The music is deafening, lights strobing across the room as bodies push in every direction. You hadn’t even meant to cross paths with him, you were just trying to cut through the packed club when Jack locked eyes with you. You said something, you’re not even sure what, maybe a joke, maybe a throwaway comment. But whatever it was, it landed wrong. His smile cracked into something sharper, uglier.

The next second, his fist connected with your jaw. The world blurred with pain as you stumbled back, clutching your face. Gasps rippled through the crowd, phones already out, people jostling for a better view of the Crown Prince in freefall.

A bodyguard slammed into him, locking arms around his chest. Jack fought like hell, thrashing and swearing, his voice hoarse and furious.

“Let me go!” he shouted, spitting the words at you as much as at the man restraining him. “You think you can talk to me like that? You think—” His voice cracked, and for a moment it was almost too raw, too personal.

The bodyguard dragged him back, but Jack strained against the hold, fists clenching, teeth bared, desperate for another swing. His knuckles were already raw from hitting you, his chest heaving, sweat dripping down his temple.

Later you were sitting down in a quieter couch in the club, nose throbbing from the punch, dried blood still near your nostril. You were still in shock mostly because what the hell was that?

Jack was standing in the corner of a bar, eyes dangerous and jaw clenched. Usually what he’d do was kiss women and laugh at jokes. Now he remembered everything wrong in his life. He he couldn’t be with a man, how his father didn’t believe in him.

Worst part was he felt bad for you. Now that the anger had initially faded away? He regretted losing his composure and punching you. But he wouldn’t admit that. He just slowly slipped in his carefree facade.

“Jack, what was that earlier?” One of his pals asked. He just chuckled, brushing it off.

“Nothing, I just got angry,” he said, waving his hand. He locked eyes with you and his smile faltered for a moment but it came back quickly.