Mal combed his fingers through Nico’s curls until his sobs stopped. He didn’t try to reassure him that everything would be okay. He didn’t try to soothe him with empty platitudes. Nico needed a therapist. At this point, they practically had Jeremiah on speed dial. Maybe he’d have Shiloh bring it up to Nico in a couple of days, when this all wasn’t so…raw.
Nico stayed in his arms, dozing on his shoulder until the washers buzzed. Mal stood, then settled Nico in his abandoned chair to deal with the laundry. Nico pulled his legs to his chest, then wrapped his arms around them, resting his chin on his knees as he watched Mal move the laundry. When he finished, he set an alarm on his phone to remind him to come get their clothes when they were dry.
When Mal offered Nico his hand to help him up, he accepted. Once on his feet, he released him only long enough to wrap himself around Mal’s arm before threading their fingers together once more. Mal’s whole body flushed warm as he stared down at the top of Nico’s head. He tried not to read too much into the sudden affection. Nico was always touchy with Mal. But this felt different somehow. Like something had shifted.
Or maybe Mal was just crazy.
Mal was definitely crazy.
Maybe Mal wasn’t crazy.
Nico hadn’t let Mal out of his sight since they returned home from the laundry room. He’d followed him like his shadow as he’d moved around the apartment, not talking, just going wherever Mal was. The kitchen, Shiloh and Levi’s room, eventhe bathroom. If Mal stood, Nico was on him, his expression immediately growing tense.
When he’d followed Mal into the bathroom, he hadn’t stopped him. It was hardly the first time he’d pissed in front of him. With only one bathroom, everyone in their apartment had gotten painfully familiar with each other’s most intimate basic hygiene requirements.
In the rush to get to work or school, concessions were made. Someone would brush their teeth while another was in the shower. People would bust into the room to empty their bladders when they just couldn’t hold out anymore.
Mal liked that there were no barriers between him and Nico, no secrets, no privacy. It probably made him weird, but Mal didn’t care. They’d seen each other at their worst. Sad. Sick. Hungover. There was nothing Nico could do that would alter the way Mal loved him. Literally nothing. The whole world knew Mal would cut himself open and let Nico crawl inside if it meant he was safe and warm.
When Mal had finally flopped onto their bed to scroll on his phone until it was time to leave, Nico had followed, burrowing into his side, pressing his ear to Mal’s chest with a sigh like this was all he’d desired from him the whole time. Maybe it was. Nico had drifted off almost immediately. Mal had let him sleep until it was time to go.
Nico had gotten up, grumbling the whole time. He’d splashed water on his face, then slipped his sneakers on, taking Mal’s hand, like it was something they had always done. He didn’t question it. He was afraid if he pointed it out, Nico might stop. But he didn’t. He didn’t let go of Mal’s hand the whole drive to the restaurant.
He didn’t talk either, just stared out the window watching the world fly by, his expression no longer sad but…contemplative, like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. WhenMal opened Nico’s door for him to get out, he wrapped his arm around Mal’s once more, clinging to him like someone might wrestle him away from Nico if he let go for even a minute.
Mal hated how much he loved Nico needing him.
Stepping into the Blue Velvet Diner was like stepping into a time machine. It was exactly what Mal imagined it would be. The scent of food hit them the moment they entered, Nico moaning his pleasure in a way that had Mal willing himself not to get hard just listening to it. Nico had a bizarre obsession with breakfast foods.
The place was brightly lit and cheery with little jukeboxes on every table and various oldies playing from each one. Everything inside was Coca-Cola red and aqua blue with the exception of the black and white checkerboard floors and the chrome stools that lined the counter. The diner’s specials were written in blue and white chalk with cute little drawings that matched those painted on every other window.
Nico seemed instantly enchanted with the place, his eyes going wide, looking happier than Mal had seen him in hours. They looked around for the girl from the market—Lisa—but she wasn’t there.
An older woman greeted them and pointed at a sign that said they could seat themselves. They nodded in acknowledgement, then found a table at the back. Cartoonish depictions of pancakes and eggs and burgers and fries occluded the panes of glass, hiding them from sight. Someone had also penned important information on the glass for those driving by. Mal learned the Blue Velvet Diner was open all night, that Wednesdays were all-you-can-eat pancakes and that they’d been in business since 1974.
When Mal slid into the booth, Nico slid in right beside him, testing the bounce of the seats before snagging the menu and flipping open its laminated pages, groaning again as he perusedit. “I’m starving and there are so many things to choose from. How am I supposed to decide?” he lamented.
Mal grinned, shaking his head. “Order whatever you want, Fidget. It’s on me.”
“Duh,” Nico said, but instead of giving Mal his usual exasperated eye roll, he gazed up at him with a softness that stole his breath. “When have you ever made me pay for anything?”
Mal’s ears grew hot under Nico’s scrutiny. His soft gaze turned into an almost smug smile. Mal hid his own smile by looking out the window, watching for Lisa. In the reflection, Mal watched a girl in a teal dress with red piping approach. He turned to face the server as she pulled a pad of paper from the pocket of her crisp white apron.
She was dressed the part, almost no detail spared. Her fire-engine red high ponytail bounced as she tapped her foot, gazing at them expectantly. Her bangs were slicked back in a complicated looking swoop, held in place by two teal clips the same color as her uniform. She chomped obnoxiously on gum, her full lips the same crimson as her hair. When she had their attention, she gave them a toothy smile and introduced herself as Kimmy, then launched into their specials.
Nico chatted with the girl like they were old friends, complimenting her dangly plastic heart earrings and her flawless makeup. Within seconds, Nico had her eating out of the palm of his hand. She batted her big brown eyes at him, clearly smitten. Mal placed his hand over Nico’s on the table, giving her a pointed look. Her smile wavered, but she recovered quickly.
The conversation soon died, but not before Nico ordered a soda and Mal a water. She gave them another flash of her startlingly impeccable teeth, then turned on her practical white orthopedic sneakers, presumably to get their drinks.
“Was that necessary?” Nico asked once they were alone, his amusement evident in his tone.
“Was what necessary?” Mal countered, playing dumb.
Nico laughed softly. “Scaring that girl? She was just doing her job. We weren’t planning on running away together.”
“All I did was hold your hand,” Mal muttered.
“Then your brain might want to have a conversation with your face, because you looked at her like you were contemplating how to dispose of her body.”
