(A/N): I had soooo much trouble writing the next chapter, 420- I'm still not really happy with it, but at least it's written.

Lisbet

We'd both had a hand on Leo's arm, Jerremyah and I. We'd both been looking at him with concern, and a sort of tender care that I'd only seen on Jerremyah's face a handful of times- it seemed as though that look might just be reserved for Leo. Or at the very least... for my kit. For my kit. We were both equally within reach- and yet, Leo had gone for Jerremyah. He'd dropped his head against Jerremyah's shoulder, and practically goaded Jerremyah into holding him.

I didn't blame him- either of them. This clearly hadn't been Jerremyah's intention- in fact, he looked just as shocked as I felt- and Leo... well, I couldn't fault him for seeking physical comfort from Jerremyah. I knew firsthand just how enticing that shoulder could be- and honestly, I couldn't be prouder. Not that long ago, Leo going to anyone for a hug would have been shocking- but then again, he and I had been hugging pretty much nonstop, all day. If he felt the need to push Jerremyah to hug him, then who was I to get in the way? No, I think instead, I would just take over Jerremyah's usual role whenever Leo and I embraced- or interacted, in general. I watched them very, very intently, from the sidelines.

There were a few seconds where Jerremyah hesitated- and then he crumbled, like I knew he would. It was just as much an instinct for him as it was for me, after all, and while I wouldn't say that Jerremyah had shown him to have a soft spot for Leo- at least, not out loud, not yet- he was... well... he'd always been the one with the stronger inclination toward... there was no other way to say it- toward a parental sort of tenderness.

Jerremyah's hand clapped down on the back of Leo's neck, and I watched those familiar fingers flex against the bare skin there before a second later, he hauled him into his chest. Leo's forehead had already been against his shoulder, and with this change he was forced to straighten a bit, so his chin slid to Jerremyah's shoulder instead. Jerremyah's other hand curled into a fist, and as he wrapped his arm around Leo's waist, slanted upward to rest along his spine, he thumped said fist against his back.

I winced a little, worried that Leo might take that the wrong way- it was a fist, after all, no matter how gentle it was- but in the end, Leo continued to surprise me. He simply pushed in closer, untangling his arms from around his own waist, so he could wrap them around Jerremyah's back. He wasn't purring- yet- but I could see that changing pretty easily- Leo had been surprisingly quick to purr, recently. In fact, he seemed to be triggered almost entirely by hugs... which meant it was probably just a matter of time. My goal was getting that to happen- not just because I loved to hear him purr, but also because I thought Jerremyah deserved to feel that feeling- the feeling of knowing that he was purring because of you.

"My sweet boys," I murmured, and I saw Jerremyah flush slightly, but I guess Leo was a bit too distracted for this now rather familiar term of endearment to have much of an effect on him. "Sweet, sweet boys." Jerremyah shot me a look, even as he tilted his chin against the side of Leo's head. "Do you have an issue with my nickname, dearest?" His expression was so dry, I don't know how he managed it with Leo still pressed up against him.

"I have an issue with you provoking me, while I have my fellow 'sweet boy' in my arms." I heard Leo huff quietly, and saw him sort of bonk the side of his head against Jerremyah's jaw- payback for Jerremyah's tilted chin, I suppose.

"Hm, that was the deal, wasn't it? I'd hate to renege on such a thing, especially to my- little one." Jerremyah stared at me with wide eyes, as I almost called Leo my kit to his face- luckily, he didn't seem to notice, mostly because Jerremyah had pulled him in tighter. I had no fear that he would hurt Leo- not even accidentally. Unless there was blood involved, Jerremyah was always unerringly careful- to a fault, really. No, Leo was at no risk.

Was I upset that Jerremyah had convinced himself that I had broken Leo's ribs, even by accident? ...well. Define 'upset'. It made me sad, and the very thought of it made me sick to my stomach, but I wasn't- I wasn't angry with Jerremyah for his brain coming to that conclusion, and I wasn't hurt by it. I knew that, in reality, it had nothing to do with me- and it wasn't even entirely about Leo, either.

It was somewhat about Leo, I was sure, but... well. Jerremyah had always been a bit paranoid about hurting people. Whether that was solely brought on by his control issues, or whether it had existed prior to that, caused by the physical harm he had experienced when he was still human, I didn't know. I doubted I would ever know. As he'd said, he hadn't exactly been prone to introspection before our relationship had... ended, so even if I felt like asking him about it, I doubted he would have an answer for me. And the only person that knew Jerremyah when he was human that was still alive was Nuria- but if that was something she'd taken notice of, I'd eat my hat. After all, if there was anyone that could rival Jerremyah's tendency toward a lack of introspection, it was his sire.

"That was the deal... yes." Jerremyah said cautiously- I think he was trying to cover for me, but if anything, he was only drawing more attention to my almost slip up. It was lucky then, that Leo was still distracted, being held rather securely to Jerremyah's rib cage.

"Technically, the deal was that we couldn't flirt, while he was between us. There was nothing about me 'provoking' you, while standing off to one side." But I knew Leo wouldn't care for the distinction, so I continued. "That doesn't matter, though- I'll stop. I wouldn't want to make either of my boys uncomfortable." Though they would certainly be uncomfortable for very different reasons. Jerremyah seemed to be attuned to my thought process, because he narrowed his eyes at me- fondly, but still.

"You know what else makes me uncomfortable?" Jerremyah prompted, and I expected it to be another insinuation or dirty joke, but it turned out to be nothing of the sort. Even if it had been, I wouldn't have minded it as much as I usually would, since that sort of thing apparently seemed to amuse Leo to no end. "Talking about my feelings." Leo let out another little huff, but this one was clearly a laugh, and I saw Jerremyah twirl a lock of Leo's hair in his fingers, where his hand still rested on the back of Leo's neck- as if he was trying to punish him, as minimally as possible.

Leo drew back slightly, and I saw the radiant grin on his face. "You know, when I first met you, I never would have thought we had so much in common." Jerremyah rolled his eyes at him, but it was exceptionally indulgent.

"Because I was a huge, throbbing prick?" I blinked heavily, and my shock and confusion only got stronger as Leo started to snicker- like this wasn't something at all surprising, but instead, comical.

"You are known for that, yes." ...? I mean, he wasn't wrong, but how did Leo know that? Jerremyah gave him a look that was both proud and knowing, like... like Leo was quoting him. Ah, that made sense, then- that absolutely sounded like something Jerremyah would say.

"To be fair," Jerremyah said, squeezing the back of Leo's neck carefully- almost reassuringly. "I didn't think we'd have anything in common, either. Other than-" He cut himself off, and Leo furrowed his eyebrows at him.

"Other than what?" He asked, but Jerremyah still hesitated. "Please, continue." His jaw worked, as if he needed to warm it up before the words could come out.

"Other than the fact that we're both rather attached to our dear Lisbet, here." Oh... Leo's face split into one of the widest grins I had ever seen- in general, not just from him.

"You mean the fact that we both love her?" Oh. Oh, Leo... Jerremyah's smile was smaller, but infinitely softer- much more tender- and then his eyes flicked sideways and met mine, meaningfully.

"Yeah." He said exceptionally softly. "That's exactly what I mean."

(A/N): Lisbet: 'My kit. MY kit. MY kit... not OUR kit...'

also

Lisbet: 'Hm, that was the deal, wasn't it? I'd hate to renege on such a thing, especially to my- little one.'

Jerremyah: *panics*

Jerremyah: 'Quick, cover! Cover!'

Jerremyah: 'That was the deal... yes.'

Lisbet: 'Subtle.'

Leo: 'Jerremyah is surprisingly warm... and I think we use the same soap.'

also

Leo: 'I didn't think we'd have anything in common, when we met.'

Jerremyah: 'I didn't think we'd have anything in common, either.'

Lisbet: 'This is somehow both incredibly distressing, and incredibly cute.'