#strollini

Liam was his friend. That’s all he had ever been. That’s all he had ever promised to be.

Jack rubbed a hand over his face, staring blankly at the wall. He knew he should just drop it — close Instagram, get up, do literally anything else — but instead, he found himself reaching for his phone again. He opened their chat without thinking, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

Jack:

hey, u up?

It was stupid. He knew that. But Liam usually answered fast, and right now, Jack just… needed to hear from him. Needed something to pull him out of his own head.

Three dots appeared almost instantly. Jack’s pulse stuttered.

Liam:

course, what’s up?

Jack hesitated, gripping his phone tighter. He had no idea what to say.

Hey, I just spent the last twenty minutes cyberstalking your girlfriend because I got jealous for no reason?

Hey, I thought maybe you liked me, but clearly, I’m an idiot?

Instead, he forced his fingers to type:

Jack:

nah, just couldn’t sleep.

figured u were awake too.

Liam’s reply came just as fast.

Liam:

u know me too well, mate.

what’s on ur mind?

Jack swallowed. The words were right there — questions he had no right to ask. But he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

Jack:

nothing.

just bored. :)

A beat. Then—

Liam:

well ur in luck bc i was just abt to kick some guy’s ass in cod.

wanna watch?

Jack huffed out something like a laugh, even though his chest still felt tight.

Jack:

sure.

Liam sent him the stream link. Jack clicked it immediately, even though he knew it wouldn’t fix anything. Even though it wouldn’t make the ache go away.

But for now, for now, it was enough to pretend nothing had changed.

The stream had been live for about fifteen minutes, and Jack’s chat was already in full chaos mode. The camera was perfectly angled to avoid showing his face but still captured Esteban and Lance sitting side-by-side, bickering over the “right” way to hatch a slime in Stardew Valley.

“No, no, no!” Esteban huffed, practically lunging for the mouse. “Lance, you’re wasting eggs! That’s not how you do it.”

“It’s a slime, Esteban,” Lance shot back, rolling his eyes. “You put an incubator down, put an egg in it it, and it’s fine. We’re not on a survival show!”

"Esteban treating this like it’s the Olympics.”

“Lance and getting mad at Este, name a more iconic duo.”

“OB, you’re too calm for this.”

Jack leaned into his mic — still hidden off to the side of the camera — chuckling softly. “You guys wanted to see what it’s like when these two play games together. This is it. This is the whole experience.”

“Oh, come on, O.B,” Lance teased, finally shoving the mouse back at Esteban. “You’re supposed to be our leader in these games, you've just gotten lazy.”

Jack shook his head, glancing at the chat. “Leader? Babysitter, maybe.”

Esteban smirked, settling back in his chair. “Outback's just mad because Liam’s probably better at cozy games than we are.”

Jack froze, his face heating immediately — it'd been a month since he'd found out about the girl Liam was with. At least, he thought Liam was with. The Kiwi was far too confusing when it came to his friendships, it appeared like he just kissed all of his friends on the cheek? “What does Liam have to do with this?”

The chat jumped on it immediately.

“LIAM? KIWI?? WHAT DID HE DO???”

“Are they talking about Kiwikiller?”

“Oooooh, your crush is showing.”

Jack cleared his throat, trying to ignore the growing warmth in his cheeks. “I’m pretty sure Liam’s busy playing Call of Duty or something. He doesn’t have time for farming.”

“Oh, please,” Esteban said, grinning. “You talk to him all the time. Didn’t he say he’d try a farming game if you played Red Dead with him?”

Jack groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s not— he was just joking.”

“Sure he was,” Lance chimed in, smirking as he leaned closer to the camera. “Chat, did you know that Outback here stays up late texting Liam about game strategies and random life stuff? It’s adorable.”

“Lance,” Jack hissed, his voice low and panicked, “don’t—”

The chat absolutely lost it:

“EXCUSE ME???”

“Outback and Kiwi texting confirmed???”

“Jack, blink twice if you’re in love.”

Jack groaned, burying his face in his hands even though the camera wasn’t on him. “You guys are the worst,” he muttered, his voice muffled.

“You’re blushing, aren’t you?” Esteban teased, poking Jack’s arm.

“I am not!” Jack protested, though the crack in his voice gave him away.

Lance leaned back, clearly enjoying himself. “Chat, for the record, Liam’s probably watching this stream right now. Should we tell him Jack has a huge crush?”

“No, no, no, no!” Jack panicked, his hands flying up. “He’s not watching, and we’re not telling him anything!”

The chat, of course, only escalated the teasing:

“LIAM, WHERE YOU AT???”

“Jack’s blushing, 110%”

“WE NEED A KIWI-OUTBACK STREAM ASAP.”

Jack sighed, trying to focus back on the game while Esteban and Lance continued laughing. He couldn’t stop his mind from wandering, though. He and Liam had been getting closer, chatting late into the night about games, life, and everything in between. Jack knew he was falling hard, but he had no idea if Liam even felt the same — or if Liam was even into guys.

The thought made his stomach twist, but for now, he shoved it aside. He’d survive this stream first — and maybe, probably not, deal with his feelings later.

kkofficial✅️

liked by pg96, outbacksprout, and 54,012 others

kkofficial weewee or whatever pierre says

view all 1,692 comments

pg96 wow.. very mature mec

kkofficial thank you mick i try

kkofficial autocorrect...

outbacksprout je pense que oui!! este taught me french

kkofficial ok showoff 😕

user i luv the kkob crumbs we get every time one of them post

user liam if u breathe u have to do a collab stream with ob

kkofficial 😶‍🌫️

outbacksprout

liked by isackhadjar, lucamarini, and 32,190 others

outbacksprout throuple date!! (don't tell their husbands)

view all 1,018 comments

lucamarini wow...

isackhadjar wow...

outbacksprout THE ONE POST I TOLD U TWO NOT TO LOOK AT :(

maplemarauder ob baby when do they ever listen to you?

outbacksprout :((

kkofficial hmm if only i had someone to show me around australia

outbacksprout tell me if u find someone

user OB PLS SHOW HIM AROUND IM BEGGING YOU

outbacksprout well.. since you asked so nicely...

Jack checked his phone for the hundredth time, his foot tapping anxiously against the tile floor of the airport arrivals area. His hoodie was pulled up, and he had his cap low over his face — not that he was famous enough to be recognized, but still. His nerves were wrecked.

He wasn’t even sure why he was this nervous. It wasn’t like he and Liam hadn’t spent months talking, calling, and playing games together nearly every day. But this was different.

This was real.

A new wave of passengers flooded through the arrival gates, and then — there he was.

Liam was easy to spot, even in a sea of people. Tousled blonde hair, effortlessly cool despite the exhaustion of a long flight, duffel bag slung over his shoulder. And then there was that grin — wide, easy, like this was just another day instead of a monumental moment in Jack’s life.

Jack swallowed hard and lifted a hand in an awkward little wave.

Liam spotted him instantly, his grin widening. Without hesitation, he strode over and pulled Jack into a quick, one-armed hug.

Jack tensed for half a second before forcing himself to relax, patting Liam’s back awkwardly. “Hey.”

Liam pulled back, looking him up and down like he was actually processing that Jack was real. “Holy shit,” he said, laughing. “You exist.”

Jack grinned so wide it hurt. “Yeah, well, so do you.”

Liam clapped a hand on his shoulder, shaking him slightly. “You look exactly like I imagined.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “What, anxious and sleep-deprived?”

Liam grinned. “Exactly.”

Jack rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he grabbed Liam’s bag and started toward the exit. “Come on, mate. Let’s get you settled before I regret this whole thing.”

Liam just laughed, jogging to catch up. “Too late, you’re stuck with me for seven whole weeks now.”

Jack sat at his desk later that night, staring at his Twitch dashboard. His phone buzzed with notifications — his usual audience, already hyped for his next stream.

Liam was sprawled across Jack’s couch, flipping through his phone, completely unbothered. “You announcing it, or are you just gonna let people think you disappeared?”

Jack sighed, rubbing his temples. “Yeah, of course I'm announcing it, just— give me a second.”

Liam smirked. “Nervous?”

Jack scoffed. “No.” He was. But whatever.

After one last deep breath, he opened Twitter and typed:

“Going live tomorrow with a special guest!!!! You guys are NOT ready for this one.. trust me.”

The post was up for maybe five seconds before the replies started rolling in.

“??? SPECIAL GUEST???”

“OH MY GOD WHO”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE’RE NOT READY”

“DON’T BE SHY DROP A HINT”

Liam snickered from the couch. “Oh, mate. They have no idea what’s coming.”

Jack sighed dramatically, dragging a hand over his face. “This is gonna be a nightmare.”

Liam grinned. “Yeah, but it’s gonna be fun.”

And, despite himself, Jack couldn’t help but smile — the nerves didn't matter with Liam smiling so fondly at him from just a few feet away.

Jack wasn’t sure he had ever been this nervous in his life.

He sat on the couch, his knee bouncing anxiously as the countdown ticked down on his stream overlay. Liam was next to him — actually next to him, pressed right up against his side, their thighs flush together. Jack could feel the warmth of him, solid and real, and it was making it impossible to think straight.

Liam had flown all the way to Australia for this. For him.

A hand landed on Jack’s knee, firm and steady. “Breathe, mate,” Liam murmured, voice low enough that the mic wouldn’t pick it up.

Jack inhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his already-messy hair — it was far from a buzzcut now. “I am breathing,” he muttered, though his voice came out unsteady.

Liam grinned, giving his knee a quick squeeze before pulling back. “You’ll be fine. They already love you. This is just gonna make them love you more.”

Jack swallowed, nodding. He wasn’t so sure about that — but it was too late to back out now.

The timer hit zero.

The stream went live.

The chat exploded instantly.

“WAIT IS THIS REAL”

“ARE THEY ACTUALLY TOGETHER IRL”

“OH MY GOD LIAM AND OUTBACK IN THE SAME ROOM”

“OB FACE REVEAL INCOMING??”

Jack let out a shaky breath, fingers tightening on the edge of his hoodie. Liam must have noticed, because suddenly, he was tugging Jack toward him, slinging an arm around his shoulders like it was nothing.

Jack nearly choked.

Liam leaned closer, grinning at the camera. “Alright, chat. This is the moment. You ready?”

Jack shot him a mildly panicked look, and Liam just squeezed his shoulder, reassuring. Jack exhaled, bracing himself — then reached forward and finally moved the camera so he was in frame as well.

For the first time ever, his audience saw him.

The reaction was instant chaos.

“OB IS REAL AND HE’S HOT???”

“BRO WHY DID YOU HIDE FOR SO LONG”

“OUTBACK YOU ARE GORGEOUS PLEASE”

“HE LOOKS SO NERVOUS AWWE”

Jack let out a breathless laugh, running a hand over his face, he had no idea what to say.

Liam, still draped over him, was grinning like an idiot. “See? Told you they’d love you.”

Jack shot him a glare. “Y'know since you're here we could just start boxing on stream, right?”

Liam shrugged, lazily playing with the drawstring of Jack’s hoodie. “I couldn't hurt your pretty face, not after chat just saw it!”

Jack groaned, shoving at Liam’s shoulder, but the bastard barely moved. Instead, Liam just leaned into it, resting his head against Jack’s like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Which, of course, sent the chat into a full meltdown.

“THE WAY HE’S LEANING ON OUTBACK HELLO???”

“ARE THEY?? IS THIS?? WHAT IS THIS."

“THEM BEING TOUCHY IRL TOO I’M GONNA DIE”

“OB'S IS BLUSHINGGGGG”

Jack covered his face with his hands, groaning. “Chat, please. I need you to breathe.”

“Bit rich coming from you,” Liam teased, nudging Jack’s jaw with his shoulder. “You’re all red, mate.”

“Because you won’t stop touching me!” Jack hissed under his breath.

Liam only laughed, dropping his arm from Jack’s shoulders — only to hook two fingers around Jack’s hoodie collar, tugging him slightly closer. “Better?”

Jack let out the most exasperated noise of his life. “Oh my god, you’re the worst.”

The chat loved it.

“THEY’RE FLIRTING. LIVE.”

“I CAN’T TELL IF THEY’RE TOGETHER OR IF STRAIGHT GUYS ARE JUST LIKE THIS HELP”

“DO WE SHIP THIS? I THINK WE SHIP THIS.”

“KKOB CONFIRMED. WE WON.”

Jack groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I hate you all.”

Liam chuckled, finally — finally — giving Jack a little space. “Anyway,” he said, grinning at the camera, “I think Outback here had something else to say.”

Jack sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Yeah, yeah,” he muttered. “Uh— while we’re here, I guess I should say— hi. I’m Jack.”

That was all it took. The chat exploded again.

“HIS NAME IS JACK. EVERYONE SHUT UP.”

“LIAM AND JACK. JACK AND LIAM. I’M LOSING IT.”

“WE FINALLY HAVE A NAME. THIS IS A MOMENT IN HISTORY.”

“THEY’RE SO OBVIOUSLY IN LOVE SOMEONE HELP”

Liam clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. “Congrats, mate. You’re officially Jack now.”

Jack groaned again, but this time, there was a smile pulling at his lips.

Chat was happy. Liam was happy. And even though this was terrifying, even though his heart was pounding so hard he was sure Liam could hear it, Jack felt something in his chest loosen.

“Alright, chat,” Liam said, leaning against Jack’s kitchen counter with an easy grin. “Since, in my humble opinion, Jack’s face reveal wasn’t chaotic enough, we’ve decided to attempt something even worse— baking.”

Jack groaned, running a hand down his face. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this.”

“You love me,” Liam shot back automatically.

Jack froze.

Liam, realizing what he’d just said, immediately tried to play it off, smirking. “As a friend, obviously.”

Jack narrowed his eyes at him, but before he could respond, chat was already losing it — though there hadn't been a moment of peace this whole stream.

“DID HE JUST CASUALLY DROP THAT???”

"AS A FRIEND???? SURE LIAM.”

“JACK LOOKS LIKE HE WANTS TO DIE LMAO.”

Jack shook his head, trying to ignore the heat creeping up his neck. “We’re making cookies,” he said, aggressively changing the subject. “That’s it. That’s all we’re doing.”

Liam snorted. “And by ‘we,’ he means me because he’s too scared to actually bake.”

Jack rolled his eyes. “I’m not scared. I just— know my limits.”

Liam clapped his hands together. “Well, lucky for you, I do bake. Occasionally.”

Jack raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Oh yeah? When’s the last time?”

Liam paused. “…A few years ago.”

Jack let out a long, suffering sigh. “We’re gonna die.”

Things went wrong almost immediately.

Jack measured out the flour while Liam attempted to crack eggs into the bowl.

“See, this is easy,” Liam said confidently.

A loud crunch followed.

Jack turned just in time to see Liam staring down at the bowl in horror, half an eggshell floating in the mixture.

Jack gasped. “Oh my god—”

“Fix it!” Liam whisper-yelled, shaking Jack’s arm.

Jack shoved him off, trying to fish the eggshell out while chat tore into him.

“LIAM YOU HAD ONE JOB.”

“SAVE THE BATTER.”

“THEY’RE SO USELESS HELP.”

Jack finally managed to get most of the shell out, exhaling in relief. “Okay. Crisis averted.”

Liam dusted his hands off. “I don’t know why you were freaking out. That’s just extra crunch.”

Jack shoved him. “Shut up.”

Somehow, things got worse.

Liam was in charge of adding sugar. Jack, foolishly trusting him, focused on mixing.

“I’m just saying,” Liam said, dumping something into the bowl, “we could’ve made something cooler. Like a cake shaped like my face.”

Jack scoffed. “You think I have the artistic skill to make a cake look like you?”

Liam grinned. “You could try. You’re always looking at me, anyway.”

Jack fumbled the whisk, splattering batter everywhere.

“LIAM STOP FLIRTING FOR TWO SECONDS.”

“JACK IS SHORT-CIRCUITING.”

“WHERE'S LANCE?? HE NEEDS TO HELP THEM.”

Jack groaned, turning back to the mixture. “Okay, let’s just get these in the oven before I regret everything.”

But then he tasted the batter.

And immediately gagged.

“What the— Liam, what did you put in this?”

Liam blinked. “Uh. Sugar?”

Jack stared at him. “Liam.”

Liam’s face suddenly went pale. “…I may have used the wrong container.”

Jack turned to the counter. Two identical jars sat there. One labeled Sugar. One labeled Salt.

Jack inhaled deeply through his nose. “Liam.”

“I swear they looked the same—”

Jack grabbed a handful of flour and threw it at him.

Liam yelled, stumbling back as white powder covered his hoodie. “MATE!”

“BOYS... STOP... FOR ME 🥺”

“JACK JUST ATTACKED HIM LMAO.”

“REST IN PEACE COOKIES 😭”

After actually using sugar, they managed to get the cookies in the oven. For a few glorious minutes, it seemed like things were going okay.

Then the smoke alarm went off.

Jack and Liam both froze.

“…That’s not good,” Liam said.

Jack raced to the oven, yanking it open to see the cookies had spread way too much, batter dripping onto the hot metal.

Liam coughed. “Sooo… you think they’re done?”

Jack turned, grabbed the oven mitts, and shoved them into Liam’s hands. “Fix it.”

Liam wheezed with laughter as he tried to pull out the baking sheet while Jack flailed, trying to fan the smoke away.

“THEY ALMOST SET THE KITCHEN ON FIRE.”

“LIAM CANNOT BE TRUSTED.”

“NEITHER OF THEM CAN BE TRUSTED.”

Eventually, they managed to save some of the cookies. Kind of. They looked questionable, but they weren’t burnt, so Jack counted it as a win.

Liam picked one up, studying it. “Y’know, they don’t look that bad.”

Jack shot him a glare. “Try it.”

Liam hesitated. “…You first.”

Jack narrowed his eyes. “No. You.”

They stared at each other for a long moment before, at the same time, they both shoved cookies into each other’s mouths.

Liam choked on laughter, nearly falling over. “Oh my god—”

Jack was coughing. “Okay. Okay. It’s not— It's not that bad.”

Liam grinned. “So we’re baking champions, is what you’re saying.”

Jack sighed dramatically. “Sure, Li. Let’s go with that.”

“THEY’RE SO STUPIDLY CUTE HELP.”

“BAKING CHAMPIONS MY ASS.”

“NEW SHIP NAME WHEN???”

Jack shook his head, pulling his hoodie up over his face. “Never again.”

Liam slung an arm around his shoulders, laughing. “Oh, mate. We’re definitely doing this again.”

Jack groaned, but he couldn’t help but smile. Even if they had almost set the kitchen on fire, even if the cookies were barely edible, it was probably the most fun he’d ever had on a stream — and his mind hadn't wandered to Hannah once.

lance stroll x luca marini = strollini! theyre so in love >-<

cele vietti + liam lawson + jack doohan = lawhanetti..?

franco colapinto + paul aron = colaron.. idfk leave me alone

oscar piastri + pedro acosta = pedroscar

checo perez + pol espargaro = esperez or smth

When Ollie first started hanging around Kimi, it wasn’t long before the academy boys began to notice how seamlessly the two fit into each other’s lives. It wasn’t just that they spent a lot of time together; it was the ease with which they did it. The way Kimi would light up when Ollie was around, the comfortable silences they shared, the subtle, unspoken understanding between them — it was obvious to everyone. From the outside, it seemed like Ollie had slipped into Kimi’s life as if he’d always been there.

It didn’t take long before the academy boys began to exchange knowing glances. To them, it was clear as day. Kimi and Ollie weren’t just friends — they were something more. Maybe they hadn’t realized it themselves yet, but to the rest of the group, the signs were all there. Kimi’s laugh was just a little louder when Ollie cracked a joke, and Ollie’s gaze lingered just a little longer when Kimi walked by. The way they worked together during training, almost in sync, seemed too natural to be purely platonic.

Still, in typical academy fashion, no one said anything outright. They just watched, waiting for the inevitable moment when the two would finally admit what everyone else had already figured out. The scrutiny was subtle at first, but as the days passed, the protective nature of the academy boys kicked in, and Ollie found himself on the receiving end of a series of increasingly pointed comments and warnings.

Pecco was the first to pull Ollie aside. It was during one of their post-training sessions, when the rest of the academy was scattered around the ranch, cooling down from the day’s work. Ollie was wiping the sweat from his brow when Pecco, who had been watching him for a while, walked up with a determined look on his face. Crossing his arms, Pecco stared at him, his eyes narrowing in a way that made Ollie feel like he was about to be grilled.

“Don’t hurt Andrea,” Pecco said, his tone firm, almost like a protective older brother issuing an ultimatum.

Ollie blinked, completely taken aback. His mind raced, trying to figure out what Pecco meant by that. Why would he hurt Kimi? Where was this even coming from? He opened his mouth to respond, but the words came out in a stammer. “Why would I—?”

Pecco didn’t let him finish. “Just don’t,” he cut in, his voice final, leaving no room for argument. The warning hung in the air, and Ollie was left speechless. Pecco gave him one last pointed look before walking off, leaving Ollie standing there, utterly baffled.

For a while, Ollie convinced himself that maybe Pecco was just being overprotective, maybe even a little paranoid. But then, a few days later, Franky caught him alone. It was during one of their routine training drills, and Ollie was focused on his bike when Franky appeared, his expression unreadable. He didn’t waste time on small talk. Instead, he got straight to the point, his voice low and serious.

“You better treat Kimi right,” Franky said, his tone carrying the weight of someone who wasn’t just offering advice — he was delivering a warning.

Ollie, once again, found himself at a loss for words. His brain scrambled for a response, but he could only manage a nervous stammer. “I— I don’t know what you’re—”

Franky’s expression didn’t soften. He simply gave a nod, as if to say the conversation was over, and walked off, leaving Ollie more confused than ever. What was going on? Why were they acting like this?

It seemed like everyone had some unspoken knowledge that Ollie was completely in the dark about. Each warning felt heavier than the last, and Ollie couldn’t shake the feeling that something big was happening right under his nose — something he hadn’t figured out yet.

Before long, it felt like Ollie couldn’t go anywhere without running into one of the academy boys, and every encounter seemed to end with some form of cryptic warning or veiled threat. Bez, usually the most laid-back of the group, caught him during a rare quiet moment by the garage. With a grin, he slapped Ollie on the back, but his words were anything but casual. “Andrea's important to us, man. Don’t screw it up.”

Ollie blinked, caught off guard by the comment. “Screw what up?” he asked, but Bez just walked away with a knowing smirk, leaving Ollie even more confused than before.

The next day, Cele found Ollie grabbing a drink by the track and leaned in conspiratorially, his tone more serious than usual. “We’re all watching you, just so you know. Kimi’s family. You better not mess with him.”

Ollie stared at him, dumbfounded. “I’m not messing with anyone!” he protested, but Cele had already given him a pat on the shoulder and walked off, his message delivered.

By the time Mig cornered him during one of the cool-down sessions, Ollie was already on edge, bracing himself for whatever strange advice or threat was coming next. Mig, ever the quiet one, didn’t say much — just gave Ollie a long, appraising look before muttering, “You know how much Kimi means to us, right? Just… don’t do anything stupid.”

At this point, Ollie was utterly baffled and increasingly paranoid. It felt like everyone had some sort of hidden agenda, and he was the only one out of the loop. Every interaction left him more confused than the last, and by the end of the week, he was at his breaking point.

“I don’t even know what’s happening!” Ollie finally burst out, throwing his hands in the air in frustration while he and Luca were walking back to the house after training. “Every time I turn around, someone’s telling me not to hurt Kimi or warning me to treat him right. What the hell is going on?”

Luca, who had been quietly observing the whole situation for ages, smirked knowingly. “They think you’re dating,” he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "They did the same thing when I first brought Lance."

Ollie almost choked on his own breath. “What?!” he sputtered, stopping in his tracks. “No! Kimi’s like a brother to me! Why would they even think that?”

Luca raised an eyebrow, shrugging as if it all made perfect sense. “Well,” he started, “you two are always together. I mean, you spend practically every second at the ranch with Kimi. And he’s… different around you. More comfortable, you know? Plus, you fit right in with the rest of us. It looks pretty obvious from the outside.”

Ollie shook his head, still in disbelief. “We’re not dating,” he insisted, rubbing his face in exasperation. “How do I get them to stop thinking that?”

Luca shrugged again, a casual smile tugging at his lips. “You could try telling them,” he offered, his tone playful. “But I’m not sure they’ll believe you.”

Ollie and Kimi decided it was finally time to sit everyone down and clear up the ongoing confusion. They'd been hearing whispers and side comments for a while now, and it was starting to get out of hand. So, they gathered the entire group in the dining room, preparing themselves for what they knew would be an awkward conversation.

With everyone seated around them, Ollie nervously cleared his throat and began. "So, uh, we’ve heard some things," he started, his voice faltering slightly.

Kimi, who was sitting beside him, rolled his eyes at Ollie’s hesitance and decided to cut straight to the point. "Everyone apparently thinks we’re dating."

Ollie quickly nodded in agreement, glancing around at their friends. "Yeah, but we’re not," he clarified, hoping that would put an end to the rumors.

But before they could say more, the entire group burst into laughter. The teasing smiles on the others' faces made Kimi and Ollie even more defensive, shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

"What!" Kimi blurted out, his voice a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "He’s like another brother to me. What are you guys even talking about?"

Ollie was quick to chime in, nodding vigorously to reinforce Kimi’s point. "Seriously, we’re just friends."

But the laughter didn’t stop. Bez, leaning back in his chair, let out a chuckle and shook his head, clearly amused by their flustered reactions, he was the same when Vale confronted him about him and Marc. "Whatever you say," he said, his tone light and teasing.

The rest of the group groaned, half-joking and half-exasperated. It was obvious they weren’t entirely convinced, but after a few more jokes, they let the subject drop — for now, at least. The tension in the room faded as they moved on to other topics, but Kimi and Ollie exchanged a look, knowing that this probably wasn’t the last time they’d have to deal with this particular misunderstanding.

About a week later, during a particularly large family meeting at the ranch, Kimi found himself standing up in front of everyone, his face flushed and his hands nervously clasped together. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he tried to muster up the courage to speak. "So, um… I’ve been thinking… And I may-or-may-not-be-in-love-with-Ollie."

The room fell into an expectant silence. It was as if time had paused for a moment. But instead of the shock or surprise Kimi might have anticipated, the reaction was quite different. Pecco let out a long, exasperated groan that was quickly echoed by the rest of the boys, who seemed almost exasperated by the whole situation.

"We know!" Cele muttered under his breath, shaking his head with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"Seriously, it took you this long to figure it out?" Luca chimed in, rolling his eyes as he gathered his things to leave. The other boys followed suit, their steps echoing with a casual familiarity.

Kimi stood there, frozen in place, his face a mask of disbelief and confusion. He turned to look at Ollie, who was blinking in stunned realization. "Wait, so… everyone knew except us?"

"Obviously," Bez called over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips as he walked out of the room. The rest of the group followed, their laughter and chatter fading as they left Kimi and Ollie standing in the middle of the room, completely dumbfounded and caught off guard.

As the last of the footsteps receded, Kimi and Ollie exchanged a bewildered glance, their minds racing to process what had just happened. The realization that they had been the last to know about something so significant left them both speechless, adding a new layer of awkwardness to their already complicated situation.

Kimi and Ollie remained in the center of the room, the weight of the situation settling heavily between them. Kimi stared at the empty doorway where the others had just exited, trying to process the wave of information that had just crashed over him.

"How… how did everyone know?" Kimi finally managed to ask, his voice tinged with bewilderment.

Ollie, still grappling with his own shock, shook his head. "I have no idea. I thought we were being subtle."

Kimi let out a disbelieving laugh, his eyes scanning the now-empty room as if expecting an explanation to materialize out of thin air. "Subtle? Everyone knew we were dancing around something, and you didn’t think anyone would notice?"

Ollie’s face turned a shade of pink, a mix of embarrassment and frustration evident in his expression. "I didn’t think it was that obvious. I thought we were doing okay."

"Well, it wasn’t exactly a secret," Kimi said, trying to force a sense of humor into the situation to ease the tension. "I guess we just didn’t see it."

Ollie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, what now? Do we just… go with it?"

Kimi took a deep breath, his gaze meeting Ollie’s. The awkwardness of the situation seemed to dissolve as they stood there, confronting the reality of their feelings. “Maybe it’s not about just going with it,” Kimi said softly. “Maybe it’s about acknowledging what’s been there all along, eh?”

Ollie’s eyes searched Kimi’s, looking for any sign of hesitation or doubt. “Yeah, I guess we should actually talk about this,” he said, his voice steady but filled with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

Kimi nodded, feeling a surge of courage. “Agreed. But before we dive into all of that, maybe we should just—” He hesitated for a moment, then took a step closer to Ollie. The distance between them felt charged, and he could sense Ollie’s own nervous energy.

Ollie’s eyes widened slightly as Kimi got on the tips of his toes and gently cupped his face with both hands. The touch was tender, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Kimi leaned in slowly, giving Ollie ample time to pull back if he wanted to.

Ollie’s breath hitched as their faces drew closer, and before he could second-guess himself, he closed the gap between them. Their lips met in a soft, hesitant kiss that gradually deepened as they both gave in to the moment. The kiss was a mixture of relief, affection, and unspoken understanding — a confirmation of the feelings they had both been trying to navigate.

When they finally pulled away, both Kimi and Ollie were breathless, their eyes locked in a gaze filled with newfound clarity.

“I guess that’s one way to handle it,” Ollie said with a small smile, his hand still resting gently on Kimi’s cheek.

Kimi chuckled softly, his heart still racing. “Yeah, I think it’s a good start.”

As Kimi and Ollie stood in the middle of the room, still processing their kiss, the door creaked open. Kimi’s brothers, who had been lingering just outside, peeked in with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Luca, with a smirk on his face, was the first to speak. “Well, this is a surprise,” he said, raising an eyebrow as he took in the scene before him.

Pecco, with a more puzzled expression, stepped into the room, glancing between Kimi and Ollie. “We didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

Ollie and Kimi quickly pulled apart, their faces flushing with embarrassment as they realized they had been caught in the middle of their little intimate moment. Kimi looked at his brothers, his cheeks red with a mix of shame and frustration. “Guys, seriously? You couldn’t knock?”

Luca chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. “We were just coming to see if you two were okay. And, well, it looks like you are.”

Marco nodded, a knowing smile on his face. “Seems like you two had a lot to talk about.”

Ollie rubbed the back of his neck, trying to regain his composure. “Yeah, we did. But now we’re, uh, a little thrown off.”

Kimi’s face softened as he glanced at Ollie, then back at his brothers. “Well, now that you’re here, I guess you’ve figured out what’s been going on.”

Luca shrugged, his smirk widening. “Yeah, we figured it out a while ago. But it’s nice to see you two finally acknowledging it.”

Franky stepped forward, offering a supportive smile. “If you guys need any advice or just want to talk, you know we’re here for you.”

Kimi and Ollie exchanged relieved glances, their tension easing slightly at their brothers' acceptance. Kimi gave a small nod, appreciating the support. “Thanks. We’ll definitely take you up on that.”

As Kimi’s brothers left the room, still chuckling and exchanging knowing looks, Kimi turned back to Ollie, taking a deep breath. “Well... at least it’s out in the open now.”

Lance had just played the game of his life. At only 20 years old, he was already one of the most celebrated professional hockey players in the league — a prodigy who had risen to fame with blistering speed and skill. On the ice, he was a force to be reckoned with: fast, calculated, and unrelenting in his pursuit of victory. His teammates leaned on him, his coaches praised him, and his fans adored him. To them, Lance was more than just a player; he was the embodiment of determination and resilience, a young man who carried the weight of high expectations with a calm grace far beyond his years.

That night, he had lived up to every bit of that reputation and then some. In a game that had teetered on the edge of defeat for his team, Lance had singlehandedly turned things around. His lightning-fast moves, his almost telepathic ability to read the opposing team’s plays, and his clutch overtime goal had secured a victory that would go down in the annals of hockey history. The arena had erupted in cheers, fans chanting his name as he skated off the ice, exhausted but triumphant.

Off the ice, Lance’s reputation was just as spotless. Known for his humility, sportsmanship, and professionalism, he was the kind of player parents wanted their kids to look up to. And though his striking good looks and natural charisma had earned him a legion of admirers, Lance was famously private about his connections outside of sports — though he was far from private about his nights getting wine drunk and singing his favourite songs. Since making it pro, he had never been linked to anyone romantically. Some fans speculated he was simply too focused on his career to date, while others joked that he was secretly married to his hockey stick.

But all of that changed the moment he stepped off the ice for his post-game interview.

Lance still looked every bit the star, his jersey clinging to his sweat-soaked frame, his hair damp and tousled, and his grin as bright as the arena lights. Reporters swarmed him, eager to get his thoughts on the game that everyone would be talking about for weeks.

The first few questions were standard fare.

“How does it feel to score that game-winning goal in overtime?” the first reporter asked, leaning forward eagerly.

Lance grinned, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. “It feels incredible. The team worked so hard tonight. Honestly, I was just in the right place at the right time. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Another reporter chimed in, scribbling notes furiously. “Walk us through that final play. It looked like you knew exactly what was coming before the pass even happened.”

“Honestly, I think it’s just about trust,” Lance replied. “I’ve played with these guys long enough to know their instincts. When Jake got the puck, I had a feeling he’d see the opening. All I had to do was be ready.”

The questions continued, each one building on the last.

“Lance,” another reporter cut in, “you’ve had a reputation for being clutch in these high-pressure situations. What’s going through your mind in those moments?”

“I try to stay in the moment,” Lance said thoughtfully. “There’s no time to overthink. You just trust your training and focus on the goal — literally.” His smile widened, drawing a few laughs from the room.

As Lance turned his head slightly, gesturing toward his teammates in the locker room behind him with a grin still plastered on his face, the lights caught a glimpse of something faintly visible on his neck. The purplish-red marks, clustered near his collarbone, stood out against his skin under the bright glare of the cameras.

For a moment, the room seemed to collectively pause. A few reporters exchanged quick, knowing glances. One of them tilted their head slightly, their eyes flicking from Lance’s neck to their camera screen, as if debating whether to bring it up. Another reporter shifted, their lips pressing together in an effort to suppress a smirk.

The silence stretched just long enough for Lance to notice. His smile faltered, only briefly, as realization dawned on him. He straightened slightly, adjusting the collar of his jersey as if to shield himself. It was a futile effort — the cameras had already captured everything and the marks were far too high up to be covered by his jersey and protective gear.

The next reporter, perhaps the most seasoned of the group, cleared her throat and decided to push on. “Lance, this win puts your team in a great position going into the playoffs. How do you plan to carry this momentum forward?”

The question steered the room back on course, and Lance seized the lifeline. “We just have to stay focused,” he said, his tone regaining its usual confidence. “One game at a time. If we play like we did tonight, I think we have a good shot.”

But the shift in the room was undeniable. The glances, the barely concealed smirks, and the sudden stiffness in Lance’s posture told a story the reporters wouldn’t say out loud. Whatever they were thinking, they weren’t going to ask. Not here, not now.

It wasn’t long before the interview wrapped up, and Lance stepped away from the cameras, his composure intact despite the unspoken buzz in the air.

Meanwhile, social media erupted. Screenshots of the marks on Lance’s neck circulated like wildfire, accompanied by every theory imaginable. Hockey’s golden boy, known for his calm under pressure and squeaky-clean image, suddenly seemed a lot more human — and a lot less single. Fans flooded timelines with replays and zoomed-in photos, while hashtags like #HickeyGate started trending worldwide.

Headlines that should have celebrated Lance’s historic performance quickly veered into playful speculation:

“Hickey or Hockey Bruise? Lance Stroll’s Neck Tells a Story”

“Mystery Lover Scores on Hockey’s Golden Boy”

“Who Left Their Mark on Lance Stroll After Tampa Bay Win?

"Stroll's Newfound Good-Luck-Charm: Love Bites.”

The internet was divided. Some fans insisted it was nothing, attributing the marks to a rough play during the game or a harmless prank by a teammate. Others were convinced they were personal, a clear sign that Lance had been hiding a secret relationship. Even casual viewers couldn’t resist weighing in, with gossip accounts and sports blogs dissecting every public photo of Lance since he'd been signed to the Canadiens for hints of a romantic partner.

Paparazzi were already on the hunt, but Lance was anything but rattled. Instead of shying away, he leaned into the chaos with as much charm as he did anything else.

“Guess I should’ve invested in a turtleneck,” he quipped the next day during a press conference, earning a round of laughs. “Or maybe some makeup tips from my sister. She’s always said I needed to step up my skincare game.”

His teammates weren’t spared either. During practice, they took every chance to poke fun, and Lance gave it right back. When a particularly cheeky reporter asked if the team had been giving him grief, Lance smirked. “Oh, absolutely. They’re relentless. But hey, it’s nothing I can’t handle. Besides, they’re just jealous.”

On social media, Lance joined in on the fun, posting a photo of himself on his knees during the game with the caption: “Scored on the ice… and apparently off it too?” Fans went wild in the comments, flooding the post with jokes, theories, and declarations of love — a couple hundred admitting that they were the Canadian's secret lover.

Despite the playful banter, his focus on hockey remained unshaken. “At the end of the day, it’s all in good fun,” Lance told a reporter when asked about the attention. “I’m just here to play the game and enjoy the ride. If people want to talk, let them talk.”

The press room buzzed with laughter and murmurs, but one reporter couldn’t resist pushing further. “I have to ask,” he began, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “Who’s the lucky girl?”

Lance raised an eyebrow, his grin widening into something almost mischievous. “Girl?” he echoed, his tone light, but the single word hung in the air like a firecracker. He let it linger just long enough for the reporters to scramble for meaning before giving them a casual wave. “Thanks for your time, guys,” he added, turning on his heel and walking away, his grin firmly in place.

The room erupted the second he disappeared behind the curtains, reporters trading theories and laughing at the way Lance had expertly sidestepped the question while adding even more fuel to the speculation.

By the next morning, Lance had broken the internet again. On his Instagram story, he’d posted a picture that left no room for doubt about who had left those marks on his neck.

The photo was simple but telling: Luca, shirtless, sitting on the edge of a bed with his back to the camera, the morning sun casting a golden glow over his broad shoulders, tousled hair, and suspiciously scratched.

"🧛‍♂️ @lucamarini10"

Fans lost their minds. Replies poured in by the thousands, ranging from utter shock to full-on celebration:

“NO WAY. LANCE. THIS IS ICONIC.”

“THE DRAMA. THE SUBTLETY. THE AUDACITY. I LOVE IT.”

“Are we finally living in the golden age of hot athlete couples?!”

“Wait… does this mean #HickeyGate was real?!”

“Luca Marini, you lucky vampire... 🧛‍♂️”

Luca, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, responded with a picture of a shirtless Lance, still shirtless in bed, looking up at him with hearts in his eyes within minutes.

“🧛‍♂️💞🧛‍♂️”

From there, it was chaos. The hashtag #Strollini trended for hours, fans obsessing over the unexpected crossover of hockey and motorsports. Even their fellow athletes couldn’t help but join in the fun, with Lance’s teammates and Luca’s fellow riders leaving cheeky comments and teasing replies.

Lance, for his part, didn’t seem fazed by the attention. In a follow-up story later that day, he posted a selfie from practice, sweaty and grinning as usual — though, this time you could see Luca not far away, evidently deciding this was his time to go full on wag.

“Back to work. 🏒🧛‍♂️”

lance, 09:38

okay so

just so you know

you’re on babysitting duty today

liam, 09:38

Good morning to you too

Also no.

lance, 09:38

wtf

you're her favourite uncle

liam, 09:39

Jack and I have plans.

lance, 09:39

even better!!!

he can help you as well <3

Liam feels his eye twitching.

“I’ll be back in a second.” He tells Yuki, who shrugs beside him and doesn’t even arch an eyebrow when Liam pushes the chair back so forcefully that the metal legs of it almost break, and then marches out of the library like a man on a mission. 

“This is the fourth time this week alone.” Liam hisses the moment his friend answers the phone and barely has time to let a word out. 

“Li, please .”

“Listen, I love Delilah, I really do,” Liam sighs out and leans back against the tree in the park, suppressing the urge to bang his head against it. “but you know that Jack has been drowning in work and we’ve barely had time to spend together off track since August, it’s November now.”

“This is the last time, I swear.” Lance tells him and even through the phone, Liam can hear desperation in his voice. He slightly bangs his head against the wall. “Luca and I have to go to Monaco, we weren’t planning to, but we’re scared those motherfuckers are destroying the house instead of building it and I can not take my 2 years old daughter all the way to fucking Monte Carlo because her uncle is a massive–”

“Lance.” Liam interrupts him before he has time to send himself into a cardiac arrest which is truly the last thing Liam wants or has time for right now. “Fine.” 

“Really?”

“Of course, you asshole, when have I ever told you no?”

“Literally five minutes ago?”

“You know I can very easily change my mind, right?” Although Lance can’t see him, Liam has that smug smirk on his face that always makes his "brother" want to punch him in the face. 

“But you won’t because you love Lilah and you love me and–”

“No, I do not.” Liam cuts him off and he doesn’t even need to specify that he’s talking about Lance — though his bonus brother knows Liam loves him he definitely knows he's not talking about his one and only and favourite neice. Liam would go to hell and back for her. “Now can you please get off my back so I can go and work like every normal adult does on nine in the morning?”

Lance doesn’t miss a beat before chirping, “technically, it’s already ten.”

“I’m hanging up.” 

As always, Liam stays true to his word and hangs up before Lance has time to tell him when he needs to pick Delilah up from the daycare. He doesn’t really need to because Liam has his schedule memorised (considering how many times he had to pick the kid up instead of his idiot brother and brother-in-law since they adopted Delilah) and plus, it’s not even him who’s going to be picking him up.

“Hey, love.” He can hear the smile in Jack’s voice the moment he answers. “Is everything alright?”

“Debatable.” Liam, being the dramatic little shit that he is, whines out and is definitely not offended at the sound of Jack giggling on the other side at his theatrics, thank you very much. “We’re on babysitting duty tonight, again, for the fourth time this week.”

“I did have a feeling that you were going to call me about that.” Jack hums, and even without being able to see him, Liam knows that he’s spinning around in his stupid spinning chair in the Alpine office like a little kid (Liam wants a freaking spinning chair too).

“Which means that you already know you’re going to be the one picking her up from the daycare?” Liam asks with a grin on his face.

“You know it wouldn’t kill you every now and then to walk to her daycare and meet the teachers, right?”

“Oh, sorry, I can’t hear you anymore, the service here is terrible, bye.”

Liam slams his finger against the end call button so firmly that his thumb starts to hurt, but whatever. He is not walking all the way to that daycare after a long day at work; he would rather die, no offense to the Marini-Stroll family.

And, truth be told, Liam finds it very interesting that Jack loves to make fun of him for hating to go to places that are too far from his flat or his work, considering that Jack drives everywhere and yet, he still hasn’t taught Liam anything, no matter how many times Liam begged him to teach him how to drive — it's more different from racing than one would think.

A traitor of a husband, that’s what he is, but Liam still loves him with his entire being.

After letting out a small, quite embarrassing giggle at the dumb meme Jack sent of himself right after he hung up, Liam shoves his phone into his pocket and walks back inside the library, a small huff breaking out of his throat as he throws himself onto that uncomfortable chair.

“We need to get new chairs,” he complains to Yuki, who doesn’t even remove his gaze from his laptop as he hums absent-mindedly. “I’m serious, these are so uncomfortable.”

“Or maybe you're just jealous that your husband has a spinning chair at Alpine's building and you don’t.” The corners of his mouth twitch upwards slightly the moment Liam groans quietly and bangs his head on the top of his desk.

However, his frustration gets thrown out the window the second he reads a newly received email from Christian, saying that he has to cancel tomorrow’s meeting for family emergency reasons. Liam hopes that the man and his family are alright but holy shit, he won’t have to sit there and fight the urge to lose his mind for three hours on Saturday morning and he will be able to spend a morning lazily in bed with his husband — God bless.

Liam sends a quick message to Jack, announcing his once-in-a-lifetime moment to him, receiving dozens of confetti emojis (and an eggplant emoji; Liam hates this man) in return before he returns to the list of those damned books — yes, red bull has assigned him readings to complete before he can drive — with a dumb grin on his face.

Liam slams his laptop shut right at 5:58 pm.

“If I have to go through this list for one more minute, I will freaking lose it,” he hisses to Yuki, who genuinely doesn’t care or finds it absolutely hilarious when Liam is being tormented. And, considering that this time isn’t any different, he giggles and looks at him with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Just go already, then.” He suggests, as if Liam is an idiot for not even thinking about that option — which is rude, because of course he thought about that option, and that is exactly why he's now shoving his laptop and notebook so aggressively into his bag.

“I am going.” He tells him without any heat and pushes the chair back into its place, flashing a small smile at Yuki now that his mind has accepted he’s about to be free from this hell.

Every complaint about his sometimes pain-in-the-ass job disappears from his head the moment he steps outside the library and sees that Jack is already there.

His husband is wearing classic pants and a shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and he looks absolutely gorgeous; Liam almost drops to his knees the moment he processes the outfit (again, because he was quite literally there in the morning when Jack was getting ready). But the thing that gets him the most is that Jack has Delilah in his lap, playing with her and grinning triumphantly when she lets out that heartwarming laugh.

Liam has seen Jack with kids, of course he has, but there’s something so different about this. This, as in Jack picking her up from the daycare, driving straight to Liam’s work, and entertaining her while they wait for Liam to be done so they can all go home. There’s something so unbearably domestic about it.

Liam has always known that he and Jack would have kids, but it was mainly him who asked Jack not to rush into things, especially when they’re as serious as adopting and raising a child, and they’ve been married only for a year. But it hits Liam suddenly, totally unexpectedly, that there’s nothing he wants more than to raise children with Jack now, and he can not wait for it to happen.

“Love, is everything alright?” Jack asks with worry in his eyes and slowly gets up from the bench. He puts Delilah on his hip and starts walking toward Liam when he notices that he’s cemented to the spot, staring at them with his mouth agape.

It’s like Liam’s brain is refusing to cooperate and form words, so all he does is give Jack a small nod in return. The second Jack is close enough, Liam grabs him by his tie and pulls him down carefully, a sound escaping Jack’s throat quickly muffled by Liam’s mouth.

“Everything is perfect,” Liam breathes against his lips, hearing Jack let out a small chuckle at his hoarse voice. He would definitely ask what all of that was about if it hadn’t been for Liam turning to Delilah to pinch her cheeks almost painfully until the girl turned to put her face into the space between Jack's neck and shoulder. Liam grins, prideful. “Let’s go home, I’m starving.”

Thankfully, on their way back home, Delilah seems to remember that Liam isn’t an evil uncle who’s going to eat her whole and is, in fact, her favourite uncle. For at least twenty minutes, she chatters about everything and anything, while Jack and Liam nod along, even though they can barely make out half the words she’s saying.

At some point, Jack mutters under his breath that he has two kids in his car, because Liam gets so close to throwing a tantrum in the moving car until Jack finally stops by Dunkin’ to get his husband his daily dose of sickly sweet donuts. Jack doesn’t even bother to hide the fond smile that creeps onto his face when Liam’s eyes light up as soon as Jack hands him the box.

Getting Delilah to wash her hands and change into the extra clothes her dads left around Liam's flat is quite a struggle, to say the least. But with combined powers, they manage to achieve the goal, just like they manage to convince her to eat a proper meal instead of filling up on the donuts Jack brought for Liam.

However, when it comes to finding something to entertain Delilah so she doesn’t notice that her dads aren’t there with her — and to prevent her from tormenting poor Enzo — that’s when all hell breaks loose.

“We’re putting on Cars!” Liam declares, grabbing a DVD from the shelf.

“No, we are putting on Animaniacs for Lilah!” Jack retorts, reaching for another DVD.

“Cars!”

“Animaniacs!” Jack fires back, grinning.

“Animaniacs doesn't teach her anything!” Liam protests.

“You wanna put on a movie about talking vehicles!” Jack counters, folding his arms.

“Jack Doohan, we will put on Animaniacs or you’re staying home next month, and I’m taking Mick with me to Abu Dhabi!” Liam threatens, wagging a finger at him.

In the end, all three of them end up sprawled on the couch, cuddled up and cozy, drifting off to sleep to the sound of cars driving and Mater Mater-ing.

When Liam wakes up with Delilah nestled on his chest and Jack’s arm wrapped protectively around both of them, he can’t help but smile. This might just be his definition of perfect.

Liam feels Jack's arms around his naked body and the man's chest against his back before he even fully comes back to consciousness. That doesn’t stop him from letting out a contented hum and snuggling more into his husband’s touch before it suddenly hits him that he has absolutely no clue if he put Delilah to bed properly yesterday or not.

Almost as if Jack heard Liam’s thoughts, he tightens his hold and nuzzles his nose into Liam’s neck, murmuring before Liam has a chance to start panicking, “Lance and Luca picked her up while you were sleeping last night.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” Liam grumbles, turning around in Jack’s arms, almost squishing his nose against Jack’s chest in the process.

“Because.” Jack replies simply, and before Liam has time to complain about how that’s not a proper answer, Jack pushes him onto his back and drapes his body over Liam’s, earning a small, winded oof from him.

Liam smiles fondly at Jack curling against him like an actual cat (even though they both agree Jack is a golden retriever while Liam is a cat, never mind Lance calling them both idiots for it). Wasting no time, he wraps his arms around his husband, burying half of his face in Jack’s soft waves.

“I think Delilah had a good time yesterday,” Jack whispers against Liam’s throat, the warmth of his breath sending shivers down Liam’s spine.

“She always has a good time here, torturing our poor puppy and getting you to stuff her face with sweets.” Liam says with a small smile, running his hands up and down Jack’s bare back, scratching here and there for the fun of it.

“There are sacrifices we all have to make to get a kid to like us.” Jack declares, looking up at Liam with that toothy grin, and Liam just has to kiss him for it.

“You’re great with kids,” he tells Jack, watching as his sleepy eyes start sparkling with happiness like a little kid’s. Liam hopes Jack doesn’t notice the way his heartbeat rises at the words he’s planning to say next. “You’ll be an amazing dad.”

“You’ll be an amazing dad too, Li.” Jack says, leaning forward to leave a soft kiss against the corner of Liam’s mouth before his husband tugs at his curls, pulling him into a proper, open-mouthed kiss.

“Jack, I mean that—” Liam tries to continue after breaking the kiss, but he isn’t exactly sure how to say it without freaking him out, because what if Jack isn’t ready or doesn’t want kids, or doesn’t want kids with him, or—

“You’re overthinking again.” Jack’s sweet voice interrupts Liam’s spiraling thoughts just in time, and he can feel the anxiety start to fade as Jack cups his face gently, pressing his forehead against Liam’s and looking into his eyes. “What is it, love?”

“You— you want to have kids with me…right?” Liam asks, wincing internally at how choked the words sound.

“I— Li, sweetie, of course I do!” Jack looks so surprised by the question that for a moment, Liam genuinely worries his eyes might fall out of their sockets. “Did you think I didn’t want to?”

“No, I just…” Liam almost groans, trying to look away but failing due to the way Jack is holding him firmly and staring into his eyes. “I just really want to raise a child with you, and— I needed to make sure you felt the same.”

Jack’s confused expression softens, replaced by a fond look in his brown eyes, and he kisses Liam again, though both struggle with it since Jack can’t stop smiling.

“Li, there’s nothing in this world I want more than having kids with you.” Jack whispers against his lips, his smile growing even wider at the sight of tears gathering in Liam’s eyes. “In fact, we can start working on it right here and now—”

“You’re such an idiot.” Liam laughs, which quickly turns into a quiet whimper as Jack presses himself between Liam’s legs, leaning down to kiss and bite his throat.

“So I’ve been told.” Jack hums. “But you love me for it.”

“I do.” Liam’s hands slide up into Jack’s hair again before he tugs hard enough to make Jack look at him. “I’m choosing the name.”

“Why not me?”

“Because you’ll name him after a MotoGP world champion or a video game!”

“I would not— him?”

Liam isn’t sure why, but he instantly blushes and nods, “I want to have a boy.”

“I’m starting to think you’ve already picked a name.” Jack says, his voice full of adoration as he brushes a strand of hair out of Liam’s face and kisses his forehead, the tip of his nose, and then his lips.

“I have.” Liam admits, feeling the tips of his ears grow hot as he watches Jack’s expression turn awestruck.

“Well, tell me then!”

“Pierce.” Liam whispers, playing with Jack’s curls as Jack looks at him like he’s falling in love all over again. “Pierce Doohan-Lawson— it sounds cute, doesn’t it?”