Back at the house, Ethan flopped right across Gabriel's bed, arms and legs spread out like he owned the place.
He'd picked up Gabriel's photo, propped it on his chest, and kept rubbing his thumb along the frame—barely even noticing he was doing it.
He started humming, low and tuneless, just filling the silence because he could.
Sometimes he'd grin, the kind you get when a secret daydream catches you off guard and nobody's there to judge you.
"You're mine, Angel," he whispered, eyes drifting shut. Then he laughed, a quick, easy sound, like he was correcting himself out loud. "Not yet. But you will be."
He hugged the photo a little tighter, like maybe Gabriel could feel it from wherever he was.
So Ethan kept humming and smiling to himself, lost in it, while across town, Gabriel walked home with a bag that gave away more than he'd ever admit.
The moment Gabriel's door clicked shut, he slipped off his shoes and set his bags down as quietly as he could.
The apartment felt empty—until he heard that humming, warm and steady, coming from down the hall.
He frowned, following the sound. Each step took him closer to his bedroom and—he stopped, just outside the door.
There was Ethan, stretched across his bed like he belonged there, clutching Gabriel's photo to his chest.
He hummed lazily, pressed a quick kiss to the glass, then leaned back with a grin that was way too open, almost worshipful.
Gabriel's heart jumped, traitor that it was. For a split second, he nearly laughed. But Ethan looked up and caught him in the doorway.
Ethan lit up, like he'd been caught doing something heroic instead of ridiculous. "Angel—"
Gabriel cut him off fast, voice sharp even though it caught at the edges. "Do you ever think about boundaries?"
Ethan just blinked, not even a hint of shame. Then his eyes flicked to the bags Gabriel was holding, and he was right back to excitement. "What's that? Did you buy something?"
Gabriel clenched his jaw and turned away before Ethan could come any closer. "You're impossible."
Ethan scrambled after him, practically bouncing, eyes glued to the bags like he'd just spotted buried treasure.
Gabriel rolled his eyes to the ceiling, muttering, "Why do I bother…"
He dropped the bags on the counter with a soft thunk, already peeling off his jacket, like he could just shed the weirdness he'd walked in on.
Ethan lounged in the doorway, arms folded, that grin tugging at his mouth again. "You know…" He stretched out the words, milking them, "for someone who yells about boundaries, you were smiling pretty big back there."
Gabriel froze, halfway through hanging up his coat. He turned slowly, face blank, but his ears were burning. "I wasn't smiling."
"Oh, you were." Ethan pushed off the doorframe, stepped closer, still grinning. "Caught you, Angel. You looked… happy."
Gabriel's throat tightened. He went back to his coat, pretending it suddenly needed his full attention. "Don't read into things. And stop calling me that."
Ethan just tilted his head, glancing at the bags on the counter. "You bought something for me, didn't you?"
Gabriel sighed, rubbing his temple. "You assume too much."
"And you deny too much," Ethan shot back, voice lighter but closer, close enough their shoulders almost touched. "One of us is lying."
Gabriel let out a breath—half laugh, half surrender—and pushed past Ethan into the kitchen. "You're insufferable."
Ethan followed, a bit quieter now, but not quiet enough for Gabriel to miss. "And you're falling."
Gabriel didn't answer. He kept busy with the bags, but the way his lips twitched at the corners gave him away all over again.
Ethan didn't bother waiting. As soon as Gabriel reached into the first bag, Ethan was leaning over his shoulder, eyes bright.
"You actually bought them," he blurted, diving in before Gabriel could stop him. "You really did."
He pulled out snack after snack, then a can of something fizzy, his grin getting wider with every new find. "Angel, you listened. I was joking when I said your fridge was boring, but—look at this!"
He tore open a packet, took a dramatic bite, and let his eyes flutter shut. "Mmm. That's it. That's the taste of love."
Gabriel arched an eyebrow, arms folded, but a smile threatened at the edge of his mouth. "It's processed sugar."
"It's devotion," Ethan said, mouth half full, waving the snack like it was some holy relic. "Don't downplay it. You went out of your way, for me. Admit it—you couldn't help yourself."
Gabriel shook his head and retreated to the sink, like a little distance might help. "You're insufferable."
Ethan hopped up onto the counter like he owned the place, feet swinging, just grinning at Gabriel. "Look at you, feeding me again," he said, crumbs stuck at the corner of his mouth. He leaned in, voice low, teasing. "Better watch it, Angel. You keep this up, and I might never leave."
Gabriel turned around, ready to snap back, but that look in Ethan's eyes stopped him.
Something tugged at his chest—something he didn't want to name.
He swallowed and turned back to the sink, muttering, "Maybe I should've let you starve."
Ethan just laughed, bright and easy, grabbing another snack without missing a beat.
He tore open a new bag, popped a bite into his mouth, and glanced over at Gabriel, who stubbornly kept his eyes on the dishes, sleeves shoved up and jaw set tight.
"You're seriously not even a little curious?" Ethan asked, shaking the bag his way.
"No." Gabriel didn't look up.
Ethan gasped, all fake shock. "No? Don't tell me you've never tried these. That's just sad, Angel."
Gabriel dried his hands, taking his time. "I don't eat junk."
"Junk?" Ethan clutched at his chest, acting wounded. "This isn't junk, it's—" He paused, grin spreading wider. "—it's joy."
Gabriel finally shot him a flat look. "It's just chemicals and sugar."
"That's the point. Pure sugar, nothing better." Ethan leaned in, holding out the snack, waving it just out of reach. "Come on. One bite. For science."
Gabriel just shook his head, sighing. "I said no."
Ethan jumped off the counter and closed the gap, his grin getting downright dangerous. He held the snack right up, daring him. "One bite, Angel. If you hate it, I'll never bug you again."
Gabriel started to refuse, but Ethan was already right there, stubborn as ever.
"Ace—"
"One bite," Ethan said again, softer, like a secret.
Gabriel stared at him, at the ridiculous crumbs and that wild look in his eyes. He let his shoulders drop. With a grumpy sigh, he leaned in and took a bite.
Ethan lit up, grinning like he'd won the lottery. "Ha! Victory!" He clapped, full of himself. "See? Not so bad."
Gabriel chewed and made a face. "It's terrible."
Ethan leaned back, still grinning. "You loved it."
Gabriel turned away, hiding a twitch of a smile. "Never again."
"Tomorrow again," Ethan shot back, already digging in for more.