Chapter 240

"Fine." Dream rolls his eyes, deciding to humor him. "How was your day?"

Dale's eyes light up at this, his upper body moving to the side to face Dream. "I had a meeting this morning and felt like a trussed up chicken in the suit I had to wear, the entire day wasn't particularly fun but you forgave me, that's a highlight." He grins.

Dream averts his eyes at that grin, uncomfortable with the way his heart does a little skip, he hadn't exactly expected Dale to be so detailed but he guesses he could return the favour.

"Sit." He orders Dale, indicating the chair beside him. "Looking up at you is making my neck hurt."

He waits for Dale to be seated before he continues. "My day was something out of a nightmare as you very well know..."

Dale winces, rubbing his thighs. "You're not going to let me live that down, are you?"

"Well, let's see, you apologized and tried to fix things so maybe in a couple weeks I will." He admits after careful consideration.

Dale's grin is back with full power at this response, fangs sharp, and Dream finds himself staring at them wondering what it would be like to have those teeth in his neck... and whoa! - he looks around furtively - where was Hayden when you needed him?

Because he needed to get away from here fast before he did something he regretted.

"I'll take anything." Dale says in a low voice that grin still in place.

This makes Dream bite on his bottom lip, if Dale was just pretending to be interested just to get Dream in his bed then he was a very good actor because he had Dream eating out of his hand.

Hayden walks back in before he makes a fool of himself and say something like he would give Dale anything, he stands up so fast the chair nearly topples and hurries over to the other to hug him.

"Thank you for dinner, Hay, it's late so I'll head to my apartment now, goodnight." He says in a rush.

Virgil wanders back in as well, holding a sleepy Apple who looked like she had eaten a ball.

"Goodnight, Virgil!" He waves to the Alpha as he makes his presence. "Night Dale!" He adds - luckily without choking on the dark haired Alpha's name - hurrying out.

The rest stand frozen for a while, surprise etched on Hayden's and Virgil's faces.

"What did you say to him?" Virgil narrows his eyes at Dale whose gaze is still fixated at where Dream had run out like hell was on his tail.

"Nothing." Dale instantly responds, going on the defense.

"Yeah right, that why he ran away." Virgil scoffs.

Dale gives him a blank look.

"I had no idea you knew Dream." Hayden speaks up, waving away their argument, it was old news to him.

"I didn't know he was the one either till I bumped into him in the woods." Dale admits.

"You bump into him an awful lot." Virgil mutters sarcastically under his breath.

"I'll bump your jaw with my fist." Dale growls at him, red crawling up his neck.

"Don't fight in the dining room, you'll ruin the place, go down to the foyer if you want." Hayden throws over a shoulder to them, collecting Apple from his husband's hands and making his way out.

They quieten down at this.

"Do you think, maybe we're a bad influence?" Dale mutters after Hayden leaves because a couple years ago, Hayden might have had a mini panic attack at their dispute but now he doesn't even seem bothered.

"Maybe." Virgil shrugs, a furrow appearing on his brow. "You're serious about Dream?" He asks quietly, pushing his hands down the front pockets of his jeans.

Dale glances at him. "Why do you care?"

Virgil heaves a sigh. "Because I shared an apartment with you all through college but even more important than that is that it'll hurt Hayden and Dream is like an irritable younger brother I never wanted."

"We'll look who's getting emotional." Dale pushes a hand through his hair. "Goodnight, V." He mutters, leaving without answering the question.

Virgil curses at this, he couldn't order the other Alpha around and right about now he wishes he could.

Dale hurries down the hallways with an uneasy weight settling in his gut, it was just like Virgil to be an annoying bastard and cut through his defenses like that.

He had to admit, it wasn't always a good quirk to relentlessly go after anything that catches his eye, especially not when he was terrified of commitment.

What if he loses them and then they take the remnants of his shattered heart with them, he tries to not think about it because it made his chest ache but he couldn't help but think that maybe the reason he didn't fight for Hayden was because he was petrified of losing him, just like Jade.

He tries to not think about Virgil's question that hit too close to home for comfort, it was ridiculous, him chasing after the very thing he was scared to death of, love.

•~•

"Are you okay, my love?" Hayden asks when Virgil curses under his breath for the third time ever since he came back.

Hayden had been engrossed in settling Apple in her bed, knowing that the cat would end up on their bed anyway.

Virgil smiles at this, coming over to meet him.

Maybe he was overthinking this, Dream might just be what Dale needed.

"Yeah." He whispers pulling his lover into a hug.

Hayden hums at this, Ruby and children on his mind. "Let's shower together." He suggests, starting to get drowsy.

Virgil grinds his teeth together, wondering exactly how Hayden just keeps staying innocent, offering a shared bath like they were just going to do each other's nails in there.

He takes the initiative to lean forward and suck a hickey onto Hayden's collarbones, enjoying the small gasp it elicits, hands sliding down his jeans clad hips. "Sure."

He agrees in a dark voice.