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It was one of those hot sweltering days that burned freckles into your skin, which was why both boys were lounging on the patio in an air-conditioned house. Still, a drop of sweat trickled down Ethan's neck, making him groan and wipe it away with his sleeve.
"Why is it so fucking hot?" Ethan complained. He pushed his hair back and felt the sweat forming at his hairline.
Mark chuckled, not glancing away from his computer, "This is L.A, Ethan. How long have you lived here for?"
Ethan narrowed his eyes and shoved Mark's shoulder, "It was especially hot today, ok?"
Mark rolled his eyes and continued editing his latest 'Markiplier Makes' video on Final Cut Pro. Ethan stretched his arms out, not enjoying the exhaustion that seemed to fall on him each summer. He never felt as productive as he wanted to. Suddenly a ding broke him out of his thoughts, and he grabbed his phone, forgetting why he had been ignoring checking his phone since last night.
'Hey Ethan, can we talk about yesterday?'
Ethan grimaced at the text and sighed out loud as he rubbed his temples. He shut his eyes and leaned back into the chilly leather material of the couch.
"Hey, what's up, dude?"
"Oh, uh, nothing, dude." Ethan brought his legs in so they were flat against the front of the couch.
Mark eyed him warily, "Ok, that was the shittiest attempt to hide something from me I've ever seen. Come on, tell me!"
Ethan bit his lip, and his eyes flickered away from Mark's steady staring. Ethan couldn't possibly tell Mark what had happened. He would never live it down! Besides, Mark was trying to be a good friend by acting concerned.
"It's—It's really fine! I'm fine." Ethan spoke, his voice rising in pitch which was the second giveaway he was lying. The first was how his eyes darted right back to his phone after speaking.
Mark clearly wasn't having it and set down his laptop, scooting closer to Ethan. Ethan stilled, knowing that his prayer that Mark would leave it alone didn't reach heaven.
"Ethan, I can get it out of you, so you may as well just spill," Mark said, "I can tell something is bothering you,"
Ethan's cheeks tinted pink. Why was he so easy to read? Maybe he did want to talk to someone about what happened, but Ethan honestly didn't know if he could get the words out.
"It's...It's about Casey and me,"
There was a spark of smugness in Mark's eye at getting Ethan to admit that something was going on. He nodded for Ethan to continue, which made him bite his lip and look up at the ceiling.
"Ethan, safe space," Mark teased, nudging him lightly.
And Ethan knew that. Really, he trusted Mark, but this was personal and a direct hit to his manhood. Which internally was absolutely stupid and something he thought he didn't believe in, but it turns out that years in a high school where guys thought wearing the colour pink was a challenge to their masculinity had switched something in his brain as well.
"Alright, so last night Casey called me, and you know we've only been going out for a while, so I didn't think much of it," he swallowed deeply. "But...then he asked me...about what I was wearing,"
Mark eyebrows raised, and he smirked at Ethan's flushed and blushing face, "Ok, so he was initiating phone sexy times."
Ethan shrunk even further into himself, dragging his hands down his face, "Ugh, yes! And I had no idea how to respond! No lesson in life has prepared me for that!"
Mark did a double-take and moved closer to him, "Wait, you've never had phone sex?"
Ethan shook his head rapidly, covered his face and slammed his back against the couch.
Mark swallowed down a laugh at Ethan's dramatic actions, "So what did you say to him?"
Ethan groaned theatrically and brought his knees up to his chest.
"Nothing," Ethan's voice came out garbled from behind his hands, "I hung up,"
This time Mark did laugh. Loudly. It was a huge gasp of air exhaled audibly enough to make Ethan feel three times worse.
"Ethan! Why didn't you just respond!?"
Ethan removed his hands and sat up, suddenly on the defense, "Because I was going to make a huge fool out of myself! I don't know how to talk sexy!"
Mark's lips quirked, "You've never talked dirty...ever?"
Ethan's face paled, and he ducked his head, overfilled with embarrassment.
"I only lost my virginity two years ago, Mark,"
The sentence sounded sad enough that Mark's heart swelled with compassion for his friend, and he reached over to rub his shoulder comfortingly.
"Hey, Ethan, it's ok! I'm not judging. I think you should give it a second shot!"
Ethan's head snapped up, and his face was crammed with fear and resistance, "No! He will expect that I will be smooth, and I have no experience!"
Mark stared at him pensively and tapped his chin deep in thought. After a few moments, his brown eyes sparkled happily.
"I have it! Let's practice,"
What? Mark wasn't implying what Ethan thought he was. Right??
"What do you mean?" Ethan questioned suspiciously.
Mark rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone from his pocket, "Come on! Pretend I'm Casey, and give me your best flirting technique."
Ethan quickly shook his head, "Oh my god, Mark, no! I have a little dignity left, and I'm not losing it by fake phone sexing with you,"
How could Mark even propose such an idea? They had been best friends for years, and yet Mark really thought Ethan could talk to him sexily and then go back to normal?
"I'm a perfect candidate, Ethan! Think of me as one of those CPR dummies they use. I'm here for you to train on!"
"Ok, I'm going to pretend you didn't just compare yourself to an inflatable doll and rewind to the part where I said that I was fine and nothing was going on."
Mark stared at him deadpan and then rolled his eyes, "Fine, you wanna give up on this hot deal, that's on you."
Ethan huffed a mildly disgusted laugh and put his phone back in his pocket. Mark's offer was ridiculous, and it was definitely not circulating in his head right now, reminding him he still needed to talk to Casey. Ethan stole a glance at Mark, who had gone back to editing. Mark with his messy hair, scruffy dad beard and thick glasses. He tried to imagine talking him up.
Nope, definitely too weird.
It was midnight, and suddenly Ethan wasn't finding the offer strange anymore. Sure, he had been talking himself down for two whole hours, trying to argue himself out of giving in to Mark and his dumb, dumb ideas. But another side of him realized a dumb idea might be what he needed right now. So he was lying on his bed, still in jeans and a T-shirt fiddling with his phone in his hands, stressing himself out over a simple phone call to his friend.
"Fuck it," Ethan stated and speed-dialed Mark.
He let out a heavy sigh and slowly placed the phone up to his ear, trying to use the ringing as a distraction from the humiliation and nerves running through him. Then the ringing was over, and Ethan heard a soft chuckle mixed in with static.
"Rethinking the offer?"
Ethan scoffed. Of course, Mark expected him to call with his stupid psychic abilities.
"Um..." Ethan cleared his throat, "maybe."
"Well, let's not waste time, loverboy," Mark sounded smug, which made an ounce of regret hit Ethan.
"Promise you're not going to make fun of me, Mark? I won't do it if you never let me forget this,"
Mark made a zipping sound, "My lips are sealed, Ethan. No one will ever know about my phone sex services."
Ethan's face flamed with heat. This was possibly the most intimate thing he had ever done with one of his friends, and he had seen Tyler's dick on multiple occasions. Also, why did Mark referring to him as a phone sex operator make his breathing hitch?
"Ok, you're gonna need to start this," Ethan confessed, tracing his finger along his bedsheets. This was all educational and nothing more.
Mark cleared his throat on the other line and swallowed. Somehow in the silence of the late night it sounded louder than ever.
"Hey Ethan, what are you wearing?"
Mark's voice poured out like warm honey. He had intentionally pitched it lower, with a slight gruff that made Ethan's stomach clench nervously.
"Uh...jeans and a T-shirt?" Ethan felt the cringe creep up his neck after the words left his mouth.
Mark's normal voice returned suddenly, "No, Ethan, you need to make it sound sexier. Just think about what I would want to hear you say."
Ethan huffed a laugh, "So I'm supposed to lie? "
Ethan could feel Mark's glower through the phone.
"This is phone sex, meaning it is not real, so yes, you are supposed to wind the person up using your words," Mark sighed, "everything you say is supposed to turn them on, so just...imagine something I might like to hear,"
Ethan looked down at himself and tried to pick a time where he thought he looked sexy, which didn't happen often. Most times, Ethan was 'cute' or 'sweet' but never sexy. He realized that this was similar to acting or improv, and usually, he was pretty good at that. But it didn't mean he could do it without any preparation. Quickly Ethan placed down the phone, shucked his shirt off and pulled down his jeans. He grabbed his phone and cleared his throat, unsure how to continue the conversation.
"You wanna know what I'm wearing? Just a pair of blue boxers,"
Ethan awaited the annoyed grunt from Mark about how he was still doing it wrong, but it never came.
"Sounds hot. What are you doing?" Mark's voice was deeper again.
Ethan bit his lip, searching his brain for something that Mark wants to hear. Still playing the part of a character, Ethan began letting his fingertips trail up and down his chest tickling his sensitive skin. He tried to recall a time Mark had let slip something he liked in bed, but surprisingly enough, kinks weren't really a topic shared between friends.
"I'm touching my...chest, thinking about you" Ethan took the hint from Mark about changing his voice as he let it fall to a hair above a whisper.
"Good, Ethan," Mark praised, but his voice remained at its sensual level.
The sound of it kept making Ethan flush, and he was starting to wonder if maybe, he had a thing for praise because Ethan very much liked when Mark told him how he was doing.
"I wish you were here touching me, babe. I'm getting so horny just thinking about it,"
Suddenly the air in the room was suffocating Ethan, and he was having a difficult time catching his breath. The way the word horny just rolled off of Mark's tongue was doing weird things to Ethan's stomach.
"Fuck that's hot," Ethan let slip out unintentionally. Trying to play it off as acting, Ethan continued speaking, "Where would you want me to be touching?"
This hesitant tension was shared with both parties as Mark's breathing picked up once Ethan asked.
"Down my chest at first, rubbing my nipples until I'm throbbing, and then I want your lips on my neck," Mark's voice was breathy and gruff.
Ethan felt himself slipping into a headspace that left him feeling dizzy but determined. Mark's voice was driving tingles up his spine, and he was feeling turned on by his words.
"Is that all you want my lips on?" Ethan asked honestly, but his voice had dropped another register, which made it raspy and seductive.
Mark groaned into the phone, and it sounded real. Too real. Like Mark actually had Ethan's lips on his body. Ethan swiftly forgot that this was his friend and not a hookup.
"No," Mark exclaimed. The sound of a zipper echoed across the line, "I want you to kiss down my body, stopping to tease each of my thighs before I beg you to touch my cock."
Ethan's breathing halted, and his eyes rolled back as he imagined the noises Mark would make if Ethan really did that. Ethan's heard him while he gamed frustrated, and it was enough to make Ethan question his intentions as he listened to him record. A moan escaped Ethan's mouth as he looked down and was surprised to see himself hard in his boxers just from the thought of Mark. Maybe this wasn't as friendly as he thought.
Ethan simpered, letting out a dark laugh. "I bet you're huge. I'm not sure I'd be able to take all of you,"
Mark growled but was otherwise quiet. Ethan was one damn second away from reaching into his boxers after that noise, and he had no clue when he had started breathing so hard. After Ethan had let his inhibitions drop and just clued into what he would want to tell Mark if they were doing this for real, it wasn't as hard anymore.
"But I would be so good, Mark. I would do everything you tell me to," Ethan continued, which definitely made Mark's breath catch in his throat.
"Ethan, I think...I think that's enough practice," Mark declared, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan stepped back for a moment. Here he was, lying in his bed, throbbing and aching for Mark to touch him and not once had he thought about Casey. And Mark—Mark must be enjoying it. What else could explain his shaky breathing and the noises falling from his mouth?Maybe—just maybe Ethan was better at this then he thought.
"Are you hard, Mark?"
Silence. Maybe Mark had walked away from the phone?
"Ethan, I—"
"Are. You. Hard?" Ethan inquired, licking his lips.
Again, nothing. Ethan had no clue where this confidence had come from or where these secret feelings for Mark had been stored, but it made sense. He had been seeking Mark's affection since the beginning of their friendship.
"Yes." Mark's soft voice came through.
"Touch yourself." Ethan knew the command was straight to the point. There was no way it could be interpreted as friendly banter. But he was turned on, and this didn't feel like a mistake. Abruptly light whimpers began to fill Ethan's ears.
"I'm not sure about this, Ethan," Mark said breathily, clearly, still doing what Ethan had told him.
"If it feels good, why stop?" Ethan inquired, palming himself through his boxers.
"What about Casey? What about—what about us?" Mark reminded him.
Ethan tossed around the idea of the man he had been 'going out with' for the last week. But he already knew his answer. Casey had never made him feel like this before.
"I don't care," Ethan groaned, slipping down his boxers, "keep talking."
Mark moaned back, and the pants of his heavy breaths filled Ethan's ear.
"Your voice is driving me fucking crazy."
Ethan smirked and tugged skillfully on his dick, smoothing precum over the skin, "I've been hard almost this entire call. What about you?"
Mark huffed out a breathless laugh, "Honestly? Half-hard since the beginning, until you told me that you would be submissive for me,"
Ethan smiled pertly and let his free hand begin rolling and pinching his nipples, making him whimper softly.
"Offer still stands, you know," Ethan announced.
"Fuck, Ethan, shut up, or this is gonna be over soon," Mark replied, tacking a wheezing snicker onto the end of it.
"Maybe I like knowing how easily I can push your buttons," Ethan admitted.
"Is that so?"
Ethan rolled into his hand, swiping his thumb over the head of his dick while biting his lip in pleasure.
"Mmm, I can just imagine your flushed face moaning because of my words," Ethan said, "I want you here touching me."
"I don't think I could keep my hands off you."
The admission was quiet, secretive. Almost as if Mark hadn't intended to let it slip at all. But Ethan had heard it, and the words were filled with such pure honesty that it made his heart flutter.
"Ever since you started going to the gym again, I've not been able to keep my eyes off your abs. I want to kiss you up and down," Mark groaned.
Fuck, that sounded nice. Ethan could feel himself getting close as he clenched his eyes shut, riding every pleasurable stroke.
"I want to suck you off during a live stream," Ethan revealed, "you trying to keep your composure as I'm under the table, my lips wrapped around your hard cock."
"E-Ethan, fuck." Mark exclaimed, pure ecstasy colouring his voice.
Mark's following moans and groans as he reached his high drove Ethan over the edge. His body stilled as he rode out the waves that always came after an intense orgasm. He felt hot all over, but a trickle of panicky anxiety was overshadowing the bliss Ethan was experiencing. It was quiet on the other side of the line, and Ethan sensed a worried Mark with a panic-struck look.
"Mark," Ethan began, "Please say something."
It was quiet for a few more moments, each second making Ethan's heart beat faster.
"I-" Mark paused, "I have to go."
And just like that, Mark hung up, leaving Ethan sweaty and flushed in his bed, like a meaningless one night stand. Ethan stared at his phone, and all of the things he had done wrong ran through his head. Ethan shouldn't have agreed to Mark's plan. He had ruined everything.
Ethan slammed his phone down on the bed, unable to cry or scream. He just felt empty and worthless. He couldn't believe Mark could discard him like that. Was Ethan delusional? Was Mark only using him to get off?
Mark couldn't have done that because he was one of the biggest sweethearts, even if sometimes he could be a little crass. No...no, Ethan had to be able to fix this. Things would not end in this way. They couldn't. Mark was his best friend, and he wouldn't lose him over a stupid mistake.
Ethan pulled his boxers back up and ran to his closet, grabbing the first hoodie he saw and throwing it over his head without a shirt. Next, he spotted a pair of black gym shorts and put those on without thought.
"Keys..." Ethan muttered. He grasped that exact object from the nightstand. "Need phone and...shoes,"
After he tied his laces, Ethan unlocked his apartment door and tried not to think about what he was doing too much. He swung the door open and took one step out before colliding with a person. Off-balance, Ethan stumbled, which made him look down and realize that only one of his shoes was tied. After becoming stable again, he looked up to capture the person he had just assaulted in the middle of the night. And despite every romantic comedy, he never expected it to be—Mark?
He was standing there, wide-eyed and with his arm raised mid-air as if he was about to knock on the door. Both boys stared into each other's eyes.
"Mark?"
Ethan blinked a few times, trying to determine if this was a hazy hallucination caused by distress and sleep deprivation. Nope, he was still there, not even blinking once. And not saying anything, which Ethan had dealt with enough times tonight. Then a flash of something crossed Mark's face, and he stepped forward, grabbed Ethan's face in his hands and kissed him. Like— kissed him, kissed him.
Ethan's eyes enlarged as his arms waved uncertainly, trying to find a proper placement, finally landing on Mark's shoulders. Mark's lips were warm and soft and 100% freshly chap-sticked. Ethan could perceive the aftertaste of cinnamon gum, and craved more of it. Still, the entire time his eyes remained open, and his body bemused. He didn't necessarily want to stop doing this, but the asshole voice in his head kept nagging at him to get an explanation. So he pushed back and let Mark snap his eyes open to see what had deterred their feverish kiss.
Catching the wondering look on Ethan's face, Mark chuckled and scratched the back of his neck with discomfort.
"I...couldn't do that over the phone,"
Ethan blinked rapidly this time, like maybe one of the times he would open his eyes, an idiot wouldn't be standing in front of him. Finally, he snapped back into his body and shoved Mark forcefully, almost hoping he would fall over on impact. Mark's mouth widened with concern, and a wave of relief flooded Ethan as he felt tears in his eyes.
"Y-You...asshole!" Ethan choked out, trying to breathe away the emotions, "I t-thought you fucking hated me!"
Mark reached forward, censure now in his expression, "Ethan, no! I'm sorry, I just needed to come see you!"
Ethan sniffled, and a laugh caught in his throat. Only Mark would be stupid enough to ditch someone after a friendship-changing encounter over the phone and still have the best intentions. Ethan wiped his eyes and rid himself of the wetness building there, trying to calm himself down.
"I'll just...I'll just go. I'm sorry I should never have done that to you—"
Ethan reached out and grabbed ahold of Mark's shirt gently but with calm control. Mark's eyes darted down to the placement of Ethan's hand and then up to his face, where he saw fervent desire and his lopsided smirk.
"Mark, shut the fuck up and get inside my apartment," Ethan stated confidently, the rasp of tears still in his voice.
Mark gulped and looked back at the scrunched material in Ethan's fist, "W-Why?"
Ethan simpered deviously, all sadness void from his face. He pulled Mark closer and began to walk backward, taking Mark with him.
"Because," Ethan said ardently, "I have some things I'd like to do that I couldn't do over the phone as well,"
Now with both boys standing in Ethan's apartment Ethan's free hand came up to push the door shut gently. He then proceeded to shove Mark up against it passionately. It turns out that Mark coaching Ethan on how to have phone sex turned out quite well. Except now Ethan's imagination was running wild with the things that Mark could teach him how to do next, and he planned to try all of them out.