Julien rubbed his eyes with one hand and blindly silenced his alarm with the other.

He checked the time.

Shit. Right.

There were still things to do.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he sighed, before mustering up enough energy to trudge downstairs.

He absentmindedly called into the kitchen, the last place he’d seen him.

“Hey.”

He paused.

No Andrew.

His mind took a second to catch up. He scanned the kitchen counter—much emptier than before—and frowned

At least most of it’s been put away.

Sighing, he turned towards the living room. And there he was.

Andrew. The man of the hour.

He was relaxed on the recliner, head leaned back as he followed Julien's every move from the corner of his murky eyes, all while his hand absentmindedly stroked the beagle's fur.

The apartment was silent, and the scene deeply unsettling.

Julien slowly shuffled over to the living room.

“You know there’s a TV right there, right?.”

Andrew glanced at the TV.

“I don’t watch TV often.”

Who doesn’t watch TV?

Julien yawned and plopped down on the nearby couch. Sinking into the smooth plush, he readjusted into a more comfortable position before looking at Andrew directly.

His eyes drifted to the man’s neck, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his face.

Seriously?

Not letting it get the better of him, Julien quickly composed himself.

“Alright,”

He crossed his legs.

“Let’s talk.”

Andrew sat up straight, causing the puppy to startle awake, stare at Julien for all of a second, then scamper off to some other corner of the apartment.

Julien was offended as he watched her leave like he was a nightmare among the living.

I can’t be worse than this guy?

Andrew spoke first.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Julien looked at him like he was stupid.

Really? Isn’t it a little late for that?

Andrew continued.

“I will do my best to answer any questions.”

Somehow, Julien didn’t believe that.

He observed the man’s expressionless face carefully, looking for even a hint into what he could be thinking, but he got nothing. If that was the direction he wanted to go in, so be it. A blind date styled Q&A would work just fine for him.

Leaning back, Julien started with the basics.

“What’s your name?”

Andrew blinked at the unexpected question.

“No other questions?”

“We’ll get to that, let’s start from the beginning.”

Andrew nodded slowly.

“The full thing?”

“First, middle, last.”

“Andrew Lin Solano Alverez.”

So he’s latino.

“Occupation?”

“Security.”

Thinking for a moment, he added,

“I was hired through le Prisme Doré.”

A private firm? Never heard of it.

He narrowed his eyes.

“And how much?”

Andrew tilted his head.

“How much?”

Julien gave him a look, rubbing his fingers together.

Andrew’s expression changed to one of understanding and he shook his head.

Julien put his hand down.

“No?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Even if I offer you more?”

Andrew looked at him and said in a resolute tone.

“There’s nothing more you can offer me.”

Julien clicked his tongue.

Even if it's true, I don’t like how you said it.

Knowing when to pick his battles, Julien gave up on that line of questioning.

“Let’s get back on track, you’re staying here, correct?"

“Correct.”

Julien narrowed his eyes and glanced in the direction the puppy ran off to.

“Dog as well?”

Andrew nodded,

“Yes.”

He looked in the same direction.

“You don’t have to worry.”

Julien lifted a brow.

“She’s well behaved.”

I didn’t ask.

Julien chewed on his inner cheek and switched the position of his legs, crossing his right over his left.

“That’s not what I was worried about though.”

Andrew waited for him to continue.

He didn’t actually mind keeping it, the problem was knowing this guy was going to be floating around for the next 6 months.

“Forget it. Next question.”

Julien pointed at Andrew’s neck.

“Why…did you put that on?”

Andrew blinked, fingers rising slowly to brush over the collar like he’d forgotten it was even there.

“You gave it to me,”

Not to wear!

He felt like he was going crazy.

“And I was curious.”

Julien scoffed.

“Then why are you still wearing it?”

Andrew was silent for a while, then he unclasped the collar and put it in Julien’s hands.

The leather was still warm.

“It was comfortable.”

What a weirdo!

Julien stared at the collar with disdain and threw it on the coffee table.

“You can keep it if you like it that much.”

Julien felt as if his patience were a ball of yarn in the hands of a rowdy cat, and the man was slowly unraveling what little he had left.

They sat in silence for a while. Andrew watched as the gears turned in Julien’s head, while Julien thought about what answers he needed most.

Finally, Julien opened his mouth.

“Why are you here?”

Andrew hesitated. There was something to it, but what?

“What do you mean?”

Julien laughed dryly.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

He met the man’s gaze.

“Why did my sister hire you? 

Andrew’s eyes scanned his face, a hint of pity leaking into their inky depths.

For what, he wasn’t sure.

“I can’t answer that.”

But he hated that look the most.

“You can’t or you won’t?”

Andrew’s gaze was steady.

“I can’t.”

Julien uncrossed his legs and laid his head on the back of the couch.

“Fine. Fuck. Of course you can’t.”

She might not have even given him the reason to begin with.

It wouldn’t be the first time. Still looking at the ceiling, 

“Then you take the lead. Tell me whatever you want.”

He started listing off with his fingers.

“Examples include: Where you picked up that dog, what exactly you’re going to be doing around here, will I have any privacy, or did you secretly bug the house.”

Julien lifted his head.

“Basic stuff.”

Andrew opened his mouth and closed it again, seemingly at a loss for words.

“I’m not here to make you uncomfortable.”

Could’ve fooled me.

Julien stood up and put a rough hand on Andrew’s shoulder.

“Let’s continue this in the kitchen. You can answer me while we sort through whatever you left behind.”

He let go, waited for Andrew to stand up, then walked towards the kitchen. 

Julien began sorting through the bags himself while Andrew hovered around him without touching a thing. About as useless as an elephant in a computer cubicle.

It seems he was just oiling his speaking rig, because he started answering his questions one by one.

“The dog was my neighbor’s, I will follow you whenever you leave, and you don’t need to worry. There are no invasive devices.”

Andrew thought again.

“That I know of.”

Does this man know nothing of elaboration?

Julien was half listening as he continued sorting the junk. Some he would never be caught dead with and could just pawn off, others could be used around the house—like the air pump and humidifier. Then there was the final group he was looking at now, a pile of technically useful garbage. 

He picked up a cerberus shaped picture frame and gave it a funny look.

What the hell is this?

There were a few other picture frames as well, but none quite as… striking as that one.

Flipping it over, there was a small sticky note tucked under the stand.

“To store happy memories with your new guard dog.”

How quaint.

Already too sick of her shenanigans for one day, he took off the note and set the frame to the side with the others.

Nevaeah would be more than happy to take it off his hands.

With that done, Julien spoke to the large man.

“Move these to one of the storage rooms.”

Andrew took the collection of picture frames, gave them a once over, then walked to the other side of the apartment. Julien followed him with his eyes.

So he did explore.

Julien crossed his arms and glanced at the dog bowls he’d laid down earlier. Then he looked around the apartment and noted every place littered with something new. His eyes landed on the dog bed by the couch, and a light bulb went off in his head.

There was something important he forgot to ask.

As Andrew approached, Julien looked up, leaning on the counter.

“Where are you sleeping?”

Andrew stopped walking and tilted his head.

“Wherever you’ll have me.”

“Even the floor?”

Andrew looked at the living room.

“Not the floor.”

So he does have opinions.

Julien didn’t actually plan on making him sleep on the floor, but he didn’t exactly get a chance to prepare for the guy. Julien looked at the air pump. Staring at it for one second, then two, he sighed, and rubbed between his brows.

Wrinkles, Julien. You'll get wrinkles.

“Give me a moment.”

He quickly disappeared into one of the storage rooms, likely one he’d have Andrew clear out for himself later, should he fail in convincing his sister to rescind their contract.

Which was likely.

He shuffled through the mass of stuff, careful not to knock things over as he read each box label and pushed stuff out of the way. After a few minutes, he finally found what he was looking for and picked it up with a triumphant hmph.

Turning around, he saw Andrew standing in the doorway and jumped.

“Shit. By the Earth itself, please make some noise when you walk.”

He held his beating chest.

“I’m going to have a heart attack!”

Andrew nodded. Apologising, he stepped out of the way and Julien walked out of the room.

“Here.”

Julien shoved the deflated air mattress into his chest. Whether it was big enough for the absolute unit of a man in front of him, Julien wasn’t sure.

Nor did he care.

He can roll off it for all I care.

“I lost the pump a while ago, but there’s a new one in the kitchen. Use that.”

Until one of these rooms is cleared up at least.

Julien looked at them and quickly turned away. It was going to be a nightmare moving everything out of there.

So the man was just going to have to wait for a while.

Julien looked around, hoping to lay his eyes on the young pup one more time, but after a minute of searching, he gave up. He gave Andrew one last glance.

“Anything else you need from me?”

Andrew looked at the mattress in his hands, then at the last two items on the counter; the air pump and the air purifier.

He picked up the air purifier, a small sphere with tiny holes all around it, and the interface popped up with the contact.

Then with his other hand, he picked up the air pump, a small, cylindrical cycler. The interface appeared on that one as well.

After a careful inspection, the man looked at Julien and asked,

“Which one of these is the pump?”

What?

Dumbfounded, Julien blankly pointed to the cylinder.

Andrew put the air purifier down and then nodded.

“I don’t need anything else.”

Julien nodded, and slowly began walking away. He glanced back, watching as Andrew moved the deflated mattress and the pump to the living room, then he went upstairs.

I need to tell Nevaeah about this.

Midway up the steps, he hesitated.

“Goodnight.”

He continued walking, a complicated expression on his face.

Why the hell did I say that…

Not bothering to wait for a response, he entered his room and shut the door.

—

Pulling out his phone, he sent Nevaeah a quick message and laid down.

Jules: Yo

It didn’t take long to receive a response.

Navi: Finalllyyy T^T

Navi: You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting since you ran out on me earlier (’益’)

As if.

Jules: Don’t lie.

Jules: You forgot all about me

Navi: Heh ( ˘ ³˘)♥

Navi: Guilty as charged

Jules: (¬_¬)

Julien rolled onto his side.

Navi: Call?

Jules: Naw

Navi: Why not???(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

Jules: You wouldn’t be able to hear me anyway

Julien held his finger on the record button and held it out towards the door. The sound of the air mattress being blown up downstairs came through clearly.

Navi: Oh my gods (⚆_⚆)

Jules: I know.

Navi: The mystery man is STILL there!?

She sent a voice message.

「Tell him you may be thin, but you can take him!」

She sent him a thumbs up emoji.

Navi: You got this July!! ( ˘▽˘)っ♨

He rolled his eyes.

Jules: Not helpful.

Navi: I try to be

Navi: Where’d he come from?

Jules: My sister.

Navi: So you’re telling me, the moon goddess herself bequeathed you a noble servant of night. TL;DR One hottie dropped off another? ღゝ◡╹ )ノ♡

Jules: One, ew.

Jules: Two, how would you know if he’s hot or not? You haven’t even seen him?

Navi: Well is he?

Jules: How would I know…

Navi: Julia, you lack faith.

Navi: You got a pic right? I’ll be the judge.

He was about to say no, until he remembered the one he was sent when he was messaging Andrew earlier.

Jules: I do…

Navi: Show. ⊂(◉‿◉)つ

Julien rolled his eyes and opened his chat history with Andrew. Aptly labeled ‘Shameless Asshole.’

He scrolled up, saved it, and sent it to Nevaeah.

Jules: Here.

Navi: …

Navi: I take back what I said.

Navi: If he wants to fight it’s not worth it bro. ⊙▽⊙

Jules: Who lacks faith now? .-.

Navi: Do you have eyes? I’m keeping it real.

Navi: And you lied. You said he wasn’t hot. (´,,•- •,,｀)

Jules: I never said that

Jules: Take him off my hands will you? (ノ‥)ノ

Navi: Can’t! (｀ε´) I have beauties of my own and gods only know you need some yourself.

Jules: Crazy…

Even if that were true, he didn’t need a man.

Navi: What’s he there for anyway, maid? Maintenance? *GASP* a government spy!?

Julien scoffed.

Jules: As if.

Jules: He’s my… bodyguard? My sister’s surveillance camera? Something like that.

Jules: And I guess the petsitter too.

Navi: Pet? You have a PET!? SINCE WHEN!?

Jules: Since today I guess.

Navi: Wait.

Navi: Is it the dog in the picture? THAT’S SO STINKIN CUTE!

˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾

Navi: You get to keep it?

Jules: Great question.

There won’t be a custody battle in 6 months right?

Navi: I hope you do, if not, I’m gonna steal it.

Jules: Denied. ･_･

Navi: I can pet it though right?

He didn’t answer.

Navi: RIGHT!?

A few minutes passed with Nevaeah no doubt struggling with the urge to visit him right then.

*Ding*

Navi: “How long’s the guy staying?”

Jules: “Guess.”

Navi: “A month.”

Jules: “Longer”

Navi: “2 months?”

Jules: “Longer.”

Navi: “6 months?”

Jules: “6 months. (ノ‥)ノ”

It took a little longer for a reply to come this time, and Julien found himself drifting off again.

*Ding*

Navi: “This. Is a tragedy.”

He blinked.

Navi: “He doesn’t have a card does he? You don’t even let me up there that often.

He furrowed his brows.

Wait, does he have a card?

Jules: “I’m sick of your mug anyway (¬_¬), imagine what you’d do if you had free reign.

Jules: I couldn’t sleep easy knowing you could show up whenever.

Navi: ☉o☉

Navi: You take that back!

Jules: No.

Navi: ಠ▃ಠ

Jules:╭∩╮(¬_¬)

They went back and forth like that for another couple of minutes.

Navi: You win 🏳

Jules: Heh

Navi: You cheeky little–

He cut his phone off and stared at the black screen—the faint smile on his face stared back.

After a couple minutes, he got another chime.

Navi: You’re good though right?

Navi: You ain’t actually need me for nuthin’ right

Julien stared at the message.

Jules: I’m good.

Navi: Need me to wrestle your sister? ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

Jules: “You haven’t won against her since we met… (; ._.)_|

Navi: Need me to wrestle you. (ᕦಠ▃ಠ)ᕤ

Jules: You haven’t won against me, either (¬_¬)

Navi: (╯ಠ□ಠ）╯︵ ┻━┻

He plucked his nails.

Navi: You’d tell me right?

Jules: I’m fine, Navi.

Jules: We’ll see what happens on Thanksgiving.

Navi: Remember, I’ll be there for backup if you need it ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

Jules: The best backup I could ask for

Navi: You bet! ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

Julien stared at the ceiling, relaxing as the air pump quieted down.

He wished he could believe his own lie, and he really wasn’t ready for how this would change his life.

But he'd make it through.

He always did.

Julien rolled onto his side.

I forgot about my gardenias.

His eyes slid shut.

They’ll be fine for one more night.