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Any and all comments are welcome!!", "writing": "Raze stood up from his desk and strode to the door when he heard the knocking. The sight that met his eyes had him rock hard in moments. He had to tuck his body to the side in order to hide the hard length trying to push up against his jeans. \n\n“Brawn! Hey, come on in.” He stepped aside and clapped a hand onto the man’s shoulder as he passed. “What’s going on, dude?” \n\nBrawn held up a file folder stuffed to its limits, and a couple of CD cases. “I’ve got the stuff ya’ll asked for.”\n\nRaze had to stop and think for a moment to bring his brain back around to remember what Brawn was talking about. Lust for the sexy man in front of him had him blanking. “Oh, shit! Yeah! Lemme see it!”\n\nRaze had been working with a local rock group that was trying to get into the big leagues. He’d talked to them, gotten them into the studio downtown and then had given everything to Brawn for some touch-ups. \n\nThey had their heads buried into all of it for a couple of hours, grins on their faces, knowing that the group was going to go far. They had the talent, the lyrics to get people addicted to their stuff, and even their look was just new enough to attract a good crowd. After getting their latest songs to the local radio stations, getting their posters and other promotional material out to the public, Raze and Brawn were sure that they’d get off the ground quick. \n\n“So, how’re things at home?” Raze stood and stretched, his abs peeking out from between his jeans and shirt. He worked out on a regular basis, and made sure to put that on display in front of Brawn at every opportunity.\n\n“Good,” Brawn nodded as he collected things. “He’s been sober for roughly three weeks and seems to be doing okay.” The sight of finding Tiran in the pool the other night still broke him a little. \n\nRaze saw the slight flinch when he spoke and grinned inside. This was his chance and he saw the opening like a hunter sees his prey at the end of the crosshairs. He slid back down onto the couch at Brawn’s side, brushing their hips and thighs together, one arm sliding around Brawn’s shoulders. “What’s happening, Brawn? I can read you like a book.”\n\nBrawn sighed, his head dipped low as images kept floating around in his head. “He’s done with the initial withdrawal, but he had these spasms that pop up, and each episode is getting more and more painful. I can see it when I look at him.”\n\nRaze pulled him closer, using a finger to tilt Brawn’s head so their eyes could meet. “You deserve so much better, Brawn.” Before Brawn could question anything he slid his lips over Brawn’s. He teased his prey’s lips by tracing them with the tip of his tongue, cupping the back of Brawn’s head, pulling him closer. He always found that catching his prey off guard was better than giving them the ability to stop him. \n\nIt took roughly twenty seconds for Brawn’s conscious to kick in before he shoved Raze back, shooting up off the couch, backing into the wall that was closest. His chest heaved, heartbeat racing and guilt ripping through his heart like a poison. “What the hell, Raze?” He screamed at the tiger.\n\nRaze skirted the couch and stalked Brawn, pushing him up against the wall, keeping him from moving, tangling his legs through the panther’s to keep him from kicking out and wrapping his hands around Brawn’s wrists to hold him in place. \n\n“You and I both know that Tiran is the wrong man for you, Brawn. How much trouble has he brought you throughout the years? Now this shit with all the drugs?”\n\nBrawn forced the tiger away, shoved as hard as he could, and watched and the man lost his balance and fell back onto the couch, barely catching himself before he toppled over the back of it. “I do not give a shit what you think I should or should not do. I do not give a shit what anyone thinks! He is mine!” The possessive side of his came out, and Raze started to worry for a moment when his eyes blazed with rage.\n\n“I can take care of you, Brawn!” He whispered it, the importance of his plea evident in his own eyes, “Tiran has treated you like shit. He has put you through the wringer.” He stood, holding out his hands in an attempt to calm the panther down. “I had to watch part of you die for him when he was going through withdrawal..”\n\n“Whatever in me died that day will live again. Watching him pull himself together is all I need to know that we will be just fine.” His fists were clenched and he thought he’d hyperventilate with how much air he was chugging into his lungs.\n\n“How could you think I’d leave him? How could you possibly believe that I would ever walk away from the best thing in my life, Raze? What EVER gave you the inclination that I WOULD leave him? What the hell gives you the right to try and push us apart?”\n\nRaze rushed forward, grabbed him by the shoulders and ignored the growl of anger that Brawn aimed at him, ignored the bared fangs and fisted claws. “I can love in every way.” He begged Brawn, “I can be there, be the true man that you need. He only gives you heartache and leaves you picking up the mess that he creates. I mean, come on, Brawn, when Jeri called the other day to tell me that she’d seen some shady character at your place trading a package for cash, I-“\n\nBrawn’s body stiffened like he’d been turned into steel. “What the fuck are you talking about, Raze?”\n\nRaze stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Tiran had his dealer drop by your house to give him a package of different cocktails, Brawn.” He loved the feeling of winning, and knew this was the piece that would make Brawn his. Raze lowered his arms and slid his hands over Brawn’s shoulders again, rubbing the steeled muscles. “He doesn’t want to give this up, Brawn. He can’t and you know it. Let me be what you need…”\n\nBrawn shoved him away, and this time the tiger did fall back over the couch, rolling to the floor where he looked up in shock. No one had ever turned him down like this. Anger replaced the shock as Brawn turned and walked out of the house, pulling keys from his pocket. “When everything falls apart and you have no one to turn to, Brawn, you’ll see that I was right!”\n\nBrawn ignored him, didn’t care that everything that he had done for Raze and the rock group was still on the table. He didn’t give a flying fuck about any of it at that moment. His only concern was Tiran and getting to him before he did something he would regret. \n\nHe flew down the interstate, not caring if any police officers saw him speeding like this. He could only see the road home and the images in his mind of Tiran screaming and writing in pain, dry heaving, loosing color and weight before his eyes. “Please, baby, don’t do this…” He begged it, sending up prayers that Raze was wrong and that Tiran wasn’t and wouldn’t do what he was so terrified was happening. \n\nThe tires screeched when he turned corners and slid the sedan into the driveway. He didn’t even turn it off or lock it, just jumped out as soon as it was in park and ran to the house. “Tiran!” he screamed, searching every room, not finding his cougar. “Tiran!” \n\nWhen his feet came to the bedroom his blood drained and his heart stopped. On the bed, Tiran was curled into a ball. Needles and packets of white powder were strewn all over the bed. His mate was shaking and sobbing, He grabbed a trashcan and shoved everything into it before grabbing Tiran and pulling him around, away from the headboard, and forced him to look up into Brawn’s eyes. \n\nHis heart broke looking down into his mate’s eyes. “I didn’t do it, Brawn… I couldn’t… I need… but I… I couldn’t…” He shut his eyes, and just sobbed, curling into that damn ball again. It was then that Brawn realized that he hadn’t seen any of the packets open, none of the needles had been used. There was no residue of lines on the table next to them. His lungs kicked back into gear.\n\nBrawn scooped all the drug items into the trashcan and slid it into the bathroom before sliding onto the bed and pulling his mate close, tucking the cougar’s body into his. “I’m here, baby. I’m here, and I am so sorry that I didn’t see this, that I wasn’t here to help you.” \n\nTiran’s face was buried into Brawn’s throat, “I.. I need… I need help, Brawn.”\n\n~~\n\nThe car idled in the parking spot and Tiran was shaking in the passenger seat. His left arm was bent and tucked into his chest, holding the cotton ball held down by medical tape into the crook of his arm. He had been so scared in the doctor’s office, and Brawn had been broken while he held his other hand and kept his face tucked into his shoulder as the doctor had drawn what seemed like vial after vial after vial of blood. \n\nThe doctor was worried about the spasms and the episodes and felt that the blood tests were necessary in order for them to be able to take the next steps in treatment. He had prescribed multiple medicines that would help him. Simple things like medicine to help him sleep, muscle relaxers when the spasms hit, and anti-anxiety pills to keep him as calm as possible. \n\nTiran was a little drugged out, having been given a shot to help him relax. Tiran had been adamant that he wanted to get this over with in the same day, too. Brawn wasn’t so sure that he could handle this, but he wanted to do everything he could to help his man, and this was the next step in the process.\n\n“You ready to go in, baby?” He rubbed a hand over Tiran’s cheek, seeing the tightness in his body, the nerves so clearly written over his features. He looked over, away from the brick building, so innocuous from the rest of the ones on the busy street. “Yeah, I think so. The drugs the doc gave me are kicking in more, so I’m not so terrified anymore.”\n\n“I’ll be right there, baby. I’m not going anywhere.” Tiran leaned his face into his lover’s palm, and Brawn smiled when he heard the light purr ripple up from his mate’s chest. \n\n“I love you, Brawn.”\n\n“I love you, too, Tiran. Now let’s go do this.”\n\n~~\n\nThe counselor was petite, the smallest little bobcat that Brawn had ever seen. Her eyes were tender, and her touch, when she reached out and took each of their hands, was gentle and comforting. Her office was so relaxing. Blues coated the walls in flowing patterns that drew Tiran’s attention and made him feel safe in the small room. There was no desk or anything that really labeled it as an “office.” It had big, cushy couches along each wall, a thick plush rug in the center of the room decorated in a pattern of one huge celtic knot, and a gravity water dispenser in the far corner. \n\nDr. Talbot wore jeans and a red blouse with black flats. Small diamond studs adorned each ear and her long hair was down, flowing across her back as she walked. She put Tiran at ease, and that made it easier to walk into the room and sit on one of the cream colored couches. \n\nShe tucked her feet under herself, leaving her ting little flats on the floor, and rested her hands in her lap. “I’m so happy that you are here, Tiran.” She turned to Brawn, “And I am glad that you are here with him. I know that you have had a rough time and I want to help you.” She turned back to Tiran, “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”\n\nLooking into her eyes he felt safe but was still scared of himself to a large degree. “I-“ He stopped and closed his eyes, his jaw clenched. He felt Brawn take his hand, “I’m… I’m a drug addict… and I-“\n\nDr. Talbot stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Tiran. Look at me.” She waited until his eyes met hers, lightly shining with tears, “Not today, Tiran.” His eyes became confused. She smiled at him and patted his arm. “Today I want to know about you, Tiran. What were your dreams as a child? What do you do now? What were the things that you always wanted to do? Who was/is your best friend? What movies do you like? What is your favorite ‘bad for you’ food?” She smiled wider. “Today is for us to get to know one another. I want to know you. What your passions are and what you want from life.” Her head tilted to the side. “You can’t face what is happening now unless you are comfortable facing it. So, we’ll get there when you are ready. For now, just talk to me. Like you and I just met at a coffee shop or at the local bookstore and are new friends. Today is for new beginnings. We’ll get to the hard side of life when you are ready.”\n\nHis body relaxed and tears slipped from his eyes. He sniffed and turned to lay his head on Brawn’s shoulder for a moment. He met his mate’s gaze and swallowed. Brawn smiled, “See, baby, no worries.”\n\nHe leaned over and kissed Brawn, “I love you.”\n\n“I love you, too.”\n\nTiran felt like a little weight was lifted off his chest as he turned back to face Dr. Talbot. “Well, I’m a happily mated man, with, in my opinion, the best job in the world.”\n\nThey simply sat and talked for over two hours. When they left afterward, Tiran was tired. Bone tired. But the best part was that he’d made it through the first session. His mate still held his hand as they walked to the car, and they were even closer than they had been. When his head laid back against the seat cushion he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Thank you, Brawn,” he whispered as sleep finally claimed him.\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Raze stood up from his desk and strode to the door when he heard the knocking. The sight that met his eyes had him rock hard in moments. He had to tuck his body to the side in order to hide the hard length trying to push up against his jeans.

“Brawn! Hey, come on in.” He stepped aside and clapped a hand onto the man’s shoulder as he passed. “What’s going on, dude?”

Brawn held up a file folder stuffed to its limits, and a couple of CD cases. “I’ve got the stuff ya’ll asked for.”

Raze had to stop and think for a moment to bring his brain back around to remember what Brawn was talking about. Lust for the sexy man in front of him had him blanking. “Oh, shit! Yeah! Lemme see it!”

Raze had been working with a local rock group that was trying to get into the big leagues. He’d talked to them, gotten them into the studio downtown and then had given everything to Brawn for some touch-ups.

They had their heads buried into all of it for a couple of hours, grins on their faces, knowing that the group was going to go far. They had the talent, the lyrics to get people addicted to their stuff, and even their look was just new enough to attract a good crowd. After getting their latest songs to the local radio stations, getting their posters and other promotional material out to the public, Raze and Brawn were sure that they’d get off the ground quick.

“So, how’re things at home?” Raze stood and stretched, his abs peeking out from between his jeans and shirt. He worked out on a regular basis, and made sure to put that on display in front of Brawn at every opportunity.

“Good,” Brawn nodded as he collected things. “He’s been sober for roughly three weeks and seems to be doing okay.” The sight of finding Tiran in the pool the other night still broke him a little.

Raze saw the slight flinch when he spoke and grinned inside. This was his chance and he saw the opening like a hunter sees his prey at the end of the crosshairs. He slid back down onto the couch at Brawn’s side, brushing their hips and thighs together, one arm sliding around Brawn’s shoulders. “What’s happening, Brawn? I can read you like a book.”

Brawn sighed, his head dipped low as images kept floating around in his head. “He’s done with the initial withdrawal, but he had these spasms that pop up, and each episode is getting more and more painful. I can see it when I look at him.”

Raze pulled him closer, using a finger to tilt Brawn’s head so their eyes could meet. “You deserve so much better, Brawn.” Before Brawn could question anything he slid his lips over Brawn’s. He teased his prey’s lips by tracing them with the tip of his tongue, cupping the back of Brawn’s head, pulling him closer. He always found that catching his prey off guard was better than giving them the ability to stop him.

It took roughly twenty seconds for Brawn’s conscious to kick in before he shoved Raze back, shooting up off the couch, backing into the wall that was closest. His chest heaved, heartbeat racing and guilt ripping through his heart like a poison. “What the hell, Raze?” He screamed at the tiger.

Raze skirted the couch and stalked Brawn, pushing him up against the wall, keeping him from moving, tangling his legs through the panther’s to keep him from kicking out and wrapping his hands around Brawn’s wrists to hold him in place.

“You and I both know that Tiran is the wrong man for you, Brawn. How much trouble has he brought you throughout the years? Now this shit with all the drugs?”

Brawn forced the tiger away, shoved as hard as he could, and watched and the man lost his balance and fell back onto the couch, barely catching himself before he toppled over the back of it. “I do not give a shit what you think I should or should not do. I do not give a shit what anyone thinks! He is mine!” The possessive side of his came out, and Raze started to worry for a moment when his eyes blazed with rage.

“I can take care of you, Brawn!” He whispered it, the importance of his plea evident in his own eyes, “Tiran has treated you like shit. He has put you through the wringer.” He stood, holding out his hands in an attempt to calm the panther down. “I had to watch part of you die for him when he was going through withdrawal..”

“Whatever in me died that day will live again. Watching him pull himself together is all I need to know that we will be just fine.” His fists were clenched and he thought he’d hyperventilate with how much air he was chugging into his lungs.

“How could you think I’d leave him? How could you possibly believe that I would ever walk away from the best thing in my life, Raze? What EVER gave you the inclination that I WOULD leave him? What the hell gives you the right to try and push us apart?”

Raze rushed forward, grabbed him by the shoulders and ignored the growl of anger that Brawn aimed at him, ignored the bared fangs and fisted claws. “I can love in every way.” He begged Brawn, “I can be there, be the true man that you need. He only gives you heartache and leaves you picking up the mess that he creates. I mean, come on, Brawn, when Jeri called the other day to tell me that she’d seen some shady character at your place trading a package for cash, I-“

Brawn’s body stiffened like he’d been turned into steel. “What the fuck are you talking about, Raze?”

Raze stepped back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Tiran had his dealer drop by your house to give him a package of different cocktails, Brawn.” He loved the feeling of winning, and knew this was the piece that would make Brawn his. Raze lowered his arms and slid his hands over Brawn’s shoulders again, rubbing the steeled muscles. “He doesn’t want to give this up, Brawn. He can’t and you know it. Let me be what you need…”

Brawn shoved him away, and this time the tiger did fall back over the couch, rolling to the floor where he looked up in shock. No one had ever turned him down like this. Anger replaced the shock as Brawn turned and walked out of the house, pulling keys from his pocket. “When everything falls apart and you have no one to turn to, Brawn, you’ll see that I was right!”

Brawn ignored him, didn’t care that everything that he had done for Raze and the rock group was still on the table. He didn’t give a flying fuck about any of it at that moment. His only concern was Tiran and getting to him before he did something he would regret.

He flew down the interstate, not caring if any police officers saw him speeding like this. He could only see the road home and the images in his mind of Tiran screaming and writing in pain, dry heaving, loosing color and weight before his eyes. “Please, baby, don’t do this…” He begged it, sending up prayers that Raze was wrong and that Tiran wasn’t and wouldn’t do what he was so terrified was happening.

The tires screeched when he turned corners and slid the sedan into the driveway. He didn’t even turn it off or lock it, just jumped out as soon as it was in park and ran to the house. “Tiran!” he screamed, searching every room, not finding his cougar. “Tiran!”

When his feet came to the bedroom his blood drained and his heart stopped. On the bed, Tiran was curled into a ball. Needles and packets of white powder were strewn all over the bed. His mate was shaking and sobbing, He grabbed a trashcan and shoved everything into it before grabbing Tiran and pulling him around, away from the headboard, and forced him to look up into Brawn’s eyes.

His heart broke looking down into his mate’s eyes. “I didn’t do it, Brawn… I couldn’t… I need… but I… I couldn’t…” He shut his eyes, and just sobbed, curling into that damn ball again. It was then that Brawn realized that he hadn’t seen any of the packets open, none of the needles had been used. There was no residue of lines on the table next to them. His lungs kicked back into gear.

Brawn scooped all the drug items into the trashcan and slid it into the bathroom before sliding onto the bed and pulling his mate close, tucking the cougar’s body into his. “I’m here, baby. I’m here, and I am so sorry that I didn’t see this, that I wasn’t here to help you.”

Tiran’s face was buried into Brawn’s throat, “I.. I need… I need help, Brawn.”

~~

The car idled in the parking spot and Tiran was shaking in the passenger seat. His left arm was bent and tucked into his chest, holding the cotton ball held down by medical tape into the crook of his arm. He had been so scared in the doctor’s office, and Brawn had been broken while he held his other hand and kept his face tucked into his shoulder as the doctor had drawn what seemed like vial after vial after vial of blood.

The doctor was worried about the spasms and the episodes and felt that the blood tests were necessary in order for them to be able to take the next steps in treatment. He had prescribed multiple medicines that would help him. Simple things like medicine to help him sleep, muscle relaxers when the spasms hit, and anti-anxiety pills to keep him as calm as possible.

Tiran was a little drugged out, having been given a shot to help him relax. Tiran had been adamant that he wanted to get this over with in the same day, too. Brawn wasn’t so sure that he could handle this, but he wanted to do everything he could to help his man, and this was the next step in the process.

“You ready to go in, baby?” He rubbed a hand over Tiran’s cheek, seeing the tightness in his body, the nerves so clearly written over his features. He looked over, away from the brick building, so innocuous from the rest of the ones on the busy street. “Yeah, I think so. The drugs the doc gave me are kicking in more, so I’m not so terrified anymore.”

“I’ll be right there, baby. I’m not going anywhere.” Tiran leaned his face into his lover’s palm, and Brawn smiled when he heard the light purr ripple up from his mate’s chest.

“I love you, Brawn.”

“I love you, too, Tiran. Now let’s go do this.”

~~

The counselor was petite, the smallest little bobcat that Brawn had ever seen. Her eyes were tender, and her touch, when she reached out and took each of their hands, was gentle and comforting. Her office was so relaxing. Blues coated the walls in flowing patterns that drew Tiran’s attention and made him feel safe in the small room. There was no desk or anything that really labeled it as an “office.” It had big, cushy couches along each wall, a thick plush rug in the center of the room decorated in a pattern of one huge celtic knot, and a gravity water dispenser in the far corner.

Dr. Talbot wore jeans and a red blouse with black flats. Small diamond studs adorned each ear and her long hair was down, flowing across her back as she walked. She put Tiran at ease, and that made it easier to walk into the room and sit on one of the cream colored couches.

She tucked her feet under herself, leaving her ting little flats on the floor, and rested her hands in her lap. “I’m so happy that you are here, Tiran.” She turned to Brawn, “And I am glad that you are here with him. I know that you have had a rough time and I want to help you.” She turned back to Tiran, “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

Looking into her eyes he felt safe but was still scared of himself to a large degree. “I-“  He stopped and closed his eyes, his jaw clenched. He felt Brawn take his hand, “I’m… I’m a drug addict… and I-“

Dr. Talbot stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Tiran. Look at me.” She waited until his eyes met hers, lightly shining with tears, “Not today, Tiran.” His eyes became confused. She smiled at him and patted his arm. “Today I want to know about you, Tiran. What were your dreams as a child? What do you do now? What were the things that you always wanted to do? Who was/is your best friend? What movies do you like? What is your favorite ‘bad for you’ food?” She smiled wider. “Today is for us to get to know one another. I want to know you. What your passions are and what you want from life.” Her head tilted to the side. “You can’t face what is happening now unless you are comfortable facing it. So, we’ll get there when you are ready. For now, just talk to me. Like you and I just met at a coffee shop or at the local bookstore and are new friends. Today is for new beginnings. We’ll get to the hard side of life when you are ready.”

His body relaxed and tears slipped from his eyes. He sniffed and turned to lay his head on Brawn’s shoulder for a moment. He met his mate’s gaze and swallowed. Brawn smiled, “See, baby, no worries.”

He leaned over and kissed Brawn, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Tiran felt like a little weight was lifted off his chest as he turned back to face Dr. Talbot. “Well, I’m a happily mated man, with, in my opinion, the best job in the world.”

They simply sat and talked for over two hours. When they left afterward, Tiran was tired. Bone tired. But the best part was that he’d made it through the first session. His mate still held his hand as they walked to the car, and they were even closer than they had been. When his head laid back against the seat cushion he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Thank you, Brawn,” he whispered as sleep finally claimed him.

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