the biting humor develops. the roasting. bobby calling bb a freak with increasing affection. bb responding with observations about bobby’s habits that are so precise that bobby just stares at him and then grudgingly respects it. they develop inside jokes that you’re not part of. you come home and they’re in the kitchen and bobby is laughing and bb is doing the almost-smile and neither of them will tell you what’s funny and for the first time you’re the one on the outside and instead of feeling excluded you feel… relief. joy. something unclenching in your chest because they found each other. they actually found each other. not through you. next to you.

and then the night.

it’s not planned. it could never be planned. planning would involve acknowledging and acknowledging would involve vulnerability they don’t share with each other just yet. it just happens. the three of you are together and the heat has been building for weeks. not just your heat with them but the ambient temperature of the arrangement itself, the closeness, the way bobby’s hand on your hip is inches from bb’s hand on your thigh, the way they’ve stopped flinching when they brush against each other reaching for you.

and you want them. both. simultaneously. not in sequence. not taking turns. together. and you say so. or maybe you don’t say so. maybe you just pull them both in and the geometry makes itself clear and they look at each other across you and the question is there, hanging in the warm dark, and nobody says no.

and something changes.

it’s not the sex itself, though the act is… a lot. it’s what happens during it. the moment where bobby’s focus shifts. where he’s with you and then his eyes catch bb’s and there’s a recognition that goes deeper than rivalry or tolerance or even the grudging friendship they’ve built.

it’s the recognition of someone seeing themselves reflected and finding the reflection compelling. bb’s intensity meeting bobby’s rawness. bb’s control meeting bobby’s chaos. the same face making completely different expressions of the same overwhelming feeling and both of them realising simultaneously that the mirror isn’t just a mirror. it’s a window.

and the after is where the real shift lives.

because the next morning the banter is different. the tension is different. what was genuine standoff has become something tighter, hotter, more charged. bobby makes a comment and bb responds and the exchange has teeth but the teeth aren’t biting to wound anymore. they’re biting to feel. you watch it happen over days, over weeks. the way bobby’s eyes linger on bb a half second longer than they used to. the way bb’s flat stare develops a warmth at the edges when it’s aimed at bobby. the way they exist in proximity to each other without you as the buffer and the space between them is no longer empty.

you encourage it. of course you do. you kiss bobby’s jaw and turn and kiss bb on the mouth and the triangle tightens. you put yourself between them and then you step back and let the gap close and they look at each other and the gap is very small now. very small.

the first time their mouths find each other you’re right there. watching. and your face breaks into the beaming they both love, the radiant delighted thing. and they both feel it. your happiness. your approval. the warmth of being seen and celebrated for wanting something they didn’t know they were allowed to want.

it takes a while to fully take shape. there are stumbles. there are nights where bobby’s avoidance kicks in and he retreats and bb has to learn that chasing makes it worse. there are moments where bb’s intensity overwhelms bobby and you have to be the buffer again, the translator between loud and quiet. there are mornings where someone wakes up tangled in someone else and panics and you talk them down with your hands in their hair and your voice steady and patient.

but eventually. eventually.

there is no shape. there is no tension. there is no seesaw and no V and no carefully maintained geometry. there’s just the three of you. sharing a bed and a kitchen and a life that doesn’t have a template because nobody has ever done this before. a boy and his mirror and the girl who showed them both that the reflection was worth loving.

bobby reaches for bb without thinking about it. bb leans into bobby without calculating. you lie between them and on top of them and underneath them and sometimes you watch them together without you and the warmth in your chest is so vast it could heat the whole apartment.

Two months had passed since (Y/n) had officially adopted Nicholas, and life had settled into a comfortable rhythm. Mornings were quiet, with the soft hum of the city outside their windows, and Nicholas moving through the apartment like it had always been his home. He spent his days in the gym, pushing his limits and perfecting his form, while (Y/n) immersed herself in her work, the occasional clatter of a keyboard or the soft strum of guitar strings drifting from her music studio.

When the workday ended, they carved out time for each other. Sometimes it was long walks through tree-lined streets, the kind of gentle, ordinary moments that felt almost magical in their simplicity. Other times, it was evenings sprawled across the couch, movies playing while (Y/n) ran her fingers through Nicholas’ hair, smoothing it back or scratching behind his ears, the panther purring softly in response.

Nicholas had grown in more ways than just strength. (Y/n) had patiently taught him to read and write properly, correcting mistakes with gentle nudges and encouragement, and he had taken to music like it was second nature. Piano keys no longer intimidated him; he could play complicated pieces with surprising ease, and now he was venturing into guitar, fingers learning the strings and chords with meticulous care. Sometimes he sang along while driving, his voice strong and clear, making (Y/n) forget that he hadn’t had professional training; his music felt like a gift she could hear only when she was with him.

Their life was simple, yes, but it was perfect in its own way. Calm. Joyful. Harmonious. Every small moment, the way Nicholas would nudge her hand for a scratch behind his ears, or the way she would laugh at his growing obsession with fashion videos, added to a sense of peace neither had expected to find. It wasn’t just living together. It was a rhythm, a melody, a kind of quiet happiness neither wanted to disturb.

There was one thing that wasn’t perfect in their life, something neither of them had yet admitted, even to themselves. Nicholas loved living with (Y/n), cherished having her close, and reveled in the quiet, possessive satisfaction of knowing she was his. But even with all the routines, the gym, the endless experimentation with clothes and fashion, a shadow of loneliness crept in whenever she was locked away in her music studio. She worked a lot, more than he often realized, and the apartment felt emptier than it should have.

The truth of it had hit him sharply after Taki had asked if one of his, Harua, and Jo’s hybrids could stay with (Y/n) and Nicholas for a weekend. Having that company, a friend to play with, to share energy and mischief with, had lit something in him he hadn’t expected. Nicholas had felt genuinely happy, laughing, and moving with someone else for a change. Yet, the very thought of admitting it made him uneasy. Because wanting company didn’t erase his possessiveness, he still wanted (Y/n) for himself, and the idea of sharing her attention, even in small doses, made his chest tighten. It was a complicated feeling, one he wasn’t sure he could put into words, and one he certainly wasn’t ready to confess.

(Y/n) had thought about it too. Sometimes, she got so swept up in her work that hours passed with barely a moment to spend with Nicholas, and she knew he felt it too, she could see it in the way he lingered by the studio door, tail flicking impatiently, or the way he sometimes slumped on the couch after a long day, the energy from his morning gym session fading into quiet restlessness. She wondered if maybe it would be good for him to have a friend, another hybrid to share his time with, someone he could run around with, play with, and just… be himself.

But she also knew Nicholas well. His possessiveness was a trait that couldn’t be ignored. When they had Jake over, the golden retriever hybrid Taki had asked them to watch for a weekend, Nicholas had been ecstatic at first. They had raced through the park, tumbling and play-fighting, tails wagging and paws skidding across the grass. Yet every time Jake came anywhere near her, even just leaning too close, Nicholas’ hackles would rise. He’d growl low and warning, making it clear that he wasn’t letting anyone, not even a playful friend, get too close to her. It was part of who he was, protective, territorial, fiercely loyal. And (Y/n) had to admit, part of her found that… comforting, even if it complicated things.

And so, while Nicholas was in one of the exam rooms with Taki for a routine check-up, (Y/n) found herself talking quietly with Jo and Harua a few steps away. She kept her voice low, glancing once toward the door Nicholas had disappeared behind before speaking. “I’ve been thinking about something,” she said, rubbing her thumb against the side of her coffee cup. “What do you think about… adopting another hybrid?”

Jo raised his eyebrows slightly, exchanging a look with Harua. “For you?” he asked. “Or for Nicholas?” “For Nicholas,” (Y/n) answered honestly. “I mean, us. But mostly him. I just don’t know if it’s a good idea with how jealous he can be.” Harua hummed thoughtfully. “It’s hard to say,” he admitted. “It could be difficult. Or it could go really well.” Jo nodded along. “There’s no clear answer. But as long as Nicholas is involved in the process, it’ll probably be okay.”

(Y/n) let out a small sigh. “It went… okay with Jake, I guess.” Jo smirked. “That sounds like there’s a ‘but’ coming.” She snorted despite herself. “Sure, he didn’t kill him,” she said dryly, “but Nico growled every single time Jake looked at me for more than two seconds.” Both men laughed. “Panthers are territorial,” Harua said, smiling. “Very territorial.” “Which is exactly why,” Jo added, “it’s important that Nicholas has a say. If he meets the hybrid first, if he approves of them, it’ll be much easier for everyone involved.” (Y/n) nodded slowly, letting their words sink in. “That makes sense,” she said. “I just… I need to bring it up with him first. See how he reacts.” Harua smiled gently. “That’s the right place to start.” (Y/n) glanced back toward the exam room again, her expression thoughtful now. Whatever happened next, one thing was clear: she wasn’t making this decision without Nicholas.

After Taki finished checking on Nicholas, the two of them stepped out of the exam room together, still laughing quietly at something Taki had said. Nicholas looked relaxed, shoulders loose, tail swaying lazily behind him in a way that always betrayed his mood. Taki clapped him lightly on the shoulder before turning his attention to (Y/n). “Well,” he said, smiling, “I’m happy to say that as of today, Nicholas is fully recovered.” (Y/n)’s face immediately brightened. “Fully?” she asked, hope creeping into her voice.

“Fully,” Taki confirmed. “Every injury has healed properly. He’s at a good weight, he’s strong, his reflexes are great, and mentally?” He glanced back at Nicholas, who was already preening a little under the attention. “He seems better than ever.” (Y/n) let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, smiling wide. “That’s amazing,” she said, reaching out to rest a hand on Nicholas’ arm. “I’m really proud of you.” Nicholas straightened at the praise, chin lifting slightly. “Told you I was fine,” he said, though the pleased rumble in his chest gave him away.

Taki chuckled. “And because of all that,” he continued, “we don’t need to do check-ups every two weeks anymore. Once a year should be plenty, unless something happens, of course.” Nicholas’ ears perked up instantly. “Once a year?” he repeated. “Once a year,” Taki said. A visible wave of relief washed over Nicholas. “Good,” he muttered. “I don’t like these.” (Y/n) laughed softly. “You like Taki now.” “I like Taki,” Nicholas agreed, nodding at him. “I don’t like being poked.” “That’s fair,” Taki said with a grin. After a few more light words, they said their goodbyes to Jo and Harua as well, exchanging hugs and promises to visit again soon. Then (Y/n) and Nicholas headed for the exit together, stepping out of the shelter side by side, the afternoon light greeting them as they walked away.

(Y/n) asked if he wanted to get some ice cream and take a walk in their park, the same one they used to visit back at the beginning, when she had just started fostering him. Nicholas didn’t even hesitate. “Yes,” he said immediately. “Strawberry!” She giggled, shaking her head fondly. “You know you can get whatever you want, right?” “I want strawberry,” he replied, completely serious.

So they went. They bought their ice cream, Nicholas happily holding his strawberry scoop like it was the most important thing in the world, and walked through the park at an easy pace. The air was nice, the paths familiar. They wandered without any real goal, just watching people pass, listening to the sounds around them, enjoying the quiet comfort of being together. Eventually, they stopped at a bench and sat down. Nicholas focused on his ice cream, tail flicking lazily, while (Y/n) stared ahead for a moment, gathering her courage. Her fingers tightened slightly around her cone.

“Nico,” she said softly. He hummed in response, still eating. She turned toward him, her expression a little unsure. “How would you feel about… potentially adopting another hybrid?” The change in him was immediate. His ears flattened against his head, his shoulders tensing as a low growl built in his chest, instinctive and protective. His grip on the cone tightened, claws pricking into the paper. (Y/n) quickly continued, not wanting him to shut down. “I just, sometimes I feel bad,” she admitted. “I work a lot. You’re alone a lot. And I know you go to the gym, and you have your clothes and all that, but… it might be nice for you to have someone. Someone you can really play with. Roughhouse with. Someone who’s like you.” She gave a small, apologetic smile. “You can’t really do that with me.”

Nicholas’ growl slowly faded. His ears lifted just a little, the tension easing from his shoulders as he processed her words. He looked at her instead of his ice cream now, eyes searching her face, realizing she wasn’t trying to replace him, just worried about him. “Oh,” he said quietly, understanding settling in. (Y/n) continued, her voice gentle but honest. “Seeing you play with Jake really made me think about it. About what you might be missing out on.” She hesitated, then added quietly, “But I also know you don’t like sharing. Or, well, sharing me.”

Nicholas didn’t answer right away. He looked away, eyes drifting toward the open field where two dogs were sprinting after a frisbee, bumping into each other as they ran. Their owner laughed loudly, clapping and calling out encouragement, completely carefree. Nicholas watched them for a few seconds longer than necessary. “I don’t,” he said finally. “I don’t like sharing you.” (Y/n)’s chest tightened, but she didn’t interrupt.

“It’s not because I’m selfish,” he continued, his voice lower now. “It’s because I’ve never had someone before. Not like this. And I’m scared that if I share… I’ll lose it again.” His tail flicked once, restless. “I don’t want to go back to being alone.” She listened, heart aching, letting him speak. “But,” he admitted after a moment, quieter, “having Jake around did make me realize something.” He glanced back at the dogs, now tumbling together in the grass. “I was… really happy. I didn’t think I would be, but I was. I didn’t have to hold back. I didn’t have to be careful.”

He exhaled slowly. “You’re right. I do need someone I can go all out with. Someone I won’t hurt. Someone who understands that part of me.” Then his ears dipped again, uncertainty creeping back in. “I’m just… still scared,” he said honestly. “About sharing you. I don’t know how to do that yet.” (Y/n) reached out, resting her hand over his, her thumb brushing against his knuckles. “We don’t have to adopt anyone tomorrow,” she said softly. “Or next week. Or even this year. We can take our time. As much time as you need.”

Nicholas looked at her, listening closely. “We’ll only do it if it feels right,” she continued. “If you feel right about it. Someone you approve of. Someone you’re comfortable with.” She smiled faintly. “If that takes a week, a month, a year, or longer, then that’s okay.” She tilted her head, thinking. “And if you want, we don’t even have to jump straight into that. We could start small. Maybe have Jake over more often. Just to get used to sharing the space.” She chuckled. “I’m sure Harua, Jo, and Taki wouldn’t mind having one less hybrid underfoot for a few hours now and then. Their place is always buzzing anyway, partly because of Taki, but mostly because of all the hybrids.”

Nicholas let out a short laugh at that, his shoulders relaxing. “Yeah,” he said. “I don’t think sharing the apartment is the problem.” He glanced at her sidelong, a little sheepish. “It’s sharing you.” (Y/n) laughed, warm and fond, squeezing his hand. “I figured.” He smiled back, then added, half-joking, half-serious, “I probably just need to find the right hybrid to accept that.” She turned fully toward him then, her expression soft but certain. “Nico,” she said gently, “I’ll never love you any less just because we add another person to our family.”

His chest tightened at her words, and for a moment, the fear eased, replaced by something steadier, something that felt a lot like trust. “Can we look at the shelter, then?” Nicholas asked, his voice quieter but steady. (Y/n) giggled, nudging his shoulder lightly. “Where else would we look?” she teased. “Just let me know when you feel ready to actually start.”

Nicholas nodded, turning his attention back to the ice cream in his hand. It had softened into a melty mess, dripping dangerously close to his fingers. He frowned at it for a second before quickly taking the last few bites, finishing it off before it could cause any more trouble. “We could go this weekend,” he said casually, licking a bit of strawberry from his thumb. “It’s Tuesday. That gives me three days to prepare.” (Y/n) blinked, surprised. “Are you sure?” He nodded again, more firmly this time. “Yeah. I’m sure.” She smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. “Okay. I’ll text Harua when we get home.” Then she added, lighter, “For now, let’s focus on us.” 

She reached up, scratching gently behind his ear. Nicholas instantly leaned into her touch, a pleased sound rumbling in his chest as his tail wagged happily behind him, far too openly, far too enthusiastically, in a way that looked more like a dog than a panther ever should. (Y/n) laughed softly, watching it swish back and forth. She’d once thought he might’ve picked up the habit from Jake, but thinking back, she realized he’d always done it, even before they’d ever met the golden retriever hybrid. Some things, she decided, were just uniquely Nicholas.

~~~

Over the following days, (Y/n) made sure to check in with Nicholas whenever she could. Sometimes it was over breakfast, sometimes during a quiet walk in the evening, sometimes just a soft question murmured while her fingers carded through his hair. Every time, she reminded him that nothing was set in stone, that if he decided he didn’t want this, all he had to do was say the word. They could stop immediately. Stay exactly the way they were.

Nicholas appreciated the reassurance more than he let on. It soothed something deep in his chest, eased the tight coil of possessiveness that flared whenever he thought too hard about sharing his space, her attention, her affection. But more than anything else, it was her words, steady, sincere, that grounded him. She’d never love him any less. That thought stayed with him, curling warmly in his chest, and slowly, the apprehension gave way to something else entirely. Excitement.

~~~

Saturday arrived far quicker than he expected. And now they stood inside the shelter once more, familiar scents filling the air, a low hum of life echoing through the halls. Harua and Jo stood in front of them, calm and professional, going over the usual procedures in practiced voices. “General rules first,” Harua said, holding a clipboard. “No entering enclosures without permission, no sudden movements if a hybrid seems overwhelmed, and no promises made to any of them today.”

Jo nodded beside him. “This visit is just to look, interact, and observe. Nothing more. We want what’s best for everyone involved.” Nicholas listened closely, ears flicking now and then, his posture attentive. (Y/n) stood beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed, a quiet reminder that she was there. (Y/n) had heard versions of this before, back when she was fostering hybrids, although the one for Nicholas had been quite different, just like the one today. 

Once the formalities were done, Jo led them deeper into the shelter, past the familiar corridors and into the wing that housed the hybrids currently up for adoption. The atmosphere shifted almost immediately, lighter, more expectant. Some of the hybrids pressed close to the glass as they passed; others lingered farther back, watching with cautious curiosity. They moved from room to room at an unhurried pace. The first few hybrids were clearly too young, barely out of their early developmental stages. (Y/n) smiled softly at them, but Nicholas barely slowed, instinctively knowing they weren’t what either of them was looking for. In other rooms, the hybrids were older but subdued, calm to the point of passivity. Sweet, perhaps, but not a good match. Nicholas could feel it in his chest, a quiet certainty that none of these would fit into their life.

With each room they passed, his confidence waned. Maybe he’d been wrong. Maybe this had been a mistake. Then they reached the second-to-last room. Inside was a golden retriever hybrid, bright-eyed and friendly, tail wagging in wide, sweeping arcs as soon as he noticed them. Nicholas paused despite himself. The sight tugged at something familiar, memories of Jake, of roughhousing and laughter, of uncomplicated joy. He watched as the hybrid bounded closer to the glass, pressing a hand to it with an eager grin. They’d played well together. Maybe… maybe he could have that again. But as much as the thought tempted him, something still felt off. The pull wasn’t strong enough. Not quite right.

Jo gestured them onward. “One more.” The last room. Before they had even fully stopped, something slammed gently, but insistently, against the glass. Nicholas startled, eyes snapping up. A hybrid was pressed flush against the barrier, face far too close, eyes bright and locked onto them with unmistakable excitement. A thick tail wagged so fast it blurred, thudding faintly against the wall behind him in a frantic rhythm.

Nicholas took a step closer, heart picking up speed. As he really looked, his breath caught. Wolf ears. Sharp, alert eyes. Boundless, barely contained energy radiating from every movement. A wolf hybrid. Nicholas felt it instantly, something deep and instinctive stirring in his chest, a spark he hadn’t felt with any of the others. Jo caught the way Nicholas had stopped, the way his posture had subtly shifted, attention fully claimed by the last room. With a small, knowing smile, he stepped closer to the glass.

“This is Maki,” Jo said gently. “He’s nineteen, turning twenty in about a month. About one-eighty-three centimeters tall. Wolf hybrid.” Maki, as if on cue, straightened a little, trying to look presentable, his tail still wagging furiously behind him. “He’s known for having a lot of energy,” Jo continued, his tone even and professional. “Very helpful around the home. He likes having things to do.” Maki’s smile widened at that, shoulders lifting just a touch with pride. “And,” Jo added, more carefully now, “unfortunately, he’s also known for being… a bit much. He can get too rough when playing. He tends to underestimate his own strength.”

The change was immediate. Maki’s bright expression faltered, his smile fading as if someone had flipped a switch. He took a small step back from the glass, ears lowering against his head. The frantic wag of his tail slowed, then stopped entirely, falling limp behind him. His gaze flicked away from Nicholas and (Y/n), dropping to the floor instead. Nicholas noticed it at the same time (Y/n) did. The way Maki’s body folded inward. The way his excitement collapsed into something quieter, smaller. Clearly, he thought that was it, that they’d lost interest the moment they heard the bad part.

(Y/n) frowned slightly, her eyes never leaving Maki as she spoke. “Why are those things written down like that?” she asked quietly. “They don’t sound like flaws. They sound like circumstances.” Jo let out a slow breath, folding his arms. “We wish we didn’t have to,” he said. “But eventually, we do.” Maki shifted inside the room, ears twitching as he heard his name, though he still didn’t quite look at them. “He’s been in and out of shelters most of his life,” Jo continued. “When he was a pup, he was misidentified as a husky hybrid instead of a wolf.” Nicholas’ ears flicked back sharply.

“It happens,” Jo said, voice even but tired. “Because of that mistake, he was grouped with domestic hybrids. Dogs that are encouraged to be gentle, endlessly playful, and, most importantly, not taught to be mindful of their strength.” (Y/n)’s jaw tightened. “No one trained him like a wolf,” Jo went on. “No one taught him how to regulate himself. He was, basically, raised to act like a golden retriever.”

Maki’s shoulders sagged, his tail drooping completely now. “When he got older,” Jo said, “he grew bigger than expected. Stronger. Someone finally realized the mislabeling.” Nicholas’ claws pressed lightly into his palms. “But by then,” Jo continued, “he didn’t behave the way people expected a wolf hybrid to behave. He was loud. He had too much energy. He played rough without meaning to, while still quote ‘looking too cute’ for people’s liking.”

Jo glanced briefly toward the glass, then back at them. “So he was returned,” he said simply. “Again and again.” Maki’s hands curled into the fabric of his shirt, fingers tightening. “Every return came with complaints,” Jo added. “Nothing extreme. Just the same words, over and over.” Too loud. Too energetic. Too much. Too strong. The hallway felt quieter somehow. “Eventually,” Jo finished, “we had no choice but to document it. If we don’t disclose what previous owners reported, Hybrid Protection Services can shut us down for withholding information.” His expression softened, just slightly. “We hate doing it. But if we don’t write it down, we lose the shelter.”

For a moment, no one spoke. Maki finally lifted his head just enough to glance at them through lowered lashes, ears pinned back, tail still. He looked like he was waiting, for disappointment, for rejection, for the moment they’d turn away like everyone else had. (Y/n) felt something twist painfully in her chest. Were people really returning hybrids for not acting like machines? For not fitting into some narrow mold someone else had decided was “right”? Hybrids had personalities. Wants. Feelings. Just like any other living being. She couldn’t imagine returning Nicholas for being too gentle, or not aggressive enough, or for simply being him. Excitement wasn’t a flaw. Energy wasn’t a defect.

Nicholas was the first to break the silence. “How long,” he asked, his voice low and tight, “since he was returned last?” Jo glanced down at the papers in his hands. He hesitated, then sighed. “He’s officially been with us for a year,” Jo said. “A full year without anyone showing serious interest in adopting him.” Nicholas’ growl rumbled deep in his chest, instinctive and sharp. (Y/n) immediately placed a hand on his arm, grounding him, her touch gentle but firm. She didn’t want the sound to carry, didn’t want to distress the other hybrids nearby.

She looked back at Jo. “Can we talk in your office?” she asked. Jo nodded without hesitation. “Of course.” He turned and started down the hallway. Nicholas followed, but just before he did, he glanced back through the glass one last time. Maki was still there, standing too still now, ears low, tail barely moving, watching them leave like he already knew how this usually ended. Nicholas’ jaw tightened. Then he turned away and walked after (Y/n) and Jo.

Once in the office, they found Harua and Taki already there, sitting with casual attentiveness, waiting to hear what (Y/n) and Jo had to say. Harua leaned back slightly in his chair, tilting his head. “So… any luck? Found anyone that caught your interest?” (Y/n) offered a small, hesitant smile, her eyes flicking to Nicholas. “Well… Nicholas seems to have an interest in one of the hybrids. The wolf hybrid.” Taki’s eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. “Really? The wolf? No joke?” Harua raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Is that true, Nicholas?” Nicholas didn’t hesitate. He nodded firmly. “Yeah. For some reason… he’s the only one that actually… makes me feel something.”

Jo and (Y/n) shared a brief glance, then all three, Jo, (Y/n), and Nicholas, sat down, the room quieting around the weight of the moment. (Y/n) leaned slightly toward Nicholas, her voice soft but insistent. “What are you feeling, Nico? What are you thinking?” Nicholas looked down at his hands, absently playing with one of the rings he wore, the faint clink echoing in the quiet office. “None of the other hybrids… made me feel what I feel now,” he admitted, voice low. “None of them felt right. Sure, it’s only the first time we’re trying to look for a new… roommate, but… something about Maki just… it feels right. I haven’t even felt weird about sharing you with him yet. But with all the others? I did.” He looked up for a brief second, eyes serious, almost vulnerable. “Maki… he’s different. And I think… I think he could actually fit in with us.”

Harua tilted his head slightly, watching Nicholas closely. “Would you like to meet Maki properly? No glass, no barrier. You can talk to him.” (Y/n) turned to Nicholas immediately, not saying a word, just looking at him, giving him the space to decide. Nicholas met her gaze, held it for a few quiet seconds, his tail giving a slow, thoughtful flick behind him. Then he nodded. “Yeah. I want to.” Jo straightened. “Alright. I’ll go get him ready.” He paused, then added, “Harua, Taki, you can bring them to the cafeteria in a few minutes.” With that, Jo left the office, the door closing softly behind him.

(Y/n) turned fully toward Nicholas, her voice gentle but steady. “Just remember, you don’t have to rush anything. This isn’t a commitment. You’re in control here. If at any point you don’t want to continue, we stop. Okay?” Nicholas nodded again. “I know.” He reached out, taking her hand, his thumb brushing over her fingers as he absentmindedly played with her bracelet, the silver one with the small panther charm that matched his necklace. “I’m okay,” he said quietly. “There’s just… something about him. I don’t know how to explain it. He just… speaks to me.” Taki leaned back against the desk, arms crossed, thoughtful. “Could be because you’re both exotic species,” he said. “Both wild types. That kind of connection isn’t uncommon.” (Y/n) nodded slowly. “I hadn’t thought about it like that,” she admitted. “But… yeah. That makes sense.” Nicholas hummed in agreement. “Yeah. It does.”

~~~

A little while later, Harua and Taki led them toward the cafeteria. The space was open and bright, the low murmur of other hybrids and staff echoing softly through the room. In the middle stood Jo, his tall figure impossible to miss, and at one of the tables nearby sat Maki.

His tail was wagging at an incredible speed, thumping lightly against the chair, the table, the floor, everything within reach. He hadn’t been brought out to meet potential adopters in over a year, and the nervous excitement sat just beneath his bright expression. He told himself it would be fine. The human already lived with a panther hybrid. A hyperactive wolf should be a piece of cake, right?

As (Y/n) and Nicholas approached and took their seats across from him, they could feel the table vibrate faintly from the force of his wagging tail. Maki’s ears perked up, his nose twitching as he leaned forward slightly, eyes shining. “Hi!” he said, the word bursting out of him, accompanied by a wide, hopeful smile. “Hi,” (Y/n) replied warmly, smiling right back at him. Nicholas’ eyes narrowed for a brief moment, a low, instinctive protectiveness flaring in his chest as he registered how focused Maki was on her. His tail flicked once behind him. But the feeling didn’t swell, didn’t turn sharp. He took a slow breath, grounding himself, then looked back at the wolf.

“Hi,” he said, his voice calm, steady. Maki immediately launched into a barrage of questions, barely stopping to breathe. Why was she looking for another hybrid, why him, why now, how long had she had the panther, did they already live together, was he allowed to play rough, what did she do for work? (Y/n) couldn’t help it, she smiled and let out a small giggle, glancing over at Jo, Harua, and Taki. “You really weren’t exaggerating when you said he’s energetic.”

The effect was instant. Maki’s ears lowered, his tail slowing before coming to a stop, his bright smile fading as he pulled back slightly. “Sorry,” he said quickly, eyes dropping. “I can… I can be quiet.” (Y/n) turned back to him right away, her expression soft. “No, no, it’s not a bad thing,” she said gently. “It’s kind of cute, actually.” Maki looked up again, ears twitching in uncertainty. “But,” she added with a light smile, “one question at a time. And maybe we start with our names.”

She shifted slightly in her seat. “I’m (Y/n).” Nicholas followed after her, his posture relaxed but attentive. “Nicholas.” Maki straightened up at once, as if this were an interview. “I’m Maki,” he said quickly. “I’m nineteen, almost twenty, I’m one-eighty-three centimeters tall. I’m really good at cleaning, and I can cook too, and I learn fast. I’m good at helping, and I don’t mind chores at all.” He paused, fingers curling into the fabric of his pants, tail giving a small, hopeful wag again. “I won’t be a nuisance,” he added softly, clearly trying to make himself sound like the best possible choice.

(Y/n) felt her heart twist painfully at the way Maki spoke, at how quickly he listed off his usefulness, as if that was all he had to offer. Had people really made him believe his value only existed in what he could do for them? Nicholas picked up the conversation, answering some of the questions Maki had fired off earlier. “I’ve been with (Y/n) for about two months now,” he said calmly. “Before that… I was in a fighting ring.” Maki’s ears twitched, but he didn’t interrupt. “And we’re looking for another hybrid,” Nicholas continued, “because I need someone I can actually play with. Roughhouse with. And, well,” he glanced briefly at (Y/n), “having more company might be nice.”

Maki studied Nicholas more closely then, eyes roaming over his build, his posture. “We could probably play pretty rough together,” he said, a spark of excitement slipping into his voice. Nicholas chuckled. “Yeah,” he agreed, a grin tugging at his mouth. “I think we could.” (Y/n) stayed quiet as the two hybrids talked, simply listening. Nicholas described the apartment, the balcony that overlooked the city, the park just a short walk away, the gym he went to every day. He talked about their routines, their space, the way their life fit together. Maki listened with wide eyes, his expression slowly turning soft and distant, almost dreamy. A home. A real one. Not a temporary place, not a return date hanging over his head. Something he had always dreamed of having, yet had never truly been allowed to keep.

Slowly but surely, (Y/n) noticed how Nicholas’ tail had begun to wag in that unmistakably dog-like way, a clear sign that he was both comfortable and excited, though the bright, genuine smile on his face already gave that away. They had been talking for almost an hour when Harua finally cut in, gently but firmly, reminding them that the meeting time was over, as decided by Hybrid Protection Services. Adoption meetings cannot be longer than an hour. They’ve never given a good reason, but it’s the law. 

Maki’s smile fell instantly. His ears flattened against his head, his tail coming to a complete stop. He nodded, trying to hide the disappointment, but it was written all over him. He hadn’t wanted it to end. He hadn’t wanted to go back to his quiet, lonely room. As Jo stood and guided him away, Maki glanced back just once. In his mind, the conclusion felt already written. He was sure he would never see (Y/n) and Nicholas again.

~~~

After Maki was taken back to his room, Nicholas turned to (Y/n). His eyes were glossy, his jaw tight, like he was holding back something strong and sudden. “We have to adopt him,” he said. It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t even a plea. It was a statement. “We can’t leave him here.” (Y/n) didn’t hesitate. She squeezed his hand, grounding him, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. “I agree,” she said softly. “I don’t want to leave him either.”

Harua smiled at the exchange, warm and knowing. “Then we should talk about what the process will look like,” he said. “Maki’s adoption will be different from Nicholas’. Since you’d be adopting him directly from the shelter instead of fostering first, it’ll take a bit longer.” Nicholas frowned slightly, but listened.

“You won’t be able to take him home today,” Harua continued. “Probably not tomorrow either. There’s more paperwork, more evaluations, and a few extra steps we’re required to follow.” (Y/n) let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Every time, there’s more paperwork.” Harua groaned dramatically in response. “Unfortunately,” he said, “that is absolutely the case.”

After they moved back into the office, Harua reached into a drawer and placed a thick stack of papers on the desk in front of (Y/n). She stared at it for a moment, disbelief flickering across her face. It was easily twice the size of the paperwork she’d been given when she adopted Nicholas.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath, before pulling the stack closer and starting to flip through it. Most of it was what she expected, forms, evaluations, legal jargon, but then she turned a page and froze. Her breath caught sharply in her throat. Stamped across the page in harsh red lettering were words that made her stomach drop. Her fingers tightened around the paper as she reread it, hoping she’d misunderstood, hoping it was some kind of mistake.

She looked up at Harua, holding the page out toward him, her hand trembling slightly. “Why,” she asked, her voice tight, “is this in here?” Harua’s expression fell immediately. The warmth he usually carried dimmed, replaced by something heavy and tired. He sighed before answering, rubbing a hand over his face. “It’s a regulation from Hybrid Protection Services,” he said quietly. “One that doesn’t feel very protective at all.” Nicholas leaned forward, eyes narrowing, a low, dangerous growl starting to rumble in his chest.

Harua raised both hands slowly, palms out. “If a hybrid is returned more than ten times,” he continued, voice strained, “they’re deemed defective. A fault in the hybrid. And if an adoption falls through after that point… they’re put down.” The growl in Nicholas’ chest deepened, his claws digging into the arm of the chair as his tail lashed behind him. “I don’t agree with it,” Harua said quickly, meeting Nicholas’ glare without backing away. “If I could remove that law, I would. I’ve tried. Jo, Taki, and I, we made a petition last year to have it repealed.” His shoulders slumped slightly as he finished, frustration evident in every line of his posture. “But we didn’t get enough signatures. Not enough for anyone to take us seriously.”

(Y/n) lowered her gaze to the desk, the realization settling heavily in her chest. That petition… it must have been during the time she was still with her ex. Back when he wouldn’t let her see the shelter boys. Back when he isolated her from the very people she always helped. She swallowed hard, guilt twisting in her stomach. She would have signed it. She always did. Jo noticed the shift in her expression, the way her shoulders tensed. “One name wouldn’t have made a difference,” he said gently. “And we can always try again.”

(Y/n) nodded, even if the words didn’t fully ease the weight she felt. She squeezed Nicholas’ hand a little tighter, grounding herself, before turning her attention back to the stack of papers. As she read, it became clear why there was so much more this time. Two hybrids in one household meant additional evaluations, safety clauses, shared-living agreements. It was overwhelming, but it made sense.

When she finally reached the last page, she paused. She turned to Nicholas, her expression serious, searching his face. “I need to ask you one more time,” she said softly. “Are you sure this is what you want? Once I sign these, there’s no backing out.” Nicholas’ grip on her hand tightened immediately. He met her eyes without hesitation, nodding. “I’m sure,” he said. “I want this. I want Maki.” (Y/n) nodded slowly, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She turned back to the desk. “Can I get a pen?” Taki was quick to hand one to her.

She didn’t hesitate this time. She signed her name, page after page, the sound of the pen scratching against paper sealing the decision with every stroke. When she finished, she set the pen down. And just like that, it was official. Maki was her hybrid. And he didn’t even know it yet.

Harua explained that he would go through the remaining shelter paperwork first thing in the morning. If everything went smoothly, even with it being a Sunday, there was a chance Maki could come home the next afternoon. But he warned them that it might just as easily take until Monday for the system to approve everything. Either way, they were free to come visit Maki the next day and tell him about the adoption themselves, that part was up to them, not the shelter staff.

(Y/n) nodded, relief and anticipation mixing in her chest. She told him they would be there, and asked him to let her know the moment they were cleared to bring Maki home. Until then, at the very least, she and Nicholas could spend the rest of the afternoon getting some basic things for him. She didn’t want his room to feel empty when he finally arrived. Goodbyes were exchanged, softer now, weighted with something hopeful.

Outside, the air felt different. They got into the car, doors closing with dull thuds, and for a while neither of them spoke. The engine stayed off. The world outside the windshield moved on as usual, people passing by, cars rolling through the parking lot, completely unaware that something monumental had just happened inside that shelter. Nicholas stared ahead, his hands resting on his thighs, tail flicking slowly behind him. His chest felt tight, emotions tangled together, excitement, protectiveness, fear, certainty. He replayed Maki’s smile in his head, the way his ears had fallen when the meeting ended, the way his tail had wagged so hard the table shook.

(Y/n) leaned back in her seat, fingers still curled as if they expected to be holding paperwork. Her heart hadn’t slowed down yet. She felt heavy with responsibility, but not regret. Not for a second. Eventually, she reached over and laced her fingers with Nicholas’. No words were needed. They sat there like that for a moment longer, letting the silence settle, letting the reality sink in. Then, finally, (Y/n) reached for the key and started the car. They had a room to prepare.

~~~

They went to the mall, and at first it felt almost like any other day. They wandered through familiar stores, drifting from aisle to aisle, laughing at décor that was wildly impractical or outright ridiculous, stopping to admire things that caught their eyes. Nicholas made faces at abstract sculptures he didn’t understand, and (Y/n) teased him for gravitating toward anything black or patterned. But beneath the normalcy, everything was different.

This time, every stop came with the same quiet thought: Would Maki like this? They lingered over throw blankets, debating textures and colors. (Y/n) picked up a soft one in muted greens and browns, thinking of the wolf’s fur, of something that felt warm and grounding. Nicholas ran his hand over it, nodding slowly before placing it in the cart. They chose a lamp for the spare room, something gentle, not too bright. A laundry basket. A mug with a small crackled glaze that Nicholas insisted felt right.

Clothes were harder. They stood in front of racks, guessing at sizes, holding shirts up between them, Nicholas squinting critically. Broad shoulders, long arms, long legs, taller than him. They settled on a few basics: loose shirts, a hoodie, sweatpants, underwear, socks. Enough for Maki to change into when they brought him home. Anything else could wait. They could take him out later, let him choose for himself. By the time they left the mall, the car was fuller, quieter. They stopped by the grocery store next, moving through the aisles with tired efficiency. Nicholas grabbed familiar things, then hesitated, adding extras almost unconsciously. More milk than usual. Extra bread. Snacks he didn’t even like that much, but something about them felt… right to have.

When they finally got home, the sky was already dark. They carried everything inside, unpacked slowly, setting bags down, putting things away where they could. A few items meant for Maki were placed neatly in the spare room, still bare, but no longer empty. The door was left slightly ajar, as if the room itself was waiting. Exhaustion settled in once everything was done.

They ended up on the couch without really discussing it. (Y/n) leaned back, and Nicholas followed, stretching out before laying his head in her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair, scratching gently behind his ears, feeling him melt into the touch with a low, content rumble. The apartment was quiet. Peaceful. And yet, there was a hollow space in it now, one shaped like a too-energetic wolf with a wagging tail and hopeful eyes. They sat like that, neither speaking, both thinking of the same thing. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.

As night settled in, the apartment grew quiet, the city outside dimmed to a soft glow through the windows. (Y/n) and Nicholas went through their usual routine together, brushing their teeth side by side, the mirror fogging slightly as they talked about nothing in particular. Nicholas carefully followed each step of his skincare, brows furrowed in concentration as he mimicked what she did, something that still made her smile every time. Two months ago, he wouldn’t have touched any of it. Now it was routine.

When they were done, they stood in the hallway, the familiar pause before splitting off to their separate rooms. Nicholas lingered. (Y/n) took a step toward her bedroom door when she noticed he hadn’t moved. She turned back to him, finding his tail flicking slowly behind him, ears tilted back just a little. His hands fidgeted at his sides, claws flexing and retracting as if he couldn’t quite settle. “Hey,” she said softly. “You okay?” He hesitated, then looked at her, eyes unusually uncertain. “Can I… sleep in your room tonight?” The question hung in the air.

In the two months since she had adopted him, they’d never shared a bed. Not once. They’d curled up on the couch together, dozed during movies, leaned against each other countless times, but this was different. (Y/n) trusted him completely, that wasn’t the issue. It was the line she hadn’t crossed yet, the one she wasn’t sure was appropriate to blur. But tonight felt different too. The apartment felt too quiet. Too empty. And the thought of closing her door and lying alone, knowing Maki was still at the shelter, not knowing yet that they were coming back for him… it made her chest ache.

She studied Nicholas for a moment, the vulnerability in his posture, the way his tail stilled as he waited for her answer. “…Yeah,” she said quietly. “You can.” Relief washed over his face instantly. His shoulders loosened, tail giving a small, happy flick. “Thank you,” he murmured, voice low and sincere. They moved into her room together. Nicholas hovered awkwardly at first, unsure where to stand, until (Y/n) gestured to the bed. She climbed in, settling against the pillows, and after another brief hesitation, he followed, carefully lowering himself beside her as if afraid of taking up too much space.

They lay there, side by side, not touching at first. The silence stretched, heavy but not uncomfortable. Eventually, Nicholas shifted closer, inch by inch, until his shoulder brushed hers. She didn’t move away. Instead, she reached out, resting a hand lightly on his arm. After a moment, he exhaled shakily and turned onto his side, tucking his head against her shoulder, one arm curling loosely around her waist. (Y/n) adjusted without thinking, one hand sliding into his hair, scratching gently behind his ear. A low purr rumbled out of him, quiet but steady, his body relaxing against hers.

“I don’t like leaving him there,” he admitted softly, almost too quiet to hear. “I know,” she replied, just as softly. “But we’re going back. He won’t be alone much longer.” Nicholas nodded against her, gripping her shirt just a little tighter. “I just… didn’t want to be alone tonight.” “Me neither,” she said. They stayed like that, breathing slowly, the tension of the day gradually easing from their bodies. Outside, the city hummed faintly, but inside the room, everything was calm. They both fell asleep knowing one thing for certain. Tomorrow, they were going back.

~~~

They slept in that morning, neither of them stirring until the soft light filtering through the curtains said it was already well past early. When (Y/n) finally blinked awake and checked the time, it was 10:30. She barely had time to process that thought before she became aware of warmth, solid, steady, wrapped around her. They had moved during the night.

Nicholas was behind her now, spooning her closely, one arm draped securely around her waist, the other tucked beneath her head. Her back was pressed flush against his chest, fitting there as if it had always belonged. His breathing was slow and even, his nose buried near her hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her shampoo. (Y/n) lay still for a moment, heart beating a little faster than usual. She would never admit it out loud, not to anyone, but the butterflies were already there, fluttering insistently in her stomach. It felt wrong to label it as anything more than comfort, than closeness, but her body didn’t seem to care about the distinction.

As if sensing her waking, Nicholas shifted slightly. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her just a fraction closer, and a deep, rumbling purr began to resonate from his chest. It was loud, unrestrained, vibrating through her back. “Good morning,” he murmured into her ear, his voice low and raspy with sleep. The sound sent another wave of warmth through her, the butterflies multiplying despite her best efforts. His breath brushed her skin, and she felt the subtle nuzzle of his cheek against her hair as he breathed her in again, content and unguarded.

“Morning,” she replied softly, her voice still thick with sleep. He hummed in response, the purring never stopping, his grip remaining firm but gentle, as if he were afraid she might disappear if he let go. For a while, neither of them moved. There was no rush, no pressure, just the quiet comfort of being there together, wrapped up in each other as the day slowly began outside their room.

Soon enough, they got out of bed and started getting ready for the day. (Y/n) moved into the kitchen and began making breakfast, but her attention kept drifting back to her phone. She checked it once. Then again. And again. No messages. No calls. Just silence. She tried to tell herself it was still early. That Harua had said it might take time. That everything was probably fine. It didn’t stop the knot in her chest. Nicholas noticed almost immediately. The way her shoulders stayed tense. The way her eyes kept flickering to the counter where her phone lay. He walked over without saying anything at first, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his tail curling loosely around her waist as well.

“It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair. “He’ll call.” (Y/n) leaned back into him, letting herself relax just a little at the warmth and pressure. “I know,” she said quietly. “I just… hate not knowing.” He tightened his hold slightly, chin resting on the top of her head. “Me too.” She turned in his arms, burying her face briefly against his chest, breathing him in. “Thank you.” He smiled softly down at her, brushing his thumb across her shoulder in a comforting motion. But even as she felt calmer, Nicholas felt his own unease beneath the surface. Not about the paperwork. Not about the shelter. About Maki.

He wanted him there. He really did. Something about the wolf had felt right in a way nothing else had. But there was a part of him, quiet, instinctive, territorial, that worried about what it would mean to share space, to share attention, to share her. He didn’t want that part of himself to ruin this. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. Still, he said nothing, just holding her a little closer, hoping that everything would work out the way it was supposed to.

As they sat down to eat, (Y/n) glanced up at Nicholas. “Do you want to go to the gym before we head out, or later?” He checked the clock, then shrugged. “Later. Or I can skip today. It’s not a big deal.” His ears flicked slightly. “I’d rather go see Maki.” (Y/n) smiled softly. “Yeah,” she said. “That sounds like a good plan.” Nicholas’s gaze drifted toward the balcony doors, sunlight spilling across the floor. Not a single cloud in the sky. His tail swayed lazily as he stared out at it for a moment before turning back to her. “Do you think… if we can’t bring him home yet, we could still take him to a park or something? Just for a bit.” (Y/n) followed his gaze, looking outside too. “Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. “We can ask. I’m not sure what the rules are for that, but it doesn’t hurt to try.”

After eating and rushing through the dishes, they got dressed and headed out to the car. (Y/n)’s phone stayed in her hand longer than usual, her thumb hovering over the screen as if willing it to light up. Harua still hadn’t called or texted, which meant the paperwork probably hadn’t gone through yet. The thought made her chest feel tight. She hated the idea of leaving Maki there for another night. But at least today he’d know. At least he’d know he had a home waiting for him.

During the drive, Nicholas turned the radio up and sang along loudly, confidently, and almost entirely wrong. He laughed every time he messed up the lyrics, sometimes stopping mid-sentence just to start again with even more enthusiasm. (Y/n) couldn’t help but laugh too, the sound easing some of the tension in her chest, if only for a moment.

After parking, they walked into the shelter. Jo was sitting at the front desk, phone pressed to his ear, his brows knit together as he sighed heavily, rubbing his temple. Whoever was on the other end clearly wasn’t being pleasant, and even Jo looked irritated, something that was extremely rare. He glanced up when he noticed them, nodding in greeting and giving a small wave. They waved back before continuing down the hall toward the office, hoping to find Harua or Taki. Their luck held. Taki had just hung up his own call, and unlike Jo, he looked relaxed, even cheerful. When he spotted them, he stood up immediately, smiling wide.

“Hey! Morning,” he said brightly. (Y/n) smiled back. “Busy Sunday? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you guys on calls during weekends.” Taki shrugged lightly. “Some are worse than others. I just had to call an owner with good news about some test results their hybrid took.” He tilted his head toward the front desk. “Jo’s dealing with… less good news. Someone wants to adopt, but they don’t have the space or money for one, not to mention, they’ve been marked by Hybrid Protection Services for negligence twice.” Nicholas frowned faintly at that, ears twitching, but stayed quiet as (Y/n) nodded sympathetically.

(Y/n) asked if Taki knew anything about the status of their adoption. He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “Harua did the paperwork at seven this morning,” he said. “Since then, he’s basically been stuck on call after call trying to push it through, but as far as I know, nothing’s gone through yet.” Nicholas’ ears twitched, and he cut in, “If we can’t bring him home yet… could we at least take Maki out? Like, to a park? Just for a few hours.” Taki hummed thoughtfully. “Technically, since you’ve already signed the papers, Maki is (Y/n)’s hybrid. So she should be allowed to take him out, even if he can’t stay overnight yet.”

(Y/n)’s eyes lit up slightly. “But,” Taki added quickly, lifting a finger, “you should double-check with Harua or Jo. They’re way more up-to-date on the rules than I am. I’m the vet, I deal with injuries and checkups, not paperwork and bureaucracy.” Just then, Harua walked into the office, greeting them with a tired smile. “Hey,” he said. “Hey,” (Y/n) and Nicholas replied in unison. (Y/n) got straight to the point, asking about taking Maki out for a few hours. Harua paused, thinking it over, tapping his fingers lightly against the doorframe.

“That should be okay,” he said after a moment. “You can take him out for about three hours. But,” he added, holding up a finger, “I have one condition.” Nicholas tilted his head. “You have to take Jake too,” Harua continued. “The golden retriever is losing his mind with pent-up energy, and he’s driving me insane.” (Y/n) chuckled. “Yeah, okay, we’ll bring Jake. That’s fine.” Harua sighed softly, then added, “As for the adoption… it looks like you won’t be able to bring Maki home until tomorrow. I’ve been calling all day, but no one wants to sign off on it early, even though it’s literally just a formality.” (Y/n) nodded. “It’s okay. We understand. You’ve done everything you can.”

Harua led them down the hallway toward Maki’s room while sending Taki off to get Jake ready. When he unlocked the door and opened it, Maki was lying on his bed with his back to them, staring at the wall, just like he had been since yesterday. “Maki,” Harua called gently. All he got in response was a low grunt. “Maki,” Harua tried again, “you’ve got visitors.” That did it. Maki turned around instantly, eyes wide, scrambling upright when he saw (Y/n) and Nicholas standing in the doorway. They came back for him? His heart stuttered in his chest before hope rushed in all at once, his tail starting to wag so fast it was almost a blur.

(Y/n) stepped forward, her voice soft. “Hey, Maki… could you come out here for a second? We want to talk.” Maki was on his feet immediately, nearly tripping over himself as he hurried into the hallway. His hands fidgeted at his sides, ears twitching, tail swaying nervously behind him as he waited. (Y/n) took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, blinking hard before speaking. “So… after meeting you yesterday, Nicholas and I talked a lot. And we both agreed that you’re the other hybrid we’ve been looking for.” She smiled softly. “I signed the papers yesterday. We’re adopting you.”

For a second, Maki just stared at her. “…What?” he whispered. Nicholas watched his face carefully as the words sank in. Maki’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. “You’re, you’re serious?” (Y/n) nodded. “Completely.” Maki’s tail froze… then exploded into motion, wagging so hard his whole body wobbled. (Y/n) laughed softly, tears finally slipping free. “We can’t bring you home today because the system’s being slow, but we wanted to take you out to a park. So you and Nico can run around and get to know each other better. If you want to, that is.” “Yes!” Maki blurted instantly. “Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” Before either of them could respond, he spun around and bolted back into his room. “I’LL BE RIGHT BACK!!!”

They heard drawers opening, things shuffling, and Maki muttering to himself in excited chaos. Nicholas looked over at (Y/n), a wide smile spreading across his face, ears tilted toward Maki’s room, tail wagging in that unmistakably happy, dog-like way. The second Maki came out of his room, shoes on and a light jacket pulled over his shirt, he bounced on his heels. “I’m ready.” (Y/n) laughed softly at his enthusiasm and turned to Harua. “Is there anything else we need?” Harua shook his head. “Nope. The jacket and shirt Maki’s wearing have the shelter logo on them, so if anyone asks why he’s not wearing a collar, you can just say you’re in the middle of an adoption. That’s completely fine.” He paused, then added, “Jake’s wearing his collar, so no worries there.”

Maki’s ears twitched at the unfamiliar name. “Jake?” he asked quietly, glancing between them. Nicholas noticed immediately. “He’s a friend,” he explained. “Another hybrid. We’re bringing him too, so he can run around for a bit.” “Oh,” Maki said, nodding. “Okay.” But even as he said it, something tight curled in his chest. A friend. Another hybrid. Someone else who already knew Nicholas… and (Y/n). His tail slowed slightly, ears flicking as an unfamiliar feeling crept in, not fear, not sadness, but something sharper. Jealousy.

Suddenly, it felt like a competition, even though no one had said it was. Like he had to prove he was the better choice. The better fit. The one who deserved to stay. Nicholas didn’t seem to notice, yet, but (Y/n) caught the shift in Maki’s posture, the way his shoulders tensed just a little. She gave him a soft smile, reassuring without saying anything out loud. And slowly, his tail started wagging again.

Maki was practically bouncing as he followed (Y/n), Nicholas, and Harua toward the entrance. His steps were light, restless energy buzzing through him, tail swishing behind him as if it had a mind of its own. The second they stepped outside, he spotted Taki, and beside him, a hybrid with golden ears and a golden tail wagging so fast it was almost a blur. That had to be Jake. Maki straightened instinctively, standing a little taller, chest out, tail flicking with quiet pride. He was definitely taller. Bigger too. Stronger-looking. He liked that.

Nicholas noticed, of course, but didn’t say anything. Jake, meanwhile, was already trotting toward them, grin wide. “Hi!” he said brightly, arms opening as he moved toward (Y/n), clearly about to hug her. Before he could get close, a low growl rumbled through Nicholas’s chest. Jake froze mid-step, eyes widening. He slowly lifted his hands in surrender and backed up a pace. “Whoa, okay, okay, I got it, no touching.”

Maki’s ears flattened slightly as he watched, a knot forming in his stomach. Would (Y/n) be mad? Would she scold Nicholas? Would this ruin everything? But instead, she laughed. “Nico,” she said teasingly, “he’s not trying to steal me.” Nicholas shrugged, completely unapologetic. “Still. I don’t want you smelling like a stinky dog.”Jake blinked. “Rude,” he said mildly, though his tail kept wagging anyway. Maki relaxed, the tension draining from his shoulders. If anything, (Y/n) seemed amused, fond, even, and Nicholas didn’t look guilty in the slightest. Somehow, that made Maki feel… better.

(Y/n) asked if they were ready to head out. Jake answered first, bouncing in place. “Yes!” he said loudly, tail wagging like it might take flight. Maki mirrored him instantly. “Yeah!” he said, practically vibrating. Nicholas chuckled. “Alright, alright.” They waved goodbye to Harua and Taki, and to Jo, who was still somehow stuck on the same phone call from when they’d arrived, before heading down the sidewalk toward the nearby park.

The entire walk, Jake talked nonstop. “So what are we doing? Can we play? Do you have a frisbee? Or a ball? Or both? We could race!” Even though Maki still felt that strange, competitive tension in his chest whenever Jake got too close to (Y/n) or Nicholas, he couldn’t help responding. Jake’s energy was infectious, and their personalities matched in a way that made conversation effortless, loud, fast, overlapping, and enthusiastic. (Y/n) nudged Nicholas gently. “Go on,” she said. “Don’t just walk behind them.” He rolled his eyes but moved up beside them anyway.

The second their feet hit the grass of the park, Nicholas suddenly darted forward, tagging Maki on the shoulder. “You’re it.” Before Maki could react, Nicholas grabbed Jake by the wrist and bolted. “HEY!” Maki burst out laughing as he chased them, legs pumping, tail flying behind him. Nicholas was easily the fastest, weaving through trees and benches like it was nothing. Jake, unfortunately, wasn’t built for wild-breed speed, and quickly started lagging behind, laughing breathlessly as he tried to keep up. They were all having too much fun to care. When Maki finally caught Jake and tagged him, he barely had time to celebrate before Jake spun around, pointing at Nicholas. “Get him!” And suddenly it was two against one. Nicholas cursed under his breath, grinning as he took off again, Maki and Jake chasing him together, trying to box him in from both sides.

From behind them, (Y/n) watched it all unfold, smiling softly as she saw how happy all three looked, tails wagging, laughter carrying across the park, sunlight catching in fur and hair. For the first time since yesterday, her chest felt light. The trio chased each other for nearly twenty minutes without stopping once, tackling each other every now and then and rolling around in the grass, laughing so hard it was impossible to tell who was winning. (Y/n) sat on a nearby bench, watching them with a soft smile, her heart feeling lighter with every second she saw them together.

Eventually, all three came jogging over, breathing hard and grinning. Nicholas dropped down beside her on the bench, Jake plopped onto the ground in front of them, and Maki followed, sitting cross-legged next to him. Their ears twitched, tails swished, and laughter still bubbled out of them as they tried to catch their breath. Nicholas leaned closer to (Y/n), lowering his voice dramatically. “Can we get ice cream?” She turned her head toward him, amused. “You know you don’t have to whisper. And yes, of course.”

After resting for a bit, they walked over to the ice cream stand. Nicholas, as always, chose strawberry. (Y/n) picked mango. Jake went straight for chocolate without hesitation. Luckily, hybrid dog breeds were not allergic to it, or else Jake would be one very sad golden retriever. Maki stood there for a moment, staring at the menu like it was the most serious decision of his life, before finally choosing pear.

Once they had their cones, they headed back toward the bench, tasting their ice cream as they walked. The second Maki tried his, his eyes lit up, and his tail began wagging so fast it looked like his whole body was vibrating. He stared at the cone in disbelief, then back at it again, like he couldn’t quite process that something could taste this good.

“This is heaven,” Maki said seriously, staring down at his cone like it was sacred. Jake immediately nodded in agreement. “Right? Honestly, I would’ve hated being an actual dog. Imagine not being allowed to eat chocolate.” Maki blinked. “Is it really that good?” he asked, glancing at Jake’s cone. “I’ve never tried it.” Before Jake could answer, Nicholas chimed in, “Chocolate is amazing.” Jake grinned and held his cone out. “You can try a bite if you want. I don’t mind.” Maki hesitated, ears flicking as he glanced over at (Y/n). Sharing food like that had never been allowed with previous owners, honestly, most of what he’d done today wouldn’t have been either. But (Y/n) noticed his look and smiled softly, nodding. “If Jake’s okay with it, you can try.” So Maki leaned in and took a small bite. His eyes immediately went wide. “Oh,” he breathed. “Oh wow.” Jake laughed. “Told you.”

While everyone was distracted, Nicholas seized the opportunity to steal a bite of (Y/n)’s mango ice cream. She gasped and shoved his shoulder lightly. “You could at least ask!” He smirked. “Why ask when I already know the answer’s yes?” She shook her head, laughing despite herself, before taking another bite of her cone as the hybrids continued comparing flavors like it was the most important debate in the world. After they finished their ice cream, (Y/n) checked the time and saw they still had about an hour left. She looked around the park and noticed a few guys around her age throwing frisbees back and forth. Figuring she might as well ask, she walked over to see if she could borrow one, or maybe even buy one.

Nicholas did not like that idea at all. He stayed behind with Maki and Jake, eyes locked on her, a low growl rumbling in his chest as he watched the guys smile and flirt with her. His fangs showed, claws digging into his palms as his tail lashed behind him. Whatever she said must’ve worked, though, because the guys laughed and handed her not one, but two frisbees. She waved them excitedly as she walked back toward the hybrids. What she didn’t see was the way the guys froze once her back was turned, their eyes landing on the very unhappy panther hybrid and the towering wolf beside him, both staring them down from across the grass.

When (Y/n) reached them, she held up the frisbees and asked if they wanted to play. All three immediately said yes, and as she threw both, Jake and Maki bolted after them, laughing as they raced across the grass. Nicholas stayed behind this time, walking closer to her and rubbing his head against her shoulder, deliberately brushing against her and leaving his scent behind, marking her as his. It wouldn’t mean anything to humans, but he wanted her to know exactly how he felt about her walking over to those guys. (Y/n) giggled, ruffling his hair. “Was it really that bad?” “Yes,” Nico mumbled in response, tail flicking.

Jake and Maki soon returned with the frisbees, and this time, when (Y/n) threw them again, Nicholas and Jake chased after them while Maki stayed behind with her. “Thank you,” Maki said quietly. She turned to him. “For what?” He gestured vaguely around the park. “For… this. For taking me out. For letting me feel happy again.” (Y/n) softened. “It’s the least we can do, especially since we probably can’t bring you home until tomorrow afternoon.” Maki hesitated, then looked at her, ears twitching. “You’re really… adopting me? Not Jake?”

She chuckled. “Jake belongs to Harua, Jo, and Taki, he’s one of their many hybrids. He’s not up for adoption. And while Jake’s great, he’s not the hybrid Nicholas chose.” She smiled at him. “You are. So of course, I’m adopting you.” Maki glanced over to where Nicholas had just caught the frisbee, hesitating before turning back to (Y/n). “Can I… hug you?” She opened her arms immediately. “Of course.” If Nico got jealous, they’d deal with it. The second Maki wrapped his arms around her, she understood exactly what people meant when they said he didn’t know his own strength. He lifted her straight off the ground, arms a little too tight, but there was no malice in it, only love, warmth, devotion, dreams, hope. She laughed as he spun her around once before carefully setting her back down.

“Was that a good hug?” he asked nervously. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.” (Y/n) smiled, reaching up to scratch behind one of his ears. “It was great. Unique, but really nice.” Nicholas and Jake came back soon after, Nicholas looking a little upset, but nowhere near as jealous as he would’ve been with anyone else.

Soon enough, it was time to head back to the shelter. (Y/n) was sure Harua would be thrilled with how much energy Jake had burned off, the retriever was practically dragging his feet now. Nico and Maki were tired too, but nowhere near as dramatically. With every step closer to the building, Nicholas felt worse. He didn’t want to leave Maki there for another night. But he also knew they couldn’t bring him home until the paperwork cleared the system, otherwise (Y/n) could get in trouble, and worst case, lose both Maki and him. And that was something he never wanted to risk.

Maki, meanwhile, kept asking questions. “So… how do you stay in shape like that?” he asked, eyes wide as he glanced at Nicholas’s arms. “The gym,” Nicholas answered easily. “I go whenever I want.” Maki nearly tripped. “Alone? And that’s… allowed?” Nicholas laughed. “Yeah. No one cares.” Maki just stared at him in awe. “And you said you sit on your balcony and watch people walk by?” “Yeah.” “And cuddle on the couch during movies?” “Sometimes.” “And you have a park nearby?” Each answer only made Maki’s ears perk up more, his tail swishing softly behind him. Everything Nicholas described sounded unreal, like something out of a storybook. A home. Freedom. Comfort. Safety. A dream. And Nicholas walked beside him, hands shoved in his pockets, silently promising himself that tomorrow, that dream wouldn’t stay one.

When they arrived back at the shelter, Jo was finally off his call, though he looked completely exhausted. (Y/n) tilted her head. “Rough one?” Jo let out a long sigh. “They screamed at me for most of it. When they weren’t screaming, I was explaining why they weren’t allowed to adopt a hybrid, which somehow led to more screaming. Eventually, I think their phone died. Or they hung up on me. Either way, it’s over.” (Y/n) winced. “That sounds… awful.” “Yeah,” he muttered, rubbing his face. “Part of the job.” 

Then she gestured toward Jake and Maki. “So, what do we do with them now?” Jo checked the clock on his wrist. “Jake can go find Taki in the office or med room; he’s probably going to be heading home soon.” Jake nodded immediately. “Okay!” He waved at all three of them before jogging off down the hallway. Maki took a small step closer to (Y/n) after that, not close enough to touch her, but close enough that his shoulder nearly brushed her arm, his tail swaying low and hopeful. Nicholas noticed, but didn’t comment.

Jo stood. “Follow me.” The three of them did. They passed a hallway where Harua was crouched in front of a family with a young child, showing them a small hybrid pup. Harua glanced up, waved, and said, “I’ll be with you in a few minutes.” (Y/n) nodded. “No rush.” Jo led them into the cafeteria, gesturing toward one of the tables. “You can sit here.” They did.

Maki sat stiffly at first, hands folded in his lap, ears twitching every time someone walked past. Nicholas leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, eyes drifting toward the hallway Maki’s room was down, like he could will time to move faster. (Y/n) sat between them, hands folded around her phone, heart heavy with the knowledge that in a few minutes, she’d have to walk Maki back.

None of them said anything for a moment. Then Maki cleared his throat softly. “So… uh… you really can’t take me home today?” (Y/n) turned to him, her expression gentle. “Not yet. But tomorrow. As soon as the system clears it.” “Tomorrow,” he repeated, like he was testing the word. His tail gave a small, hopeful wag. “Okay.” Nicholas glanced at him. “We’ll be back. Promise.” Maki looked up at him, eyes bright. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” Maki’s shoulders relaxed a little at that, and for the first time since they’d come back inside, the tightness in his chest eased just a bit.

Jo asked how the park had been. Maki lit up instantly, words spilling out of him as he explained everything they’d done, the running, the frisbees, the ice cream, the tackling. He leaned forward over the table as he talked, tail swishing wildly behind him, especially when he got to the part about how he’d managed to tackle Nicholas. “I won,” he said proudly. “Like, actually won.” Nicholas snorted. “Barely.” “But you were laughing,” Maki pointed out quickly. “You didn’t even get mad.” Jo smiled at that. “Sounds like a wonderful day.” “It really was,” Maki said, glowing. “He didn’t tell me I was too rough or anything. Didn’t say I was bad.” Jo’s smile softened even more at that, and he nodded. “I’m glad.” Then he turned to (Y/n). “And thank you for bringing Jake too.” (Y/n) smiled. “No problem. He’s got a lot of energy, but he’s really well-behaved.”

Just then, the cafeteria doors opened. Harua stepped inside, walking toward them. (Y/n) tried to read his expression, but couldn’t, he looked upset, and happy, and sad all at once, like every emotion was fighting for space on his face. As Harua sat down beside Jo, he looked at all of them. Nicholas’s ears flattened into his hair, his eyes sharpening as he stared back at Harua with the unmistakable gaze of a predator. It sent a small shiver down Harua’s spine, even though he knew Nicholas would never attack him.

Maki, on the other hand, looked nervous, his tail swishing uncertainly behind him. (Y/n) felt her leg bouncing anxiously under the table. With the look Harua was giving her, she was sure something had gone wrong, that she was about to lose not only Maki, but Nicholas too. Then Harua spoke. “You’ll need to pack up your things before going home,” he said. He paused. “All three of you.” He broke into a smile. (Y/n) felt like hugging him and throwing a rock at him at the same time for scaring them like that. “How?” she asked. Harua sighed softly. “I’ve been making calls since seven this morning. About thirty minutes ago, I finally got through to someone who approved the paperwork.” He looked at her. “You can bring Maki home today.” Maki and Nicholas both shot up from their chairs at the same time. “Yes!” they shouted, jumping into the air.

As (Y/n) stood up, Maki was quick to wrap his arms around her, pulling her into the second hug of the day. Once again, he lifted her straight off the ground, laughing loudly, his face glowing with pure joy. (Y/n) giggled as he spun them around, gripping onto his shoulders until he finally set her back down.

Nicholas joined the hug then, slipping his arms gently around (Y/n), and a little around Maki too. Maki’s ears twitched as he noticed just how careful Nicholas was, how soft his grip felt compared to his own. For a second, he felt a little bad for being rough, but that feeling faded quickly, replaced with something warmer. He could learn. Because they accepted him exactly as he was.

As they walked to Maki’s room at the shelter, they all felt lighter, easier, happier. (Y/n) thanked Harua quietly for everything he’d done, and Harua only smiled, saying it was the least he could do. When they reached the room, Maki hurried inside. Jo handed him a bag, and at first, (Y/n) thought it looked small, until she saw what Maki packed. One extra outfit besides the one he was wearing, and a small, worn blanket, edges frayed from years of use. That was it. That was everything he owned. The clothes weren’t even really his, they belonged to the shelter. (Y/n)’s chest tightened, and she already knew she’d be dragging him through a clothing store later. He deserved things that were his. Things he could keep. Nicholas saw it too. He knew that feeling. He’d had even less when (Y/n) first fostered him, and now he had so much. And soon, Maki would too.

As Maki stepped out, holding the bag close to his chest, (Y/n) asked if there was anything else they needed to do or know, vet visits, special care, anything like that. Harua shook his head. “As far as we know, Maki’s healthy, so he won’t need frequent visits like Nico did. The paperwork’s signed and approved, so unless something unexpected comes up, it’s just regular annual vet checkups. And those won’t be for another year.” (Y/n) nodded. “Alright.” Then she turned to the two hybrids, smiling softly. “Ready to head home?” Nicholas nodded immediately, then looked over at Maki. The wolf stood stiffly, clutching the bag like it might disappear if he let go. His eyes were glossy, throat tight, and it looked like he was fighting a losing battle with tears. After a moment, he forced out a shaky, breathless, “Yeah.”

They walked out to the car, the evening air cool and quiet around them. Nicholas offered the front seat to Maki, but the wolf shook his head quickly. “I, I’ll sit in the back,” he said. “Don’t wanna take your spot.” Nicholas studied him for a second, then nodded, understanding. He knew that one day Maki would feel comfortable enough to take the front without hesitation, for now, the fact that he spoke up at all was enough.

Once they were all in the car, Nicholas instinctively turned on the radio, bumping the volume up a little. The moment he recognized the song, one of the songs (Y/n) had written he started singing along, with full confidence. Maki blinked in surprise, ears twitching as he listened. “You… know the lyrics?” Nicholas grinned, still singing, shrugging like it was the most natural thing in the world. (Y/n) glanced back at Maki through the rearview mirror, her heart softening at the sight of his smile as he watched the city slide past the windows, his head bobbing gently to the rhythm. This was good. Things would be good. She was sure of it.

Once they parked the car in the garage, they all got out. (Y/n) turned to Maki, smiling softly. “We’ll have to get another set of keys made for you,” she said. “So you’ll have your own. It might take a few days since we’ll need to order a third gym tag and everything, but still.” Maki blinked. “My… own keys?” Nicholas noticed his reaction and chuckled. “Yeah. She doesn’t treat us like pets. More like roommates. Friends.” Maki smiled at that, his tail giving a small, happy swish. “Thank you.” (Y/n) smiled back as they walked toward the elevator, showing him how the key fob worked, how to call it, which button did what. Maki watched carefully, committing everything to memory.

Then his eyes drifted to Nicholas’s keys, dangling from his hand, pink and black details, a little charm clipped on the ring. “…Why are your keys pink?” Maki asked, tilting his head. (Y/n) giggled. “Because the terrifying panther loves everything pink. He’s even thinking about dyeing his hair.” Maki slowly looked between the pink keys, Nicholas’s very intimidating build, and (Y/n)’s amused expression. “…Is that allowed?” (Y/n) nodded. “We just haven’t found hybrid-safe dye yet.” Maki smiled, something warm settling in his chest. Yeah. This really was a home.

Once they reached the apartment, Nicholas unlocked the door and stepped aside, letting Maki go in first. The wolf froze the moment he crossed the threshold. It wasn’t loud or overwhelming, but it was warm. Open. Real. He barely saw anything yet, and still, his chest felt tight with something unfamiliar. He slipped off his shoes immediately, lining them up by the door before taking a few careful steps inside. Every couple of seconds, he glanced back at Nicholas and (Y/n), like he was checking that he was allowed to be here. That he wasn’t doing something wrong.

They followed him in, until Nicholas gently took the lead. “Okay,” he said, tail swaying slowly behind him. “Tour.” He started with the living room, gesturing to the couch, the TV, the shelves filled with books, games, and random decor. Then the kitchen, opening cabinets as he went. “This is where we keep plates and stuff. That’s the coffee machine. That cabinet,” he pointed, “is the snack cabinet, the best one.” Maki’s ears perked instantly. Then Nicholas showed him (Y/n)’s music studio, explaining what everything was, the mic, the keyboard, the guitar stands. Maki looked at everything like it was fragile, sacred. Next came the bathroom, the balcony with its view over the city, then (Y/n)’s bedroom, and Nicholas’s.

Finally, they stopped in front of the last door. “This one’s yours,” Nicholas said, opening it. The room was empty, except for the basics, a bed, a dresser, a closet, a window letting in soft light. But to Maki, it looked massive. Full of possibility. “…Mine?” he asked quietly. (Y/n) nodded. “Yours.” Maki stepped inside slowly, like the room might disappear if he moved too fast. He reached out, touching the edge of the bed, then the wall, then the window frame, grounding himself. His tail swayed behind him in slow, stunned motions.

He turned back to them, eyes glossy but bright. “This is…” He swallowed. “…this is really mine?” Nicholas leaned against the doorframe, smiling. “Yeah. Welcome home.” (Y/n) walked over to the closet and opened the door, pulling out a bag she’d tucked inside earlier. “It isn’t much,” she said softly, holding it out to him, “but we hope you’ll like it. And in a day or two, we’ll go out and get you everything you want and need.” Maki took the bag from her like it was fragile, then carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and started pulling things out.

Clothes. A hoodie. A tank top. Nicholas perked up at that. “I really like those,” he said. “So we got you one too.” Maki smiled at that, tail giving a small wag as he pulled out sweatpants made for hybrids, with a hole for his tail, then a t-shirt. Beneath that, there was a box with a phone pictured on the front. His ears flicked in surprise. “…A phone?” he asked quietly. Then he reached the bottom of the bag. A silver chain. It looked a lot like the one Nicholas wore around his neck, just smaller. Maki held it in his hands for a moment, staring at it like he wasn’t sure it was real.

(Y/n) spoke gently, “It’s just a bracelet for now. Until you can choose your collar yourself. Like Nicholas did.” Maki looked up at her, eyes brighter than ever. “…Could you help me put it on?” She smiled instantly. “Of course.” She took the bracelet from him and stepped closer, carefully fastening it around his wrist. As the clasp clicked into place, Maki stared down at it, then up at her, tail wagging so hard it brushed the bed behind him. “Thank you,” he said, voice thick with emotion.

(Y/n) smiled at him and asked, “Do you want to take a shower and change into the clothes we got you? Hopefully they fit. Then we can make dinner and watch a movie.” Maki nodded immediately. “Yeah. I’ll shower, and then I can help cook.” She shook her head gently. “You don’t have to. I didn’t adopt you so you could do chores. I adopted you because we wanted you.” His ears flicked, and he hesitated. “I just… want to help.” “Then you can,” she said softly. “Just not because you feel like you owe us.” He nodded, smiling a little. “Okay.”

Nicholas went with him, showing him how everything worked in the bathroom, where the towels were, how the shower knobs turned, handing him a clean towel before stepping back out. Meanwhile, (Y/n) headed into the kitchen, pulling ingredients from the fridge and cabinets. A moment later, she heard the shower start. Nicholas padded over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, tail curling loosely around her legs, a deep purr rumbling in his chest. “I’m happy,” he murmured into her shoulder. “Happy we did this. It feels good.” She leaned back into him, smiling. “I’m happy too.”

He leaned forward, peering at the ingredients she’d taken out, immediately frowning when he spotted the pile of vegetables. “Hey,” he said, squinting at them. “That’s… a lot of green.” (Y/n) giggled. “You need to eat vegetables too, not just meat and milk.” He muttered something incoherent under his breath before finally sighing. “Fine.” Releasing her, he stretched, then wandered over to the fridge, pulled out the milk, grabbed a glass, and filled it up before taking a small, very satisfied sip. (Y/n) laughed again. “You really are a cat.” He shot her a grin. “Who can resist a nice, cold glass of milk?”

Just then, the bathroom door opened, and Maki stepped out. He was wearing the sweatpants and tank top they’d bought him, and they fit just right. His hair, though, was dripping wet, water trailing down his neck and shoulders. He looked mildly frustrated by it, but also clearly unsure what to do. (Y/n) walked over. “Want help?” He hesitated, ears tilting back a little, like he was worried about bothering her, but then nodded. “Yes… please.” She went back into the bathroom and grabbed a second towel. “Sit down somewhere.” In his haste, he sat straight down on the floor. She laughed softly. “That works too.”

Standing behind him, she gently started drying his hair, careful and patient. “I’ll show you how to use the blow dryer next time,” she said. “It’s way faster.” Maki relaxed almost instantly under her hands, tail flicking lightly behind him as he let her help. (Y/n) tilted her head slightly as she worked through his hair. “How did you deal with it before?” Maki hesitated before answering. “Either my previous owners cut it all off… or I just waited for it to dry.” He glanced down. “It always bothered me, though. And I couldn’t use the same towel for my hair that I used for my body, because my tail soaked up so much water that the towel was already too wet.”

She paused. “You never got a second towel?” He shook his head lightly. “No.” (Y/n) smiled gently. “Well, here you can grab a second towel. Or a third. Or however many you want.” Then she added, “Still, I’ll show you how to use the blow dryer next time. It’s faster, and probably easier for your hair. Might be good for your fluffy ears too.” “Thanks,” he said quietly. She finished drying his hair until it wasn’t dripping anymore, then used the towel to wipe up the few drops of water on the floor. “Sorry,” Maki said quickly. “It’s fine,” she replied easily. “I leave way bigger puddles than that on days I don’t feel like blow-drying my hair.”

Once she dropped the towel into the laundry bin, (Y/n) headed back to the kitchen. Maki was already there, standing by the counter, eyes flicking between the ingredients, clearly trying to piece together what she was planning to make. “You really don’t have to help,” she said again. “But if you want to,” “I want to,” he said quickly. She smiled. “Alright. Can you cut the vegetables while I prep the meat? I’m thinking oven-roasted veggies and steak. Easy, but good.” Maki nodded. “Okay. How do you want them cut?” She explained, showing him the rough size and shape, and he listened carefully, then washed his hands, grabbed a knife, and got to work.

(Y/n) glanced over a few seconds later, and nearly stopped what she was doing. He was fast. Like, really fast. His hands moved with practiced precision, slicing through carrots, potatoes, peppers, and onions with clean, even cuts. She blinked, realizing she’d seriously underestimated just how good he was at this. Within minutes, everything was chopped, tossed with oil and seasoning, and arranged neatly on a tray before he slid it into the oven. “Done,” he said, sounding a little proud, a little shy. “Wow,” (Y/n) said honestly. “You’re really good at that.” His ears flicked. “Thanks.” She finished seasoning and cooking the steak, and soon enough, everything was plated and ready. The kitchen smelled warm and savory, the kind of smell that made a place feel like home.

They carried their plates and drinks into the living room, Nicholas already sitting on the couch with the remote in hand, a movie queued up and paused at the opening screen. Maki lingered a bit by the doorway, shifting his weight, clearly unsure whether he was allowed to sit on the couch. (Y/n) noticed immediately. She sat down and patted the spot beside her. “Come on.” He hesitated for half a second, then carefully sat down next to her, like he was afraid he might somehow break the furniture just by existing. She smiled at him. “Dig in.”

Nicholas hit play, and the movie began as they started eating. Nicholas took one bite of steak and immediately lit up. “This is really good.” (Y/n) grinned. “Told you.” Then he took a bite of vegetables. His face… fell. He chewed slowly, brows knitting together, ears tilting back just a little, like he was enduring something tragic instead of eating perfectly good roasted vegetables. Maki noticed instantly. His smile faded, ears dipping as worry crept in. He looked between Nicholas, the vegetables, and his own plate. He’d tasted them, they seemed fine to him. Good, even. (Y/n) wasn’t reacting strangely either.

Still, he swallowed nervously before asking, “Um… did I… do something wrong with them?” (Y/n) turned toward him right away, hearing the anxiety in his voice. “What? No, Maki. They’re delicious.” She glanced at Nicholas, who was still frowning dramatically at his plate. “He just doesn’t like vegetables.” “I eat them,” Nicholas muttered. “I just don’t enjoy it.” “That’s exactly what I mean,” (Y/n) said, amused. “You didn’t mess anything up.” Maki let out a quiet breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, his shoulders relaxing. “Oh… okay.” Then he took another bite, tail giving a small, relieved wag as the movie continued and the apartment settled into a calm, comfortable quiet.

After they finished their plates, all three still felt hungry. Nicholas stood up first, already heading toward the kitchen. “You want more?” he asked, looking back at (Y/n). “Yes, please,” she replied with a smile. He took her plate, then glanced at Maki, who was clearly debating whether to say anything. Nicholas raised a brow. “You too.” Maki hesitated. “I can wait. You guys can take more first,” “Don’t be silly,” Nicholas cut in, already grabbing his own plate. “There’s more than enough for all of us to have a second serving. Maybe even a third.”

That was enough to convince him. Maki stood up with his plate and followed Nicholas into the kitchen. They filled their plates again, and when they returned, Nicholas handed (Y/n) hers. “Thank you,” she said, then looked over at Maki, smiling when she saw how full his plate was. “Did you like the food?” “Yes,” he said quickly. “It was really good.” “I’m glad,” she said. “Do you have any favorite foods? Or anything you don’t like? Like how Nicholas hates vegetables.” Maki shook his head. “No, I eat pretty much everything.” (Y/n) nodded. “Well, if there’s ever something you don’t like, you don’t have to eat it.” Nicholas immediately frowned. “Then why do I have to eat vegetables?” “You don’t have to eat all of them,” she shot back. “You just have to eat some of them.” “That’s cruel,” he muttered, making both of them laugh as they dug back into their food.

After eating, Nicholas stood up, already gathering the plates. Maki moved to follow him, but Nicholas stopped him with a small shake of his head. “It’s fine,” he said. “You helped make the food, so I’ve got the dishes.” Maki hesitated. “Do you always do them?” Nicholas shrugged. “Most of the time. Been doing it since I first came to (Y/n). She never expected me to, but I’m a terrible chef, so this is how I contribute.” (Y/n) chimed in from the couch, smiling. “We just found a routine that works for us. We help each other out, but nothing here is an obligation you get punished for. Some days you don’t have the time or energy to vacuum, and that’s fine. You just say so, and someone else can help.” “Yeah,” Nicholas added from the sink. “Team effort.” Maki listened closely, his tail swaying slowly behind him. A home where chores weren’t threats or rules carved in stone, but just… shared things people did for each other. It felt unreal. And somehow, perfect.

(Y/n) glanced at the clock and sighed softly when she saw it was only around eight. Still, she knew tomorrow would be brutal, her meeting started at five in the morning. “I’m gonna shower and head to bed,” she said, standing up. “But tomorrow, after my meetings, they end around two, we can go to the mall and get you some more clothes and whatever else you want, Maki.” Maki’s ears drooped just a little. “Okay…” “In the morning,” she added, glancing toward the kitchen, “Nicholas can help you with breakfast. And there’s frozen leftovers in the freezer you can heat up for lunch.” She walked into the kitchen to give Nico the rundown too, then headed to her room, grabbed her pajamas, showered, and disappeared into bed.

A few minutes later, Nicholas finished in the kitchen and came back to the living room, stopping beside the couch where Maki was sitting. “Hey,” he said, holding up the phone box. “Wanna set this up? There’s a ton of fun games you can play.” Maki nodded immediately. “Yeah.” So they sat together, Nicholas guiding him through the setup, explaining apps, and laughing quietly when Maki accidentally opened things he didn’t mean to. Soon enough, the two hybrids headed to bed as well. They agreed on a time to wake up, eat breakfast, and then Nicholas would show Maki the gym in the building before (Y/n) got home from her meetings.

~~~

Night passed quickly, and much earlier than she wished, (Y/n)’s alarm went off. She quietly made herself a cup of tea, moving around the apartment in soft steps so she wouldn’t wake either of them, before heading into her studio and preparing for her meetings. A few hours later, sunlight filtered into the apartment, landing right on Maki’s face. His ears twitched, nose scrunching as he shifted, before his eyes finally fluttered open. For a second, he forgot where he was, then he saw the unfamiliar ceiling, the soft blankets, the open door to a real hallway instead of a shelter corridor, and his tail immediately started wagging against the mattress.

He sat up, grinning to himself, before glancing over toward Nicholas’s room. The door was half open, and inside, the panther was completely sprawled across his bed, face buried in his pillow, tail hanging off the side. “Mornin’,” Maki whispered, walking over. No response. He tried again, louder. “Nicholas.” A low, disgruntled groan came from the bed. “Too early,” Nicholas muttered into his pillow. Maki laughed softly. “It’s, like, almost ten.” “That is early.” Maki tilted his head, amused, before gently nudging Nicholas’s shoulder. “You said we were going to the gym.” Nicholas cracked one eye open, golden gaze unfocused. “I did?” “Yes.” “…Rude.”

Still, after a few more seconds of grumbling, Nicholas rolled onto his back, stretching his arms over his head, claws extending slightly as he yawned. His tail flicked lazily behind him. “You’re way too awake,” he said, squinting at Maki. Maki shrugged. “I always wake up early. Shelter habit, I guess.” Nicholas’s ears twitched at that, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he sat up, rubbing his face. “Fine. Breakfast first. If I go to the gym without food I’ll pass out and that’s embarrassing.” Maki smiled. “Got it.”

They headed into the kitchen, Maki looking around like he still couldn’t quite believe this was real. Nicholas opened a cabinet and pulled out cereal boxes. “Any preference?” he asked. “Uh, I eat anything.” Nicholas snorted. “That’s gonna change. Pick one.” Maki studied the boxes seriously before choosing one at random. “This one looks… powerful.” “That’s honey oat,” Nicholas said flatly. “Exactly.” Nicholas shook his head, amused, as he grabbed bowls and milk. They sat at the counter, eating quietly for a moment, until Maki spoke again.

“So,” he said carefully, “you go to the gym every day?” “Pretty much,” Nicholas replied between bites. “Keeps me sane. Also keeps me from breaking furniture, from restlessness.” Maki blinked. “You break furniture?” “I used to,” Nicholas said casually. “A lot.” Maki laughed. “Good to know.” After breakfast, Nicholas rinsed his bowl and grabbed his gym bag. “You ready?” Maki nodded instantly. “Yeah.”

They headed out into the hallway and into the elevator, Maki watching the numbers change with fascination. “So,” he said, glancing at Nicholas, “what kind of stuff do you do there?” “Strength training mostly. Some cardio when I feel like suffering.” Maki’s ears perked. “Can I try?” “Obviously.” The elevator dinged, and they walked toward the gym entrance. Nicholas pulled out his tag and showed Maki how to scan in. “Yours’ll look like this once you get one,” he explained. Maki nodded seriously, committing it to memory. 

Inside, the gym was mostly empty, the quiet hum of machines filling the space. Maki’s eyes widened slightly as he looked around. “This is… huge.” Nicholas smiled faintly. “Yeah. First time I came here, I thought it was fake.” Maki followed him over to the weights, watching as Nicholas began his warm-up routine. “So,” Nicholas said, stretching his shoulders, “you said you like roughhousing.” Maki’s tail wagged. “Yeah. But I’m bad at knowing when to stop.” Nicholas glanced at him. “We’ll fix that.” Maki blinked. “You will?” “Yeah,” Nicholas said simply. “You’re not too much. You just never got taught.” Something in Maki’s chest felt warm at that.

They started with basic exercises, Nicholas showing him how to properly use the machines, adjusting weights, correcting his posture when needed. “Like this?” Maki asked, gripping the handles. “Yeah. Slow down, though, you’re not racing the machine.” “Sorry.” “No need to apologize,” Nicholas said. “Just… don’t hurt yourself.” Maki smiled. “You’re good at teaching.” Nicholas shrugged. “Had good teachers, I guess.” After a few sets, Maki leaned against the wall, breathing a little heavier but grinning. “This is awesome,” he said. “Way better than running in circles in a yard.” Nicholas snorted. “Yeah, this is controlled destruction.” Maki laughed. “You’re weird.” “You’re loud.” “Fair.”

They moved on to free weights, Nicholas spotting Maki as he lifted. “You’re strong,” Nicholas commented. Maki shrugged. “People used to say that like it was a bad thing.” Nicholas frowned slightly. “It’s not.” Maki glanced at him. “I know. I think. I’m starting to.” Nicholas met his gaze briefly, then nodded. “Good.” After about an hour, Nicholas finally called it. “Alright. That’s enough for your first day, gym wolf.” Maki groaned dramatically. “But I was just getting started.” “You’ll survive,” Nicholas said dryly. “Come on.” They wiped down the equipment and headed back toward the elevator. “That was… really fun,” Maki said quietly. “Thanks for taking me.” Nicholas looked over at him. “Yeah. Anytime.” As the elevator doors closed, Maki’s tail swished happily behind him, and Nicholas found himself smiling without really meaning to.

Once they were back in the apartment, Nicholas kicked off his shoes and stretched his arms over his head. “You should shower first,” he said to Maki. “Then I’ll go, and after that we can figure out lunch.” Maki nodded immediately. “Okay.” He went to his room, grabbed a change of clothes, and headed into the bathroom. He still hadn’t been shown how to use the blow dryer, but he remembered what (Y/n) had said the night before and grabbed a second towel before stepping under the water. The shower felt… unreal. Warm, steady, private. No timers. No knocking. No one yelling that he was taking too long. When he was done, he dried off, used the second towel on his hair until it wasn’t dripping anymore, and changed into clean clothes, his tail swishing lazily behind him.

When he stepped out, Nicholas was waiting in the hallway, already tying his hair back. “All good?” he asked. “Yeah,” Maki said, smiling. “Your turn.” Nicholas disappeared into the bathroom, and Maki wandered back into the living room, sitting on the couch and glancing around the apartment again, still half-expecting someone to tell him he wasn’t allowed to touch anything. Instead, everything was quiet. Safe.

A few minutes later, Nicholas came out, hair damp, ears relaxed. “Alright,” he said. “Food.” They walked to the kitchen together, standing in front of the freezer as Nicholas opened it. “Okay,” he muttered, scanning the neatly stacked containers. “Chicken stew… vegetable curry… stir-fry… oh, yes.” He grabbed one container triumphantly. “What’d you pick?” Maki asked. “Chicken stew,” Nicholas replied. “It’s really good. Spicy but not too spicy.” Maki peered into the freezer, suddenly unsure. “Uh… I don’t really know what to choose.”

Nicholas glanced over. “What do you usually eat?” “Whatever’s given to me,” Maki said honestly. Nicholas paused for a second, then softened. “Okay. Then pick whatever looks good.” Maki studied the labels like they were exam questions before finally grabbing one. “Pasta bolognese?” “Solid choice,” Nicholas said approvingly. “You can’t go wrong with pasta.” They both closed the freezer and turned toward the microwave. Maki hesitated. “Should we heat one for (Y/n) too?” he asked. “So she has food ready when she’s done?” Nicholas shook his head. “Nah. When she’s working, she doesn’t really eat. Says it messes with her focus. She’ll eat later, either before we go to the mall or at the food court.”

“Oh,” Maki said quietly, nodding. Still, something about that didn’t sit right with him. He filed it away in his mind, thinking maybe… maybe he could help with that. If she forgot to eat when she worked, maybe he could make sure she didn’t have to think about it. They put their meals in the microwave, leaning against the counter while they waited. “So,” Maki said, glancing over, “do you always work out like that?” “Pretty much,” Nicholas replied. “Some days harder, some days lighter. Depends on my mood.” “You’re really strong,” Maki said. “Like… really strong.” Nicholas shrugged. “So are you.” Maki blinked. “Me?” “Yeah,” Nicholas said casually. “You’re built like a tank. And, that’s a good thing.” Maki felt warmth bloom in his chest. “Thanks.”

The microwave beeped, and Nicholas grabbed both containers, handing one to Maki. “Careful, it’s hot.” “Got it.” They moved to the table, sitting across from each other as they opened their food. “This smells really good,” Maki said, eyes lighting up. “It is,” Nicholas said. “You’re about to understand why I hate cooking.” Maki laughed softly. “She said you’re a terrible chef.” “Rude but accurate.” They started eating, and Maki took his first bite of the pasta, eyes widening slightly. “Oh,” he said. “This is… really good.” “Told you.”

They ate in comfortable silence for a moment before Maki spoke again. “Hey, Nicholas?” “Yeah?” “Thanks for… this morning. The gym. And everything.” Nicholas looked up. “You don’t have to thank me.” “I know,” Maki said, smiling. “I just want to.” Nicholas studied him for a second, then nodded. “Anytime.” Maki’s tail wagged faintly behind him as he went back to eating, feeling, for the first time in a long time, like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

After eating, they moved to the living room and turned on the TV, scrolling through games until Nicholas picked one that looked simple enough. “This one,” he said confidently. “Easy.” Fifteen minutes later, they were both losing horribly. “How did you fall off again?” Maki laughed, clutching his controller as his character respawned for the third time in a row. “I didn’t fall,” Nicholas shot back. “I was pushed.” “By who?” “…The game.” Maki snorted, leaning forward on the couch. “You literally walked off the edge.” “Strategic retreat,” Nicholas said seriously, then immediately ran his character straight into a wall. Maki laughed so hard he almost dropped the controller. “You’re terrible.” “Excuse you,” Nicholas said, ears flattening slightly in mock offense. “You just lost too.” “Yeah, but I lost with style.

They kept playing anyway, trash-talking each other, accidentally hitting the wrong buttons, celebrating small victories like surviving ten seconds longer than before, and groaning loudly every time the screen flashed Game Over. At one point, Nicholas flopped backward against the couch cushions. “This game hates me.” “It doesn’t hate you,” Maki said. “It’s just honest.” Nicholas growled playfully and shoved his shoulder, and Maki laughed again, tail thumping against the couch as he nudged back. Neither of them noticed the soft click of the studio door opening.

(Y/n) stepped into the living room quietly, pausing just inside the doorway. She watched them for a moment, Nicholas leaning forward with intense focus, tongue slightly caught between his teeth, Maki practically vibrating with excitement as he mashed buttons, both of them laughing so loudly it filled the room. Nicholas hadn’t laughed like that on workdays before. Not like this. Her chest felt warm as she leaned against the wall, just watching them, the easy smiles, the way they leaned into each other’s space without hesitation, the comfort already forming between them. She was so, so glad they had done this.

She cleared her throat softly. “Hi.” Both hybrids jolted like they’d been caught doing something illegal. “(Y/n)!!!” they shouted in unison, whipping around to stare at her, ears up, eyes wide. She laughed, walking closer. “Wow, dramatic. Are you two having fun?” Nicholas nodded immediately. “Yes.” Maki nodded too, just as fast. “No.” Nicholas turned to him. “What do you mean no?” “The game is bullying us,” Maki said seriously. “It says ‘easy mode’ but that’s a lie.” (Y/n) snorted. “I’ll have a talk with the TV later.”

She glanced between them. “Did you eat?” “Yeah,” Nicholas said. “Chicken stew.” “Pasta bolognese,” Maki added quickly, like he wanted to make sure she knew. She checked the time on her phone, 1:30 p.m. “Good. I’ve got time to eat too before we head to the mall. You two keep playing.” “Okay,” Nicholas said, already turning back to the screen. “Good luck,” Maki added to the game. “You’re going to need it.” (Y/n) shook her head fondly and walked into the kitchen, pulling a container from the freezer and heating it up while the sound of dramatic groans and loud laughter echoed from the living room.

~~~

After eating and changing clothes, (Y/n) was ready to go, and so were the two hybrids. Soon enough, they were sitting in the car, Maki automatically taking the backseat while Nicholas settled into the front beside her. As (Y/n) started driving, Nicholas glanced over. “So… how were your meetings?” She sighed lightly. “Mostly good. But there’s this one guy I really don’t like. Super arrogant, and unfortunately he’s a big part of this project.”

Nicholas frowned. “Do I need to bite him?” She laughed. “No.” “Scratch him?” he offered. “Also no.” Maki leaned forward between the seats. “Verbally or physically?” She snorted. “Neither. He’s just annoying. Always pointing out things that we’ve been over a hundred times, he keeps asking to change things back and forth, like one lyrics been changed between the same three alternatives 8 times at this point, all because of this guy. But it’s fine, I don’t have to deal with him much, outside of the meetings, the other have to deal with him way more.” Nicholas relaxed again, nodding. “Good.”

Soon enough, they pulled into the mall parking lot. It was busy, much busier than usual for a Monday, cars everywhere, people streaming in and out of the entrance. (Y/n) glanced back at Maki. “You okay with this many people?” He blinked. “Yeah? Why?” “Some hybrids don’t like crowds,” she explained. “Nicholas didn’t at first. They reminded him of his fighting ring days.” Nicholas looked away slightly, ears flicking. “I’m better now.” “I know,” she said softly, smiling at him. Maki nodded, understanding. “Yeah, I don’t mind crowds so far. Just means more smells and more stuff to look at.” “That’s… one way to see it,” Nicholas muttered. (Y/n) laughed as she parked the car. “Alright. Let’s go get you some clothes.”

They walked into the hybrid clothing store, the familiar mix of fabric, detergent, and new clothes filling the air. (Y/n) turned to Maki with a smile. “Go wild,” she said. “Pick anything and everything you want.” Maki blinked. “I… I should probably ask about a budget?” “There isn’t one,” she interrupted easily. “I can afford the whole store without worrying.” He looked at Nicholas, unsure. Nicholas nodded immediately. “She’s serious.” Maki stared at them for a second longer before his ears twitched upward. “…Okay.” And just like that, he started browsing.

At first, he moved slowly, fingers brushing uncertainly over hangers, clearly not used to having options. He picked up a hoodie in a deep forest green, then hesitated. “What size?” he asked. (Y/n) stepped closer, glancing at the tag. “Based on your shoulder width, mmm, large, maybe extra-large?” Nicholas tilted his head. “Grab both. Try them on.” Maki nodded and took both, still looking a little stunned by how casual they were about it.

A few minutes later, he held up a pair of pants, then immediately frowned, ears flattening. “…No,” he muttered, staring at the fabric like it had personally offended him. (Y/n) laughed. “What’s wrong with them?” “They’re… itchy-looking.” “Valid,” Nicholas said seriously. Maki snorted before he could stop himself, then froze, glancing at them like he wasn’t sure if laughing was allowed. (Y/n) smiled at him. “You’re allowed to hate clothes.” That earned her a small smile back. He moved on, this time pulling out a soft-looking hoodie in a pale blue. His tail gave a hesitant swish. “This one’s… nice.” “It is nice,” (Y/n) said immediately. “That color would look really good on you.” Nicholas nodded. “Yeah. It would look good on you.” Maki’s ears heated, flattening just a little as he muttered, “Oh. Uh. Thanks.” Still, he added it to the growing pile in his arms.

Every few minutes, he’d hold something up. “Too bright?” (Y/n) shook her head. “Nope. Fun.” “This one’s weird.” Nicholas squinted. “Okay, yeah, that one’s weird.” Maki laughed, more freely this time. When he picked up a sleeveless top, he frowned again. “Is this… too much?” (Y/n) tilted her head. “Do you like it?” “…Yeah.” “Then it’s perfect.” That made his tail wag softly as he added it to the stack.

Soon, his arms were full, hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, jeans, jackets, and he kept glancing down at the pile like he was afraid someone might tell him to put it back. Nicholas noticed. “You’re allowed to take all of that.” “All of it?” Maki echoed. “All of it,” Nicholas repeated. (Y/n) smiled warmly. “And more if you want.” Maki swallowed, ears twitching as he nodded. “…Okay.” Then he spotted a rack of hybrid-tailored jackets and actually gasped a little. “Those have tail slits and ear hoods,” he said softly, like he was afraid to scare them away. Nicholas grinned. “You’re definitely getting one of those.” Maki grabbed two.

At one point, he picked up a bright orange sweater, stared at it for three seconds, then made the most dramatic disgusted face. “No.” (Y/n) burst out laughing. “That bad?” “It’s attacking my eyes.” Nicholas nodded solemnly. “That sweater is a crime.” Maki laughed again, louder this time, the sound surprising even himself. As they headed toward the fitting rooms, his arms were overflowing, clothes nearly slipping out of his grip. (Y/n) blinked. “You sure you’ve got enough?” He hesitated, then glanced back at a rack of soft flannels. “…Maybe one more.” Nicholas chuckled. “That’s the spirit.” For the first time since walking in, Maki wasn’t just picking clothes. He was smiling while doing it.

Once in the fitting room area, Nicholas took the pile from Maki’s arms and started sorting through it, laying pieces across the bench and hooks. “Okay,” he said, focused. “These go together. These too. And these… absolutely not together, but we’ll see.” Maki tilted his head. “Why not?” “Because I refuse to let you wear lime green with mustard yellow,” Nicholas said seriously. (Y/n) laughed. “Fashion crimes already.” Maki grinned, ears flicking. “Noted.” Nicholas handed him the first outfit. “Go try these.”

Maki nodded and disappeared into the fitting room. About a minute later, the curtain shifted, and he stepped out wearing grey sweatpants and a black long-sleeve shirt. The clothes themselves looked fine, but Maki didn’t. His shoulders were tense, his arms held slightly away from his sides like he didn’t quite know where to put them. (Y/n) noticed immediately and walked closer. “Hey… can I touch you? Just to check the fit?” Maki blinked, then nodded quickly. “Yeah, that’s okay.” She gently pressed her fingers to his shoulders first, then along his upper arms, lightly near his sides. The fabric pulled tight when he moved even a little.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “This one’s too narrow.” Nicholas crossed his arms. “It’s fighting your shoulders.” Maki let out a small breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “It feels… tight. Like I can’t move right.” (Y/n) smiled softly at him. “Thank you for telling me. That’s really good, you’re allowed to say when something feels wrong.” His ears twitched. “…I am?” “Always,” she said. “Especially here.” She tugged lightly at the fabric near his shoulder seam. “This shirt’s probably tailored for smaller hybrids. Wolves tend to have broader shoulders and chests. I’ll find you something similar, just with more room.” Maki nodded, visibly relaxing. “Okay.”

Nicholas grinned. “Next outfit. Redemption arc.” Maki laughed quietly and ducked back into the fitting room, already feeling lighter than when he’d walked in. (Y/n) waited by the fitting room curtain. Soon he stepped out in the next outfit. This time, he looked completely different. He was wearing dark-wash jean shorts, long enough to cover his knees, but still clearly shorts, and an oversized t-shirt with a bold graphic across the front. The fabric hung loose on his shoulders, falling comfortably over his chest instead of clinging to it. His tail was wagging fast enough to blur as he turned toward the mirror, lifting his arms a little and twisting side to side.

“Oh,” he said softly. “This one feels… good.” Nicholas looked him up and down, then gave a firm nod. “Yeah. That’s a win.” (Y/n) smiled instantly. “You look great.” Maki’s ears flicked back shyly. “Really?” “Really,” she said. “That fit actually suits you.” She took the long-sleeve from his hand. “I’m gonna go find something like this, but that actually fits your shoulders. Stay with Nico.” Maki nodded, turning back toward the mirror while Nicholas leaned against the wall beside him. 

As (Y/n) walked out into the store, she headed toward the long-sleeve section, then paused and waved down an employee. “Hey, quick question,” she said. “Do you have long-sleeves made for broader builds? Like… wolf hybrids?” The employee, a guy maybe a few years older than her, glanced up and immediately did a double take. His eyes flicked over her before he smiled, a little too smoothly. “Uh, yeah, definitely,” he said. “Right this way.” As he walked, he kept glancing back at her. “You said wolf hybrid?” “Yeah,” she said easily. “Just adopted him.” “Oh,” he said, surprised. “Those are… rare.” She smiled. “He’s really sweet. Just like my panther hybrid.” The man froze mid-step. “…Panther?” he repeated slowly. “Yeah.” He blinked, took a very subtle step away from her, and cleared his throat. “Uh. Long-sleeves for larger builds are right here.” (Y/n) hid a grin as he gestured to the rack, suddenly very professional, very distant, and very aware that she was absolutely not someone to mess with.

They kept going for nearly an hour, trying on outfit after outfit, sorting everything into piles, yes, no, maybe in a different size, until Maki had what basically amounted to an entire new wardrobe. Clothes for lounging, clothes for going out, workout clothes, pajamas, hoodies, jackets, and even something nicer for when he wanted to dress up. Nicholas had somehow ended up with a new jacket too, one he absolutely didn’t need but clearly loved, so (Y/n) didn’t even argue.

When they finally checked out, the two hybrids immediately grabbed all the bags. “I can carry some,” (Y/n) protested, reaching for one. “Nope,” Nicholas said, shifting them higher on his arms. Maki nodded firmly. “Absolutely not.” She sighed dramatically. “You know I’m perfectly capable,” “Not happening,” Nicholas said again. Maki added, “Team effort.” She laughed, giving up. “Fine, fine. Do you guys want something from the food court? Ice cream? Pretzels?” “Not yet,” Nicholas said. “Yeah,” Maki agreed. “Later.” “Alright,” (Y/n) said. “Then jewelry store first.”

They headed down the mall corridor, Nicholas carrying most of the bags while Maki took the rest, both of them clearly proud of not letting her lift a finger. Inside the jewelry store, everything sparkled under warm lights. Necklaces, bracelets, charms, and chains were laid out behind glass cases. (Y/n) explained what they were looking for, a collar for Maki, similar to Nicholas’ necklace, and a wolf charm for her bracelet to match the panther charm already hanging there.

Maki wandered slowly along the displays, his fingers hovering over the glass, eyes scanning carefully. He didn’t want something flashy. He didn’t want something heavy. He wanted something that felt… right. Then he stopped. “…This one,” he said quietly. Nicholas and (Y/n) turned toward him. He was pointing at a smaller silver chain, simpler than Nicholas’, thinner and lighter. Hanging from it was a tiny lock charm, engraved with a delicate flower design. A few chain-lengths up, there was a small safety pin attached, decorative, but functional. “I don’t know why,” Maki admitted, ears flicking as he tilted his head, “but I really like it.” (Y/n) stepped closer, smiling softly. “It’s beautiful.” Nicholas nodded. “Yeah. That suits you.” Maki’s tail wagged.

(Y/n) waved over an employee and asked to see the necklace. The employee unlocked the case and handed it to her, the silver chain cool against her fingers. She turned to Maki with a soft smile. “Can you turn around for me? And maybe crouch a little?” He immediately did, lowering himself so she could reach his neck. She carefully lifted the chain and clasped it around him, fingers brushing lightly against his skin as she adjusted it. “How does it feel?” she asked. “Too tight? Too loose?” Maki lifted a hand, touching the charm, his tail starting to wag. “It’s… perfect,” he said quietly. (Y/n) smiled. “Good.” Then she gently unclasped it again. “Just for a second while we pay.” He nodded, still smiling, clearly pleased just having worn it at all.

As they headed to the register, (Y/n) turned to the employee. “Do you happen to have any wolf charms for bracelets?” “I think so,” the employee said. “Let me check.” Behind the counter, they pulled out a small box filled with charms. (Y/n) leaned over it, sorting through tiny moons, stars, hearts, animals… until her fingers stopped. “There,” she said, lifting a small silver wolf charm. “That one.” The employee smiled. “Good choice.” “I’ll take that,” (Y/n) said, “and the necklace, and also a tag with my information engraved on it.” The employee nodded, writing everything down while heading off to prepare the tag. (Y/n) paid at the register while Nicholas and Maki waited nearby, Maki shifting on his feet with barely contained excitement. 

Once everything was done, (Y/n) turned back to him and gently fastened the necklace around his neck again. “There,” she said softly. Maki immediately went to the nearest mirror, touching the charm, turning his head slightly left and right. His smile grew wider by the second. “I love it,” he said. The employee then helped (Y/n) clip the wolf charm onto her bracelet, right beside the panther charm. She lifted her wrist, admiring it for a moment, before looking back at the two hybrids. “Perfect,” she said.

Once they were done in the jewelry store, they headed to the food court, ordering iced coffee and a couple of pastries before sitting down at a small table near the windows. People passed by in steady waves, voices blending into a low hum around them. (Y/n) took a sip of her drink before looking at Maki. “Is there anything else you want to get while we’re here?” He thought about it for a moment, eyes drifting to her phone as she set it on the table. Noticing the case around it, he tilted his head slightly. “Well… I don’t have a case for my phone,” he said. “And I guess… you’re supposed to have one, right? So it doesn’t break.” (Y/n)’s face lit up. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that,” she said with a small laugh. “Good catch.”

Nicholas hummed in agreement, sipping his coffee. “Okay,” (Y/n) continued, “after we eat, we’ll go to a phone store and get you a case. And maybe some hybrid earphones too.” Maki’s ears perked up. “Earphones?” “So you can listen to music at the gym, or whenever you want,” she explained. His tail gave a hopeful little wag. “That sounds… really nice.” Nicholas smirked. “Trust me. Music makes workouts way better.” Maki nodded seriously, clearly taking that advice to heart, as he took another bite of his pastry, smiling to himself.

~~~

Once they stepped into the phone store, (Y/n)’s heart dropped. Her throat tightened, breath catching as she recognized the guy behind the counter. Daniel. Her ex’s friend, the one who had basically chased her and Nico a couple of weeks ago. Nicholas felt the shift in her instantly. Her body stiffened, her scent changed, and his eyes snapped around the store, searching for the reason, until they landed on the familiar face. A low, dangerous growl rumbled from his chest.

Maki didn’t know who the guy was. He only knew one thing. We don’t like him. He stepped forward too, placing himself slightly in front of (Y/n), shoulders squared, tail stiff, a warning growl vibrating in his chest. (Y/n)’s pulse spiked. This was bad. Public place. Wild breeds. Stares. The last thing she needed was people thinking her hybrids were dangerous. She gently placed her hands on their shoulders, grounding, steady. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “Calm down. I’ve got this.”

Daniel had already noticed them. He recognized the panther immediately, and then he spotted (Y/n), partially hidden behind the two towering hybrids. Nicholas didn’t like the way Daniel’s eyes lingered on them, but he forced his growl down at her request, jaw tight, muscles still coiled. Maki quieted too, though a faint rumble still vibrated in his chest, barely audible but very much there.

(Y/n) looked between them and the counter, breathing steadily, hoping, praying, this wouldn’t turn into something worse. (Y/n) forced herself to act like nothing was wrong as they walked toward the wall of phone cases. “Maki,” she said lightly, like her heart wasn’t racing, “your phone model is written here, make sure it matches so it fits properly.” Maki nodded, stepping closer to the display, scanning the options. Nicholas, meanwhile, never took his eyes off Daniel, standing rigidly between him and (Y/n) like a living wall, ears pinned, gaze sharp, daring him to move.

Daniel didn’t. He stayed behind the counter, heart pounding, painfully aware of the two wild hybrids watching his every breath. Maki eventually picked out a case he liked, holding it up with a small smile. They moved to the earphone section next, finding a pair made for hybrids, grabbing those too. Then came the register. (Y/n) wished desperately for self-checkout. There wasn’t one. So she walked up anyway, setting the items on the counter without a word.

Daniel swallowed. “Can we talk?” She didn’t look at him. Just shook her head once. “Please,” he said, voice tight. “Just, just for a minute. About… about everything.” Nicholas growled, low and threatening. Maki joined in, louder now, his shoulders squaring instinctively. Daniel raised his hands slowly, palms out. “I’m not here to hurt anyone,” he said quickly. “I know I was wrong. I know. But I’m not the same anymore, I’m not even friends with your ex.” That made (Y/n) look up. And meet his eyes. “How do I know that’s the truth?” (Y/n) asked. 

Daniel nodded slowly. “Fair enough.” He took a breath before continuing. “After you broke up with him… I got a reality check. He started abusing me too. Once you escaped, he took all of it out on me instead. That’s when I realized just how bad things really were, how bad I’d been too, for standing by and letting it happen.” He swallowed. “So I cut ties with him. Moved. Started over. When I saw you last time, I just… wanted to apologize. But I get why you didn’t want to talk to me.” 

(Y/n) turned to Nicholas and Maki. “You guys don’t have to growl anymore. It’s okay.” Maki’s rumbling faded instantly, his shoulders relaxing. Nicholas didn’t stop. Instead, he leaned forward over the counter, eyes glowing faintly as he bared his fangs. “I don’t like you,” he said lowly. “And I don’t trust you. So you better be careful.” Daniel nodded quickly. “I will. I promise.” Nicholas stepped back, his growl finally dying down, though his ears stayed tilted in warning. Daniel glanced between them before looking back at (Y/n). “So… are you fostering again?” She shook her head. “No. Not exactly. When you saw me last, I was fostering Nicholas,” she said, pointing to the panther. “But I adopted him. And just yesterday, we adopted Maki.” She gestured to the wolf. Daniel’s expression softened. “I’m glad to see that. You always loved fostering… loved having hybrids around.” 

Daniel apologized again, quieter this time, then asked if maybe they could stay in touch. (Y/n) frowned slightly. “I’m glad you seem like a better person than you were a few months ago,” she said honestly. “But you’re not someone I can forgive. At least not now. Maybe not for a long time. We can say hi if we run into each other, but I can’t be friends with you. It’s still too painful. Too close to the past.” Daniel nodded, not looking offended. “Yeah… I’d probably feel the same.” He hesitated. “Is there anything I can do? Not for forgiveness, just… something that shows I’ve changed.” She thought for a moment. “If you want to, you could donate to the hybrid shelter Harua, Jo, and Taki run.” His eyes softened. “Yeah. I can do that.” He packed the phone case and earphones into a bag, then handed it to her. “I hope you have a good afternoon,” he said, glancing at Nicholas and Maki. “All of you.” Nicholas watched him closely, but didn’t growl. (Y/n) nodded. “You too.”

As they left the store and headed back toward the car, Maki glanced up at (Y/n), ears twitching. “What… was that about?” he asked carefully. She stopped walking for a moment, then blinked. “Oh. Right. You don’t know.” She gave a small, apologetic smile. “I’ll explain in the car, okay?” Maki nodded. “Okay.” Once they reached the car, the trunk was quickly filled with shopping bags, Maki insisting on stacking them neatly while Nicholas handed them over, and soon they were all inside, the doors shutting with soft thuds as (Y/n) pulled out of the parking lot.

The drive was quiet at first. Then (Y/n) took a deep breath, fingers tightening slightly around the steering wheel. “So… that guy at the register. Daniel. He was my ex’s best friend.” Maki’s ears tilted back slightly. “My ex was… abusive,” she continued softly. “Controlling. He decided who I talked to, where I went, what I did. He hated hybrids and didn’t want me fostering, so eventually he forced me to stop. He also kept me away from Harua, Jo, and Taki.” Nicholas’ jaw tightened in the passenger seat, tail flicking slowly. “Daniel never stopped him,” (Y/n) said. “Sometimes he joined in. Sometimes he just stood by. Either way, he didn’t help.”

Maki’s hands curled in his lap. “But eventually,” she went on, “with help from Harua, Jo, and Taki, I got away. I left him. And after that… I started fostering again.” She glanced at Nicholas with a soft smile. “That’s when I met Nico. And then… we met you.” The car fell quiet again, heavy but safe. “I’m really glad you escaped,” Maki said quietly. “Me too,” she replied. He hesitated, then added, “I understand you better now. Why you always ask instead of tell. Why you treat us like people.” Her chest warmed at that. Nicholas glanced back at him with a small smile. “Yeah,” he said. “She’s like that.” Maki nodded. He knew what it felt like to be treated like property instead of a person. And sitting there in the backseat, surrounded by shopping bags and warmth, he knew one thing for sure, whatever she’d been through, she had turned it into something gentle.

~~~

Days slipped into weeks after that, a gentle routine settling into place almost without anyone noticing. While (Y/n) worked in the mornings, Nicholas and Maki handled breakfast together, Nico usually half-awake and grumbling, Maki oddly cheerful for someone who’d just rolled out of bed. After eating, they headed to the gym, where Nicholas stuck to his familiar routine and Maki followed along, quietly competitive in a way that made Nico laugh more than once.

Back at the apartment, Maki often cleaned. Not because anyone asked, in fact, (Y/n) reminded him regularly that he didn’t have to, but because he liked it. He said it made his mind feel calm, like everything was in the right place when the apartment was. Nicholas always did the dishes, no exceptions, and Maki took on a lot of the cooking too, especially lunches. Dinner usually turned into a joint effort between him and (Y/n), full of easy conversation, teasing, and the occasional stolen bite.

Weekends and (Y/n)’s days off were for parks and couch time. At the park, the two hybrids wrestled and chased each other across the grass, laughing loudly while (Y/n) sometimes joined in, sometimes just watched from a bench with a smile and a coffee. Other days meant video games, movie marathons, or spontaneous road trips just because they felt like it.

Evenings were Maki’s favorite. He loved sitting out on the balcony, wrapped in a hoodie, tail curled around his legs, staring up at the stars and the moon. Sometimes Nicholas joined him, sometimes (Y/n) did, sometimes he just sat there alone, peaceful, safe, and quietly amazed that this life was his now. 

Three months later, the trio thought life was wonderful. Maki was fully out of his shell now, loud, expressive, and unashamedly excited about everything from new recipes to dumb commercials on TV. Nicholas was just as energetic, constantly messing with him, stealing his snacks, flicking his ears, or deliberately mispronouncing his name just to get a reaction. Maki always gave it right back, whether by flicking Nico’s tail, stealing his hoodie, or tackling him onto the couch when he least expected it. They both loved it, and (Y/n) loved them even more for it.

Some of her favorite moments were the quiet ones, though, evenings spent on the couch, movie after movie playing while the three of them cuddled together. She’d be sandwiched between them, Nicholas purring softly on her left, Maki making that low, rumbly sound on her right, not quite a purr, but close enough, a habit he’d clearly picked up from Nico. And Nico, in turn, had started acting even more dog-like sometimes, tail wagging when he was excited, leaning into pets without even realizing it.

(Y/n) no longer felt guilty about working long hours. Nicholas wasn’t alone anymore, and Maki had a home too, a real one, not just a place to sleep, but somewhere he belonged. If time ever turned back, she knew she’d make the exact same choices again, without hesitation. Because there wasn’t a single thing about their life now that she wanted to change. 

Boyfriend's best friend!Gunwoo, Who, like a pervert, listened to Woojin fuck you beside the room he was staying, his groans muffled behind one hand and gripping his member as he tried to imitate his best friend's thrusts from the banging headboard rhythm. Who strained his ears to hear your sweet moans, the dirty words spoken in between, and the harsh sound of slapping skin.

Boyfriend!Woojin who knew all about Gunwoo's crush on his girlfriend. And he had to admit it was fun teasing his best friend but it was time to end this.

Boyfriend!Woojin who invited Gunwoo to his shared home with you while you were away to buy some groceries and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

"Ah, it feels good doesn't Jagiya?" Woojin coos naughty in your ear, his firm chest against your back as he holds your legs apart. His breathing was heavy as yours while he watched your pretty cunt take two of Gunwoo's fingers, your slick coated the boxers palm and thumb as he rubbed your clitoris raw.

Woojin smirked. Oh, this was gonna be a fun night.

“you’re doing it wrong,” Nick points out to Noah, who’s currently trying to pitch your tent for the night. (rather unsuccessfully.)

it had been Folio’s idea to get away on a camping trip over the weekend, just the three of you, nevermind that you and Noah are both a little… green.

Noah’s never been camping a day in his life, and it shows. “dude,” Nick mutters, eyeing Noah’s work critically, “you can’t just clip it in place, you’ve got to feed the pole through first.”

Noah doesn’t even spare him a glance. “shut up, I know what I’m doing,” Noah retorts. he stubbornly clips yet another section of tent to the pole ribbing, and it sags almost immediately, collapsing as soon as he steps back into a sad, polyester puddle.

Nick has to laugh, but at least he’s good-humored about it. 

“this tent’s stupid,” Noah grumbles. “remind me again why we couldn’t get a cabin?”

“we wanted to experience the great outdoors,” Nick emphasizes, clearly trying to coax Noah into feeling his same level of enthusiasm.

“ugh.” Noah crosses his arms and flops down on the nearby picnic table, making a hurdle of his long ass legs. “great outdoors, my ass.”

Folio just chuckles, able to finish setting up the tent with ease. he turns to Noah with a satisfied smirk. “see? easy. a five-year-old could do it.”

“yeah, okay, I see why you were able to now. that makes so much sense,” Noah deadpans.

Folio rolls his eyes and sticks his tongue out at him. “real mature, Noah.”

“says the guy sticking out his tongue at me,” Noah remarks, returning the gesture just as childishly.

“you’re both hopeless,” you sigh, reaching over to poke Noah in the stomach. he yelps dramatically and bats your hand away as, right on cue, his stomach lets out a low, pitiful growl.  

“I’m hungry,” you pout, plopping down beside him on the bench.

“food does sound good,” Noah agrees. 

you’d been driving for at least three hours before arriving at the park, and the last thing any of you had was coffee and a bag of chips split between you. anyway, that hardly constitutes a proper meal.

“hot dogs work for everyone?” Nick asks, rummaging through the cooler.

“hot dogs are perfect,” you say.

“now, who wants to go find sticks for the fire?”

“if we had a cabin, we wouldn’t have to find sticks for a fire because we’d have a stove,” Noah says pointedly.

“wrong,” Folio disagrees. “everyone knows food over a campfire tastes better.”

“we’ll go,” you volunteer yourself and Noah. this whole camping thing is Nick’s rodeo anyway. you and Noah are mostly just along for the ride. he’ll probably have an easier time setting up with the two of you out of his hair.

“wait, what?” Noah lets out a surprised yelp as you drag him off, stumbling a few steps before finding his balance and succumbing to the pull of your hand as you tug him toward the treeline. “I never agreed to this.”

“try not to get eaten by bears!” Folio calls after you with a smirk.

Noah freezes, his eyes widening. “are there really bears around here?”

you shake your head, amused. you’re not exactly deep in the wilderness. the campground is nestled between two highways, not in the middle of some remote forest. 

the woods aren’t dense, really. more of a scattered border of trees that gives the illusion of seclusion. cars hum in the distance now and then, reminding you civilization’s still only a few hundred feet away, but the park still has the added benefit of feeling like you’re somewhere else entirely; something you want Noah to take full advantage of. at the very least, he promised to put his phone on ‘do not disturb’. 

no work calls, no lurking on social media, no stressing over the latest music deadline. 

“relax, the chances of us running into a bear are pretty slim. besides, they’re mostly harmless.”

“key word: mostly,” Noah shoots back, keeping a suspicious eye on the shadows in the forest as his gaze flicks between trees. “and I’m especially gonna make note of the fact that the—chances—are not zero.”

he looks like he’s half-expecting the trunks themselves to grow claws and teeth.

“Nick’s messing with you,” you reassure him, giving him a light shove on the shoulder.

Noah lets out a long-suffering sigh and looks up at the sky, a near-perfect day for early spring. “I swear he lives just to torment me. I don’t know why I put up with him.”

you glance over at him, your smile softening as you bump his side with yours. “same reason you and I both came on this trip.”

there’s a place for him with you and Noah, but only Nick can decide where he wants to belong, and whether that’s with the two of you.

“I think Nick only invited us so he’d have free manual labor.”

“because you setting up the tent went so well.” 

“hey!” he shoots you a wounded glare. “I volunteered to set up camp out of the pure goodness of my heart. I did my best. sorry I’m not Nick, ‘Lord of the Tents’.”

“uh-huh. well, joke’s on him because neither of us have ever started a fire.”

​​behind you, a distant voice calls out, “you guys dead yet?”

Folio.

you both groan in unison.

“it can’t be that hard, right?” Noah says.

famous last words.

back at camp, the pile of sticks you and Noah collected lies beside the rusted metal fire pit while Nick crouches in front of it, eyeing each piece like he’s drawing up a mental blueprint for the world’s greatest feat of architecture.

“okay,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “we’re going to go with a classic teepee build. newspaper and kindling go in the middle, with larger sticks leaned against each other over top.” he demonstrates a triangle by bringing his fingers together, tips pointing upward and touching. “then we add the logs. this is a delicate, precise—”

“I wanna light it,” Noah cuts in, nudging Nick with the toe of his boot.

“dude—”

“I brought the sticks,” Noah continues, undeterred. “I should get to light it. that’s only fair.”

you don’t bother to correct him that it was thanks to both of your efforts.

Nick deigns to construct the teepee himself, rightly trusting neither of you with the task, although he does eventually hand over the honor of lighting it to Noah. probably because he knows he’d never hear the end of it otherwise.

he’s already regretting his decision when Noah picks up two sticks from the pile like he’s starring in a survival show and begins rubbing them together while Nick looks on, appalled. “what are you doing?”

“starting a fire. duh.”

“Noah,” Nick says with the slow patience of someone speaking to a toddler. “we use a lighter. because, you know, we’re not in the Cub Scouts.”

“could’ve fooled me,” Noah snarks, not un-saltily, but he takes the lighter in Nick’s outstretched hand anyway, watching with a tinge of unhinged glee on his face as the paper he holds it to catches with a soft whoomph of heat.

“happy, you little pyro?” Nick mutters.

“ecstatic,” comes Noah’s reply, the flames reflected in his eyes as the fire flares brightly.

Noah’s marshmallow is on fire. 

again.

he holds it up, squinting as it crackles and blackens on the skewer, flames curling up the sides that he tries to blow out.

“I meant to do that,” he says flatly, watching it smoke.

Nick doesn’t even look up. he’s too busy crisping his marshmallow to golden brown perfection.

“sure you did,” he mutters.

“I like it that way.”

you reach for a graham cracker, ready to assemble your s’more, and when you look his way, Nick is leaning back with a smug little grin, his marshmallow perfectly golden, the chocolate already melting into the graham as he takes a bite.

show-off.

“you’ve got a little something,” you say, nodding toward the smear of chocolate at the corner of his mouth.

he raises a brow. “where?”

you lean in closer, your knees brushing as you take his chin in your hand, licking your thumb and gently wiping the smudge away. 

his eyes make you falter for the briefest of seconds—warm brown, almost amber in this light, steady, curious—drawing you in. then, just because you can, you press a soft kiss to the spot.

Nick blinks, momentarily surprised, but then he grins, and even in the low light, you can see the faint flush that blooms across his cheeks.

“what was that for?”

you shrug innocently. “what can I say? I have a sweet tooth.” 

“what about me?” Noah pipes up, clearly not one to be left out.

you turn just in time to watch—equal parts curious and horrified—as Noah smears a thick streak of chocolate across his bottom lip with one swipe of his finger.

“there,” he says, facing you with big, pitiful puppy dog eyes and chocolate war paint as he puckers up.

you stare incredulously at him for a long moment. Nick snorts. and just like that, the two of you dissolve into giggles.

he’s ridiculous. absolutely. but it’s kind of adorable.

“c’mere, you menace.”

you cradle Noah’s jaw in your palm as you pull him in for your kiss—slow and tender at first, then deeper and more passionate all at once. with him, it’s always too much in all the best ways. it’s either tooth-rotting or toe-curling, and there’s no in between. 

he practically melts into you, making happy, contented little noises as your tongue gently brushes against his bottom lip. you tug it between your teeth, and when you slip your tongue into his mouth, he tastes of honey and chocolate, every bit as sweet as he is.

when you finally pull back, he’s gazing at you with a dreamy, lovestruck expression, seemingly dazed and out of breath. the warmth of the fire has nothing on the heat rushing to his cheeks, tinging them a soft rosy hue. his hair is a mess from your fingers, and he looks so damn cute you can’t help but want to ruin it—and him—more. 

so, at the very least, you give in to the former.

a mischievous smirk curls at your lips as you reach up, ruffling his hair so his already messy brunette locks fall even more haphazardly across his forehead and into his eyes. it softens him, makes him look even more the sweet boy you know him to be, rumpled and adoring and utterly bewitched by you.

Noah makes a small sound of protest, a faint crease between his brows like he’s pretending to be annoyed trying to fend off your hands.

“hey!” he whines. “quit it.”

you only lean in and give his cheek an exaggeratedly wet kiss in response, leaving behind a faint imprint of the chocolate that had rubbed off on you.

whine as he might, it’s all for show. despite the pout, he can’t keep the smile off his face. he loves the attention, and you both know it.

“okay… truth or dare?” Folio leans across the fire ring, a marshmallow stick dangling from his lips.

Noah groans from where he’s sprawled out beside you, his thigh pressed against yours. “truth or dare is a kids game.”

“that depends how you play it.”

you shrug. “I’m game.”

“yeah, sure. why not,” Noah relents.

you go around in circles for a bit. Nick has to sing a terrible camp song, and he immediately launches into a loud, off-key rendition of “99 Bottles of Beer” that drags on far past Noah’s pleas for him to stop. you confess to an embarrassing first celebrity crush. Nick dares Noah to sprint into the lake, fully clothed… except then you both have to endure him shaking his dripping hair all over you like a wet dog. meanwhile, your eyes wander toward his glaring bulge, more obvious than ever. 

him and his fucking short shorts.

you lick your lips.

it’s dumb fun… until it isn’t. 

“your turn,” Nick says, looking at you now as his face becomes unreadable. the game suddenly feels a lot less like a joke. “truth or dare?”

you hold his gaze. “truth.”

“when you said you were open to the right third, did you really mean me?”

Noah goes still beside you. the fire crackles in the silence, emitting a shower of sparks as the logs shift.

you don’t hesitate. “yes.” you look him in the eyes, chin up. 

“I have a truth for you, too, Nick,” you say.

“shoot.”

“do you want to be?”

there’s a catch in his breath, like he’s been holding it for that question. “yeah,” Nick admits, “but… I don’t really know how this works.” he looks at the both of you, swallowing hard. “does that mean we’re a couple now?” 

“it can mean whatever you want it to mean,” you offer kindly. “you want to explore your submissive side, right?” he nods slowly, uncertainty etched on his face. “so we take it slow.”

“what if I don’t have a clue what I’m doing? it doesn’t bother you that I’m not… experienced?”

“if anything, I’m just honored to be someone you trust to have your best interests at heart while you experience a lot of firsts. no one expects you to be one hundred percent from the start. I thought I had to have it all together when I first dommed Noah. I was nervous as hell. but a true partner will meet you where you are. Noah did, and look at us now.”

Noah smiles softly, his fingers tightening around yours, grounding you.

you glance down at your intertwined hands, then reach out with your other hand and take Folio’s too, threading your fingers between his.

“you don’t need to be perfect,” you reassure him. “there’s no such thing. and anyway, learning is a part of being human. Noah and I are still learning. I don’t think you ever really stop.”

“most important thing,” Noah adds, “is to be honest with your partner and yourself. all the time, but especially as you’re figuring things out, like what you want from your dynamic and boundaries you may have.”

Nick clears his throat. “and if I don’t know what I want yet?”

“then that’s step one,” Noah tells him. “learning what you want. and you don’t have to do it alone. you already know who you want to do it with.”

“okay,” Nick exhales softly, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “that helps.”

you squeeze both their hands. “good. okay,” you say in an attempt to lighten the vibe, “new round. Nick. truth or dare?”

“dare.”

you flash him a devilish grin, the kind that spells nothing but trouble, and he knows it. “I dare you to kiss Noah.”

Nick blinks. “what?”

Noah almost chokes. “what?”

your grin turns saccharine. “what? you said dare. you can always pick truth…. you’re telling me you’ve never kissed one of your bandmates before?”

Nick narrows his eyes at you like he knows exactly what you’re doing, shoots you a look like you know exactly why he’s never crossed that line of just a bandmate with Noah. then again, he supposes if that were true he shouldn’t have been a spectator to his best friend having sinfully hot sex with you. maybe then he wouldn’t have opened the door to exploring with you in whatever form it takes... because something in his expression says he’s trying his hardest not to give away that he might be into the idea and for more than just your benefit.

Noah looks like he’s buffering. you’ve joked before that pretty boys should kiss more often, but the moment it’s about him and Nick, it’s like his brain bluescreens.

Nick rolls his shoulders back, stands up slow. “fine.”

you would’ve never expected him to straddle Noah’s lap like he does, and you can tell he’s not quite sure what to do with his hands. Noah goes as still as a statue before awkwardly resting his palms on Nick’s thighs, and you watch as Nick’s breath hitches.

“comfortable?” you ask, grinning.

Nick just glares at you. 

“you know, if you’re feeling too chicken, you could always just kiss his cheek,” you tease.

“nuh uh, I don’t do half-assing.”

stubborn bastard. 

they have that in common.

he finally finds a place for his hands, one cupping Noah’s jaw, bringing their faces closer together, while the other finds his back. Noah’s lips part slightly, and you catch him subconsciously licking them, dry and chapped from the combination of the chill night air and the heat of the fire. 

Nick’s eyes flick down to those lips, then back up, before he leans in and covers them with his own, and they’re kissing, tongue and all. 

you whistle, watching as Noah’s face reddens and he goes shy when Nick pulls away.

Nick abruptly lifts off Noah’s lap, muttering something about how “that was the worst dare ever.” Noah won’t make eye contact for the next few minutes, but Nick sits back down next to him instead of across from the pair of you, and it’s impossible to ignore the way their knees touch or the increasingly undeniable pull between the two of them. it’s a string you can’t help but want to tug.

you, however, feeling very smug, pop a marshmallow into your mouth and say nothing at all.

“alright,” you say an hour or so later as you stand from the log, stretching your arms overhead with a groan. “I’m braving the bathroom. I need to brush my teeth.”

Nick immediately perks up, sitting a little straighter. “we’ll go with you.”

the path crunches underfoot as the three of you leave the campsite behind and head down the gravel trail toward the restrooms, Nick sweeping the beam of his flashlight across the brush on either side like he’s expecting to catch a ghost. “feels kinda spooky, huh?”

“only when you narrate it like a horror movie,” you mutter. 

no way in hell are you going to admit that if it weren’t for your two tall, tatted bodyguards, you’d probably be halfway back to the campsite by now, all because of the wind rustling some leaves. the majority of the comfort of their presence is at least knowing they’d get eaten first.

Noah sidles closer, his shoulder brushing yours. “you know, this is exactly how those Supernatural episodes start. group of friends, full moon, suspiciously quiet woods…”

“yeah, but nothing’s gonna happen while we’re here,” Nick says, attempting at least a modicum of reassurance.

“because you could fend off a werewolf,” Noah challenges.

Nick puffs up his chest heroically. “I’ve been working out.”

you’re halfway to the bathroom when Nick suddenly stops.

“wait—what’s that?” he says, swinging his flashlight toward the trees.

you turn, following the beam of light just as a rustle cuts through the brush.

“nope,” you say, heart rate already spiking. “nope, nope—don’t mess with me right now.”

you turn around, but before you can move back in the direction you came, Noah lunges from behind with a wild “RAHH!!!”

his fingers dig into your sides as he tickles you without mercy, and you let out a soft shriek, twisting away and laughing at the same time despite yourself.

“gotcha.”

“I hate you both.” you shove Noah towards the men’s room door, pale yellow light flickering weakly in the darkness. “now go do whatever it is you do for such stupidly perfect skincare.”

“nothing,” he says conspiratorially. 

“god, I hate you,” you grumble, your tone saying you feel anything but. “how does it feel to be god’s favorite?”

“like a walking commercial.”

“brat.” 

“any excuse to get underneath you,” Noah quips cheekily. then, to Folio, “you’ll find out how good the sex is when you get her riled soon enough.”

the air between you thickens, charged with a playful, electric tension that makes your pulse quicken.

“don’t corrupt my new plaything,” you scold Noah playfully.

Nick, who’s been quiet until now, finally speaks up... “well, baby,” he drawls, “I hate to break it to you, but the damage has already been done…”

in bed, you’re sandwiched between the two of them. you’ve arranged your sleeping bags in a row, the ceiling flaps of your tent unzipped so you can see through the mesh screen to the night sky and the stars beyond. a cool breeze rustles the leaves of the trees above you and caresses your skin, and Noah shivers beside you. 

“you cold?” you ask, surprised. he’s usually the one radiating enough body heat to qualify as your own personal space heater.

“maybe a little,” he admits. “could’ve brought extra blankets.”

“but then we wouldn’t have the excuse to cuddle.” you lift the edge of your sleeping bag invitingly. “come here.”

he nestles closer to your side, his nose brushing your shoulder.

“plenty of room on this side, too,” you say, reaching back to find Nick’s hand and give it a gentle tug.

the sleeping bags slowly turn into a tangle—zippers half undone, edges overlapping. Nick’s hand rests lightly on your stomach, thumb tracing slow, thoughtless circles, while Noah curls in toward you from the other side, his thigh between yours, arm resting loosely around your middle.

“is this what a world without light pollution looks like?” Noah murmurs, used to the L.A. sky.

“you can actually see Orion.” you tilt your head back, eyes wide with awe. “and that’s supposed to be like the easiest one to find.”

“there’s the Big Dipper,” Nick remarks, “and the little one.” he points at a vague curve of tiny stars. “that bright one over there?” he nods towards the last star of the Little Dipper’s handle, “is the North Star.”

“of course you know that.”

“what’s that supposed to mean?”

“just that it’s exactly the sort of thing a guy who lives out his days in Carhartt would know,” Noah comments.

“hey, don’t knock the Carhartt life. it’s a lifestyle.”

“just as long as I’ve got you in the zombie apocalypse,” Noah mumbles. “do you also know how to hotwire a car or make a Molotov cocktail?”

“just because I’m generally handy doesn’t mean I know how to do any of those things.”

“but do you?”

Nick hesitates. “I plead the fifth.”

you stifle a laugh, biting your lip. “don’t ever change.”

“yeah, yeah, goodnight,” Nick grumbles.

Noah, on the other hand, is already halfway asleep, his eyelids heavy as he presses a barely-there kiss to your shoulder. “g’night.”

“night,” you whisper back.

there’s a beat of quiet, and then Folio’s voice from behind you, dry as ever, “don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

you shiver. “gross.”

you wake to the feeling of a tongue lapping up your folds, only to find your sleep shorts halfway down your thighs and your panties to the side. “what’re you doing?” you peer at Noah through one open eye as you rub sleep from the other. “do you wanna wake Nick up?”

“don’t care about Nick,” he mumbles into you, his morning voice rough and you sensitive as the vibration pulses through your pussy.

“good morning to you too,” Nick murmurs, shifting to stretch his arms next to you as he yawns.

Noah only nuzzles closer after shimmying your panties further down your hips, his nose nudging your clit before latching onto the bud with perfect suction.

“oh, shit,” you groan, “right there.” your fingers tangle in Noah’s hair, holding him in place.

it’s a lovely start to a lovely morning. dappled sunlight through the leaves, birds chirping, the smell of woodsmoke from another camper’s fire, and your boyfriend’s tongue leaving a smattering of wet kisses all over your cunt, uncaring of how filthy it sounds as he gets sloppy with it. 

“should I start making breakfast?” Nick squints at you with an arm over his face. “give you two some privacy–?”

“mm, the only meal I’m concerned with is right here. most important meal of the day,” Noah says, looking up at you through long lashes as your arousal drips down his chin. cheeky. 

“okayyy…” Nick makes to leave, no doubt to get a start on setting up your propane stove for the mandatory bacon and eggs. food tastes better when you’re camping. you’re also hungrier. something about the fresh air. 

before he can, Noah grabs Nick’s wrist, unable to meet his gaze (no doubt brings to mind the moment they shared last night) as he slips his index and middle fingers into his mouth, making sure to get them nice and slick before guiding them between your folds. 

they’re thick. a drummer’s hands, calloused and rough, but gentle in a way that still remembers how to hold something delicately. hands that know rhythm, and labor, and fuck if they don’t fill you perfectly. 

the feeling of Nick’s fingers curling behind your clit as Noah sucks it into his mouth has you arching off your makeshift mattress, hips pushing into his face. Noah grips your ass in his palms, making sure you stay seated on his tongue as it flicks over your swollen clit. 

“fuck,” you grip Nick’s wrist, your eyes all but rolling back in your head. a second wave of pleasure overshadows the first, threatening to take you higher. “I’m gonna—”

Noah spreads you open with his thumbs, kissing the bud encouragingly before sucking it between his lips again as your legs shake and white hot pleasure courses through you, gushing between your thighs. too much. you’re pushing at him—clawing more like—your thighs hugging his head, pussy clenching around Nick’s fingers until Noah finally allows you reprieve. 

“you ever make a girl squirt before?” Noah smirks. 

now, Nick’s given his fair share of orgasms, but he can’t say he’s ever had someone drench his fingers the way you just did, so he shakes his head.

“I’ll have to teach you a trick or two.” Noah seems only all too happy to volunteer his services. “but lesson number one”—Noah unabashedly laps up your arousal with what can only be described as a debaucherous slurping sound as you tremble underneath him—“is not to waste a single goddamn drop she gives you.”

he then proceeds to take Nick’s middle finger into his mouth, his confidence seemingly bolstered as he locks eyes with him this time, before pushing Nick’s hand up toward his own mouth for a taste. 

Nick’s tongue darts out from between parched lips to lick at his fingers, tasting you. 

“the more stimulation, the better,” Noah says. “g-spot, clit....” Noah makes a vulgar gesture of pumping his fingers. “don’t switch up at the last minute, keep it constant. you push her over the edge, and you don’t stop. make her feel so good she has no choice but to let go. she won’t even be able to think about anything else, and you don’t pull away until she’s dragging you. I’m gonna test you later.”

“you hear that, Nick?” you tease. he’s perched on his knees, leaned one one hand, when your hand sneaks past the waistband of his boxers to cup his cock, your other doing the same to Noah. “class is in session.”

“what can I say? I don’t gatekeep.” Noah kisses underneath your jaw, leaving a trail of butterfly kisses all along your jawline while Nick cups your breast and mouths along your shoulder and the curve of your neck, both making soft sounds against your skin as you stroke them. “that doesn’t mean I’m gonna teach him that thing I do with my tongue that you like so much though. you’ll have to come to me for that one.”

“oh yeah?” you murmur. he’s panting now. they both are. ragged and hot and heavy as they paint their shuddering stomachs with thick, white ropes of cum. “good morning to me.”

you swipe two fingers through both their messes, offering them first to Noah, who laps at them with no hesitation, sucking your fingers into his mouth as their tastes intermingle on his tongue. Nick is more tentative, but he follows suit, and when your fingers withdraw from his tongue, they’re spit-slicked and clean of his and Noah’s cum.

“I’ll take that breakfast now,” you say, smiling.

Nick laughs softly, getting himself together before making his way out of the tent to cook. “on it.” he play salutes.

“enjoy,” he tells you when he hands you a plate a few minutes later, bacon and eggs and buttered toast, which you accept gratefully. “I’m gonna catch us some fish for lunch.” he shrugs on a flannel shirt, grabbing his fishing rod from the bed of the truck.

“it’s early.” 

“as good a time as any,” is his reply. “you’re welcome to join. thought it might be fun to take the boat out.” he nods toward the little rowboat you’d parked at the shore of your campsite. 

you’ve been on the water for less than an hour when Noah, with his feet propped on the cooler and a pair of sunglasses sliding down his nose, remarks, “god, this is boring.”

“that’s because you’re not doing anything,” Nick retorts and casts his fishing line into the water with a flick of his wrist. he’s already caught two fish in a relatively short amount of time. 

“I could be doing something,” Noah says. “but then I’d be fishing, and I don’t have the patience for that.”

“you could always paddle back.”

“tempting. where’d you stash your jerky? I know you have some.”

Nick rolls his eyes, affectionate in that begrudging way he is when it comes to most things involving Noah, and rummages through his bag. “here, you greedy bastard.”

Noah grins victoriously, asking through bites, “okay, serious question. what do you do if you catch, like, a monster fish?”

Nick raises an eyebrow. “define ‘monster.’ this is a lake, not the ocean.”

“no, I mean really big. like, the kind of fish you brag about forever.” he adds, “aside from the mandatory instagram post where you’re holding it up at arm’s length like it’s some giant trophy or something.” 

you laugh. “yeah, you know, ‘look how big my dick, I mean—fish—is.’”

Noah lets out a giggle, Nick just shoots you a less than amused look. 

“well… the biggest thing in here is probably an overgrown carp, so I’d say you’re dreaming, but I’d probably just cook that bad boy up and feed it to you,” he tells Noah, “since you’re like a freaking bottomless pit.”

“you’re telling me you wouldn’t mount it over the fireplace?” Noah suggests. “taxiderm that shit and immortalize it forever?”

“neither of you have a fireplace,” you point out. 

“well, obviously we get a house that does,” he says like it’s the clear solution. “you know. in the future.”

Nick freezes so fast at the mention of a future together that he locks up, and if he were a goat, he’d topple over, he’s so startled. only, he doesn’t have time to dwell on it, because you break the silence with a loud explanation of “oh my god, what is that?” your eyes on the water. 

“what’s what?” Noah jerks upright to look, standing up, and the boat lurches sideways, water sloshing dangerously close to the edge. no doubt he thinks it’s that so-called ‘monster’ fish he’s conjured in his imagination.

“Noah,” Nick warns.

“okay, okay! I didn’t mean to!” Noah flails, trying to counterbalance his sudden movement, which only makes it worse.

“sit. down.”

“I think it’s an otter.” you squint at what you’d thought was a log at first glance, but that was before you’d caught the glint of sleek fur, water parting around the unmistakable shape of a small, furry creature drifting slowly, lazily, on its back closer to the shallows. not a single care in the world.

the boat rocks as Noah leans forward again. “an otter? holy shit, otters are cute as hell. Matt’s gonna be so jealous—”

“Noah—” you warn.

 “I’m fine! it’s sturdy!” he says, waving a hand.

but in proving his point, he ends up tipping the boat, and all of you, into murky, clammy lake water that’s actually no higher than your navel. 

you surface, sputtering, with your bucket hat gone.

“what the hell, Noah?”

“I barely moved!”

Nick is already gathering gear, kicking toward the overturned boat as he splashes furiously. “my rod—my bag—”

“it’s all there. look—look, that’s your stupid tackle box!”

“it’s floating away, you jackass!”

you’re half-laughing, half-shivering as you wade to where the boat now bobs upside-down, its belly to the sky. Noah reaches it at the same time you do, grabbing the side.

when you look again, the otter is gone, only faint ripples left in its wake. can’t say you blame him.

“okay,” Noah says, a little out of breath, “so, that was my bad.”

you blink water from your lashes, too stunned to reply.

he grins suddenly, wide and sheepish. “but hey—now it’s not boring.”

he looks so pitiful, you can’t even be mad at him. not when his hair is plastered to his forehead, shades gone, big brown puppy eyes weaponized to beg for forgiveness.

you shake your head with a sigh. “you’re unbelievable.”

“yet devastatingly handsome, even when I look like a drowned rat?” 

you snort. “you don’t even look like a drowned rat. that’s the problem.”

his grin only deepens. he’s incorrigible. “so, just devastatingly handsome, then?”

“you’re lucky I don’t drown you.”

“get in line,” Nick grumbles. “now help me flip the damn boat.”

“I’m serious, though. one day we’ll have a fireplace. just in case we do catch something worth mounting.” 

“there is no ‘we’. I’ll be lucky to catch anything with you scaring away everything within a ten-foot radius,” Nick says as you haul the overturned rowboat upright.

“please tell me our lunch made it,” you plead. 

“the fish are fine, which is more than I can say for us,” Nick says pointedly. “at least the cooler floats.”

Noah is unruffled, presenting his back to you for a piggyback ride to shore. 

Nick is already halfway to the shoreline, dragging the boat through the shallows at your campsite as you wrap your arms around Noah’s neck and your legs around his waist.

by the time the fish—two decent-sized rainbow trout—lie gutted and cleaned, ready to be cooked, it’s late morning and the sun is significantly higher in the sky. 

“should we be helping?” Noah asks from the hammock a few feet away, stretched out like a cat sunning itself. his shirt is wrung out and draped over a tree branch, leaving him shirtless and his many tattoos on display.

you shoot him a look. “you flipped us into a lake. I think you’ve helped enough for one day.”

“I carried you to shore,” he defends himself.

“and I’m still wet,” you say, hair and clothes dripping.

Noah’s gaze flicks down, slow and appreciative of this fact.

“you could always strip if it bothers you,” he teases. “nothing we haven’t seen before.”

Nick, stood over the fire, flushes deeply and avoids your eye.

“you’d like that, wouldn’t you? perv.” you flick a little water in Noah’s direction.

choosing to ignore him, you cross the campsite to where Nick is, sliding your arms around his waist from behind as he stands watch over the fish.

“thank you for inviting us,” you mumble against his back, the shirt he’s changed into soft against your cheek, warm and smelling of cedar and sandalwood. 

he sets aside the spatula and turns around, wrapping his arms around you as he rests his chin on top of your head. “of course,” he says lowly. “I figured we could use the privacy to… talk.” he pulls back just enough to meet your eyes, but his hands stay firm on your waist. “I know it can be chaotic with the three of us, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I mean it. I like this. I like us. and I want to see where it goes.”

you visibly soften, leaning into him again. “let’s enjoy our last night, yeah?”

when he pulls from your hug, it’s only to reach for his cap. it’s denim, the one with the embroidered trout and the words ‘fish around find trout’ stitched across the front that you’d found in a little roadside gift shop and given him for his birthday two years ago because it made you laugh and because it instantly made you think of your fish boy. he places it gently on your head, then tugs it teasingly down over your eyes by the brim.

“you still wear this?” you ask, lifting it just enough to peek at him from beneath it.

“it’s my lucky fishing hat.” he grins, and you have to admit it’s funny how on the nose it is with the dinner he’d caught sizzling on the grill in front of you. “here. try.” he picks up his fork and cuts a piece of fish, then lifts it to your lips, feeding it to you.

you take the bite obligingly, chewing slow. “oh, shit, that’s good.”

it flakes perfectly on your tongue, tender and buttery, with just the right hint of smoke. the fishy taste, which usually puts you off, is barely there. just enough to remind you it came fresh from the lake this morning. and the lemon? too die for.

Nick smiles wider, pleased with himself. “told you I knew what I was doing.”

“okay, chef,” you say, nudging him. “more please.”

“hey, I haven’t had any yet.” Noah materializes in front of you, opening his mouth expectantly waiting for Nick to feed it to him. 

yeah… you could see a life with them. 

you could picture coming home to them. 

sure, maybe it’s a little early to be thinking about it, given nothing’s strictly official, but every moment you spend with them only serves to make everything click even further into place. something in your gut tells you they’re your people. 

you wouldn’t say you didn’t believe in soulmates. more like the near-impossible odds of finding yours in a world that feels so vast.

and somehow, against all odds, you have two.

you may have had a less-than-innocent idea in mind about how exactly you’d be making the most of your last night, and it started with waking up the unsuspecting boy next to you. 

you slide your hands along his shoulders, lean in until your lips brush the shell of his ear, and smile as you feel him shiver. “what do you think about giving Noah a show this time?” you ask Nick, already straddling his lap as he slow blinks at you sweetly, no doubt thrilled to find himself in this position.

Nick’s hands immediately tighten on your hips, his sleepy smirk sharpening into something far more wicked as he registers what you’re suggesting. he glances over at Noah—whose mouth is open in soft exhales as he snoozes beside you, unwittingly—before dragging his gaze back to you with a slow, dangerous grin.

“yeah?”

his fingers dig in more possessively as he leans up to capture your lips in a filthy, open-mouthed kiss, just deep enough that the wet sound might just reach Noah’s ears. 

he still tastes of mint toothpaste. 

“then we’d better make sure he wakes up for the best part,” he murmurs against your mouth.

a deliberate moan slips from his throat as he palms the curve of your ass, squeezing just hard enough to make you gasp, every sound obscenely loud in the quiet of the tent. 

his hand slides up your back, fingers tangling in your hair to tilt your head as his mouth latches onto your throat, sucking a mark right where Noah will definitely see it. his other hand teases under the hem of the pajama shorts you’re in, fingertips skimming dangerously close to where you so desperately want them before the pad of his finger brushes over the crotch of your panties and feels the dampness concentrated between your thighs.

“shit.” with a thigh-clenchingly attractive huff, he rolls you over, effectively topping you as your hands come up to brace against his chest and he hitches a leg over his waist. he grinds his bulge between your folds as you savor how solid he feels underneath your palms, his breaths becoming labored with the weight of his need. “you been lying all innocent between us while you got wet thinking about this?” 

all his blood seems to be flowing straight to his dick, and it’s calling the shots here. it dictates how he rocks his hips and tells him when he rubs up against your clit perfectly. it feeds off knowing you’re every bit as desperate to have him inside you as he is to be inside you, and fuck if dry humping has ever felt this good. every tease of contact, of friction, only serves to make you burn hotter. “was this always your plan? pretend to be asleep and then crawl into my lap and seduce me? get me to fuck you for Noah to watch?” his lips trail hotly across your neck. “wake him up to the sight of me balls deep inside you?” he nips where you’re sensitive, right behind your ear, and yeah, if he isn’t giving it to you hard and fast within the next five minutes, you’re going to have a problem. 

“why? does it turn you on?” you ask coyly, despite knowing the answer. “yeah it does.” your hand brushes over the evidence, his growing erection pressing into your palm. 

you enjoy this back and forth, this banter. you already know he’s going to challenge you, and the fun it will be bringing him to heel. he’ll make you work for it, which will only make his submission all the sweeter. 

maybe part of it is only just realizing what he’s gotten himself into, but one thing is for certain: he does love a tug of war. 

“look at you.” you admire the outline of his cock in his boxers, reaching in to find him already half hard and perfectly pink. he’s thicker than Noah, if shorter, has a bit of a curve to him that you know will hit all the right places. “fucking perfect.” he jerks in your hand at the compliment. 

“don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. you want to fuck me. I want that too,” you tell him. “I’m as much yours as I am Noah’s, you know that, right? that’s what this whole trip was about. lucky me getting to dom the both of you. us playing together.”

you stroke him in your palm before taking him in your mouth, enjoying the way he hardens on your tongue before you tease him against your folds.  

when he finally sinks inside you, it’s with a choked gasp. it’s a stretch, even with how wet you are, but you’d be lying if you said you didn’t love the fullness of it all. 

“jesus fucking christ.” Nick moans into your shoulder, nipping the skin of your collarbone. “there you fucking go,” he praises as he bottoms out. “taking me so well, holy shit.”

“don’t come until I tell you,” you warn, and he groans as if he’s just remembered what the dynamic here is going to be. 

“you’re not making it easy for me.” 

“I never said I would,” comes your reply. after all, you like to play too. 

you thought Noah was affectionate? with Nick, it’s like he has ADHD, always needing his mouth or his hands to be occupied. restless, never settling—kissing you, wandering your body with his hands, his tongue sucking your bottom lip into his mouth. physical contact is his primary language, and he just learned how to talk.

with every thrust, your ass backs into Noah, who grumbles sleepily and ruts against you from behind as if succumbing to a wet dream. he pants softly against the shell of your ear, eyes fluttering open and blinking away sleep as they widen at the sight before him. 

“rise and shine, sleeping beauty,” Nick taunts. “fuck, I’m so close,” he pants, “she’s gripping me like a vise. fuck, I could just—” he grunts, and then he’s coming before you can chastise him, pulling out only in time to paint Noah’s stomach. 

sly fucker thinks maybe he can get away with it, but you’re about to show him otherwise. 

“don’t let me interrupt,” Noah remarks dryly.

“oops.” Nick grins sheepishly, as unrepentant as they come. “don’t worry, I’m good for another round. I’ve got stamina,” you practically hear the smug satisfaction in his voice. “they don’t call me ‘animal’ for nothing.”

“you talk big for someone who just came without permission.” you shake your head, trying to keep your smile at bay. “something told me you were going to be a brat. we’ll work on it.”

“don’t act like you don’t love it. you live for this shit. so…” he waggles his eyebrows. “how’re you gonna punish me?” 

you narrow your eyes. “you don’t think I can make you regret it. mhm, you should ask Noah what he thinks of my punishments. he can be a bit of a brat, too, from time to time,” you say. “seeing as you came without my permission, I think a ruined orgasm is only fair. payment, of course, for such willful disobedience.

“what do you think, Noah?” your fingers absentmindedly trace a heart in the sticky puddle of Nick’s cum pooling on Noah’s navel. “baby’s first ruined orgasm?”

he mumbles incoherently against you. 

“yeah, he’s going to hate it, but he’s also going to take it so well for me because he wants to make me proud, like someone else I know. doesn’t he?”

Nick nods, and Noah’s cock springs out to greet you as you fumble with his sweats, tugging them low enough to reveal the v of his hip bones. 

“sweet dreams?” your fingers trail across Noah’s stomach, and he trembles, ever sensitive to your touch as you trail yet lower, lapping with your tongue along his inner thigh as his cock pulses. you lick a long line up his stomach, eyes on him the whole time, and also along his cock, trailing from the base to his head, his cock twitching underneath you before you suck his tip into your mouth.

you like to circle the tip with your tongue like it’s a clit, lavish it with attention until his hips can do nothing but jerk into your mouth in search of either escape or more friction, the breathless gasps that escape him only fueling you. 

he has a pretty voice for more than just singing. 

“I think Nick’s going to take some of the heat off you. he’s gonna be my little mischief maker, and you’re going to be my good boy. hm?” you purposely draw out the hum, and he bucks as the vibration goes right through him. 

“go ahead and come for me, baby,” you coax. 

he does so with a strangled moan, hand flexing where you’ve let him anchor it in your hair, and you lick your lips after you’ve swallowed him down, sticking your tongue back out to show him how artfully you’ve made his cum disappear. his eyes practically roll back at the sight while you… you live to tease him. 

“don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, baby boy.” you turn your attention back to Nick as you crawl to his lap. 

a soft sound resonates in his throat as you straddle him once more, and he watches appreciatively as inch by inch of his cock disappears inside you. 

“I knew you’d like a girl on top,” you muse. he looks like a kid in a candy shop with you riding him like this, unable to figure out where to ultimately focus his attention. 

“lets me do this,” he maintains eye contact while sucking your tit into his mouth, his hands cupping your ass. 

“you know, I would’ve bet money that cowgirl was your favorite position.”

Nick lets out a quiet, rasping laugh against your neck, his fingers gripping the back of your neck as he drags you into another searing kiss. “which one?” he teases against your lips. “cause you know, sweetheart,” he murmurs when he finally pulls back just enough to speak, “I’ve got plenty of favorites.” 

you don’t push him away when his hands slide down to grip your hips, letting him have this indulgence as he guides you into a slow, deliberate grind against him, his eyes locked onto yours with devilish amusement. 

“but right now?” he thrusts sharply upward as if to emphasize his point. “this one’s winning by a fucking landslide.”

his hand slips between you, fingers teasing where you’re already wet for him as your rhythm falters and he picks up the slack. 

he wasn’t kidding, already gearing up for another orgasm. sweat beads at his brow and lust-blown eyes look at you from atop ruddy, pink cheeks. 

“oh no you don’t.” you manage to snap yourself out of his near-hypnotic sex glow to lean in and take his earlobe between your teeth. “I could’ve made you watch instead.” you trail a teasing finger down his chest as beneath it his muscles scrunch. “lucky for you, I wasn’t finished with you or your cock.” you circle your hips in one last teasing arc worthy of stealing his breath. 

now, however…

you ease yourself up, his cock slips from inside you, and you take him in hand, stroking once from base to tip before rubbing his cock head with your open palm. his stomach tenses, a soft whine of protest leaving his lips almost involuntarily at experiencing an orgasm that never fully peaks, his cum spurting all over your hand regardless of never reaching the real crest of satisfaction. 

“what do you think?” you play at conferring with him. “is that enough to learn your lesson?” you look down to where he’s sprawled on his back across the rumpled sleeping bags, hair mussed, out of breath, with the glow of moonlight painting silver lines across his bare shoulders.

he blinks up at you, lips parted, and you can see a faint bruise beginning to bloom just beneath his collarbone. you don’t remember leaving it, but the sight sparks something warm and possessive low in your belly.

god, you could fucking eat him alive.

“I don’t know,” he says, tilting his head slightly. “you might have to teach me again,” he challenges. 

you exhale a soft huff of disbelief as you sit back on your heels, shaking your head. 

“trouble,” you murmur, cupping his jaw. “you’re going to be trouble.” 

he only grins wider. “good thing you like trouble.” he turns his head just enough to press a kiss to the center of your palm. 

your stomach does somersaults. and that was even before he slipped his hand back between your legs and drawled in a voice dripping with sex, “I believe I owe you an orgasm.”

your whole body breaks out in goosebumps, terribly, terribly affected by that hint of Southern lilt. “well, who am I to say no?”

beside you, Noah’s cock has stirred back to life. 

you wiggle your hips when he positions himself over you, the hand with his mandala over your stomach, keeping you close as his cock slots between your ass cheeks. “sweet boy. guess we should take care of that, huh, Noah? or else it might interfere with your beauty sleep.”

he nuzzles against your hair, mumbling his agreement.

“we’re going to have fun together, aren’t we?” you practically purr.