Super Crush (BxB)

Defining the Relationships (S2)

I hear them before I see them. Clay and Abe must have made it to the main part of the bunker while I was chatting with Dad. When I step back into the open room, I see Abe searching the fridge for some food and Clay sitting at the table with a to-go cup of coffee.

"Dude, how are you still hungry?" Clay asks Abe. His laugh concludes quickly when he looks up to find me standing to the right of the fridge.

Raven-haired beefcake clears his throat. "Hey."

I just now noticed that he has cut all the color out of his mane.

Abe looks up from his scavenging and meets eyes with me.

"Oh, hey," the blonde hunk adds.

His face matches his age again. The worry that plagued his face before coming to Italy seems to have left on the rooftop of my apartment building.

"You're back," Clays says.

"We weren't sure..." Abe tries.

"If we'd see you again before you left," Clay finishes.

Between the two of them, they make one full sentence. It is so strange to see them like this. Timid and unsure. Usually, there is nothing but confidence overload from these lovable idiots.

"Well, I am here."

I feel unlike myself also. The Noah Brasso that everyone has come to know and love, okay, know and tolerate at best, usually just cannonballs into the fucking pool. But not now. I am on the deck, dipping one toe in at a time. I am afraid of the water being cold.

"Noah," Abe starts but I cut him off, finding the courage to say what needs to be said. 

Even if it sucks.

"We need to talk. Like all three of us. But before we do, I think I owe you two an apology."

Yuck. Why does it taste so terrible to acknowledge when you are in the wrong? It shouldn't. Not with the ones you care about. Or maybe it's worse when it is the people who rely on you.

"I won't say I overreacted because have you met me? You both know I have zero chill. But I did go full Noah on you. You did the right thing and came forward and told me it happened. And after I saw it in the mission recording, I got it. You were caught up in the moment. The kiss was kinda sweet actually."

I shall omit the part where I realized it was kinda hot too.

"We would never purposely do something to hurt you," Clay replies.

"It was the post-life saving. Emotions were high. We both missed you," Abe adds.

He didn't need to say it. I knew. But it sent a heat wave through my body. The idea that they both missed me quelled any fears I had that I was alienating one of them.

I can't hide my smile as I sit down at the table.

"I get it. I do. And I'm okay. Not mad, or I don't think I am, and I don't think either of you are."

Abe and Clay shake their heads.

I feel my smile fade. "But everyone needs to pump the breaks."

Clay's brow furrows and Abe's head cocks. They are going to make me say whether I want to or not. And in this case I am heavy on the not. But I swallow and take a deep breath.

"We need to put our attention on getting Abe's name cleared and finding who is behind the Cloud 10 operations."

Both sets of eyes watch me intently.

"So let's make a ceasefire for now. No romancing between the three of us."

Damn, I sound like my dad.