"How old?" Moe asked in a daze, gazing at the unruffled Kay.

"I'm actually thirty-six," Kay replied with a boyish wink and a smile, nudging him lightly with his elbow. "Eating healthy, playing sports, and having lots of sex is the secret to staying young."

"You couldn't be more than twenty-five," Moe remarked, pinching his cheeks unceremoniously to assess their firmness. "Your skin is as good as mine, if not better. You're totally lying, aren't you?"

“Believe what you want, Moe,” Kay let go of his cheeks, which were now flushed, and rubbed them. “Hey, let's not ruin the mood, you've got butter all over your fingers.”

Moe stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth, slumping down a bit to get comfy, and draped his legs over Kay's, laughing at the raised eyebrow and mumbling with his mouth full. “I'm just so cozy.”

“You're such a monster,” Kay also shifted down a bit, resting his long legs on the ottoman, swiping the popcorn aside, and elegantly picking up the wine glass in a graceful move that Moe wished he could imitate. Moe mimicked his movement with casual ease, smoothly reaching for his glass of lemonade, but then impatience got the better of him, and he just grabbed at it rather clumsily- he knew he couldn't match Kay's ineffable beauty, and he didn't care. For some reason, Moe felt sorry for himself, and sulked sadly. Kay, wincing at yet another gory scene from the zombie apocalypse movie that Moe had chosen, turned to him in surprise. “What's up with you?”

“If I were incredibly handsome, my life would be totally different,” Moe gazed dreamily at the ceiling, bringing his glass to his lips. “Everyone would adore me, I wouldn't need to use sarcasm as a shield, and I'd probably be kinder and more approachable. What do you think?”

“You're already incredibly warm,” Kei said earnestly, gently pulling Moe closer and embracing him. “I can sense the love your parents showered upon you - boundless, without any unreasonable expectations, of course. You radiate such warmth and affection; I feel like basking in it. And if you were any more handsome, the world wouldn't be able to handle that level of hot,” Kay chuckled, then suddenly dug his fingers into Moe's sides, catching him off guard as he was sipping his lemonade and trying to set the glass down on the table to avoid any spills.

Moe choked, grunted, and coughed, spitting out the lemonade which stung unpleasantly in his nose, dribbling down. Shrieking from the relentless tickling, he dropped the glass on the couch and lunged, growling playfully, at Kay, who was laughing uproariously and lazily fending him off.

“Oh, you! I got lemonade up my nose! I'm gonna get you!” Moe pulled up his polo vindictively, latching onto Kay's muscular frame, while Kay, quite unexpectedly for someone with his model looks and mature age, burst into laughter, squirming and attempting to fend off Moe's playful assault, only to become even more agitated, laughing contentedly as Moe tickled his sides, eliciting wild laughter.

They sprawled on the couch, tossing cushions onto the floor as they tumbled, with Moe ending up on top of Kay, relentlessly tickling him until Kay finally pleaded, gasping for breath between fits of laughter, “Aah, that's enough! Somebody save me! Get this damn leech off! Are you trying to kill me, Moe? Help!”

Joe and his men rushed in at the commotion, assessed the scene with inscrutable expressions, and then left, leaving Moe, wiping away tears of laughter, to sit atop the breathless Kay triumphantly, and declare, “So, will you acknowledge me as your king, oh Sir White Feather?”

“Why White Feather?” Kay asked curiously, stretching out. “Ahhh, because of the hair. Well, you're not very original, Moe.”

“It's because of the scar," Moe grumbled resentfully, lifting his polo shirt to reveal an old, whitish scar resembling the shape of a feather, which stood out against his otherwise perfect, tanned body. “How did you get it?”

"When I was a kid," Kay adjusted the pillow for more comfort and casually rested his arms behind his head, not bothering to adjust his polo shirt. "Dad tried to hit me with an iron, I managed to dodge it, but it still grazed me a bit."

“Holy shit!” emotionally blurted out Moe, “Why?”

“He didn’t need much to start hitting,” Kay indifferently shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t remember already. Someone was always yelling and someone was always getting hit in our house. Things were really shitty, that’s why I ran away when I was fifteen. Until social services got hold of me and put me in a foster family. I ran away again because my foster dad tried to touch me. Who the fuck needs a family like this?”

“That's why you began... um...” Moe paused, feeling awkward, and Kay finished his sentence.

“Who knows, maybe, but I believe it's just who I am. I enjoy a laid-back lifestyle, doing nothing much, and having fun. I've got a knack for sex, I could be a walking sex encyclopedia. What's so funny? “ Kay playfully stuck out his lower lip, still looking handsome.

“No offense, but it sounds pretty cocky like you've won a Nobel Prize," Moe lay on top of him, his fists supporting his cheeks. “Have you ever considered trying something else?”

“I haven't felt the need to,” Kay replied, looking surprised. “Why would I, when I've already found something I'm passionate about? You know the saying, "Find something you love, and you'll never have to work again."

"Your line of work comes with a strict expiration date. Who's going to fancy you when you're old, wrinkled, and resemble a Shar Pei?" Moe teased, pulling down Kay's lower eyelids and chuckling. "Like this!"

"Quit ruining the merchandise!" Kay scolded, swatting at Moe's hands and yawning. "Well, I've already saved up a decent amount, and there's a market for older age too - escorting them to formal gatherings, for instance, followed by a cozy wrap-up in a hotel room - not all older omegas are keen on dating the young ones. Don't fret, Moe, Uncle Kay will always be in demand. What about you? What do you enjoy doing?"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Well, I suppose digital consulting, similar to what I'm doing now,” Moe pondered, gazing into space with a distant look. “This way, I wouldn't be confined to an office for conventional hours but could offer consultancy from a cozy home office at my convenience. I could focus on raising Miny, perhaps even consider having another child, but this time through an anonymous sperm donor from a sperm bank. Travel.”

“Why opt for an anonymous donor?” Kay interjected suddenly, tilting his chin to catch Moe's eye. “What's wrong with your possessive, attractive boyfriend?”

“You just answered your own question,” Moe responded grimly, feeling a pang from the direction the conversation had taken. “Possessive, clingy, intrusive—is that enough?”

“Seems like something from the distant past, doesn't it?” Kay deduced astutely, moving himself to take a seat while settling Moe on his lap. He positioned himself on the couch, his burden sniffling irritably, fluffed the cushions for added comfort, and reached for his glass of wine. “So, tell me, buddy.”

“Why don't we focus on you instead?” Moe suggested sadly, letting out a long sigh when Kay persisted with his curiosity. “Well... it's a boring story, really, but with a tragic end. My family worked on an important project, located in a secure facility. They were out of reach, but I wasn't. You see, I wasn't exactly on the right path back then.”

"Yeah, and now you are a Spanish monk," Kay grinned, tilting his head to finish his wine, and Moe nudged the bottom of the glass, causing it to spill over his face and then down his neck. "There's the evidence," Kay, not bothered, lifted Moe's shirt and wiped himself. "And then?"

"Don't interrupt," Moe grumbled. "I didn't stay cooped up in the compound, didn't go to university with the guards tailing me; I just let loose. Went out, partied, lived it up. Then, one day, I ran into Leonardo. He splashed me with dirty water as he drove by, but then he stopped, offered to drive me to the store for clothes, and looked like a cover model—just like you. I was trying on clothes in the fitting room when he kissed me. He asked me to keep our relationship a secret from my family to surprise them. Two months later, he gave me a diamond ring, and I bawled my eyes out when I accepted it. He insisted my family fly down for our engagement party. It didn't bother me that Leonardo wanted it on a specific day—a memorable one for him, you see," Moe trailed off, his voice fading.

“And?” Kay prodded gently, his brows furrowed with concern.

“And then they died in a plane crash,” Moe recounted, his gaze filled with sorrow. “I blame myself for their deaths.”

“Oh,” Kay recoiled, his complexion draining of color. “That's a harrowing tale, Moe. But you're not to blame for their deaths, don't even entertain such thoughts! You were deceived like anyone else would've been. We, for instance, are well-versed in the art of seduction- how to engage with different personality types, how to inspire affection, how to tactfully discourage attachment, ensuring there's no lingering bitterness. No one can resist, you see?”

“I could've told my family, but instead, I trusted a criminal," Moe murmured, his forehead resting against Kay's. “They asked me to tell them everything, but I was keeping my relationship a secret like an idiot.”

“Everyone's been screwed over like that, everyone,” Kay asserted firmly, gripping Moe's ears gently and giving them a reassuring pat. “But that's no reason to close yourself off from love for the rest of your life, Moe, especially when you have an abundance of it, pouring out to everyone around you, including me.”

“Have you ever experienced betrayal?” Moe sniffled, wiping his nose with the back of his hand and lightly touching Kay's nose.

"Get a tissue, Moe," Kay urged gently, fetching one from the table and handing it to him. "I've never had snot smeared on me before. Sure, I've been betrayed countless times, and I'm quite fickle, but I'm also resilient. It's like I have this natural defense mechanism against deep emotional wounds. I used to worry about not being able to feel things deeply, but then I realized, so what? I'll always find contentment in my life."

"I wish I could have your mindset," Moe lamented enviously, receiving a playful slap on the forehead. "Why are you hitting me? I'll smack you!"

"You'll get beaten," Kay retorted with a grin, recalling a childhood saying. "Don't idealize others; everyone has their own struggles. You've inherited a lot from your family, so why not save it for someone who truly deserves it? Just don't be a downer, all right? I usually offer sex in these situations, but it seems like you're not interested, are you?"

"How about you?" Moe asked, surprised, his rear end squirming. "No, you're kidding."

"Well, it depends on the vibe, if you're up for it, I'll jump right in," Kay grinned mischievously, and Moe chuckled in response, burying his face in Kay's shoulder.

"If that's some kind of special seduction move, Kay, it's not working on me," Moe said, still smiling as he straightened up. "I've gotta feed Miny, and you can pick out a movie."

"Hallelujah!" Kay exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air with joy. "Horror movies aren't my thing, Moe. We'll stick with the good old classics. And by the way, I haven't even started trying to seduce you, so don't get ahead of yourself, buddy. You'd be head over heels for me."

"Mm-hmm," Moe grinned incredulously, because in all the time they'd spent together, Kay had only managed to give him a sexual thrill on the first day, and afterward, it was just uncontrollable laughter or the urge to slap him.

He strolled to the nursery with a cheerful smile spreading across his face. Over the past two weeks, he'd shared enough laughter with Kay to last a year, finally pushing aside the dull boredom. Spending time with Kay was incredibly refreshing compared to the emotional weight of Einar or the depressing Manny. It was filled with lightness and playful banter, exactly what Moe enjoyed. Miny greeted him with an exultant squeal, sitting on his plump bottom and reaching out his arms. Moe lifted his delicate body, relishing the sweet, milky scent as he unbuttoned his shirt with one hand.

"Missed me, champ? Well, Daddy needs some fun too. I've rearranged my work schedule for the next two weeks to split time between you and Kay. Wait, do not tear the shirt, sweet pie," and pressing eagerly sucking Miny against him, who overwhelmed with emotion, closed his eyes and reached out with his other hand to secure the other nipple. Moe obediently gave him the other nipple and scrunched his nose as Miny squeezed it. He then softened with affection and kissed Miny’s head.

Smiling Datu was tidying up the toys, transferring them from the mat to the shelves, while patiently awaiting for Moe to finish. He gently took the contented Miny, who had worked himself into a peaceful sniffle.

"You'll be putting him to bed tonight, all right?" Moe hurriedly added, reproaching himself for leaving his son in haste. He realized that the time with his lively friend under contract was limited, and soon he would be off to another assignment, leaving behind a long stretch of boredom.

Kay stood by the panoramic window in a relaxed pose, lazily turning to Moe as he heard footsteps.

"Now, horror movie enthusiast, we're going to watch a legendary film by the master of suspense - Hitchcock! And no complaints!"

"I love his films, so no complaints from me," Moe said as he flopped onto the messy couch, grabbing a cushion from the floor. "Come closer," he added, sliding into Kay's warm embrace, resting his head on his shoulder and snuggling close. It felt comforting to be like this, almost like being with a brother, Moe sighed softly.

Sensing the shift in mood, Kay tenderly planted a kiss on the top of Moe's head, much like Moe had recently done with Miny. Moe instinctively tilted his forehead forward for another kiss, followed by his nose - a familiar gesture from his older brother, who often showed affection this way. Kay obliged with kisses on the forehead and nose, then paused, his gaze questioning if Moe desired more.

“Moe?” Einar, as usual, appeared at an inopportune moment. Moe narrowed his eyes warily, sizing up the approaching figure, and spoke with forced cheerfulness.