----------------

A few weeks later...

It had been a while since Midas had returned to the Sanctuary. And after the stuff he endured while being held prisoner, his mental health had been suffering heavily to put it bluntly. At least twice each night Jones would have to be on guard in case his boyfriend was awoken by nightmares plaguing his head.

It hurt Jones.

Knowing that there was literally nothing he could do for Midas other than giving him the comfort he needs in the moment. If he could, he'd trade places with the mastermind for one night just so he could get the rest and sleep he deserves and Jones would take on the horrible things that Midas has to be put through.

And it was all thanks to Slone enhancing his trauma by forcing him to stay in his mind with that device strapped to his head.

As much as Jules wanted to be there for her brother, she was too busy repairing something big along with the Scientist. She barely had any time to visit him, meaning Jones was really the only adult Midas could turn to. Besides, he didn't really fancy dumping all his emotional problems on Astra who, while slightly mature and would probably understand, still had the mentality of a child.

Plus, after the blimp at Tilted Towers exploded on to the town, Astra hadn't been doing so well herself. Afraid that innocent people had been killed because of her lashing out at Slone with her new powers.

However, one day, The Sanctuary would receive the best news they'd had in weeks.

--------------

It was the middle of a quiet Saturday. Midas was currently practicing with his powers again, seeing if he could do more than forming explosive golden orbs. Jones was happily watching him, seeing as he had nothing else to do.

"You got this Midas!" He shouts, giving him a thumbs up.

Midas smiles with a nod, acknowledging Jones and his support. He puts his two clenched fists out in front of him and focuses. Then, when he spreads them apart, a golden spear floats in the air where his hands were. Jones is simply amazed by this.

"Woah!! How did you do that?!"

Midas takes the spear, tapping the pointy end. It was as sharp as a knife. He traces the blade with a finger as Jones walks over to him.

"I'm not quite sure how I did that. But it's rather amazing, isn't it?" Midas chuckles slightly.

Jones smiles with him as the spear disappears with a poof. At that moment, Jules runs over to the boys, a smile on her face.

"Guys! Guys!!"

They turn to her.

"Hey Jules. What's up?" Jones asks.

"The Foundation wants us in the meeting room. He's got something to announce apparently."

Without any further questions, the three of them head there to see what The Foundation wants. When they arrive, not only is he there but so is Imagined, Scientist, Origin and even The Visitor who's as silent as ever.

"Foundation, we're told you wanted us here for a meeting." Midas says.

"Yes, that's right." He responds. "We've just heard from our forces at Rocky Reels that the I.O guards have fled in surrender. And since the blimp explosion at Tilted Towers annihilated most of their defences and forces, they had no choice but to retreat back to their base in the mountain."

Midas' eyes widened a little.

"Which means... We've cornered them, just as you originally planned!"

"That's right."

The Foundation motions to the Visitor to press a button on his left. He does so, and a holographic projection of the Island appears. A blue ring surrounds a huge majority of the Island, while a red ring is around Loot Lake.

"We've managed to take back nearly the entire island within 2 months." The Scientist exclaims.

"ALRIGHT!!" The Imagined cheers, raising a fist into the air. "This calls for a celebration party!"

"Hang on Imagined. We still haven't figured out what the device I.O is building will be doing when it's complete." The Origin stops her.

"Aw c'mon Origin, don't be such a party pooper. Lighten up for once, yeah?"

The Origin glares at her but The Foundation silences them before they begin to argue.

"We can send someone out to investigate that tomorrow. For now, I believe Imagined has a point. We've all been fighting for 2 months, we could all need a night to just relax and be with friends."

"I couldn't agree more!" Jones laughs.

So it was settled.

A big celebration party was to be held all night at the Sanctuary with food, drinks, music and the like.

----------------

The rest of the afternoon was spent setting everything up for the party. The guards who patrolled the Sanctuary were responsible for buying all sorts of food snacks, plus drinks both alcoholic and non. Everything was placed on tables inside a room and a bar was set up selling things like beer and whiskey.

It was currently 10pm and the celebration had been going for at least 3 hours now. Most people had gotten pretty drunk, and Jones was no exception. He was talking to The Imagined while holding an empty glass and picking off a bowl full of crisps.

He had also chosen to wear his work outfit he arrived at The Sanctuary in even if it was a little scruffy, but it's not like anyone would care.

"Haha, I.O didn't even stand a chance against us!" He laughs. "I guess you could say they'd better IMAGINE more ways to kick our butts, eh?"

She rolls her eyes at him, clearly not impressed with the pun, and walks away.

"Aw c'mon Imagined you gotta admit that was funny, haha."

"Not really one of your funnier jokes Jones." Jules tells him, holding a glass of wine. Her hair was slightly messy and for once she didn't have it in pigtails. "And stop hogging the crisps man. I want some too y'know."

She takes a handful from the bowl and walks off while eating them. Jones sighs with a smile and goes to the bar to get one more beer. That's when he finds Midas sat on one of the seats with a glass of whiskey, the bottle and a few untouched snacks. Two empty bottles were nearby.

"Hey Midas! You okay?" He asks as he sits beside him.

He shrugs, filling the glass with more booze.

"Y'know, I don't think I've had whiskey before. What's it like?"

Midas passes him the glass.

"Try it for yourself my love."

Jones takes it and downs the whole glass. He gulps it down and shivers slightly.

"Woah! That's some strong shit. It kinda burns at the back of your throat when you gulp it." He chuckles, clearing his throat. "You have this often?"

"Yeah. Only if I want to drown my feelings though..." Midas sighs. "You get used to the burning feeling if you drink whiskey as much as I do."

Jones finds that very concerning. He shuffles close to Midas, his leg brushing against his boyfriend. It makes Midas blush as their eyes meet, before grunting slightly.

"Are you okay?"

Midas bites his lip, trying to conceal the tightness in his trousers. Jones notices though and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Do you need to step out for a minute Midas?"

Midas remains silent before grabbing Jones by the wrist, plus his half empty bottle of whiskey, and storms out the room with him. The blond stumbles with his footing as Midas pulls him along.

"Whoa, hey. Where we going?"

"Somewhere more... private..."

---

The pair arrive at their sleeping quarters. As they step through Midas lets go of Jones' wrist and puts the whiskey on the table.

"Midas are you-"

Before Jones can ask, his lips collide with Midas', the mastermind pushing him against the wall. Jones closes his eyes and deepens the kiss, his cheeks going bright red and his arms snaking their way around Midas' body.

When they separate Midas looks at him in the eyes.

"Jones... I'm sorry..." He says, his voice cracking slightly.

"For what?"

Midas steps back to grab the bottle of whiskey.

"I just feel like sometimes... I'm not good enough for you and you deserve someone better." He says, tears brimming in his eyes.

Jones looks confused and worried.

"Why? What are you on about?"

"I feel like you deserve better than me! You deserve someone who's lived a normal life! Not me!! Not someone who keeps you up at night because he can't sleep!" He shouts.

The blond falls silent.

"You deserve someone who isn't a freak that has way too many emotional problems on his back." He cries. "A normal person shouldn't have to see their life fall apart in front of their eyes every single waking moment of their life!"

"Midas, please calm down. It's just the alcohol affecting your mental stability-"

"Ooh, not this time! These are the stupid emotions sober Midas has been holding in for the past few months!! Years even!!" He yells, clenching the whiskey bottle tight. It even slowly turns to gold.

The room falls silent as Midas hiccups and sobs in front of Jones.

"I've seen too much, John. I've seen reality nearly end so many times. My mother was killed by I.O and they brainwashed my father, I practically destroyed Apollo with my device..!"

Midas is about to fall on his knees before Jones quickly catches him and holds him close, tears forming in his eyes.

"All I ever do is hurt people around me John. I'm not safe to be around." He mutters. "You have no idea how many times I've thought about just... ending it all. Thinking it would be better if I wasn't here anymore..."

Jones' eyes widened as he uttered those words. Midas cries into his chest, his cracking voice reduced to quiet whimpers.

"I'm just so tired..."

They stand in silence for a good few minutes, Jones softly rubbing Midas' back and allowing him to cry.

"Midas... Thank you for telling me all that. I had no idea how much you were suffering in silence." He says. "It's not healthy to bottle up your emotions baby. Those thoughts you had of... ending it all, please understand that it's never the answer. There's so many people who are willing to listen to you and be there for you when you're in that dark place."

Jones raises Midas' head.

"And I SWEAR to you, I'm gonna be the BEST boyfriend to you. I'm always gonna be by your side no matter what kind of shit life throws at us." He tells him. "You were NEVER not good enough for me. No one's perfect. We're all flawed in our own way. But you wanna know what I think?"

Midas sniffles as Jones cups his face with his hands.

"I firmly believe, even with flaws, you're perfect just the way you are. And I'm sure others would agree with me baby."

Midas smiles while Jones wipes away his tears. The two of them were pretty drunk, but the words coming out of Jones' mouth were genuine and honest.

"Thank you, Jones... Thank you for calming me down."

"No problem. So, do you wanna head back to the party?" Jones asks, taking his hand.

"No. I want to stay here...with you..." He says.

The two of them sit on the bed, their hands intertwining together. The mastermind then gets a thought and turns to Jones.

"Hey, Jones? What if we... y'know?"

Jones looks at him in confusion before something clicks in his mind.

"O-Oh! Are you sure Midas? What if someone hears us?"

"Do you really think they'll hear us with all that loud music playing?" Midas smirks. "Besides, the two of us are drunk and emotionally drained. I think it's what we need."

Jones blushes before chuckling.

"I suppose you've got a point." He says. "But I can tell this'll be your first time, so we'll take it slow at first."

Midas puts the bottle of whiskey near his lips and downs whatever is left of the liquid, wiping his mouth and tossing the bottle in the bin when he's finished.

"Fine by me."

--------

--------

After Midas says those words, he slowly locks lips with Jones and gives him a passionate kiss. The blond shivers as a tongue slips inside his mouth, Midas putting his hands on Jones' shoulders and slipping his blue blazer off his body.

Their lips separate for a moment so they can catch their breath. Jones then makes quick work of getting Midas' shirt off, getting the buttons undone as fast as he can. As he gets the last button done he rips off his shirt and tosses it aside onto the pile of clothes on the ground. Jones had seen Midas' tattooed chest a few times in the past, but seeing it now felt different.

"Why does a guy need that many tats?" He wonders, running his hands down Midas' shoulders before leaning in to kiss him again.

Midas moans into the kiss as Jones licks the roof of his mouth and tears the blond's shirt off. With their kisses slowly getting more hungry, Jones lies down on the bed and allows Midas to hover over him and lie on his bare chest.

"I could ask why your abs are pretty to gaze at." Midas counters before going back into the kiss.

The two of them were now wearing nothing but their trousers and holding each other close.

They separate the kiss and Midas leans in again, but goes to Jones' neck and starts biting the skin gently, determined to leave his mark on him. Jones can't help but moan and bite his bottom lip, his cheeks burning a bright red as Midas finds his soft spot.

"You like it when I do that, don't you?~" He smirks, giving Jones a lidded gaze and carrying on near the bottom of his neck.

"Well I'd do the same, but... -ah~- your tattoos would cover the marks." Jones laughs a little.

"Who cares? Go wild Jones." Midas insists.

Chuckling, Jones obeys and begins gently nipping and biting Midas' skin, aiming at segments that revealed any parts of his pale skin. As they do this the tightness in Midas' trousers becomes more prominent. It was becoming harder to ignore.

"A-Ah... Fuck..."

Jones looks up at him.

"You okay M?"

"Yeah, just a little...tight is all.."

Jones' eyes trail down to Midas' trousers and he could see what he was on about. His clothed member was practically begging to be let out. Jones reaches out a hand before looking back at Midas.

"May I?" Jones asks, awaiting his answer.

"Ngh...p-please..."

Jones wastes no time in unbuckling his belt and pulling down his trousers, albeit teasingly slow. Midas looks on, excited yet nervous. He hadn't done anything like this before. To ease his nerves, he goes to kiss Jones softly, their foreheads touching.

He gasps as Jones throws his trousers aside. Jones curls a finger near the rim of Midas' boxers and slowly pulls them off. The mastermind hisses as his member springs free from its confines at last.

"Someone's a little needy, aren't they?" Jones chuckles, looking at Midas' reddening face.

Midas pants heavily, gripping on to the bedsheets tight and not caring if his touch turned them gold, moaning as Jones holds him gently and strokes him with his thumb.

"John... p-please..." He whimpers, lust clouding his thoughts. "Make me feel good about myself."

Jones smiles at Midas referring to him as John instead of Jones. It made the sexual tension between them all the more prominent.

"If that's what you want baby~"

He sits up and slowly begins to move his hand up and down his member, while pressing kisses against Midas' chest.

Midas finds the action so arousing, tension and pleasure burning in his gut. He wraps his arms around Jones, digging his nails into his back.

"Yes. Oh my god, yes."

He groans in pleasure, clenching his teeth and lowering his head which urges Jones to keep going.

"Please, don't stop." He begs. "It feels so good."

"If you don't want me to stop, you best include me in the fun golden boy." He smirks.

Midas immediately grabs the belt holding Jones' trousers in place and undoes it, ripping it open and wiggling down both them and his boxers. He throws them on to the pile of clothes and gazes down at Jones now stripped of all his clothes.

He was a little bigger than Midas, but that was to be expected. They differed a lot when it came to body proportions.

Midas decides to do what Jones did to him, and slowly slides his hand up and down his member while their lips collide once more. Jones shivers as they let each other's tongue explore the others mouth, almost trying to claim dominance over the other.

"Oh god, Midas... That's so fucking hot." Jones groans softly, separating from the kiss before quickly going back in, saliva coming out their mouths. "Just, be gentle. It's already hard enough down there."

"With my golden touch I could make it harder darling~." Midas smirks, his golden eye showing an intense lust with how dilated it was.

A small but pleasurable groan leaves Jones and he hungrily kisses Midas again, gently biting his lip. Midas moans, sweat beginning to form on his forehead. Jones separates from him briefly.

"Midas, could you stop a sec? I need to reach that draw over there."

He listens to Jones' request as he reaches an arm across to the bedside table, opens a draw and starts rummaging through it.

"What are you looking for?"

Jones then pulls out two round rings with something rubber hanging off them and wrapped in a plastic packaging.

"What are those?" Midas asks.

"They're condoms, silly. When I was fishing around the house for stuff to help me rescue you I found them in a draw, so I brought them with me just in case."

"But why are we putting them on if I may ask? We're both guys..."

He turns back to Midas.

"Look we may be guys, but it doesn't stop us from being more intimate with each other. We're only gonna use them because I don't want to make a mess. Besides..."

Jones leans against Midas, wrapping his hands around his waist and putting them near his ass.

"This is your first time. So I want it to be all about you."

Midas smiles a little, locking lips with Jones and sighing happily before being given the condom. The blond quickly slips on his before helping Midas.

"Now the real question is... How are we doing this?" Midas asks.

"Well you'd think that since we're both guys there's no way for us to be intimate, right?" Jones says. "But there is actually. I just... gotta find it."

Midas raises an eyebrow, a little confused. Jones finds the spot he's looking for and slowly inserts a finger. The mastermind gasps and moans quietly, finding the action somewhat addicting.

"That feels good surprisingly." He says through a groan. "What are you doing though?"

"If it's the right way to describe it, getting you ready I guess." He blushes, inserting another finger and stretching Midas a little. "I know you're usually dominant in other things, but this time around it'll be me being the dominant one. You okay with that?"

Midas nods, knowing Jones had a lot more experience in this field than he did. The blond removes his fingers and requests for Midas to spread his legs. He obeys and does just that. Jones is then the one hovering over him, hands by Midas' hips and member waiting to head into the entrance in front of it.

"One more thing. Are you alright with this?" Jones asks. "Because if at any point you feel uncomfortable or something begins to hurt you, tell me and I'll stop. I want this first time of yours to be good."

Midas nods.

"I do have one request. Can you go slow at first?"