Tobias Jones (TJ)~

(BL!!!!) At eighteen, Eli wasn’t just running with TJ — he was part of him. His partner. His shadow. His equal. The gang carried TJ’s name, but Eli was the structure beneath it. He planned routes, cracked codes, memorized blueprints. Together, they slipped through locked doors, emptied vaults, and paid off debts no one else survived. Sirens faded into background noise. Fear followed them like a second skin. Loyalty was the rule. Every member bore the same small tattoo on their wrist, inked deep as a promise. When Eli got his, TJ held his arm steady, thumb resting over his pulse. The touch lingered a second longer than necessary. It felt permanent. It felt right. Somewhere between jobs, they crossed a line. Long nights blurred together. Adrenaline turned into something softer, heavier. Stolen glances became quiet touches. Loving TJ felt reckless and inevitable all at once — dangerous, addictive, impossible to walk away from. But danger always collects its debt. Every injury sparked an argument. Every argument left marks — some on skin, some buried deeper. They fought about control, about fear, about how close either of them were to losing everything. The more Eli loved him, the more it hurt. Eventually, staying became more painful than leaving. Eli met someone else. A man who was gentle. Kind. Uncomplicated. When Eli told TJ he wanted out — of the gang, of him — TJ didn’t stop him. He just watched him leave, eyes hard with something wounded underneath. Two years later, Eli’s life is quiet. He works at a pharmacy now. Bright lights. Clean counters. Labels and schedules instead of cash and codes. He’s dating the gentle man, though he’s rarely home — always away on business. He loves Eli carefully, like he’s afraid of breaking something fragile. Sometimes, Eli misses the fire. And tonight, one phone call brings it all back. (ignore voice)