How had they ended up in this position?

  Right.

  Because Noah made the single worst decision of his life: being nice and letting Micah into his home.

  He would never — never — let anyone else pin him to a bed like this.

  Not in a million years.

  “I won’t do it until you want it. Not because you feel obligated.”

  God, I love him. Not that I’d ever say it out loud.

  “Big brother!!! Someone’s at the door!”

  Micah froze.

  Noah died internally.

  Nico grinned like he had just walked in on a soap opera.

  …

  Why.

  Noah snapped back to reality and shoved Micah away like he was made of molten lava.

  “Nico! Why are you in my room?!” Noah squeaked, face blazing.

  “Oh! Were you guys making out? I’m sorry!” Nico chirped, absolutely not sorry.

  Micah scrambled to his feet beside Noah, ears burning.

  “Did you say someone was knocking on the door…?” Micah asked carefully.

  “Yep! A man in a blue uniform with a shiny badge! Kael’s going to open the door!”

  Noah’s soul left his body. “HOLY—It’s the police! Do NOT open the door!”

  Micah immediately stiffened. He nudged Nico toward the hallway.

  “Go tell Dad and the Chief to hide in the coat closet. Quietly.”

  Nico nodded and sprinted off — loudly.

  Meanwhile, Noah was having a silent panic attack.

  A very visible silent panic attack.

  Why? Why us? What if they find them? What if Micah gets taken? What if—

  Micah’s warm hand cupped Noah’s cheek, grounding him. He pulled Noah into his chest and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

  “Everything’s going to be okay, sweetheart,” he whispered.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Sweetheart.

  Noah’s lungs remembered how to function. He clung to Micah, staring up at him like the world wasn’t collapsing around them.

  He wanted to kiss him again. Badly. He rose onto his toes—

  Micah’s eyes widened. “Noah… now’s not the best time.”

  He grinned, kissed Noah’s cheek, and slipped out of the room.

  Noah groaned, changed clothes at record speed, and forced himself toward the front door.

  ---

  Noah plastered on the fakest smile known to mankind and opened the door.

  A police officer stood there, tall, serious, and holding a clipboard.

  “Afternoon,” the officer said. “We’re conducting a routine check. There have been reports of… unusual individuals in the area.”

  Noah’s stomach dropped. “Unusual? Haha. Nope. Nothing unusual here. Just me. Being normal. In my normal house.”

  The officer blinked. “Right… may I ask if you’ve seen these individuals?”

  He held up photos of the Chief, Kael, and Nico.

  Noah’s eye twitched. “Uh. No. Never. Not once. Who are they? Never seen a man in my life.”

  The officer stared.

  From the hallway came a muffled whisper:

  “Dad, it’s hot in here—”

  “Silence, boy!”

  “Chief, stop elbowing me—”

  “Kael, stop breathing so loud!”

  Noah laughed loudly to cover the noise. “Haha! Old pipes! They make… people noises!”

  The officer frowned. “Sir… are you feeling alright?”

  “I’m GREAT,” Noah said, voice cracking. “Never better. Love being alive. Love… air.”

  The officer scribbled something.

  “Have you heard any howling in the area?”

  Noah choked. “Howling? No. That was—uh—me. Practicing… singing.”

  The officer stared harder.

  “Any strange smells? Wet dog? Burned wood?”

  Noah’s soul screamed. “Nope! My house smells like… lemons.”

  Another thump from the closet.

  Then:

  “Kael, stop licking the coat hangers!”

  “I’m dying! It’s too hot! I’m gonna—”

  A horrible gagging sound followed.

  Noah’s blood ran cold.

  The officer raised an eyebrow. “Sir… is someone else in your home?”

  Noah laughed again, louder, more hysterical. “No! No one! Just me! And my… pipes!”

  ---Micah’s POV---

  Micah pressed his ear to the closet door, trying to listen to Noah’s conversation.

  He regretted it instantly.

  “Dad, your elbow is in my kidney—”

  “Stop whining, Kael.”

  “I’m going to throw up.”

  “You will NOT—”

  Kael threw up.

  On the Chief.

  The Chief let out a roar so loud the coats shook.

  Micah slapped a hand over Nico’s mouth before he could scream-laugh.

  “Big brother,” Nico whispered against Micah’s palm, “were you and Noah kissing? Why were you on top of him? Why were his legs—”

  “Not. Now.”

  “But—”

  “Nico, I swear on the moon, if you don’t stop talking—”

  Kael gagged again.

  The Chief hissed, “If that boy vomits on me one more time, I will—”

  “SHHHHHHHHHH!” Micah whisper yelled.

  The closet shook again.

  Micah wanted to die.

  ---Noah POV---

  The officer cleared his throat. “Sir, I’m going to need to take a look inside your apartment.”

  Noah’s heart stopped.

  “Oh. Uh. Inside? Like… inside inside? Like… the whole thing?”

  “Yes.”

  Noah’s smile twitched. “Haha. Funny story. The thing is—”

  Another gag.

  Another splatter.

  A muffled, “MY SHOES!”

  Noah’s soul left his body.

  Micah appeared behind him, smiling politely.

  “Officer,” he said smoothly, “I’m Noah’s… roommate.”

  The officer blinked. “Roommate?”

  “Yes,” Micah said, voice calm, tail tucked behind him. “We were just… cleaning. The closet is a mess.”

  From the closet:

  “IT’S IN MY HAIR—”

  “STOP MOVING, BOY—”

  “WHY IS IT SO HOT—”

  Micah’s smile twitched. “Very messy.”

  The officer stared between them.

  And left.