What.”

 

He has to keep his answers short to mask the gasps that threaten to bubble out whenever he opens his mouth. 

 

“Oh, thank god. Man! I needed to talk to you. I’ve been thinking of him all week. Do you think I have a chance? Maybe ask him out after the game?”

 

“Yeah, yeah. Totally. Sure.”

 

“Yas, I knew you’d support me. He really was cute though. Seems he’d have a hidden sexy side, like his arms when he shot that 3-pointer near the end. Fuck, you saw that, right?”

 

“Yeah. Of course.”

 

Ino’s so close he can see the light. Just a bit more. He puts the phone between his neck and shoulder and grabs his dick, giving it quick, strong tugs.

 

“And how about you? I mean, he was the one that invited you. That means he kinda likes you, right?”

 

“Ah, fuc– who knows?”

 

Ah shit, slipped a bit there.

 

“Woah, I’ve never heard you this animated before. I mean. We only met 3 weeks ago, but you were like, a lot calmer? You looked like the human equivalent of a bar stool. No offense–”

 

“Hng, none taken. Fuc–”

 

“Anyway like, so. It’s okay if I like him, right?”

 

“A–Yes, Tobi.”

 

“You won’t get mad?”

 

So close. Ino’s so close. He can almost taste it. Just gotta close his eyes and focus. Think of Luan, think of Luan.

 

“Oh! We should head out sometime! I’ll introduce you to more of my friends. Like, you’ve met Dan, right? And Jun and Misa? Next, you should meet Eli. He’s so cool. Back when he was my senior in high school, he was this shut-in gamer. Talk about mysterious–”

 

His notifications go off, and he drops the phone to his side to see what it is. The motion moves the vibrator enough to hit that one fuckin’ spot. His jaw goes slack from the feeling.

 

New Message!: From Lu-an 😍😍😍😍

 

Hey. I found the dumbass. He was passed out at a bar downtown. He said you were in class earlier and told me to say sorry. Whatever. Sorry, bud.

 

The sight on the screen makes him grab at his dick with a death grip, making him come on the spot, legs shaking as he fell to the floor. He hits his head on the carpet, eyes rolled back so far he probably couldn’t feel it anymore.

 

“Ha-ah, holy fuck.”

 

“Ino? You alright, friend? You sound like you’re in pain. Hey, give me your address and I'll come over. Hey? He–y??”

 

Save your breath, Ino thinks, floating in the distant depths of his hazy mind. He’s limp on his back, completely spent. Ah, Luan. A message from Luan.

 

Ino closes his eyes and has the best sleep of his life.