After the bath, they moved back downstairs, and Teo led Rick straight to the couch, where he tucked him under a pile of blankets and surrounded him with pillows to make him as comfortable as possible. Then, with a promise to be right back and a kiss on his forehead, he headed to the kitchen to prepare tea and some caramel popcorn for the movie. Everything for the perfect date.

He was not even halfway through the preparations when Rick took advantage of the fluffy socks on his feet to approach him silently and wrap his arms around him from behind.

They were both in an exceptionally cuddly mood, though the older man a little more so. After all, he was the one who had not experienced much affection over the past months, and now that Teo was offering him all of his, even if he would never call it that outright, he could not bring himself to let go. He felt safe with him.

“You’re supposed to be resting your back,” Teo reminded him, though his voice made it clear it wasn't a reproach.

“I missed you.”

Teo’s ringing laughter blended with the sound of popcorn beginning to crackle.

“I really like your laugh.”

It was not something Rick heard often, especially since Teo saved that sound for moments when they were alone together, which only made him feel more special.

“I like you.”

Just like before, Teo turned in his arms, and although Rick automatically leaned in for a kiss, the younger man surprised him by dodging it. Before Rick could start to protest, Teo switched their positions and then lifted him up, seating him on the counter while he settled himself between his parted legs.

“You love manhandling me.”

“You don’t like it?” It sounded like a challenge, especially with Teo’s hands firmly gripping his thighs.

“It’s hot,” he admitted truthfully.

As a reward, he received a wide smile from the younger man, whose hands slid a little higher, drifting dangerously close to an area he had only barely torn himself away from not long ago. Rick immediately took advantage of the closeness and leaned in, pressing their lips together, threading his fingers into Teo’s hair, though his favorite was to play with the longer strands curling at the nape of his neck.

They stayed like that until the popcorn was ready and the tea warmed.

Then Teo took the bowl of popcorn and carried it into the living room, with Rick close on his heels, unwilling to be separated from him for even a second. So mesmerized by the dark-haired man, he forgot that he could help with anything, and Teo laughed at the sight of his empty hands before walking toward him, forcing him to back up into the kitchen.

Rick complied, but only until they stood beneath the doorway, with mistletoe hanging above them.

He pressed the younger man against the doorframe, letting his back rest there while his own hands settled at his waist, before leaning down and honoring the Christmas tradition.

Immersed in each other, neither of them noticed that the door leading to the sunroom had quietly opened and someone had decided to enter through the back entrance instead of the front, catching them by surprise.

“What the—”

At the sound of Orion’s voice, Rick jumped back a step in panic, though there was no doubt about what his best friend had just caught them doing. And even though Rick’s body had reacted automatically, one of his hands still rested on Teo’s waist, and unlike him, the younger man didn't look guilty or caught. He stared at his brother almost challengingly, as if waiting to see what negative thing he would say.

“Orion,” Rick spoke up first.

“I didn’t bring you here so you could seduce my brother.”

The moment Orion said it, Teo knew his words would hit the brown-haired man where it hurt, so he decided to take the situation into his own hands.

“Oh, please. Stop acting like I’m some easy victim. I know what I’m doing.”

The blonde man's attention shifted to him, and he had achieved what he wanted.

“Since when do you even like men?”

Teo felt like laughing. But it wasn't that warm laugh that burst from his chest whenever he was in the older man’s presence. This was much more bitter and darker, stirring up all the emotions he had suppressed for months, if not years, to keep the peace in the family.

“Always,” he said first, and then, before he could even think about whether it was a good idea, fully driven by emotion, he added: “You didn’t seriously think I moved in with Dad by choice.”

“What are you talking about?”

It was obvious that Orion had no idea, and neither did Rick. Rick sensed, however, that now was not the right moment to interrupt, so he let Teo continue.

“Mom caught me with a guy when I was 17. She told me to pack my things and get out of her sight.” Teo knew that the chance of his brother believing him, despite the fact that he was telling the truth, was slim, so he pushed even harder. “You would have known that if you’d asked just once instead of believing everything she tells you.”

Orion didn't react right away, and as he stood there staring at his brother in silence—likely processing everything he had just heard in a state of shock—Teo decided he wasn't going to stick around to wait for him to deny it all.

Judging by the way his throat was starting to tighten, he knew what was about to happen and decided not to let his brother see him so vulnerable. He prioritized himself, walking past the frozen Orion with sharp strides, and before anyone could stop him, he bolted up the stairs.

Rick was left alone with Orion, and although he would have liked to blame Teo for leaving him in such a tricky situation, after what he had just learned, he couldn't hold anything against him. Not when he was beginning to suspect what had caused the heavy atmosphere in this household and why Teo kept his distance from everyone.

“Orion.”

“I—”

“I didn’t seduce him,” was the first thing Rick said in his defense, allowing himself to take a step forward to stand before him. “I care about Teo.”

That was enough for his friend to snap out of it and pay attention, bringing his thoughts back to the present.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you anything, but I know Teo. I just didn’t know he was your brother.”

Orion grew more confused by the second, his initial anger draining away as he no longer even knew what—or who—he was supposed to be angry at.

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, I told you about it.” Rick didn't feel entirely confident about telling him about having sex with his brother, but it was necessary if Orion was to know the whole truth. “Years ago, when I came out to you.”

“Teo is your one that got away?”

Orion truly felt like he knew nothing at this point.

“My what?”

“That’s what Amelia and I called him. When you told us about the mysterious guy who made you rethink your life,” the blond man explained, then shook his head. “You’re saying it was Teo all along?”

“I didn’t know he was your brother,” Rick repeated.

“You and Teo…”

It seemed Orion still couldn’t find the words.

“I care about him, Orion,” Rick continued with total honesty. “I tried to keep my distance, but I couldn't. I know it’s selfish, but he’s the one for me. I would have told you, it’s just…”

He didn’t know how to continue, as he didn’t want to explicitly state that he was afraid of what it would do not only to their friendship but also to the relationship between the brothers, which was already at a freezing point.

“I…”

“Talk to him?” the brown haired man suggested carefully. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but he’s different with me. Happier. He smiles more. He’s kind and smart, Orion. I wish you could see him the way I do.”

Orion knew exactly when their relationship had completely fallen apart. It was after Teo just packed up and left to live with his father. After the first phone call they had following that move, his younger brother never picked up again, and they didn’t see each other until two years later when he moved back home.

All this time, Orion thought it had been Teo’s fault…

“Talk to him.”

The blond man nodded silently. Before he turned to leave, though, he stopped and gave his friend a brief, “I’m not angry.”

Rick nodded back and let him go after his brother. Even though he wanted to know what would happen next, he knew they needed space, and that this was only between the two of them.

Orion hurried up the stairs and made his way to Teo’s room. He couldn't even remember the last time he had stood outside this door, since just as his younger brother usually avoided him, Orion hadn't made much effort to be near him either.

Orion felt more guilty than he ever had in his life.

He raised his hand and gently knocked, staying silent, knowing that speaking would only give Teo a reason not to open the door. This way, Teo could think it was Rick, and that was Orion’s only chance of getting his brother to answer.

As he had hoped, it worked—but when he saw Teo’s face through the crack in the door, he didn’t feel victorious. Not when he saw the state his brother was in.

Before the dark-haired man could slam the door shut, Orion caught it with his hands and pushed, forcing him to step back as he entered the room.

Teo stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do. He had only had enough time alone to let his tears flow freely, and now he hadn't managed to wipe his wet cheeks before Orion saw them.

“Teo.”

Judging by his voice, Orion hadn't expected to see his brother so vulnerable. He didn't even know if he had seen him like this since he hit puberty. Teo was always grumpy, always acting like he was above it all, always indifferent. Never fragile.

“Go away.”

Though he tried, his voice betrayed him, revealing that he was still close to tears, even as he hugged himself for comfort.

“Please, talk to me.”

Teo let out a bitter laugh. He remembered their last long conversation all too well. “Why should I? You didn’t listen to me either when I tried to talk to you.”

Orion frowned. He had no idea what Teo was referring to, and he began to realize that was likely his own fault.

The dark-haired man noticed the effect his words had and shook his head. “Go away, Orion.”

“I’m not mad that you and Rick are together,” the blonde tried a different tactic.

“I am mad,” Teo admitted. “Can you imagine how it felt when Mom announced you were taking home a friend who was disowned by his own family and had nowhere to go? How ironic it was that she could accept someone else, but sent me to Dad?”

Orion hadn't connected the dots until his younger brother said it out loud.

“Can you tell me what happened? Everything,” he tried. “Please, Teo.”

The dark-haired man stared at him, weighing his options. He had long ago stopped hoping that Orion would ever see his side of things, and now that he was asking for it, he was afraid to trust him. There was still a chance that even after explaining everything, Orion would still take their mother's side. Teo didn't know if he wanted to risk opening up if it meant things might end up even worse than they were now.

“Why do you care?”

“You’re my brother, Teo.”

Orion saw that this argument wasn't enough for Teo, and he didn't blame him. Not when their relationship over the last few years had been nothing but a necessity and the word "brother" meant practically nothing.

“I care about you, Teo. I care about Rick. And I know he cares about you too,” he tried a different approach. “I’ve seen how much. I don’t want to come between you. I don’t want to lose either of you.”

The younger man stared at him for a long moment until he finally nodded and moved to his bed, sitting down. Orion followed hesitantly and sat beside him.

Fortunately, he was sitting down, because as Teo began to speak, he knew he wouldn't have been able to handle the truth otherwise.