"Slow your roll there, Rykie," Luna scolded with a smile plastered on her glittery face. She looked at Marshal and rolled her eyes, wearing an expression that said "Can you believe this guy?" 

"Fine, we're not dating," Ryker said with a groan, glancing at Marshal. 

Marshal's tired eyes closed as his lungs collapsed with a quiet sigh. He had never felt so much panic and guilt wash away after five seconds of their presence. He could finally sit down and attempt to make small talk. "I'm Marshal."

Luna had the same demeanor as Ryker: propping her elbow on the table to rest her chin as she admired Marshal. Just like Ryker, she had no filter and just said whatever came to mind. "It's unfair that both of you are hot," she said in a soft tone, wearing a light, cocky grin.

Marshal didn't know what to say to something like that. Was she flirting or just complimenting him? 

"If only you wanted a relationship!" Ryker said dramatically as if it broke his heart that Luna wouldn't date him. He was like this with most girls, but Marshal didn't know if it was serious. 

"Yeah, I'm sure I've done tremendous damage to your giant ego, buddy," Luna snapped back. They were definitely on the same level of wit. 

"That's not the only giant thing of mi---" 

"Shut your trap, Mandrake," Luna interrupted, but she had a smile on her face. 

Marshal just watched this play out, feeling more insecure the longer he did. He wished he could have back-and-forth banter with Ryker, having quick comebacks and making him laugh. 

Ryker and Luna continued to spit insults and jokes as he finished filling the three plates. He set his and Luna's down first, then made his way back to the kitchen for Marshal's. 

A plate of French toast, eggs, bacon, and a couple of orange slices was set in front of Marshal, and his mouth instantly watered. Before Ryker stepped away, he did what he always did to Marshal, any chance he got. He put his hand on Marshal's head, lightly ruffling his hair before he planted a kiss on it. "Sleep good?" he asked, sounding more intimate. 

"Yeah," Marshal mumbled, not quite sure how to react, especially with Luna there. 

"You're mothering him, you know," Luna said with a mouth full of eggs as her eyes followed Ryker to his seat.

"It's not mothering," Ryker defended. "It's being nice. Ever tried it?" 

Luna ignored Ryker's insulting question and turned her focus to Marshal, making him tense up. "Does he mother you?" 

"I mean..." Marshal thought for a moment. 

"Does he cook every meal?" 

"Well," he stammered, "yeah." 

"Does he clean?" 

Marshal nodded, pursing his lips. She was making a good point so far.

She narrowed her eyes and pointed at Marshal with her fork. "Does he do your laundry?" 

"Fine!" Ryker gave in. "I do 'mother' him," he said with air quotes. 

"I like it," Marshal said as he stuffed a piece of French toast in his mouth. 

"Of course you do. You're basically married without all the downfalls," Luna said after swallowing a mouthful of bacon. 

Marshal choked on his French toast while Ryker just snickered at the comment. 

The tense feelings Marshal had with Luna around soon faded. She was cool. Once he became more relaxed, he was able to make her laugh. 

"You know," Luna said with a sigh as she sat down on the couch with Marshal and rested her legs on his lap. "I'm glad I finally got to meet you." She brushed a lock of hair out of her face, and Marshal caught a good look at her eyes and glittering makeup. 

"Finally?" Marshal asked curiously, wondering if she already knew about Marshal. He didn't know about her before today. He just knew that Ryker had a few friends that Marshal had never met.

"Oh, dude, Ryker talks about you all the time," she said way too nonchalantly. 

Marshal glanced over his shoulder, making sure Ryker was still in the kitchen, cleaning the breakfast mess without a care in the world. 

"Really?" Marshal inquired, turning his head back to Luna. 

"Yes! All the time!" she exclaimed. "It's always, like, 'I have to get home to Marshal' or 'Guess what Marshal said to me yesterday!' It's cute and all, but it would be more tolerable if I had actually met you before today." 

Marshal was beginning to feel those butterflies in his stomach every day since he moved in with Ryker. Here they were again.

"He really likes you, you know," she told him as if she wanted him to realize or to ensure that he appreciated it. 

Marshal nodded. "I know. And I really like him." Marshal smiled at Luna before turning his gaze back to Ryker. It was uncomfortable to look over his shoulder just to see him, but he couldn't care. "A lot," he murmured. 

Luna tilted her head at Marshal, staying silent as she got a read on him. 

That stare.

His smile.

Is he blushing?

"Hey, Marsh, you know how Ryker is always super affectionate in, like, every way possible?" Luna finally spoke up.

Marshal turned his gaze back to Luna and nodded.

"Wanna know a secret?" she asked in a lower tone of voice as she moved closer to Marshal.

He lowered his brows with a subtle look of suspicion. "Sure." 

"He is literally the worst receiver of affection I have ever seen. He probably kisses your head, like, all the time, but if you did that to him---" She stopped her sentence when Ryker dropped something, not wanting him to hear this. She continued when Ryker carried on what he was doing. "I'd bet ten dollars that he freezes and gets all nervous." 

"Bullshit." It was hard for Marshal to believe, considering Ryker was the most affectionate person he had ever met. And yet he couldn't receive it? He seemed to take it well last night when Marshal was...touching him.

Oh, god, did I really do that?

"I'm serious! Just try it," she said, nudging Marshal with a chuckle before she laid back on the couch, still using him as a footrest. 

Marshall unconsciously nodded and stared at the floor for a long moment. What affectionate thing could he do without making an idiot of himself?