Sonny paced back and forth in the front room of Uncle Vic's mansion. His mother sat on the couch, trying to get him to open up.
"Sonny, I don't understand," Adrienne said yet again. "What are you talking about?"
After leaving DiMera Enterprises, Sonny and Brian parted ways. Brian headed for class while Sonny ran right here. His blood was still buzzing.
Sonny had never done anything like he had with the pictures before. He wasn't that type of guy. He didn't do anything bad or even dangerous before, nothing illegal. It was more like Alex or even Joey but not him, never him.
Sonny didn't even know why he did it. He was just so angry. All he could see was Will, naked, knowing it was Alex who took the pictures. He wanted to prove a point, poetic justice he supposed. Before Sonny knew it he was inside the art gallery again. Everything looked so different than the night before. The grandeur vanished.
No one was in the gallery. A security guard exited as they entered. It was all too easy. Brian stood guard as Sonny took down the old pictures and clipped up the new ones. They put the old pictures in Will's backpack tossing it aside as soon as they finished.
Sonny thought it would take away some of his own humiliation, his own pain. Wanted to make Will and Alex feel as used as he did. But now that it was over, Sonny didn't feel all that much better. Instead, he felt an awful amount of anxiety.
Why did I do something so stupid in DiMera Enterprises? EJ's gonna flip out. I could get arrested. I will get arrested. Oh God, why didn't I listen to Brian? He told me not to do this. What is wrong with me?
"Sonny?" Adrienne repeated, forehead lined with concern. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"I did something stupid," Sonny confessed, arms around his stomach.
"Like what?" Adrienne wondered just as Justin walked into the room.
"Sonny," Justin said sounding confused, "it's a little early for lunch, don't you think?"
Justin wanted to get Sonny and Alex together in the hopes of alleviating the tension between them. Talking out their problems with each other and maybe even discuss Will in a calm and rational manner.
Maybe even talk to Alex about his mother, talk to Alex in general, Justin thought. Despite his issues with Anjelica, Justin had to admit she had a point about Alex. And about Adrienne.
"Justin," Adrienne scolded, "Sonny's going through something. He needs our help."
"What happened?" Justin realized how rattled Sonny looked.
Sonny didn't get a chance to explain. The front door opened, banging off the wall, making Adrienne jump.
Alex stormed into the room, jaw set, cheeks flushed red. He took three quick steps and before anyone had time to say anything, before Sonny could react, Alex punched Sonny right in the jaw.
Adrienne screamed as Alex pounced on Sonny, the two falling to the ground in a tangle of flying fists.
"Alexander! Jackson!" Justin yelled, trying to pry them apart. He gave up and pulled all the furniture away from them so no one would get too hurt.
Alex felt a satisfying sense of gratification each time his knuckles smashed Sonny's face.
"You stupid, fucking asshole," Alex hissed, knocking Sonny right in the eye.
"Fuck you!" Sonny replied, nose bleeding.
Sonny got in a few good hits, giving Alex a fat lip. But he was never as strong as Alex. Every time Sonny got the upper hand Alex would knock him off balance.
Adrienne continued screaming, demanding Alex let go of Sonny. "Justin, do something!"
Justin was at a loss when several more people walked through the front door. Will ran right to Alex and Sonny, EJ hot on his heels. Following behind them were Roman Brady and Abe Carver.
"Alex!" Will yelled, getting Alex's attention.
With Alex distracted, Sonny punched him in the shoulder, hard.
"Fuck!" Alex groaned almost lunging for Sonny again.
"Stop it!" Will ordered, dropping to his knees. He dodged a few wild punches and knocked the two apart.
"Break it up," Roman barked.
It took both EJ and Will to yank Alex back several steps.
Will hovered his hands over Alex's bruised and bloodied face. "I told you not to do that."
"I don't follow directions well," Alex replied, spitting out a glob of blood on the expensive rug. "Besides, that fucker had it coming," Alex said in Sonny's direction.
"Shut up!" Sonny said, pinching the bridge of his nose to stem the flow of blood. He brushed aside Adrienne's helping hands with a hard smack.
"There he is," EJ said toward Roman, "get this over with."
"Would someone please explain to me what the hell is going on?" Justin urged, looking between both of his sons.
"He's a stupid little mother fucker!" Alex yelled at the same time Sonny screamed, "he had sex with my boyfriend!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Alex raged, forcing Will to hold him back again.
"You shut up!" Sonny argued.
"Why don't you both shut up?" EJ rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. "Roman, what are you waiting for?"
"Sonny, I'm sorry, but you're going to need to come with us down to the station," Roman said, giving Justin a weary look.
"What for?" Adrienne gasped, hand over her mouth.
"Roman, Abe, what is this about?" Justin demanded.
"Sonny knows," Abe Carver replied. He hoped everything could get resolved peacefully. But with two uncontrollable Kiriakis tempers and an enraged EJ DiMera, he doubted it. He just hoped no one was stupid enough to tell Sami.
"Sonny, what is he going on about?" Adrienne hissed, holding his arm in a vice-like grip.
"This is all Alex's fault," Sonny insisted.
"Bullshit!" Alex spat.
"You slept with my boyfriend!" Sonny repeated.
"I wasn't your boyfriend," Will said, voice calmer than either Sonny or Alex's.
Everyone turned to look at Will.
"Again, would someone explain what the hell is going on here?" Justin said, wanting to get his facts straight and keep both his sons out of any more trouble.
Will sighed, sharing a quick glance with Alex. He looked up at the ceiling for a moment before moving over to Victor's beverage cart. He needed to gather his thoughts. He grabbed a napkin and filled it with ice, handing it off to Alex. He almost did the same for Sonny but saw the heated look he gave him.
"I broke up with Sonny last night," Will said, playing with his fingers. "I left my backpack with him by accident. There were pictures of me in them. Pictures that Alex took of me before I started dating Sonny."
Justin understood right away but it took longer for Adrienne to get it. When she did, she stepped in front of Sonny, trying to shield him from Will.
Abe and Roman shifted, uncomfortable with the whole thing.
"What does that have to do with Sonny now?" Justin asked, clearing his throat.
"Your little perfect prince plastered Will's pictures all over my exhibit," Alex said, lifting the ice away from his lip.
"You slept with my boyfriend!" Sonny yelled again.
"He wasn't your boyfriend," Alex reiterated, enunciating in a clear voice, talking to Sonny like he was stupid.
"Oh, like I'm going to believe either of you?" Sonny huffed.
"Newsflash," Alex said, eyes widening, "I don't care."
While Alex and Sonny argued, Justin turned back to Roman and Abe. "Why do you want to take Sonny?"
"We have him and his friend on security footage," Roman told Justin.
Justin rounded on EJ. "You want to arrest him over this? Really?"
"Either way, Sonny isn't getting away with this," EJ promised Justin. "He ruined Alexander's art exhibit and displayed nude photos of William without his permission."
"If you want to turn this into a legal battle of wills-," Justin threatened.
"You might not care about Alexander but I do," EJ said over Justin.
"Do not talk to me about my children," Justin narrowed his eyes. "None of this would have happened if Will would have-,"
"Do not finish that sentence, Kiriakis," EJ said in a low voice, towering over Justin. "You're their father. I know you aren't stupid. You knew what was happening and you did nothing."
"What was I supposed to do? Choose one son over the other?" Justin asked, throwing his arms up.
"It should be easy," Alex said, interjecting himself into the conversation. "You've been doing it all my life."
"Alex," Justin tried to say, face falling.
"Just shut the fuck up," Alex said. "I don't know why I waste my time on you. You've disappointed me all my life."
"Don't talk to your father that way," Adrienne huffed.
"Alex, come on," Will said, taking his hand. Will wanted to get Alex out of there before he did anything he couldn't take back.
"You stay away from my children, Will Horton!" Adrienne pointed her finger at Will. "You've brought them nothing but trouble."
Alex tried his best to ignore Adrienne like he always did but this time he couldn't. His emotions were too high, anger bubbling at the surface. He was burning his bridges today, no matter the consequences.
"You know what, Adrienne?" Alex asked, bruised hand curling around Will's. "The only thing in this stupid fucking town that I know, without any doubt, is that Will cares about me. So, why don't you take your unwanted opinion and go fuck off? You aren't my mother and if you were, I'd end up as self-righteous and hypocritical as that fucker," Alex gestured to Sonny. "So, give it a rest. No one believes you give a shit about me."
Will tugged on Alex again, getting him to move. Alex didn't need to be here anymore.
When they turned around, Will noticed the small crowd gathered in the doorway. Victor, Maggie, Henderson, the maid Alex once slept with, and Nick all stood staring.
Will couldn't help but notice the maid and Nick both gave him looks filled with loathing.
"Can I fucking help you?" Alex barked, glaring at them all.
"Come on," Will said, hand on Alex's lower back. "You don't want to be here anymore."
EJ followed them toward the door.
"Oh," Alex spun around, almost smacking into EJ. He looked right at Sonny and said, "he's my boyfriend now, so fuck you."
Alex collapsed on the sofa in Will's living room. Will busied himself in the kitchen getting Alex aspirin and some better ice packs. All while EJ paced in the hallway outside the condo on his cell phone.
"Here," Will handed Alex the medicine and some water. He waited for Alex to swallow the medicine before he placed the ice pack near Alex's eye. He even wiped away the flecks of blood on his lips and chin.
Alex mumbled something that sounded close to a thank you. He pressed the ice to his face and lifted up his uninjured arm, waiting for Will to lean against him.
Will laid his head on Alex's chest. He hadn't had much time to process what happened, to grasp what it meant. But now that it was just Will and Alex, no security guards, no photos, no police, no aggravating Kiriakis family, Will could think.
Will knew Sonny wouldn't react well if he found out about his time with Alex. He even knew Sonny wouldn't appreciate the pictures or what they meant to Will and Alex. But he had no idea Sonny would do that. It wasn't even that Sonny brandished Will's naked body for all to see. Will, while unsettled by the surprise, knew he had nothing to feel ashamed over. It was the fact that Sonny took that option away from him. The choice of displaying the pictures or not. The fact that Sonny used the photos- something Alex worked so hard on, was so proud of- as a weapon. Sonny wanted to humiliate Will and Alex both. Took the exhibition that Alex worked so hard on and tried to ruin it.
And for what? Revenge? Because he's jealous? To hurt us?
Will didn't know. He wasn't sure he wanted to know.
Alex shifted, stretching out his right shoulder. It was sore from the fight along with his lip and face. His knuckles got scraped raw too.
He dropped the bag of ice on the couch and said, "Sorry."
"For what?" Will asked in a soft voice.
"Telling everyone we were dating. Fighting when I knew you didn't want me to," Alex shrugged then winced right after.
"It's alright," Will said, wincing in sympathy with Alex. "It's not how I wanted to tell everyone but it's the least of my worries now. I'm just sorry this screwed things up with your family even more."
"That was a long time coming," Alex said. "It started long before you."
Will pulled away from Alex. He took the ice bag and put it over Alex's shoulder. He cupped Alex's face, brushing his thumb over the bruises on his face.
Alex knew no one had ever looked at him the way Will did right now. So soft, so caring, so horrified because Alex was in pain.
"I'm sorry," Will said, glancing up to meet Alex's eyes. "This only happened because of me. We've been dating a couple of hours and I ruined everything."
"Shut up," Alex said, although his soft tone belayed the harshness of his words. "You're the flame, not the match."
"What does that mean?" Will's brows wrinkled together, nose scrunched up.
"It means it's not your fault," Alex said. "Sonny jumped to conclusions and fucked things up. But that's not our fault. Should we have agreed to get together when you were with Sonny? No, but it's not like you cheated or anything. Was it right? No, wrong, well, it doesn't feel that way. My family can think whatever they want. You and I know the truth."
"Which is what?" Will asked, head tilted toward Alex.
Alex took Will's hand, using his thumb to brush over each of Will's fingertips.
"That you're it for me, Horton," Alex confessed. "It's just you. It's always been you."
Will smiled, eyes shining. He dug his fingers into the hair at the base of Alex's skull.
Alex sighed when Will pressed their lips together, feather soft. He curled their fingers together, squeezing tight.
EJ walked in the door, slamming it behind him.
"The board is behind me in whatever direction we decide to go," EJ announced. He did a double take when he saw Will and Alex glued at the mouth. He smiled for a brief second before clearing his throat.
Will kept his hands locked behind Alex's head, kissing him as soft as Alex's split lip would allow.
"Don't think I didn't hear your little declaration earlier," EJ stated. "But if you don't stop that now, I swear to God, I will-,"
"You'll what?" Will asked, curious.
EJ pretended he didn't hear him and continued on with his news.
"At the least, those two are never setting foot on DE property again," EJ stated. "I know it'll be a waste trying to press real charges. If we file, we'll just get countersued. As much as I understand the desire to beat your brother, it complicated things."
"Then what are you going to do?" Will asked, still pressed in close to Alex.
EJ sighed, stretching out his long legs and loosening his tie. He lifted one hand in the air, saying, "what just happened, I suppose. Drag them to the police station and let your inept grandfather attempt to frighten them. Force them to make a deal."
"Them?" Alex asked, eyes closed, forehead resting on Will's shoulder. He enjoyed the gentle petting Will did to his scalp.
"Yes, a few officers dragged that Brian idiot out of class. In front of all his fellow med students and professors, such a shame," EJ replied.
"Good," Will said. He almost forgot about Brian's involvement. Will didn't know whose idea it was to ruin Alex's display but Will wasn't surprised Brian helped. Ever since Will introduced Brian to Sonny, Brian wanted Will out of the way. Will only thought Brian was smarter than that.
"My dad wouldn't let anything happen to Sonny," Alex said, "ever."
"Even if it hurt you?" Will said, holding Alex tighter.
Alex snorted, relaxing into Will's grip. He didn't even care that EJ could see their interactions. So beyond caring about anyone judging him for anything anymore.
"When I was younger, Sonny pushed me off the monkey bars and I broke my arm," Alex said. "Somehow I was the one that got in trouble. One time he ripped apart my science experiment because I used the last of the blue construction paper and he wanted it. I failed and got detention for a week. And Adrienne grounded me because I failed and for punching Sonny.
"Trust me, the fact that Sonny did anything to me won't mean a goddamn thing."
"Maybe not with the Kiriakis family," EJ remarked, "but certainly with ours."
Will felt Alex tense for a moment before letting out a deep exhale, nuzzling into him. Will flashed EJ a wide, grateful smile.
An hour later, Sami and Anjelica waltzed in the door laden down with shopping bags. Their heels echoed off the wood floor along with their obnoxious laughter.
"Oh no," Will whispered when he saw them. "There are two of them now."
"Hey," Sami said when she saw EJ, Will, and Alex in the living room. She put her hand over her heart when she saw Alex and Will cuddled together. "Oh my God."
"Here it comes," Will mumbled to Alex.
"Oh my God," Sami said again, cooing. "Does this mean what I think it means? But wait, what are you three doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?"
The three men shared a glance before EJ beckoned Sami closer. Pulling her to sit on his lap, EJ made sure he had a tight grip on her so she couldn't run away.
"What?" Sami demanded. "What happened? I got your text about Will and Sonny breaking up."
Anjelica sat on the sofa next to where Alex leaned against Will.
"Well, there's good news and bad news," EJ cleared his throat. "The good news is William's with the right Kiriakis, now."
"Aw," Sami cooed, lips sticking out.
"I knew it was only a matter of time," Anjelica sniffed, patting Alex's leg.
"Don't they just look so adorable?" Sami said to Anjelica.
"Gorgeous," Anjelica agreed. "But how could they not, with us as their mother's?"
"That's too true, espe-," Sami continued only for EJ to clear his throat again.
"The bad news," EJ reminded her with a squeeze to her middle.
"Oh, right," Sami said. "What happened?"
"Someone, well, desecrated Alexander's art display this morning," EJ explained.
"How?" Anjelica spat, sitting up straight.
"By taking down the photographs and replacing them with other one's he took," EJ said, knowing this reaction wasn't going to be pretty. "One's Alexander took of William."
Sami sat still, processing what EJ told her. It took her a few moments to realize what type of photographs Alex must have taken of her son.
EJ gripped her tighter as soon as she figured it out. His arms confining Sami in place.
"Who did it?" Anjelica asked in a low, dangerous voice. Unlike Sami, she sat quite still, almost unnaturally so.
Will and Alex disentangled, sitting up but still holding hands.
"I-uh-Alex gave me the photos yesterday and I left them in my backpack," Will said. "And I left the backpack at Common Grounds when I broke up with Sonny."
"Let go of me right now," Sami ordered through clenched teeth, struggling against EJ's strong arms.
EJ planted his feet on the ground, having a hard time keeping Sami under control. "We are not killing anyone."
"Yes, we are," Sami hissed, face red and splotchy. "I'm gonna break every bone in his body, starting with his big, fat head!"
"Don't bother," Alex said, amused. "I already tried. His head is harder than it looks."
Anjelica and Sami noticed Alex's bruised face for the first time. Anjelica gasped louder than Will thought necessary given her place in Alex's life.
"Who mangled my baby's face?" Anjelica demanded, eyes wide and scary.
"Sonny looks worse," Will said although neither Anjelica nor Sami were listening.
Both women were fawning over Alex or trying to at least. Alex kept brushing their hands aside, cringing away. EJ, arm locked around Sami in case she tried to make a break for it, shook his head.
"He's already had ice," Will told Sami and Anjelica in a firm tone, standing up with his hands on his hips. "He's my boyfriend. I'm taking care of him."
Will sat back down on the sofa, pulling Alex next to him. Alex settled against Will, smug look on his face.
"If I'm not allowed to kill Sonny," Sami said, "what are we doing?"
"For starters, the PR team is making sure nothing leaks to the media," EJ said. "Beyond that, we'll put the fear of God in them."
"Them?" Anjelica crossed her arms, face pinched.
"What do you mean them?" Sami glared at EJ.
Will shrugged when EJ turned to him for help. He was all alone on that one.
"Sonny brought a friend along with him," EJ explained. "Some idiotic med student."
"Brian?" Sami's glare intensified. "Brian and Sonny posted pictures of my son? And you want me to do nothing?"
"They ruined my son's big moment. If you think that I'm just going to let them-," Anjelica ranted.
"I have an idea," EJ said, trying to settle both women down. "You'll just have to trust me on this one. Just, trust me."
EJ pulled out his cell phone, pushing a few buttons before holding it to his ear. A few moments later, he cleared his throat and said, "Father, it's me."
Will groaned, burying his head in Alex's neck.
"Great," Will mumbled, "just what this situation needs, Stefano DiMera."
Sonny and Brian sat next to each other in the police station. The two had been there for quite a long time, sitting in silence. Justin and Adrienne were in Roman's office talking with him. Brian, in town for school, didn't have anyone with him. Sonny already offered his father's legal services if it came down to that.
Sonny felt confident in his father's ability to handle the situation. He wouldn't put it past Alex to try to take things too far, though. Yes, what Sonny and Brian did was wrong but Sonny didn't think it would lead to much, if any, trouble. They didn't ruin anything, per say. The original pictures weren't destroyed, just put in the backpack. The photographs of Will were harder to explain but Sonny knew his father could manage it. Sonny was under duress. He didn't know what he was doing.
And Brian, Sonny realized, he just went along with me. If anything happens to him, it'll be my fault.
As Sonny turned toward Brian, the door to the station opened. Several men and women in black business suits with briefcases filed inside. Following them were EJ, Sami, and Anjelica. No one looked at Sonny or Brian or even gave any indication they noticed they were there. The entire group waltzed right into Roman's office without knocking, cramming inside.
The last thing Sonny saw before the door closed were the initials DE inscribed on all the briefcases.
Sonny and Brian shared wary glances, eyes on the door.
"Who are those people?" Brian asked Sonny, voice smaller than usual.
"I think the business people must be lawyers for DiMera Enterprises," Sonny said. "The others were Alex's mom, Will's mom, and EJ DiMera."
"Right," Brian mumbled, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"Well, it might not be anything," Sonny said, hoping he sounded more confident than he felt.
He'd never seen so many lawyers in one place and he used to visit his dad's law office.
"They're just trying to scare us," Sonny said. "I mean, it's not like Stefano's involved or anything."
Almost as if he heard his name, the police station entrance opened and Stefano DiMera himself walked inside. The entire building went silent, every police officer stopping to stare.
Stefano, leaning on an ornate cane, waltzed into the building as if he owned the place. He sat down across from Sonny and Brian, locking eyes with Sonny.
Sonny tried his best not to blink. He'd had limited involvement with Stefano. He wasn't even certain he'd ever talked to the man before. He'd heard the stories, though. Knew the rivalry Stefano had with Uncle Victor. Sonny knew he had to prove he wasn't intimidated by Stefano. He'd done his best around EJ, Stefano shouldn't be too hard.
Stefano didn't say anything, just stared. Gripping the top of his cane, fingertips tapping along the top. It took less than a minute for Sonny to look away.
Brian shifted next to Sonny. He wasn't used to this kind of life, these kinds of people.
Stefano sat there without saying a word for almost twenty minutes.
Sonny had never been more uncomfortable in the presence of another human being.
If Stefano is even human, Sonny thought.
The door to Roman's office opened. Sonny and Brian jumped to their feet when Justin and Adrienne appeared. Justin didn't look happy. The long line of lawyers, EJ, Sami, and Anjelica followed behind.
A handful of lawyers cornered Justin and Adrienne, blocking them from Sonny's sight.
EJ and Sami headed straight for Stefano, Anjelica trailed after.
"Father," EJ greeted, arm locked around Sami's waist, "I thought I told you not to come down. You should be resting."
"You expected me to rest after such a travesty?" Stefano said in his accented voice. He struggled to stand, waving off EJ's hand when he attempted to help.
Sonny watched the interaction out of the corner of his eye.
"You know how I care for our dear little William," Stefano added once he stood on his own feet.
"Just this summer you blackmailed him and he got accused of murdering you," Sami drolled. She grunted when EJ pinched her in the waist.
Stefano waved a dismissive hand. "Who wasn't? I'm alive, aren't I?"
Sami kept her mouth shut. It took all her strength not to charge at Sonny or Brian.
"Now, tell me what will happen," Stefano insisted. "I want them to pay."
"Well," EJ looked over his shoulder to see Sonny and Brian both looking at them. EJ took a step closer to Stefano, bowing his head and lowering his voice.
Sonny tried to hear what they said but before he got the change a few officers rushed into the building.
"Fight!" one of them yelled.
Several officers, including an aggravated looking Roman, rushed outside.
Sami and Anjelica shared a look before running after, pushing and shoving officers out of their way. They left Will and Alex outside.
Alex and Will sat on a brick retaining wall outside the police station. They arrived with Anjelica, Sami, and EJ but weren't allowed to go inside. Something about it looking more intimidating with just the big wigs. Alex thought it all seemed like a bunch of crap. What could one old man do for the situation?
"This plan sucks," Alex told Will, hands in the pockets of his jacket.
"It'll work," Will said. "Your dad won't be able to talk his way out of it."
Alex grunted causing Will to laugh.
Will pushed off the wall and stood in front of Alex. He pushed Alex's legs apart and stood between them, hands around Alex's neck.
"This is kinda nice," Will said, smiling when Alex's hands slid down to his butt.
"More than nice," Alex squeezed. "But yeah, I know what you mean. It's nice to grab your ass instead of only thinking about it."
Will lifted one brow. "That's the only upside to dating me? Grabbing my ass?"
"Right now it's between grabbing your ass and getting punched in the face," Alex pointed out.
"What about this?" Will asked before connecting their lips.
Will kept the kiss gentle due to Alex's split lip. Just a simple, sweet press of their lips, more to be close than anything else.
"I don't know," Alex mused. "Better try it again. You know, since I defended your honor and all."
"My honor? I think it was more your temper," Will replied.
"No one posts naked pictures of you but me, damnit," Alex said. "Even I wasn't enough of a dbag to put them up."
"No, you weren't," Will said, curling his fingers in Alex's hair again. "You were sweet. I was the stupid one that lost the pictures."
"You left them in your bag," Alex said. "A normal person would return the bag not dig through it. And then go to your place of work and plaster your naked body for everyone to see."
Will bit his lower lip and lifted his brows. "No kidding."
"What do you think they're doing in there?" Alex looked over his shoulder to look at one non-descript window of the police station.
"I don't know," Will said. "A lot of posturing, I'm sure."
"I hope someone makes Sonny pee himself," Alex commented while nodding his head over and over.
"Why?" Will flashed Alex a disgusted face.
"It used to happen when he got scared as a kid," Alex explained with a shrug. "Or, at least, I'd scare him and then he'd pee."
"Boy am I glad I'm the big brother in my family," Will remarked.
"He humiliated you. Ergo, he should pee his pants," Alex insisted.
"Your mind is a strange, scary place," Will said. "But the sentiment's appreciated."
"Most of my mind's filled with you," Alex remarked, squeezing Will's butt.
Will tugged on Alex's neck, angling his head down for a deep kiss.
The two didn't care that they were right outside the police station. They didn't care that anyone could see them. They didn't care about anything in that moment, not even Sonny.
Alex, letting out a deep exhale, said, "I don't know how we thought we'd keep us a secret."
"I know, right?" Will chuckled, nose pressed into Alex's cheek. "Although, a secret relationship could have been hot. But I'd rather everyone know about us."
"Oh, yeah?" Alex asked, lips quirked up.
Will nodded, still between Alex's legs. He held Alex's gaze and said with authority, "everyone needs to know you're all mine."
"That so?" Alex said, trying to keep his face blank. "Marking your territory?"
"All mine," Will repeated, hold on Alex's hair tight, just the way he knew Alex liked.
Will grinned up at Alex, batting his lashes. He waited a few beats until Alex smiled back at him.
"You're ridiculous," Alex said, fighting off a smile.
"You love it," Will teased, proud of himself. "You want to wear matching 'he's my boyfriend' shirts."
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Alex said under his breath.
"They can have arrows that point to each other!" Will cheered. "We can put an arrow on the back of mine that points to my ass and says, 'property of Alex Kiriakis'."
"And what's yours gonna say?" Alex wondered with an amused shake of his head.
"My arrow is going to point right here," Will put his hand on the fly of Alex's pants and patted.
Alex threw his head back, roaring with laughter. When he righted himself, Will looked like Christmas came early.
"What?" Alex asked, grinning.
"I've never seen you smile that big before," Will said, eyes locked on Alex's cheeks. "You have dimples."
"No, I don't," Alex said, smiling dropping at once.
"Right here," Will poked Alex's cheeks. "I can't believe I've never seen these babies before."
"Hands off," Alex evaded Will's roaming hands.
Alex rarely shaved. Most of his face had facial hair of some kind. After dropping Will off at work, Alex felt in the mood to shave. There wasn't a lot of hair regrowth yet.
"Nuh-uh," Will denied. "This is the best news ever. I'm gonna make you smile that big every day for the rest of my life."
"Not gonna happen," Alex denied, sucking in his cheeks.
"Liar!" Will burst with glee. "You've got your lying liar face on."
"Ugh," Alex groaned. "Now, I remember why I never wanted a boyfriend before."
"And now I know you do take after your dad in some respects," Will said.
"I also take after him in this section," Alex gestured to his dick.
"Gross, I don't want to know that," Will laughed.
"Hey, you're the one with a Kiriakis fetish," Alex defended, putting his hands back on Will's ass.
"I do not," Will huffed. "Besides, it's not like I ever slept with Sonny."
"Good," Alex grunted, yanking Will closer against him.
Will would have replied but got distracted by a dark car pulling up to the curb. A driver rushed out to open the door for Stefano DiMera.
Will nodded at the man when he walked past them.
"Why did EJ involve his father?" Alex asked Will, watching the old man climb the few stairs leading to the building.
"I don't know," Will said, pressing his lips together. "Stefano is intimidating. Maybe EJ just wants to use his presence to freak out Sonny."
"Hmm," Alex remarked. "I don't like it. He seemed a little too eager to help you."
"He's been weirdly interested in my life over the years," Will said. "Chad and him aren't that close. Johnny's so young and EJ's sort of a lost cause. I think Stefano sees me as a sort of surrogate grandchild. I don't know."
"One that he blackmails?" Alex asked.
"Comes with the territory," Will said. "I'm sure he'll want something from all of us in return."
"Oh, goodie," Alex said.
The two stood there for a few moments just enjoying each other's presence.
Thinking back on what Alex said before, Will asked, "why do you want me for a boyfriend?"
"Hmm?" Alex wondered, lost in thought.
"You must have had offers from guys and girls," Will pointed out. "So, why am I the first?"
"I don't know," Alex said, looking at Will. He meant it too. He wasn't being facetious. "I just, before, no one ever caught my attention for long. I got bored or annoyed. Any time someone got close, it felt like the walls were closing in on me. Sex was just a way to have fun. My role models growing up were my dad and Adrienne and my mom. I never saw the point in a relationship.
"But with you, I don't know. You don't make me feel like I'm losing a part of myself by being with you. Everyone else, they always pressured me for more than I felt comfortable giving. But you, kitten," Alex wrapped both arms around Will's waist, "you didn't ask for anything. In fact, I had to chase you."
"I didn't mean to," Will said. "I thought you were never interested in more than just sex. Now, that seems stupid, but at the time, it made perfect sense."
"That's why you went with Sonny?" Alex assumed. The situation was still sensitive to him.
"A little," Will admitted. "I mean, I did like Sonny. I liked him before I even met you. And you kind of crushed me when you brought that maid to your hotel. I ran into Sonny and he was offering all the things you couldn't, at least, not then."
Alex nodded. He got it. It didn't please him but he got it.
"Again," Alex gave Will a half-smile, "didn't pressure me. You let me figure out shit for myself."
"Well, I mean, so did you," Will said. "I had to figure out Sonny wasn't what I needed. Maybe he was before but not the person I am now."
"Now?" Alex asked.
"Now, I can only see myself with you," Will promised.
"Good," Alex said, kissing Will once again. Ignoring the sharp pain in his lip in favor of savoring Will.
The two kissed and kissed until the heard a choking sound behind them.
Separating, Will looked over his shoulder to see his cousin Nick standing behind them.
"Oh," Will gave Nick a sheepish look, "hi, Nick."
"Hi," Nick said, arms crossed over his chest, a cagey look in his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Will wondered.
Alex didn't say anything. He just watched Nick's reactions. Ever since their first meeting, Alex sensed something was off about the guy. Nick seemed like someone trying so hard to look normal.
"Meeting with my parole officer," Nick said.
"Cool," Will nodded, relaxing into Alex's hold. "I bet they don't have anything to worry about with you. I mean, you've got a steady job and a cool place to live. Plus, things with Gabi are going good. Well, I mean, that's what I overheard her telling Abby the other day."
"Right," Nick said.
Alex moved his hand into the back pocket of Will's jeans, gauging Nick's reaction. When Nick's eyes zeroed in on the motion, Alex raised his brows.
"Which one's Abby again?" Alex asked, tightening his hold on Will's butt.
Nick shifted, diverting his eyes.
"The blonde one," Will said. "You know, she's Adrienne's niece."
"Explains why I don't like her," Alex remarked.
"You're terrible," Will laughed.
"That's why you like me," Alex grinned, dimples showing.
Will melted, hands on Alex's cheeks.
Nick cleared his throat, unable to take any more of them.
"What?" Alex wondered with a smirk.
"Yeah, do you have to do that where anyone can see you?" Nick asked.
"You were kissing Gabi in the student union last week," Will said. "You didn't seem to care about PDA then."
"That's different," Nick argued.
"How?" Will wondered.
"Because we're guys, kitten," Alex said. "And that seems to make your little cousin uncomfortable. I wonder why that is."
"What?" Will frowned, looking at Nick in a new light. He didn't notice it before but Alex was right. Any time Will and Sonny touched each other in front of Nick, he squirmed.
"That's because what you do is sick," Nick mumbled.
"Oh, is that right?" Alex stood up straight, pushing off the retaining wall he sat on.
He was already worked up from the fight with Sonny earlier. He hadn't even begun to scratch the surface of his frustration.
"Don't," Will pushed Alex back down. He looked at Nick as if he never saw him before. "How can you even say that?"
"Gee, I don't know," Nick sneered. "Maybe because I've seen you all over his brother for weeks. And now this? Not to mention that little display at the mansion. I mean, do you throw yourself at everyone? Or just them?"
"Excuse me?" Will spat.
Will held his emotions under control with Sonny. He didn't go after Brian even though the guy was a massive douche. But he was not going to stand for his own cousin berating him for this.
When Will took a step forward, Alex pulled him back this time. He kept his arms around Will, so tight Will couldn't move.
Alex would have paid good money to see Will beat down Nick's smarmy face. He wasn't that stupid, though. Starting a fight in front of the police station wasn't a good idea, not even for someone as connected to the police as Will.
Alex had something else in mind for Nick. He took a look at their surroundings and noticed a car pulling into the adjacent parking lot.
"You know what, kitten?" Alex said in a silky smooth voice. He made a big show of caressing Will's ass. "I think he's just a little jealous."
Nick narrowed his eyes.
"I mean, he can't seem to stand you with other guys," Alex said. "Maybe he wants to fuck you himself."
Nick's face turned red as he trembled.
"Or have you fuck him," Alex shrugged, goading Nick. "He looks like a big, fat bottom to me."
"Shut the hell up, you stupid faggot," Nick sneered.
"Hey!" Will yelled. He didn't quite know what Alex was doing but he wasn't going to stand that kind of talk. Nick was everything Will feared coming out rolled into one. But Will learned to stand up for himself, learned there wasn't anything wrong with him. "Don't talk about my boyfriend like that."
"I got this," Alex said under his breath.
"Boyfriend?" Nick let out a bitter laugh. "Please, you're disgusting! You had a different 'boyfriend' last night. Who are you going to whore yourself out to next?"
Alex held Will even as he struggled to get away. Alex had a sudden appreciation for how rough EJ had it earlier holding back Sami.
"Trust me," Alex said. He pushed Will to the side and stood toe-to-toe with Nick. "Again, why are you so obsessed with Will? I was just joking about wanting him yourself but now I'm starting to think it's true. So, who's the whore now?"
Alex couldn't have timed Nick's reaction better. He anticipated what Nick would do and didn't try to defend himself. When Nick took a swing at him, Alex didn't duck. He just let it happen.
Will shouted as Nick threw himself at Alex again. Several people ran to pull Nick off of Alex, who let Nick hit him several times.
Will didn't understand at first. He knew Alex could have taken care of Nick with a few sharp punches. Then he recognized the people surrounding them, all police officers.
"He just started hitting this guy," one officer explained as he restrained a struggling Nick.
"Yeah, we saw the whole thing," another officer agreed. "Brady's grandson and this guy were minding their own business and this creep came up to them."
Will recognized the two police officers that arrived on the scene first. They'd known him for years.
"That's right," Alex said, holding onto his sore jaw. "He just hit me."
"That isn't true!" Nick sneered.
Sami and Anjelica skidded to a halt next to Will and Alex. All the police officers gave Sami a wide berth. EJ and the entire team of DiMera Enterprises lawyers pushed their way through the crowd.
"What's happening here?" EJ demanded, hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Nick attacked me for no reason," Alex told EJ, giving him a sharp look. He let go of his jaw to shove his hand in Will's back pocket.
"I see," EJ said. He looked at Alex's hand for a few moments before realization took over him. The group of lawyers started buzzing behind him. "Is it standard practice for the Salem PD to let parolees attack innocent bystanders?"
Roman sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He gestured with his hand and one of the officers slapped a pair of handcuffs on Nick.
Will watched as two police officers dragged Nick into the station and out of sight.
"How did you plan that?" Sami asked as the crowd died down.
"A natural talent for getting under people's skin and a flair for the dramatic," Alex responded. "I knew that guy was a freak."
"What's gonna happen to him now?" Will wondered.
"I'm sure his parole officer will love knowing he started a fight in front of the police station," Alex said. "In front of the police no less."
"I thought he got out of juvie," Will said.
"He didn't age out," Sami said. "Not that I know of, anyway. They let him out on good behavior. Now, he might have to go back."
"Good," Alex remarked, putting his arm back around Will's waist. "The fucker's obsessed with you," he told Will. "He was only gonna get worse."
"If you say so," Will remarked. He turned to EJ. "What happened?"
Stefano, taking his time coming out of the station, caught everyone's attention.
"It all went according to plan," EJ said. "I'll explain everything at the mansion. Let's go."
Will and Alex followed after Sami and EJ. No one turned their head when Sonny, Adrienne, and Justin walked out the police station.
Author's note:
Next chapter you'll find out what Sonny and Brian's punishment will be.
Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you thought.