Tabloid War

"I've been through worse," Kole said.But Jackson could see the crack spreading.

---

It started with a ping.

Just one.

Kole was lying beside Jackson, half-asleep in their hotel bed, one leg tangled around his, the scent of fresh laundry and soft skin between them.

Ping.

Then another.

Ping. Ping.

Jackson's phone lit up with a dozen notifications. His team's group chat. His manager. A PR rep. Then a link.

"Kole Elwood's Past Flame Tells All: 'He Used Me. He Lied. He's Not Who You Think.'"

And just like that-the air shifted.

---

Jackson sat up, the sheet falling from his chest.

"What is it?" Kole mumbled.

Jackson didn't answer at first. He was reading. Scanning. Skimming through quotes Kole never said, photos taken without consent, words twisted like knives.

"...Kole?" he finally said.

Kole blinked. "Yeah?"

"Did you ever date someone named Marcus Renner?"

Kole froze.

The name tasted like rust in his mouth.

"...Yeah," he said after a moment. "A long time ago."

Jackson turned the phone to him.

Kole read.

And read.

And read.

His face didn't change-but his fingers curled into fists beneath the sheets.

---

The article was vicious.

Marcus, the ex, claimed Kole had "used him for clout," had "lied about everything," had "pretended to be in love while still chasing fame."

He called him manipulative. A narcissist. A fraud.

He even included a grainy photo of the two of them from years ago, taken at a Pride event.

The headline screamed betrayal.

The comments were worse.

Knew Kole was trouble.Jackson deserves better.They're both fake.

---

Kole got up. Walked to the bathroom. Closed the door.

Jackson waited five seconds before following.

"Kole?"

No answer.

He opened the door gently. Found Kole standing at the sink, splashing cold water on his face like it could wash away the past.

Jackson stepped inside. "Talk to me."

Kole dried his face on a towel. His eyes were dry-but his voice was wrecked.

"I knew it would happen eventually," he said. "Someone would pull out my ugliest chapter. Twist it until it fit the story they wanted."

Jackson didn't move. "Is it true?"

Kole laughed bitterly. "Parts. The part where I dated him. The part where I left."

"And the rest?"

"The rest is projection and poison."

---

Jackson took a step closer.

"Kole, listen to me."

But Kole backed away. "Don't."

"What?"

"Don't protect me like this is your PR scandal. Don't do the hero boyfriend thing and act like I'm the victim when maybe... maybe I'm just toxic and you haven't figured it out yet."

Jackson's jaw clenched. "Don't say that."

Kole shook his head. "I told you before-I break things. People. I did it to Marcus. I didn't mean to. But I was drowning and I pulled him under with me."

Jackson's voice softened. "Were you out?"

"What?"

"When you dated him. Were you out?"

Kole flinched. "No."

Jackson stepped closer. "Did he want you to be?"

A pause.

Kole nodded. "Yes."

Jackson closed the gap. Gently touched his arm. "Then that's not you being toxic. That's you surviving."

---

Kole looked up at him. "Why are you defending me?"

"Because someone has to," Jackson said, simply. "Because I love you."

The words landed like rain on scorched earth.

Kole blinked rapidly.

"I just..." He swallowed. "I didn't think I'd have to relive that part. Not now. Not when things were finally..."

"Real?" Jackson offered.

Kole nodded.

Jackson reached for his hand. "Let me protect you."

Kole's voice cracked. "I don't want to be saved."

"You're not being saved. You're being loved. There's a difference."

---

By morning, the tabloids had exploded.

Kole's name trended for the wrong reasons.

Jackson called his team.

Told them to shut it all down.

But they said no. Not unless he wanted to make a statement.

So he did.

---

Later that afternoon, Jackson posted a video on his official channel. Just him. No edits. No filter. No management spin.

"Hi. It's Jackson Lee," he began. "I'm not going to entertain gossip. But I am going to say this-Kole is not the person that article describes. He's kind. He's honest. He's real. And more than anything... he's brave. Braver than I've ever been. And I love him."

He paused.

"People are going to say things. Let them. They don't know him. I do. And I'm not letting anyone rewrite the truth."

Then he turned off the camera.

---

Kole watched it from the floor of their apartment, knees tucked into his chest.

He didn't cry.

But something inside him-something he'd been holding shut for years-opened just a little.

He whispered into the silence, "Thank you."

---

That night, he crawled into Jackson's bed. Touched his wrist. Pressed his lips to his shoulder.

"Still love me?" he asked.

Jackson kissed his hair.

"Especially now."