"I don't think it's a good idea for you to walk me home," Fox said as he glanced sideways at Pyre for the fourth time since they set out after school ended for the day.

They actually hadn't left school together, but Pyre only took a few minutes to find him and catch up. He didn't respond when Fox spoke, but seemed a bit out of it. He did smell like cigarettes, but he didn't have a lit one between his lips, and Fox knew that the drug didn't usually make people space out.

"I'll just take you most of the way. Don't worry, I don't want to meet your boys. Unless you think I can beat them in a fight and win your heart," he said, adding that last bit with a wink that made Fox roll his eyes as he continued to walk slightly ahead of the other.

"Would you like another lunch Monday?" the guy asked, finally winning Fox's full attention as he looked up at him.

"Yes, please," he replied, already eager to taste the special food again.

The boy's face lit up as he wrapped an arm around Fox's shoulder. The gesture was unwanted, but before Fox tried to shrug his arm off, he realized that the guy was tapping the right side of his shoulder and giving him a look that definitely wasn't lascivious.

Is something wrong?

"I'm sorry for touching you like this without asking, but there's something weird going on. Can you ignore it for a minute while I try to figure out our safest way out of this situation?" Pyre said, barely moving his lips to speak.

Fox wanted to look around, he if Pyre was already talking extremely quietly, that meant that someone was actively following them... and was possibly already close by.

My brother?

If that was the case, he could probably shift and get away pretty easily, but that would leave Pyre on his own to face someone who might have a gun or other weapon.

If he catches him, he could hurt him or use him against me.

The idea didn't sit well with him. Granted, he had minimal attachment to the other boy, but their few previous meetings were never really bad. He was also trying to help him now, too. Even though it wasn't his fight and the person, who was likely his brother, was only after him, not Pyre.

"You could probably run. He only wants to kill me," Fox said as quietly as he could.

His words made Pyre's seemingly-calm expression falter for a moment before he steeled it again, but with a frown firmly in place this time.

"Don't you dare say that. You're like an adorable little brother to me now, Fox. I can't just let him hurt you because you don't want me involved. I'm already involved, that's why I tossed my cig and ran after you when I saw him following and staring you down."

He had seen him stalking me and still came to try and help?

"You put yourself in danger," he said, earning a slight grin from Pyre as they turned down another, busier street.

"It's part of the bad boy image," Pyre said jokingly as he guided Fox into a bustling restaurant.

They were immediately swallowed up by the crowd inside, but Pyre refused to let his arm slip from around Fox's shoulder as they ducked in between the groups. It was far too noisy and confined for Fox's dislike of people, but he forced himself to focus and follow Pyre until they were pushing open a back door and stumbling out into a large alleyway.

"Damn, my parents really know how to draw a crowd to their big grand-opening event," Pyre joked as he started to run.

Fox stumbled several times, making Pyre slow to a stop and swipe his backpack again. Even with the weight off, he still wasn't too keen on running.

"Hey, by chance would you be a fox shifter?"

The question caught him by surprise, but it probably shouldn't have.

"You can run fast on all fours, yeah?" Pyre asked as Fox's form already began to shrink into his clothing.

Pyre picked up the clothing and shoved it into Fox's bag, then picked up his shoes and started toward the far end of the alley at a run. Fox easily kept up, glad to finally be in his more natural form.

"I swear you're the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Possibly ever," Pyre said with a huge smile as they exited the alleyway and Fox took the lead.

The boy followed him easily, his long legs keeping up with his fox even as they zigged and zagged through the busy sidewalks. By the time Fox came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs to Owen's townhome, they were both panting heavy but also quite proud of themselves.

"Showed that bastard," Pyre said as he leaned back against the wall and worked on catching his breath.

Fox shifted back to his human and sat down against the same wall, looking up when he felt eyes on him.

"Are you sure you're taken?" Pyre asked with a cheeky grin, eyes alight as he stared down at him.

Fox blinked up at him, then turned his head at a familiar sound.

Owen!

"Fox?" Owen questioned as he walked up, setting his work bag down as Fox ran into his arms.

"Is everything okay? Why are you out of breath," he asked as he looked up at Pyre. "And who is this?"

Pyre fished his phone out of his back pocket after setting Fox's backpack down, then held it up to show a picture of Fox's brother.

"I'm Pyre, Fox's friend, and this guy was following him when he left school. It seemed fishy so I helped him get away."

Fox felt Owen's arms tighten around him before the man gave a calming sigh.

"Thank you for helping him. Would you mind speaking to the police with me? That is his brother.. He's been after him for a while. I'm glad that you saw him and did something," Owen said as he picked his bag back up and and settled it on one shoulder, then lifted Fox into his arms and started up the stairs.

Fox watched over Owen's shoulder as Pyre grabbed his heavy backpack and followed him up.

Amos won't get angry with me bringing him back here? Fox asked through his and Owen's bond.

Owen continued to open the door and hold it for Pyre as he responded.

He won't jump to conclusions. He'll just be glad that you're safe and be grateful to Pyre for helping you when he noticed something seemed off.

Fox relaxed a little as Owen brought him into their shared bedroom where they had moved some of his clothes, and set him down.

"Go ahead and get dressed. If you need time to relax, take as much as you need," he said as he leaned over to press a light kiss to the top of Fox's head, then walked out and quietly shut the door behind himself.

Fox heard them begin a phone conversation with the police on speaker, but didn't pay much mind to it. He hadn't realized just how stressed he'd been until the bedroom door had closed and he was given time to calm down. He took his time getting dressed, but instead of leaving the room right afterward, he climbed into Amos' side of the bed and slid completely beneath the covers.

The mint and cigarette scent of the man who was bigger than life to him allowed his nerves to relax more and the added warmth helped, too.

Do you want me to come in there? Owen asked through their bond.

He honestly would have loved to be wrapped in his arms right then, but they were still on the phone call. That was important and he didn't want to ruin it.

I'll be okay.

And he would. He didn't want to have to rely on Owen and Amos for everything. He listened quietly as the conversation went on and on and darkness began to cloud the sky outside as rain started up. The case was upgraded a danger level and since his brother now knew where he went to school, he would have to switch to online classwork for a bit. At least until they found him.

The officer was just talking with Pyre about their specific run-in that day when Fox heard the front door open.

He sat up in bed before the bedroom door even swung open, then swiftly shut with a slightly loud thud. Amos didn't bother kicking off his shoes or taking off his coat, let alone actually walking around to the correct side of the bed.

The fabric of his winter coat was wet and cold as Fox gladly let himself be pulled up against it. Nothing felt better than those chilly, strong arms wrapping tightly around him. The man's damp hair brushed against his cheek as he panted. A chilled hand moved upward, leaving his back and sifting through his hair before pressing against the back of his head, holding him closer against Amos' chest

"Fuck, Fox," Amos finally rasped roughly.

Does he have a cold? Is he sick?

Shaking his head, Amos leaned back just enough for Fox to see part of his face in the darkness.

He's... crying?

He opened his mouth right away to tell him not to cry. It wasn't worth it to shed tears when nothing bad happened... but then he realized something. Something bad could have easily happened, especially if Pyre hadn't caught on from the beginning that something wasn't right.

A loud, lingering boom of thunder rumbled outside, hiding the sound of the door being opened, but not of it closing. A few moments later and Owen was hugging him from the side, pressing the side of his face against the back of Fox's head.

"Did you send Pyre home?" Fox asked curiously.

Owen nodded against him. "Didn't want him to get stuck in the coming storm. He's a good kid. He really likes you, but understands that you're taken. Even so, he risked himself to see you home safely, and we'll be grateful to him for that forever."

Fox nodded as he digested his words.

"He is a good kid," he agreed before Amos gently grasped either side of his face and raised it so that their eyes met again.

"I can't even find it in me to be jealous that he likes you. Fuck, Fox, that boy might have just saved your life."

Blinking back his own tears, Fox sniffled as he looked down at Amos' chest. He still had his coat buttoned up and his shoes on. He'd come running inside... He'd probably been running for a while, considering how out of breath he'd been.

"Owen texted me while they were talking. My shift was almost over, anyway, not that I cared at that point. But my boss let me go right away," Amos whispered into Fox's hair. "I ran the rest of the way here."

That's more than six blocks since Owen had used the car this morning...

"I'd run a hell of a lot farther if it meant that I'd come home to you safe and sound," Amos said without hesitation.

"I'm glad that I came home early, too. Something just felt off, so I skipped lunch and finished everything in time to be allowed to leave," Owen added, drawing Fox's attention to him.

The other man moved back enough for their eyes to meet, and Fox didn't hesitate to lean to the side and press his lips to his. Owen seemed surprised at first, but he gradually allowed the kiss to deepen. Fox felt Amos watching them intently, but the man didn't try to interrupt. His own tears flowed more freely as time passed, but neither man wiped them away, and Fox didn't feel a need to do so, either.

Fox heard Amos shrug off his coat as he continued to allow Owen to explore his mouth, but when he expected the man to pull him back against his chest and start nibbling at his neck and allowing his hands to wander, he simply reached up and settled a hand on Fox's soft hair.

"We're not going to go much further than this tonight, hun. We're all too stressed to think straight."

His voice still sounds really raspy.

Owen relented after another moment, leaving one final kiss on his lips before he leaned away with a small but seriously smile. He nodded to Amos's words, too.

Turning his attention back to Amos, Fox reached up and pressed a hand to the man's forehead.

"Are you okay?" he asked, worried about the warmth he felt beneath his fingers.

Amos gently grasped his fingers and squeezed, then pressed a kiss to each of them, then one final one to Fox's palm.

"Just a cold starting."

Owen reached over and grabbed Amos' shoulder, then guided him to lie down in the middle of the bed. Amos actually did so, with a confused look on his face the whole time. Owen then removed the man's shoes as he spoke, "behave and rest. I'll go make dinner."

His voice was stern toward Amos, for once.

Wisely, Amos didn't argue, but when Fox tried to get up and go help Owen in the kitchen, he refused to release his fingers.

"Stay with me."

Fox stared at their joined hands before lifting his gaze to Amos' face. The man's own eyes were already closed, his breathing beginning to calm. After a moment of contemplation, Fox scooted right up against him, then cradled the man's hand against his chest with his own two.

You're going to get sick this close.

"Then push me away," Fox replied as he snuggled in closer, then closed his own tired eyes.

I could never do that.

The edge of Fox's lips quirked up into a smile as he took in a deep breath through his nose, then let it out with a calming sigh. He honestly felt like a nap was in order, and with both of his sweet and protective...

Boyfriends, hun.

Amos' words had Fox's heartbeat jolting abruptly, but he couldn't find it in himself to consider correcting him.

Yeah... boyfriends.

He snuggled in even closer, his smile growing the faintest amount as Amos wrapped his arm around his chest and tugged him firmly against his hot body.