Kiss and Sell

Alex was on his hands and knees on the asphalt, trying to call out a cat with soft words and the clicking of his tongue from under a car while Cass and Valerie just stared at his butt that he wiggled when he thought the cat was coming closer. The girls were giggling at him and although he knew it was probably because of his ass in the air he did not care at the moment.

"Help me get her!" He whisper-exclaimed, turning to glare at Valerie who covered her mouth to keep from bursting out into laughter and sending him an apologetic look that was hard to believe was serious at all, "What if she gets ran over?" He whined.

"Okay, okay, we'll help." Cass giggled, moving around to the other side. The cat hissed towards her feet and scooted closer to Alex who reached out and whispered, "Here kitty, kitty. It's okay. Come here little girl." The cat tried to scratch him but thankfully she had been de-clawed and pretty much just slapped his hands. He reached further out only to feel someone kick him right in the stomach.

"Valerie!" He screeched, pulling back as the cat ran right past him and through the parking lot. He looked up to see Oliver standing over him, glaring. Believe it or not, Oli was pissed Josh no longer wanted to be his friend and had been avoiding him, and figured out (after cornering his former best friend) that the entire reason he no longer had his other half was because of Alex Gaskarth. Alex whimpered, clutching his stomach as he turned and saw Oli's brother chasing after the cat. He couldn't remember the kid's name, it was on the tip of his damn tongue, but it didn't matter because Oli was reaching down and pulling him up to a standing position.

"Dude! Get off!" Alex shouted, trying to wiggle out of Oli's grip while turning to look for Valerie and Cass who looked to be frozen where they both stood. He pushed Oli as best he could, only getting a shove back and then being pulled into Oli's fist, "Fuck!!" He yelled in pain, reaching up to cup his aching jaw.

Cass started to move, most likely to get Jack for help, but Oli suddenly snapped, "Move and you'll be next, whore."

"Don't talk to her that way!" Alex snarled, shoving Oli and tackling him when he stumbled backwards. He landed on top of him and punched the boy in the face as hard as he could, whining when his knuckles hit hard bone. Oli yelped in pain as Alex shook his hand and cursed under his breath before he reached up and grabbed Alex's hair. He rolled them over, letting go of Alex's hair to press his arm into Alex's neck causing the blond to choke.

Alex kicked his legs, hitting Oli as hard as he could to try and buck him off but it was seemingly futile as his vision began to blur. He heard the cat he had been trying to save yowling and looked up to see Oli's brother holding it by it's scruff as it writhed and squirmed. Oli smirked darkly at the animal while Alex tried to writhe with a new found strength. He punched him in the stomach and shoved him off, turning as he coughed and placed his hands over his throat. He stood up and choked, "L-let it g-go."

"The cat?" The boy asked, cocking an eyebrow at the blond who nodded, swallowing thickly as he moved his hand away from his bruising throat. The boy didn't do anything, just turned to look at his brother who snorted in response after getting to his feet.

"Why would we listen to a whore like you?"

"I'm! Not! A! Whore!" Alex screamed, jumping forward and kicking Oli as hard as he could in the stomach, making him fall back into his brother who dropped the cat as they both fell down. Alex jumped on top of him and continued to punch him until his face was bloody and disfigured. His body stopped writhing under Alex's long ago. His brother jumped up and tackled Alex to the ground while Cass screamed at them and Valerie ran off to find someone for help. Alex was panting and although he was pissed Oli's brother was still a lot stronger than him and was holding him down effortlessly. Oli eventually seemed to regain some sort of consciousness and stood up, stumbling around like a drunk and hissed, "He's a fucking psycho! Kill him! Kill his friend too." He nodded towards Cass who gasped and covered her mouth as she stared down at Alex being beaten to a pulp. Alex knew she was scared and that's why she wasn't helping because she wasn't a fighter, and neither was he really, and he didn't regret snarling, "Cass run!" When he got the chance.

Cass hesitated, glancing at Oli who at any minute could become strong enough again to grab her, and heard Alex scream, "Cass!!! Run!!" She knew he was protecting her and it'd be stupid to do as he said, but she turned and ran anyways, pulling out her phone and dialing Jack's number as she did.

Alex struggled against Oli's brother holding him down when suddenly his weight was lifted. Alex couldn't really see who was helping him through the harsh light, all he knew was he was no longer getting his ass kicked. He sat up and cupped his bleeding nose, his panting getting more erratic and his chest tightening as he looked up and saw Josh pushing Oli and his brother back.

"Stop! Leave him alone, what the fuck is wrong with you?!" He shouted, pushing Oli who looked to be having an inner battle between punching Josh in the face and listening. His fist was clinched and he was glaring at the boy who pushed him back again, yet he still seemed to want to hold himself back.

"Alex!" Cass yelled, rushing over to him with Jack right behind her and Valerie a few feet behind. Jack wrapped him in his strong arms, pulling him into his chest as he grabbed his chin and tilted his head back to examine his face.

"You're bleeding bad." Jack said, pushing his head forward so his head was tilted forward and the blood was dripping down in case it was too much and drowned him or whatever the fuck happened when your nose bled. Alex just looked forward at Josh who was still trying to push Oli away, to protect Alex.

"Maybe we should take him to the hospital. This is a lot of blood." Jack said towards Cass.

"The-they were hitting hi-him over and o-over. I-I..."

"Cass, just go get your car." Jack growled, looking down at Alex. Alex didn't know why Jack was being a dick towards Cass but he continued to stare at Josh until Oli slapped him. He tried to stand up but Jack held him down so he shouted, "Don't you fucking hit him!"

Oli looked over at Alex, "What did you say, you little slut?" He started to stomp towards Alex while Josh tried to hold him back again. Jack glared at him, causing him to stop about halfway towards them.

"I am not a slut." Alex spat, "Don't. Fucking. Hit. Josh." He growled.

Josh glanced at him, giving a small smile as Alex stood up for him. Oli scoffed before he shoved Josh down and let him hit the ground without hesitation. His brother grabbed his arm and pulled him away as Cass stopped her car behind Jack and Alex.

"Let's go get that stupid cat." Alex heard him mutter.

Alex tried to stand up to run after them, writhing in Jack's grip and screamed, "You better not fucking touch that cat!!"

"Fuck you!" Oli shouted back, flipping him off.

"Help me get him in the car." Jack said to who Alex wasn't sure. He writhed and kicked and even clawed at Jack a few times until he was shoved in the car and the doors were locked. Jack held him down against his chest while Alex slapped and punched his arms and kicked Josh who was trying to hold down his legs.

"Fuck you! Fuck both of you! Let me go!" Alex shouted. Josh whined as he kicked him in the stomach but mostly kept his legs under control while Jack didn't even seem to flinch at the blood and bruises dotting his arms from his boyfriend. Valerie glanced back at the boy from her place in the passenger side while Alex started to lose his strength again and instead started whimpering.

"I hate you, Jack. I fucking hate you. Why didn't you let m-me help he-her?" He had seen other cats around the campus before. They had been stomped to death and cut open with glass by some psychopath and now Alex knew exactly who it was, although he should have just known before because it was fucking obvious. It wasn't just the fact that Alex really loved animals and had wanted to help the cat in the first place and find it a nice home before Oli even showed up it was just that for weeks Alex had been feeding the cat food and he was just getting to the point where she was starting to somewhat warm up to him enough for him to catch her. He had grown slightly attached to her like she was his own cat. He had never had a pet although he loved animals to pieces and it killed him to think the cat he could have saved, that he's been taking care of for weeks, was going to be brutally murdered by that fucking asshole.

"It's a fucking cat, Alex. A goddamn cat. I'm not letting you get your ass beat over a fucking cat!" He barked, tightening his grip on Alex either in anger or comfort Alex wasn't sure. Alex's teary eyes flitted to Josh who he immediately glared at because he was crying and Josh was just staring at him making Josh look away quickly and whimpered, "I could have helped her. He's going to hurt her."

"He was going to kill you, Alex." Cass whimpered from her spot, "He said he was going to kill us both."

"And s-so the cat should just take our place then?" He elbowed Jack, sitting up and wrapping his arms around himself as he snapped, "Don't touch me." Jack reached forward to look at his knuckles but Alex punched him in the chest and snarled, "Don't. Touch. Me."

"It's a fucking cat, Alex." He repeated, glaring at his boyfriend who glared right back.

"It's not just a cat. You just don't fucking understand because you're a heartless bastard!" He shouted. Valerie sighed as she sat back in her seat and mumbled, "He's right. The cat doesn't deserve to die, but you're more important than the cat, Alex."

"You're more important than a thousand cats, Alex. Why are you getting so angry about this? Cats die all the time. You know that." Jack said, reaching forward again, trying to be gentler about it but Alex just punched him in the chest again.

"That was my cat, asshole! I could have helped her! She -oh my god -just leave me alone!" He shouted.

Alex had told Jack about the cat before he just didn't realize that it was that cat. He had seen the animal before and always tossed bred at it whenever he walked out of the cafeteria after lunch(even though he was kind of sure cats didn't really eat bred, but that cat ate it up so whatever). He never paid close enough attention to realize Alex did the same. Jack sat back, sighing slightly as he realized how much Alex really cared about the stupid cat. He liked all cats and dogs and any animal and Jack's not surprised he put up a fight over it, but now he knew why it was such a big fucking deal to him.

Cass pulled up to a hospital and again Alex started struggling as Jack tried to drag him into the building. He had kicked him a pretty good amount of times and although Jack had eventually picked him up bridal style and had been slapped and punched quite a few more times and Alex's pleads and embarrassing screaming and crying was mostly ignored it was still hard to carry him all the way into the hospital and get him checked out.

They had to sit in the waiting room for about thirty minutes and Alex was still crying and shouting profanities and whenever anyone gave him a weird look he'd scream, "Fuck off!" at them pretty loudly, even a few nurses and doctors. He was being a bit babyish, but it wasn't just the fact that he was pissed it was also that he hated being forced into things and the doctors scared him so he was already pretty much on edge about everything so Jack wasn't really surprised by his behavior. Really out of all of them Jack was the only one that seemed to be like one of those mothers who ignore their children while they have tantrums. Cass had tried to quietly soothe Alex into being quiet while Josh paced around nervously and apologized to everyone he cursed at or who looked their way, and Valerie just kind of pretended not to know the boy at all while filling out a form for Alex that the secretary had given her and occasionally asking Jack questions.

Alex had already been looked at by the triage and she said he didn't look too injured so they'd have to wait and because he was so upset it just pissed him off more and he was still somewhat crying into Jack's chest. Josh finally sat down beside Jack, looking over at Alex whose blood had dried now and bruises were starting to form.

Jack glanced at him, "Why did you help him?"

"I'm right here."

"I told him I regretted everything I ever did to him, and I meant that." Josh said, as if Alex had said nothing and wasn't there. Jack didn't say anything, just sat back in the chair and held Alex a little tighter while the elder muttered, "Could have got my fucking cat then, asshole."

Jack rolled his eyes as Alex's name was called. Alex climbed to his feet, Jack helping him stand by placing a hand on his waist just in case he fell before he stood up too to lead him back wherever the nurse wanted them. They were sat down in an examination room, their friends left to wait in the waiting area while a doctor came in after them, shaking his head and tsking. Alex recognized him as the doctor who fixed his balls making him blush.

"Back again, Mr. Gaskarth? And looking worst than last time." He sighed and grabbed a wipe to start cleaning the blood from his face. Alex winced as he ran over some of his cuts, "What happened boys?"

"I got into a fight." Alex mumbled, blushing as he stared into the doctor's eyes. If his boyfriend wasn't right there it wouldn't be as bad that Alex felt like he was going to get a boner or something. His doctor was still pretty hot.

"I see." The doctor mumbled, "Why don't you lay down for me?" He motioned Alex to lay on the examining table. Alex did as told, feeling Jack's eyes on him as the doctor pulled up his shirt and pressed on his stomach gently all the way up to his ribs. He continued to exam Alex and his breathing while asking questions until he sighed and said, "Well, everything looks to be in order. Just a few cuts and bruises. Put ice on your hand, though, and maybe your eye too... You don't seem to have a concussion or anything out of the ordinary. Just let everything heal how it should and you'll be fine." He nodded.

"Thanks." Alex said as he jumped down and they walked out of the room, "Could have guessed that my-fucking-self." He muttered when the doctor was out of earshot.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Something could have been wrong, Alex, you can't be too careful."

"Fuck you, I'm still mad at you." Alex snapped, walking away and back to the waiting room. Alex knew his mom was going to be pissed when she was billed from the hospital.

"At least I'm not in love with my doctor." Jack muttered. Alex turned around and punched him in the chest as he blushed making Jack laugh although he was secretly a little jealous Alex was totally making heart eyes at the man.

"Are you okay?" Cass asked, walking over and hugging Alex softly while Alex nodded. Josh was standing behind her, nervously scratching his arm while Valerie walked up and hugged him too gently. Jack laughed at the girls as they started cooing over Alex who blushed and rolled his eyes.

"You were crying so much." Valerie giggled, "Like, I get it but oh my god Alex you were like a toddler."

"Shut up." Alex laughed, "I'm still mad about that. You guys are dicks." He frowned and shoved his hands in his pockets, "Anyways..." He stopped and looked up at Josh. He walked over to him and hugged him briefly while muttering, "Thanks." Before letting go and walking away and out of the hospital while calling, "Let's go! This place creeps me out."

In the car it seemed a lot calmer. Alex was leaned completely against Jack who was playing with his hair while Cass drove and Valerie turned the radio on but kept it mostly quiet. Josh had suddenly realized how awkward he was to be in this car full of strangers and just bit the inside of his cheek while he looked out the window before Cass drove them back to school so Jack could get his bike and Josh his car.

When she drove off Jack lead Alex to his motorcycle and waved goodbye to Josh who awkwardly waved back. Alex wondered if he thought they were friends because in a way he still hated Josh and they weren't friends. Alex kept his head bowed so he didn't have to look anywhere in case Oli decided to show up or he just so happened to see a ball of bloody fur somewhere nearby and got on the back of Jack's bike silently. When Jack drove him home he told him to go upstairs without him while he talked to his mother and Alex seemed tired and depressed as he walked up the stairs alone. Jack felt bad and a part of him wanted to fill his room with a million cats for Alex to just kind of swim in, but he knew that wasn't going to make this situation better.

Alex didn't realize he fell asleep waiting for Jack after thirty minutes of him taking forever to come upstairs and lay down with him and take care of him until he woke up to Joyce cupping his face and looking at his bruises while shaking her head and mumbling, "I brought you some soup." And although Alex was not sick and could eat normal food he was fucking grateful for it because his throat hurt like hell and the warm soup just slid down it without having to swallow or move his jaw like at all.

"Where's Jack?"

"He said he was doing something. He missed work. Maybe he's making up for it." She shrugged, pushing Alex's hair back and sighing, "I can't believe how hateful kids are."

Alex frowned, "I'm okay, Joyce."

"No, you're not. You could have been really hurt, Alex. I'm calling the school right now." She said, standing up and kissing his hair before turning around and walking out of the room. Alex sighed and put his soup down, pulling the blankets back over his head and falling back to sleep.

The next time he woke up it was to Jack shaking him softly. He looked like he was hugging himself as he shivered and the room had dimmed considerably meaning it was really late and had been hours since he left.

"Where were you?" Alex asked, rubbing his one good eye because he knew the other was too swollen to touch without being hurt. Jack frowned at him as he whined in pain before whispering, "Don't tell my mom."

"Wha...?"

Jack opened up his jacket suddenly, revealing the white cat that pretty much started it all. It jumped out of his grip, shooting across the bed and into the floor to scramble under his dresser to hide. Alex could hear it meow from it's place in the room. He stared at Jack in disbelief, "You got her?" He asked, Jack nodding his head, "You -I mean -you actually went back to school and got her?" Again Jack nodded his head, "How?"

"Took a lot of patience." Jack sighed.

"How... But what about Oli?" Alex asked.

Jack shrugged, "Must not have found her. It took me forever to figure out where she was to even start luring her out."

"Y-you really went back and got her?"

"Yeah, Alex. Saved the bitch's life and she still scratched the fuck out of me. I thought she'd at least be gratefu-" Alex jumped up suddenly, maybe head-butting Jack on complete accent, and smashed their lips together, effectively shutting Jack up. Jack carefully wrapped his arms around Alex's waist while Alex curled his fingers in his jacket and pressed his lips against Jack's as hard as he could.

He pulled back and noticed fresh scratches on Jack's neck and swiped a finger over them, "Sorry she scratched you."

"Nope, actually that one was you." Jack chuckled.

"Oh whatever." Alex turned around and looked over at the dresser where the cat was still meowing, "Anyways, I'm sure if it weren't for what happened today she wouldn't have scratched you. She was already really timid. She was probably really freaked out and nervous." He paused, "How did you even get her here?"

"Uh, I put her in my shirt and tucked my shirt in... and went, like, really slow so, yeah, her back claws really fucked me up." Jack shrugged, biting his lip as he watched Alex sit down on the bed and stare at the floor in front of the dresser. Alex felt really flattered Jack had actually got her and spent that long looking for her because after all Jack has always claimed to be "allergic" to cats (although Alex knew he really wasn't allergic he just didn't like them for some reason and used it as an excuse to not pet them; maybe they just didn't like him and he didn't want to get scratched).

"Thank you." Alex whispered, tears slipping down his face suddenly. He reached up and wiped them away, wincing as he pressed into a bruise a little too strongly, "I just didn't want her to be hurt. You didn't have to go get her."

Jack walked over to him and sat down beside him, "I did it for you. I know how much you liked her."

Alex nodded, still swiping tears from his face before resting his head on Jack's shoulder, "What should we name her?" He asked once the cat started to slowly creep out from under the dresser to examine her surroundings.

"I don't know. She's your cat. Take her home with you. She hates me." Jack muttered, resting his head against Alex's and turning to give his hair a small kiss.

The cat started moving towards Alex making him reach down and hold his hand out so she could smell it while he mumbled, "She's really skinny. I bet she's hungry. Go get her some chicken, Jack." He nudged him, ignoring the annoyed huff as Jack got up and walked out of his room while he reached down and picked her up. She freaked out a little bit but eventually settled as he placed her in his lap and started petting her softly. He moved back to sit in the middle of the bed with his legs crossed and grinned down at the cat in his lap. Jack returned, smiling slightly as he saw how adorable his boyfriend was before he handed him the bowl of spam.

"Ew, spam?" Alex complained, putting it down in front of the cat who ate it anyways.

"She doesn't care. She's a cat."

Alex grimaced but continued to pet her as Jack sat down in his chair and watched them, "I knew she was hungry." He stated, grinning as he looked up at Jack.

"Yep." Jack smiled, nodding. Alex continued to scratch the cat's back and behind her ears as she started to purr before he said, without looking up, "She's so sweet, Jack, come pet her."

"I've pet her enough, thank you." Jack said, pointing at his chest, "It was fantastic."

Alex rolled his eyes, "Let's call her Rose."

"She is no Rose."

Notes

Long chapter just bc this literally happened at my old school. These kids were killing cats for fun and even kittens and it was horrible and I saw them chasing this cat once and I threw a text book at one of the guys and was about to kick some major ass but my step brother and my friend had forced me in the fucking car and of course the next day I saw the cat was dead >:( So yeah Alex was a little more dramatic about it though xD I really didn't make much of a scene but I was really upset and crying and stuff v.v

Also that was a titanic reference Alex made there at the end bc rose and jack and yeaaaahh i dont think anyone was going to get that so i just wanted to make it clear xD.

and also Oli is about to cause some major problems, just a heads up, and Josh might become friends with everyone I'm still debating because Alex still hates him too soooo???? yayyy??? Nayyyy???? What do you guys think???