Salvation [M/M]

18 - Eighteen - Ambrose Grayson's Point Of View.

Marco was home at noon today, and Romeao gave us a small heads up that his ex-husband was coming for three. If it was my choice, I would have just told him to leave the shit on the porch and beat feet. Marco was too busy healing, and I wanted to protect him. But Marco didn't like that idea. He said it was a prickly approach when Theo was only being nice. It annoyed me they didn't give Marco a few days to relax at home before they came.

"If you keep pacing like that, you will wake the baby or scare my new friend." Marco chuckled.

"Mochi really does like you, doesn't he?" I chucked. "He's slept on your side of the bed the whole time, too."

Relaxing back on the couch beside Marco, he set his hand on my knee.

"You don't need to stress out about this. You've seen him before, and—-"

"I'm not stressed about me, Marco. I'm stressed on your behalf."

"Well, don't be. He will not want to stay long."

"You hope."

"He won't. He hates this house and everything that happened."

"As if this couldn't be any more awkward." I sighed.

"He has moved on, and I am allowed that too."

I leaned over, watching out for the cat and Marco's wound, and pressed a kiss to his lips.

"If he acts up, I'll drag him out of the house."

"Ambrose."

"I'm being serious. You say the word and I'll just pull him out and—-"

The alarm beeped. Before I could get up, Marco unlocked the door from his phone. They came inside, and they were quiet, but I could shake how uncomfortable I was. Marco leaned over, his voice low and soft.

"No one is looking for a fight, so we should and will be on our best behaviours."

"Understood."

"We let ourselves in, the door was unlocked and I hope that—--" The man in the hallway paused and looked at me, tucked beside Marco on the couch, two men behind him. "I didn't know you would have a guest."

I tried to put space between Marco and me, but he had his hand firmly planted on my knee.

"I unlocked the door to let you in. Ambrose, Theo and his partners, Demitri and Luca." Marco was petting Mochi, not even catching the mildly awkward vibes in the living room.

"Nice to meet you." Theo said, clearly checking me over. He came in, a bag in his hands, and set it on the coffee table. "Alessio packed all kinds of things for you. He included instructions in the bag as well, and some other things, in case the hospital didn't give you much."

Theo and I met eyes, and his eyes weren't soft. I knew it wasn't meant for me when they softened a moment later. They were meant for Marco.

"Can I get you guys anything? A coffee? Water?" I said politely. Marco let go of my knee and I stood up.

"We will all have a coffee. I will lend you a hand." Theo said politely, following me into the kitchen.

While I was pulling down coffee cups, he spoke.

"This has to be pretty awkward for you, too. Romeao, his boss, gave me a heads up. Marco had someone, but to see it is strange. I won't lie, though. I worry about you. Marco is—-"

"Marco isn't your concern. You still somewhere care for him, even if it's because you wanted to make sure he was actually ok, but I've got this. You can focus on moving on and—--"