"Goddamn it," Ash cursed under his breath as he watched Remi run down the steps, launching himself at Theodore - who caught him smoothly, like he'd been waiting for it.

Remi pulled back with a wide grin plastered on his face and then he started with the questions. "When did you get here? Why didn't you tell me you were coming? You didn't reply my goddamn messages for two days, what's up?" when he was done, he looked out of breath and even more breathless when he realized their position, he was pulled - flushed against theo's body with his strong arms around his waist.

Theo smirked as he watch Remi blushed, the red tint staining his cheeks so perfectly.

"You missed me, that much?" He asked, shoving his hands deep in his pockets, staring down at Remi.

"Well...to be honest, I did." Remi admitted shyly, his voice dropping just enough for Ash - still standing a few feet away, arms crossed and jaw tight - to catch it.

Theo's smirk deepened, his dark eyes softening just slightly as he leaned closer, just enough to murmur back, "Good. That's all I needed to know."

Remi's blush only deepened as he awkwardly stepped back, finally putting some space between them and fidgeting with the hem of his shorts. "You're... unbelievable," he muttered, but his little grin betrayed the fact that he wasn't actually mad.

Ash, finally having enough of watching the little exchange, cleared his throat - loud and pointed.

Both heads turned toward him.

"Oh, don't stop on my account," Ash said dryly, raising a brow as he finally walked over. "Please. Keep making eyes at my boyfriend right in front of me. It's real classy."

Theo didn't even blink, letting out a low laugh and glancing at Ash. "What can I say? He's too cute to ignore."

Ash shot him a flat look but said nothing. Not directly, anyway. Instead, he stepped up behind Remi, wrapping an arm around his waist possessively and pressing his lips just below his ear. "You," he murmured in a voice only Remi could hear, "are ridiculous. You know that?"

Remi giggled softly, leaning back into Ash's chest and tilting his head to look up at him. "Maybe. But you still love me."

Ash's lips quirked despite himself. "...Damn right I do."

Theo just stood there watching them, amused, a faint smile still playing on his lips as though he enjoyed every second of watching Ash squirm.

Ash met his gaze, narrowing his eyes slightly. "And you," he said, voice sharp but not hostile, "got what you came here for yet? Or do you plan on hanging around my driveway all afternoon?"

Theo let out another low chuckle, finally pushing his hands deeper into his pockets as he started to step back toward the car.

"Just wanted to check on the car," he said casually. "And on you two, of course." He flashed them a little wink.

Ash rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that made Remi giggle again.

Before Theo turned around, though, he paused and looked back at them. His gaze softened just a touch as it lingered on them - Ash still holding Remi against his chest, their fingers loosely intertwined now.

"Take care of him," Theo said simply to Ash, but the weight behind it was hard to miss.

Ash's expression hardened for a second... then softened, almost imperceptibly. He nodded once.

Theo had just started backing up toward his car, hands in his pockets, the weight of unspoken things lingering in the air like mist.

"...You like him so much," Remi murmured with a teasing lilt, "but it's so hard to admit, huh?"

Ash didn't respond immediately. He just tightened his hold around Remi's waist, his nose brushing lightly against Remi's temple. A quiet, unspoken exhale left his chest.

"...We'll see," he said under his breath, the words barely audible - but Remi felt the curve of a faint smile forming against his skin.

Theo had nearly reached the car door when-

"Wait!" Remi called, pulling gently out of Ash's arms and jogging after him. "You're not seriously leaving, are you?"

Theo paused, hand brushing the car handle. He turned, one brow raised in amusement - but inside, there was a flicker of hesitation. Leaving felt easier. Safer. But he didn't want to. Not really.

"Didn't realize I needed permission," he said smoothly, wearing his usual smirk like armor.

"Well, you've got it now," Remi replied, flashing a grin. "You haven't tried the Ash Sandwich yet."

"...The what now?" Theo blinked, genuinely thrown - and a little grateful for the levity. The warmth in Remi's eyes made something stir in his chest, something he was quick to bury.

Ash groaned behind them, dragging a hand down his face like he already regretted everything. "Remi, don't start."

But Remi was already fully committed. "He makes this sandwich - thick sourdough, perfectly grilled, spicy aioli, layers stacked like a work of art. I'm not exaggerating when I say I almost cried the first time."

Theo tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "No one - and I mean no one - makes a better sandwich than I do."

He was joking - mostly. But underneath the teasing tone, there was an instinct: a need to compete, to insert himself, to stay relevant. With both of them. And he hated how aware of it he was.

Ash stepped forward, arms folded, cool stare locked onto him. "Is that a challenge?"

Theo's smirk deepened. Slow. Unreadable. But something in his chest sparked. Ash's stare wasn't just a dare - it was a pull.

"You tell me."

Remi lit up between them. "Taste test."

Theo didn't look away from Ash. His voice dropped, almost like a secret. "Winner gets bragging rights."

"Loser shuts up for a week," Ash countered. "Because once you take a bite of mine, you'll never recover."

Theo's eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile stayed smooth. "Careful. That kind of confidence is dangerous, pretty boy."

Ash arched a brow. "Then you'd better be into danger."

Theo's heart kicked once - fast and unexpected. That voice. That look. He'd never admit it out loud, but it got to him. Ash wasn't just cocky - he was magnetic in a way that messed with Theo's sense of control.

The silence that followed was loaded - not heavy, but charged. Like something was waiting to snap. Theo's gaze lingered a little too long. He knew it. But he didn't care. Ash didn't look away either. Their smiles were calm, but something was brewing under the surface.

And Theo... felt it. Every inch of it.

Remi cleared his throat and stepped between them. "Okay. Okay. We're not turning this into a sandwich duel."

Both men looked at him like he was interrupting something sacred.

"Speak for yourself," they said in eerie unison.

Remi sighed. "God. Y'all are children."

"But extremely attractive ones," Theo added with a wink - humor softening the tension, but only slightly. He needed the joke to keep his pulse from giving him away.

"Don't call yourself a hot child," Ash muttered, cool as ever.

Theo only laughed - low and smooth, like it came from somewhere deeper. He liked this game more than he should.

"Fine. Show me what you've got, Sandwich King."

Ash turned toward the house, calm and composed. "Try not to cry when you realize I'm everything you've ever wanted between two slices of bread."

The line hit harder than it should've. Theo glanced at Remi, his smirk curling again - but it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Your boyfriend's got bite."

"You have no idea," Remi whispered, eyes flickering with amusement - and something else.

Theo tucked his hands into his jacket pockets, watching them walk ahead. His pulse still hadn't slowed.

He knew he was getting too close - not just to them, but to something he didn't have a name for. Something dangerous.

But he followed anyway.

Because the tension between them wasn't just a spark.

It was a fuse.

And he wasn't ready to put it out.