"Sorry," Marshal quietly said after Ryker had climbed into the bed beside him. 

Ryker didn't mind. They'd been good friends for so long that it really wasn't strange for him. Marshal thought he was asking his friend to do something he would've rather not done.

Ryker got comfortable and used his forearm as a pillow, laying on his side to look at Marshal. He smiled and tilted his head with a soft look of confusion. "Why are you sorry?" 

"For...I don't know, making you feel like you have to do this."

"What, lay in bed with you? You act like it's some annoying task." Ryker's tired eyes gazed at Marshal with a certain love. He always looked at Marshal like that. Or maybe Marshal was seeing what he wanted to see.

"I mean, isn't it? Wouldn't you rather be asleep in your own bed?" Yes, Marshal was feeling insecure, but he mostly asked these questions to get Ryker to say something---

"I'd rather be with you if it makes you feel better, dumbass." 

Something like that. Something that made Marshal turn a light shade of red that Ryker thankfully couldn't see in the dark room. 

"W-well," Marshal's voice grew soft, "I like when you're with me." He was shooting in the dark here, saying whatever he could to give Ryker a hint. He felt his body cringe and panic when he said cheesy words like that, but he knew Ryker was oblivious to every hint he'd dropped over the months. 

Marshal carried himself as a strong, confident guy, but he gained an unfamiliar nervousness when with Ryker. When it first started to happen, he didn't know why. He soon could identify the anxiety and excitement that Ryker brought him when they weren't even together. One thought of Ryker and his heart ached in the best way possible. He could never tell Ryker that he was the one who turned Marshal bisexual, or else Ryker's ego would never let Marshal live it down. Plus, he'd be confessing that he had been into his best friend for the last year.

Ryker seemed to melt when he heard Marshal's quiet admission of why he wanted Ryker to climb in bed with him. He took one moment to smile at the silhouette of his best friend before doing something he didn't even think twice about. 

Ryker slid himself closer to Marshal, and he put his hand on the back of his friend's head, pulling him close enough for Ryker to rest his chin on the man's head. "Just go to sleep, weirdo." Ryker's love language was uncreative insults that had an affectionate feel to them. If he was angry, it could go from "Dumb idiot" to "Fucking cocksucker." His innocence faltered from time to time. 

Marshal felt himself willingly let Ryker pull him closer, still being cautious about aggravating Marshal's wound. Their bodies weren't touching, aside from Ryker's chin on his head. How could he sleep like this? One simple act of affection and his heart was racing. He was desperate hoping Ryker couldn't hear his heart pounding in his own ears.

His eyes trailed downward, looking at the body that resided so close. He was so tempted to just...

Marshal heard Ryker's breath stop, practically able to feel the shudder that went down his body when he put his hand on Ryker's stomach. Ryker would have told him to stop if he didn't like it, right? 

Marshal's fingers grazed over Ryker's shirt, moving upwards to his ribs. His hand was trembling until it stopped at Ryker's chest. He felt that racing heartbeat, and he was glad he wasn't the only one on the brink of a heart attack. 

Marshal didn't have to move much to feel his forehead against Ryker's chest. He could still hear nothing but the two fast heartbeats, almost in sync. His hand moved over Ryker, placing it on the man's back and pulling him just an inch closer. 

As if to hide the fact that he was just as nervous as Marshal, Ryker let the moment happen. Once all movement had stopped, and he felt a relaxed sigh against his chest, he asked, "Better now?"

Usually, the question would've knocked Marshal back into reality enough to pull away, but changing this position never crossed his mind. He mumbled in response to Ryker's question as he held him, still listening to the heartbeat he rarely got to hear. 

Ryker just lightly smiled and surrendered. He'd do anything to make his friend feel better. Not like he didn't enjoy the position, anyway. 

He planted another kiss on Marshal's head before pulling him even closer, getting as comfortable as he could in that state. It was almost three in the morning, and they both needed sleep. 

The next morning, Marshal hoped he would wake up in a cuddling position with Ryker, like in the movies. But after he realized he woke up at two in the afternoon, it made sense why the bed lacked a certain 5'11 brunet. He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes, knowing he looked like a mess. At least Ryker didn't have to see him like this. 

After Marshal had cleaned himself up and carefully changed his clothes without doing any more damage to his wound, a faint smell of bacon hit his nose. He perked up and headed out of his room. 

Even after almost a week of living together, Marshal still wasn't used to having breakfast on the table every morning without having to lift a finger. He was used to his usual unbuttered bread and ramen noodles for every meal, back when he lived alone. 

Ryker hummed to himself in the kitchen as he prepared...three plates. When Marshal turned the corner to the dining room, his gaze met an unfamiliar pair of blue eyes. 

"Oh, hey," the girl said with a smile so friendly it made Marshal's stomach turn. She sat at the head of the table, making sure she had a good view of Ryker as he cooked. 

"Uh, hi," Marshal responded, cringing at the awkwardness in his voice. 

Ryker turned away from the stove when he heard Marshal's quiet voice for the first time today. "Morning, sunshine!" he said over the loud sizzle of bacon. He leaned over the counter, smiling at Marshal. "This is Luna," he said, faintly gesturing to the girl wearing a red flannel skirt, pantyhose, a black crop top, and was covered in jewelry. She was pretty, and definitely Ryker's type.

Marshal noticed the countless rings on her fingers when she lightly waved at him. 

Ryker rested his chin on the palm of his hand, looking at Luna with dreamy eyes. "My beautiful girlfriend." 

...What?