The water warmed slowly, steam beginning to curl against the mirror.
Tommy stepped under it first with a soft exhale, tilting his head back as the spray hit his shoulders.
Logan followed, standing just behind him, close enough that the water caught both of them unevenly, Tommy absorbing most of the stream while Logan caught what spilled over.
Chase waited his turn without thinking about it, leaning one shoulder lightly against the tile wall.
It struck him then, how unguarded the moment was.
No performance.
No tension.
Just three men, tired and loose and quietly content after something that had shifted all of them.
Tommy peeked one eye open.
“You’re gonna freeze over there,” Logan said.
Chase stepped forward reluctantly, squeezing into the narrow space until the water finally reached him too.
It was warm.
Grounding.
He let out a slow breath as steam thickened around them, blurring the edges of the room.
They rotated instinctively after a minute, Tommy stepping aside so Logan could rinse off more fully, Chase shifting back to make room.
At one point, Tommy nearly slipped on the tile, grabbing both of them at once to steady himself.
Logan laughed first, low and surprised, while Chase caught his arm to keep him upright.
“Careful,” Logan murmured, brushing water from Tommy’s shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Tommy insisted, though he didn’t let go right away.
The shower wasn’t built for three people. Elbows bumped. Knees knocked. Someone kept accidentally turning the water colder whenever they shifted too far toward the wall.
It should have felt awkward.
Instead, it felt strangely easy.
Tommy reached blindly for the shampoo bottle, squinting through the steam. “Okay, hold still,” he said, already tipping it into his palm.
“For who?” Logan asked.
“For me,” Tommy said immediately. “I’m taking charge before one of you drowns us.”
Logan snorted.
Tommy stepped closer to Chase first, fingers gentle as he worked shampoo into his hair. Chase froze for half a second, surprised by the softness of it, before relaxing under Tommy’s touch.
Tommy hummed faintly as he worked, completely focused, thumbs moving in slow circles at Chase’s scalp.
“You’re really good at this,” Chase admitted quietly.
“I have excellent life skills,” Tommy replied. “Very marketable.”
