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It was late Sunday afternoon when someone knocked on Joris’s apartment door. Peering through the peephole, he mostly saw a dark head of hair bobbing as the person rocked back and forth on their heels.
Joris didn’t need to see the face clearly to know who it was. Also, the cropped shirt and tight pants were always a dead giveaway.
“Seriously,” he muttered, yanking the door open. “Why did you come here? Don’t you annoy me enough at work already?”
Boy flashed him a grin so wide Joris couldn’t understand how it even fit on that small face.
“I came to ask you to hang out!” he announced. “That’s what friends do!”
Joris slipped out of the apartment with an irritated sigh.
“For the tenth time, I already told you we’re not frien—”
He stopped. Dragged a hand down his face.
“Ah, you know what? Forget it. Let’s go out!”
Boy blinked, surprised he didn’t have to beg, but immediately smiled again.
Joris already had a jacket over his shoulders and was locking the door when he froze, hand still on the knob.
“Wait.” He turned slowly. “Is Tera going to show up again?”
Boy’s smile wavered.
“Because if he is, I’m out,” Joris continued. “I’m sick of getting my ass kicked because of you.”
“Hey, that’s something you need to sort out with him!” Boy shot back, defensive. “I don’t know when he’s going to appear! I thought you two were dating!”
Joris audibly choked.
“NOT THIS AGAIN!!”
But Boy was already walking down the street, laughing, too distracted to notice the car that slammed its brakes and honked loudly not to hit him.
“FOR FUCK’S SAKE, BOY!” Joris ran after him. Thankfully, that crazy kid still had some luck left.
--
Night was slowly settling over Paris when the air suddenly changed.
Boy felt it before he saw him - that familiar shiver, like an invisible hand gripping the back of his neck soflty. He turned his head and, across the street, leaning against his black motorcycle, was Tera.
Or rather: a broad, absurdly tall man (Boy would recognize him anywhere now), wearing a dark high-collared shirt, his helmet still hiding his face. His posture was far too relaxed for someone who was part of a deadly group of criminals.
“See?!” Joris hissed. “HE JUST SHOWS UP EVERY TIME!”
Tera crossed the street with unhurried steps. One hand shoved Joris aside without patience or care as he stopped right in front of the younger boy, the tip of his fingers touching Boy's pale wrist.
“Your room was empty when I got there.” Tera said, his voice muffled behind the visor.
“I just invited a friend to go out with me,” Boy replied. “That’s normal, you know.”
Tera tilted his head.
“Yeah. Normal.”
The silence thickened.
“I’m gonna…” Joris gestured vaguely in the opposite direction. “Go. Before someone gets punched and starts bleeding. Probably me.”
“Great idea,” Tera replied flatly.
Joris left, fuming.
Boy stayed.
“You okay?” Tera asked more quietly.
His hair fell a little over his eyes as he nodded.
“I just wanted to go out for a bit.”
“Then go out with me,” Tera said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Boy smiled, his face warming.
“Okay.”
--
On the motorcycle, Boy sat in front, like he always did since the day Muta attacked him. Even so, every ride felt different.
Tera’s hands rested on his hips, just to steady him—but they lingered longer than strictly necessary.
When the bike sped off, Boy felt Tera’s chest pressed firm and warm against his back, protective. Tera’s thighs tightened around his, his arms caging him in, while the mix of masculine cologne, smoke, and fuel only made Boy blush harder.
“Relax,” Tera said, almost teasing. “I don’t bite.”
“You’re a wolf!,” Boy murmured.
Tera laughed—a short sound. Surprisingly light.
“Finally, progress. I thought I’d be a raccoon forever.”
A few minutes later they stopped at a simple, calm diner. Tera made Boy order something, but didn’t eat himself. They shared the small table.
Tera drew a lot of looks. Boy tried to tell himself it was because of the helmet—he hadn’t taken it off, only lifted the visor. But when he noticed two girls giggling, their eyes lingering with interest, he shrank slightly.
Tera was wanted by others. Attractive.
With all his initial stubbornness and irritation, Boy had tried to pretend like he wasn’t.
“Why didn’t you bring Joris instead of me?” Boy asked, stirring his drink.
Tera tipped his head.
“Why would I bring him?”
“He… he said something about you always showing up whenever we're together. Are you really that jealous when I'm around him? You shouldn’t be such a possessive boyfriend, seriously.” Boy blurted it out, far too sincere.
Tera stared at him, incredulous at the conclusion. Boyfriend? Jealous of JORIS? It’d be easier for him to be jealous of the bo—
He stayed silent.
“I don’t date,” he said at last. “Never really did. Least of all guys.”
Boy felt his chest tighten, but before he could respond, Tera continued:
“But you…” He tilted his head. “You’re pretty cute. I could actually fall for you.”
Boy swallowed hard as he saw the playful smile form in Tera’s eyes.
“Oh, I bet you say that to anyone.”
He tried to keep teasing, even if it came out a bit sharp.
“No.” Tera looked at him seriously, then shrugged. “But to answer your question, usually I just flirt a little, kiss, fuck if the mood’s right, and then I leave.”
Boy turned red instantly.
“Ew. Thank God you’re not flirting with me.”
“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it,” Tera replied, amused. “And who said I’m not flirting?”
“Y-you are?”
The smile in Tera’s eyes deepened.
“Maybe. Is it working?”
Boy went quiet for a few seconds. Then he scowled.
“Of course not, you cocky raccoon!”
Tera’s laughter echoed through almost the entire diner.