Three hearts, one home (Dayasco)

Missing

The next morning, the soft light of dawn filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the room. Bosco stirred, feeling the warmth of Daya's body beside her. She nuzzled closer, her nose brushing against the soft stubble on his cheek. His arm was draped over her waist, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath he took.

As she settled into the comfort of his embrace, she felt something hard pressing against her thigh. A mischievous smile curled her lips, and she couldn't resist poking at the evidence of his morning arousal with her finger. I thought boys grew out of waking up hard." she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

Daya groaned, his eyes fluttering open. He looked down at her, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Very funny," he said, his voice gruff with sleep. "Just cuddle me, will you?"

Bosco's grin grew wider, and she leaned in to kiss him softly. "As you wish," she whispered, her hand moving to cup his cheek. They lay there for a moment, just breathing each other in, the warmth of their bodies melding together.

With a sigh, Daya slowly peeled himself out of bed, his muscles protesting the sudden movement. He stretched, his back popping in protest, and winced. "God, I'm getting too old for this," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

Bosco chuckled, rolling onto her side to watch him. "You're not that old," she said, her voice thick with sleep. "You just need to stretch more."

Daya shot her a playful glare, his body still slightly stiff. "Easy for you to say," he murmured, his hand rubbing his lower back. "I'll add yoga to my to do list,"

With a stretch that made his muscles protest, he climbed out of bed, the cool morning air a stark contrast to the warmth of the sheets. He padded over to the door, throwing it open with a dramatic flourish. "Rise and shine, you little demons!" he shouted down the hallway, his voice echoing off the walls.

Molly emerged from her room, her eyes still puffy from the previous night's tears, but the sight of her brother's smiling face made her crack a tentative smile. She was wearing an oversized hoodie, the fabric swamping her small frame. "It's hot out today Mols," Daya protested, his voice still thick with sleep.

Her protest was immediate. "But it's my favorite," she said, clutching the garment closer to her.

Daya's eyes widened in realization, the memory of Bosco's words from the night before flooding back. He felt a mix of sadness and determination. "Okay, okay you can wear it," he said gently.

Bosco watched the exchange with a knowing smile, her eyes lingering on the way Daya's gaze softened when he looked at Molly.

A few moments later, the sound of shuffling footsteps approached the door, and Tyler walked in, his eyes bloodshot and his posture hunched. The tension in the room thickened as the three of them made eye contact, the previous night's confrontation still fresh in the air. "Morning," Tyler mumbled, his voice gruff.

Daya's hand tightened around the spatula, but he forced himself to smile. "Good morning," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "Eggs okay?"

Tyler nodded, his eyes avoiding Daya's. He slumped into a chair at the kitchen table, his movements slow and deliberate. The smell of bacon filled the air, and Daya knew that despite his hangover, Tyler would eat it all. "Yeah," he mumbled, his voice hoarse.

Daya turned back to the stove, focusing on the sizzling eggs. He knew that now wasn't the time for a heart-to-heart, not when Tyler was nursing a hangover that seemed to have left him one step away from a zombie apocalypse. But the words needed to be said, and they needed to be heard. "Tyler," he began, his voice firm but not unkind. "We need to talk, but I'll save it for after school okay?"