The soft knock came before the door creaked open.

"Rise and shine, lovebirds," Théodore's voice called out, low and teasing.

Ash groaned from under the blanket, immediately pulling it tighter over his head. "Nope. No sunshine. Just darkness. Go away."

Remi peeked out from where he was half-draped over Ash, curls messy and sticking to his forehead. "God, what time is it?"

Théodore leaned against the doorway, arms folded across his bare chest, tattoos peeking just under the waistband of his sweatpants. "Eight. I figured y'all would be hungry. Got coffee going and pancakes waiting."

Remi sat up quickly, eyes wide. "Pancakes?"

Ash yanked him back down. "Don't fall for it. That's how they lure you in before harvesting your organs."

"I'll take the risk," Remi muttered, trying to free himself. "Let go, I need sugar."

Ash held him tighter, smirking. "You've already got me, what more do you need?"

Remi made a fake gagging noise. "You're so corny."

"And you're stuck with me."

Théodore chuckled under his breath, already walking away. "Y'all got ten minutes before I start eating your share."

The door closed, and Remi finally wriggled free, stumbling off the bed dramatically. "We have to get dressed."

"Ugh," Ash sighed. "We smell like clean sin."

"Let's shower together. Save time."

Ash perked up. "Look at you, saving the planet."

Remi rolled his eyes but grabbed Ash's hand anyway, dragging him toward the bathroom. "Come on, pervert."

"I prefer the term environmentalist."

They stood under the hot spray, water cascading down their backs as they bickered and laughed between shampoo and kisses. Remi kept stealing Ash's soap. Ash kept pressing kisses to Remi's shoulder, unbothered.

By the time they made it back to the kitchen, dressed in borrowed sweats and t-shirts from Théodore's too-clean guest closet, the smell of warm batter and cinnamon had filled the air.

Théodore was by the stove, one hand on the pan, the other holding a mug. His dreads were down now, a little wet from what must've been his own earlier shower, giving him a freshly wrecked look that didn't match the calm expression on his face.

Remi's stomach growled embarrassingly loud.

"Somebody's ready," Théodore said, plating pancakes stacked high and golden.

"I was born ready," Remi muttered, sliding into the seat.

Ash took the one beside him and reached over to flick his boyfriend's ear. "Try not to eat like an actual gremlin."

"Shut up," Remi whispered through a mouthful of syrup. "This is divine. Marry me, Theo."

Ash raised a brow, mock offended. "Excuse me?"

Théodore smirked, unbothered, sipping his coffee. "I don't do commitment like that... I do pancakes."

"That sounds like a tattoo," Remi said with a laugh.

Ash leaned toward him. "Don't fall for it. This is how cults start."

Remi licked syrup from his thumb. "Again... I'll take the risk."

Théodore just watched them quietly, lips twitching into a soft smile. He didn't interrupt their rhythm - just observed. There was something deeply intriguing about their dynamic: the way Ash always had a sharp comment ready, how Remi gave it back twice as fast, the natural, effortless way they moved around each other like magnets.

"You two've been together how long again?" he asked, setting down his mug.

"Seven months," Remi answered, mouth still full.

Ash added, "Feels like seven years."

Remi elbowed him. "Asshole."

Théodore chuckled. "Y'all got that kind of glue. Real thing."

Ash glanced at him. "You ever been in something long-term?"

Théodore's gaze turned thoughtful, then nonchalant. "Not really. I've had people I didn't want to leave. Doesn't mean they stayed."

Silence passed - not awkward, but felt.

Remi reached over and took Ash's hand, squeezing it. Ash looked at him for a second too long. Then turned back to Théodore.

"Well... maybe you met the wrong kind of people."

Théodore smirked again, but didn't answer.

Instead, he picked up another plate and slid it toward Remi, intentionally brushing his fingers over his in the process.

"You want more?" he asked.

Remi blinked, then nodded, cheeks pink. "Yeah... thanks."

Ash noticed.

Théodore noticed him noticing.

But no one said anything.

Because sometimes tension wasn't a problem.

Sometimes it was a question waiting to be answered.

The sun was higher now, beaming soft warmth against the glass house and the slick silver body of the car parked just inside the open garage. The place smelled like oil, steel, and the faintest trace of Théodore's cologne - something musky and spiced that lingered as naturally as the grease-streaked air.

Remi clung to Ash's arm like usual, his face a mix of curiosity and awe as he looked around. "This place is actually... hot. Like, literally and metaphorically."

Ash squinted at him. "You think oil stains and socket wrenches are sexy?"

"When they belong to a man like that?" Remi said, jerking his head toward Théodore who was bent under the lifted hood of their car, sleeveless now and all arms and sweat.

Ash rolled his eyes but didn't argue.

Théodore stood upright, wiping his hands on a rag slung over his shoulder, dreads tied up now with a bandana. "Well," he said, walking over to them with a slow confidence, "Not only the fuel tank is busted, the issue's with the transmission - it's slipping bad. Whoever last worked on this cut corners."

"Damn," Ash muttered, brows furrowed. "How long you think it'll take?"

"Two, maybe three days, max. I'll get the part in by tomorrow if my guy doesn't fuck around."

Remi frowned. "So...we're stuck with you for three days?"

Théodore smirked, that sharp corner of his lip tugging upward. "Poor babies."

Before either could respond, a loud voice echoed from the open garage door.

"Yo! I'm so fucking sorry I'm late!"

In walked a girl - sharp cut gold hair glinting under the sun, nose ring shining as she swaggered in with her coveralls hanging low around her hips. Her crop tee showed off toned arms, a grease-streak across her collarbone like a badge. She had that energy that filled a room before she even got to the center.

Théodore turned to her with a deadpan look. "You were supposed to be here two hours ago, Rae."

She gave him a dap, firm and loud, then rolled her eyes. "Man, my girl wouldn't let me leave. Said I didn't 'kiss her proper.' Then she FaceTimed me from the kitchen talking about how she missed me already. Like, babe... you just left the living room."

Remi let out a laugh before he could stop it. "She sounds adorable."

"She sounds possessive," Ash added dryly.

Rae grinned at them both, her smile smooth and genuine. "Y'all the couple Theo has been talking about?"

Théodore raised a brow. "Did I say I was talking about them?"

"You ain't have to. I can feel that shit," Rae said, then stuck her hand out. "Rae. I work on bikes, old-school muscle cars, and fixing men's egos for free."

Ash smirked, shaking her hand. "Ashley. I do sarcasm and vanilla ice cream."

"Remi," the lighter-skinned boy said with a little wave. "And I'm... just here."

"You're cute," Rae said with a wink, then pointed to Ash. "And you look like you'd square up with a toaster."

Remi nearly choked on a laugh. "Oh my God, yes."

Rae moved toward a red Ducati bike parked at the far end of the garage, pulling her gloves on. "Anyway, lemme get to this rich bastard's ride. Had the audacity to call me 'sweetheart' on the phone. You own a Ducati, sir. You don't need to also be a misogynist."

Ash chuckled. "Sounds like a whole demographic."

"Right?" Rae replied, already crouched beside the bike, tools clinking. "Money, muscles, and mother issues."

Remi leaned in and whispered to Ash, "She's iconic."

Ash muttered back, "She'd kill you and feel no remorse."

"You'd cry at my funeral."

"Only because no one would make coffee as bad as you."

Théodore watched them from a distance, leaning against the wall, arms folded again. He didn't interrupt. Just observed - like he was watching something slowly unravel, or come together.

"You two ever work with your hands?" he asked suddenly, dragging their attention.

Ash shrugged. "Nah. I'm more a words guy. Desk type."

Remi grinned. "I painted once. Does that count?"

Théodore tilted his head. "Maybe. You strike me as someone good at delicate things."

Remi raised a brow at the tone, cheeks going faintly pink. "Are you flirting with me, Theo?"

"I'm making conversation."

Ash stepped slightly in front of Remi, teasing but pointed. "Flirt at your own risk."

Théodore lifted a brow, then looked Ash up and down slowly. "Noted."

Remi's fingers curled around Ash's arm.

Rae called from the back, "Don't go falling in love in my garage. I already don't get paid enough."

They all laughed - the sound bouncing off the metal, the walls, the quiet tension.

For strangers who'd only just met, something was shifting. Something warm, unspoken. And maybe dangerous.

Maybe not.

The Uber pulled into the gravelly driveway with a soft crunch, kicking up dust in front of the open garage. Sunlight glinted off the car windows, a reminder that the day was slipping into that soft golden hour glow.

Remi stretched lazily, Théodore's oversized black shirt slipping off one shoulder, the hem practically swallowing his shorts. His hair was still damp from their earlier shower, and he leaned against Ash with a content sigh. Ash, in a charcoal shirt that hugged his lean frame - also borrowed from Théodore - had that reluctant look in his eyes, like leaving felt inconvenient.

Théodore walked out with them, his boots heavy and steady on the ground, hands tucked in his jumpsuit's pockets. He hadn't bothered putting on a shirt again, his tattoos shifting with every movement of his chest. His eyes were on them - well, mostly on Ash - that quiet, unreadable glint still sitting in them like smoke that didn't want to clear.

"I called your ride," he said, voice low and casual. "Should be about five minutes out."

"Thanks," Remi said, smiling up at him. "You didn't have to do all this."

"I didn't," Théodore replied, smirking. "But I wanted to."

Ash nodded. "We'll be back for the car in three days, right?"

"Mm," Théodore hummed. "Unless I break something else just to keep it longer."

Ash gave him a look. "Please don't."

"I said unless," Théodore grinned. "You don't trust me?"

"Not even a little," Ash said, but it wasn't hostile - more dry amusement.

Remi laughed softly, eyes flicking between them. "You two are exhausting."

The Uber honked softly from behind them.

Théodore stepped closer to Ash just as he turned to walk away.

"Wait." His voice dropped a little.

Ash paused as Théodore reached out, fingers brushing around his wrist before holding his hand lightly - not forcefully, just enough to catch him.

Ash looked down at the contact, then back up, one brow twitching.

"What now?"

Théodore tilted his head, tone casual but curved in amusement. "You got a number or something? Or your Instagram? Just in case you two get lost on the way back or forget where the sexy mechanic lives."

Ash squinted. "We won't forget."

"But I might," Théodore replied smoothly. "Need to have a way to find you, don't I?"

Ash didn't move, the two of them locked in a small space that suddenly felt charged.

Remi called from the car, "Just give it to him, babe. You know he's not gonna stop till you do."

Ash sighed dramatically, but pulled out his phone. "Fine. Just... don't spam me."

Théodore smirked. "I don't spam. I tease."

Ash rolled his eyes, but there was a twitch of a smile he didn't fight.

Théodore entered his number, then held the phone up like he was taking a selfie with Ash - but didn't. Just hovered for a second, smirked, then handed it back.

"Don't worry. I'll be real respectful in your DMs."

Ash took the phone back, muttering, "I doubt that."

Théodore leaned closer just a bit, voice a near-whisper. "But I bet you like that."

Before Ash could reply, Remi called again. "Ash! You're making me sit in the Uber alone like a loser!"

Ash pulled away quickly, glaring playfully at Remi. "You are a loser."

Remi stuck out his tongue.

Ash gave Théodore a final look. "See you in three days."

"Mm," Théodore said, watching them climb into the car. "I'll be counting the hours."

As the Uber pulled away, Théodore stood in front of the garage, shirtless and barefoot in the afternoon sun, watching them disappear down the street with a half-smile on his face.

Back in the car, Remi leaned on Ash's shoulder, fingers playing with the hem of the borrowed shirt.

"So," he said with a grin, "did you give him your burner number or the real one?"

Ash didn't answer - just looked out the window, the side of his mouth twitching.

Remi nudged him. "Did you... like it? When he held your hand?"

"I tolerated it."

"You're blushing."

"I am not-"

"You so are."

Ash groaned, head tipping back. "God help me if we actually like this man."

Remi smirked against his neck. "I already do."