Narrator's P.O.V.
Kael's apartment was growing increasingly filled with the delicious smell of garlic and olive oil browning in the frying pan. That day, one of his closest friends, Lukas—with a K, while there was also Lucas with a C—was celebrating his birthday, and like the good friend he always was, the brown-skinned man decided to cook lunch to celebrate.
All his friends would be there; after all, his social circle was large. It was Saturday, and everyone had the day off either that day and/or the next. As such, he was already prepping while sipping a glass of wine and listening to music. The daylight poured generously through the window, creating a very cozy and pleasant atmosphere.
In the kitchen, the dynamic was one of domesticity worthy of movies and TV shows. Kael stood in front of the stove, focused on preparing lunch, while beside him, Yuri was doing what he did best: causing chaos. The pseudo-redhead was wearing nothing but a pair of lightweight black linen shorts, contrasting sharply with his pale skin. Farias hindered much more than he helped, sneaking up behind the older man, stealing pieces of meat from the cutting board, and letting out muffled giggles every time he was reprimanded.
"You're going to finish the food before people even get here, you little pest!" Kael grumbled, slapping Yuri's hand away when he reached for another piece of meat he was trying to chop. Even while scolding him, the smile on his lips gave him away.
"I'm doing quality control, Ávila. It's a very important job," Yuri retorted, wrapping his arms around Kael's waist from behind and resting his chin on his shoulder.
He pressed a smacking kiss to the brown-skinned man's neck, making Kael's body instantly relax against his. The connection between the two of them, in those rare moments of peace behind closed doors, was so strong it blinded Kael to any other reality. He felt complete there. As much as he was fully aware that it was, practically speaking, an illusion, he didn't care. The man allowed himself to be blinded by Yuri, because of all the love he had inevitably ended up feeling for him.
"Come here, you little smartass..." Ávila turned around quickly and pulled the younger man close, gripping him tightly on both sides of his waist.
Yuri gasped at Kael's sudden movement, biting back a shy moan that almost slipped out when the other man held him like that. Farias ran his hands over the man's face, down his neck, chest, abdomen... until he finally grabbed both of Kael's hands, removing them from his waist. The boy draped Ávila's arms around his own neck, and then gripped the man's waist, completely shifting the dynamic between them.
"I prefer it this way," the redhead said, a mischievous smile playing on his face.
"One day I'll get there, baby. You won't escape me," Kael decreed.
"In your dreams, Ávila!" Yuri's hands slid down quickly, grabbing firmly onto both sides of Kael's ass. The older man moaned in approval. "Today, you're the one who isn't escaping me."
"Is that so?" he challenged, biting his lip suggestively.
The intimate moment, however, was broken by the shrill ring of the intercom, startling both men. Kael laughed at the way Yuri huffed in annoyance. He knew that if they hadn't been interrupted, the boy definitely would have managed to drag him to bed. He stepped away from Farias to answer the intercom, earning a slap on his ass as he walked by.
"I'm here to lay down the law, huh!" a familiar voice rang out shortly after Kael had unlocked the door.
"Thank the gods! You saved me!" The man hugged him tightly. Pedro Silva had been Kael's best friend for years, literally a brother to him. Long straight hair, average height, Indigenous features... and, indeed, a personality that brought order to any room! "Get this shrimp away from my pots, Pedro," he laughed, pointing at Yuri with the skimmer.
"Just one more." The younger boy grabbed another piece of meat and ran off, while both older men yelled his name.
"I'm gonna get you, you little pest!" Pedro shouted, making Kael burst into laughter.
It didn't take long for the apartment to be filled with loud voices and uncontrollable laughter. Lukas, the birthday boy, arrived right after, being crushed by hugs and affectionate cursing. Behind him came Pabllyo and Rafael, already cracking open the energy drinks Pedro had brought to mix with vodka. The girls, Verônica and Bia, arrived as well, heading straight for the kitchen to steal the food Yuri was supposedly "protecting."
As more people arrived, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. A few other friends also showed up; after all, Lukas was an important person to everyone in the group. Pedro had already put on the music the group usually listened to whenever they got together, and soon everyone's cups were full.
"Kael, are you the reincarnation of a Master Chef? If this food tastes as good as it smells, I'm marrying you today," Bia joked, stealing a piece of meat from the platter.
"Keep your eyes off him, girl, he's already taken," Yuri immediately fired back, wrapping his arm possessively around Kael's neck, drawing an eye roll from the girl.
"A 'partner' who won't commit has no say, Farias. Let the man live!" Verônica shot back, as sharp-tongued as ever. Yuri flipped her off, and she returned the gesture.
The mood was light. Perfect.
Until the doorbell rang again...
Kael wiped his hands on the dish towel and walked to the door, assuming it was the delivery guy with the ice they had ordered. But as he turned the knob and opened the door, the relaxed smile on his face faltered for a fraction of a second.
There he was. Samuel.
Dressed casually, in lightweight white shorts that hugged his body perfectly and a black tank top that highlighted his arms, the (up until then) teenager exuded that lethal calmness that had destabilized Kael days ago in Léo's kitchen. Ávila's attention was entirely consumed by him. The loud noise of his friends in the living room suddenly seemed muffled. Samuel's brown eyes locked onto Kael, and a slow, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.
"Hey," the curly-haired boy's drawn-out voice sounded low, heavy with that same ulterior motive.
"Hey..." Ávila felt his own chest tighten, heat rising up his neck. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his posture as a responsible adult. "Come in. Everyone's inside."
Kael made room, closing the door behind the boy. He guided Samuel to the center of the living room, where conversations were flowing freely. The man's instincts told him that mixing those two worlds was a terrible idea, but morbid curiosity spoke louder. He was getting interested—maybe too interested.
"Guys, listen up," Kael called out, drawing the group's attention. "This is Samuel. He was with us at the beach."
Pedro raised an eyebrow, exchanging a quick, unreadable glance with his friend—he already knew the potential for disaster there. He knew that kid was exactly the type to attract his friend with extreme ease. Lukas smiled, greeting the boy with a wave, while Verônica and Bia smiled amicably.
But the harmony died the moment Yuri's eyes met Samuel's. Farias was leaning against the kitchen counter, a bottle of wine draft dangling from his hand. He blatantly sized Samuel up from head to toe, his face brazenly displaying the mockery with which he usually handled most things and people in his life.
"Well, well..." Yuri let out a nasal laugh, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Did daycare let the kids out early for lunch today? I thought you weren't allowed to leave the house without your mommy's permission."
Silence fell over the living room for an uncomfortable second. Samuel didn't shrink back. On the contrary. He simply adjusted his posture, slipped his hands into his shorts pockets, and returned Yuri's stare with the same cynical calmness, completely ignoring the many pairs of eyes on him.
The game had restarted!