Saving Lives & Loving You {p}

James laughed. "Yeah, I know." He said with a smile. "Well, of course I have questions, but in the course of events m, I just want to rest right now." He admitted softly.

"Yeah, going back to training would be good since I'm a bit rusty now." He said softly, wrapping an arm around Riley as they snuggled up to him and pulling them down so that they're lying on the bed. "But maybe later, right now, let's just rest. It's been one heck of a day.." He said softly.

(TS to morning and James hears the rumor while getting coffee/breakfast for them?)

(It'd be great if you could!)

James was cuddled up to them during the night, enjoying their closeness and the warmth. He was in the sub-conscious stage of sleep where he had his eyes closed and he was still kind-of dreaming, but could hear his surroundings. He smiled and stretched when he felt the kiss on his forehead. "Morning, Ry." He said softly, kissing them on their lips. He sat up at their request and nodded. "Yeah, sure. I was going to go there either way; can't start the morning without a cup of coffee." He said with a grin. James got off the bed and got ready rather quickly. He went to Riley and pecked them on their lips. "I'm going. I won't be long!" He said and headed out.

It took a few minutes to reach the coffee shop. He went to the line and ordered, waiting at the side. He was scrolling through his phone when he heard the conversation of a man and woman nearby, but still a distance away. "Poor boy, oblivious to what's happening while he's here." The woman said, pausing and glancing at James. He could see her from the side of his eye, but he didn't do anything. "Did you hear the news? Riley's cheating on his boyfriend." She continued. "Well that's to be expected from a gang member. I knew it was temporary from the beginning." The man sneered. James' breath was caught in his throat as he heard the news and it felt like the whole world slowed down. He quickly ran out, trying to tune out any other conversations.

James ran back to the train station, everyone eyeing him oddly and whispering. He heard the rumor repeated multiple times, just phrased differently. He went into the train station, going straight for the bedroom they shared. "So, when did you mean to tell me?" He asked, his voice quivering slightly as he avoided eye-contact with them in fear of breaking down.

James listened to them, still feeling like he was going to cry so he stayed looking at the ground. "So, I gave you mine too, but that wouldn't have stopped you, would it?" He said, his voice soft and shaky against his will. He looked up just as they were two feet away. James backed away a few steps to keep a distance. "Rumors need ground, and..I-I know they might be just rumors because people don't like our relationship and might just be saying it for us to break up, but I can't just disregard them..." He said, his brain whirring as he wanted to say a lot, but he couldn't phrase it and he looked up at them.

James took in a breath, calming his nerves. It's not the first time he's had this conversation with a lover, and he shouldn't be this sad, but he never expected it from Riley. James didn't pull away when they held their hands, even though he wanted to. "I don't know! If I knew, I wouldn't-" He snapped at first, the sadness turning to anger before pausing and taking another breath "If I knew, I wouldn't be here.." He said, tugging his hands away.

He continued listening silently. It took him a few moments to piece everything together; the Grizzlies leader is the most likely to have spread the rumors. James looked at his feet then back at them. "I won't leave you, but I just need some time alone for a bit to think everything through..." He said softly.

James listened to their words, and it was like another knife pierced his heart, but this one isn't betrayal, its guilt for being suspicious of their lover. He turned around as they headed out, meaning to call them back, but changing his mind in the end and just watched him go.

As he was opening the window, he picked up the ringing phone. About to ask who it was before frowning and knowing by what they said. "It's going great." He said sarcastically. "How does it feel being kidnappers?" He replied sharply, feeling his heart clench again at the mention of the situation even though he was just thinking about it, but refusing to let them know that he was feeling like he was going to break down.

"Why would I feel special about that?" He said. James gulped at the mention of Riley. He just went out for a walk, right? He couldn't have went out for any other thing..but.."I trust him, he wouldn't do that. They're just rumors..." He replied, his voice wavering slightly against his will. He was doubting everything at the moment. James didn't know where Riley was going, and that added to his suspicions. He was tossing the idea of following them around in his head though, and it was already growing by the second without them saying anything.

He decided to see where he went, maybe he'll get a confirmation of whether they're cheating or not. "Did you just call to get on my nerves?" He asked, and closed right after they replied, shoving the phone back in his pocket and walking out of the train station in pursuit of his lover.

James frowned as he saw both of them; Riley and the Grizzly's leader who had admitted his crush on them in the same park, and the leader seemed to be approaching them. He shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling even more crushed than before, as they walked over to him. "Well, I was looking for you, but seems like you got company." He said in a monotone voice as he looked at the leader behind him.

"Isn't it weird how you're in the Grizzly's area, and their leader right next to you?" He asked rhetorically. "You know if you didn't like me that much, you could've just told me rather than let me discover it." He said, blinking back tears.

James cursed and wiped the few stray tears. "I thought you'd have a better excuse than that." He said with a bitter smile. He glanced at the Grizzly's leader, seeing his smirk and feeling his blood boil even more. "I really want to believe you, but I just don't know what to believe..." He said, steeling himself and stopping more stray tears to fall down his face.

"I just need an honest answer, and I'll know if you're lying, are you cheating on me, Ry?" He asked softly, feeling like he doesn't want to know the answer, but wanting to get this over with.

James pulled his hands away, even though he wanted to hold theirs or wrap his arm around them and hug them tightly. He never wanted - nor expected - to be in a situation like this with Riley, but he can't just ignore the rumors and the evidence right in front of him. His own tears fell down his face as Riley's went down theirs.

He listened to them, his hazel eyes flickering over their face to see if they're lying. James smiled softly as he saw how sincere they are and caressed their cheek gently."I'm sorry..I didn't mean to make you cry. I...I just wanted the truth.." He explained, feeling unusually guilty for making their lover cry. He wrapped an arm around them and hugged them tightly. "I truly love you, Riley. You're the first one to stay with me through thick and thin. I swear I'll never cheat on you either. You don't know how much you mean to me." He whispered softly, still holding them tightly.