They kept up their ice cold relationship for another three hours, hissing insults and making everyone else uncomfortable as they did so. Through dinner and then dancing and everything in between. Benny was surprisingly good at waltzing, in a way Theo did not understand. He struggled through one battle of attempting to not step on anyone's feet and then sat back down, letting Benny lead the cougars around the floor for an hour or so, including one very awkward dance with Chief Edwards. Theo had to leave the room for that one and go burst out laughing in the bathroom. Acting with Benny was one thing, but watching Cyrus Mossberg's right hand man dance with the Chief of Police was just comedic gold. Eventually the band stopped playing and everyone took their seats at the rounded tables. Waiters ran around the room, serving food that Theo knew he'd never be able to afford on a police officer's salary. He was never sure where Edwards found the money to put together the Ball every year, but she found a way. A microphone screeched as Edwards, speak of the devil, walked up on stage holding a few useless notecards.

"It's so nice to see all your lovely faces here this evening," She began.

"Oh, here we go," Spiro muttered, already reaching for his glass. "The first of the never ending speeches."

"Just be glad we don't have to give one." Theo whispered back.

"Now that would be a sight to see," Benny added. "You stumbling around the stage, making a fool of yourself as usual."

"Oh, says the man who can't even put on his damn cuff-links without me." Theo shot back.

"You can't give a speech for shit."

"Shut up before you draw more attention to yourself, honestly."

"Oh please. If I wanted to make a scene, I'd make it a night to remember."

"I'd like to see you try-"

"Please stop arguing," Spiro hissed. Theo tilted his head.

"Who said we were arguing? Just making conversation, right Ben?" Benny practically recoiled at the name. Nobody called him Ben. It was like calling him Janice; the name just didn't work.

"Oh course." He gritted his teeth and plastered on a fake smile. "Just having a pleasant conversation with my wonderful husband." Theo forced back a grin. Benny was so good at acting, he could end a lie detector's whole career. Up on the stage, Chief Edwards kept rambling, something about how their jobs were making the world safer or something. Spiro started attempting to balance a spoon on his face while the other people at their table glared at him.

"And these are dangerous times we live in," Edwards went on, Theo tuning back into her speech. "Gangs roam our streets, but not for long. With our terrific detective working round the clock-" Spiro dropped the spoon onto his plate with a loud clank as people looked their way and Theo smiled sheepishly. "-We've managed to arrest the most powerful member of the Cardinal Rebel gang, with the rest of its members soon to follow. At this rate, and with the help of the FBI in a few weeks, I am confident in saying that Louisburg will be a safe, gang free town by this time next year. With Cyrus Mossberg and the rest of these heartless, dangerous gangsters behind bars, I'm sure we will all rest easier." Benny tensed slightly, and the smile dropped from Theo's face. Gangfree within a year? Edwards must have thought the Hunters were just as idiotic as Oak Mayfield. Theo could see the strain in Benny's face as he tried not to laugh or make a strange expression. The idea of Cyrus being thrown into jail was ludicrous to them. Spiro and Theo's entire jobs were dedicated to taking him down, and the closest they had gotten to him was that shot in the restaurant and at Kramer's. They wouldn't have Cyrus caught within a year, even with the FBI's help, and if by some miracle they did, the Hunters would never go down. That was the difference between them and the poorly named Cardinal Rebels. Oak was a head leader. He knew all and everyone else was a useless cronie. Cyrus didn't work that way. He wasn't the head of a snake to be cut off. He was more of a mother hen with dozens of small chicks, all of which would grow up and expand on their own. If you took Cyrus down, someone else would just take his place. The Hunters were secure, whereas Oak's gang had been flimsy. That's why they had been so easy to remove any threat the Rebels posed. Without Oak, Theo imagined, the Rebels were falling to pieces.

"Within a year," Spiro echoed, his eyes wide. "That's no pressure or anything."

"She must think pretty highly of the FBI," Theo commented, glancing at Benny. But the gangster didn't seem the slightest bit concerned, and Cyrus had continued to reassure him about it, so surely the Chief had been overestimating the FBI, right? They had nothing to worry about.

"You won't catch Cyrus Mossberg within a year," Benny said vaguely, and Theo shot him a pointed look.

"Who knows," Spiro shrugged. "Anything is possible at this point. I didn't think we'd get the Rebels within a year, and here we are."

"Cyrus is a helluva lot smarter than Oak Mayfield though," Theo insisted. Spiro groaned.

"Don't remind me. When we arrest him, let's give him an IQ test. I'm curious."

The rest of the ball passed uneventfully, and before Theo knew it, he and Benny had left.

"No wonder you hate Balls," Benny muttered as they drove away.

"I'm just grateful that this thing only comes once a year." Theo said.

"Me too."

"So, are you gonna be my date next year too?"

"Hell no. Cyrus can bring you himself and suffer through a night of forced smiles and uncomfortable clothes."

"You forgot bad music, cougars, and monotone speeches."

"I've been trying to forget those since they ended." Theo snorted.

"I don't even understand why I have to go. It's a useless event." He sighed. "I'd rather just stay home." Home with Cyrus, possibly bingeing bad movies with popcorn. That's where he always wanted to be. There was no place safer and happier in his mind, after all.

***

Cyrus, naturally, was still awake when they walked in the door.

"How was it?" He asked, smiling cheekily. Benny stood casually near the door while Theo let out a groan and crossed the room to give his real husband a kiss.

"Miserable as always," He declared, shrugging off his suit jacket. "But at least now Spiro definitely won't be asking about my husband anytime soon."

"Yeah?" Cyrus glanced at Benny. "What did you two do?"

"Acted like we hated each other, scarred him for life, the usual." Theo shrugged. "And Benny was every bit the gentleman I told you he would be, so no beating required."

"Good," Cyrus grinned. "Thanks, Benny. It's nice to be able to trust someone with this sort of thing." Benny nodded.

"Anytime," He insisted. "Now, if you'll excuse me, there is a bed and a ham sandwich waiting for me at home."

"I knew it! Ham sandwich!" Theo exclaimed, pointing at him.

"They are irresistible." Cyrus laughed.

"Sure you want to go home so early?" He asked. "I guarantee you we've got better booze than whatever they were serving at Cinderella's house."

"You say early like it's not already past midnight," Theo said, loosening his tie. Cyrus raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, I definitely remember when we were in college together and you'd convince me to stay out till five a.m. partying and then go to an eight a.m. class. Don't tell me you're getting old on me now." Theo shoved at him playfully.

"Do I look like I'm getting old to you?" He questioned, and Cyrus leaned closer to him, inspecting his face.

"Is that a gray hair-"

"Oh shut up," Theo pushed his face away and looked to Benny as Cyrus complained about being robbed of a kiss and sat down at the table. "Why don't you stay for a drink, Ben? It'll be fun."

"As long as neither of you ever call me 'Ben' again," Benny agreed, taking a seat at their kitchen table.

"Whatever you say, Ben." Cyrus said. Benny scowled and lifted an unfriendly finger at him.

"Children," Theo commented, rolling his eyes as he hunted through their liquor cabinet. "What do you think will help us forget all the cougars that winked at us faster— whiskey or bourbon?"

"Go with the bourbon, it's stronger," Cyrus suggested. "The Ball was that bad, huh?"

"When are social events not bad?" Theo countered, taking off his tie.

"You seem eager to get that suit off."

"You don't seem to mind." Cyrus's eyes danced deviously as Benny rolled his eyes and started examining the rest of the room.

"Well, maybe I'll just have to help you out of it." Theo smirked and brought over the bottle of bourbon.

"Maybe later, mister. We have a guest to drink ourselves to death with first." Cyrus shook his head, never taking his eyes off his husband.

"Curse you and your hospitality."

"I can leave if you want," Benny offered. "Don't want that ham sandwich getting lonely."

"Nah, you can stay," Cyrus insisted. "We should toast to the cougars."

"I'll drink to that."

"I thought you would."