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“Something’s up with Alex and Bobby.”
Luke doesn’t mean to interrupt Reggie’s rambling about the best kind of horse, but he was getting kind of bored of it and he just saw Bobby and Alex kick each others’ feet for the ninth time since they got back to the garage and it just came out. But now that he has Reggie’s attention anyway, he decides to continue, swinging his feet over the edge of the loft and studying Alex and Bobby on the couch.
“Have you noticed it?” he asks.
“Nope,” Reggie says, but it comes out an octave too high.
Luke looks over to Reggie to find him devoutly avoiding Luke’s gaze, pink tinting his cheeks.
“You have,” Luke insists. “What is it? What’s wrong with them?”
Reggie shakes his head. “It’s none of our business.”
“So there is something,” Luke says, leaning closer. “What is it?”
“Leave it alone, Luke. They’ll tell us when they’re ready.”
Leaving things alone has never been Luke’s strong suit, and Reggie should know that. The only thing stopping Luke from storming down from the loft right now and demanding that they address the problem is that he’s not even sure if there is a problem. He can’t make sense of their weirdness. There was a period of about three weeks where they weren’t talking to each other at all, and then suddenly they were always together, but it’s still tense, just a different kind of tense. They don’t touch each other anymore except light shoulder punches or kicks, and they’ve dialed up the insults and sarcastic snipes by at least 200%. He would think they were still fighting, except sometimes he catches Alex’s lips quirking up into a small smile after Bobby calls him dipshit , and sometimes Bobby’s hand lingers when he smacks Alex upside the head. It makes absolutely no sense to Luke.
He watches now as Alex kicks Bobby harder than last time and Bobby kicks back even harder. Alex lunges at Bobby, pinning him to the couch. Alex mutters something, then Bobby shoves him off and runs out of the garage. Alex throws one unreadable look towards the loft before chasing after him, leaving Luke to wonder what the fuck just happened.
He turns to Reggie for an answer, but only receives a shrug and a shake of the head before Reggie turns back to his songbook. It’s only then that Luke notices that Reggie has his banjo out, an instrument he only breaks out when he has a crush on someone and is trying to woo them. Luke didn’t know Reggie even liked anyone, let alone someone he liked enough to make a move on.
“Who’s the banjo for?” Luke asks.
“It’s nothing,” Reggie sighs, turning so Luke can’t see his songbook no matter how he cranes his neck.
Luke huffs and goes downstairs to get his acoustic. Why is everyone acting so goddamn weird?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex lays on Bobby’s bed with his head on Bobby’s stomach, humming happily as Bobby cards a hand through his hair. If Alex was a cat, he’d be purring right now.
“Hey, Sunshine?”
Alex looks up at Bobby, blearily blinking his eyes open. “What’s up, Stormcloud?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Bobby says, “and I think I want to tell the boys.”
Alex sits up so he can look at Bobby properly and takes his boyfriend’s hands in his own. “About us?”
“If you’re ready for that too,” Bobby nods, “but I at least want to tell them about me.”
“Are you sure?” Alex asks. “You don’t have to, you know that.”
“I know.” Bobby brings Alex’s hand up to his lips and brushes them against his knuckles, his silent way of saying Thank you for looking out for me . “But I’m ready. I want them to know.”
“Okay,” Alex says. “How do you want to do it?”
“I was thinking a big Broadway-style musical number,” Bobby replies, completely deadpan.
Alex snorts and drops his forehead down onto Bobby’s shoulder. “Dork.”
He can feel Bobby’s smile without having to look up. “I guess I’ll just tell ‘em at rehearsal. Maybe kiss you in front of them.”
“Luke might have a heart attack if you do that.”
“Good,” Bobby chuckles. “That’s exactly what I want.”
Alex laughs and rolls his head so he can kiss Bobby’s jaw. “I’m really proud of you, baby.”
“Sap,” Bobby teases, even as he dips his head down to kiss Alex.
Alex pulls back, raising an eyebrow when Bobby chases his lips. “Oh, I’m the sap?”
Bobby hums affirmatively. “The sappiest.”
Alex moves so he’s straddling Bobby. “I’ll show you who’s the sap.”
Alex lets out a surprised giggle as Bobby grabs him and flips them so Bobby’s on top instead.
“Please do,” Bobby smirks, then dives in for a kiss that Alex happily provides, rehearsal and the subsequent coming out forgotten.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I figured it out.”
Reggie doesn’t even look up from his banjo at Luke’s declaration. “I highly doubt that.”
“Reggie!” Luke insists. He pushes as close as he can to Reggie’s face, only stopping when Reggie pushes him away. “This is important!”
Reggie sighs and places his banjo aside. “Okay. What do you think you figured out?”
“Bobby’s a homophobe.”
Reggie laughs.
“I’m serious,” Luke frowns. “All this started when Alex came out. It’s the only explanation.”
“Trust me, it’s not,” Reggie says, reaching to pick up his banjo again. There’s something odd in his voice, but Luke can’t put his finger on it.
“Then what is it?”
“I’m telling you man, it’s not that big a deal. Just let them tell us on their own time.”
“You’re not very helpful, you know that?” Luke asks. Reggie just rolls his eyes and plucks out a melody on his banjo. Luke waves him off. “Whatever, I’m gonna go find out for myself.”
“What?” Reggie yelps, but Luke is already out the garage doors and halfway to the house. He hears Reggie chasing after him, but doesn’t stop.
“Luke, man, you gotta stop,” Reggie babbles. “Bobby’s not homophobic, you gotta trust me on this one, just leave them alone—”
Luke stomps up the stairs and throws open the door to Bobby’s room. He vaguely registers Alex and Bobby jumping away from each other, but he’s too blinded by anger to really pay any attention to them.
“Bobby, what the fuck is your problem, man?” Luke demands. “There is nothing wrong with Alex being gay so you either need to knock this shit off or— Wait.” Luke’s brain catches up to the scene he just walked in on. “Were you guys just making out?”
Alex lets out a nervous laugh and turns to Bobby. “Well, babe, looks like your plan is in motion a little earlier than we planned.”
“Babe?” Luke chokes out.
“I tried to stop him from coming up here,” Reggie chimes in.
Luke rounds on him. “You knew?”
“I’m gay,” Bobby cuts in, probably before Luke and Reggie can start arguing. “I’m gay, and Alex is my boyfriend.”
“He’s definitely not homophobic,” Alex laughs, reaching across the bed to take Bobby’s hand.
“Oh,” Luke says, feeling quite stupid. “That’s good.”
“Yeah, I’ll say.” Alex tugs Bobby onto the bed and leans down to kiss him.
Before Luke can stop himself, he whines, “Wait, that’s not fair.”
Everyone turns to gape at him, and he feels heat rise to his face. “I— I just mean, well, you know…”
“No Luke,” Alex says, arching an eyebrow, “I really don’t.”
“Yeah, Luke,” Bobby agrees, raising his eyebrow in a perfect mirror of Alex, “please elaborate.”
“I just—” Luke looks to Reggie for help, but he looks lost. He turns back to Alex and Bobby, though his eyes get caught on their intertwined hands. “Why do you guys get to kiss each other and we don’t?”
“Uhhhhh,” Alex drawls, “because we’re dating?”
“And you’re straight?” Bobby adds, though his sounds more like a genuine question.
“Straight guys can kiss their friends,” Luke argues. “Watch.”
Then he turns, grabs Reggie’s face, and plants a kiss right on his lips.
He pulls back with a loud smack to see Reggie gaping at him, wide-eyed and pink-cheeked.
“Um.” Bobby shifts, letting out an uncomfortable laugh. “That looked pretty gay, bro.”
Luke opens his mouth to protest, but he’s cut off by Reggie squeaking, “I like boys.”
They all turn to look at him. He blushes even deeper, casting his eyes down to the floor.
“I’m bisexual,” he explains.
Suddenly it all clicks into place. “The banjo,” Luke breathes.
Reggie’s face might as well be on fire. “I like… these boys.” He looks up at Luke. “You boys.”
“Wait.” Alex finally releases Bobby’s hand and crosses to Reggie. “Are you saying… What are you saying?”
Luke would really like to know that too.
“I’m saying…” Reggie takes a deep breath. “I like you guys. All of you. And— and I figured out a while ago that Alex and Bobby are dating, but… I want to date you guys too.”
“Can you do that?” Luke asks. “Three people can’t date, can they?”
“It’s called polyamory,” Reggie explains. “I read about it at the library.”
“Reg?” Alex asks carefully. “Do you mean three people dating,” he gestures to himself, Bobby, and Reggie, “or four?” He gestures to Luke.
Bobby snorts. “Well Luke just declared pretty confidently that he’s straight.”
“He also declared he wants to kiss us,” Alex shoots back.
Luke backs up, feeling a bit like a cornered animal. Reggie gives him a reassuring smile.
“I meant four,” Reggie admits, “but only if that’s what you want, Luke.” He pauses, then looks back to Alex and Bobby. “Only if that’s what all of you want.”
Bobby and Alex share a look.
“I mean,” Bobby starts, “I never really knew that dating more than one person was an option, but… I love you guys.”
“Me too,” Alex says, taking Bobby’s hand again. He tentatively reaches out to take Reggie’s as well, and Reggie obliges with a relieved smile. “Luke?” Alex asks.
“I…” Luke pauses and licks his lips, trying to gather his thoughts. “If I want to date you guys and kiss you guys and hold your hands… does that make me not straight?”
“Probably,” Alex chuckles. “Is that a problem?”
“No,” Luke shakes his head and takes Bobby and Reggie’s hands. “I think I just need to do some research.”
“Can I help?” Reggie asks eagerly. “I’ve already started doing some research—”
Luke can’t help himself; he pulls Reggie in for another kiss. A real one this time.
“Damn, Patterson,” Bobby whistles when Luke finally releases a very dazed Reggie. “I’ll have what he’s having.”
“Really?” Alex snorts. “You are the biggest dork I’ve ever met.”
Bobby shoves him and moves to cup Luke’s face with both his hands. “Yeah, well, this dork got three hot boyfriends so…” He pulls Luke in for a kiss, and it’s everything Luke never knew he wanted.
“Boyfriends?” Luke asks when they pull apart. He looks over to Reggie and Alex for confirmation, but they’re a little preoccupied with sucking each other’s faces.
“Boyfriends,” Bobby agrees, brushing a piece of hair out of Luke’s face. “Is that okay?”
“More than okay,” Luke nods. “Reggie, stop hogging Alex, it’s my turn.”
Reggie giggles and swaps boyfriends with Luke. They were supposed to rehearse this afternoon, but that ends up forgotten as they collapse into a cuddly pile on Bobby’s bed, trading kisses and whispered compliments and even a few I love you’s .
It’s the happiest Luke has ever been.