It was a beautiful fall day on Saturday. Cool enough to wear a jacket while the sun cut through the air, lighting up the trees into flames of orange and yellow and red.

Jamie looked adorable all bundled up as if it were the middle of winter, a huge scarf hiding half his face. Randy was dressed much more appropriately in a brown leather jacket paired with a classic white tee and jeans combo, looking good enough to eat.

Jamie’s face lit up as he spotted Killian, smacking Randy on the chest none too gently and pointing.

Killian smiled, butterflies gnawing at his stomach lining with their evil little butterfly mouths. “Hey.” He waved awkwardly.

“Hey!” Jamie greeted enthusiastically, getting on his tiptoes to give him a hug.

Killian held him back, taking in a lungful of his scent. Fuck, how had he missed that smell so much in such a short amount of time? It was even better when Randy joined in with a one-armed hug, their three scents mingling familiarly. It was as if something tense and aching eased inside Killian, letting him rest.

He had to pull away eventually, though, glad that he was practised at hiding his emotions. “Ready for some shopping?”

“Yep.” Jamie grinned, pulling at Killian’s sleeve as Randy fell into step on Killian’s other side.

They were only a minute away from the market, a closed-off street in upper Greenpoint lined with stalls and bursting with people.

Jamie looked up at Killian brightly. “We thought we’d make a vegetarian lasagne…what do you think? There’s a stand that has fresh pasta and the veggies are amazing, obviously.”

“That sounds great,” Killian assured.

“Sweet!”

They waded into the crowd, Randy and Jamie clearly familiar with the vendors as they made conversation while sifting through the produce for the perfect items.

Randy grabbed a mason jar full of tomato sauce. “We have to shop local more often.”

Killian winced. “Me too. Shit, I never go to markets. I literally get my groceries delivered, is that bad?”

“It’s hard to not do the convenient thing, honestly. Do you cook a lot?”

“Yeah—I mean, I get takeout at least once a week, I won’t lie, but mostly I like knowing what I’m eating, you know? And it can be fun, putting on a podcast and making something.”

“Same. Except when I’m cooking with Jamie, and he makes me listen to true crime podcasts. I don’t wanna listen to how people were found in a bunch of barrels while I make a quiche, thanks.”

Jamie shoved his way between them. “Bear Brook is an awesome podcast, don’t even front. You so got hooked.”

“It was still gross,” Randy grumbled. “People are gross.”

“I’m not gross.” Jamie sniffed. “I’m perfect. Back me up, Killian.”

Killian snorted. “Almost perfect. The whole not liking reality TV is kind of a dealbreaker.”

Randy pointed at Killian. “Exactly, thank you.”

“We’re not having this conversation again. Let’s get some eggplant and spinach.”

Killian followed the pair through the crowd. “Do they sell garlic here?”

“Yeah, let’s get some of that too. I think we have a little at home, but you can never have too much garlic,” Jamie agreed.

Killian nodded. “Amen to that.”

“We’ll cook the spinach with the garlic—it’ll be delicious, trust me.”

“I trust you,” Killian said easily, his heart thumping at the way Jamie grinned up at him.

By the time they made it back to Jamie and Randy’s apartment, they were flushed from walking in the cold air, Randy’s nose an adorable red. Killian repressed the crazy urge to kiss him sweetly—the couple hadn’t indicated they wanted anything physical to happen, and Killian was in no position to test that boundary.

“Babe,” Jamie said as he shed most of his many layers. “Can you put some music on?”

“On it. Killian, if you want to use the bathroom or anything, you know where it is.”

“Cool, yeah, let me just freshen up, and I’ll be out in a sec.”

Jamie laughed softly. “Freshen up. I can just imagine you powdering your nose, pimping your curls.”

“I think you mean primping…? I mean, if I had curls, I’m sure there would be someone out there that would pay to touch them while they jerked off.”

Jamie choked on nothing as Randy let out a startled laugh. “Oh, my God…are people that weird? I mean, not judging or anything, but…” Jamie trailed off.

“You literally have no idea.”

Randy made a contemplative sound. “I mean, we’ve been on the Internet…maybe we have some idea.”

“Somehow, people are weirder in person,” Killian said.

“No way. Weirder than the Internet?” Randy shook his head incredulously.

“I mean, maybe as weird as the Internet.”

Jamie waved his hands around. “You clearly haven’t seen the Sonic fanart. Please, God, someone burn that away from my memories.”

Killian took a step away. “I’m going to the bathroom. I do not want to know.”

“Good choice,” Randy said, patting Killian on the shoulder as he walked by.

By the time Killian stepped out of the bathroom, the apartment was filled with Brazilian samba, Jamie and Randy laughing in the kitchen.

Jamie was pouting, slapping Randy on the arm. “I can dance! Just not when I look like Skeletor.”

“Baby, you don’t look like Skeletor.…Skeletor is much taller.”

“Fuck you, you oaf. You cretin. You mouldy-brained sack of ostrich meat.”

A startled laugh ripped out of Killian, announcing his entrance.

Jamie stared at him imploringly. “Killian, help me. He’s being mean.”

Randy scoffed. “I’m being mean? You just said my brain was mouldy.”

“Lies and slander,” Jamie accused.

“You little…” Randy lunged at Jamie, grabbing him by the middle and tickling him mercilessly.

All Killian could do was stand and watch, chest tight, as Jamie howled, writhing and biting at Randy’s arms. Randy yelped, releasing him, and Jamie ran straight to Killian, hiding behind him.

“Protect me,” he ordered. “I wanna see some Alpha-on-Alpha action.”

Killian held his hands up as Randy took a step towards him. “I’m an innocent bystander.”

“Then hand over Jamie,” Randy challenged.

Killian didn’t even have to think about it, twisting and picking Jamie up easily. Jamie gave a startled shout as he placed him neatly in front of Randy.

“All yours,” Killian said.

Jamie tried to yank himself away from Killian’s hold, but Randy was already on him, tickling his side as Killian wrapped his arms under Jamie’s armpits, laughing along with Jamie.

“Please, I’m going to pee myself,” Jamie giggled. “Mercy!”

Randy stopped tickling him. “So…who has a mouldy brain?”

“No one.” Jamie hiccupped, a grin colouring his words.

“That’s what I thought,” Randy said imperiously. He stepped away, and Jamie slumped into Killian, tilting his face up to look at him.

“That was just evil, Killian. I can’t believe you gave me up like that.”

“Sorry,” Killian said and then, because he was an idiot, “Make it up to you?”

There was a flush high on Jamie’s cheeks, eyes glittering. “Kiss?”

Killian glanced at Randy, but the Alpha just smirked a little, eyebrows raising in challenge.

Killian turned Jamie to face him, holding him close, and dipped in to press their lips together. Jamie made a small noise, leaning in further, arms coming up to wrap around Killian’s neck.

Killian got lost in it. It was slow, sweet, Jamie’s hand carding through Killian’s hair as the kiss got deeper, tongue stroking wetly.

Suddenly, the heat ramped up—not metaphorically, but physically, Randy crowding in behind Jamie, shifting him so his thigh pressed against Killian’s hardening cock.

Killian gasped into the kiss, dizzy with it, with the desperate noises Jamie was making, the way Killian’s heart was racing in a way it usually didn’t after just a kiss.

They had to part eventually, Killian so into the fucking kiss he’d barely been breathing, gasping for air now. He jumped slightly when Jamie slipped to the side, leaving Killian’s front cold, but Randy didn’t hesitate to take his place.

Killian made a surprised noise as Randy pushed him back, cradling his head as Killian slammed against the wall, and that little detail—making sure Killian wouldn’t hurt his head—shivered through him like lightning.