Theo was a busy man. He seldom had time for personal affairs. Even then, he did sometimes find the time to sleep with a pretty man or woman. It never progressed past a couple of nights of playing tangled sheets, just short of him beginning to feel involved. Somehow, whatever was going on with Victor now was both the same and something entirely different. Theo was attracted to the guy well enough, but that didn’t mean he needed anything from him other than a mattress partner. Did it?

His thoughts ran wild, the overthinking part of him needing to make sense of the situation. He’d grown quite used to having all the answers, and though he still was in control, not knowing exactly how much Victor wanted from him was bothersome. Not knowing exactly how much he wanted from Victor was even more infuriating. Theo was a man of facts and straightforward answers, neither of which he had right now. All he knew is that it had been much too long since he’d felt the freedom and comfort that came with taking Vic on a date and kissing him in the privacy of his apartment. And perhaps he didn’t deserve that comfort. When it came down to it, he was still a criminal. Try as he may, he couldn’t shed the body count, nor wipe the blood from his hands. He’d never be able to take back the threats he’d carried out. Surely someone like him shouldn’t be allowed to feel comforted, and yet Victor gave him that. Whether intentional or not, it was something Theo wanted to hold onto.

His hands mimicked his thoughts, fingers hooking into Vic’s belt loops. Their lips were entangled length enough to warrant a break, both of them rushing to catch their breath. Victor’s words, fueled by the warmth of the alcohol, we’re both amusing and endearing. Theo studied his features as he spoke, determining he was sober enough to have control over his actions. Sober enough to remember everything the following morning. The thought of the older man’s face lighting ablaze while recalling the events of the night before brought a smile out of Theo, only widening as Vic brushed a hand through his hair. He didn’t bother to comment, allowing his actions to speak for him. The longer the shared kiss lasted, the more reluctant Theo was to let go.

Fully aware of what he was insinuating, Theo slid one warm hand up the back of Victor’s shirt, allowing it to rest mid-back, while the other remained attached to the fabric of his slacks. His body pressed forward, allowing Victor’s back to rest against the counter. The silence of their intimacy was so loud, he almost didn’t hear.the subtle ringing coming from his pocket. At first, his occupied thoughts registered it as part of the music coming from his living room. It took a full ten seconds for Theo’s lips to pull away from Vic’s, following with a sigh of subtle disappointment.

He took the device from his pocket, taking a few steps backwards in order to focus on the call rather than Victor’s face. His father’s voice came through the line, asking if it was a good time to talk. Though Theo had every intention to say no, he knew better than to delay a phone call from his father. More likely than not, it was something important. The minutes sped by as Theo’s feet slowly led him back to Victor, the phone call quickly coming to an end. Once the phone was placed on the counter, Theo’s arms folded across his chest. ”Let’s get you sobered up, shall we?” he announced, already heading towards his cupboards. ”Unless you’re hoping to forget tonight?” the playful tone was evident in Theo’s voice as he glanced over his shoulder towards Victor. ”If that’s the case then perhaps i should have a few shots myself.”

Being blessed with alcohol tolerance meant that Theo never had to worry about losing his wits over a couple of drinks. His father was the same. The day Theo turned twenty one, Caesar took him to an upscale bar where the liquor was mainly imported and pretty women were plenty. He’d challenged Theo to a shot contest, claiming it to be his way of testing his son’s tolerance for heavy hitters. Much to both of their surprise, Theo held onto his bearings much longer than his father did. Though troubled with a heavy hangover the next morning, it had been a good night.

Allowing himself to have a few swigs of the alcohol Victor had picked for him wasn’t difficult. He knew himself well enough to determine when to stop. Victor was pretty, and a very good kisser, but not worth putting Theo’s family in danger over. Staying within the realm of being sober was a necessity, not a preference. The small glass rested between Theo’s fingers as he took the bottle from his date, pouring himself the first shot before handing said bottle back for keeping. ”If getting me wasted is what you’re after, I’m afraid you’ll be quite disappointed.” Theo commented, a devilish grin marking his statement. It was more of a testament to Theo’s strong will, rather than how much alcohol his body could handle. If he truly wanted to, he could reach the point of being as drunk, if not more so, than Victor. That was not his goal, but it wouldn’t prevent him from having a bit of fun.

Tilting his head back, he let the liquid slide down his throat. The heat filled every inch of his tongue, kicking his taste buds into action. Despite having cabinets equipped with everything from wine, to cocktail mix to hard liquor, Theo did not drink often. Salvi would normally use up more of the alcohol arsenal than Theo himself, and so that had unintentionally become the main reason his stash was maintained. Every so often, Theo did choose to relax with a drink or two. Tonight was setting up to be one of those times. The empty shot glass held in Theo’s steady hand was lifted towards Victor, flirtatious smirk back in its rightful place. ”Not as delightful as you…but I’ll take another” One drink turned into a few, and Theo’s thoughts began to wander. This was his cue to put the glass down, regardless of Victor’s objections. Coincidentally, the bottle he’d been drinking from had run dry. Theo had managed to down what had been leftover from Jake’s party. Just enough to relax, but not enough to put himself in a potentially dangerous situation.

Still, the heat of the fiery liquid had begun to creep towards his cheeks and ears. Deciding to shed some layers of clothing, Theo headed to his bedroom, casually inviting Victor to follow. Aside from the comfort of his bed, the room faced the back of the loft, away from the stronger rays of sun. This allowed it to always remain the coolest room in the apartment. The temperature difference was evident the moment Theo opened its double doors and stepped inside. Still, he let go of his jacket first, letting it feather onto the plush comforter. He then kicked off his shoes, already having decided that Victor would have to spend the night. Whether that’d be in bed with him or not was still to be determined, but the older male had made no efforts to leave and Theo would not be the one to put him out.

”Not to make a habit out of lending you my clothes but…” Theo’s eyes scanned Victor from head to toe, wondering how he’d lasted so long in those tight trousers and an even tighter shirt. ”Would you prefer something more breathable?” he asked, legs sauntering over towards his closet to find himself a change of clothes. He paused, turning to face Victor as he teased with ”I’ll even offer to assist, just like last time.” He wasn’t entirely bluffing, though he was well aware Victor didn’t need his assistance this time, he would happily oblige if only so he could see that same flustered look on his face again.

The flirty side of Victor was one Theo never expected to see, but very much enjoyed. He even dared to say he took almost as much pleasure from it as he did from the reddening cheeks. Even in his tipsy state, he could tell the effects of the alcohol were wearing off on Victor, to the point where they were both on the same level of no-quite-drunk but also not sober. Victor’s comment about whether Theo enjoyed undressing him or not didn’t warrant a response, but the younger man chose to give it anyway. ”Like it? Hmm...perhaps I do.” the subtle smile still tugged at Theo’s lips as he glanced over at Vic. Being this close without having their lips intertwined, Theo could take note of the shades of seafoam and gold blended perfectly within Victor’s gaze. It was something he’d noticed before, but never this intimately.

Pulling himself away from his own thoughts, Theo focused on the clothing items in front of him. The urge to tease piping up as soon as Vic mentioned not being sent home yet. ”Well if you’d rather go home, I can ask someone to drive you.” Theo’s offer wasn’t one he planned on carrying out, not unless Victor himself asked go be taken home. Considering how comfortable the man had grown around Theo within the past couple of hours, Theo could safely say he wouldn’t be hearing that request. He chose to ignore the fact that the thought of Victor going home now would leave him very disappointed and perhaps a bit lonely.

While browsing, Theo did manage to come across a couple of clothing items that would fit Vic. Just as he’d done that night in his office after the rookie had been shot, Theo handed him a comfortable pair of sweatpants and plain t-shirt. This was typically what he wore himself to lounge around the house, only shedding his shirt when it was time for bed. He didn’t offer to help with undressing again, not wanting to give Victor the idea that Theo only wanted him here to get him into his bed. Despite the physical attraction and how easily Theo could sleep with Victor right then and there, he also did genuinely enjoy his presence. Sex was welcomed, but not Theo’s primary goal. Not with Victor anyway.

Turning back to his closet, Theo grabbed his favorite pair of gray sweats, letting Vic know he’d be going into the bathroom to change in order to give the guy some privacy. He wouldn’t be far, the bathroom door only a couple of steps to the right of his closet. The lights came to life on their own as Theo stepped inside, allowing him to catch his own reflection for the first time since he’d left his apartment that morning. The pink tint adorning his cheeks was much more subtle than it felt. The beat of the alcohol made his ears burn more than he’d like them to. Even the coolness of the room wasn’t enough. Theo quickly began to shed his clothing, taking off everything including boxers. It was only when he pulled on his sweats that he realized he’d forgotten to grab a shirt.

Though unsure of how long he’d been in the bathroom, Theo figured it had at least been long enough for Victor to finish changing. He gathered his clothes from the ground, tossing them into the hamper near his door on his way out to fetch a t-shirt. Though if he was being honest, the cool breeze from the vent hitting his skin felt too good to cover up with fabric. Perhaps Victor wouldn’t mind if Theo decided to forgo the shirt for now. ”Pardon me, i left my shirt” he announced just before stepping out of the bathroom and into the room where he’d left Vic.

Even with all his time spent in the restroom, purposely moving at a slow pace, Victor still hadn’t finished getting dressed by the time Theo stepped back out. In the back of Theo's mind, he couldn’t help but wonder if the rookie had done it on purpose, as a means to seduce his boss to bed. Not that Theo would be against it, but somehow that didn’t seem to fit with Vic’s character. It was more likely that the guy had just gotten distracted while changing. Still, Theo would never pass up the opportunity to tease, especially given the circumstances. ”What, can you really not get dressed on your own?” the smirk that followed only widened once Theo realized Victor was much too entranced by his bare torso to respond.

Victor’s gaze didn’t linger on the tattoo across Theo’s collarbone for as long as Theo would’ve expected, but instead drifted down to the carved stomach, cheeks morphing into ripe tomatoes once he realized he’d been caught staring. Somehow, Theo found the actions more endearing than anything, even as Vic slowly moved closer, implying that he’d rather have Theo stay topless. He may not have used those exact words, but that’s what Theo understood, and would happily oblige. He set aside the t-shirt he’d been planning to wear, arms slowly folding across his chest as he took in Victor’s stare. The playful grin that danced from one dimpled cheek to the other never left Theo’s face, even as he spoke.

”To be perfectly honest, I never wear a top to bed.” as he said this, his steps moved him closer to Victor, cautiously closing the distance between them until there was nothing more than a few inches of air keeping them apart. ”but you’re looking awfully flustered. I don’t suppose that’s from the heat of the liquor.” truthfully, had it been anyone else, Theo would probably already be in bed with them. There was something about Victor in particular that made him want to take things a bit slower. Perhaps it was the feeling of inexperience that the man gave off, at least when it came to situations like these. It could also have something to do with the fact that Theo not only wanted Vic in his bed, but actually enjoyed his company outside of it. This in itself was an achievement for Vic that very few managed to do. Often times Theo either enjoyed someone’s company, as was the case with Jake, Salvi and Beah, or wanted the sex. Seldom if ever was it a combination of both. But here Vic was in his room, shirtless and still relatively tipsy, very obviously interested in Theo, yet the younger man didn’t feel the need to get Vic in between his sheets in order to enjoy the night.

It was a strange feeling, not knowing what to feel. This was a somewhat new territory for Theo. He always knew exactly what he wanted, and even though he initially thought the same with Vic, now he wasn’t so sure. Perhaps if he played his cards right, he could figure it out by the end of the night. Though there was one thing he was certain of; Victor was just as interested in him, and Theo planned to enjoy it to the fullest. As his arms unfolded, they snaked around Victor’s waist, inching their bodies closer. A couple of dark strands of hair brushed against Victor’s cheek as Theo closed the gap between their lips. Figuring out what he wanted from Victor was proving to be a bigger task than expected, but perhaps after tonight, things would become more clear. These thoughts fled to the back of Theo’s mind as he focused on the body now nestled between his arms. The warmth of Vic’s skin coupled with the alcohol made Theo’s cheeks rosier than before. Though the room felt cool, his body still felt hot as it pressed against Vic’s own. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything else he could take off without being completely naked.

Their lips wrestled for as long as they could keep their breath, but Theo was the first to pull away. His hands slid down Vic’s back and around his waist, lingering there for a few seconds before falling to Theo’s side. ”My apologies, wouldn’t want you thinking I’m greedy.” As difficult as restrain may be, Theo was not a sex driven brute. Victor’s body was his own, and only could decide how much of it he was willing to share with Theo.

Self restraint was not something Theo had ever struggled with. Being a significant part of one of the most wanted groups of people in the nation had trained him to give up a lot of things that came with the normal life of a 21 year old collage student. While his classmates were out painting the town red, switching majors, drifting in and out of relationships, Theo was mapping out the smartest way to take control of the town’s mayor and plotting revenge on the ones that hurt his family. The young man was far from ordinary, as was his will power. So why was keeping his hands away from Victor proving to be so difficult.

The blonde admitted to not knowing what he wanted, something that Theo had picked up on long before they’d left their dinner table at the restaurant. The confusion and uncertainty was clear as day on Vic’s face, and if he had to be honest, Theo couldn’t blame him. Even a man of decisions like himself was found searching for the answer. Long term, Theo didn’t know what he wanted to gain from this. Short term, all he wanted was to feel the carvings of Victor’s body under his hands and kiss him until they’re both gasping for air. At one point even that may have been too much to ask, but Theo had not missed the not-so-subtle signs telling him Victor wanted the same. At least for now, in the privacy of his bedroom, they didn’t have to be anything other than attracted to one another. Whatever came next was not important, at least not yet.

Theo took Victor’s statement for what it was, nothing more than a momentary invitation. Admittedly, if it were up to Theo, the two men would not be getting any sleep that night. However, he was not so blinded by lust that he couldn’t see the nerves emanating from Victor as he spoke. If a kiss is all he wanted, that’s what he would get. The silence that engulfed the room as Theo took Victor’s hands in his own didn’t feel awkward, but instead was comforting. Theo moved the man’s arms around his own waist, only then letting go of the hands, bringing his own arms to rest over Victor’s shoulders. The silent permission for Vic to roam his body at will. He inched his own body closer, soft lips only inches away from Vic’s.

”Well then, I’m all yours.” Theo’s eyes scanned Victor’s features for any signs of fear. It was an emotion that the young boss typically aimed to evoke from his enemies, but Vic was not the enemy, and fear had no place within their intimacy. Respect was all Theo needed, and that was a two way street. To be respected, he had to give respect first, starting with Victor’s body. The ball was in his court now, and Theo would only go as far as Victor wanted him to go. The grin lingering on Theo’s lips had now faded into a more serious expression, dark eyes softening ever so slightly in order for Victor to find comfort within them. His voice lowered, settling into a velvet finish. ”You’ve got me all night.”

The night both felt like it lasted an eternity, and like it was over in a wink. Theo’s self restraint was put more to the test with every kiss he and Victor shared. He’d allowed his hands to wander, but had to pull back multiple times. Despite not saying anything out loud, Theo could easily tell Victor was out of his comfort zone. Difficult as it may be, Theo did not push it. Then, all at once, exhaustion hit them both. The warmth of the blankets and Victor’s body entangled with his own embraced Theo, lulling him to a peaceful sleep.

It was the first night in a long while that Theo had slept so profoundly. No random waking up, no dreams to recount, just a deep sleep. The first time he opened his eyes, it was to the sound of Victor’s voice. It took a few seconds for the sights and sounds to adjust. He would typically be the first to wake up after spending the night with someone, and more often than not, it was not in his bedroom. This time was different. He felt at peace in his own place, a sleepy smile forming the dips in his cheeks as his eyes met Vic’s own. ”Mornin’ his usually deep set voice fell deeper while dressed in the leftover drowsiness. Deep browns glanced past Victor’s head at the clock beside the bed as he lazily rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

Half past nine, and the boss was still in bed. Surely he had a number of missed calls and unread messages. Part of him knew he should check. At least as a courtesy, to let the family know he was alive and well. But he couldn’t muster up the strength to move from where he lay, comfortably molded to Vic’s body. He set his head back down with a groan, gently resting his chin on Victor’s bed head. His arms tightened ever so slightly around his body. ”Give me a min”

It wasn’t like Theo to procrastinate getting out of bed. Especially when it was already so late. But it was as if all the stress from the past weeks was released from his body within just one night. Funny enough, Theo had tried many methods to relax, never realizing that a night spent in Vic’s company was all he needed. He allowed his eyes to close again, nearly drifting back to sleep, but pulled back by the buzzing sound coming from the nightstand.

A tired sigh left Theo’s body as he reluctantly detached himself from Victor long enough to grab his phone. He answered with a hum, quickly met by Salvi’s boisterous voice. ”T! Jesus Christ I thought you were dead!” Theo couldn’t help but chuckle over his friend’s voiced concern. The call was not on speaker, but surely Salvi was loud enough for even Victor to hear. ”Have you always been this dramatic?” there’s a muttered curse word on the other end, earning another sleepy chuckle from the boss. ”M’alright mate, just knackered.”. The conversation ended with Salvi agreeing to let everyone know he was okay, and to not disturb him for a while.

After setting the phone back down, Theo returned to his previous spot beside Victor, stifling a yawn as his arms embraced the warm body again, ”So much for going back to sleep” Theo knew he should be getting up soon, but he didn’t want to be the one to put an end to whatever this was. Instead, he moved his head to look at Vic, one hand brushing the bangs from his face to reveal the bright eyes looking back at him. ”Hungry?”

The gentle breeze coming through the vent overhead made it that much more difficult for Theo to want to get out of bed. Especially now that he’d touched base with Salvi, who could let everyone else know he was alright, it was so easy to slip back into the comfortable silence of Victors embrace. Even as he assured Theo he had an appetite, there was a part of Theo that wanted to ask for a few more minutes of intimacy. But he couldn’t afford to be selfish. There were people waiting on him to do his job, and asking his father for the day off so he could spend it with his- whatever Vic was at this point in time -would be much too out of character.

He did muster up the will power to push himself out of bed, but not before placing a gentle kiss in response to Vic’s and telling him to go on ahead. He’d decided to quickly wash his face with cold water and brush his teeth, at the very least to aid in waking up. The reflection he saw in the mirror was one he hadn’t seen in years. Rested, calm, a blanket of comfort still draped over him even after leaving the confines of his mattress. All this after a single date, and a night of shared kisses. The thought lazily circled Theo’s mind as he ran his fingers through his unstyled hair, its dark strands lazily parting in the middle. There was so much about the previous night that Theo didn’t understand, something that he typically did not like.

He’d never been interested in relationships. A commitment that required the time and emotional investment that he could not afford to give. Theo was good at many things, including a good sex partner, but a relationship was out of his comfort zone. Try as he may, he’d never been able to picture himself attached to someone far beyond a sexual attraction, and yet the thought of spending cozy nights with Victor, drinking wine and basking in each other’s company…going on dates. The thoughts propelled a quiet sigh from the young man, his hands rustling up the hair he had just brushed into place. It was pointless to think about that now, he’d decided. Not when there were so many other things to worry about.

As Theo stepped out of the bathroom, he caught Victor’s voice from downstairs. As if reading his thoughts, he asked the exact same question Theo had been pondering. Would they be doing this again? His immediate thought was yes, but as he mulled over his answer, Victor’s voice came again, this time with alarm.

Jake? Why was he bringing up Jake? After quickly pulling a plain black t-shirt over his bare torso, Theo stepped towards the stairs to follow Vic. ”Well, well.” Jake’s voice traveled up the stairs as Theo worked his way down, answering the question he didn’t have time to ask. ”I fuckin’ knew it” Jake’s words came with a slight grin, widening the moment Theo came into view. ”Here we were worried you two were in trouble, turns out you were just having sex.” Jake’s jab didn’t come with any malice, and though his assumption was incorrect, Theo didn’t bother to reply. ”You lot always with your dramatics” He shot Victor a mischievous grin, calling out to Jake over his shoulder as he sauntered towards the kitchen. ”Since you’re here, care for some brekkie?”

He could hear Jake snickering behind him like a teenage school girl, but it wasn’t anything that ruffled Theo’s feathers. As far as he was concerned, he would be sleeping with Victor. The specifics of when or where didn’t matter at this moment.

Victor thought he would have more time to figure out things with Theo before anyone in the Dynasty knew. But of course, just his luck that the only person in the Dynasty that knew he has some sort of feelings for Theo - and who he adamantly denied being gay to - walked right through Theo's door and caught him here.

Victor's face went bright red the moment Jake started talking. All of this banter what purely meant for Victor and the conversations he'd had with Jake about not being into Theo, and the fluster only worsened when Jake assumed they had sex. "We didn't have-" Victor cut off as Theo just grinned and didn't bother to correct Jake. Of course he wouldn't, making Victor blush and get all flustered was Theo's specialty. Instead of joining the two in the kitchen, he scurried up to the bedroom to compose himself- and put a damn shirt on.

He closed the door on Theo's bedroom just for a moment, pressing himself against the door and letting his head fall back. Victor wanted to take his time, figuring things out with Theo alone as they ate breakfast together, but he was thankful that it was Jake rather than... well, really anyone else in the Dynasty. He knew Jake didn't mean anything hurtful by his comments either; if Jake was in his place, he would have made the same comments. Victor grabbed the shirt Theo had offered him last night, laying on the dresser where he'd left it last night, and went over to Theo's bathroom to compose himself. He wasn't used to seeing anyone in such a casual manner, shirtless with his bangs all fluffy and undone. But he hadn't remembered the marks that had been left on his skin from the night before, which he realized that Jake would have seen too. At this point, he couldn't be any more embarrassed, so there was no point in hiding out in Theo's bathroom.

Victor still slowly made his way downstairs, sitting at Theo's kitchen island. It reminded him of the night before, when he'd leaned over the same counter and kissed Theo for the first time. It felt forever ago that they were alone in this kitchen, especially now sitting here with Jake and Theo in broad daylight. "It wasn't sex," He mumbles as he sits next to Jake.

He hadn't even thought about sex with Theo yet. Maybe for a moment last night, which he was still tipsy, but he was too busy thinking about how this would change him to think about going that far with Theo. He could tell that it was on Theo's mind last night, and if they'd gone that far, Victor didn't know how he would be feeling this morning. But right now, he's surprisingly hopeful. His eyes were watching Theo more than Jake, the muscles showing even on the back of his arms and his wisps of hair falling around his eyes. The thought of those muscled arms on his body again was too exciting for a casual morning breakfast, so he forced his thoughts down to his phone instead.

There were plenty of texts from Jake, and even more texts from Hector, asking what happened after he left and what was going on between him and the boss. Spending the night in the boss' bed kissing him was not something he could report to the other officer. Getting into serious or intimate relationships while undercover was a big no, Hector had warned him plenty of times. But he'd already broken that rule with Jake, since they had been close almost from the beginning - after their first interaction when Victor dropped his ego. And after spending the night with Theo, seeing that side of him that cared for Victor and wanted him, he wasn't going to let that go easily.

The dynasty was Theo’s family, that much was clear to him. But just like with any other family, there were members you trusted conditionally and others you’d willingly give your life for and trust that they would do the same. Jake had very quickly become the latter, warming his way into the hearts of many from the moment he arrived. He was never quick to judge, and trusted Theo to make smart decisions. It was mainly for those reasons that the young boss was glad he’d been the one to walk through his front door this morning. Not that he was ashamed to be found with Victor walking around shirtless within the comfort of his loft. He had nothing to hide. There was just something about it being Jake that made the situation easier to navigate.

Try as he may to focus on the breakfast he was cooking up, Theo couldn’t help but overhear the conversation being held behind him. Victor’s rebuttal was quiet, but loud enough for both Theo and Jake to hear. An amused smile graced Theo’s lips for a moment, though unseen by his house guests, as he listened to Victor’s attempt to clarify. Jake huffed, shifting slightly in his chair to face Victor. Theo’s eyes watched them in passing as he moved from one end of the kitchen to the other. He gathered the supplies needed to make his famous espresso, prepping the machine as he listened in silence. ”Mhm..." Jake hummed. Theo could hear his fingers drumming against the countertop. ”So can you still look me in the eyes and tell me you’re not gay?”

Theo’s hand turned the knob on the espresso machine, leaving it to brew as he turned to face the duo. He let his back rest against the counter behind him, arms folded across his chest, one brow lifted in curiosity. ”Oh?” though his questioning statement was directed towards both men, his eyes instinctively looked towards Victor as if asking him to explain.

Thinking back now, Theo had never thought of the possibility that Victor was not interested in men. Nor did he ever ask. As far as he was concerned, if that was the case, Victor would’ve acted very differently around him. From the start, Theo could read Victor like an open book. The signs were all there. He never thought it necessary to ask. However, it was clear to him now that Victor himself had not been as certain. Which led him to wonder if this was the first time he'd done something like this with another man. ”Do tell.” he added. Though his signature smirk lingered on his lips for a moment, Theo was genuinely curious. He had a good idea of how Victor felt about him, but did Victor himself know?

Before either Jake or Vic could answer, the machine behind Theo beeped softly, signaling it was time for the next step. Deciding to leave the subject for a later time, Theo turned away once again as the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee filled the spacious kitchen. The question continued to wind through Theo's thoughts as he went about finishing their breakfast. He had cooked for Jake many times before, but it would be Victor's first time tasting his meals. Growing up, Theo had never had much interest in cooking. He always believed that no matter how much he practiced, his food would never be as flavorful as his mother's. He never imagined one day she wouldn't be around to teach him. Luckily, his sister had picked up on their favorite recipes, and graciously passed them on to Theo as a way of keeping their mother alive.

Over the years, he too learned and created his own recipes. Though short on time, he liked to cook for Salvi and Jake, sometimes even Beah, when he got the chance. Though it may seem insignificant to others, cooking was one of those mundane things that kept Theo sane amongst the never-ending chaos. Once the meal was finished, Theo fixed both Jake and Victor a plate, setting them on the counter in front of them. Jake was the first to take a bite, his eyes closing with a soft hum. "Is there anything you can't do, boss?" His praise was playful, but Theo accepted it nonetheless, setting the accompanying cups of coffee next to each plate. His eyes watched Vic expectantly, that soft shade of pink still adorning his cheeks. Tempted as he may be to return to the previous subject, he kept the silence, allowing Vic to enjoy his breakfast in peace.

Even in all his false confidence, at least when facing this situation, Theo had to admit that hearing Victor vocalize his uncertainty was a bit of a relief. It wasn’t unexpected, but appreciated nonetheless. It had been vividly clear to Theo that there was an internal struggle within Victor, even as he boldly made the first move. But it never occurred to him that said struggle was less about whether he should be getting so close to the boss and more about the fact that Theo was a man. The twenty-one year old had always been so certain about his own sexuality, wants and preferences that the idea of Victor not being so never crossed his mind, especially with his being older than Theo. In retrospect, it made perfect sense, and was almost comical how Theo had flirted with him just to get a reaction.

Silence filled the spacious kitchen along with the food’s aroma as the two men focused solely on the plate in front of them. There was something so satisfying about watching others enjoy something he made. For all the cruelly calculated things Theo had done in the past and present to his enemies, there was an inexplicable softness when it came to his friends and loved ones, almost as if Theodore Moon, the underboss of one of the most powerful underground organizations in the country and Theo, the young collage student, were two completely different people. But he was just as much a cunning mafia boss as he was a friend and a caregiver. One could not exist without the other, and those around him understood this. He could only hope that Victor did too.

There was minimal chatter after Theo fixed himself a plate and ate alongside Vic and Jake, the ladder going for his second helping while Theo silently enjoyed their company. Theo was the first to break the silence, raising his spoon towards an unsuspecting Jake. The man’s eyes grew with curiosity as Theo spoke. ”I gave you that code for emergencies, not for muckin’ about” Jake’s brows furrowed in response as he set down his own utensils, an unusual seriousness casting over his features. ”Surely you realize there’s a lot of people in this country that want you dead…” the tone was one Theo had seldom heard come from Jake. He was aware, and always cautious, but so were those around him. Jake especially had gotten a personal taste of what being too close to the boss could cost. The thought caused Theo to glance in Victor’s direction for a brief moment, before directing his attention back to Jake. ”You weren’t answering your calls…neither was Vic. We were all just assuming the worst.”

The usually jovial deep browns were shadowed with uncertainty, and Theo couldn’t help but feel a tinge of guilt for making his family worry. His gaze dropped to his nearly empty plate for a moment before meeting Jake again, ”If you go down, we all go with you.” There was a short pause in conversation, the silence reminding Theo that despite being at the top, he was still the youngest in the room. It almost felt like a scolding from an older brother. The corners of his mouth lifted, not in its usual smirk, but rather a smile of reassurance. ”Yes, hyung, I understand” the sudden switch to Korean earned an eye roll from the older man but he returned the smile, gently nudging Victor in the arm. ”Take a good look, Vic. This is what you’ll be dealing with if you get any closer” Theo casually brushed off the comment as he grabbed his own plate and moved to the dishwasher. The thought of Victor getting that close was both exciting and concerning. After the conversation they’d just had, the fear of Victor getting hurt because of him would now be a permanent thought in the back of his mind.

”Oh, you might want to give Beah a call. She was asking about your birthday plans.” a groan left Theo’s body at the sound of the word “birthday”. He’d never been a fan of celebrating birthdays, especially his own. When he turned twenty one, everyone around him made such a big fuss. This year he just wanted peace and quiet.

Amidst all the chaos and thirst for revenge against the men who hurt Jake, Theo had forgotten how nice it felt to just be. Even if Jake was scolding him for worrying them, it all felt so calm. Now that Jake knew both he and Vic were okay, Theo could take a bit more time before going back into base. Judging from his words, Victor had been thinking the same thing. Theo could only imagine what Vic would want to talk to him about in private, and if he was being honest, it made him a bit nervous. Having to admit to feelings that he was unsure of was one thing, but now that the thought of Victor getting hurt because of him had been planted in his mind, it would be the only thing he could think about. That alone spoke volumes about how important Vic had become in his life, which only fueled his worries.

”Alright, alright. I get it, I’m leaving.” Jake’s tone was playful as he lifted his hands up in defeat. He collected his keys and phone, shoving both into his pockets, before taking the last sip of his coffee. ”But you lovebirds better be at work soon, we got shit to do.” He added, directed more towards Vic than Theo. Of course Theo had to counter. ”Remind me again, who’s the boss here, mate?” Jake stifled a chuckle, gently ruffling Victor’s hair on the way out. ”Let me know if you need me”.

Silence fell over the room after Jake closed the door behind him. Even from afar, Theo could tell Victor was nervous. In a way, so was he. Although nervous may not have been the best word for it. It was more of an anxious feeling of not knowing what would come next. Theo never made moves that he did not know the outcome of, nor did he ever act on impulse. Thinking back to the night before, hell even days prior, that’s exactly what he’d done. Starting from the moment he offered to take Victor on a date. Because as much as Victor may have thought he was bluffing, it was never a joke to Theo. He’d fully planned on going through with his offer. He even had a loose idea of what he wanted to gain out of it. But that quickly changed the moment he’d sat across the table from Vic, with his messy hair and a look of both awe and confusion mixed into his pretty features. There was no denying it, Theo had a crush on Victor. He’d had plenty of those before to know exactly what they felt like, most of them evaporating within a few weeks. That’s what he expected from this, even if deep down his common sense kept telling him that what he felt for Victor was deeper than a fleeting interest.

”Alright, I’m all yours.” he stated, elbows resting on the counter as he leaned forward. The scene mimicked the night before, right before Victor kissed him. Theo allowed lust to momentarily take over, his eyes drifting down to Victor’s lips before moving back up to catch his gaze. There were things that could not be solved or ignored by covering them up with kisses, no matter how much Theo wanted it to. But Victor had been the one to ask Jake to give them some privacy, which meant that Theo had the advantage. Depending on what Vic said next, Theo would decide what to respond.