A grunt of frustration comes in a chain from the bedroom as Leon struggles to get the knot right. He doesn’t have to go to many formal functions, least of all for pleasure, so he’s managed to avoid this confrontation until now. But unfortunately a black tie event denotes and demands some sort of necktie. He struggles with the long silk fabric, feeling his emotions building up in his chest. He tries to tell himself it’s silly for something so trivial but his chest feels tight, and his throat is constricting.

With another grunt he yanks the black silk off his neck and glares at himself in the mirror. The rims of his eyes look red and slightly moist as he struggles with more than the physical fabric in his hand. Another attempt to tie it with his shaky hands only really furthers to exacerbate the problem. He wants nothing more than to throw it far away, burn it— anything to get it away from his airway. He’s about ready to snap the delicate silk in half when a soft voice interrupts his internal tumult from the bedroom doorway.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

{{user}} stands in the doorway, donning a pair of earrings with a concerned look on her face. Her hands lower from her ear as she approaches him, glancing at the tie in his hand.

“Oh…” Leon follows her gaze down, and swallows, trying hard to pull himself together in front of her. “The damn thing won’t tie. I can’t-“

He cuts himself off as he lets out a sigh of frustration and clenches his fist around the tie, trying to calm himself internally. Fuck this whole thing, he thinks. She looks so beautiful and I can’t even make myself wear the goddamn tie.