Chapter 4
By the time Koa was fully back in his big mindset, they were almost to Ethan's job.
The building where he worked was huge, and it was kind of intimidating, if Koa was honest. He didn't know how his friend spent so much time there.
He couldn't see Ethan in an office. And Koa knew that if he didn't have such a sense of responsibility to the company, Ethan would have been long gone.
But his friend always finished what he started, and this job was just another one of those things, which meant Ethan struggled.
And since Koa loved to spoil people, he needed to show up for his friend and be supportive.
When they went inside, it was quiet and dark, with a lone security guard at the front. Koa didn't really know how they were going to get the soup where it needed to go. He'd never come in that late. Of course, he shouldn't have worried.
His Daddy, Manny, stepped right up. He approached the security table, smiling at the man behind the desk.
"How can I help you, sir?" the guard said with a stern tone.
Koa buried himself in his Daddy's shoulder, not wanting to confront the way the guard's voice made him want to run away.
"Hi, my name is Manny and this is my boyfriend Koa.
We're here because our friend Ethan got called into work last minute and forgot to eat anything.
" Manny gently smacked his palm to his forehead and rolled his eyes.
It was all very charismatic. Koa appreciated it because he was fully tongue-tied after hearing the word boyfriend.
The guard smirked. "I know exactly who you're talking about. Ethan's a good guy. I hate that he always gets called in like this."
Manny hummed. "Exactly. Do you think we could take this up to him? Would it be a big deal? We'll come right back down."
The security guard waved a hand towards the elevators. "Have at it. Don't think anything of it. The guy needs a break, I'm sure. His boss is a real hard ass."
Koa's eyes widened at the way the guard spoke so freely about the man who signed his checks. Even if Koa agreed, he wouldn't dare say it out loud where it could be overheard.
Manny thanked the guard once more, then dragged Koa towards the elevators, soup in one hand.
When they climbed inside, Koa pressed the button for the correct floor, then leaned against the back wall.
Manny moved beside him, wrapping his hand around his waist and stroking against his t-shirt.
Koa wished he could feel his touch on his skin.
He wanted more of Manny, wanted to go back to when they were playing and everything was so relaxed, but now wasn't the time.
He needed to show up for his friend, to be there for him when he was struggling and needed support.
Manny kept quiet as they rode up the elevator. When they reached the floor Ethan worked on, there were loud voices coming from down the hall. Koa's eyes widened because one of those voices was Ethan's.
Ignoring the way Manny hesitated, Koa took off at a run. When he reached the office area, Ethan's arms flailed around as his boss sat, red-faced, across the desk.
Ethan yelled, "You can't keep doing this to me. I've done nothing wrong. I'm the best employee you've ever had."
Before another word could be uttered, Koa ran up to his friend and wrapped his arms around him. He whispered softly, "It's okay, Ethan. I'm here now."
It was as if someone had turned a switch off.
Ethan slumped against Koa and sobbed, his emotions pouring out in an instant.
Koa had positioned himself to turn Ethan when he wrapped his arms around him, which meant Koa could see the other man's face, could see the anguish in it and the confusion.
He didn't know how badly he had hurt Ethan, didn't understand that what he'd done was more than just being a tough boss.
He had no clue that Ethan was Little and that his heart was sensitive.
Koa felt a hand pressed to the middle of his back. He knew instantly it was Manny. He was thankful his Daddy was there, because no matter what their relationship was, he needed someone strong enough to step in and help get Ethan out of the situation.
Manny's voice was solid when he spoke. "Ash, interesting to see you here."
Ash's expression flickered with surprise before he smoothed it over. Koa wondered what that meant.
The other man spoke this time without the volume raised. "You as well, Manny. What are you doing here?"
Manny's hand stroked up and down Koa's back, comforting him as Koa comforted his friend. "I'm here with my boy. We were delivering food to Ethan since he'd been called in while we were all together. Koa was worried Ethan wouldn't remember to eat, so our friend Jacob put together something."
While everything Manny said was true, Koa could see how he was leaving out the more important parts — the parts where they'd been at a kink club, playing, age regressing. That Jacob was the chef at said club and had a vested interest in Ethan. Still, it was as if the air in the room shifted.
Manny's voice was even when he spoke next. "Ash and I used to run in the same circles. There was a club we both called home for a while." A pause. "Before things fell apart there."
There was meaning in the way he said it. But Koa had spent enough time around Daddies to know the difference between a man being polite and a man choosing his words very carefully. Manny was doing the latter.
Ash's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "I didn't know you'd found somewhere new."
"Takes time." Manny's eyes drifted briefly to Ethan, then back. "Glad I did. They’re a good group."
The implication settled over the room like a soft weight. That whatever had gone wrong at that old place, Manny had come out the other side of it better. Whether Ash could say the same was a question left unanswered.
It also made Koa realize the kink club secrets weren’t all that secret now. Ash had to know Ethan attended too. The new knowledge would change things between them.
Ethan's sobs stopped and he pulled back to look at Manny when no one else spoke. His face was still scrunched, the anguish still present, but it was lighter somehow. Like the release was enough to help in some way.
"Jacob made me this?" Ethan asked.
Koa smiled. "He was upset that you had to go," he said carefully, "so he stopped everything to make you soup."
Manny held up the bag, shaking it a little so it made a sloshing noise.
Ethan covered his mouth. His complexion didn't lend itself to a blush, what with the deep brown tone of his skin, but the twinkle in his eye and the way Koa could feel his body relax said loads.
Ethan liked that Jacob wanted to take care of him.
He liked attention that was positive. It was very much the opposite of his boss — Ash, as Manny had called him — which made Koa think: how did Manny know Ethan's boss? How were they connected?
Manny had not been mean or harsh in any way since they met earlier that night. If anything, he was the complete opposite of Ash, and it was kind of surprising for Koa to know that their world was this small and overlapping.
Ash cleared his throat, drawing everyone's gaze. "You haven't eaten, Ethan?" he said.
Ethan shook his head. "When would I have eaten? I hadn't been gone long when you called me."
The words were an accusation, strong enough, in fact, to make Ash wince. A change came over the other man’s expression then. Koa thought it was remorse. Or as close to it as possible.
"You should go home," he said. "Eat, sleep. Don't come in tomorrow."
Ethan's eyes went wide. "Are you firing me?" he stuttered out.
Koa squeezed his friend, hoping that wasn't the case. He knew that Ethan did enjoy parts of his job, but it was also that Ethan needed the insurance. It helped cover all of his medical needs, and then some.
Ash shook his head once. "Not at all. You're right. You are the best employee that I have, and I have, unfortunately, taken you for granted. Take tomorrow off. I'll see you the day after."
His words were a dismissal, meant to send them on their way. Koa turned Ethan towards the door, pushing him out while Manny whispered something to the other man. It sounded a lot like, "You fucking idiot."
Koa would have to try to remember to ask his Daddy later. He had a feeling that there was more to Ethan's boss than there seemed at first glance. That maybe his Daddy knew something.
In the hallway, Ethan shivered and looked around like he didn't know what to do with himself. Koa rubbed his hands up and down Ethan's arms. "It's okay now," he said. "It's over. You can go home and rest."
Ethan's eyes were troubled when he met Koa's gaze. "He said he wasn't going to fire me, right?"
Koa smiled. "Yes, that's exactly what he said. You have witnesses, and I have a feeling that my Daddy is not going to let him get away with anything anymore."
Koa preened at the thought of his person sticking up for his friend. He liked having someone who would advocate. It spoke to his character, and it also proved what a great Daddy he was.
Ethan finally smiled at that. "Your Daddy, huh? Things improved after I left."
Koa rolled his eyes, pulling his hands away and crossing his arms. "You don't worry about what happened when you left. Just know that Jacob made you soup. Special. And we brought it. So what you want to say is, 'Thank you, Koa, and Mr. Koa's Daddy, for bringing us food.'"
Ethan blew a raspberry, then repeated the words in the same tone that Koa had used. The pair burst into giggles right as Manny came out of the office. His stern expression turned into a grin when he saw the boys happy and laughing together.
"What are you two up to?" he said.
The boys in question took a moment to answer over their giggles, but they did, and it was as if they had practiced in unison, saying in a sing-song tone, "Nothing."
There were giggles all over again. Then Manny was herding them back into the elevator to leave.
"We'll take you home, Ethan," Manny said. "You'll be okay alone, or should we stay?"
Ethan shook his head. "I'm wiped. Gonna eat and go straight to bed. No need to stay."
Koa bit his lip. He didn't like the idea of letting his friend be alone, not after such a tumultuous experience.
At the same time, he really wanted to have his Daddy to himself.
There were things they needed to discuss, things that were worth a lengthy conversation.
But he also wanted to know what his Daddy's hands felt like rubbing against his bare skin.
He wanted to feel what it was like to be underneath his Daddy, to feel their naked bodies align, to have his body filled so completely with his Daddy's cock that he couldn't see straight.
Yeah, he wanted a lot.
The question was, would he be able to have it, or would something else stand in their way?