There was a knock on the door, and I scurried out into the hallway to open it.

“Hey Dion, I’ve brought some groceries.” Oliver smiled and held up a bag from the local convenience store.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that.” I stepped out of his way and he found his way to the kitchen. “Where’s the big one?”

“He’s in the shower.” I leaned against one of the big cabinets, folding my arms across my chest. “Do you often bring groceries for him?”

“Sometimes I think I’m the sole reason he actually gets any kinds of greens that isn’t shoved in a burger,” he chuckled, putting the groceries into cabinets and the fridge. He stuffed the paper back into the bin and straightened, putting his hands on his hips. “How is he?”

“He’s good,” I muttered and looked down at the floor.

“And, how are you?” He flicked his green eyes up, meeting mine.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Because you mean a lot to Arlo. So, by proxy I need to care too.” He shrugged a little and opened the fridge again, grabbing a couple of beers. He opened them by placing them on the edge of the counter and slamming his hand down on the bottle. He handed me one and kept the other for himself.

I nodded a bit and took a sip. “I’m okay. Exhausted and very grateful for the time off today.”

“Ooph, I can imagine. You guys sometimes don’t even get breaks, right?”

“Not if we’re occupied, no.” I was hesitant about what to say. I didn’t know his stance on our positions. About what I did for a living. People were always fast to judge me, but they didn’t know me. And he didn’t know me either.  

“Sounds rough. I wouldn’t wanna work for like ten hours straight and not get a single break. What if you need the bathroom?”

“We can excuse ourselves,” I snorted. “It’s not like we can’t go take a piss. Even the clients know we’re only… Well, people.”

“Damn, okay, that’s whole new knowledge to me.” He laughed and ran his hand through his hair.

“We have certain diets too.”

“Diets? Why?” He arched a brow.

“You’re not gay, are you?” I laughed and hauled myself up on the kitchen counter.

“Can’t say I am, no. Is it an obvious thing?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious. Anyways, us with male bodies have to prepare too. So the clients won’t have to do extra work.”

“Prepare how? Do I even wanna know? It’s like a magician revealing all of their tricks right now.”

“What’s Dion revealing?” Arlo asked as he came into the kitchen, towelling down his hair. He was only wearing a pair of sweats and they were hanging quite low on his hips.

I swallowed hard and met Oliver’s gaze. He had caught me staring at Arlo’s ass.

“I’m telling Oliver all the dirty details of the male workers.” I put my arms around his throat from behind, bringing him to me, kissing his cheek. He smelt of shampoo. Clean. And then his own personal scent which was indescribable. It just smelt of home.

“Oh, you didn’t know about all those things?” Arlo asked and moved over besides me, putting his arm around my shoulders. “The female workers have to get shots all the time. For preventing unwanted pregnancies. And they basically need to shave everything from the neck down too.”

“What… Why?” Oliver frowned and put his beer on the counter.

“Because a lot of men don’t like hair,” I chimed in. “And neither do some women. Nikon bleaches his ass.”

Oliver gaped, his eyes widening. “That’s a thing too? Like, the entire ass or?”

“No,” I laughed. “Only the part that needs bleaching.”

“Oh gods, okay. Stop. I don’t need to know anything else. I think I’ve heard enough now. Gods almighty, I’m glad I’m just a lowly bartender.”

Arlo chuckled and brought me closer. “No one can claim the workers don’t work.”

“Definitely not. Yikes.”

We laughed and moved into the living room. Arlo put on some music and got himself a beer too.

“Is Strawberry working tonight?” Arlo asked and looked at me.

“I don’t think so, no.”

“We should call her. It’s been ages since we’ve all hung out.”

I didn’t feel the need to point out I had never hung out with neither Oliver nor Strawberry. Not when Arlo was being so cute and happy.

 ***

Strawberry came bearing gifts in the form of more beers.

“Hi Dion! Love the piercing.” She smiled sweetly and found her way to the kitchen, putting the beers in the fridge.

My fingers grazed over the piercing I had forgotten to hide. I always turned it out of my nose when I was home. Arlo loved it so that helped.

I went back to the living room and dumped down besides Arlo. He put his arm around me and brought me close, kissing my cheek.

“What’s this?” Strawberry asked, waving her pointing finger between me and Arlo.

Oh shit, in the midst of everything we kind of forgot we were supposed to not act like boyfriends with her around.

We stared at each other before looking at Strawberry. Neither of us said anything. She looked to Oliver and he sighed.

“Fine. Yeah, they’re a thing so… Don’t tell.”

“Well, of course not. What do you take me for?” She shot Oliver a look and sat down next to him on a chair. “So, when did that happen?”

“Uh…” Arlo swallowed and clenched his jaw.

“Recently,” I added and patted his hand. He smiled at me and nodded. Fuck, when he smiled, I melted. He was so cute.

 ***

“It was nice right?” he asked into my hair.

“Yeah, your friends are nice.”

“Good,” he breathed and kissed the back of my head, moving down to the back of my neck. Goosebumps spread across my skin and I got the shivers.

Arlo chuckled and continued for a while, before he put his head on the pillow again. His arm snaked across my ribs and around me, pulling me close, my back pressed to his chest.

“I love you,” he said softly.

I brought his hand up to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I love you too.”

“You know… I think…” He took a deep breath. “I think you make me better. Like a better person.”

I turned around and smiled up at him. “You definitely make me better.”

“Yeah?” He smiled so widely, and his eyes got shiny.

“All the time, you remind me I’m… That I’m a person. A real person. And you make me want to be a person. Not just…” I trailed off.

“I feel the same way,” he whispered. “I’m so much more with you. Because of you. I’m not just a guard anymore, am I?”

“No.” I kissed him softly and moved back again. “You’re my boyfriend too.”

“I like the sound of that.” He softly ran his fingers over my horn, and I closed my eyes, just so I’d only focus on his touch.

He had the softest hands. He was massive and you’d think he’d be less gentle. But he was the gentlest man in the world.