Street Smarts & Stolen Hearts

by Rob Hunter

  Daveth was already awake by the time he entered, which was surprising considering the other man tended to lay in until woken. He set down the glass on the side table, watching with concern as Daveth turned tired and frustrated eyes towards him, shifting up lazily to rest the plate on his lap.

  “You okay?” Edwin asked, watching Daveth struggle to eat with one hand, despite the fact that Edwin had already cut up the food for him.

  “Just tired.” Daveth shrugged.

  “Didn’t sleep?” Edwin guessed, eyes trailing down Daveth’s body for any signs of worsening injuries. Daveth nodded. “Any particular reason?”

  “My ribs hurt,” Daveth admitted quietly. Edwin pressed his lips together, moving Daveth’s plate to the side as he lifted up the younger man’s shirt and assessed the dark bruising. Daveth sighed, letting him prod around, but despite the fact the bruises were still stark and somewhat horrifying, there had been some improvement. They had become less black, and were now spotted with yellow here and there. Daveth hissed as his fingers traced along one particularly bad bruise.

  “Are you taking your painkillers?” Edwin asked, sitting back with a frown. Daveth pursed his lips, gently shaking his head. “Well, that’s probably why it hurts. The doctor said you should be taking them for at least the next two weeks,” he pointed out, exasperated.

  “They’re really difficult to take. I just keep choking on them,” Daveth argued. Edwin furrowed his brows, reaching for the bottle of painkillers resting on the side table.

  “They don’t look that big?” he pointed out, quirking an eyebrow.

  “I have a really bad gag reflex,” Daveth admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. Edwin glanced at him, before turning the pills around and double-checking the dosage.

  “I’ll be back in a minute or so,” Edwin said, taking the pills with him to the kitchen. He could just crush the pills into the powder, although it probably wouldn’t do anything for the taste.

  He boiled the kettle and rummaged through the pantry until he found some honey and lemon juice. He smirked, satisfied as he grabbed a spare glass and poured some honey into it, mixing it with the lemon juice. As the kettle boiled he poured the boiling water in, watching it dissolve the honey mixture. He got a rolling pin and crushed a couple of the pills, spooning the powder into the drink and mixing it.

  “What’s that for?” It was Solomon who asked, walking lazily into the kitchen and placing his empty plate onto the counter, moving it to the sink only when Edwin glared at him.

  “Daveth. He’s having trouble swallowing pills,” he replied. Solomon looked at the mixture, nodding, before glancing behind him where the others were gathered in the living room and lowering his voice. “About Daveth...” he started, something almost shy in his voice. “Do you think it’ll be a dick move to ask him out?” He added, “I mean, I don’t want to put pressure on him whilst his injured or anything...”

  “Why are you asking me?” Edwin retorted, trying to keep his voice level and ignoring the way bitter jealousy tightened in his gut. It wasn’t his business if Solomon was interested in someone else. That was just life.

  “You’re my best friend,” Solomon replied, staring at him earnestly. Edwin sighed.

  “Ask him if you want, just make sure he knows that we’re not going to kick him out if he says no,” Edwin suggested, pushing aside his own feelings. He was Solomon’s friend first. That was always how things were going to work between them. Solomon nodded eagerly.

  “Yeah, of course. I’ll ask him later on today. Thanks, Edwin,” Solomon said, hugging him briefly, before giving him a wide smile and walking back into the living room. Edwin watched him go, heavily conflicted before taking the cooling honey mixture and returning to Daveth.

  Daveth stirred as the door to his room opened. He’d decided to nap after taking the painkillers with Edwin’s help, especially now they had helped to numb the pain enough for him to actually be able to get to sleep. He yawned, turning on his side and glancing at who entered, smiling softly as Solomon walked in.

  “Hey, buddy,” Solomon greeted, wringing his hands together in front of him as he took a seat next to Daveth’s bed. “I didn’t realize you were asleep,” he added, his knee bouncing restlessly.

  “I was just dozing,” Daveth replied, shifting into a sitting position as he stared questioningly at Solomon. “Are you okay?” he asked, the nervousness radiating off the older man almost tangible in the air.

  “Yeah, I’m good. Great, even.” Solomon laughed nervously. “I was just...thinking about maybe asking you something...”

  “Go on.” Daveth had a sinking feeling about where this was going. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Solomon, or that he even particularly wanted to say no, it was just...he still hadn’t figured out what was going on with Ellis and he couldn’t say yes to this and no to the other, or vice versa, without feeling like something was distinctly wrong, but he didn’t want to say no to either, but that wasn’t exactly an option.

  “I was thinking, if you wanted, and like, it’s completely up to you, whether maybe you wanted to, you know, go out?” Solomon asked, voice shaking ever so slightly. Daveth swallowed, clenching his hands in the sheet, because now this was a lot harder, because with Ellis, at least it had been a heat of the moment thing, but now, he felt like he was going to have to hurt someone’s feelings even when he wanted so desperately to say yes. But the more he remained silent, the more he could see the doubt overtaking Solomon’s expression.

  “I mean...” He trailed off, trying to actually for once in his life explain what he was feeling coherently. “I mean, I do, but um, I kind of need to wrap my thoughts around things before I can really say yes, because, um, well, it’s complicated, but I just, well, I need time to think about it,” he mumbled, glancing down at the floor so he didn’t have to look at Solomon’s stricken expression.

  “Time to think...” Solomon repeated dubiously. “I mean, yeah, okay, that makes sense,” he added, speaking a little too fast. Daveth chewed on his bottom lip, watching Solomon run a shaky hand through his hair. “I need to go and rest up for my shift,” Solomon decided, abruptly getting to his feet and hastily exiting the room.

  Daveth flopped back against the pillow with a heavy groan, honestly wanting to just scream about this entire situation. He stared up at the ceiling morosely. Why did this stuff have to be so bloody difficult? Why did he have to have feelings for multiple people at once, goddammit.

  ***

  Daveth sighed, scratching at the sling on his arm and glancing pitifully towards the door every now and again. He hadn’t seen Solomon since the day before, and he knew the older man was avoiding him, considering what had happened. God, if only he could have said yes. But he wanted to say yes to Ellis. He wanted more than he could have, which was the problem, and he honestly was on the verge of ripping his hair out in frustration.

  The door opened and he looked up hopefully, but sighed when only Edwin entered. He’d half-hoped it would be Solomon, but then, he didn’t have anything else he could say. For all his talk about needing time to think, his thoughts had yet to lead him to a solid answer.

  “Wow, you look cheerful. What’s up with you?” Edwin asked, placing a glass full of the honey mixture on the side table as he waited for it to cool down.

  “Can I ask you for advice?” he asked with a sigh. Edwin tilted his head, but nodded, smiling encouragingly. “So, this is going to sound stupid, but say, hypothetically, you are, like, interested in more than one person at once, and they’re both interested in you, but you don’t want to say no to one of them, what would you do?”

  “Is this about Solomon?” Edwin asked, leaning back against the chair. Daveth blinked at him, a blush spreading across his cheeks. “Solomon told me he wanted to ask you out,” Edwin explained with a shrug.

  “Yeah. He did,” Daveth admitted. “And I kind of want to say yes, but I’m kind of also interested in someone else who might be interested in me, and I really have no idea what to do.�
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  “You’re saying you love more than one person?” Edwin asked, his brows furrowing in concentration. Daveth nodded with a frustrated huff. “Have you considered a polyamorous relationship?”

  “Um...” Daveth mumbled intelligently. Of all things for Edwin to suggest, he had not thought that would be one. “I mean, isn’t that a bit weird...” He added.

  “Not really. I know a few people who are poly. If you love more than one person, and everyone’s okay about the situation, than why not? No need to limit yourself to one partner,” Edwin argued with a shrug. Daveth frowned.

  “I mean, do you think Solomon would be okay with it?” Daveth asked cautiously.

  “Would I be okay with what?” Solomon’s voice interrupted them, where he was leaning against the doorway with furrowed brows. Daveth yelped, blushing as he wondered how much the other man had heard.

  “Daveth wants to know whether you’re okay with polyamorous relationships,” Edwin answered.

  Daveth spluttered, blush deepening as he stared back at Solomon, ready to deny it immediately but stopping when he saw the thoughtful look that had descended over Solomon’s expression.

  “So me, Daveth, and you in a relationship?” Solomon questioned, directed at Edwin, whose eyes widened. “Yeah, I’d be okay with that,” he agreed.

  “Wait, no, I didn’t mean with me...” Edwin interrupted, startled. Solomon froze, a panicked look coming across his features.

  “Yeah, I mean, obviously, because you’re straight...” Solomon said with a strained laugh.

  “I’m not straight,” Edwin replied, brows furrowed. Daveth shuffled up on the bed, watching the exchange with wide eyes, but choosing for once to bite his tongue and say nothing.

  “Edwin, you’ve never once dated a guy,” Solomon argued, crossing his arms over his chest defensively.

  “I’ve dated guys before I met you,” Edwin retorted, getting to his feet and narrowing his eyes.

  “I’ve never seen you even show interest in guys before!”

  “I haven’t shown interest in anyone since I met you,” Edwin replied, staring Solomon down. Solomon straightened, dropping his arms to his sides.

  “Oh...you never said anything...” Solomon mumbled quietly, a blush decorating his cheeks handsomely.

  “You never showed interest!”

  “I showed loads of interest!” Solomon retorted, before snapping his mouth shut at Edwin’s startled gaze.

  “What?”

  “Are you blind? All I ever did in like the first year I knew you was say on a daily basis how gay I was, and how wonderful you were, and you never figured it out?”

  “You used to bring guys back here all the time...”

  “Yeah, well.” Solomon rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “Thought you’d show interest then. But you just accepted it, so I moved on...”

  “You didn’t ask me out to make Edwin jealous, did you?” Daveth asked quietly.

  “God, no! I asked you out because...well, I like you, you idiot,” Solomon mumbled. “And I like Edwin. And apparently, Edwin likes me. So I’m fully up for this three-way relationship or whatever, if you two are.”

  Daveth glanced at Edwin then, and perhaps he would never have thought about it beforehand, but he did like Edwin. He trusted him, he enjoyed his company, he was kind and sweet, he’d opened his house to Daveth, he’d helped him out numerous times, either dealing with stupid paperwork or with advice or taking painkillers, and he found the other man funny in the same way a bad pun is funny. And yeah, maybe he would like to give it a try.

  “I’m okay,” he agreed, staring up at Edwin hopefully, who looked shocked.

  “Yeah, me too.” Edwin nodded quickly. They all beamed at each other than, a startled bubble of giggles escaping their lips.

  “Wait, if it wasn’t Edwin that Daveth wanted a poly relationship with, who was it?” Solomon asked suddenly then.

  “Um, Ellis...” he said, thinking about adding on Adam and Roy, but God, he should at least try to accept what he already had. Solomon blinked. “I mean, I don’t expect you guys to date him as well, but I’d like to date him if that’s okay...”

  “Yeah, I’m okay with that I guess.” Edwin nodded, scratching at his beard.

  “I guess. I mean, we’d have to figure it out. It might be easier if we try to date him as well,” Solomon mused. “But I mean, sure, go ahead and start dating him now. I’m okay with it,” Solomon added with a smile. Daveth grinned, butterflies booming in his chest.

  “The three of us should go on a proper date,” Edwin suggested, giggling like a teenager.

  “Absolutely!” Daveth chimed in.

  “Solomon can pay,” Edwin added, before the other man could say anything. Solomon spluttered a noise of complaint, but the smile and pure joy in his eyes betrayed him.

  Solomon huffed, muttering something about work and Daveth’s injuries, before the three of them descended into laughter, all grinning at each other like lovesick teenagers, pure joyous excitement filling him and making him giddy and lightheaded at the prospect of this relationship.

  Daveth hobbled into the living room at night, content that the house was silent enough that it was unlikely anyone else was awake. He moved towards the couch, where he could see Ellis huddled up in a thin blanket, his chest rising and falling steadily. He lowered himself to the floor, gently shaking the sleeping form.

  Ellis stirred, and Daveth couldn’t help but smile to see how much more Ellis was relaxed now that he was somewhere safe. He woke up like a normal person, not lashing out and attacking blindly like he had been prone to do, but instead letting his eyes flutter open and focus on the person in front of him.

  “Daveth?” Ellis mumbled, the word distorted by tiredness. “Are you okay?” he asked, rubbing at his eyes as he lifted his head wearily. Daveth smiled up at him.

  “What do you think of polyamorous relationships?” he asked. Ellis blinked at him.

  “You better not have woken me up for some hypothetical question,” the older man grumbled, crawling into a sitting position.

  “Nah, I’m serious,” Daveth persisted, suddenly nervous, because what if Ellis actually hated the idea, and thought it was disgusting, and maybe he’d be angry. Daveth shifted uneasily, wishing that maybe he was a bit less sober, because that would make this so much easier.

  “Are you okay?” Ellis asked, obviously noticing his anxiety.

  “I’m just...I’m going out with Solomon and Edwin now,” he said suddenly, thinking of it like ripping a band-aid off. Ellis blinked, a flash of hurt in his eyes that he quickly covered up, but not fast enough to prevent Daveth noticing. “But it’s open! Like, they said they’re cool with me also dating you, I mean, of course if you’re okay with that...” He trailed off, feeling his heart beating in his chest.

  Ellis didn’t respond for a moment. And then all at once, he grabbed Daveth around the waist and lifted him into his lap, and their mouths met and he moaned, letting Ellis’s hand roam up his torso, as he keened into the older man’s mouth, sighing happily as Ellis wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and nibbled lightly at his bottom lip. Daveth tried to wrap his arms around Ellis, but yelped when he was reminded of the sling and he lost his balance and fell into Ellis’s chest.

  “You’re amazing.” Ellis hummed. Daveth could feel the noise vibrating through his chest and he loved it. He looked up, eyes wide as he nibbled at Ellis’s exposed neck, enjoying the way the older man shuddered beneath him. “God, I love you, you’re so fucking amazing, Daveth,” Ellis moaned, brushing his hands through Daveth’s hair. Daveth mewled happily.

  “Come sleep with me,” he murmured, leaning into Ellis’s chest and feeling the older man stiffen above him.

  “I don’t want to hurt you...” Ellis said cautiously. Daveth blinked, before blushing as he realized what he said.

  “No, I mean like actual sleep, like lie in a bed and close your eyes sleep, you idiot.”

  “Idiot, huh?” Ellis huffed,
laughter escaping his lips and it was the most beautiful sound Daveth had ever heard. And then Ellis was lifting him up, hugging him close to his body as he walked them back to the bedroom, placing him gently on the bed and crawling in beside him.

  “You’re wonderful,” Ellis murmured, kissing along his neck and wrapping his arm around Daveth’s waist, slotting them together perfectly.

  ***

  Solomon had expected things to change dramatically. He hadn’t woken up yesterday planning to enter a polyamorous relationship, and by all accounts, it should feel weird whilst they had to adjust, but it just felt natural. As if all the pieces had come together, finally. Like this was how things were meant to be all along.

  Even now, lying beside Edwin, who was still snoring quietly, felt like something that had happened already. Not to say there wasn’t that excited buzz spreading through his veins at the thought, or the strange tipsy feeling that invaded his stomach at the start of a relationship, but mostly it just felt comfortable, like coming home after a long day and sinking into a warm bed.

  He didn’t move until Edwin’s breathing changed and he stirred, eyes fluttering open and smiling happily as they met Solomon’s. He leaned on his side, stroking his thumb across Edwin’s bare chest, watching with a satisfied glint in his eyes as Edwin blinked away the tiredness and turned on his side to face Solomon.

  “Hey...” Edwin said quietly, a giddy little smile tugging at his lips and making his face glow. Solomon smirked, leaning in and placing a chaste kiss on the other man’s lips, enjoying the way Edwin shuddered from the small touch and continued to chase it even as Solomon broke contact.

  “Hey, buddy.” Solomon smiled. Edwin laughed, throwing his head back and plopping onto his back again.