Micah stood in the kitchen, watching as Noah demonstrated how to slice vegetables. He tried to mimic the motion, but instead of cutting the carrot, he nicked his finger. Micah braced himself for laughter, but Noah didn’t laugh. His eyes flashed with concern first, then softened with amusement.

  “Maybe you should just watch,” Noah said gently, reaching for the knife.

  Micah frowned, feeling useless — the opposite of what Noah intended. Still, he tried again. He cut himself a few more times, but eventually, he got the hang of it.

  Noah found himself smiling more than he had in years. Since his mother’s death, he hadn’t let anyone into his home. And now here was this tall boy towering over him, yet somehow his presence wasn’t intimidating. It was… comforting.

  His heart beat faster than usual. Micah was clumsy, surprisingly so, and every time he stumbled Noah’s cheeks burned red. He hated to admit it, but he thought it was cute.

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  That night, Micah lay on the couch as usual. Noah was already in bed when his door creaked open. Micah stood there, his expression uncharacteristically vulnerable.

  “I… I feel scared,” he admitted.

  Noah blinked. He thought Micah was joking, but the look on his face was too real.

  “Can I sleep with you?”

  “This is my bed!” Noah exclaimed, his face burning.

  “Please?”

  Noah’s heart skipped. Micah had never said please before.

  “I-I… fine.”

  Micah climbed in, lying stiffly on his side. Silence stretched between them until Micah’s voice returned to its usual commanding tone.

  “Come here.”

  “What?! I will not just—” Noah didn’t finish. Micah pulled him against his chest with ease, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  Noah squirmed, blushing furiously. “Let me go, you pervert!”

  “No.” Micah’s voice was calm, steady, as though holding Noah was simply normal.

  Eventually, Noah stopped fighting. His body relaxed, and sleep claimed him.

  Micah stared at the boy in his arms, his chest tightening with something unfamiliar.

  What is this feeling? he wondered, as Noah breathed softly against him.