Page 71 of Miles's Pact
"Now that you're all mated up," he started, and I raised a brow at the phrase. "I was wondering if maybe you'd like me to move out."
I blinked, feeling like he'd slapped me. Where the hell had that come from?
I glanced over at Duckie, and he looked just as surprised.
"You want to move out?" I asked, wondering if maybe he'd gotten tired of all the PDA. He'd told us he didn't mind, but maybe he'd lied?
"Not really," he hedged, then shrugged. "But I'd understand if you wanted privacy. I know we're mates and all, but obviously, my bond with you two isn't the same."
Duckie and I shared a glance, and he raised a brow at me. As I nodded, I wondered when reading Duckie's face had become as easy as reading Mateo's.
Turning, Duckie smacked the back of Mateo's head, making him jump.
"Hey! What was that for?" he demanded as he rubbed his head, giving Duckie a betrayed look.
"That was for asking such an idiotic question," I said, and he sighed.
"It's not an idiotic question."
"It is," Duckie insisted, and Mateo smiled, though it was easy to see he still doubted us.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, you dumbass," I grumbled as Duckie nodded, and Mateo smiled sheepishly.
"All right, then. Forget I asked."
"Mm-hmm," I murmured as Duckie shook his head, still surprised Mateo could ever think we'd want him to leave. I was surprised too, and while Mateo had promised to tell me, I wondered if he'd been feeling neglected and had kept it to himself.
Over the last few weeks, I'd made sure to spend some one-on-one time with Mateo, and to involve him in things with Duckie too, but maybe I should've done more.
Duckie
"For the record," I started, stunned that Mateo had thought either of us could want him to move out, "your bond with us is different, yes, but that doesn't make it any less important. It doesn't makeyouany less important."
"Duckie's right," Miles added, his voice soft. "Why would you even think it was? Did we do something to make you feel like you weren't wanted?"
"Not at all, I swear. I got in my head about it. I know you've got the gold medal in overthinking, and I won't take it from you, but I am still your brother, and I think I could win a bronze if I tried," Mateo said, turning it into a joke like he always did when things got too serious for him. "Can we forget I ever asked and watch Buffy kick some vampire ass now?"
"Sure," I said with a smile, sensing he needed a reprieve from the emotional conversation. I wasn't going to, though, and I doubted Miles would either.
Miles got up before Mateo could resume the show, and I glanced up, curious what he was up to.
"Could you move over?" he asked, and realizing what he wanted, I smiled, and shifted over to his empty spot, pulling a confused Mateo with me. Miles settled on his other side, then grabbed the throw blanket off the back of the couch, covering our legs with it.
"Okay, play it," he said as he snuggled into Mateo's other side, and Mateo nodded silently as he did just that.
For the next couple of episodes, we stayed like that, both of us curled around Mateo, holding him close with our hands meeting over his torso.
Snowball joined us at some point, spreading himself out on the carpet in front of us, and we enjoyed the quiet evening, watching the vampire slayer do her job.
When it was time to turn in for the night, I reluctantly got up as Mateo turned the TV off and Miles took Snowball out one last time.
As Mateo turned away from the TV, I stepped up to him and pulled him in a hug. He stiffened in surprise, then wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back. I held him tight, hoping he knew how important he was to me. I couldn't believe he'd thought we could ever ask him to leave.
"I'm okay. I promise. And I didn'treallythink you guys would want me to leave, but I still wanted to give you the option."
"Yeah, well, we don't want it."
