Driver had been cooking dinner as Seb practiced a new song he'd made when the locked front door opened.

Driver immediately tensed at the sound and grabbed the nearest knife, walking out of the kitchen with the knife folded behind his back with his opposite hand out, ready to grab whoever it was.

Seb looked up from the piano when Driver stood to the side of the entrance hallway and glanced at the door. "Laura!" He called out, exasperated.

Driver relaxed within a second and turned back into the kitchen. He put the knife down on the counter as Seb got up to greet his sister.

Laura strode into the house like she owned the place and hugged her brother. Seb returned the hug, pretending to be mad at her for breaking in again.

She pulled away when she saw something moving in the kitchen and turned.

Driver stood in the doorway, fidgeting with a hand towel, and gave her a shy smile. "Hi," He said softly.

Laura glanced from the man standing in her brother's kitchen to her brother. "Where the fuck have you been hiding him?" She elbowed Seb in the side.

Seb swatted her hand away and grumbled. "He's been here for months," He admitted quietly.

Laura gasped and looked at her brother like he'd just crushed her soul. "And you didn't introduce him to me? Or mention him? You're a terrible boyfriend."

She slapped his arm as she spoke and Seb kept swatting her hands away each time. Driver stood in the kitchen doorway still, finally relaxing seeing the two of them bicker and taunt each other. Laura seemed like a lot of fun. Driver already liked her.

Laura finally pushed Seb away and walked up to Driver. She stuck a hand out with a sweet smile. "Hi, I'm Laura, Sebastian's sister."

Driver tried not to laugh as he glanced over Laura's shoulder and saw Seb muttering angrily to himself. He looked at Laura and smiled kindly. "Nice to meet you, Laura."

Seb stopped pretending to be mad and ushered the two of them into the kitchen. He had Driver finish making dinner as he corralled his sister into a seat at the table. She asked question after question about Driver to Seb like the man himself wasn't there, and Driver appreciated not having the questions directed at him.

Driver finished cooking and put together three plates. He set Seb's and Laura's plates down on the table in front of them before going to get them utensils. Driver set their forms and knives down on the table next to their plates, and both of them thanked him earnestly as he walked away to grab his own plate and utensils.

Driver sat down at the table on the opposite side of Laura and Seb, barely making eye contact with Laura but watching Seb easily. He seemed so relaxed with his sister. Driver was glad his sister was good to him.

"So," Laura turned towards Driver as she pushed Seb to eat his food. She took a few bites of the food and praised Driver's cooking. He nodded his thanks and Seb gave him an encouraging smile. "What do you do?"

Driver glanced at Seb before answering. "I'm a mechanic," He said before taking another bite out of his food. Seb raised a brow at him, wondering why Driver was being so specific when driving was his thing.

Driver caught the look and tilted his head in confusion, not understanding. Laura glanced between the two, not knowing what was happening.

Seb cleared his throat and answered for Driver. Honestly this time. "He drives," He smiled. "You should see him behind the wheel."

Driver shook his head at the compliment and ate as his cheeks reddened. Laura glanced at Driver's face and bit back a smile. "Oh, yeah?"

Seb nodded, not catching the glint of mischief in her eyes, and continued. "He's an incredible mechanic, too. He takes such good care of my Buick and his Malibu."

Laura watched Driver almost choke on his food at her brother's words and couldn't help smirking. Yeah, she approved of Driver. He's shy around her and clearly enamored with her brother the same way her brother is with him.

She patted Seb's shoulder and motioned towards Driver. Seb glanced over and saw how red the tips of his ears were as the man ducked his head. Seb reached over and put a hand over Driver's. Driver held onto his hand for a moment before looking back up.

His face was less red now, but he still looked oddly vulnerable. Laura went back to eating, pretending not to see the conversation playing out between them with just their eyes.

They kept eating after that and Seb mostly talked with Laura about what he's been up to, with Driver finishing his food first and going to wash the dishes he'd made and his plate.

Laura glanced at his back as he turned towards the stove and looked at Seb confused. Seb understood what she was asking instantly and leaned closer to her, talking quietly. "He's just shy— doesn't wanna accidentally upset you."

Laura furrowed her brows but nodded. "Like you," She said back as she finished her food. Seb went to defend himself but she waved a hand at him. "Sure, you're mouthy now, but when you were younger, you weren't."

Seb huffed but didn't say anything back, knowing she was right. He finished his food and gathered his and Laura's plates and brought them over to the sink.

Seb slid up beside Driver and gently set the plates and utensils down next to the sink. "You okay?" He asked Driver quietly, putting a hand on the man's arm.

Driver nodded but didn't look okay. Just something in the way his shoulders and jaw moved told Seb he was lying. Seb let it go for now and just squeezed Driver's arm and let go.

He walked Laura back to the door and she gave him a quick hug. "I like him," She whispered in his ear. She pulled away and gave him a stern look. "You'd better invite me over again so I can learn more about him."

Seb smiled at her as she opened the door and waved at him. She shut the door and got a few steps away from the house before Seb opened the door and shouted, "I didn't invite you over!"

All Laura did was laugh and keep walking away from him. Seb huffed and closed the door. He loved his sister dearly, but goddamn was she a handful sometimes…

Seb walked further into the house and went directly into the kitchen, watching Driver for a second from the doorway as the man finished cleaning the dishes. Even with Laura gone, he still looked tense.

Seb walked into the room and up to Driver, resting his hands on the man's sides. "What's wrong?" He asked softly.

Driver only shrugged and bit his lip, looking down at the floor. Seb lifted his hands to rest on Driver's cheeks and watched the man close his eyes at the touch. Seb stroked his cheeks with his thumbs softly and let Driver relax before asking the same question again.

Driver opened his eyes and looked vulnerable like earlier. "Embarrassed myself," He said and furrowed his brows, angry at himself.

"No, you didn't," Seb said quickly. "Laura is pretty picky, but she told me she liked you before she left. You're in her good graces, I promise."

Driver nodded and leaned down, planting a kiss on Seb's forehead. "I like her, too."

Seb smiled and dragged Driver out of the kitchen. He sat down on the bench of the piano and patted the space next to him. Driver sat down and watched Seb's fingers move across the keys as he started to play the song he'd been working on earlier.

Seb was happy. His two favorite people liked each other even after only knowing each other for roughly an hour.

Driver tilted his head as he followed Seb's hands moving over the keys, making Seb almost lose his focus before he got it back.

"And then 5 years later he performed in this club!" Seb said excitedly, waving his arms around to emphasize their surroundings.

Driver hummed and glanced around before going back to eating. "He like playing here?" He asked quietly after he finished chewing.

Seb nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! He met some of his band mates playing here," He waved to a corner of the club. "They used to sit over there and eat dinner together."

Driver looked over at the corner and smiled. "Like what we're doing now."

Seb put his hand on his fork. "Yeah…" He trailed off. "You ever play an instrument?"

Driver shook his head. "Cars were more my thing. Instruments are… delicate." He shrugged, not really sure how to explain it.

Seb nodded. "Well, you can always sit down with me when I play." He looked away from Driver as he spoke, cheeks dusted pink.

Driver smiled, eyes lighting up. "I'd like that."

They ate in silence for a minute, just listening to the music being played and the other patrons enjoying their meal.

Seb brought his head up suddenly, looking at Driver shyly. "…I'm not boring you with all this, am I?"

Driver tilted his head. "Of course not." He put his fork down and looked closely at Seb's face. He looked more closed off and insecure now. Driver could see it in the downturn of his lips and the slump of his shoulders. "I like learning from you."

Seb's eyes widened. "You don't have to say that." He shook his head at Driver, unsure if he was only saying that out of pity or obligation.

"I mean it," Driver responded firmly. "I'll always listen to you, no matter what." Driver figured being more open would help Seb relax and understand the honesty of his words.

Seb's face turned red and he looked away from Driver. He glanced around the room and Driver could see the wetness in his eyes. "Thank you," Seb said quietly. Driver almost couldn't hear him over the sounds of the club.

Driver smiled and picked up his fork again. "Did he stick around this club, or did he move on?" Driver decided to get back to the original topic, knowing that Seb would be more in his element that way.

Seb snapped his head back to Driver and his eyes lit up. "Well, actually-"

Driver listened to Seb ramble on about this musician for at least an hour, taking in every word and asking follow up questions. He was legitimately interested in the topic, but he was more interested in Seb's… everything. Not that Seb minded talking for hours about his favorite thing in the world.