Unfiltered Sunburn
(The "alpha pissing contest" Po mentioned during Chlorinated Salt Water. It's 1000000% wish fulfillment Earn hate. Don't judge.)
"Excuse me for a moment," Thame said with a smile and a gentle squeeze of Po's hand. "I'll be right back and the next round is on me." Po gave Thame a look. "What?" Thame squeezed Po's hand again. "I'll be fine, I'm just going to the bathroom."
After looking around the room, Po squeezed back. "Okay, don't come back too quick. I think Baifern will enjoy being conscious for a few moments even if it means you're not here."
Thame watched Baifern stir at the sound of her name and winked in her direction despite Po's annoyed huff. Understandably, Baifern shrieked and fainted again. "She says I'm not her bias, but that keeps happening. What would happen if I invited Per here tonight?"
"Other than Gam killing you?" Thame only smiled in response. "You're a menace."
"Just for you," Thame said before kissing the back of Po's hand, earning another round of cooing and screams as he walked away.
The bathroom was quiet when Thame entered but the door opened with a loud bang as he zipped up his fly to leave.
Thame only gave Earn the pleasure of being viewed from the corner of his eyes. "I am."
"And how much did he pay you just to get you to come to the party tonight?" Earn leaned against the wall by the urinal. The smell of alcohol, urinal cake, and something like photo developer solution was beginning to stick to Thame's nose and of the three, he wasn't sure which was Earn's scent. "Or did he ask as a favor back when you both worked for ONER?"
"Neither," Thame replied as he moved to wash his hands. "I pursued him, I wooed him, we danced one of the oldest dances two people might dance, and now I'm here." Thame flicked the water off his hands before moving to the air dryer. "And what about you?" Thame timed it perfectly and failed to hear Earn's annoyed huff over the running machine. "How did you get P'Po to date you? I can't imagine it was your smarts, your wits..." Thame looked over his shoulder at Earn. "Or your capabilities."
"I was- AM very capable. He thought he was helping me, supporting me because he loved me, but I did plenty on my own! I'm a CEO of my own successful company-"
"That P'Po did all the design and promotional work for. That you took all the credit for and only wanted to give him credit for after he became famous and it'd be even more advantageous for you." Thame nodded and turned to face Earn at last before leaning against the wall by the sink. "That is a kind of capable. I've seen it a lot with managers that get fired before the end of their first month."
Earn sputtered. "You have a lot of nerve for a washed-up idol."
"Well I did only just wash my hands. It'll take a bit for me to wash the rest of myself in a sink and get rid of the rest of my nerve if that's what you want, phi."
Earn finally growled and moved to get into Thame's face, but Thame was quicker and despite being nearly the same height, Thame tipped his head up and Earn wound up looking down at their shoes. Thame growled low and even the grumbles from Earn's throat stopped. Here, backed against a wall, the smell of musk and leather began to override the smell of photo developer.
"Thank you, phi, for educating me on the kind of partner you were." Thame continued to tip his head up just to look down on Earn. "Shallow, selfish, rude, and impulsive. I promise to take even better care of P'Po so he'll forget all about you and continue to be even happier. Please look forward to it."
Earn sneered at the floor and Thame resisted knocking Earn over so he could kiss it. Another huff and Earn shoved Thame aside and stormed out, leaving the scent of anger and shame in his wake. Thame breathed out and felt the tension leave his body before washing his face slightly to remove the smell from his nose and leaving the bathroom.
"You're back," Po said with a small smile as Thame sat back down. He glanced over at the bar where Earn was throwing back drinks a little vehemently. "Did Earn talk to you in there?"
"A little, he wanted to make sure I was taking good care of you, P'Po." Thame smiled. "And I made sure to tell him I was."
"Kyaaaaaa!" Baifern, now recovered and resting her cheek against her hand, gave a breathy sigh. "Mr. A and Mr. B, you look so cute together."
"Don't we, phi?" Thame threw his arm around Po's shoulders and pulled him closer despite Po's protests to Baifern. "I think P'Po is the best for me."
"He is! Ai Po! You better not waste this opportunity!"
"Oh, that reminds me!" Thame snapped his fingers before pulling out his phone. "I should be thanking you, P'Baifern, you helped P'Po find his way to me. Should I call Pepper and have him say hi to you?"
Baifern fainted again and Po raised his hand to get a waiter.
