Slick x Jeremy [M/M]

Chapter 1 - Good Morning

Slick woke up the next morning to the sound of birds chirping outside. He stretched his arms and legs, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. As he opened his eyes, he saw Jeremy's sleeping form beside him, the soft rise and fall of his chest a comforting sight.

He couldn't resist the urge to lean in and plant a soft kiss on Jeremy's forehead, causing him to stir and open his eyes. They exchanged a sleepy smile, and Slick brushed a few strands of hair away from Jeremy's face.

"Good morning," Slick said softly.

"Morning," Jeremy replied, his voice still husky with sleep.

They laid there for a few moments, simply enjoying each other's presence, before getting up to start their day. Slick made coffee while Jeremy cooked breakfast, where he skillfully cooked up some crispy bacon and scrambled eggs, then added a touch of extra flavor by throwing string cheese in the mix too. He then plated everything on disposable paper plates for convenience.

Jeremy ate with a quicker pace than usual, finishing his meal. He then grabbed a light coat and scarf before making his way outside, stepping onto the porch, and basking in the warm yet crisp air. He felt it brush in between his fur as he closed the door behind him. He settled into the porch swing, his thoughts wandering as he gazed out at the tranquil scenery.

As Jeremy sat, he couldn't help but be captivated by the beauty of the autumn landscape. The fall grass tinged with oranges and yellows, and the changing leaves seemed to glow in the soft morning light. He sipped his orange juice, relishing the sweet tanginess of it, and tried to let the peace of the moment seep into his bones.

But his thoughts were circling back to Slick, and the events of the previous night. Was everything they shared just another ploy, another way for Slick to manipulate him? The doubt soured his mood, making him feel as if a dark cloud had descended over him.

He forced himself to take a deep breath, reminding himself that there was no point in dwelling. Thinking about it would just make it worse. With a sigh, he set his glass down and stood up from the porch swing, determined to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled over him. As he walked back into the house, he resolved to focus on the present moment, to enjoy the simple pleasures of the morning and not let his worries consume him.

He headed toward the kitchen to grab himself a cup of coffee from the pot that Slick had already prepared, hoping the warm brew would calm his racing negative thoughts, and took a seat at the table, cradling the warm mug in his hands, and taking a sip. The rich, bitter flavor filled his mouth, and he let out a contented sigh. As he sat there, he felt the tight knot of worry in his stomach loosen a little, replaced by a feeling of comfort and relaxation.

He glanced out the window, watching the leaves dance in the breeze, and felt a sense of gratitude wash over him. But when he turned his attention back to Slick, he saw the confusion etched across his face. Slick had been watching him closely, clearly sensing that something was amiss.

"Hey, what's going on?" Slick asked, furrowing his brow. "Is everything alright?"

Jeremy took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "It's hard to do this, Slick," he said, his voice shaking before taking another sip of coffee. "I kind of feel like I'm not enough for you again, like I'm always second-best to something else."

Slick's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you talking about, Jeremy? You know how much you mean to me."

"I don't think you do," Jeremy replied bitterly. "I feel like I'm just an afterthought. The most important thing to you, is yourself. You're only with me because you don't want to be alone."

Slick's face darkened, and he pulled away from Jeremy. "Are you kidding me, Jeremy? You're still hung up on everything? I've apologized a hundred times for it, and I've been doing nothing but trying, how can you still not trust me," his expression changing from worry to anger before finishing, "At least actually give me the time!"

Jeremy shook his head, his voice rising in frustration. "It's not just about that anymore. Look at you now, you're about to make the same mistake again. You never actually gave me time either. Actions speak louder than words, and I can't keep pretending like everything is okay when it's not."

Slick's temper flared, and he stood up from the table. "You know what? I'm done with this. I can't keep dealing with your trust issues. If you can't trust me, then maybe we shouldn't be together."

Jeremy felt a surge of anger at Slick's words. "Maybe I will break up with you. Look at yourself, you're doing it again. Hear your own words, you're fucking insane."

Slick sneered at Jeremy. "It's not just about your trust issues is it? It's about the fact that you can't seem to let go of the past. I'm tired of being punished for something I did forever ago."

Jeremy's voice was thick with emotion now. "It's not just about the past, Slick. It's about the present. It's about the fact that I can't feel like I can rely on you. It's about the fact that you keep hurting me over and over again, especially when I'm only looking for comfort about it."

He felt a tear build up as his eyes began to water, starting again, "I'm trying, Slick. I'm trying so hard to trust you. But every time I do, you let me down. I don't know if I can keep doing this."

Slick's expression softened, his fear of losing Jeremy was evident in his voice and demeanor now. Jeremy doubling down had stung and scared him. "Please, Jeremy, I'm sorry, I can't lose you."

Jeremy could feel his own heart breaking as he saw the distress begin to build in Slick's eyes, but he knew he had to stay true to himself. "I need some space, Slick," he said firmly, before wiping the tears from his own. "I'm going into town to run some errands and clear my head. I need time to process things. I promise you that I won't keep reinventing the past and I'll give you the chance to show me that you've changed. But right now, I need to leave. I hope you can understand that."

Slick's eyes spilled with tears, but he nodded resolutely. "I'll do whatever it takes, Jeremy. Please, I love you so much, and I don't want to lose you. Don't go."

With a sigh, Jeremy replied, "Mm," and then paused, "I love you too, Slick," finally with a wistful expression, he made his way towards the door and walked through it.

Slick watched him leave in silence, listening to the sound of the car's ignition and the gravel crunching under its tires as it disappeared onto the country road. The tears he had been holding back began to flow freely as he sank to the floor, feeling helpless and alone.

Slick buried his face in his hands and let out a heart-wrenching sob. He knew what he had done continues to hurt Jeremy deeply, and the thought of losing him was unbearable. He felt like he had let himself down by getting defensive, but more importantly, he had let Jeremy down by subconsciously manipulating him again.

He needed to prove to Jeremy that he was capable of being a better person, and he was willing to put in the work to make it happen. As the tears continued to stream down his face, he whispered to himself, "I can't lose him. I won't lose him."

Slick's body heaved with each sob, his shoulders trembling as tears streamed down his face. The guilt he felt was suffocating, like a weight on his chest that he couldn't shake. For once, he couldn't ignore the truth that he had been hiding from himself: Jeremy was the reason he was out here in the first place.

He had always thought of himself as invincible, someone who could handle anything life threw his way. Slick couldn't help but feel like a fraud, because he had been getting help this entire time. The realization was overwhelming, showing now that he was genuinely crying real tears. He had taken Jeremy for granted, and was confronted against one of his greatest fears. He was completely powerless and vulnerable in the moment, something he hadn't felt in a very very long time. He stopped to talk to himself through the tears. "I can't believe I've been so blind."