Micah gulped, his heart pattering. And now he didn’t want to leave, not when Spike wanted him this much.
In front of him, Kai stirred. I like you, Kai had said last night.
Yesterday was the first time Kai had voluntarily kissed him. He could always change his mind today.
Micah held his breath when Kai’s eyelids fluttered open. Kai blinked, surprise flickering through his eyes. Then he seemed to remember last night, too.
“Hey,” Kai rumbled, his gaze raking down Micah’s chest.
Micah’s body prickled; he reached up to cover his scars. There was so much of it, though, more than he could hide.
“Isn’t he beautiful?” Spike said into Micah’s hair. “Mark him, Kai. Otherwise Micah’ll just smell like me.”
Kai paused, glancing at where Micah tried to hide himself. Then he took Micah’s hands, pulling them away from Micah’s chest. “Can’t mark him if he’s trying to cover his scars.”
Micah whimpered when Kai looked at his naked chest, his heart squeezing tight. He’s going to be repulsed now. Just like everyone else.
But Kai leaned in, pressing their foreheads together. He smelled like elm and morning breath, and he caught Micah’s hip, squeezing him lightly.
“I’ve told you before, the scars don’t bother me,” Kai said, his voice rough with sleep.
“They bother me.” Micah bit his lip. “Every time I look at myself... that’s what I see. I’m not beautiful like you or Spike.”
Kai brushed his fingers through Micah’s hair. Then he slanted his lips, and kissed Micah slow and sweet.
“I also told you, I’m here,” Kai murmured.
Micah’s breath hitched. He’s staying? “But—but the scars...”
“They’re not new to me. At least, the ones on your face and arm. I saw them when Spike first pointed you out some years back.” Kai traced the tip of his tongue along Micah’s lip. “He’s really not kidding when he says he’s been looking out for you, you know. We’ve followed you home a couple times.”
Spike froze behind Micah. “Kai,” he hissed. “You weren’t supposed to tell him!”
Micah tried to wrap his mind around that. Kai had seen his scars, too. And maybe he vaguely remembered a couple of teenagers trailing after him, over the years. One of them had picked up an orange that had rolled out of his bag, but Micah couldn’t remember the boys clearly.
“You told him my secrets,” Kai said dryly to Spike. “Yours is fair game.”
Spike growled, leaning up to glower at Kai over Micah’s shoulder. Then he flipped Kai off, too. Kai rolled his eyes.
Micah tried not to smile. “So... you’ve followed me home. And I never knew.”
“Well, not all the way up to your apartment,” Spike mumbled. “Just to the building. But Kai always dragged me off before I could go say hi. He said I was gonna knock all your groceries out of your hands.”
“Yeah, you wanted to give him a tackle hug,” Kai said. “I don’t think he’d appreciate it.”
Micah stared. And wondered how much else he didn’t know about Kai and Spike, how long they’d been watching out for him.
It felt as though he’d had a couple of guardian angels for a long time, and he was only realizing it now.
“I... would not have minded a hug,” Micah said, rolling onto his back so he could see Spike, too. “That was really sweet of both of you.”
“I could give you another hug,” Spike said brightly.
Kai kissed Micah’s jaw, glancing sidelong at his brother. “There was the time your washer broke down—”
Spike looked at Kai in horror. “No, you aren’t telling him that.”
Kai continued anyway, “You went to that coin laundry place, and you were doing your laundry there. Spike stole one of your briefs when you weren’t looking. It’s still his most prized possession.”
“My...” Spike had stolen his underwear? Micah stared, trying to remember if he’d seen anyone lurking around his dirty laundry. Then he imagined Spike sniffing at the briefs, bringing it home like a treasure. It was... flattering, in an odd sort of way.
“Kai!” Spike glowered. He clambered over Micah and tackled Kai into the bed, straddling Kai’s hips. “You dirty bastard!”
“You started it.” Kai looked pointedly at him.
Spike growled. Then he grabbed Kai’s hair and hauled him up, kissing him roughly on the mouth. Kai rumbled, kissing back just as viciously. It was all teeth and tongue, and Micah stared as Kai bit into Spike’s lip, so blood welled up on his skin.
“That’s payback,” Kai murmured, licking up Spike’s blood.
Spike huffed, sucking Kai’s lip into his mouth. “Yeah, you love me anyway.” A flush spread through his face. “That makes up for everything.”
Kai didn’t voice an answer, but his slow smile said more than any words would.
Watching them, Micah envied the bond Kai and Spike shared. The easygoing friendship, the years-long devotion, the casual intimacy. Spike and Kai felt... complete. Like they belonged together. And Micah didn’t know how or where he fitted in with them.
As though they heard his thoughts, Kai and Spike glanced over, two pairs of intent gazes raking down Micah’s body, and back up to his eyes.
“You haven’t marked Micah yet,” Spike said. “You better hurry before I claim all of him.”
“Like you don’t want to share him,” Kai said, pushing Spike off himself. “I’d mark him if you get your heavy ass off me.”
“You like my heavy ass,” Spike said, wriggling. Then he paused. “You know, someday, we should both do that bar dance for Micah. The Santa hat one.”
Kai raised an eyebrow, glancing at Micah. “You mean... the one that someone recorded, and Micah watched.”
Micah’s face burned. That was three weeks ago. “H-how did you hear about that?”
“York said it.” Spike grinned. “Is it really true? You liked my dance?”
He snapped his hips, his cock flipping up. Micah stared.
“Yeah, he likes it,” Kai said, smirking. “Maybe we should.”
“You guys,” Micah choked, embarrassed.
Spike returned to Micah’s other side. Before Micah could protest, Kai leaned in, capturing Micah’s lips in a deep kiss. It sent tingles down Micah’s body; his toes curled,
