Derek watched that boy and did nothing, he didn't move to give him what he deserved or try to call for help, he just witnessed that beautiful scene; Diego at the foot of the stairs, fuming with rage while he hugged Matteo tightly.

He rested his head on top of Matteo's and in return, he heard Matteo sigh softly, relaxing completely against Derek.

Even though he knew he shouldn't provoke people, it was something that was in his blood. He stroked Matteo's back and then looked back at Diego, smiling victoriously. He understood perfectly well what this would cause, it was obvious. If someone was touching what was his, as he was doing now, he would be furious too. And sure enough, Diego came towards them, marching and huffing, Diego puffed out his chest, preparing for battle, and stopped right in front of them, close enough for Derek to feel Diego's rapid breathing on his face. Not pleasant.

"Let go of Matteo, he doesn't belong to you!”

"Ohh!" Derek said, faking the happiness he didn't feel. "If he doesn't belong to me, does that mean he's yours?”

For real, that was a question that didn’t need an answer. Matteo wasn’t someone’s thing. Anyway, that didn’t matter. The fact that was worth noting was that Matteo gasped and pressed himself closer to him, hiding his face in his shoulder and muttering a “Please, someone kill me,” something Derek probably shouldn’t have heard. So he decided to ignore it.

"Let. Him. Go! Now!”

"What if I don't want to? You're going to scream some more, aren't you?" Derek shook his head, pretending to be disappointed and said: "You can curse me if you want. I promise to cry just for you. What do you think?”

“You fucking--!”

Derek peered over Matteo's head at Diego and nearly burst out laughing.

You know, it was pretty funny. A spoiled kid thinking that his angry puppy face pretending to be a fighting bull would scare anyone. And he thought he was the little wimp there. Live and learn, right? However, Diego kept his promise, he came closer again and before Derek knew it, a punch was coming towards him, but because of the height difference it would hit Matteo.

At the last moment, he turned around, putting Matteo with his back to the wall and took another punch in his place, in the same spot where Leonel had hit him. He barely felt the impact, but he knew that the next day the bruise would be much bigger than necessary.

"Der!" Matteo gasped, seeming to come out of his stupor.

"It's okay, kitten." He smiled at Matteo and stroked his long black hair. It didn't even hurt, he was sincere. But Matteo didn't believe it. He raised his hand and massaged the place gently, making a cute grimace of sorrow.

"The skin is swollen. It even looks like a bump has formed!”

"It’s nothing. You don't need to--”

That was the moment when Alessia decided to appear, shaking the photo album and showing a specific page that they couldn't see from that direction.

"Derek, I found-- You again! What are you doing here?" She pointed at Diego and crossed her arms.

Derek knew he liked her for a good reason.

"It's none of your business, Dwarf." Diego said without paying attention to her.

Derek turned his head in time to see Diego raising his fist once more, another punch coming his way.

"Is that so? Then, I'll call Lalá and Katty.”

Alessia whistled and two dogs appeared. They were two adult, trained German Shepherds.

"Bite." With a sweet smile on her face, was all Alessia said.

After that, everything happened very quickly. The dogs followed their owner's orders and went after Diego, who ran away, disappearing faster than he had appeared.

***

"Derek, I found-- You! What are you doing here again?"

When Alessia appeared on the balcony was the moment he knew things were only going to get more complicated. She pointed at Diego and crossed her arms, the photo album forgotten in her hands.

You know? That was the reason Diego didn't come to their house anymore and that was also the reason they met at Diego's work, hidden in some dark alley.

The truth was that things had been a bit strange between Diego and his family ever since… well, ever since Diego started acting so explosively. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, exactly, Diego was too jealous, too bossy, sometimes it seemed like he was going to force him into something Matteo didn’t want to do, and without him even realizing it. One moment they were talking and the next… they weren’t. Even though Diego knew he wasn’t ready to take that step.

The thing was, Diego used to be his friend, his first friend, and Matteo didn't want to lose that friendship just because they weren't sexually compatible, even though Diego insisted they were. He just... Matteo just didn't feel that way about Diego, maybe he never had. If it weren't for his father... it was hard to define if he ever loved Diego or if it was the pressure from Leonel putting everything on his shoulders; the problem was that Diego was always there by his side, but maybe... maybe he shouldn't be anymore? Diego definitely had other priorities now, like deciding who was the alpha male or marking his territory like a dog in heat.

"It's none of your business, Dwarf." Matteo heard Diego say, his voice sending shivers down his spine.

Matteo didn't even want to see, he didn't want to hear either. Diego spoke with so much anger, with so much hate... he didn't know who Diego was anymore. The boy Matteo knew was sweet and respectful, the best friend in the world. Now this mean, cruel and violent man? He had never heard Diego speak like that to anyone, much less seen him raise his hand against anyone.

Shrinking against Derek's chest, Matteo closed his eyes, ready to receive all the aggression that Diego seemed to direct only at him.

"Is that so? Then I'll call Lalá and Katty.”

Alessia whistled and the two dogs appeared, the guard dogs that looked after their property, trained by Leonel and Alessia since she was little.

"Bite." Alessia said and Matteo relaxed, it was a relief not to have to deal with Diego now.

Diego ran away and finally Matteo allowed himself to sigh and breathe, feeling safe with Derek around him.

"Matt, are you okay? What did he do?”

He looked to the side and there was the angel with black skin and golden eyes, she was so tall and so kind that most of the time Matteo forgot that she was only eleven years old.

"It was nothing. You know, the usual.”

"If it were me, I would have already kicked his ass so hard that Diego would never sit down again." She nodded, as though imagining the whole scene, and took Matteo's hand, leading them inside the house.

Derek followed closely behind him, his hands guiding his back and making him feel good. That is, until they reached the dining room where everyone was still sitting, no one was drinking or eating like before, all of them looking at their forks or laps, avoiding looking at him, or almost; Leonel was the exception. He had one of the most neutral expressions Matteo had ever seen in his life.

"Come on, sit down. Finish eating.”

Matteo looked at the plate and his stomach turned. The food must have gone cold and the wine made him want to vomit.

"No, thanks. I'll take Dere--”

"It was you? The one who called that boy here?" Alessia said, still standing at the entrance to the dining room. "Only you would do something like that.”

"Alessia, respect your father." Maria finally spoke. She muttered, standing up and walking around the table until she was in front of her daughter. "The important thing is that the problem has been solved.”

"Solved? What was solved? That man came in here again!”

“Alessia,” Leonel murmured, scolding her. “You’re right. I talked to him. I thought Diego had changed, that he was worried about Matteo keeping him waiting last night. I didn’t ask him to come.”

"So, you admit it! You've been talking to him behind our backs!”

"Not exactly. Mr. Lewis is the mayor, how could I not talk to them?”

"Is this all because of money? I don't believe it! Is that why Matteo forces himself to put up with that daddy's boy son of a b****? Cause you would lose their political support? Ahg!" Alessia looked at her father in disgust and ran out of the room, but before she went, she turned around and said: "If you ever do that to me, I'll report you for mistreatment of minors. How could you do that to your own son?”

With that, Alessia ran up the stairs and from where they were, they could hear the door slam with a loud thud.

***

"Yeah, well…" He turned to Derek and ignored everything else, almost hiding back against the man's chest. Instead, he tried to smile and look apologetic. It probably didn't work. But he was surprised, Derek brought his hands to his face and wiped away the tears he hadn't even noticed were falling.

"No need to cry, it's okay.”

“I--”

"Really. It was my fault. You don't have to be sad about it. Hmm?" Derek smiled at him, showing that small smirk, and touched his hair, stroking it slowly, calming him with just a gentle gesture and sweet words.

Strangely reassured, Matteo felt a weird sensation in the pit of his stomach and observed Derek's eyes, clear as the sea, firm and warm in his touch, determined, affectionate. He didn't know what to say, that gesture seemed more than a simple caress, its meaning expanding each time Derek did something like that; the gesture becoming more familiar and intimate than before. But Matteo had promised, he wouldn't run away from his feelings. So he continued to look at him and let the moment drag on until the minutes passed and Diego's memory slowly faded.

Derek just stood there with Matteo, hugging him around the waist, massaging his hair and smiling at him.

“Are you okay?” Derek finally spoke, whispering close to his ear, like a secret.

Matteo mumbled something back, something nonsensical. Derek smiled, his voice coming out in a deep cat-like purr, the laughter echoing through his chest and broad shoulders, making Matteo feel it in his hands, still resting on Derek's shoulders.

"Do you want to come with me? I don't blame you. I would run away from here too if I could.”

Matteo smiled at Derek. Yes, he found himself smiling. Matteo smiled because it was the only thing to do at that moment, the only logical thing that would keep him sane; mostly, Matteo smiled because that was the effect Derek had on him, even when the man acted like a jerk his reaction was to laugh, whether he was happy, angry or... something else, his reaction would always be that.

“I’ll walk you to the door?” Matteo asked. He wouldn’t mind spending some more time with him. However, it was already dark and he didn’t want Derek to get home too late.

So Matteo took him by the hand and led him along the path between the vegetations until they reached the wooden gate at the entrance to the property.

"Thanks for bearing with me. It was a fun night.”

"I bet." Matteo muttered back.

Super fun.

Derek smiled at him and took a step back, preparing to leave when he stopped in his tracks and turned to Matteo, now more sober.

"I was serious about you coming with me. For as long as you need.”

"I-- I can't. It wouldn't be..." The word Matteo was looking for was "good" or "healthy," but what came out was something else. "...fair. You've done so much for me. I don't know how to thank you.”

"You don't have to. Never. I wouldn't ask for what you're not willing to give. And I don't expect you to give me anything back.”

Derek's response to his ears sounded ambiguous, with more meaning than he was ready to accept. So Matteo just nodded and waited for Derek to walk away, looking down and feeling strangely disappointed, sensing that something was changing again and in such a short time. However, before Derek had completely walked away, Matteo saw Derek coming back with hurried steps and… and he hadn't expected that.

Holding his breath, Matteo saw Derek stop in front of him and... and hold his shoulder, watched those hands go up to his neck and stop there, firm and warm. It was then that Derek looked at him very closely and... and kissed his face, too close to his mouth and, at the same time, far away.

Derek pressed his mouth there for longer than necessary, massaging his hair, and slowly released him. Only then did Matteo realize how possessive Derek's touch seemed, much more intense than the other times. Yes, this time Derek didn't smile, and neither did he do it. Derek looked at Matteo as if memorizing his features and finally pulled away, hesitating.

"See you on Monday.”

Derek turned his back on him, got into his giant jeep and sped away. Before he knew it, Derek was long gone, leaving him with nothing but silence and his own thoughts, and maybe a little discomfort between his legs.