After navigating through the streets for a while, DJ finally pulled into the parking lot of a sizable apartment complex.

“Here we are, folks,” DJ announced as he turned off the car.

Theo stepped out, glancing around. “Huh. Thought it’d be… bigger,” he said with a hint of teasing.

DJ shook his head, grinning. “Not everyone can be Mr. Warbucks, Theo.”

“I like it!” Tate piped up, his eyes shining as he looked around.

Theo rolled his eyes and muttered, “Brownnoser.”

DJ cleared his throat, keeping things light. “A’ight, follow me, and I’ll give y’all the grand tour.”

With Deonte in his arms, DJ led the way, and the boys followed him up to the apartment. As DJ opened the door, they were greeted by a cozy, spotless home that felt inviting and warm.

“Welcome to our three-bedroom, two-bath spot we call home” DJ said, spreading his arms wide.

“Wow! So much space!” Tate exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement as he darted inside.

Theo glanced around, arms crossed. “Yeah, it’s nice, I guess.”

DJ chuckled, hanging up his jacket. “You’re too kind, Theo, truly. I’m feelin’ the love.” He turned to the boys. “I’m gonna whip up some dinner. Deonte’s been excited to show y’all around, so he’ll be your tour guide. Oh, and shoes off, please.”

“Okay,” Theo muttered, kicking off his shoes.

Deonte plopped down, struggling with his tiny sneakers. “Teo, hep me!”

Theo knelt beside him, gently pulling off Deonte’s shoes. “Gotcha, little man. All better?”

“All better!” Deonte beamed, hopping to his feet. “Big bro say I show you house now!”

He grabbed Theo and Tate’s hands, tugging them along. Tate followed eagerly, while Theo hesitated, letting himself be dragged a bit.

“No wanna go, Teo?” Deonte asked, looking up with wide eyes.

Theo sighed but then smiled. “I’ll come. Just pretend you’re a mama duck, and we’re your ducklings.”

Tate giggled at the analogy, and Theo shot him a playful look.

“I’m a mama duckie?” Deonte’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Yeah, and we’re your duckies,” Theo said, his tone lightening up.

“Fowwow me, baby duckies!” Deonte quacked, waddling ahead.

Theo and Tate followed, laughing as Deonte led them to a door. He pushed it open with a little flourish.

“This where me an’ big bro go potty and have baff time!” Deonte announced proudly.

“Good to know,” Theo nodded.

“Wow, a private bathroom! We never had anything like that at the orphanage,” Tate said, his eyes wide with amazement.

Deonte marched them to another room, swinging the door open. The floor was strewn with toys, and the walls were adorned with colorful drawings. “This my room!” he said, puffing out his chest.

“It’s so cute!” Tate exclaimed, looking around with delight.

Theo glanced at the toy-covered floor. “Nice. But can we see our room now?”

Deonte nodded eagerly and dashed down the hallway to a larger room with two beds set up on opposite sides. There was plenty of space to make it their own.

“Ooh, we’re gonna have so much room to decorate!” Tate grinned, bouncing on his toes.

DJ appeared in the doorway, smiling. “Looks like y’all found your spot.”

“Yeah! I can’t wait to decorate it!” Tate beamed, but Theo interrupted.

“With what? Everything we have is in those bags. And we don’t even have any socks ‘cause *someone* turned them into puppets,” he said, shooting a look at Tate.

“I thought they were cool…” Tate muttered, his excitement deflating a bit.

DJ raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, no worries. Tomorrow we can hit the store and get y’all set up. For now, just relax and get settled.”

Theo tossed his bag onto the bed and flopped down, visibly relaxing as he sank into the soft mattress.

“Gettin’ comfy already?” DJ smirked, leaning against the doorframe.

Theo shot DJ a middle finger on response.

Tate giggled, clueless. “What’s that mean?”

DJ raised an eyebrow. “Alright, as long as you’re comfortable. But watch those fingers, man—got impressionable eyes here.” He nodded toward Deonte, who was staring curiously at Theo.

Theo sighed, lowering his hand. “Sorry, Deonte.”

“What Teo do?” Deonte asked, tilting his head.

“Nothing, little man. Just playin’ around,” DJ said quickly. He looked back at Tate. “And it’s not somethin’ you need to know, Tate. Now, who’s ready for dinner?”

“I am!” Tate shouted, bouncing with excitement.

Theo pulled himself off the bed and shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.”

“Cool. Follow me when y’all are ready,” DJ said, scooping Deonte into his arms and heading out of the room.

Tate placed his bag on the bed and followed DJ to the dining room, with Theo trailing behind. Everyone took their seats as DJ set plates around the table and presented a steaming pan of lasagna.

“Hey boys, I made lasagna. Hope y’all like it,” DJ said, placing generous servings on each plate.

Theo’s eyes flicked to the Stouffer’s box poking out from the trash. “Made it, huh? Sure,” he muttered, taking a seat.

DJ shrugged off the comment, but before he could respond, Theo noticed Deonte, already smeared with sauce, grinning from his booster seat.

"Guessing you like lasagna?” Theo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Deonte nodded enthusiastically, his mouth too full to speak.

Everyone dug into their meal, but Tate’s face scrunched up in disgust.

“You okay, Tate?” DJ asked, noticing his expression.

“He doesn’t like messy foods,” Theo explained. “Makes him feel gross.”

"DJ nodded. “No problem, Tate. I can make you something else. What do you want?”

Tate thought for a moment. “Do you have any broccoli?”

Theo groaned. “Broccoli? Ugh, really?”

“No broccoli!” Deonte chimed in, covering his mouth dramatically.

Tate giggled. “I like it! Broccoli is yummy!”

DJ chuckled. “Alright, broccoli it is.” He headed to the kitchen to heat up some of the contested vegetable.

Out of all the food in the world, and you pick broccoli?” Theo grumbled, still looking disgusted.

“What? It’s healthy and tasty!” Tate defended.

Deonte nodded seriously. “Big bro makes me ead id. I hate id.”

“I’m with Deonte. You’re messin’ up our meal with your green trees,” Theo teased, making Tate shake his head.

“You two are silly. Broccoli is really good when you try it” Tate explained, defending his meal choice.

"Id icky!" Deonte exclaimed as he stuck out his tongu.e

"I'm with the toddler on this one, you disgrace our meal with your green trees of gross."Theo hissed, Tate shook his head at his brother's theatrics.

DJ returned with a bowl of steamed broccoli. “Here you go, Tate. Freshly heated.”

“Thanks, DJ!” Tate beamed, happily munching on his veggies.

After everyone had finished eating, DJ noticed Deonte’s face and hands covered in sauce. “Alright, Deonte, looks like you’re due for a bath.”

“I hafta take a bath?” Deonte pouted.

“Yep, buddy. You’re a mess,” DJ said, scooping him up.

“Is there somewhere we can clean up too?” Theo asked.

"Yeah, y’all can use the hallway bathroom. I’ll take Deonte to mine,” DJ said, setting the toddler down.

“Dibs on the bathroom!” Theo called out, jumping up and racing down the hall. He quickly shut the door behind him and locked it.

“That was fast,” DJ remarked, smiling.

“At the orphanage, private bathrooms were a big deal, so Theo always tried to get in first,” Tate explained, shrugging.

DJ’s expression softened. “The more I hear about that place, the more it sounds like y’all were in a prison.”

“It wasn’t all bad... sometimes,” Tate said, his voice small. “I’ll just wait for Theo to finish.”

Deonte tugged on Tate’s shirt, looking up with wide eyes. “Tat, take bath wif me?”

DJ shook his head gently. “I’m sure Tate wants his own bath, little man.”

Tate looked at Deonte’s hopeful face and smiled. “I don’t mind. I can take a bath with him.”

“Really?” DJ asked, surprised. “Well, if you’re okay with it, let’s go.”

DJ led them to his bathroom, where a big tub was already filled with warm water.

“Whoa! It’s so big!” Tate exclaimed, eyes wide. “Like a hot tub!”

DJ chuckled. “Yeah, it’s great for soaking.” He helped Deonte undress and placed him in the tub. “I’ll step out so you can get ready, Tate.”

Deonte tugged on Tate’s shirt, looking up with wide eyes. “Tat, take bath wif me?”

DJ shook his head gently. “I’m sure Tate wants his own bath, little man.”

Tate looked at Deonte’s hopeful face and smiled. “I don’t mind. I can take a bath with him.”

“Really?” DJ asked, surprised. “Well, if you’re okay with it, let’s go.”

DJ led them to his bathroom, where a big tub was already filled with warm water.

“Whoa! It’s so big!” Tate exclaimed, eyes wide. “Like a hot tub!”

DJ chuckled. “Yeah, I had my fair share of soak in here.” He helped Deonte undress and placed him in the tub. “I’ll step out so you can get ready, Tate.”

Before DJ could finish his sentence Tate was already stepping into the bath water

.

"Really warm." Tate said as he relaxed in the water.

DJ chuckled. "Guess modesty is not your biggest concern."

" DJ, I haf baff toy? "Deonte asked.

"Yeah, I was about to grab one,” DJ said as he started to leave the bathroom.

“Oh! Can I get one too?” Tate asked, his eyes lighting up.

DJ paused, raising an eyebrow. “Uh, sure. Not sure if any of Deonte’s toys are gonna be fun for you, but I’ll see what I got.”

Tate shrugged. “It’s okay. I like any toys.”

DJ chuckled. “Alright, I’ll be back in a sec.” He returned a few moments later, arms full of colorful bath toys. “I didn’t know what you’d like, so I grabbed a mix of everything.”

““Toys!” Deonte squealed, splashing as he eagerly grabbed one of the bath toys. But he noticed Tate looking, so he pushed one over. “Tat, play!” he offered.

“Aww, thanks, Deonte!” Tate said, taking the toy with a big smile and joining his little brother in play.

Their fun was cut short when DJ grabbed a washcloth and started wiping the dried pasta sauce off Deonte’s face and hands.

“Noo, wanna play with Tat!” Deonte whined, squirming in protest.

“You will, lil’ man. Just let me get you cleaned up first,” DJ said, gently holding him still.

“Don’t worry, Deonte. I can wait,” Tate reassured, watching patiently.

Deonte pouted but finally sighed. “Otay, I ready, DJ.”

“Good boy. Thanks, Tate. Usually it’s a whole struggle to get him to stay still,” DJ said with a smile, finishing up.

“Happy to help!” Tate chirped, proud of himself.

DJ stepped back, placing the washcloth aside. “All done, Deonte. Now you can play.”

“Yay!” Deonte and Tate cheered together, splashing and laughing as they resumed their playtime.

“Y’all have fun. I’m gonna go check on Theo,” DJ said, leaving the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Theo stood under the shower, fingers tracing over the circular scars on his forearms. He winced as he pressed on one that still stung.

“Shit… still hurts,” Theo muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

DJ was passing by the bathroom when he heard a muffled curse from inside. Concerned, he knocked on the door. “You good in there, Theo?”

Theo jumped, startled. “Uh, yeah! Just drying off, no big deal.”

DJ paused, sensing something off. “Okay, just makin’ sure you didn’t slip. Sounded like you yelled.”

Theo quickly wrapped a towel around his waist and pulled on his armbands, trying to act casual. He opened the door, forcing a smile. “I just stubbed my toe, that’s all.”

DJ’s eyes flicked to Theo’s armbands. “You really like those, huh?”

“Yeah, so what?” Theo shot back, his tone defensive.

DJ held up his hands in a gesture of peace. “Hey, I’m not sayin’ nothin’ bad. They look cool, that’s all.”

“Oh… thanks, I guess,” Theo mumbled, looking away.

An awkward silence settled between them until DJ cleared his throat. “Anyway, I just wanted to check on you, see how you’re doin’ with all the changes.”

Theo shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “I can’t speak for my bro, but… it’s not too bad. I guess.”

DJ smiled, relieved. “That’s good to hear. The director at the orphanage made it sound like y’all were gonna be a handful, but you and Tate are good kids.”

Theo’s cheeks flushed a little; it had been a long time since someone called him a “good kid.” “Don’t… don’t patronize me.”

“I’m not, man. Just speakin’ facts,” DJ said softly.

Theo shifted uncomfortably, then decided to change the subject. “So, what’s the plan for school?”

“I’m hopin’ to get y’all into the system by mid-August,” DJ explained. “I’d put you in sooner, but it’s late in the semester. Wanna make sure it’s a good fit, ya know?”

“Public school, huh?” Theo muttered. “Tate’s not gonna like that.”

“Why’s that, he doesn't like school?” DJ asked, curious.

“No, he’d love school. He’s a mega nerd,” Theo said, then paused, his voice lowering. “But… they’re probably not gonna like all his ‘quirks.’ He freaks out over tags on his clothes, hates long sleeves, and the worst is shoes. He won’t wear them, like, ever. It’s… a thing with him.” Theo explained to DJ whom of which gave a look of confusion at what the boy said.

DJ scratched the back of his head, trying to piece it together. “Sounds like there’s more to it. You mean like… sensory stuff?”

Theo shrugged, not fully grasping the implications. “I guess? They said something like that. It’s why people keep givin’ up on him. It’s like he’s got all these rules, and if he breaks ‘em, he loses it.”

"Hmmm,” DJ murmured, thinking over the way Theo described Tate’s quirks. It sounded familiar, like something he’d heard about before.

Theo sighed heavily, taking DJ’s silence as the start of second thoughts. “Welp, we had a good run. I figured this would happen.”

DJ’s brow furrowed in concern. “What do you mean by a good run? What aren’t they telling me, Theo?”

“Tate’s… weird about stuff,” Theo explained, bluntly. “He can’t wear clothes with tags, freaks out over long sleeves, and the biggest problem? He hates shoes. Won’t wear ‘em.”

“Oh,” DJ said, starting to piece it together.