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“Where is Hondje?”
Vincent turned to Theo, who was looking around the dining room. It was strange that his brother was so worried about your absence, but Theo had been a little weird all week.
The heavy sigh escaped before he could contain it, catching Theo’s attention. Vincent didn’t like hiding things from his younger brother, but he also promised to keep a secret of their relationship until Jean was ready.
“It’s her day off. She left for town quite early this morning. I couldn’t go with her because I have a painting I’m almost finished with.”
Vincent didn’t expect that half explanation to work, but Theo smiled at him.
“I can’t wait to see your new painting. Although I’m surprised you will finish in time for the new exhibition. I know you have been working, but I haven’t seen anything from you since you told me Jean agreed to model for you.”
“I’ve been practicing anatomy with Jean as my male model, but he’s not quite ready for me to share the only work I have finished, and I’m not satisfied with the other attempts. But I was really inspired with this last work and I can’t wait to show you. I might even finish it before you come home.”
After that, their interaction during the rest of breakfast returned to normal. But Vincent was still anxious, knowing the distraction wouldn’t work for long.
He’d never felt so anxious and divided before, and he didn’t know how to deal with it.
After breakfast, Vincent returned to his room yo go back to his painting, in time to spot Theo boarding a carriage on his way to work.
“Sorry Theo.” Vincent muttered to the quiet room. “I will tell you as soon as I can.”
But Vincent had no idea when that would be.
He understood Jean’s hesitance. Every step of their relationship had been difficult, especially Jean accepting that you and Vincent were really in love with him, and even more that he actually returned your feelings.
Vincent also understood Jean being afraid of revealing their unusual relationship to people. If it were anyone else, Vincent wouldn’t be so willing to share. But he trusted his housemates, especially his brother, while Jean was only starting to build some semblance of a relationship with them.
But maybe it was time to talk to Jean again, when his boyfriend came back. With some luck, that would be before Theo.
Vincent didn’t have such luck, though. With the painting soon finished, he started cleaning his room a little - it was mostly his studio at this point, since he only slept in it when sleeping alone - and when he was almost done, his brother practically burst in.
The first thing Vincent thought when seeing the conflict in his brother’s face was that something had gone wrong with the exhibition. Theo usually didn’t let it phase him, but he couldn’t think of anything else.
“Theo? What happened?”
Theo took a step in, closed the door behind him and sighed. He looked angry and sad.
“I should ask you. What happened between you and Hondje? What did she do?”
That was what he feared. Theo was getting too suspicious, and now he probably had figured things out, but just half of it.
“She did nothing, Theo. Why do you think she did?”
“I wasn’t the only one who noticed, but she has been spending a lot of time with Jean, and I saw them together in town.”
“They must have stopped by the cafe we found out a while ago. Is there something wrong with that?”
Vincent only needed Theo to trust him for one more night so he could talk to Jean.
“I didn’t think so. Jean doesn’t seem like he would do anything wrong, and I trusted you with Hondje because she’s not the kind of girl to do so either. But the way I saw them today…. I still don’t think they would do something behind your back, so I just want to know what happened.”
Theo was surprisingly not as angry as Vincent expected. He definitely trusted you and understood Jean enough. He was trying to be understanding instead of confronting you directly and probably aggressively.
“I would tell you if something wrong happened, Theo.” Vincent smiled, trying to find the right words that would give him more time without lying to Theo or having him change his mind and confront one of you. “Everything is fine. We just…”
But he was interrupted by a knock on the door that was almost immediately opened as a familiar voice called for him.
“We’re back, and we bought the desserts you like. She asked me to come get you.” Jean walked up to him as if he hadn’t even noticed Theo, and gave him a fluttery kiss.
There was a long silence in which neither Vincent nor Theo reacted, and Jean didn’t seem bothered. Not until Theo finally recovered from the shock and grabbed Jean, pulling him away.
“You’re welcome to join us, Theo. We brought sweets you might like. And we hoped to talk to you.”
“Thank you, Jean.” Vincent smiled. This was not what he expected, but the way Jean smiled back made him sure everything would be fine.
The dining room was empty save from you. Surprisingly, when you were just bringing in fresh coffee.
Upon noticing Theo, you looked at Jean, who gave you a firm nod, and Vincent understood his boyfriend’s decision wasn’t sudden and Theo had just come in before the two of you could talk to him. That made him feel even better about the situation.
“We didn’t think you would be back already.” You told Theo, putting sugar on a cup of coffee for him. “But we have enough coffee and sweets.” You gestured for him to take a seat, and when he did, you approached Vincent and also gave him a soft kiss, also serving his coffee.
Vincent sat by Theo’s side, while you and Jean sat in front of them. Theo’s eyes darted from one of you to the other for a moment, before he took a sip of his coffee and finally spoke up.
“Alright, what’s happening here?” His attention turned to Vincent. “I thought you and Hondje were together. Everyone thinks she and Jean are. But in your room, Jean kissed you…”
“All options are correct.” You cut him.
“What do you mean?”
“I know it will feel weird at first. It did for me.” Vincent explained. “I never considered this was an option. That this was possible. But the three of us are together.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I thought so too.” Jean told him. “That’s why this relationship has been difficult for me to navigate. And why I asked Vincent not to tell you yet.”
“Mine and Vincent’s relationship is still the same. But now both of us have a new relationship with Jean. Some people are just capable of having romantic feelings for more than one person.”
Theo fell silent for a moment, looked at each of you, his attention falling on Vincent last.
“It makes no sense to me. But are you sure of this? You know people won’t think it’s normal. This will come with problems and sacrifices.”
“I am sure, Theo. And nothing in our life has been normal for years.” Vincent smiled at his partners, then at his brothers. He imagined it would be difficult to understand, but knew Theo would be that accepting. His younger brother was a little too protective at times, but he just wanted to see Vincent happy and safe. “I love both of them, and although a little difficult, things have been going great for us.”
Theo nodded slowly, then looked at Jean.
“I hope you will be good to my brother.”
“He’s the one who’s been too good to me. Both of them have. And I will do everything I can to keep them happy and safe.”
“I hope so. I’m just glad I was right about all the residents’ gossip being foolish. You caused quite a ruckus with this.”
“We will dispel this soon.” Jean reassured him. “But can you not tell them until we do?”
“Fine. I guess that’s what family is for.”