Editor's note: this work contains scenes of fictional rough, reluctant, dubiously consensual, consensually non-consensual (CNC), or non-consensual sex or scenarios.
*****
Zach was frozen in the twilight. He was caught flat footed, a look of surprise in his eyes and his lips stuck on an unspoken word, while his hair whipped across his marble expression from strong gusts before an evening storm.
He was just outside the library, and people mostly passed him by without a second glance. But some noticed.
First was a pack of Phi Psi brothers, who worked Zach's backpack off his shoulder and emptied it in front of him, his papers blowing away in the wind, and they laughed as they sauntered along.
A couple professors gave Zach sideways glances before they walked on, shaking their heads in either bemusement or contempt.
Sara stumbled upon him, and to her delight she could move Zach's lips and eyebrows like putty into whatever expression she wanted. When she was satisfied with her attempt at a Jim Carey impression she left Zach with a laugh and a kiss on the cheek.
Dion found him as it was growing dark. Dion grinned as he stared into Zach's unblinking eyes, then he glanced around. Not seeing anyone nearby Dion gripped Zach's soft dick in his jeans, and leaned in to kiss Zach's frozen but pliant lips, his tongue flitting against Zach's teeth. He laughed as he pulled away, and brushed Zach's flowing hair out of his eyes and behind his ear. He gave Zach a final, gentle kiss on the lips, before he slapped Zach's ass and continued on.
Zach couldn't see Nick walk behind him, but he knew he was there.
A couple minutes later Sean ran across the quad and came to a stop in front of Zach. Sean put his hands on his hips and caught his breath as he stared at Zach's predicament.
"You're fucking ridiculous, you know that?" Sean finally barked out, unable to hold back a grin, "Come on then, spread 'em."
Still solid as a rock from the waist up, Zach spread his legs wide enough for Sean to crawl between them on his hands and knees. As Sean stood back up Zach was already stretching his arms and back and laughing brightly.
"Thanks for that," Zach said as he cracked his neck, "Was there for a good 20 minutes."
"You realize you're the only one who does that, right? It's like you're supposed to be stuck in place, you don't have to actually freeze," Sean said, picking up the books and notes that hadn't blown away and helping Zach get them in his backpack.
"They shouldn't call it freeze tag then," Zach said. It was their pledge event for the week, if a brother tagged them anywhere on campus they were stuck until one of their pledge brothers found them and crawled between their legs to unfreeze them. For obvious reasons, Zach had taken to it a bit more enthusiastically than the rest of the pledge class. "Did D send you?"
"Yeah, but I was already on my way. Sara texted me and--"
"Me," Jake said, suddenly appearing at their side and grabbing Zach in a headlock. "How the hell you doing buddy, I never see you any more," Jake gave Zach a noogie till he pulled free and, smiling, pushed Jake away.
"You're telling me, dude, with crunch time for the play and you starting wrestling--"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Jake interrupted, "As if you're not spending all your free time with D. I get it, it's fine, what's a good friend compared to a little action."
Zach blushed, cause even though Jake said it jokingly they both knew it was true. And he'd been missing his big bear of a friend.
"I don't know, sounds like your free time's been pretty full up," Sean said coyly, "You've been spending it with Sara."
"Don't get me started on you Mr. Swiss Cheese," Jake said gesturing to Sean's gauge, "You've been nearly as bad and you're not even getting any."
"Are you, though?" Zach asked, grinning at Jake. It was his turn to blush.
"First of all, that's none of your business," Jake said, holding back a smile, "Second, I'm not spending any more time with Sara, you fuckers have just dropped out of our foursome."
"Seems to me you've gotten further with the twosome," Sean laughed.
"And how's it going playing third wheel huh?" Jake threw back at him, a bit of bite to his sarcasm.
"Oh, rimshot!" Sean yelled, smiling wider to cover the sting. Part of the reason he and Zach both loved Jake was his bluntness, but the cost was that he could hit a little too close to the mark.
"Alright, you're right, I've been putting the hoe before the bros," Zach said, eager to change the topic, "Let's make up for it, we can grab some food and then like go for a walk or play games or something, my night's wide open."
"Sweet, let's do it," Jake said clapping his hands.
"You guys have fun," Sean said, the smile still plastered to his face turning terrible as he forced it to stay, "Not trying to be a third wheel or anything." He turned on his heel and walked away.
"Sean!"
"Dude, come on, I didn't mean--"
But Sean kept walking and Zach and Jake were left alone.
"My fucking mouth dude," Jake spit as he hit his forehead with the palm of his hand, "Big baby. I'm sorry I shouldn't--"
"Let's just...get something to eat," Zach said quietly, as he watched Sean disappear into the night.
----
Jake was sullen and stabbing his potatoes aggressively as he and Zach ate alone in a secluded corner of the cafeteria.
"You have something you want to say," Zach said matter of factly as Jake speared one so hard it almost sounded like he'd cracked his plate.
Jake let his fork clatter on the plate and looked up at Zach, almost distraught, "What're you doing, dude?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. He's fucking nuts for you, it's not right to lead him on."
Zach stared coldly back at Jake, "Is that what you think I'm doing?"
"No, I don't know what you're fucking doing, that's why I fucking asked you what you're doing," Jake said not flinching in the least from Zach's glare. His earnest concern melted Zach's resolve and Zach buried his face in his hands.
"I don't fucking know, Jake. I just have no idea."
"Well then talk me through it," Jake said, reaching over the table to put a hand on Zach's shoulder, "See if we can put eyes on it at least."
"I mean we...it's....he's my best friend. What am I supposed to do? Not spend time with him?"
"Not kiss him at least."
Zach blushed hard and looked down at his feet. It had been a little over a week since Sean had joined in on Zach's edging session, but they'd steadfastly not mentioned it to each other. "He told you about that?"
"Not that he meant to. It slipped out when I had a talk with him about torturing himself."
"I wasn't totally in control that night," Zach said, ashamed. "And Dion was in a bad place."
"I'd say. Not very big brotherly to dangle you in front of Sean, dude. Like some kind of weird power move."
"That's not what he did."
"Wasn't it?"
"No," Zach said with finality, remembering.
----
Zach had woken up all at once in Dion's arms. He felt like he'd slept for years, but he quickly remembered what had happened before he passed out. He pulled himself upright and looked at Dion's bedside clock, horrified to see it was nearly noon. He must've been asleep by 10. It was too late to take it back.
"Morning," Dion said, gently rubbing Zach's leg. When he noticed Zach looking at the clock he said, "Don't worry, it's Friday, you don't got lit till 2. I just skipped German."
Zach collapsed back into the bed and buried his face against Dion's chest, trying to have the familiar warmth and smell and touch calm him down so he wasn't overwhelmed by regret. He hadn't known regret for awhile, not since he'd been able to turn back time.
"What's wrong?" Dion asked, rubbing Zach's back as he felt Zach cling to him.
"We shouldn't have done that," Zach croaked.
"You too, huh?" Dion said sadly, gently running his hands through Zach's hair. "I'm sorry. I was drunk, I thought you guys were enjoying it."