I Want to Be the Place You Call Home (A VegasPete Omegaverse)

Chapter Fifteen

    Pete was so distracted on his way to work that he completely forgot to grab breakfast. He was too busy worrying about what was happening back at his house. He was also regretting that he hadn't just kissed Vegas, but he wasn't sure why Vegas was there yet. He worried more about Macau being left at home with his father. If Vegas was here, it had to mean something was going on.

He was also worried that Yaai was dressing Vegas up and down while he was alone and vulnerable. Vegas may have dealt with Yakuza before, but never Pete's grandma. The fresh bruise on Vegas's face also stuck in his mind.

Pete clocked in a few minutes early, and immediately got to work, scrubbing and scrubbing, while his mind swirled with the possibilities of what was happening. He took just a moment to peek in on his mother before rushing out the door again as soon as his shift ended.

On his way home he remembered to stop and grab some peaches for Vegas.

When he pulled up to the house, he was more anxious from the silence. Everything was too still and too calm. Had Vegas already left?

"I'm home!" Pete called cheerfully as he entered the door.

"In here," Yaai answered from the kitchen. The house smelled wonderful, and Pete knew she was making his favorite meal. He braced himself in case she was making it to apologize for sending Vegas back home.

Pete paused for a moment when he saw she wasn't alone in the kitchen. Vegas was standing at the stove next to her with a light pink apron on listening intently as she gave him quiet instructions. Not wanting to disturb them, Pete set the peaches down carefully and just watched.

Vegas was nodding his head and moving his hands, too focused to notice Pete had entered the room. Pete wanted to go to him. To wrap his arms around Vegas's waist and inhale his smell. He wanted to press his lips along Vegas's neck and throat before capturing his mouth. For a moment, though, he just stood and watched.

Yaai was being subtle, but Pete could see the familiar little hints of affection in her as she nudged Vegas's elbow gently to guide him, or clucked at him as she tapped the frying pan with her wooden spoon to correct him. Pete smiled. He never expected to be able to watch two of his favorite people in the same room like this.

Finally, with a sheepish grin, Vegas turned around.

He removed the apron quickly, embarrassed, as he said, "Dinner will be ready soon."

Pete nodded, suddenly aware of the fact that he still very much smelled of chemicals as he watched Vegas's nose crinkle in disgust.

"Let me just shower and change and I'll be right back down."

Pete moved on autopilot, tossing his uniform into the laundry basket so he could scrub his skin clean. He put on fresh scent patches out of habit before he went back down to dinner.

Now that the shock of his presence had worn off some, Pete noticed how different Vegas looked from the last time he had seen him. Before, in the relative security of the safe house, Vegas was warm and glowing. Now he looked pale and much too thin. He carried himself with a frailty that Pete had never seen from him before. He was timid, but Pete could see the fierceness beneath the skin struggling to break free.

After they ate, Pete sat and cut up two of the peaches, unhappy with how little Vegas had eaten.

When he was done, Vegas reached for the fruit but Pete didn't let him. Instead, he leaned forward, pressing each piece to Vegas's full mouth. Vegas watched him but Pete kept his focus on his task, making sure Vegas ate each piece before he wiped juice off the corner of Vegas's mouth with his thumb.