A/N: Welcome back everyone! FIRST, if you’ve clicked on this story, and you haven’t read Devil’s Drop or Devil’s Effect, you need to back up and start there.

Devil’s Drop (part one): http://lpfiction.com/story.php?id=16709

Devil’s Effect (part two): http://lpfiction.com/story.php?id=16901

This is part three of the story. Unlike the first two parts, which happen seamlessly in a timeline, this third part moves us forward several months from where Devil’s Effect ended. We’re excited to start this journey with you! Thank you for all of the support, reviews, and ratings on the first two parts. All of the main guys will appear, along with some “new” faces that are part of the LP/MS world. We hope you enjoy it!

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Mike Shinoda stood in front of the Blick acrylics display and carefully selected only the colors he was out of, not every color he wished he could afford. He loved the smell of the Blue Rooster Art Supplies shop he’d been going to for years. The smell of paint - acrylics and watercolors - and canvases, was one that was embedded into his soul. Art had always been a hobby, one his parents had indulged in their typical well-to-do Los Angeles way. Nothing but the best, expensive supplies for their son, so long as he paid attention to his studies. Mike had never lost his penchant for the good stuff, despite his now limited resources.

He mentally calculated the cost of the tubes in his hand, subtracting it from what he was allowing himself to spend. It was such a large number compared to the small tubes of paint, and he sighed. Money was tight, the way he knew it would be when he started music school at the University of Southern California. Three months in, and he still wasn’t used to the reduced teaching hours at Red Pelican that cut his paycheck by two-thirds. He bit his bottom lip and picked up one more tube, Cobalt Turquoise, and did the math again. Everything was fine. He’d get the canvases in the sizes he wanted, and they would be able to leave.

Mike turned and looked at his boyfriend, who was poking around another display with a wrinkled nose. He couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on Chester’s face. Where Mike adored the smell of paint, Chester Bennington was still not used to the scents that wafted through the air when Mike was working on a project. The smell of the inside of the art store was like that, multiplied. A wave of fondness crashed over Mike as he watched Chester, his eyes skimming over the growing chocolate brown curls, his lip ring, and down to the flame tattoos that were peeking out of the long sleeved shirt his boyfriend was wearing. Chester was reaching for a tube of paint, and Mike cocked his head to the side, watching, wondering what Chester would be doing with a tube of acrylic.

“Whatcha got?” he asked, amusement in his voice as he stepped over to Chester and squinted to see what was in his hand. “Did you start painting and I don’t know about it?” he teased.

Chester looked over. “No. Smart ass,” he said with a soft snort. “I just like the color.” He held up the tube of paint, which was labeled pink cosmos. “What do you think, Sexy Boy? Would it go with your collection?” He had no idea what he was talking about, but he figured one more color in Mike’s stash of paint wouldn’t hurt. And it’s a pretty color.

Chester watched as Mike swiped his bangs from his eyes, and stared down at the paint tubes already in his hand. “I’ll chip in and pay for this one,” Chester offered, wiggling the pink cosmos around. “But you have to promise me you’ll paint something pretty with it.”

Mike didn’t even hesitate. He reached for the tube of pink and added it to his collection. “I’ll paint you whatever you want,” he said, leaning over and kissing Chester softly, right in the middle of the paint aisle. “I’ll paint you a sunrise. Those are the perfect colors for the morning sky.”

Chester’s hands went right to the front of Mike’s blue flannel shirt. “I love sunrises,” he whispered close to his boyfriend’s ear. “And sunsets. Pink sunsets,” he decided, already picturing the future painting in his mind. “With some stars poking out. Maybe a shooting star.” Chester’s eyes widened at the thought as he pulled back to catch Mike’s black eyes. “A pink sunset with a shooting star. That’s what I want.”

“Then that’s what you’ll get.” Mike nodded his head toward the back wall. “You can even pick out what size canvas you want. They’re buy one get one free right now, which is perfect.” He stepped back and motioned with his hand. “After you, babe.”

Chester scanned the wall. There were canvases of every size and even a variety of shapes. He stood for a minute, sucking on his lip ring and debating which one would fit his pink cosmos sunset. “I kinda like this little one,” he mentioned as he pointed to a four by four canvas.

“It’s so tiny,” Mike said as he reached for it. “You planning to keep this one in my small ass apartment or something?” He tossed Chester a teasing smile. It didn’t bother him at all that slowly, over the last three months, more and more of Chester’s belongings had migrated from the room he was still living in at Amir’s to Mike’s on-campus apartment. Somehow, every time something of Chester’s arrived, they found a space for it. First it was Chester’s favorite skillet, then a few more pieces of cookware. There was a small collection of plates and cups and bowls, stashed in the rectangular cabinet above the two-burner stove that Chester had a love hate relationship with. There were hair products, pajama pants, and shoes, all mixed in among Mike’s things in the closet meant for only one. But every time something new came into the apartment, Mike was grateful for it. Chester’s belongings at his place meant they were together, even though they technically didn’t share the same address.

“That’s a good idea,” Chester decided quickly. “We can keep it at the apartment. It won’t take up much room.” He batted his eyes at Mike, even though he knew it wasn’t needed. Over the course of the last three months, he’d uttered the words it won’t take up much room more times than he could count. Mike never said no.

“Oh look!” Chester said with an excited gasp. He pointed at a line of small black A-frame stands. “We can get it a little stand.” He was already across the space, picking up one that looked like it would fit well with his tiny canvas. “We can put it on the end table in the living room.”

Mike visualized the “living room”, which was really more a multi-functional room that held the couch and one end table, a bookcase with a television perched on top, and his piano against the bar that separated the kitchen from the living space. When Chester was there with him, they both sat on the couch, or on the bar stools that stayed on the kitchen side of the bar. Unless we’re in bed. We spend more time in bed than on the couch. Mike smirked. “We’d see it more if we put it on the nightstand in the bedroom,” he offered with a flip of his hand.

“The bedroom,” Chester repeated with a shake of his head. “If we’re putting a tiny painting in the bedroom, I want something naughty. Oh, naked us!” His mouth was still open as he thought about it. “Well maybe not exactly us...but maybe two guys in a fun position.” He elbowed Mike playfully before he turned back toward the wall of canvases. “I got my stuff. What are you getting? They’re on sale, you should get at least a couple. It’s saving money.”

“I know how much I can spend,” Mike mumbled absently, looking over the canvases. He hadn’t intended to buy too much today. “Besides, there’s not a lot of room to store stuff. I’ll run out of room under the bed pretty soon.” He handed another four by four square to Chester. “Here, that’s the free one. And then I want these sixteen by twenty ones. And that’s it for today. It’s enough to keep me occupied for a while. Oh! And I need a new sketchbook. Mine’s almost full.” He grabbed the two larger canvases and started toward the aisle with the sketchbooks. He had a favorite, and it wouldn’t require any debate. He’d just pick up one of the hardcover, spiral, top bound books and they’d be finished.

Chester followed, the two tiny canvases and little stand in hand. “You just bought one last month,” he stated. “Not that I’m complaining, I’m just saying. You go through sketchbooks like I go through hair product.” He had to snort at his own comment. “Okay, that’s a lie. I go through more.” Reflexively he shoved his hand through the curls on his head. It was currently free of dye, but it still took work to keep it up to Score standards, which was only slightly higher than Chester’s personal scale of grooming.

Mike let the hair product comment slide. “I can’t help it. I doodle during class. It’s hard to sit still for that long and listen. Drawing keeps me focused.” He piled all the supplies on the counter to pay for them, turning to Chester to take the pink paint and the canvases and frame from him. “Here, I got it.”

“Are you sure?” Chester asked, even as he handed over his items. He knew he was adding probably thirty dollars to Mike’s bill. Thirty dollars his boyfriend wasn’t planning on spending. “I can pay for mine,” he restated, already pulling his wallet out.

“You can buy me something later. I’m making it for you. Doesn’t make sense for you to buy your own gift.” Mike shook his head. The moment Chester wanted the tube of pink paint he’d recalculated what he was spending and made room in his purchase for what his boyfriend wanted. Chester didn’t say anything else as the cashier typed everything into the computer and took his money. There was only one bag, with everything in it, when they left the art store.

“So what else is on the agenda today?” Mike asked, swinging the art bag in one hand while holding Chester’s hand in the other. New supplies always made him happy. “I don’t have anything major this weekend, with mid-terms out of the way. All I need to do is work on my recital stuff a little bit, but I want to take advantage of this study-free weekend.”

Chester shrugged as they walked toward the car. They’d already stuffed themselves full on cheese enchiladas, and taken a quick walk on the beach. The art store was the last thing on their official to-do list, and that was taken care of. Chester pulled his sunglasses from the collar of his shirt and popped them on his face. “I’m not back on Score duty till Tuesday, so I’m all yours all weekend.” He was about to suggest they drop by the store before heading back to campus, knowing he’d be spending the whole weekend in the small apartment he already called ‘home’ in his head. If they went to the store now, they wouldn’t have to go out again. He was ready to make dinner suggestions, just as a sign in one of the store windows caught his attention.

“Half off!” he read out loud. “Look! They’re having a half off sale on socks!” He was already pulling Mike by the hand over to the glass doors that led into Glam Envy Boutique. “I can always use more socks. I bet they’re amazing!”

Mike didn’t resist, despite the momentary thought of where they would put any more socks. He let Chester pull him into the shop, realizing only after they were inside that it was a women’s clothing store. Or more accurately, a women’s lingerie store. He licked his lips as he looked around, following Chester’s beeline to the giant sock display. There was a lot to look at in the small space that smelled like flowers and vanilla. “Ches,” he whispered, “there’s a ton of stuff in here!”

Chester already had a pair of socks in each hand. “I know! Isn’t this awesome! I like these,” he said, holding up the black and yellow striped socks. “And these are cute, too.” He took off his sunglasses and propped them up on his head of dark curls before he eyeballed the socks with snowflakes on them. They were cute, but not cute enough. “No, no snow. It’s not even winter.” He put them back, and picked up a pair with green As running across the top and over the toes, and then another pair that had red and black music notes on them. “These would be cute on you, Sexy Boy.”

Mike pulled his attention from the circular display of lacey panties next to them and looked at the socks. “I could wear those to my recital. For good luck.”

“Done,” Chester agreed, keeping the music note socks. He smiled at Mike, before he went back to searching. There were so many socks, so many possibilities. There was a woman with a blonde ponytail a few feet away, a pair of black socks with green shamrocks on them in her hand, and Chester raised his eyebrow. Is that the only pair like that? I’ll fight her for them. He took a step closer, trying to act like he wasn’t interested, just to get a better look at the socks she wasn’t putting down.

Mike stepped away from the socks. He couldn’t help it. He liked Chester’s socks, but there was a greater interest for him in the display next to the socks. He had really never spent a lot of time thinking about women’s underwear, and the vast number of different cuts and fabrics on the panty table surprised him. He stood a foot or so away from them, a safe distance, and looked at the prints. There were polka dots, zebra stripes, solid colors, and some with little glitter patterns. There was a lacey looking cut with a tag that read “boy shorts” and Mike snorted under his breath. It was comical to think that scrap of fabric was like anything he would wear. But they’re kind of like that pair of panties Ches came home in that one time. I love those panties. I wonder if he’d be up for buying more panties. Damn it. I shouldn’t have bought so much paint.

He glanced over at Chester and then reached out, snagging a pair of the black boy shorts with lace around the top and leg openings, and pink polka dots all over them. He rubbed his fingers over the fabric and tried to imagine what the cut of those panties would look like on Chester’s small ass. It only took a moment of visualizing that for his pulse to pick up. Mike stood there, thinking, wondering if he should just go buy them himself, or ask Chester first.

“Shamrocks are bad luck,” Chester told the woman with the blonde ponytail, pointing to the socks in her hand. “I’d be careful.” He left it at that. The seed was planted, and now he just had to wait out her decision. He wasn’t shocked by the sideways glance she gave him before rolling her eyes and walking away. Uh. Well, fine, Chester grumbled in his head before he gave up. He didn’t need the shamrock socks anyway. He could find something cooler.

He spun around to look some more, but caught Mike out of the corner of his eye. “I promise I’m hurrying,” he said half over his shoulder. “There’s so much to choose from.”

“You’re fine,” Mike called back. “I’m just looking around.” He kept the black and pink panties in one hand and tucked his art supply bag up under his arm so he could look around some more. He wished Chester would just pick some socks so they could talk about panties. “I’ll be over here when you decide,” he said, motioning at the next display, which held more colors and styles.

Chester nodded, his eyes glued to the socks in front of him. He ordered himself to calm down and concentrate. He knew Mike didn’t have half the interest he had in socks. I need a number. How many should I get? I have Mike’s music notes, and the black and yellow ones….so two more, he decided. He needed two more pairs and that would be it.

It didn’t take long. Chester found a white pair with wavy gray pinstripes, and then a longer black pair, decorated with sparkly pink butterflies. He held them out in front of him as he walked over to meet his boyfriend. “I’m ready. What do you think of these? They’re knee-highs,” he stated as he held them down close to his legs to show their length. “I’ve never owned a pair before, but I love the butterflies.”

Mike took one look at the black and pink socks, and held out the panties he’d been holding. “They match these panties I found,” he said a bit breathlessly. “I’m all for those socks, Ches. What would you think about getting these, too? They match,” he stated proudly, though he knew that Chester had already determined that with his eye for fashion.

It took a second for Chester to process what was being asked. His mind was on socks, and switching gears to lacey panties wasn’t instant. “Let me see.” He took the undergarment from Mike, careful not to drop his four pairs of socks in the process. “They’re kinda like the pink ones I used to have.” His brow furrowed. He went to ask what happened to those, the ones he’d been sent home from work in so many months ago, but stopped. He knew he hadn’t taken them with him when he’d exited the loft, and he hadn’t seen them since. “They’re cute,” he finally decided, rubbing his fingers against the soft material. “I don’t think these are cut the same as my old pink ones, but I like them.”

Mike nodded, stepping closer to Chester and getting his lips right next to his boyfriend’s ear. “You would look so sexy in those,” he whispered, letting his breath wash over every bit of Chester’s ear. He even kissed the shell of his ear quickly. “And I don’t know… knee highs might be kinda hot, too.”

A shiver ran down Chester’s body. “Fuck, yeah,” he whispered back. His hold on the panties tightened. “I know what I’m wearing to bed tonight.” He turned his head, grazing his lips over Mike’s slowly before suggesting they hurry up so they could get back home.

All Mike could think about as he followed Chester to the counter to pay for the socks and panties was how much he wanted to see the combination on his lover. He’d always thought Chester’s socks were cute, but the knee highs with their sparkly butterflies had the potential to be a huge turn on. Chester’s calves were nicely toned and Mike could imagine how the dark stretchy fabric would accentuate that, leaving an expanse of pale skin on the backs of Chester’s legs before the dark lacey panties molded to his ass. It was hard to stand back and let Chester pay without reaching out to grab at him.

The past week had been hard. So many hours had been spent in the university practice rooms and library preparing for his mid-term exams, and by the time he’d gotten back to the apartment, all Mike wanted to do was sleep. Chester had kept him well fed, though, and patiently supported him while he stressed over his tests and slept like a brick. Now that it was all over, for now, Mike was ready for some intimacy. He hated how the apartment shower was too small for them to share.

When they turned away, Chester’s purchases wrapped in scented tissue paper and tucked into a pink bag, Mike slid his arm around Chester’s waist. “All I want to do is go home, but once we get there I’m not going anywhere else. Do we need to stop anywhere else? Grocery store or anything?” He nuzzled his lips to the side of Chester’s face as they walked.

“Yeah, we should stop at the store before heading home. I was thinking steaks for dinner. Steaks and onion rings,” he clarified. He smiled when Mike left him, jumping ahead to open the door for him. Chester put his sunglasses back on as they walked out into the sunlight. “And we need milk,” he added. “I’d suggest something for dessert, but I think I’ve got that right here.” He lifted the pink bag with a grin on his face.

Subconsciously Mike licked his lips. “You’re right. I don’t need dessert when I have you. And fuck, steak and onion rings sounds good.” His hand went right to Chester’s back again after they passed through the door. “I don’t know how you manage in that kitchen, but I’m glad that you do. I’d be eating canned soup and cereal without you.”

Chester grimaced. “Luckily that’s not the case. You’d waste away on me.” He pretended to pout for a second. “Okay, so the plan is grocery store and then home. Is that it?” He thought over everything he knew he had at Mike’s campus apartment. At this point, he could stay over on a whim and not have to worry about having clothes or toiletries there. He was currently living a two toothbrush lifestyle - one at Mike’s and one at Amir’s. “I don’t need anything from my other place,” he mentioned.

“The plan is, fastest grocery store trip ever, then home, so I can watch you cook in those knee highs.” Mike stopped at the passenger door to Chester’s car and turned to his boyfriend. “Please, put them on while you make dinner. I promise I’ll let you do your thing, I just want to watch you. I’ll stay out of your way.”

Chester giggled softly before petting his hand over Mike’s beard. “Okay,” he promised. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll cook and you can do your recital practice, so after dinner we can escape to the bedroom.” He wiggled his eyebrows before he let Mike go and opened the door for him.

Mike was nodding along as he got into the car. “We can spend the rest of the night in there,” he affirmed before Chester shut the door and quickly reappeared at the other side of the car. They didn’t need to say anything else. Plans for the evening were set, and Mike reached across the seat to lace his fingers through Chester’s before he looked out the window. “I love you,” he added. “Let’s get on home.”

Chester kissed the back of Mike’s hand before he pulled his back. As much as he loved holding hands, he really needed both of his to drive in the L.A. traffic. Thankfully he and Mike had spent the whole of their lives living in the city, and they could navigate it with ease. Backroads and shortcuts quickly got them to the market, and then back to campus, just as the sun was headed down.

It was Saturday evening, which meant the line of campus apartments was extra busy with light and sound. Parties over the weekends weren’t uncommon, though Mike and Chester had decided early on to keep to themselves. They were older than a lot of the fresh faced teens on site, and besides, partying with a bunch of eighteen year olds wasn’t going to get them anywhere closer to the goals they’d set. Mike needed to graduate so he could land his dream job, and they both wanted to get a place of their own. A real house that would just be theirs. Those things didn’t happen by guzzling beer all weekend or staying up till all hours of the night and passing out on strangers’ couches.

It made life on campus more simple, keeping all the drama away. After life at YRS and the fiasco of living with Jason and Ryan for six months afterwards, the couple relished in being alone. It was a thought that crossed Chester’s mind often, especially when he was in the small apartment bathroom, though he wasn’t sure why. There was a diamond shaped mirror over the sink, which he hated, and the vanity was dinky. Every drawer was stuffed full of his and Mike’s bathroom and hygiene supplies. The shower was laughable, and not even big enough for them to share a wet embrace.

But it was theirs, at least for the most part. I know I’m not supposed to be staying over, but it feels like we live here together. It was on that thought that Chester turned to eye the knee-high socks, panties, and black v-neck t-shirt that were waiting for him on the lid of the toilet seat. His shower was done, and after towel drying his hair, it was time to get dressed.

He picked the pile of clothing up and sat them on the vanity. The panties would be first. He held them up to his front, covering his cock as he looked down and smiled. He was pretty sure they were going to look spectacular. He just hoped they wouldn’t be too tight or confining.

Without too much trouble, he slipped them on. It took a little adjusting, getting everything to sit right in the undergarment that wasn’t meant for someone with a dick and balls. He had to tug a little at the top and pull them down a little at the bottom, but they fit. “Sweeet,” he cooed to himself, trying to twist around to see his ass, since the bathroom mirror was useless for seeing anything other than your head and shoulders. He slid both hands down his ass cheeks, smiling at the feel of the lacey material. Just like his pink panties from Score, these were soft and felt nice against his skin and fingertips. “Sexy Boy is going to swoon.”

It was an indulgent thought, and Chester quickly grabbed his new socks next. He sat down on the toilet seat and pulled them on. He grinned as he stretched one leg out at a time, admiring the stretchy black material and sparkling pink butterflies. He wiggled his toes before he stood up and looked down at himself. His pale, hairy legs looked a little off in the space between the knee-highs and the panties, but he didn’t care. I’m not a chick. My hairy legs rock.

He grabbed his v-neck next. If he wasn’t going to go cook sizzling steaks, he’d leave the shirt off altogether, but he knew better. He tugged it over his head, and after smoothing his hands down the front of it and checking on his hair one more time, he was ready. He opened the door, flipped off the bathroom light and headed out toward the kitchen. “Sexy Boy!” he called as he went. “You did a good job picking out these panties. I love them.”

Mike was on the couch, an open music history book in his hands despite telling himself earlier he wasn’t going to do any homework. His hair was still damp from his own shower and he was in a simple white t-shirt and gray and black plaid pajama pants. The sight of Chester in the knee highs and panties made him feel strangely overdressed but that thought was only fleeting. His mouth dropped open when Chester walked by nonchalantly on his way to the kitchen. Mike got a full on view of Chester from behind and the way the lace cupped up under the crease where his legs met his ass cheeks.

“Whoa,” he managed to get out as Chester rounded the bar. I know I promised to leave him alone and let him cook, but he looks sexy as hell. Mike didn’t even think to save his place in the chapter he’d been reading. He closed the thick music book and set it down on the couch, making his way over to the small doorway that led into the kitchen. Chester’s back was still to him as he started pulling things together on the little bit of bare countertop. He leaned against the doorframe for a moment and just stared. He couldn’t wait to run his hands over the tall knee high socks and kiss the bare skin above them. And all the skin below those panties, too. Every. Last. Inch.

Mike blew out a slow breath, his face breaking into an eager smile. “You look amazing,” he offered, the same breathless tone in his voice that had been present in the lingerie store.

The steaks were already out resting on the counter, and the oven was warming up. Chester turned around the moment he heard Mike’s voice. The kitchen space was small, so they were only a few feet from each other. “Thanks,” he said, sliding his hands down his sides, and grabbing the hem of his t-shirt pulling it up to show off the panties in full view. “I like the way these are cut.” He wiggled his hips and turned around, sticking his ass out towards Mike. “They fit a little better than the other ones I had.”

“Um… mmmhmm,” Mike hummed, his eyes right on Chester’s ass. He reached forward and then quickly pulled his hand back. He wasn’t supposed to be touching. “I like how these fit. They make your ass look so squeezable. Fuck,” he breathed, his hands tingling from wanting to touch his lover. “Uhhh… how long until the steaks are done?” He was ready to tell Chester to just cook them tomorrow. He could skip a meal if it meant he could get closer to Chester faster.

“It’s going to be a little bit,” Chester said, before he turned back to the food. There would be time to tease Mike later. “Go finish studying or practicing, or whatever. I have to get the rings in the oven, and the steaks on.” He shooed Mike away without looking at him. If he encouraged his boyfriend at all, he knew what would happen. Mike would have him up against the bar, grinding into his backside as they kissed and taunted each other. It would be fun in its own way, but not as much fun as going to the bedroom without any concerns later.

“But… Ches,” Mike started to whine, until he saw the shake of his boyfriend’s head. It wasn’t fair, at least not in his opinion. Having Chester dressed up in the kitchen was the biggest tease ever. The last thing Mike wanted to do was sit down and practice, but Chester was going about his business in the kitchen and not paying Mike any attention. Mike knew he was deliberately ignoring him, and that made it all the more intoxicating. “Fine,” he mumbled, moving to sit down at his keyboard. Studying was out for now. The only thing he could think about was Chester in panties, and he didn’t stop to analyze why that turned him on so much. He just started practicing, his hands on autopilot while he tried to sneak peeks at his boyfriend.

“Hey, you’re the one that begged me to put everything on for you while I cook,” Chester reminded his boyfriend as he glanced over his shoulder. “So you can stay right there behind the barrier,” he said with an impish laugh. “My side, and your side.”

Mike knew Chester was right, but that didn’t make it any better. “Well, I didn’t know you were going to look so yummy. I mean, I had an idea,” he said coyly. “But it’s better in real life than I thought. And music history is super boring in comparison.” He had the sound turned down lower than usual on his keyboard so he could hear every teasing word Chester sent his way.

Chester popped the onion rings in the oven and set his timer, even though he didn’t really need it. His nose would tell him when they were done. “Glad I top music history,” he said with a smirk before he grabbed his cast iron skillet from the hook off the wall. With such limited cabinet space, he had to be creative with where to store everything. The peg board at the end of the kitchen with hooks attached had turned out to be a great place to hang a few skillets.

He got it to the stove, ready to get the heat on when he decided he wanted a drink. He smacked his lips together a few times as he opened the small refrigerator, which was only half the size of a normal one. His eyebrows furrowed immediately. “Did we not bring the Vanilla Cokes in from the car?” he asked, turning to see Mike watching him closely.

Mike looked around. There weren’t too many places in the apartment that a twelve pack of Vanilla Coke could hide. “I guess not. I don’t remember grabbing them. I was way too anxious to get inside.” He stood up and reached for Chester’s keys on the bar. “Want me to go grab them?”

“Yes, please. Can’t believe we forgot them. Shame on you, Sexy Boy.” He flashed Mike a silly look before he turned back to the skillet that was heating up quickly.

“I know, I’m the worst,” Mike called over his shoulder. He already had one foot out the door, on the way to get the soda that Chester apparently needed. At least it’s passing time. When I get back up here I’m closer to dinner which means we’re closer to going to bed. I’m so ready to go to bed. He didn’t think twice about his pajama pants on his way to the parking lot. It didn’t make any difference to him if anyone saw him ready for a night at home instead of partying. Mike already had a reputation around the music building for being studious and serious, and he was perfectly fine with that.

Chester heard the door close, and the apartment went quiet. He was ready to get their steaks on. He knew they would cook quickly, and the onion rings were already on their way. All his senses tingled as he laid the steaks into the hot skillet, the smell of onions, garlic, and paprika hitting his nose as they sizzled.

He stepped back, letting them do their work while he washed his hands. He took down two plates and set them on the bar, along with the ketchup and Mike’s favorite A-1 steak sauce. Forks and knives were next, and after everything was ready to go, with just the food to wait on, Chester’s attention turned to his cell phone. It was sitting on the bar, silent.

Ry never texted me back.

He picked it up, his hopes that he’d simply missed the notification gone when he looked at the home screen that contained no new messages. He even went into his text thread with Ryan, just to stare at his last message.

Chester: What are you up to tonight?

It was one question of many that had gone back and forth with Ryan, questions that were slow to be answered, and the answers were coming across in only a few words. It used to not be like this. We used to text paragraphs to each other. Now I wait hours for one and two word answers. He says he’s not mad at me or anything, but...it’s like he doesn’t even like to talk to me anymore.

Chester dropped his head as he set his cell phone back on the bar. Over the last few months, his very tight friendship with Ryan Shuck had morphed into something he didn’t recognize. He knew part of that was his own doing, with the new boundaries he had put between them. No kissing. No touching. No sharing of sexual conquests.

It had brought a more subdued nature to their friendship. Chester was working hard to make Mike his priority when it came to his free time, and that was another change with Ryan. But now it feels like we don’t spend enough time together. And he looks terrible lately.

Chester thought back to the week before, the last time he’d physically seen Ryan. The other man had shown up to Score with bags under his bloodshot eyes and a general lethargic appearance. Talinda had sent him through makeup three times before Forrest finally decided he looked well enough for the shoot. Ryan’s only defense was, “I’m tired.”

He says he’s tired all the time now. Every time I say anything about how he looks, he tells me he’s tired. Tired and stressed. But he won’t tell me why. Chester pursed his lips in thought. Ryan had always been a bright-eyed, energetic person. It was painful to see that slowly seep away, along with their closeness. I know he’s spending time with Rob. I know he’s drinking a lot. I don’t want him to hurt himself.

Chester rubbed his arms in worry. Their twice a week nights together had turned into once a week, or sometimes not even that. Ryan refused to say much about Rob, other than passing comments of having just come from being with Rob or that he needed to go because he was meeting Rob. Every question Chester had, Ryan shrugged off and quickly changed the subject. Chester knew that meant that whatever they were doing together, Ryan wasn’t proud of it.

Rob’s not a serious boyfriend, and Ry doesn’t even call him that. He denies they’re boyfriends. So it’s like...all sex and no strings? I know that’s not what Ry wants. The thought wasn’t a new one, and just like every other time he thought about Ryan’s state of being too much, he started to feel uneasy. He wasn’t sure how to help his friend, who seemed to be pushing him away more and more as the weeks turned into months.

As long as he doesn’t get fired. If he keeps showing up to work, then I guess that’s a good sign of something. Maybe he just needs more time while he’s getting over Jason. Fuck, it’s been months. Maybe it’s not just about missing Jay...but he won’t tell me. I can’t help if he won’t talk to me.

That was it. Chester wasn’t going to let himself get too upset over a situation he couldn’t control. Not tonight. He had a meal to finish cooking, and he was standing in panties and knee-high socks, just for his boyfriend. Worrying about Ryan wouldn’t lead to anything good. He shoved all thoughts of his friend away, and instead concentrated on their steaks, which were ready to be turned.

Outside, Mike grabbed the Vanilla Cokes from their forgotten spot behind the driver’s seat and was on his way back to the apartment. The night air felt chilly on his damp hair and he walked faster, causing the Adidas slides on his feet to slap against his heels as he made his way back up the sidewalk. He was on the second floor landing, ready to turn right and go down the hallway to his place, when he caught sight of Matt coming his direction.

Matthias Harris was a graduate student, only slightly older than Mike, with a lanky build that looked a little strange on someone six feet tall. He was a piano and composition major, a teaching assistant, and also took it upon himself to be the apartment building watchdog. Mike sucked in a breath as they neared each other. He already knew what was coming before the dark haired man stopped in front of him. “Hey, Matt,” he offered first. “Heading out for the night?”

“On my way to Dan’s. He’s having a party,” Matt explained, smoothing his hands over his hair. “You should join us. You’re not really an undergrad.” He liked Mike, thought he was talented, and it was nice to have someone in the piano studio who wasn’t an eighteen year old egotistical nightmare. “You never come out. I know you’re not really into the other guys, but we don’t do all that beer drinking and weed smoking. Just hanging out, you’d get to know some of my friends. The older guys.”

Mike shook his head. “Thanks for the invite, but I’m ready to crash for the night. See?” He motioned to his pajama pants. “Mid-terms wore me out.”

Matt’s eyes narrowed and instead of looking at Mike’s attire, he looked over Mike’s shoulder, out at the parking lot. “Oh, I see your boyfriend is here. Again.”

Mike sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and chewed on it nervously for a second. He knew what the rules were, and overnight guests weren’t exactly forbidden, but it was frowned upon to have people over several nights in a row. He and Chester had gotten good at remembering to park Chester’s car in a different guest parking spot each night, but it wasn’t like hiding the red sports car was possible. Even people they didn’t know knew exactly what Chester’s car looked like, and which apartment the driver spent all of his time in. Mike just hoped most of the people in the building assumed that Chester was a student. “Yeah, he’s here,” he said cautiously. Mike wanted to stay on Matt’s good side, and lying about Chester wouldn’t help with that. The easier things stayed between him and the T.A., the better things would be at school. All of the professors thought highly of Matt, and Mike didn’t want the other man to utter a negative word about him to anyone who controlled his degree.

“It’s hard to miss a car like that. What does he do again?” Matt asked, his eyes flicking back to Mike’s.

“He works for Score clothing.” It was such a relief to be able to say Chester’s job to others. Mike smiled as he thought of how far they had come from the YRS days already. “And I know it’s hard to miss. We try to keep it on the downlow.”

Matt cocked his head to the side. He wanted very badly to know why Mike Shinoda lived on campus if his boyfriend made enough money to be driving a Mercedes. It was one of the mysterious things he talked about with his friends, ever since he’d noticed Mike had a boyfriend. They had all been interested in the new pianist in the studio, his dark eyes and shaggy dark hair, and the way he kept to himself. Matt was the one who noticed Chester’s car and put it all together just a few weeks into the fall semester. “You better be careful not to make the wrong person mad,” he said with a half smile. “I’m not sure what the penalty is for having someone living with you, Mike, but it would suck to get kicked out of university housing. Everything around here that’s not on campus is expensive.”

He took a step toward Mike, like he was about to step around him to leave, and Mike was relieved. He was ready to get on with his evening with Chester, and the black and pink panties and knee highs he’d left his boyfriend in. But Matt reached out, patting his forearm, and Mike looked down at his hand first, then at Matt’s face.

“Good luck keeping that a secret. Maybe you’ll find dating someone at school is a whole lot easier.” Matt winked at him and squeezed his forearm, then left Mike standing with his mouth open as he made his way to the stairs. “One of these days, you’ll come out with us, Shinoda!” he yelled behind him, and then he was out of sight.

****

TBC