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R ory and Sebastian moved into one of the recently finished houses. It wasn’t as big and flashy as their previous home, and not many of their belongings could be saved. Pichard had used petrol, throwing it up the walls of the house and pouring it through the letters box.

Although the fire service arrived in good time, the flames were aggressive, burning through the house. Any item or object that wasn’t turned to ash had been stained black and held a charred aroma.

Rory had said they could knock the house down and start again, but Sebastian hadn’t liked the idea. He didn’t want to live in the same place where he’d walked into the living room and found Rory unconscious. He didn’t think he could unsee it even after a rebuild.

Ollie moved into Captain’s flat, which did remind him a little of an army barracks. He had five locks on the door but only seemed to use one. The furniture was big, bulky, made of thick wood, but he had hardly anything on the bookcases or the dresser. Captain favoured the colour green, not a vibrant green, but a murky camo one the same shade as the combats he loved to wear. The sofa was green. The kettle was green. The handles on the fork, knives and spoons were the same green.

He kept his place neat, tidy, and whenever he opened the door to the spare bedroom Ollie was staying in, he looked on the verge of fainting.

Teddy’s words were everywhere.

The stack of papers Jarvis had handed over had been five inches thick. Teddy could write with his left hand, but his letters were big and wobbly, and it took a while for Ollie to work his way through all of them.

Teddy had started from when he’d first met Pichard.

Pichard had been there for him.

Pichard helped him, and yes, Teddy admitted they were a couple. Teddy had grown up with Gary. They were friends. Gary hadn’t expressed a desire for anything more than friendship until Teddy started dating Pichard.

Gary made his interest known; Teddy shut him down.

That should’ve been it.

Pichard’s paranoia and jealousy grew, and he took away Teddy’s voice, didn’t let him explain, or reassure, or anything , until one night when he’d had far too much to drink, he threw petrol over Gary’s caravan and set it alight.

No one could get close to the inferno.

Teddy said he was relieved when they finally stopped screaming.

It meant their agony was over.

He still heard them sometimes in his nightmares, though.

When he ran from the scene, he did so to confront Pichard.

Pichard blamed Teddy, told him if he’d have pushed Gary away, if he’d have ended their friendship, he wouldn’t have done what he did. Pichard was drunk, and scared about what was going to happen to him, and he told Teddy he was someone and Teddy wasn’t, and if he really did care about Pichard, he should take the blame.

Teddy couldn’t be anyone.

He was damaged.

Worthless.

He didn’t go into any more detail than that about what Pichard had said to convince him, but whatever poison he’d used worked.

Teddy took the blame.

For over thirteen years, Teddy took the blame for something he didn’t do.

Teddy’s truth was stacked on Ollie’s bedside table.

There were pages all over his bed too; surrounding him as he slept were letters from Teddy. It wasn’t once a week; it was every day. He didn’t write much. It was mainly ‘miss you’, ‘can’t wait to see you’ and ‘visit me’, but Ollie loved them.

A month had passed.

A month where Teddy had to stay in Hollybrook while the case of the caravan fire was reopened. It was so long ago there was no longer any evidence to collect. They had Teddy’s truth, Ollie’s statement about what Pichard had said to him, and they both matched.

There were records of Pichard working at the hospital when Teddy had been receiving treatment, and for two years, the travellers were content to stay living outside the front doors. Pichard had been working his placement the whole time and was regularly seen with Teddy.

He left the hospital a few days after the fatal fire.

Teddy wanted everyone to know it was Pichard, not just the fire, but Ryan too.

He’d been seen on the wing that day, seen going into the cell, but no one had witnessed Pichard giving Ryan the pill.

It wasn’t until the police scrolled through hours and hours of CCTV footage from the prison that they had evidence.

Rory, despite knowing he shouldn’t, had let Ollie see the video.

Teddy had twisted his knee after attacking Keiron, the prisoner who’d propositioned Ollie on the wing. Pichard had been ordered to the segregation unit to check on him, and the segregation unit had cameras with audio in the cells.

Pichard asked Teddy what he’d done to hurt his leg.

Teddy had remained statue still.

Then he mentioned Ollie. He said he hoped it wasn’t anything to do with him, and that Teddy had a track record of bad things happening to people he cared about and hadn’t learned from his previous mistakes.

Pichard had been indirect, but the threat had been there in the way he towered over Teddy on the bed and the way Teddy had curled away from him.

That had been key in getting Teddy released.

Captain tapped on the bedroom door. “They’ll be here soon.”

Ollie sprung up and started tidying the bed. Captain opened the door, tutting as he scanned the room. “The wardrobe and chest of drawers are for clothes; the floor is for walking on…” He eyed the bedsheets. “And have you ever heard of ironing?”

“Teddy’s not going to care about a few wrinkles on the bed.”

Captain snorted. “So you’re admitting as soon as he’s through the door, you’re going straight to the bedroom?”

Ollie’s cheeks reddened.

Captain sighed. “And that is why I’m staying with Rory and Sebastian tonight.”

“They have sex too.”

“I’m sure they do, but their walls are a lot thicker than mine, and I’d rather not hear snarling and growling as you two get reacquainted.”

Ollie swallowed. “You don’t have to do this. Teddy was offered a room—”

“They are dirty and disgusting, and I’d much prefer you do…whatever it is you do here. Just…” He held up a finger. “One night of animalistic sex, okay? And then you’ll do the decent thing and only do it when I’m out.”

Ollie pouted. “You’re jealous.”

“Of?”

“Me getting some.”

Captain snorted. “You’ve got me there.” He checked his watch. “Not long now.”

Jarvis was the one driving Teddy to the flat. Then he was collecting Captain to drive to Rory and Sebastian’s place before going home.

Ollie hadn’t forgotten the look Captain and Jarvis had shared up on the scaffolding.

“He’ll like it, you know.”

Captain frowned. “Who and what?”

“The orc figure you got Jarvis for Christmas.”

“Ah.” Captain leaned against the doorframe. “You saw that, huh? No doubt he’s got it already.”

“No doubt.” Ollie smiled. “But I think this one will be extra special coming from you.”

Captain looked away. “Don’t…”

“Don’t what?”

“Continue thinking whatever it is you’re thinking.”

“Sorry.” Ollie bit his lip. “I…I never thought I’d get a happy ending with Teddy. It felt…impossible, but here we are.”

“And I’m happy for you, but I have my happy ending too, Ollie. I have great friends, I have a job, I have a purpose again, a chance to help people. And maybe one day I’ll find someone to share my life with like you and Rory have—”

“And if that happens to be with Jarvis…”

Captain smiled. “But I’m in no rush.”

The doorbell chimed.

“And that will be them,” Captain said, holding the door open so Ollie could rush through it and skid across the polished floor in his haste.

“Easy,” Captain said. “I don’t want Teddy attacking my floor after you’ve tripped and cracked your skull open.”

Ollie wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans, took a breath to compose himself, then opened the door.

Teddy beamed at him. He held a sprig of mistletoe in his hand and hovered it over Ollie’s head before pulling him close and kissing him.

“Hello to you too,” Ollie heard Captain mumble. “And where the hell did you get the mistletoe from?”

“He made me stop on the way so he could get it,” Jarvis replied.

He dropped Teddy’s bag of belongings to the floor, most of which were drawings of butterflies and Ollie’s letters.

Teddy leaned back and shooed Captain towards the door.

Captain snorted. “There’s nothing like being kicked out of your own place…”

“Come on,” Jarvis said with a bright smile, dragging Captain out.

“I’ll be back at ten tomorrow morning.”

Teddy growled his displeasure.

“Fine,” Captain huffed. “I’ll be back at twelve. Keep your antics confined to your own bedroom.”

Jarvis laughed as he closed the door, then it was just Ollie and Teddy.

“Hi…” Ollie whispered. “Good…drive?”

Teddy ruffled Ollie’s hair as he bit his lip. He glanced around the open plan space, but more specifically at the doors that led off from it.

“Are you asking which one is my room?”

Teddy nodded.

Ollie smiled and took his hand. He didn’t run to the other side of the flat despite his heart racing in his chest. He laced his fingers through Teddy’s and led him into the bedroom.

Teddy turned Ollie to face him, then leaned down, gripping Ollie’s chin to tilt him left and right as he studied Ollie’s nose. It hadn’t needed manipulating and had healed straight. There was the faintest bruise halfway down, which of course Teddy noticed and stroked with a finger.

Next, he checked Ollie’s neck, but the mark had gone. Teddy kissed where it had been though before backing off and pointing at Ollie’s jeans.

Ollie rolled his eyes and took them off. Teddy studied Ollie’s knees and squeezed his thighs.

“I’m better now,” Ollie murmured. “I promise.”

Teddy took a step back to look at him before frowning and pointing high up on Ollie’s chest.

Ollie looked down at Teddy’s finger. “Oh, that…”

Teddy’s eyes sharpened. Yes. That.

Red could be seen through the thin white fabric of his T-shirt.

Teddy flared his nostrils and reached for the hem of Ollie’s T-shirt.

Ollie obediently lifted his arms to let Teddy pull it off him.

He heard Teddy’s gasp before he saw Teddy’s stunned expression.

Ollie bit his lip, watching as Teddy took it in.

Teddy smiled. It trembled but grew stronger, and there were tears in his unblinking eyes.

Ollie had a peacock butterfly at the top of his chest.

It was big, in full, beautiful colour, and had been drawn by his own hand. Teddy had never seen this picture before. It had been Ollie’s secret, needled into his skin with the hope that someday Teddy might get to see it, touch it, maybe even kiss it.

“Do you approve?”

Teddy nodded, pressed his palm over the butterfly and closed his eyes. He breathed deeply a few times, sliding his hand over to where he could feel Ollie’s beating heart.

“I’m sorry,” Ollie whispered.

Teddy frowned before opening his eyes.

“I’m sorry about Gary, and Ryan, and all the others he took away from you, but he didn’t take me.” Ollie swallowed the fast-forming lump in his throat. “He tried to. He would have…” He lowered his gaze. “He didn’t slip. I know that’s what they told you happened. But it’s not true, and I don’t want to start our life together with a lie. I pushed him. I pushed him because he would’ve pushed me. I pushed him because I didn’t want him to have control over you ever again. I wanted you to be safe. I wanted you to finally know what it feels like to be free of your demon like you did for me.”

Teddy cupped Ollie’s cheek and lifted his face until they were eye to eye. He swiped his thumb over the tear on Ollie’s lashes.

Ollie didn’t cry for Pichard, and Teddy knew that.

Teddy pressed a closed-mouth kiss to Ollie’s mouth, then rocked back to grab his T-shirt and yank it over his head.

He slid his hand to the back of Ollie’s neck and pulled him into a hungry kiss. Ollie wrapped his arms around Teddy’s back, clinging on as his mouth was assaulted by a needy tongue and bullying lips.

When Teddy pushed him towards the bed, Ollie lay down, sinking his head back into his pillow as Teddy began kissing him everywhere. Across each of his arms, down his legs to his ankles, he kissed and breathed Ollie in as he went.

Ollie moaned when Teddy yanked down his boxers and lifted one of Ollie’s legs onto his shoulders. Ollie knew exactly what he was going to do and had prepared himself in the shower that morning.

He arched his back at the first swipe of Teddy’s tongue on his hole, lifting himself up with his elbows. Teddy licked again and again until Ollie stopped twitching from being oversensitive and relaxed, even baring down as Teddy used his mouth to drive him crazy.

Teddy pushed with his tongue, fluttering the tip around the rim while Ollie moaned and groaned at the top of the bed.

“I’m never going to get over how good that feels.”

He pressed the sole of his foot against Teddy’s back, lifting his hips off the bed for Teddy to go deeper.

“And to think how embarrassed I was the first time you did this to me…”

Teddy added a finger, pumping it in and out.

“I loved it, but I didn’t want you to know quite how much.”

Teddy lifted his head, and his cocky grin said he knew.

Ollie might’ve flushed with embarrassment and said it felt interesting , but his cock hadn’t lied about how much he’d loved it that first time, spurting all over Teddy’s bunk.

Ollie had thought Teddy might be annoyed, but he’d moaned at the mess all over his bed and jumped onto it, rolling onto his back to jerk off while Ollie stood a little stunned at what his body had just done.

Teddy shifted to take Ollie’s cock into his mouth.

Ollie moaned, fisting the sheets. “That feels just as good.”

Teddy growled around him.

“Especially when you do that.” Ollie sighed, releasing one hand from the sheets. He shoved it beneath his pillow, searching around until he found the bottle of lube he’d hidden.

Teddy pulled off his mouth and held Ollie’s cock in a firm grip as he lathered the head with his tongue. That sensation was almost enough to stop Ollie in his tracks and have the orgasm on offer, but he squeezed his hand around the bottle and tapped it on Teddy’s shoulder.

“This too…” Ollie blurted.

Teddy sat up on his knees and took the bottle.

He raised an eyebrow. Already?

“I need that closeness right now.”

Teddy’s expression softened, and he pumped lube into his hand before wiping it over Ollie’s hole, then coating his cock. Ollie reached for him, pulling Teddy down on him while Teddy adjusted the angle. They both moaned when Teddy pushed inside and stopped, just enjoying that feeling again.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

Teddy kissed him on the cheek.

“You’re out. You’re out after thirteen years, all that freedom, and you come here.”

Teddy had things to sort out, but Ollie came first.

Teddy narrowed his eyes. Of course I came here .

“The first thing you do is get me in bed.”

Ollie grabbed on to Teddy when he shifted. Teddy reached down to the floor, snatching up the mistletoe.

Ollie laughed. “Okay, the first thing you did was get that.”

Teddy threw it over his shoulder.

“You bought that so you could kiss me?”

Teddy nodded.

“But you can kiss me anytime you want to.”

There was a wicked glint in Teddy’s eyes. I’ll hold you to that.

“I kind of think you should be kissing me right now, and maybe moving your cock inside me…”

Teddy kissed Ollie softly as he rocked his hips back, then thrust inside. He started off slow, considerate even, but then it was clear he needed to let go and take Ollie how he needed to. He lifted his head to look down at Ollie.

He thrust in and out until Ollie didn’t feel real anymore.

Ollie was fuzzy again, soft around the edges, and warm enough to melt away.

Teddy was looking at him in that way again. The way that made words burst in his head, words like baby, like love, like soulmate. Romantic nonsense. Or that’s what he’d always thought.

“Baby?” he breathed because he couldn’t help it.

Teddy pressed their foreheads together, nodding slowly, letting his nose slide against Ollie’s.

“Love?”

Teddy kept nodding and sucked on Ollie’s top lip.

“Soulmate?”

He felt Teddy’s smile before he pressed it to Ollie’s mouth. His beard tickled Ollie’s chin and neck.

Ollie pulled his mouth away so he could whisper, “I love you.”

Teddy nodded, but his brow contorted and his eyes looked sad.

He would never be able to say it back.

But Ollie saw it in the way Teddy gazed at him.

He saw it in the distress he showed at not being able to say it himself.

“And you love me?”

Teddy’s nod turned more enthusiastic, and he snorted, pushing his nose to Ollie’s cheek, then kissing his chin, the tip of his nose, his forehead.

“You love me,” Ollie repeated, and Teddy opened Ollie’s mouth up with a kiss while continuing to nod. It was wet, and smeary, but it was the best kiss Ollie had ever had, and he smiled into it as he wrapped his legs around Teddy’s back and crossed his ankles.

“Your butterfly until the day I die.”