Nico sighed as he woke, then yawned. He rolled over, and snuggled up with the warm person next to him.

Can't be Will. Will is dead.

He opened his eyes and found himself looking at the sleeping face of Connor Stoll.

Nico was surprised to find that his wanted to kiss the older boy. To tangle his fingers into that curly mass, and press their bodies together.

But he also knew that Connor had serious trauma from the kidnapping, and waking up like that could be disastrous. Deadly.

So instead, Nico just admired the man beside him. He could close his eyes an feel the muscles underneath the shirt, bury his face in those strong shoulders. And if Connor woke up he could pretend he had done it in his sleep.

He inched a little closer, pressing his face to Connors neck.

Connor breathed in sharply, then rolled onto his back, murmuring unintelligibly.

Nico hesitated, then felt Connor's abs, letting his hand trail across Connor lightly. Damn. Connor was in good shape. He might not have a six…okay he had an eight-pack…damn.

Damn.

And touching him was the most addicting thing Nico had done in a while. Once he started, he needed to do it more. He couldn't stop.

Connor was a drug and Nico wanted to become an addict.

Nico could feel one of Connor's scars through his shirt. He knew it wasn't that visible unless you were close, but he hadn't realized how deep the scar actually was.

Then the alarm clock went off, making both of them jump out of their skin.

Connor beat the clock until it shut up and then collapsed back on the bed, "Dag-nabbit that scared me."

"So loud. Sooooo loud…" Nico breathed, almost whimpering. Dang it, that was so close.

Connor looked over at him, "You sleep well?"

"You should have woken me."

"Right, because you totally didn't need the sleep or anything." He arched an eyebrow.

Nico rolled his eyes, "Still."

Connor shrugged, "Anyways, I did go to sleep on the guest bed and you're not allowed to. I have to replace it. It's terrible. And the other guest bedroom is mostly for Zoey so there's only a twin bed there."

Nico felt his heart skip a beat, "oh."

Connor gave him a smile, "Anyway, I better get in the shower." He grabbed the crutch he kept by his bed, then hopped out.

Nico lay there for a moment, then slowly got up. His back was tight, in a bit of pain.

Connor was singing in the shower.

Nico closed his eyes and just listened, trying to work out words. He couldn't remember the song but he was sure he knew it. He found himself wondering if he would be able to keep control of himself if he were to see Connor naked.

He really wanted to find out.

"Stop it." He scolded himself.

Connor was a friend. A good one.

Last thing he needed to do was ruin it for both of them.

—~~—

Weeks. It took weeks for him to recover almost completely.

He ha arranged with Connor that he would do the cleaning and cooking as a form of rent. He was able to pick up a tutoring job for the couple months before the school year helping high school students with chemistry.

It was an exhausting job.

Frustrating.

So he decided to stop in a bar on his way home for a drink. Just one. He knew Connor didn't really approve of alcohol. But Nico needed a drink every now and them.

He leaned against the bar counter, "Just give me a beer."

The bartender nodded and went to get it.

"What brings a hunk like you here?" A woman asked.

He looked over at her, "Bad day. You?"

"Oh, just lookin for a good time." She gave him a look like he was a hunk of meat that she wanted to take from the butcher to her house.

Nico nodded, "Good luck."

She touched his arm, laughing, "You're funny!"

"You're barking up the wrong tree." He muttered, taking the beer from the bartender.

She didn't get it.

One thing led to another, led to her being insulted and sending a bunch of guys to beat him up, which landed him kicked out and looking for somewhere else to get a drink but the only other close place always the gay bar and he wasn't sure he wanted to go there.

But he glanced at his phone and he wasn't ready to be home alone.

He went in, ordering a soda instead of an alcoholic drink. Get comfortable in the place.

Thankfully, it was early enough that it was practically empty aside from a group of three or four guys in some chairs to one side.

One of them waved to Nico, "Hey, you here for the singles support group?"

Nico made a face, "The what?"

One of them chuckled, "More like the 'totally in love with someone who doesn't love you back' group."

Nico took the soda, "Okay, I'll listen, but only because I'm not going home until I know my roommate is home."

The one who had waved to him smiled, "I'm Sam, that's Adam and Peter."

"Nico." He sipped his soda.

Adam had a martini, and he looked about four drinks in. "So, here's the standing right now. The guy I like, a coworker of course, is about to marry his boyfriend."

"Mine is completely oblivious to my existence." Sam gave a sad little smile.

"And mine has already turned me down about four times." Peter downed his drink.

"You? How's your love life?"

"Well, my boyfriend died about a year ago while we were planning our wedding. Stabbed. And now I'm staying with a mutual friend an he's straight and every day I fall more and more in love with him. I mean, I used to find him annoying. But he helped me and now I'm falling for him and I don't know how to stop it. I have to stop it. He's too good of a friend to lose. We both need the friendship."

"Damn," Peter said, "How hot is this guy?"

Nico pulled up Connors photo on his phone and showed it to them, "He's the shorter one. Not that he's short. He's like, 6'4". That's his older brother."

"Hot damn!" Adam grinned, "He is a hunk!"

Nico looked at it and sighed, "He's a massage therapist."

Peter frowned, "What's up with his leg? Like, I can see straps, but halfway down his shin his leg looks weird? A brace?"

"He lost his foot in an accident, saving five kids in the van. He was kidnapped before that, he has scars on his back and chest from the torture they put him through. He's perfect." Nico swiped to the next photo he had of Connor. Those eyes.

Hang on, why was he saying all of this? He wasn't even a drink in and already he was spilling about his life.

"Sorry, I don't normally talk about my life this openly." He looked back at the bartender, "This is just root beer, right?"

The guy laughed and nodded.

Nico looked at it and shook his head, "I must be losing my mind."

"Relax, we weren't exactly open to sharing this stuff either. But we did. And now we have people that will stop us when we're about to ask the same guy out for a fifth time." Adam looked pointedly at Peter.

Peter smile sheepishly, "He's irresistible."

"You're lucky he hasn't taken out a restraining order." Sam shook his head. Then checked his nails, "Damn I need a manicure."

Nico made a face, "You get your nails done?"

"You don't?"

He shook his head, "Not gay enough for that. I'm as straight as gay gets. Which probably explains why I keep falling for straight guys. I mean, I got lucky with Will. But now Connor? I'm doomed."

They started talking. They told him about they're lives, listened to him without judging.

Next thing he knew, Connor walked in.

"Dude, how many times do I have to tell you to charge your damn phone?"

Nico looked at it and winced, "Sorry, man."

"Jason tried calling you. You said you were going home. I just…" Connor stopped himself, "Don't scare me like that."

Nico winced again, "Try not to. Uh, Connor, these are some new friends. Adam, Sam, and Peter."

Connor nodded to them, "nice to meet you."

They were eyeing him like he was a piece of candy.

"Hey." They chorused.

Connor arched an eyebrow, "Right, well, I'm going to head home now that I know you're alright."

"How'd you know where to find me?"

Connor smirked, "You remember who I was as a kid, right?"

Nico frowned, "Did you put a tracker on me?"

"Yeah," Connor nodded, still smirking. Then he became more serious, "Look, I have one too. It's just because you have a tendency to disappear with a dead cell phone."

"You have a tracker on you?"

"Yeah. Only Travis had the code for it. Only I have the code for yours."

"Because of the depression?" Nico asked, hesitant.

Connor glanced at the others, then forced a smile, "Mine is. Yours is because you have a bunch of people who worry about you."

Nico met Connors eyes, "Give me a lift home?"

He nodded.

The others waved goodbye.

Peter pointed at him, "Next Thursday, four o'clock. Be there."

Nico nodded, "I will." He followed Connor out.

"Hey, I'm glad you're making friends." Connor said once they were in the car. "Sorry to come in all freaking out. And the tracker."

Nico laughed a bit, "It's okay. Seriously, I'm kind of glad you have a way of finding me. That way I don't have to worry about getting killed and no one making sure I have proper funeral rites."

Connor laughed, "You would worry about that."

Nico glanced over at him, "So, what's on your schedule for the weekend?"

"Date tomorrow night. Other than that, I thought we'd go to the greenhouse and get stuff for the vegetable garden."

Nico sighed inwardly, "Sounds interesting. Just wondering who's going to be taking care of this garden."

"Me, probably. I've done it before. Forcing me to make time." Connor pulled into the driveway, "Besides, we are a little late for starting the garden, but it will still be nice having one."

"Glad you already had the raspberries, though. Those are awesome."

Connor grinned, "I know, best thing I ever did. And those blackberries will be ripe soon."

"Katie and Travis are coming over Sunday, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Forgot about that." Connor rubbed his neck, "You can bail if you like. I can make an excuse if you need one."

Nico shrugged, "Only if you want me to."

"I don't care. Thought you would." He unfolded the massage table. "You're limping."

Nico thought he was blushing as he took off his shirt and got onto the table, "You've been doing it all day. You should take a break."

"I was home for a while before looking for you." Connor pointed to the clock.

Nico's eyes widened, "I was there for four hours?"

"Yeah," Connor gently swatted the back of Nico's head, "Down. Let me treat you."

Nico relaxed and fell into the familiar trance of the massage.

"New mattress still good?"

"Yeah, it is." I want to sleep beside you again.

"Good, and I noticed you finally put up some pictures."

"Yeah, I thought I'd ease into it. Not ready for one of Will yet." Nico sighed, "Then again, I don't know when I would be ready."

Connor actually cracked Nico's back, which felt amazing. "You're stronger than you think."

"Am I?" Nico had a bad feeling that his strong front made him appear stronger than he actually was. "I don't feel like I am."

"You are. I'm barely carrying any of your burden anymore." Connor said in a light tone.

"You still need to get a new prosthetic leg. Yours makes you bleed."

"You need to talk to your professor about starting that internship sooner."

"You need to stop nagging me."

Connor laughed, "Fat chance. There, that should hold you for a while."

Nico sat up and sighed, "Anything I should know about when your family comes over? Or your dating protocol?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if you bring home a girl…"

Connor laughed, "I don't bring girls home. Not the way you're thinking. Never actually gotten that far into a relationship with anyone."

Nico stared, "Seriously?"

"I've never felt a good enough connection. Never felt like I could commit to any of them. And I would want to commit to them before…" He shrugged.

Nico nodded slowly, "I guess that makes a little sense. But…you've never…"

"I've been tempted, don't get me wrong. But in the end, I just…I couldn't. It's gotten me dumped. I'll find someone who understands someday." He left off the hopefully, but Nico could tell it existed. Connor had a far off look in his eyes.

Nico wanted to hug him, tell him it would be okay. Tell him that he loved him.

Connor dropped onto the couch, "Video games, reading, or television?"

"Movie." Nico went to the DVD rack, picking one at random. "This one okay?"

"Sure, why not? I'll get popcorn. Though, you probably want dinner."

"Have you eaten dinner?"

"Not yet."

"Then order pizza." Nico tossed him the phone, then put the movie in.

"Okay. Pepperoni and bacon?"

"Sounds great."

Connor dialed and then ordered the pizza. Then they started the movie.

Nico curled up on the couch next to Connor, glad for the excuse to be able to cuddle with him. The smell of Connor, the warmth exuding from him.

He was in love with his newest best friend.