Noah woke to pain shooting through his arm.
Blinked. Ceiling. Alice's guest room. Atlas's weight pinning his arm to the mattress.
He smiled—couldn't help it. Tried extracting his arm. Slowly. Atlas was dead weight, all muscle and warmth.
His fingers tingled. Pins and needles crawling up to his elbow. He flexed his hand, wincing.
Idiot. Still smiling.
Atlas's eyes cracked open. Unfocused. "Mm?"
"Nothing." Noah leaned in, kissed his cheek. Quick.
Atlas buried his face in Noah's shoulder. "Stay." His hands moved over Noah's stomach—lazy circles. "Just... little longer."
Noah kissed his hair. Soft. The smell of him—sleep and yesterday's cologne and something underneath that was just Atlas.
His gaze drifted to Luna on the floor, curled on a pillow.
Almost three months.
He took a breath. Deeper than intended.
The door burst open—Sunny at full speed. She launched herself at the bed, front paws on the edge, tongue finding Noah's hand immediately.
Noah laughed, kissed her nose. "Morning, baby."
Atlas lifted his head. Looked at Noah through half-closed eyes. Then pulled him in—kissed him slow at first, then harder. Insistent.
Noah responded without thinking. His hand found Atlas's hair, pulled slightly.
When they broke apart, Noah's voice came out rough. "Good morning, love."
"Love." Atlas kissed him once more—brief—then rolled out of bed. Stood there naked, utterly unselfconscious. "Need to shower."
Noah propped himself on his elbow. "Want me to come?"
"No." Atlas looked at him. Really looked. His eyes darkened slightly.
Noah made his face innocent. Wide eyes. Small smile.
"I won't be able to control myself." Atlas winked. Already moving toward the bathroom.
Noah grinned. "I'll make breakfast then."
---
Noah moved through the space—Alice's kitchen but familiar now. Coffee first. Then eggs, toast, fruit.
Atlas appeared behind him. Fresh from the shower, hair still damp. Wrapped his arms around Noah's waist and kissed his neck.
"Smells good."
They sat side by side. Noah's leg pressed against Atlas's thigh.
"Marcus and Jared are coming this afternoon."
Atlas's hand stilled on his coffee mug. "No alcohol."
"I asked at my checkup." Noah looked at him. "Doctor said it's fine."
Atlas's hand moved—slid up Noah's thigh. Not all the way, but close. His thumb traced small circles. "What else did you ask?"
Noah felt heat creep up his neck. Smiled despite himself.
Atlas leaned closer. "You really asked?" Genuine surprise in his voice.
"I'm not answering that." Noah looked away, trying to hide his face.
Atlas caught his chin. Turned him back. Kissed him—soft, deliberate. Pulled away smiling. "Got my answer."
Noah laughed, embarrassed.
"Twenty-two days since you got out." Atlas's tone shifted. More serious. "Don't drink too much."
"Body regenerates every twenty-one days."
"So I'm finding you drunk tonight?" Atlas raised an eyebrow.
Noah bit his lip. "Maybe." Winked.
"Alice and Sienna get back tomorrow." Atlas sipped his coffee. "Finally."
"I need to talk to Sienna."
"About what?"
Noah kissed him instead of answering. "Tonight. I'll tell you tonight."
---
Atlas stood. "I need to go."
He came back dressed—suit, tie, that corporate armor he wore to the office. But his hair was still slightly messy.
Noah crossed to him. Wrapped his arms around Atlas's neck.
Atlas's hands went to Noah's hips automatically. Pulled him closer. They kissed—started gentle, escalated fast. Atlas moved to Noah's neck, kissed there, then bit down lightly.
Noah's breath caught.
"See you later." Atlas's voice had gone rough.
They walked to the door together. Noah opened it. His hand slid down, squeezed Atlas's ass—quick, deliberate.
Atlas froze. Looked at him—half shocked, half something else.
Noah bit his lower lip. "See you tonight."
"If I didn't have this meeting—" Atlas didn't finish. Looked back twice walking to his car. Smiling.
Noah watched him drive away. Atlas glanced over as he passed—they locked eyes. Noah stuck his tongue out slightly.
He stood there until the car disappeared completely.
---
Noah made coffee. Took it to the garden with Sunny.
The air was cold. He sat anyway, let it bite at his skin.
What now? How do I just... continue?
His body shivered—not from cold. His father's face. Those eyes. That controlled fury.
How long are you going to hide from him?
Sunny came over. Rested her head on his leg. They looked at each other.
"This is my life," Noah whispered.
Sunny barked.
Noah stroked her head. "Yeah. I think so too."
---
Inside, the assistant appeared. "Your room's been cleaned."
"Thanks." Noah handed her a shopping list.
He took his laptop upstairs. Lost himself in research—the project he'd been planning. Hours disappeared.
His phone rang. FaceTime. His mother.
They talked. She smiled more than usual—relief still visible in her eyes.
"I sent your phone and other things. Should arrive today."
"Thank you."
"Be careful." She said it soft. Meant it.
---
Noah checked the time. Went to his room to get ready.
First time we've been apart this long. His chest tightened. Months.
He prepped snacks in the kitchen. Carried everything to the living room.
The assistant appeared. "Your guests are here."
Noah ran outside.
Marcus and Jared parked. Got out. Started walking toward him.
Noah's eyes filled. He blinked fast.
"Hey, man!" Marcus's voice carried across the driveway.
Jared, Alex, Sam closed in—surrounded him.
Marcus pulled him into a headlock. "Dude. What's up?"
They all grabbed him at once. Arms everywhere. Laughing.
Noah swallowed hard. Dug his nails into his palms. Don't cry. Don't you fucking cry.
Marcus ruffled his hair. Jared looked at him. "You growing it out?"
"I'm glad to see you guys." Noah's voice almost broke.
Marcus threw an arm around his shoulders. "Almost three months, man. We missed you."
Noah's hand found Marcus's waist. "Me too."
---
They piled onto the same couch. All of them. Like old times.
They roughhoused—Noah in the middle, getting shoved from both sides. He laughed—really laughed—at their stupid jokes.
They haven't changed at all.
The assistant brought beer, pizza, burgers.
"Don't you get lost here?" Sam looked around. "This place is huge."
"It's only four floors. I haven't gone upstairs." Noah grinned.
"Could film a horror movie here," Alex said.
Marcus and Jared watched Noah. Not obvious. But there.
"I know another place for a horror movie." Noah looked down. His voice went quiet.
Marcus's hand landed on his shoulder immediately. Pulled him close. "You've been working out." Squeezed his bicep.
"Show us the abs," Jared laughed.
"Stop." Noah's face went red.
"He only shows Atlas," Sam teased.
Everyone cracked up.
Sunny tried stealing food from the table. Jared snuck her a burger. And beer.
"She's gonna get drunk—stop." Noah laughed.
Luna was already in Alex's lap, getting her share.
They told him everything he'd missed. Gossip. Drama. Ridiculous stories. Noah listened, commented, laughed at all the stupid shit.
Marcus and Jared kept checking on him. Subtle glances.
I missed them so much.
Nobody asked what happened. Where he'd been. What he'd gone through.
Like it never happened. Like they were just hanging out. Normal.
When the sky darkened, Alex stood. "We should go."
Everyone checked their phones. Got up.
"When I have my own place, you're all staying over," Noah said.
They walked outside together. Noah went to the cars with them.
Hugs all around. Tight. Real.
"If you get tired of Atlas, stay with me," Marcus said.
Jared pointed at Noah's face. "He hears the name and his whole expression changes. It's wild."
"Stop." Noah looked away, smiling.
He grabbed them all at once. Group hug. "I'm lucky to have you guys."
"There's a disgusting amount of romance in the air," Jared said.
Marcus ruffled his hair. "Love made you soft, man." Pause. "Hope it's not contagious."
"The romance virus can't touch you," Alex said.
"One romantic in the group is enough. Can't handle two," Sam added.
"Let's go." Jared climbed in his car.
They drove off. Waved as they passed.
Noah stood there. Watched them disappear slowly.
Then noticed Atlas's car pulling in.
His friends slowed, waved to Atlas. Then left.
---
Atlas parked. Got out. Walked over.
Pulled Noah into a hug. Kissed him. "I smell beer."
"Only had three." Noah's hand slid down to Atlas's ass. Stayed there.
Atlas put his arm around Noah's shoulders. They walked slowly.
"Your hand's still on my ass."
"My hand must've slipped… and stayed." Noah looked up at him. Winked. "If it bothers you, I can move it."
Atlas's face went slightly pink. "I'm exercising my right to remain silent." He bit his lip.
"Your face already answered."
---
Atlas looked around the empty living room. Listened. No footsteps upstairs. No voices in the kitchen.
"Staff gone?"
Noah nodded.
Atlas pulled him close—kissed him hard. Immediate. Consuming.
Noah made a sound—small, surprised—then responded. His hands fisted in Atlas's hair, pulling him closer, closer, not close enough.
When they broke apart, Noah was breathing hard. Lips swollen. Eyes dark.
"You hungry?"
Atlas's mouth curved. Predatory. "Which kind of hungry?"
Noah's breath caught. He bit his lip—that thing he did when he was nervous and turned on at the same time.
"Want to go to the bedroom?"
"Thought you'd never ask." Atlas kissed his neck—open-mouthed, deliberate.
Noah's knees nearly gave out.
They tried moving toward the bedroom while kissing. Bumped into the couch. The wall. Noah's back hit the doorframe and he gasped—half pain, half want.
Atlas pulled back. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Don't stop."
They made it to the bedroom. Barely. Noah pushed Atlas against the window—the glass cold against Atlas's back, Noah's body hot against his chest.
Noah kissed him harder now. Rougher. His hands slid under Atlas's shirt, traced up his sides, his ribs, his chest. Learning him again after so long.
Almost three months. Three months without this.
Atlas pulled Noah's sweatshirt off in one motion. Dropped it.
Noah stood there—chest rising and falling fast, skin flushed, looking at Atlas like he was starving.
Atlas traced his collarbone. His throat. Felt Noah's pulse hammering there.
"Missed you so much." Noah's voice broke. "So fucking much."
Atlas cupped his face—both hands, tender despite everything. Put his forehead against Noah's.
"Missed you too. Every day. Every second."
They kissed again—slower this time but deeper. Tongues, teeth, three months of longing compressed into this moment.
Noah's fingers worked Atlas's shirt buttons. Fumbled. Got frustrated. Atlas helped—slipped it off his shoulders, let it fall.
Atlas grabbed Noah—hands on his waist, his hips, his ass—lifted him slightly and moved them to the bed. Noah went down, Atlas followed him, their bodies aligning perfectly.
Noah kissed down Atlas's neck. Concentrated on that spot that always made Atlas's breath hitch. Lower. Across his collarbone. His chest.
Atlas's fingers dug into Noah's hips.
Noah looked up at him, green eyes gone darker, pupils blown wide. "Can I—"
"Yeah. Anything. Everything."
Noah pulled off Atlas's pants. Atlas kicked them away. Then Atlas hooked his fingers in Noah's waistband—paused, checked Noah's face.
Noah nodded. Lifted his hips.
Atlas stripped them off. Threw them somewhere.
They were naked. Finally. Completely.
For a moment they just looked at each other. Taking it in. The reality of it. Here. Together. Safe.
Noah's hand trembled slightly as he reached up, touched Atlas's face.
"You okay?" Atlas asked. Quiet. Serious.
"Yeah. Just..." Noah swallowed. "It's been a while. And everything that happened—"
"We don't have to—"
"I want to." Noah pulled him down. "I want you. I've wanted you every day I was stuck in that place. Wanted this. Wanted us."
Atlas kissed him—tender at first, then harder when Noah responded. Their bodies pressed together, skin on skin, heat on heat. The sensation of it after so long nearly overwhelming.
Noah made a sound—half gasp, half moan—when Atlas's mouth moved to his neck, his shoulder, lower.
"Atlas—"
"Tell me if I need to stop."
"Don't stop. Please don't stop."
Atlas's hands mapped Noah's body like he was memorizing it. Every scar. Every freckle. Every place that made Noah's breath catch.
When Atlas's hand wrapped around Noah, Noah arched off the bed. "Fuck—"
"That good?"
"Shut up." But Noah was smiling. Then gasping when Atlas moved his hand.
"I love you." Atlas said it against Noah's throat. "I love you so much."
"Love you—" Noah's words cut off. His fingers dug into Atlas's shoulders. "God, I—"
They moved together—awkward at first after so long apart, then finding their rhythm. Atlas went slow. Careful. Watching Noah's face for any sign of pain or hesitation.
But Noah just pulled him closer. Wrapped his legs around Atlas's waist. "More. Please."
Atlas buried his face in Noah's neck. Breathed him in. Moved deeper, felt Noah tense and then relax around him.
"Okay?" His voice came out wrecked.
"Yeah. Perfect. You're perfect."
They found a rhythm—slow and deep, then faster when Noah started making those sounds that drove Atlas crazy. Their breaths synced. Their bodies moving like they'd never been apart.
Noah's nails scraped down Atlas's back. His head tilted back, exposing his throat. Atlas kissed it, sucked a mark there, felt Noah clench around him in response.
"Close—" Noah gasped. "I'm close—"
"Me too."
Atlas's hand found Noah again, matched his rhythm. Noah came first—Atlas's name breaking from his lips like a prayer, his whole body shaking. The sight and sound and feel of it pushed Atlas over the edge moments later.
They collapsed together. Hearts pounding. Breathing hard. Sweat cooling on their skin.
For a long moment neither of them moved. Just stayed connected. Atlas's weight pressing Noah into the mattress. Noah's arms wrapped around him, holding him close.
Finally Atlas shifted—started to pull away.
"Don't." Noah's voice was rough. "Not yet. Just... stay."
So Atlas stayed. Pressed his lips to Noah's shoulder. Felt Noah's fingers trace patterns on his back.
Eventually they separated—both hissing slightly at the loss. Atlas rolled to the side, immediately pulled Noah against him.
Noah's head fit perfectly under Atlas's chin. His body curved into Atlas's like they were puzzle pieces.
"I love you." Noah said it quiet. Like a secret. Like something precious.
"Love you." Atlas kissed the top of his head. "Love you so much."
Noah pressed his face against Atlas's neck. Breathed him in—that familiar scent, safety and home all wrapped up together.
Scratching at the door. They'd forgotten about Sunny and Luna.
Noah laughed—the sound vibrating against Atlas's throat. "We should let them in."
"In a minute." Atlas pulled him closer. "Just want... this. For a minute longer."
Home. This is home.
Outside, the world continued. Richard plotting. Thomas hunting. All the danger and uncertainty still waiting.
But here, in this room, in Atlas's arms, wrapped in warmth and safety and love—
Noah let himself just be.
For the first time in three months, the tightness in his chest loosened.
For the first time since that basement, he felt whole.
"We're gonna be okay," he whispered.
Atlas's arms tightened around him. "Yeah. We are."
And for once—finally—Noah believed it.