"You know," Theo says. "I've actually been by this place a few times, and it wasn't until Isaac mentioned you picked here to train that I learned it was actually for power users."

As promised, he walked me to the training center when it was time to go. We probably could have waited at least another half an hour to leave, but I want to spend some time on the trampolines. Much to my happiness, he held my hand as we walked, though with gloves on so it's not as good as I wanted.

There's no way we were going to walk with our hands bare. Not in this weather.

"Zane thought it was for normal training, too," I snort. "And he lives only about fifteen minutes away. It's a common misconception."

"Probably," Theo chuckles. "Mind if I join you for a bit inside, too? Or would you rather not? It's okay if you don't."

He put on shorts and a sleeveless under his sweats and hoodie, so I'd assumed either he was just weird or he was planning on coming in and doing stuff, too.

"Sure," I say. "It's not like I could stop you if you didn't want me to, anyway."

"Alright," he gives me a kiss. "Lead the way, Kier."

We enter the training center, and he fills out the paperwork and pays for a day pass as I check in and ask if it's okay to take him to the trampolines and my martial arts lesson, then I lead him to the blocks room.

"Thought you said trampolines?" Theo asks in confusion.

"I change and warm up in here," I tell him. "This is where I do my power training."

"Ah."

"You can stick your stuff in my bag," I pull it off, then strip down to my underwear.

"Okay."

Theo pulls off his hoodie and sweats as I pull on my shorts and tee, then he slips his sneakers back on and we begin doing some stretches, Theo teaching me a couple of new ones. Zane shows up as we're finishing up, and he stares at Theo.

"Who're you?" He asks. "Because you're damn sexy, boy!"

"I'm Theo," Theo introduces himself. "You must be Zane."

Zane raises an eyebrow.

"Zane," I say. "Theo is the guy whose apartment I spent the night in last night. He wanted to see me on the trampolines."

"That's a weird thing for someone who just met you," Zane says as he pulls off his bag and begins stripping off his clothes. "Incredibly suspicious."

Once he's naked, Zane switches to stone form and enters into a fighting stance.

"What are your intentions towards my friend?" Zane growls. "Choose your answer wisely, punk, or it might be the last thing you do before finding yourself saddled with a hospital bill."

To answer that, Theo grabs me and pulls me in for a kiss, one which I return so that Zane knows it's not uninvited. When we break it off, I take a look at Zane and find him staring at us with wide eyes.

"It wasn't just spending the night," I tell him. "Theo and I hit it off at the party, found ourselves attracted to each other, and decided to give things a try. It was just going to be hookups, but we decided to try a full relationship instead."

"Stupid Zane," Zane mutters to himself as he switches back to human form. "Not being comfortable dating Kieran because it would feel like you're forcing yourself on him, and here he is getting hooked up with the sexiest dude you've ever seen before."

"I accept your compliment," Theo chuckles, and Zane blushes. "You weren't kidding when you said his blushes made him cute, Kier."

"Right?" I chuckle.

"Well," Zane puffs out his chest, putting his hands on his hips. "At least I've got a bigger dick than you!"

"You can show him the pic you took of mine," Theo tells me.

I retrieve my phone from my bag and pull up the picture I took of Theo's full-sized weapon, then show it to Zane, whose jaw drops.

"You took that into your ass?" Zane asks. "What? Seriously? For your first time?"

"You're assuming I bottomed?" I ask, and he raises an eyebrow. "Okay, yeah, I bottomed. It honestly felt amazing, Zane. Have you ever done it before?"

"Once or twice," he shrugs. "I'm more of a top, myself. Damn, boy. I didn't think you were serious when you said you might hook up with someone at the party. How do you know you can trust him?"

"How did you know you could trust any of your random hookups?" I ask, and he tries to come up with a response to that. "Theo came verified."

Zane pouts at that, but pulls his underwear back on before pulling on his shorts, sleeveless, and sneakers. The three of us make our way to the trampoline rooms and stuff our bags into cubbies, then get to work exercising on them. Zane tries turning it into a competition with Theo to see who's better at jumps and flips, while I ignore his futile attempt at impressing a guardian with his skills to practice my jumps and flips.

Because I know how Zane's going to talk to Lucas, I wait until I know the class will be gone before telling them I'm heading to my martial arts lesson.

"Wait up!" Zane protests, chasing after me as Theo joins me. "I want to say hi to Lucas!"

Sure, you do.

We pull on our sneakers, then grab our bags and make our way to the training room where Lucas gives me martial arts lessons. As I expected, he's alone in here, sitting on the mats as he waits for me.

"Luucaaas!" Zane whines as I drop my bag down and begin stripping naked. "We have a probleeeeeeeem!"

"Good to see you're doing well, Kieran," Lucas says. "Your friend mentioned you went to sleep late, and I meant to send you a text, but someone was irritating me until I had to start my shift."

"PROOOOBLEEEEEM!" Zane whines louder.

"You seem rather comfortable stripping in front of this guy," Lucas tells me as I pull on my gi pants. "Especially considering you stripped all the way, Kieran."

"He's the probleeeeeem!" Zane tells him. "KIERAN GOT LAID LAST NIGHT AND THIS GUY IS THE CULPRIT!"

Lucas spends several moments in quiet thought, and I finish pulling on my gi and belt during that time.

"And his dick is bigger than mine," Zane mutters.

"You'll survive," Lucas tells Zane, though his gaze is on Theo. "So you seduced my friend? Tell me why I should believe a stranger who just met him would have genuine interest in him. Kieran is undersized, underweight, and only average by normal terms. Very few people find him attractive right now. Unlike with Zane and myself, I'm inclined to believe you don't feel that way about him and only want to use him. We're the exceptions to that view of him, not the norm."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Thanks for the vote of confidence about my looks, Lucas. More seriously, thanks for being protective of me. The way he's reacting, I'm going to guess that he and Zane weren't chased off peacefully this morning and Isaac might have threatened them or something. His tone is calm, but his words and gaze are more than enough to intimidate most people.

Fortunately, he's trying to intimidate Theo. The Patron verified his honesty with me last night by sending that turtle at the party and Theo's also a top-notch vigilante and Sivalshi Guardian.

"My intention is to have a boyfriend who feels loved," Theo answers. "One to stick with long term, hopefully until death parts us. You're right about his looks, though. Most people would find him average. But much like you and Zane, I find him, well, unbelievably attractive."

"And why should I believe that?" Lucas asks. "You are, after all, a complete stranger to him."

"Why should he believe in anyone's attractiveness to him?" Theo asks. "You and Zane were both strangers until last month, yet you both made it clear you were attracted to him soon after."

This is going to turn into a dick-waving contest, isn't it. Or power-waving, I guess, since Theo hides his genitals when he goes out in public to avoid a bulge.

"Perhaps," Lucas responds. "But Zane held off because he wasn't comfortable dating Kieran because he felt it would come off as forcing himself on Kieran due to how new Kieran is to things and how used to sex Zane is. As for me, well, I'd have liked to get with him from the start, but we have our differences we're trying to sort out. So he's seen we're at least serious about giving it a try, even if it will take us time to be ready for it. He's seen that we aren't just saying he's attractive, we actually do find him so."

Theo is silent for a few moments, and I can tell he's trying to formulate a response that fits within the 'rules' of not exposing things. He knows that I wouldn't have accepted him so easily if he wasn't both a vigilante paid by the Patron and a Sivalshi Guardian, that I'd have given him a similar treatment to Zane and Lucas: hang out a fair bit before making a decision. Without being able to say that, he can't just explain why I should believe him when he says he finds me attractive and appealing.

Wait a second… it seems like Theo is listening to something. Is the Patron talking to him directly right now?

"I can sense magic," Theo tells Lucas. "While I'm only attracted to men, their magic factors in to that appeal to me. I can sense the shadows in Kieran, the core that makes up his power. I can sense the light that makes up the core of yours, and the stone that makes up the core of Zane's. It allows me to get a general sense for how powerful someone is and what abilities they possess. Kieran's looks might be extremely average right now as he recovers from his years of malnutrition, but I can see that potential for his looks once he's toned up, and I can sense his magic, which only enhances that appeal to me. His magic is beautiful, Lucas, and it's what I'm attracted to."

"Uh-huh," Zane crosses his arms over his chest. When did he get naked again? He does know that his stone form isn't going to intimidate Theo, right? "That sounds like something made up. Something unbelievable."

"As unbelievable," Theo doesn't bat an eye at the fact that Zane's back in stone form. "As the fact that you have two other forms you haven't told your trainers about, Zane?"

Zane's look of shock is priceless.

"What do you mean?" Lucas asks. "He can shift between human and stone, and that's it."

"Really?" Theo raises an eyebrow. "Because what you call his 'human' form is actually his humanoid. He has two more forms: one that imitates a power user's, and one that imitates a regular human's. Which one do you use for sex, Zane?"

"The, uh, power user one," Zane admits. "How did you know about those? Who are you? Who sent you?"

Instead of responding, Theo strips off his clothes, though his humanoid boner is on full display. He's really good at transitioning that without being noticed, isn't he? Lucas and Zane are staring at him in confusion, then the former jumps to his feet as the latter takes a step back in response to Theo immediately becoming lightning.

Much like Zane, his lightning form is an exact replica of his real body – or I guess, his humanoid one – except it's made of lightning. It's solid yellow and glows, with some rough edges where his form shifts for the lightning, along with blue sparks dancing across his body, his irises made up of blue electricity.

Despite how terrifying the form is, it's also sexy.

"Much like you," Theo's voice is the same as in his normal form. "I'm an elemental, Zane. Though you probably also know me by a more public persona: Orwitz, the vigilante. All elementals can shift between the four forms."

The Patron gave permission for him to reveal that identity of his? Why? And why in front of Lucas, who hates the Patron and will probably quickly realize that my new boyfriend is one of those most valued by him?

Theo shifts back to his human form, turning around to dress so that he can hide his genitals without Lucas and Zane noticing. Once he's dressed, he turns back around.

"As for sensing magic," Theo points at Zane. "You do it subconsciously right now. It's part of why you're attracted to Kieran. All elementals have, well, specific tastes. If one is attracted to someone, there's a good chance all elementals are. If you want, I can teach you how to sense magic while Kieran is training his martial arts with Lucas. That way, you can sense what I sense when I'm around him."

"If that's true," Zane narrows his gaze at Theo, but returns to his humanoid form. Or rather, he shifts down to a human form. "Urgh. I hate this form. It explains why we ain't seeing that bulge, though. I'm going back, it itches."

He shifts back to his humanoid form.

"Yeah, it does for some," Theo shrugs. "I've never had that issue, fortunately."

"The power user isn't so bad," Zane says. "But probably because I've gotten a bit used to it. Still itches, though. Yeah. Teach me. If it's true, then I'll accept you. I just need to let Master Lusvaris know I won't be in the session, he's probably wondering why I'm almost late."

Zane pulls his clothes back on and grabs his bag, then he and Theo leave, and Lucas clears his throat.

"He didn't force himself on you, did he?" Lucas asks.

"I brought up sex first," I tell Lucas. "And he repeatedly made sure I was okay with things. I do trust him, Lucas. Especially since he's a vigilante featured on the news a lot."

"And you trust those ones because they seem to have backing by the Patron," Lucas sighs. "Alright. Let's get training. But I'm pushing you extra hard from now on just in case."

I suppress the urge to roll my eyes, then bow and step onto the mats. Lucas begins with a small warmup session, then launches me into the reaction training. It lasts for fifteen minutes and requires me to react in specific ways at specific signals or taps. After that, Lucas begins the session with a small review of everything he's taught me in martial arts so far, followed by the rest of the session involving me learning and practicing grappling moves.

The fact that he's teaching me these, including four moves that don't need me to grip my opponent's clothes, tells me he's focusing on what I should know if someone tries forcing himself on me. The session ends at eight, like usual, and I step off the mats and bow, then go to grab my bag.

"If they show up while I'm in the showers-" I begin, only for the door to open and Zane and Theo to enter.

Zane's gaze moves to me, and his eyes widen in surprise.

"Whoa," he says. "That is… I'm finding that incredibly sexy."

"See?" Theo asks.

"Yeah," Zane looks at Lucas. "Hey, if I found Lucas that attractive before sensing his magic, does that mean you-"

"Yes," Theo snorts. "I find Lucas quite sexy, Zane."

"Don't make a move on him," Zane tells him. "Lucas hates the Patron with a passion."

"I can hear you," Lucas says.

"Sure, sure," Zane looks at me again. "Hey, Kieran, I was thinking that since you'll just be coming over to my place in the morning for that job, anyway, you could stay the night? That way, you don't have to do that huge-ass walk first thing in the morning."

He looks at Theo.

"I won't make a move on your man," Zane assures him. "I still feel like if I did and he agreed, he'd do so out of a feeling of pressure from knowing how used to sex I am. Though I also don't steal other guys' boyfriends, anyway. Shadow Boy doesn't seem like a poly type of guy, either. Ah! But it would involve snuggling, if you're okay with that. Kieran's really nice to snuggle."

"I can agree with that," Theo says as Lucas gives a small nod in agreement. "I don't have an issue with that as long as you understand that any unwelcome moves on Kieran will be met with me removing your ability to fuck anyone ever again."

As an elemental, couldn't Zane just make a new dick for himself?

"Understood!"

He'll probably remember some other time. Or I'm wrong about this and it's only adjusting what they already have.

"You're cool with it?" I ask.

"I'm not some protective jackass," Theo flashes a killer smile at me. "I can understand having friends and don't get jealous just because my man is sleeping at another guy's apartment. Heck, I don't get jealous just because they're snuggling. It's an understandable desire with someone as cute as you, Kier, and I'm always comfortable in my relationships until I have reason to be suspicious. Since I don't, I'm not."

"That's cool," I say. "Though I probably need to head to my apartment tonight anyway, Zane. I don't have any clean clothes for tomorrow."

"You can just steal mine again if you really want," Zane tells me. "And we can toss yours in the washer and dryer like before. And then you can tell me all about the party last night and how this guy got you in bed."

"Alright," I snort, then give Theo a kiss. "I'm going to go take my shower now. Are you going to wait for me to finish or head out now?"

"I'll wait," he tells me. "Give you a better kiss goodbye."

"Alright," I give him a kiss. "I'll meet you all downstairs."

I grab my bag and make my way to the changing rooms, then strip off my clothes and head into the showers. As I scrub myself down, I can't help but think about Theo outing himself as Orwitz. Lucas and Zane both definitely understood him saying that, which means the Patron allowed it. Why did the Patron let them? How do I ask them not to tell anyone?

Something to figure out later. For now, I should really scrub this sweat off.