The fact that Pyro had given up on the search stung, but Boar wasn’t about to play the blame game. The moment he’d recognized him in the arena would forever remain one of his clearest, happiest memories. That was when he knew all the suffering he’d gone through had a purpose. “You’ll quit. You did it twice, and you’ll do it again. I’m here now,” he said, squeezing Pyro’s neck gently.
Pyro looked tired with the sweat beading on his forehead and dark circles under the eyes. “I’m ashamed. I let you down. And the worst thing is I know you will forgive me. You’re that good. I love you.”
Boar sat on the sofa and pulled Pyro into his arms. The warmth in his chest was only growing, and even though the place he always returned to was no more, Pyro was alive, and so were their friends. That was what mattered. “You helped me when I was alone. You know you changed my life. How could I not forgive you?”
“I just want you to know I don’t take it for granted. I don’t do shit and then expect you to accept it. I know I fucked up.” Pyro hugged him with a groan.
Boar squeezed his arms around Pyro, his heart skipping a beat when they both held on even tighter. “I dreamed of you every night. I kept thinking of you seeing me again, and the face you’d make.”
Pyro snorted and they settled into a comfortable hug. “Did reality live up to your dreams?”
Boar exhaled. “In my dreams, your pupils weren’t eating up your entire eyes.”
Pyro sank into him with a groan. “I wasn’t expecting to walk out of there alive.”
That was it. Boar had enough of dancing around this subject, no matter how much he didn’t want to antagonize Pyro right now. “I love you. And when I’m gone, I’m expecting you to take care of yourself.”
“Okay, Mom.”
Pyro looked away, so Boar pulled on his chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “I’m serious. I’m not the only one who cares about you. Didn’t you think about how devastated Clover would have been to lose you?”
Pyro went silent instead of rolling his eyes like he usually did during uncomfortable conversations. “I do now. I didn’t think he could care for me as much as he does, but I get it now. He wants me for much more than dick.”
Boar barked out a laugh, elated to hear about that finally reaching Pyro’s stubborn head. “Speaking of dick. You can’t imagine how much exercise my right hand got in those months. I feel like I’ve been starving and now entered a buffet,” he said and pressed a kiss to Pyro’s forehead, breathing in his scent.
“It was so hot to see you with Clover again.”
“Boy’s small but has ridiculous stamina.”
Pyro chewed on his lip and pulled out his phone. “I’ve got this hot video I took of him a while ago…” With his other hand, he opened his robe, and Boar did the same.
Few things were as relaxing as jerking off next to Pyro. No demands, no obligations, just lazy pleasure.
Boar’s eyes widened when the video started. “Daaamn.”
Chapter 13 – Tank
Tank drove his pickup truck toward their cabin with a heavy feeling in his chest. Since Boar’s return, everything had been falling into place, despite Pyro constantly balancing on the edge of tiredness and anger due to the withdrawal he was going through. But their fight wasn’t over.
Far from it, and the news Tank was coming home with might not improve the atmosphere, even if it could mean progress.
The comfort of going back to a house he knew put Tank at ease. He’d stayed here with his team whenever they had to spend time in Wyoming or needed to lie low, as it was located in the middle of nowhere, deep in the woods, and wouldn’t attract unnecessary attention.
Its wooden walls were a welcome change after months in the cramped trailer that had gotten hot as a pressure cooker, even if the summer was over. Everyone had more space to themselves, not to mention running water and a kitchen.
Despite all the thoughts running rampant in his head, he smiled at the glow of fire flickering through the trees. This time at least, he wouldn’t come back to Pyro burning everything down, because Boar had an eye on him, despite needing support himself. That was where Clover came in, and no matter how complicated navigating their relationships sometimes was, the effort was worth it when Tank could see how well they all worked together.
And then there was Drake, who’d finally stopped running away. Tank didn’t harbor illusions that their lives could go back to normal, but that had to be dealt with and accepted. No one could change the past, so Tank could just hope for no more suicidal outbursts. Clover was Tank’s biggest ally in that department, and Tank had even seen them in small interactions that boded well for the future. Drake needed to heal, but he would eventually be back to his grumpy yet secretly affectionate self. Like a stray cat, he’d pretend to not care yet curl up in Tank’s lap when least expected.