"You guys are all here!" Brady exclaimed at the small group of people he'd gathered for his idea.

"If it helps, I wasn't going to come," said Met, crossing his arms. "And what happened to your lip, are you okay?"

Brady had worn baggy clothes that covered up his entire body but of course he couldn't hide his face. Luckily Jade aimed a secret smirk his way and jabbed his elbow at Met's side. "Quit being so nosy. Besides, we told you you could stay if you wanted to."

"And then you got all pissy and said you'd miss us too much," Sean said. "You even got in the car first."

"Yeah well, I can't have you two running around so casually in these dangerous times," said Met.

"Uh huh, totally," Jade rolled his eyes and Sean laughed.

"Now that you know we're safe, you can head back Met, we're giving you our permission," said Sean.

"No. You're not getting rid of me so easily. Who'll drive you back?" came Met's rhetorical question.

"Ignore him Brady. So... what is it, what did you so desperately want to discuss?" asked Jade.

"It's Alex, and Devi..."

Brady lay down everything he knew,
everyone listened and chipped in to ask questions. By the time they were done, Leo had his hands around Brady's waist while Met's head rested calmly on Jade's lap. Sean was the only one crossing his legs and hands. If any of them were surprised at Leo's display of affection, no one showed it.

"So I was thinking nothing fancy,  and a place where they can actually talk," said Brady. "You talk to Alex Leo, I'll talk to Devante, but only tell him he's going on a date and don't mention who he's going with."

"You got it," Leo said as he took out his phone.

"I'll start on the food and drinks I guess, this needs to happen tonight people. We need lights too, blankets and something like a picnic basket or just a low table. Candles would do too," said Brady.

"I'll help with the food," said Met.

"Fine, we'll go get the lights and million other things you mentioned," Jade sighed. He walked towards the  door with Sean following behind him.

"Leo could you help us with a little grocery shopping?" Brady asked and let Met start on the food while he pulled out his phone to call Devi.
He scribbled a list really quickly and gave it to Leo.

"Thanks hun," Brady said without thinking and pecked Leo's lips.

Leo stood unmoving like he was in shock. Only looking at Brady.

"What is it? Get going!" Brady said. Clearly not understanding Leo's behavior.

"Oh yeah, right," Leo walked out the door.

"Just a moment," Brady said to Met and called Devi.

"Heyyy!" Devi said from the other side.

"Devi!" Brady replied. "Cancel your plans for tonight."

"We're meeting up? You know they're already cancelled."

"Not exactly, you're meeting someone, on a date. There's this guy I really want you to meet."

There was silence on the other side of the phone for a while before Devi spoke.

"Brady, I've told you, Alex is it for me. I really can't look at anyone else, even if I tried.

"I know! But trust me on this one. Just this once. I've got a really good feeling about this guy and if it doesn't work out, you don't have to ever listen to me again babes."

"Hmm, that's not really as simple as it sounds, I mean, you really do talk a lot."

"So you'll do it?" Brady laughed.

"Yeah I guess, but just this once," he heard his friend sigh. "Arggh now what am I going to wear?"

"Trust me, just be yourself, I'll pick you up later," Brady hung up the phone.

Getting back to the kitchen, Met had everything so well under control that Brady was actually impressed.
"You do this often," Brady asked.

"Now, yeah. I have to keep my men happy," said Met.

"I'm sure they'd love you even if you burned their breakfast every morning," Brady smirked. "I mean, what choice do they have right?"

Met laughed. "Did he agree to do it?" He asked referring to Devi.

"With my skills Met, I mean, I could sweet talk the devil into holding my hand of course he agreed to do it!" Brady might have sashayed if he had long hair.

"Right," Met laughed. "So you and Leo huh?"

"It's whatever. It's not really official or anything," Brady got vegetables and started dicing them.

"You sound like you want it to be though," said Met.

"I don't know if I want that, everything is so confusing right now."

"Yeah I understand."

They continued working in comfortable silence for a few minutes, then they went on to talk about pointless things and their daily lives. Leo came back first, then Sean and Jade.
It took close to two hours till everything was done. The team had a quick meal and quickly drove to the place Leo suggested was perfect.

First they lay a huge blanket then placed the table at the center of it. It was a low and small table, but big enough to hold all the food they'd prepared, and a few candles.

Met paused while placing them, "Hey Sean, maybe we could–"

"Don't even think about it," Jade cut him off.

Sean winked at Met secretly and continued to focus on the tasks at hand.
Brady had left to pick Devi up as the rest finished the set up. And by the time they had arrived, everything was perfect.

"Are you sure about this?" Devi asked as Brady led him to the table.

"Trust me, just wait here."

Devi looked nervous from where Brady was now standing, next to Leo, Jade and Met. In a place that was a little secluded so they couldn't be seen.

Leo had also suggested they lay the blanket right next to a big tree, where they could easily switch the lights on from.
Met caught Sean signaling from behind the tree for him to join him, and since Sean was in charge of the lights and they weren't on yet, he figured there was a problem.
Crouching low, he ran over to Sean and made sure Devi didn't see them.

There was no way around it, Alex just appeared out of no where.

"What's going on Leo? Who am I supposed—" Alex stopped dead in his tracks and everyone followed his gaze to where Devi sat, waiting.

"Jesus Christ he looks so beautiful!" Alex said even as he took a step back in retreat.

"Where do you think you are going?" Leo caught his wrist to stop him.

"You set me up," Alex was clutching at straws.

"I swear to God Alex get your ass over there or I'll do it for you!" Leo sounded like his patience was running thin.

"Okay okay," Alex took a deep breath and smoothed his hair while pacing. "But what do I say? How do I act?"

"You don't act, now stop freaking out and go be yourself," Leo said.

Alex took three steps in Devi's direction then turned back. "What if he hates me?" he asked.

"For fuck's sake Alex!" Leo looked one step away from slapping sense into the man.

"Okay okay," Alex took more deep breaths then finally walked to wear Devi sat.

"Wow," both Brady and Jade said.

"Yes, it's that bad," Leo replied.

"Shit the lights!" Jade looked to the direction of his husbands. "I'll go see what those idiots are up to."

Brady nodded then watched Devi stiffen as an Alex who looked sick came into view. It created the perfect cover for Jade to slither away. Devi looked like he couldn't quite believe his eyes. Alex sat down across from him and just stared. This went on for a long time. Long enough for someone to think something was wrong.

"Umm, Leo?" Brady called. "We have a problem. We have the batteries. So now would be a good time to get them there."

Leo looked at where the batteries rested in Brady's hand. "Shit we'd better go then, while they're still distracted."

They were now five people trying to hide behind a single tree and make a few lights work. While a few feet next to them, the people they were trying to hide from.

"Why aren't they saying anything?" Brady whispered. "Quick, maybe the lights will help."

"I love you," they all paused everything when they heard Alex.

"Oh shit, way to be subtle," Sean whispered.

"That's my boy right there," Leo whispered back proudly.

"Sorry it took me so long to finally tell you but I've been a coward and you're way out of my league and I know I'm coming on strong right now but I'm sorry I don't know any other way to say this, I love you Devi. You're perfect to me, and you deserve the world. I just really needed to say that," Alex finished.

"Okay just go ahead and propose," whispered Jade.

"I—I..." Devi stuttered.

"I understand if you don't have feelings for me, of course it'd hurt like a bitch but like I said, I don't think I'm good enough for—"

"Are you kidding me?" Devi replied. "I didn't even think you noticed me in that way. God knows I've done everything to get your attention but you never notice me. You're the love of my life Alex, it's you or no one else. I'm a little too crazy about you. Not good enough for me? Shut your ass up!"

"So you..." said Alex.

"Yes, I'm in love with you," Devi assured him.

"I don't believe it," Alex sounded hysterical, but in a good way.

"I hope this is convincing enough," Devi's voice died away and soon they heard kissing sounds.

"The switch Met!" Jade whispered. "And team Devi wins, you guys owe me and Brady money."

Met pressed a button and the grass around the blanket began to glow. They all tried to peek to see the magical moment the other two shared.

"Awww!" Brady whispered. "Look at them go! It's like watching a movie."

"I see you guys!" Devi said. "But we can take it from here."

All five looked pretty embarrassed as they came out from the tree and said awkward goodbyes. Jade winked at Devi and pretended to be sucking an invisible dick, while Brady was a whole other thing.

"What you are witnessing is all an illusion," Brady moved his hands like a shaman or a rain dancer would. "We were never here!"

"Sorry about this," Leo said as he hoisted Brady up and walked away.

"I want ice cream," Brady said when they neared the car and had said their goodbyes to Met's family.

"Now? It's late, I'll get you ice cream tomorrow."

"But I want it now," Brady pouted as they got into the car. "Don't ruin the moment."

"Brady, if we get ice cream now, we'll get home when it's well past midnight."

Brady didn't respond immediately which made Leo think the discussion was over.

"It's amazing, what you did today," Leo tried for a change of topic.

"You know," Brady continued like he hadn't heard Leo. "That thong isn't the only thing I bought from that store."

A little long while after midnight, they were back home, Brady had his ice cream. And he was still trying to feed some to Leo.

"Come on, try it. I saved the best part for you," Brady persisted.

"There's no best part in ice cream," replied Leo.

Brady gasped like Leo had shoved him. "You wound me."

Leo put the ice cream in his mouth and took the rest into the freezer. "Now can we go to bed?"

"We've never really–"

"I know, but I want to. With you," said Leo.

Brady nodded and they got in bed together, drawing up close until his head was on Leo's shoulder.

"I'm so proud of you," Leo said after a while.

Brady's heart melted. Such words weren't supposed to throw him so off balance, but there he was, tumbling down with only Leo to break his fall. He linked their fingers together, and kissed the back of Leo's hand.

"Stop catching me off guard all the time, it's unnerving," said Brady.

"It's cute when you get unnerved," Leo said.

"There you go again! Okay let's sleep."

"Okay good night hun," said Leo.

"Arrghh!" Brady was lucky Leo couldn't see him, because his smile went from one ear to the other. The last thing he heard was Leo's soft chuckle before sleep evaded his senses.

                          _______________

Somewhere in the night Leo startled awake. His breathing came back to normal after a few deep breaths. He kissed Brady's cheek and walked out to stare into the night. He always felt her tiny figure hug him from behind and this time was no different. He tried to shake off the thought but this time she spoke.

"Can't sleep?" he heard her say. Except it wasn't her, it was Brady and he was real. He got butterflies just feeling his warmth on his bare torso as Brady hugged him from behind.

"Come back to bed with me," In any other occasion, Brady's sleepy voice would have stroked his cock but now he tried to look for all the excuses. He came up with nothing.

"I can't. I won't be able to," Leo failed terribly to hide how dejected he felt.

"I'll hold you till you sleep, I also happen to know a really boring story," said Brady.

How did he manage to always be so cheerful? Leo wondered. He shook his head and turned to Brady, still locked in his embrace.

"I don't want to get used to it," he whispered.

"Then only for tonight," Brady said as one hand went to rest on Leo's cheek. He nodded and Brady led him inside.

With a heavy heart, Leo climbed onto the bed and placed himself where Brady had indicated. He placed himself between Brady's legs with his back to his chest, the other man's own back against the headboard.

Leo felt fingers softly running through his hair, massaging his scalp and he began to relax.

"Good?" asked Brady.

"Mhmm," he replied.

"I could sing you lullabies but my voice would probably keep you awake, it's that bad," Brady laughed.

"Oh I know," replied Leo, remembering how he'd screamed his lungs out with Bree trying to sing Barbie. He felt secure in Brady's arms as he turned to his side, as he tangled their legs together.

"But here's my story, once upon a time, there was a sad unicorn," said Brady.

"How is this supposed to be a boring story?" Leo didn't understand why he was already feeling drowsy. He yawned. Brady's fingers felt like magic in his hair.

"Did you know that yawning is contagious?" No sooner had he said it than he yawned too.

"Oh really?" Leo asked while he yawned.

"Stop it!" Brady pleaded. Covering his ears and closing his eyes so he wouldn't know if Leo yawned again, they finally broke the chain reaction in fits of laughter.

"As I was saying!" Brady paused for Leo to settle once more. "The unicorn was sad because he couldn't cross the river and meet with his other friends. He was smaller than they were and quite sickly and weak. But he was the sweetest and so he was loved, and one of the bigger unicorns crossed back for him. 'We'll figure something out' she told him then noticed a few rocks by the river side. She showed him what to do and soon they began to throw in the rocks to make it shallower. One rock, two rocks, three rocks, four!"

"I thought I was supposed to sleep," Leo complained because of Brady's horrible singsong voice. But despite himself, he sounded sleepier than he'd ever been.

"Shut up. Here comes the magic," replied Brady hurriedly. "Five rocks, six rocks, seven rocks, eight! Nine rocks, ten rocks..."

Leo heard Brady keep counting, he should have realized the story was a trick but the voice was now so far away and he sank further into Brady's embrace and hugged him tighter.

For the first time in a really long time, in the arms of the person who brought him more happiness than he probably deserved, Leo fell into a deep sleep.

                        ________________

Brady woke up to the sound of steady breathing against his neck and he figured this time he wasn't alone. Somewhere in the night they'd moved around until Leo was now holding him and not the other way round.

Brady untangled himself from Leo carefully so as not to wake him. Only when he looked back did he realize he'd never seen Leo sleep before. And what a sight it was! He looked utterly peaceful, comfortable and so innocent it warmed Brady's heart. Not to mention the fact that he was more than handsome doing absolutely nothing.

Brady washed up and went to get breakfast started. He had barely even started when he heard the doorbell ring. He decided to take his time walking to the door thinking who it could be.

He didn't expect what he saw, she stood many inches shorter than him and looked up as her curious eyes widened. Her close to perfect face was shaped by a cascade of wavy red hair.

"You're not Leo," she said.

"Brady," he smiled. "And you?"

What she said next had his smile vanishing faster than it had come. It twisted his insides when he heard it.

"I'm Lisa," she said.

____________________________________

Yikes, bet you didn't see that coming huh? 😅

Thanks for reading the chapter hope you enjoyed it ❤️