The apartment was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of Noël's cooking. He had spent the afternoon preparing a full spread for the evening. Perfectly grilled lemon chicken, rosemary potatoes, a rich mushroom cream sauce, and a delicate tart for dessert. The table was set beautifully, every detail thought through. Avery stood by the kitchen counter, arms crossed, watching his boyfriend flit nervously between the stove and the dining area.
There was a small pout on Avery's face, not quite sulking, but not fully amused either.
"You're really putting your all into this, huh?" Avery asked, his voice casual but his eyes narrowing just slightly.
Noël turned around with a hopeful smile. "Of course. I haven't seen Leo in so long, and I wanted it to be nice."
Avery nodded, though something prickled in his chest. He wasn't truly upset, just a little jealous. The idea that Noël had cooked with so much care for someone else, even if it was just an old friend, made something possessive stir in him. And it didn't help that Noël looked adorably anxious, fidgeting with the napkins and smoothing out his shirt for the third time.
Stepping closer, Avery looped his arms around Noël's waist from behind and rested his chin on his shoulder. "You're cute when you're nervous."
Noël blinked, surprised by the hug, but then he leaned into it with a smile. "Don't be jealous. I only care about your opinion."
"That better stay true," Avery muttered into his neck before letting him go.
About 30 minutes later, the doorbell rang. Noël froze, then quickly wiped his hands and went to answer it. As the door opened, he was greeted by the familiar face of Leo, who smiled wide and pulled him into a hug.
"It's been so long," Leo said warmly.
Noël returned the hug, though a bit shyly. "Yeah… it really has."
Behind them, Avery cleared his throat loudly.
Both Noël and Leo turned. Avery stood a few feet away with his arms folded, eyes narrowed slightly. "So we meet again."
Noël looked between the two, confused. "Wait… you guys have met before?"
Avery nodded smoothly. "He came by the apartment a while back. You were sick in bed."
Leo raised his brows. "You didn't tell him?"
"I didn't think it mattered," Avery replied, eyes locked on Leo.
Wanting to avoid a strange atmosphere, Avery added, "Why don't we sit in the living room while Noël finishes setting up the table?"
Noël gave him a grateful glance before disappearing into the kitchen.
Avery took out a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses. He handed one to Leo, who took it hesitantly, and sat on the far side of the couch. Avery sat opposite him, his body relaxed but his aura distinctly territorial.
The tension was thick.
Leo sipped his wine and finally broke the silence. "So… you didn't waste any time, huh?"
Avery gave him a blank stare, then smirked. "What? Are you jealous?"
Leo scoffed. "If I were jealous, I wouldn't be here for dinner."
Then, after a pause, he added sharply, "I hope you didn't groom him into this."
The air turned colder.
Avery's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond. Instead, he leaned back on the sofa and kept his cool.
Just then, Noël called from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!"
Avery stood first and looked over his shoulder. "Let's eat."
The dining table was warm with soft conversation and clinking cutlery. Noël was smiling more now, relaxed in the comforting presence of two people he trusted. One from the past, one who was slowly becoming his future.
He leaned forward eagerly. "So, what's university like? You were studying engineering right?"
Leo brightened. "Yeah, it's been intense. Complex math is a nightmare, but I like it. My classmates are mostly annoying, though." He launched into a funny story about an experiment gone wrong, and Noël laughed so hard he had to set down his fork.
Avery, meanwhile, quietly observed the exchange. He watched Noël's eyes light up at the mention of school, how naturally he leaned into conversation about academics. A subtle thought nestled itself in Avery's mind: He should go back to school. I'll make sure he does. Maybe even next year.
While the two friends continued talking, Avery reached out and gently cut Noël's chicken for him, refilling his glass with water and occasionally wiping the corner of his mouth without hesitation. His touches were soft, casual, familiar. He didn't care that Leo was watching. His affection wasn't a performance.
Leo noticed.
Trying to shift the mood, Leo smiled and asked, "So… when did you two get together?"
Noël blinked, caught off guard.
Avery answered without hesitation. "About a month ago."
Leo's brows lifted. That was when Noël was in heat… He didn't say it, but the thought passed over his face. Did he take advantage of him?
Before the doubt could settle in fully, Avery added with quiet sincerity, "But… I think I liked him from the first time I saw him."
Noël's fork paused halfway to his mouth. He turned his head slightly toward Avery, pink flooding his cheeks. A soft smile tugged at his lips, too warm and too honest to hide.
Leo saw it, the way Noël looked at Avery in that moment. His heart sank, just a little.
They continued dinner with casual talk about how Noël and Leo met, a few silly childhood memories, and laughter at old habits. After they'd finished, Avery offered to clear the plates while Noël excused himself to the bathroom. Leo followed Avery to the balcony, where the sun was beginning to dip below the skyline, setting the clouds ablaze with streaks of orange and gold.
Avery leaned against the balcony railing, his posture casual but his voice purposeful. "I know what you're thinking."
Leo blinked. "What?"
"That I used his heat. That I manipulated him. That I forced this."
Leo didn't answer.
Avery exhaled. "But that's not what happened. I'm not fighting you for Noël. I don't want him to feel like a prize… I just want him to be safe. Happy. And I don't think you're the enemy, Leo. You matter to him."
That caught Leo off guard.
He studied Avery's face for a moment, searching for cracks in the sincerity. But there were none.
"You really like him," Leo said softly.
Avery nodded. "More than I thought I could."
There was a long pause between them. The wind stirred gently, lifting the edge of Avery's shirt.
Leo gave a low, almost regretful laugh. "I had all these dumb ideas… How I'd steal him away. Make him remember what we had. But I was wrong. You're already in his heart, and I'd just ruin things if I tried anything now."
Avery didn't gloat. He just looked ahead, silent.
Leo smiled faintly, almost bitterly. "I'm not going to get in the way. You win."
"No one's winning anything," Avery replied. "This isn't a game."
Leo gave a nod, then turned back toward the sliding doors. "Still… for what it's worth, I'm glad he has someone who really sees him."
And with that, they both stood in silence, watching the sky dim together. The two men connected only by their care for the same boy.
Moments later, Noël stepped out onto the balcony, hair tousled from drying his hands, and joined them with a soft smile.
Avery turned to him and gently pulled him in between them.
As the three stood watching the sky, for the first time that evening, there was no tension only peace.