Tyler
TYLER
Stumbling through the front door, twisted awkwardly to kick it shut behind him. It closed to the last couple of inches, then stopped. Sighing, he dropped his luggage with a harsh clatter and gave the door a firmer push. He looked up and spotted the stuck hinge at the top. Rolling his eyes, he left the door for someone else to deal with and dragged his stuff into the house.
“I’m home!” he called, voice echoing down the long hallway.
A wry voice to his right made him turn sharply. “With all the noise you’ve been making, I think the people a block over know you’re home.”
scowled at the man sitting on the couch. “Thanks for the help, Clay.”
The man who was both surrogate father and brother to him snorted. “Sounds like you were doing just fine on your own.”
“Anyone ever told you you’re a pain in the ass?” asked as he dropped his luggage at the living room entrance.
“At least once a day,” Clay told him warmly.
watched him as he sat cross-legged in the middle of the couch. Clay wasn’t what would have called pretentious, though he knew looks could be deceiving. He’d taken to coloring his dark hair. This time, it had a bright streak of vibrant purple down the middle, but otherwise, it was plain brown. However, Clay’s one notable feature was his blue eyes, bright enough to catch anyone’s attention.
“Nice hair,” said with a grin.
“Elliot keeps telling me I’m going to fry my hair,” Clay said, pulling at his bangs absentmindedly.
“You might.”
“Eh, I’ll just buzz it off, let it grow back, and start again.”
Speaking of the other man who fulfilled the same surrogate role as Clay. “And where is your husband?”
For a moment, the sardonic, playful expression on Clay’s face softened. “Out back. He’s been waging a long battle with a gopher that won’t leave our yard alone.”
“I’m guessing the gopher is winning,” said.
“Yeah, but don’t tell him that. He knows he could call an exterminator, but you know how he gets about small critters.”
“Like you’re any better.”
Clay smirked, unwinding his legs to stand up. He padded across the room, feet bare and making no noise on the living room carpet or the hardwood floors. still didn’t know how he did that. The house they’d bought a few years back creaked mercilessly whenever he walked.
“It’s good to see you, kid,” Clay said, reaching up to curl a hand around the back of ’s neck.
“You’re really going to keep calling me a kid when I’ve outgrown you?” asked.
Clay chuckled, giving ’s neck a light slap before pulling his hand back. “You were a scrawny thing when I met you, and you’ll always be that scrawny thing. I don’t care if you shot up and bulked out like some mutant.”
“It’s called puberty. And I’m turning twenty-one. I’m not a kid anymore,” protested.
Clay snorted, sliding past him. “Yes, you are.”
huffed but knew better than to argue. Sure, when they’d met, he had been a scrawny twig, despite being fifteen. Puberty had decided he would be a late bloomer, waiting until almost seventeen to give him a few more inches. The bulk Clay playfully turned his nose up at was because had spent the better part of the past few years in the gym. Along with a physical training regimen created by Elliot, a former Marine, was proud of his body.
“You know Elliot’s going to tell you to get a haircut,” Clay informed him as he reached the end of the hall.
sighed, nodding as he followed Clay to the back of the house. Clay could get away with doing whatever he wanted to his hair, probably because he had Elliot wrapped around his finger. , however, couldn’t escape comments from the former Marine if he allowed his hair to grow longer than an inch. And considering it had grown long enough to fall into his eyes, he was sure Elliot would have plenty to say about that.
As if on cue, he had to shove a dark blond lock out of his eyes. “Yeah, but if I didn’t give him something to focus on, he might start asking about school.”
Clay stopped at the fridge, swinging it open to grab a bottle of water. “Please tell me we’re not about to hear bad news.”
snorted. “My grades are fine. I’m just home for the summer.”
Clay’s eyes wrinkled as he handed a bottle to . “So you are.”
They stepped onto the back porch and looked around the fenced-in backyard. It had been little more than overgrown grass and weeds when they first bought it. Yet by the time had finished his senior year, they’d turned it into a comfortable and vibrant space. Clay had been surprised to find he had the skill and appreciation for growing things and had created small flower and herb gardens in what thought was a haphazard pattern. Clay insisted there was a design and scowled when Elliot pointed out he’d been reading Feng Shui books.
A curse from the shed announced Elliot’s presence before he stepped into the warm sun. He was wiping his hands with a red cloth and glowering at the ground. Elliot was every bit as big as when had first seen him over half a decade before. Then again, that first glimpse of the man had been when he was sprawled in the parking lot of a ratty motel, injured from a blast that had destroyed one of the rooms. Which was right before a bunch of guys showed up and dragged him away.
Five years later, neither Elliot nor Clay had explained what happened that day. Not who those guys were, what had caused it, or how it was resolved. All knew was that Clay had shown up minutes later, used ’s laptop, and disappeared into the city. He saw them again months later, whole and happy, as they walked the streets, arm in arm. hadn’t believed his eyes and couldn’t resist talking to them.
And just like back then, when Elliot looked up from his dirty hands and spotted , his eyes grew wide and lit with happiness.
“And getting out of the way,” Clay muttered, taking a few overly emphasized steps to the side.
Elliot bounded up the back porch stairs with a happy grunt and wrapped in a huge bear hug. squirmed to free his arms and hug the man back, but there was little chance of that as Elliot gave him a good shake.
“I missed you too,” managed to squeeze out from his squished lungs.
Elliot beamed. “I didn’t know you were coming back! I thought you’d stay in Greenford for the summer.”
grunted, glad he could use the moment to catch his breath and hide his grimace. He had planned to remain in Greenford, get a job and stay off-campus. However, things hadn’t gone according to plan, and he’d decided at the last minute to make the three-hour journey to Port Dale and hopefully stay for the summer break.
Elliot clapped his hands on ’s shoulders, grinning. “It’s good to see you, Ty.”
“We just saw him over Christmas,” Clay noted dryly.
Elliot winked at , whispering loudly. “Don’t let him fool you. He was talking about visiting Greenford to see you in a couple of weeks. He’s getting sappy in his old age.”
glanced at Clay, who rolled his eyes and huffed, offering nothing in his defense. There were words would use to describe Clay, but sappy wasn’t one of them. Despite appearances, Elliot being an absolute bear of a man, he was the warmer personality, prone to open smiles and hearty laughs. Not that had spent the past five years thinking Clay didn’t want him around. The man was just more subtle about it.
Clay downed the rest of his water. “I suppose we won’t be turning your bedroom into a storage room if you’re here for the summer, which is a shame. I was looking forward to having somewhere to put Elliot’s toys.”
“Guns,” said dryly. “They’re called guns.”
“And cellphone jammers, wiretaps, and a host of listening devices,” Elliot added.
“Pretty sure your ‘toys’ are illegal,” pointed out.
“Eh,” Elliot grunted, finally releasing . “There’s bound to be some loopholes where I can get away with it.”
“More than a few,” Clay muttered under his breath.
“I’m suddenly wondering if having you guys as family is going to hurt my chances of getting into the academy,” said, squinting at them.
“Still going to work for the enemy, huh?” Clay asked.
frowned. “I still don’t know why you put it like that.”
“None of your business, that’s why,” Clay said casually.
Elliot hooked an arm around Clay’s neck and pulled him close. “Plus, some of those ‘toys’ are yours, babe.”
“How could I forget?” Clay asked, pulling away from Elliot without much effort.
Elliot kissed the man’s temple, murmuring something couldn’t catch. The effect was immediate, and Clay stopped trying to pull away, letting himself fold against Elliot’s side. They’d been together for practically the entire time had known them, and while they weren’t exactly horny, desperate teenagers, their love and affection had been a constant in ’s life. also knew that extended to their sex life, which was something he really wished he hadn’t learned.
“Good thing I did some grocery shopping,” Clay said, looking over.
Elliot hummed. “I’m so glad we discovered you can cook.”
“Otherwise, we would have starved,” Clay snorted.
Elliot blinked. “Oh, right, shit, forgot. We should probably ask if you’ll be home for dinner before we make any plans.”
“He’s staying,” Clay said, watching closely.
Elliot frowned at him. “Clay?”
“Look at him.”
shifted uneasily under their stares. At that moment, he realized Clay had already figured out there was more than simply wanting to come home. shrugged, trying in vain to throw them off the trail.
“I’m not going anywhere tonight,” told them.
Elliot kissed Clay messily, earning a cry of disgust. “Good! Then I’m going to get cleaned up, and you two can fight with dinner.”
“Jesus,” Clay muttered, wiping his face.
had a moment to grin before he, too, got a messy kiss. This one was on his cheek, and the sound was loud enough to make his ear ring. flailed, batting at Elliot, who only laughed and trotted into the house.
“There’s something wrong with him,” grunted, wiping his face hastily.
“Preaching to the choir,” Clay said easily, following Elliott inside.
“You’re the one who married him,” pointed out.
Clay sighed, though it sounded more wistful than exasperated. “That I did.”
Then again, they weren’t technically married. still had no idea why they hadn’t gone about getting it done. It was legal, after all. Whenever he asked, though, he earned himself a light shrug from Clay and a small smile from Elliot. It was the same reaction he got when he asked about what was happening when he first met them and questioned their past. It was Clay, more than anyone, who knew the least about, save that he was a mystery, enjoyed gardening, cooking, and fiddling with gadgets that may or may not be legal depending on the jurisdiction.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Clay asked as he opened the fridge, frowning at its contents.
“Just remembering the day I met you,” said.
Clay snorted. “Ah, right, the badass fifteen-year-old wannabe mugger who tried to rob me at knifepoint.”
cringed. “Not my finest moment.”
Clay hummed, pulling containers from the fridge. “I know a thing or two about that. More importantly, you didn’t stay on that road.”
That road had him so desperate for cash he’d tried to rob the first person he’d seen. Turned out that person was more than capable of defending themselves. Without effort, Clay had disarmed and laid him out so quickly that it hurt ’s head to remember.
“Helps when some sense was literally knocked into me,” said fondly.
Clay chuckled. “It wasn’t the most subtle gesture. But seeing how you’ve turned out, I’m going to go out on a limb and say subtle isn’t always best.”
“I ever tell you I told my mom about that?” asked.
Clay hesitated before pulling a stalk of celery out of a bag. “You did and said she had your ass over it.”
chuckled, tapping the counter nervously. “She was so mad. After my dad got himself locked up, robbing a corner store for his next fix, she was pissed that I was risking the same. Told me I was lucky there was someone out there meaner than me but nice enough to knock some sense into me.”
Clay smiled gently, cutting through the celery. “I always liked Serena.”
“I should go see her soon,” said softly.
Despite having been in Port Dale for Christmas, hadn’t been able to bring himself to visit his mother’s grave. A cancer she’d known about but kept hidden from him had finally claimed her a few months after his eighteenth birthday. It had been almost three years since her passing, and the ache came and went. Sometimes, he just missed her; other times, he was bitter that she’d kept everything from him.
Unsurprisingly, Clay had grown silent as he chopped the celery and moved on to a large onion. While the man was capable of dealing with other people’s emotions, though he controlled his own, he grew quiet and uncomfortable when the subject of death came up. assumed Clay had too much experience of death in his life, especially because he had no family or friends to speak of other than Elliot.
Well, there was someone else.
“How’s Mrs. Collins?” asked, breaking the silence.
Some of the tension bled from Clay’s shoulders. “Good. You’d think for a woman nearing ninety-six, she’d slow down a little bit. But even that heart attack last fall hasn’t slowed her down...well, not much. Been working out of that outreach center she loves for years and tells me she won’t stop until she’s dead.”
thought of the older woman and smiled. She was important to Clay, a figure from his youth before...well, didn’t know what came after that. He knew the diminutive woman managed to turn Clay into soft putty with her presence. didn’t blame him, though, she was strong but gentle, a bundle of warmth and joy all wrapped up in a tiny woman whose wrinkled face could light up a room with a smile.
“Not to drag down the mood again,” Clay said, setting the vegetables aside, “but are you going to tell us why you’re really here?”
shifted uneasily. “What do you mean?”
Clay looked askance at him. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how you avoided saying why you’re here. And before you get that hurt look on your face, you are always welcome here. I don’t care what happens, this is a place you can be safe and stay.”
“I know,” muttered.
And he did. From the moment he’d seen them again after the chaos of whatever had happened to them, Clay and Elliot had welcomed him into their lives like he belonged. His mother had been wary of them, but she’d outright hugged Clay when she found out he’d been the one to kick ’s ass before he could stumble his way into a life of petty crime. After that, they’d been as much a part of his life as his mother.
They’d helped him apply to college. And in a roundabout way, Clay’s interference in his life had set on the path to becoming an FBI agent. On hearing that, Clay’s face had gone completely blank, but Elliot had laughed so hard thought he was going to hurt himself.
They were his family, and this would always be his home.
Clay nodded, pulling out another container. “Good. Is it trouble you’re in?”
“No,” said quickly.
“Drugs?”
“Clay, Jesus, and have you kick my ass?”
“True. Ah, Jessica?”
grew quiet at the mention of his girlfriend's, no, ex-girlfriend’s, name. Clay glanced over his shoulder, nodding his understanding before pouring what looked to be homemade stock into a stockpot.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” muttered.
“First love?” Clay asked gently.
hesitated, then shook his head. “No, I didn’t love her. But I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough,” Clay said easily, setting the pot on the stove. “You can talk about it with Elliot if you want. I know you two do better with all those emotional things.”
winced. “It’s not?—”
Clay snorted. “Yes, it is. I know I’m shit at emotions. Elliot says it’s part of my charm, but I think he’s blinded by love.”
“So are you,” said wryly.
“Yeah, but who wouldn’t love that big idiot? Doesn’t change the fact that he’s better with emotions than I am. You guys break up?”
The sudden shift back to the original topic had frowning. “Yes. Again?—”
“Don’t want to talk about it, I know.”
“And yet, you’re talking about it.”
“Not anymore. But hey, maybe being back in Port Dale for the next few months will be good for you.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because there’s plenty of good-looking men and women in the city to distract you.”
groaned. “I knew you were a slut in your life before Elliot.”
Clay pointed at him with a knife, narrowing his eyes. “That might be true, but don’t let Elliot hear you say that. Big idiot gets defensive about my ‘honor,’ it’s ridiculous.”
shouldn’t have been surprised that his two very gay surrogate big brothers had been perfectly okay with his bisexuality. The fact that he’d realized he was bi when he’d been taken down by a man over a decade older than him was maybe not the best sexual awakening, but there it was. had once made the mistake of telling Clay and Elliot that, which resulted in a blank look from Clay and hysterical laughing from Elliot. counted that a win, as he’d pretty much told the man that once upon a time, he’d had a crush on Clay.
“You’re not going to play matchmaker, are you?” asked in sudden fear.
Clay let out a swift bark of laughter. “Hell no. I was just making a bad-taste joke that there’s plenty to distract you here in the city.”
“I guess that’s true,” admitted. Port Dale didn’t exactly lack diversions.
Clay squinted at him. “You have been with people other than her, right?”
Elliot chose that moment to appear, looking content. “He lost his virginity to a guy, remember?”
gaped at him. “That was supposed to be a secret!”
Of course, he hadn’t meant to tell Elliot in the first place. But when the man caught raiding their liquor supply and didn’t lose his mind, relaxed enough to tell the story of the handsome guy from a different school district. Of course, it hadn’t been the guy he would have preferred.
Clay cocked his head. “Nate?”
closed his eyes. “No. His dad shipped him back to private school before...well, no, it wasn’t him.”
“Before you got the chance to sleep with him,” Clay finished with all the tact of a sledgehammer.
glared at Elliot. “Thanks.”
Elliot winced. “Sorry, wasn’t thinking.”
Clay raised a brow. “Well, that spares a few awkward and embarrassing conversations. I really didn’t want to have a gay birds and the bees conversation.”
bowed his head, thunking it against the fridge. “Please...don’t.”
“Why are we talking about his sex life?” Elliot asked, nudging out of the way to grab a beer.
“He’ll tell you later, when he’s ready,” Clay said, cutting up some chicken.
“Ah,” Elliot said in understanding. “The heart-to-heart thing you run away from like it’s a cross and you’re a vampire?”
Clay nodded. “The very same. And for the record, you’re lucky you’re cute or you’d be sleeping on the couch for that.”
Elliot grinned wickedly. “That and you can’t go too long without?—”
“Don’t!” Clay and barked together, desperate to keep Elliot from finishing.
“I was going to say without one of my legendary massages,” Elliot said in a wounded voice.
“You’re a liar,” Clay accused.
“A dirty, dirty liar,” agreed.
“Insulted in my own home,” Elliot said with a sniff.
Clay eyed him. “And you call me a pain in the ass.”
“Because you are. But you’re my pain in the ass.”
“Oh, don’t try to butter me up. I’m onto you.”
stood, leaning against the fridge and listening to them play-bicker. If he wanted to traumatize himself, he would associate their banter with a sort of foreplay. As it was, he thought the two of them just liked the verbal parrying, using it as affection as much as the light touches and hugs.
It hurt watching them be loving and affectionate. It reminded him of what he’d almost had and been forced to leave behind. But then again, it was Clay and Elliot, the people he called family and the couple he held up as a standard. The ache was subsumed in the warmth of familiarity, of listening to two people who loved him fiercely as they went about their normal day, content that he was there.
For better or worse, he was home.