"Come here hold the cloth like this. Gentle. And here, use the soft-bristle brush. This part scratches easily."
In the end, the car's owner couldn't stand it anymore and rushed over to stop the barbaric, eye-twitching assault on his beloved machine. Rock's big, veiny hand came down over Star's small, soft one, guiding him with surprising delicacy across the hood. The same man who broke things just by grabbing them… was now touching the car like it was something alive slow, smooth, tender. Star hadn't expected anyone to love and cherish an object this intensely; it almost made him jealous of the steel-armored luxury sitting in front of him.
That deep voice murmured instructions right against Star's ear much softer than usual. Their bodies overlapped, closing the distance until Star's chilled frame began to warm up. Rock was tall, too tall so he leaned down, naturally pressing Star forward against the glossy red hood beneath them.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The scent of premium car shampoo hung thick in the air. Rock's voice grew quieter… and then faded completely.
With them pressed so close, the only thing Star could hear was the heavy pounding from both chests loud, irregular, impossible to ignore.
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump.
"Rock…" Star looked down at the hand wrapped entirely around his. It felt like Rock wasn't even holding the cloth anymore just holding him. Since the man didn't move, Star had to speak up.
"...Y-Yeah? What?"
"You're… soaked."
"You're soaked too. Damn it why do I have to feel anything about this?!"
"F-Feel what?"
"You're tiny, nothing about you stands out you're not rich, not glamorous, not seductive but… why the hell do you make me feel the same way my car does?"
If "letting things slip" had a definition, Rock was living it. That small body in his arms finally snapped the little restraint he had left. The beast in his head screamed: Just grab the lamb and swallow him whole already! The little lamb that had driven the jungle king insane countless times.
"Rock… what are you saying?"
"It's not… it's not just that. It's more. Every damn time I'm close to you, I have to control myself. Why?!"
His rough voice echoed through the garage classic Rock when his emotions overflowed.
"I can't.."
"Rock?"
"I can't hold it anymore..i..like..you!"
Right there, against the hood of a luxury car, the confession came out short, raw, unfiltered slamming straight into Star's ears. And then… silence. The tough, temperamental, foul-mouthed man named Rock had said it.
Rock rested his forehead against Star's small shoulder. One hand slowly moved up, fingers trembling as they touched Star's thin, wet waist.
He was burning hot nervous, hesitant. A man who broke things with a grip and shouted at everything… couldn't bring himself to touch his own debtor, even though he'd wanted to for far too long. Star's lips pressed together, eyes drifting to the big hand covering his own. That broad chest hovered over him protectively, like shielding him from the whole world. That feeling.. It had always come from the same terrifying, oversized creditor now holding him.
Rock could've used the debt as an excuse to force anything he wanted. But he hadn't. He wasn't the greedy type he didn't even have a partner. And hearing a confession like this…For someone who'd failed so terribly in love, it felt warm in a way Star had never known before.
"Rock, do you even know what kind of face you're making right now? You look like a five-year-old begging for a toy."
"Well… I want it."
"I'm actually glad you're not using the debt as an excuse to get what you want."
"I'm not that kind of person. Do you really think I'm that much of an asshole?"
"No, I am complimenting you right now."
"So you like it when I'm polite, huh?"
"Yeah... I've never seen you like this before. With that face and that tone you actually look handsome."
"I'm always handsome. Are you blind? I wanna do it! I wanna do it!! Whatever you want, I'll give you everything just do it with me… okay~?"
"You really are a kid. I don't even want to imagine how you'd survive without someone taking care of you."
"Exactly I can't survive. Because taking care of me is your job alone. I told you, didn't I? You're my eyes. And don't think that just because you make me feel good I'll write off your debt. You're paying it back for life. I'm adding a new clause: anything I give you can't be used to deduct the debt. No matter how much I give you, it doesn't cancel the car debt. I'm not forgiving it!"
"What is this? You talk all dirty like that but still try to act cute? I haven't even broken up with Toy yet. It feels wrong to do anything with someone else while I still have someone."
"God why are you thinking about him? You think he's waiting around for you? He's probably messing around like crazy."LJ
"And how would you know that?"
"I've got pull!"
"...Pull?"
"Connections! Call him and break up… Star~"
"What?"
"So what is it don't want to break up with him, or don't want to sleep with me? Tell me the truth."
"...I'm scared."
"What's there to be scared of when you're with me?"
Rock hands over his phone, showing a long list of missed calls numbers Star knows all too well even though he never returned a single one.
"That's him. All those missed calls."
"Oh, so that nonstop vibrating was from this number. No wonder you never answered."
"I don't like him. Who's gonna stop me?"
Star shook his head at Rock's spoiled-rich-boy behavior as his slender finger pressed the call button dialing the number of someone he once loved, now with nothing left in his heart but a quiet, hollow calm.
Ring… Ring…
"Hello? Star? Star, is that you?"
"Yeah."
"I miss you. Come see m.."
"Toy, let's break up."
"What?!"
"We're not lovers anymore. Let's go our separate ways and live new lives. That's all."
"Star!"
Beep!
---
"Damn, you've got guts. Just a few months and you've turned into someone completely different from that weakling you used to be."
The creditor brushed a thumb along Star's soft cheek, genuinely impressed by how bold the once-lost little pup had become well cared for, stronger, steadier, under a new roof with a new owner. He couldn't help but praise him.
"Well, staying with a reckless guy like you? I guess I picked up some recklessness too. Blame yourself~"
That bright smile those star-like eyes shimmering right in front of him made the rough man pull the smaller body into a tight embrace. The cutest person he had ever met. That sincerity and innocence carried a strange power, sweeping away the fog and haze from his vision, leading him toward something like happiness…For the first time, he had someone who made his entire world feel sharp, clear, no longer empty.
"You're amazing, really. But from now on, you don't have to call me 'Mr. Rock' anymore, okay? And you don't need to talk all polite like that either. Just don't call me a bastard and we're good."
The tip of his sharp nose brushed Star's cheek, teasing, smiling endlessly. He hadn't smiled this genuinely in a long, long time.
"Tell that to yourself. I'm not as wild as you. If I can't call you that, then what should I call you?"
Star's slender fingers brushed Rock's long hair away, tracing the strong outline of his face the thick brows, the sharp nose, the wickedly handsome mouth that looked like a villain straight out of a drama. Completely different from his ex in every way.