It had been a hot minute since everyone had agreed to all show up at Julius's place for dinner outside of a holiday setting. Of course, the one exception being Luce, who Killian had banned from coming (which was honestly pretty wise considering the events that would take place). But nonetheless, pretty much everyone was there, and they were being civil.

Sullivan and Duvessa were on the couch, gossiping about the outfits they’d seen when the Met Gala aired just the weekend before, Octavian was laughing his ass off with Devlin and Killian, Nevan and Kelly were chatting near the window, and Rian, Cian, and Julius were all in the kitchen getting things ready for dinner.

Cian, who was standing at the stove, taking care of the gravy, looked over his shoulder to see the two brothers laughing about something quietly. He allowed himself a smile, happy to see Julius getting along with Rian for once in a blue moon.

The conversation between the two brothers was lighthearted, treading on the line of being friendly.

“I made Nevan promise he’d behave today,” Rian said with a smile, “Or else he’s not getting a thing from me when we get home,”

Julius let out a ‘pffft’ and shook his head, “I’m sure he would as long as Killian keeps his mouth shut…but I think you and I both know that’s never happening. Hell would have to freeze over and then some.”

The idea of Killian finally shutting up made the two of them nearly fall into a pile of giggles.

From their left, they heard Cian clear his throat, “Looks like the food’s ready?” Cian said with a grin as he looked between the usually quarreling siblings.

“Oh! Right-” Rian said and went out to peek into the living room.

“Come get food!” He shouted quickly and immediately scurried back into the kitchen.

The chatter in the living room stopped as they all got up to get food.

The clambering of plates and utensils filled the kitchen as everyone served themselves. There was enough food for everyone to have a generous serving size, and even Julius had a small bowl of mashed potatoes for himself.

Now seated at the dining table, Killian at the head, and to Killian’s left, Julius, Octavian, Sullivan, and Duvessa, and to his right, Cian, Devlin, Rian, and Kelly, and on the other side of the table, Nevan, they were all ready to eat.

As everyone took their first bites of food, sounds of pleasure and satisfaction rang out from the majority of them, Kelly saying one of their new favorite phrases as of late, “My compliments to the chef.”

It was only Duvessa who crossed her arms and rolled her eyes- Which Rian noticed and shot her a quick glare- before scooting her chair closer to Nevan’s.

Silence and the scraping of forks and ceramic filled the room as everyone dug into their food. To Killian’s right, however, Devlin leaned over to whisper something into Cian’s ear and Cian’s face became slightly flushed, though he kept a straight face.

“Care to share with the class?” Octavian teased as he looked across the table at his younger brother, which got a round of small laughs from almost everyone, though Duvessa just huffed.

“Oh, I was just sayin’ that-OW!” Devlins started non-chalantly, but was quickly cut off as Cian sharply elbowed him.

Devlin rubbed his now probably bruised forearm and looked up at his boyfriend with a smirk, “Jeez, baby, I was just gonna tell em’ I said that the rolls look great.”

That earned a disgusted “ugh” from Duvessa and Nevan, an annoyed groan from Killian, and an absolutely mortified look from Cian.

“Can someone change the subject? Like right the fuck now?” Kelly begged.

“Sure!” Killian immediately piped up, “Country’s fuckin’ fallin’ to pieces. And I blame the man in the office and his little friends.”

It was Julius’s turn to roll his eyes and Sullivan followed suit as well as scrubbing hand over their face.

“For once, can we just not-” Sullivan tried to say but was quickly cut off by Octavian.

“It’s a fuckin’ cult and I fuckin’ know it but everyone’s too much of a sheep to see it!” He declared.

“Might as well fuckin’ be,” Killian nodded with a shit eating grin.

From across the table, Nevan, who had been awfully quiet, spoke up, “Maybe it’s not the people in office, I mean, they are just trying to clean up the country,” He suggested while looking Killian dead in the eye.

“The fuck do ya’ mean clean it up?” Killian inquired, leaning back in his chair and looking up nose at Nevan.

“Oh you know…just what the whole presidency’s been about…getting rid of illegals, cleaning up the streets…”

If it was possible, the silence in the room got louder.

The clinking of silverware that once filled the room had now vacated and what was left was an uncomfortable intensity that could be popped with a sewing needle.

“The fuck did you just say?” Killian asked, leaning forward.

“Killy, not now…” Julius whispered.

“No no, Julius, it’s fine,” Nevan said, leaning forward as well, “Clearly, the bastard didn’t hear me. I said they’re getting rid of illegals, and therefore, cleaning up the fucking streets,”

The look of disgust and confusion on Killian’s face was enough to give everyone a clue to what he was thinking before he said it.

“Ya’ fuckin’ realize that almost everyone in this fuckin’ room is a fuckin’ immigrant, right? Or is all that vodka from over the fuckin’ years finally seepin’ into that piece of shit you call a brain?”

“Yeah, but all of them, except for two, are legal,” Nevan observed, pointing his fork between Killian and Cian.

“Well how fuckin’ astute of ya,” Cian muttered.

“I dunno, I just find it interesting that two of the biggest crime bosses in American history are both illegal. Just food for thought,” Nevan noted with an obnoxious bite of food off his fork.

Cian’s eye twitched and Killian ground his teeth together.

“That doesn’t really make sense though…” Kelly, who was to the left of Nevan, mumbled while looking at their plate, “I mean, you’re in the mob too, and an immigrant…legal or not,”

Nevan, now feeling a twinge of betrayal at his best friend siding with Killian, didn’t even spare Kelly a glance before addressing them.

“Hm. Well I guess I can’t blame you of all people for thinking that way,”

Kelly lifted their head slightly and looked over at Nevan with a look of bewilderment, “The fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, I just mean that when it comes to people in your case with a history of inbreeding in their family…mental deficiencies aren’t too uncommon.”

Kelly could only stare at Nevan as the brown-haired man went back to eating his meal all too non-chalantly.

Something in Kelly’s chest stung, though they weren’t sure what it was, and their cheeks began to burn hot as they looked at their friend.

Rian put his hand on Kelly’s, “Kelly, don’t listen to him, he’s just being an ass-”

Kelly ripped their hand from under Rian’s and stood up abruptly, their chair falling back from the force.

“If anyone here is fuckin’ metally deficient, it’s you if ya think no one fuckin’ knows just how much of a Goddamned fuckin’ faggot ya are!” They spat before stomping away down the stairs of the apartment, out the door, and into the cool Boston air.

“Kelly, wait-” Rian called after his friend before turning to look at Nevan, “Why the FUCK would you say that?!”

Rather than Nevan answering, Duvessa spoke up for him.

“I mean, Nevan has a point…inbreeding can fuck anyone’s thinking process up. And, quite frankly, we all know what Kelly was doing with his sister in that basement for 16 years, so why would it be any surprise that his thinking might be flawed?”

“Duvessa, you need to stop,” Sullivan snapped, but unfortunately, their friend continued.

“But you know who could help with that? Luce. Isn’t that right, Julius?” Duvessa asked with a sickeningly sweet smile in the dressmaker’s direction.

“Shut yer cum filled mouth, ya whore,” Killian sneered before his husband could answer.

“What? I’m just saying!” She giggled maliciously.

From the other side of the table, Julius’s hands trembled slightly, which he hid in his lap.

“If anyone here needs to go visit a fuckin’ psychiatrist, it’s you Duvessa! And ya know what? You and Luce are just meant for each other!" Rian blurted.

“Oh? How so?” Duvessa challenged.

“Well you both like em’ pretty fuckin’ young for starters,” Rian snarled.

That was what made everyone at the table freeze.

“What? We all know it.” Rian confirmed, putting his elbows on the table, “Luce is a fucking pedo for starters, Julius is dead proof of that-”

“Rian, just give it up-” Octavian butt in.

Rian raised his voice over his eldest brothers’, “all I’m saying is, is that a 15 year old boy is a pretty fucking interesting choice-”

“Rian, shut the fuck up,” Devlin hissed as he kicked his younger brother under the table.

“Ow! I’m not finished!”

“WELL BE FUCKIN’ FINISHED!” Cian roared.

Everyone’s heads snapped to the blonde’s direction.

“Just shut up, Rian,” Cian said coldly, “quit making your problem with her everyone fuckin’ else’s.”

“I never should’ve fuckin’ invited you,” Julius murmured, though his eyes looked lost as he stared at his cold, untouched bowl of mashed potatoes.

“Why are you saying that like it’s my fault?!” Rian asked, tears starting to come to his eyes.

“Oh, fuck this,” Cian gave up, throwing his napkin onto his plate before getting up and stomping off to his bedroom and slamming the door.

“See what you fuckin’ did?!” Devlin accused, motioning at the empty chair his boyfriend was once sitting in.

“What I did?” Rian sputtered, astonished at the blame now falling onto him.

“Yes! What you did!” he confirmed, “and you!” Devlin pointed at Nevan, “you just don’t know when to keep your mouth fucking shut! Or keep your SLUT under control!”

It was now Devlin’s turn to get up from the table, going to he and Cian’s bedroom, though not before grabbing a bottle of wine from off the table.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Killian groaned as he leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face.

Killian looked over to his left, where Julius was sitting, still staring at his bowl, though his posture had gotten smaller.

“I think it’d be best if…everyone just went home for the night…” Killian said quietly before turning to his husband and taking Julius’s hands into his.

Octavian stood up, and Sullivan stood with him.

Nevan and Duvessa got up, and Nevan looked over at Rian.

“Well? Are we going or not?”

Rian opened his mouth to reply but couldn’t say much. For once, he really didn’t want to go home with Nevan.

“Rian will stay the night with Octavian and I,” Sullivan said, a sort of finality in their voice. The decision being made, “Just take Duvessa home with you, Nevan.”

“Fine by me,” Duvessa said, pleased.

Octavian walked around the table and grabbed his younger brother's forearm gently.

“Let’s go,” he mumbled quietly and left with Sullivan and Rian to their apartment.

With that, Nevan spun on his heel, Duvessa on his arm and left, leaving Killian with Julius to pick up the pieces.