Wash 16

Teddy leaned back on Drew's bed,

his gaze wandering across the dimly lit room.

A part of him still couldn't believe

he was actually here—in Drew's bedroom.

It felt surreal.

Before, Drew was just the guy he stared at from across the building,

a distant figure, a possibility that never quite felt real.

But tonight? He was here. Here, here.

A soft knock at the door.

Drew stepped in, carrying a steaming cup of chamomile tea

with tea petals- floating.

"I made this for you," Drew said,

his voice quieter than usual.

"How are you feeling now?"

Teddy accepted the cup,

his hands wrapping around the warmth.

"I think I'm okay. Just a headache- Thank you, Drew"

Drew moved closer, brushing his fingers through Teddy’s hair.

Each strand felt like delicate silk between his fingers,

a tapestry of moments and memories,

of tales, untold. Emotions, not revealed- yet.

Teddy’s hair felt soft yet—- tangled.

He let his touch linger for a second or two, before pulling away,

his lips pressing into a thin line as he turned toward the bedside table.

He grabbed a small first-aid kit, pulling out a white gauze pad.

Gently, he wiped away the dried blood at the edge of Teddy’s temple.

The touch was feather light, careful.

Teddy winced slightly, and Drew paused.

"Sorry," Drew murmured.

"It's okay," Teddy whispered back, watching Drew’s face,

the way his brow furrowed in concentration as he applied

the antibiotic ointment and secured a fresh gauze pad.

Teddy let out a small chuckle. "So you're a nurse now?"

Drew smirked but didn’t look away from his work.

"I can be. But only for you."

Teddy dropped his gaze.

Something in Drew’s words made his chest feel heavier,

like a weight he didn’t know how to hold.

Drew sat down beside him on the bed,

his warmth settling next to Teddy’s.

He took a breath. "I called my friend at the station and reported the incident.

They know Miguel. He has priors, so he’s already on their radar.

They asked if you want to press charges. If you want, we can do that

tomorrow…for now, you need to take things slow, to rest. Stay here,

at least for some days. Please. It’s better, more safer."

Teddy swallowed hard. His fingers curled tighter around the warm cup.

"I don't know, Drew. If I do, things will get even more complicated.

Maybe we should just let them handle it."

Drew clenched his jaw, his fist tightening at his side.

"Well," he said, "they have enough to hold him for his past charges.

If he ever comes back...he knows he’ll be facing this."

He raised his fist slightly before letting it drop back onto the mattress.

His voice softened. "Teddy, I don’t want this to happen again.

I got your back. I’ll do anything to make sure you don’t get hurt- again"

Teddy exhaled, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Thanks, Drew."

Drew pulled his phone from his pocket,

glancing at the screen before looking back up.

"Do you want to call your mom...or him?"

Teddy stiffened. His mother. Where the hell was she?

This wasn’t new. From time to time she always disappear.

She was probably drunk with her so-called friends, oblivious, unreachable.

And then there was Cliff.

Should he tell Cliff what happened?

Should he hear Cliff’s voice? Would it change anything?

To get Cliff involved. When—-he’s not even sure if there’s

something between him and Cliff aside from what happened at the

Conference table. But then— something is happening to him, right now.

RIGHT HERE.

Teddy turned to Drew, and in that moment, he saw it.

A flicker of something DEEPER.

A pain that ran silent but deep.

Drew couldn’t even say Cliff’s name.

Teddy reached out, gripping Drew’s hand.

"Drew..."

Drew looked at him. His fingers tightened slightly in response.

"Teddy..."

Teddy took a breath.

His heart was hammering against his ribs.

"I wish... I just wish things weren’t so complicated. I—"

Before Teddy could say anything, he choked.

The words wouldn't come out.

And that’s when Drew made a move.

Things happened so quickly.

Drew’s lips pressed against his, rough and desperate,

like a dam breaking after holding back a flood.

Teddy barely had a second to process— TO BREATHE

before he found himself kissing Drew back.

It was raw, it was intense, and FUCK, it felt good.

His tongue traced the curve of Drew’s mouth,

exploring, tasting, feeling every inch of him.

This was the Drew he fantasized about across the building,

the Drew who teased him through the window,

there are no more towels or curtains

that hides the feelings back,

the Drew who always felt just a little out of reach.

Tonight, that Drew was here.

Kissing him. Wanting him. Needing him.

And yet—

Teddy pulled back, panting.

His lips felt swollen, tingling.

His fingers clenched the sheets beneath him

like they were the only thing anchoring him.

Drew sat back against the bed, rubbing his mouth, his breathing just as uneven.

“Sorry, Teddy,” he muttered.

“I just—I couldn’t hold it anymore. I know after what just happened,

I shouldn’t—we shouldn’t. You need to rest.”

Teddy looked at him.

His lips, slightly parted, the pink of them darkened from their kiss.

His hands, clenched into fists against his thighs, knuckles pale.

He was holding back again. Fighting something inside him.

Teddy swallowed. “I don’t know what’s going on between me and Cliff.

I’m not sure where we really stand. But everything felt so... right and perfect.”

Drew’s jaw clenched, his fingers twitching.

“And us? Is there something going on between us, Teddy?”

Teddy exhaled, shaking his head.

“I don’t think this is right. You have a girlfriend. Clarisse.”

Drew scoffed. “The cupcake eater.”

Teddy snorted despite himself. “Yes, the Queen of cupcakes.”

Drew leaned back, running a hand through his hair.

“She’s pregnant, Teddy.”

Teddy stiffened. His throat went dry.

“Oh… congratulations?”

Drew laughed, but there was no humor in it.

“She’s not sure if it’s mine because, besides me,

she’s been banging the whole damn 18 squadrons.

So, technically, anybody could be the potential culprit.”

Teddy winced. “Drew—”

“Teddy, I’m not here to rush you,”

Drew cut in, voice thick with something almost pleading.

“But I need you to know that I’m offering you something different from Cliff.”

His fingers found the curve of Teddy’s neck, warm and steady,

his thumb ghosting over the pulse that hammered just beneath the skin.

He leaned in, his breath feather-light against Teddy’s ear,

and then, slowly, he bit down, gentle but firm.

Teddy shuddered.

Drew’s lips trailed along his earlobe, sucking lightly,

dragging soft groans from Teddy’s throat.

Every touch, every PRESS of his mouth, was slow, deliberate,

as if carving the words he couldn’t say directly into Teddy’s skin.

“My love,” Drew whispered,

his voice low, deep, curling around Teddy’s spine,

“is the kind of love that tells you I’m going to be here for you.

That you can rely on me. That you can trust me.

This is the kind of love that STAYS.”

Teddy’s breathing hitched.

“I know you’ve been watching me from MY window”

Drew continued, kissing the spot just beneath Teddy’s jaw,

letting his lips linger there.

“I know you’ve wanted me for so long.

Even before Cliff came into your life—even before that MOMENT you kissed

him downstairs—there was already us. It just took time to bloom.”

Teddy swallowed, staring at the chamomile tea beside the bed.

The petals swirled lazily on the surface, soft and fragile,

like the emotions twisting inside him.

“And Clarisse?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Drew exhaled, sitting back slightly. “What about her?”

“She’s your girlfriend. She has to know where you are.

If there’s a ‘we’—where are we?”

Drew smiled, something dark and teasing in the way his lips curled.

“So, you’re saying there’s a ‘we’ now?”

Teddy hesitated.

“I don’t know, Drew. I don’t know. I’m confused.”

Drew chuckled softly.

“Then let me confuse you even more.”

He pulled his shirt over his head, the fabric falling to the floor.

His pants followed. He stood there in just his underwear,

his body lean, taut muscles shifting under the dim bedroom light.

Teddy barely had a second to react before Drew was kissing him again,

This time he’s more DETERMINED.

More hungrier this time, fingers trailing down his neck,

over his chest, following the dips and curves of his abs.

His hand slipped past the waistband of Teddy’s underwear.

Teddy inhaled sharply.

Drew was touching him.

Really touching him.

It FEELS warm.

Drew’s touch as determined as it was, as hungrier as it was,

it feels gentle, soft and seductive.

IT WAS INTIMATE.

Teddy can’t help it anymore.

In one pull, Drew took everything off.

He again touch him THERE.

His hands trail against Drew’s back, feeling every intense muscles.

Drew’s skin feels like silk.

Teddy glides his hand downwards,

towards Drew’s underwear.

He slides it in, feeling Drew’s skin underneath his brief.

His mind reeled, every nerve in his body screaming,

His head fell back against the pillow,

his breath shuddering as he let the sensation take over.

And then—

A tear slid down his cheek.

Who was that tear for?

For Cliff? Because despite everything, he still loved him?

Or for Drew? Because tonight, he was finally giving in to him.

Teddy stared at Drew who’s now on top of him.

“Teddy—-can I?” Teddy nods as he closed his eyes.

And then he FELT Drew.

He was warm.

His movement was not rough

it was smooth. Intimate.

He looked up.

Drew was looking down at him.

Reassuring that he’s not hurting him.

Drew kissed him as he moves.

As Teddy responds to Drew’s kiss he felt

his tongue gliding across his inner lips.

Digging deeper.

Tracing every inch.

Teddy closed his eyes.

He felt the sudden rush of Drew’s warmth

intimately gliding inside him.

The heat rushed within.

He felt Drew’s gentle touch on his abs.

He’s wet. Drew’s finger gently glides,

all across his wetness.

The heat that rushed out.

Unnoticed yet Drew knew.

He was watching him all the time.

Drew rub his heat on his finger,

he’s still teasing him,

he placed it on his lips and to his.

And then- Teddy and Drew kissed again.

This time, it was slower.

More intimate.

Across the room, near the door, something shifted.

Clarisse stood there, frozen, a cupcake in her hand.

She had been there the whole time.

Her knuckles turned white around the paper cup,

the frosting melting against her fingers.

Her breath hitched, her vision blurred.

She turned, stepping back into the hallway,

pressing herself against the cold wall.

She slid down, her body folding in on itself.

A choked sob escaped her lips. Then another. And another.

The cupcake slipped from her fingers, landing on the floor beside her.

This was too much.

Drew was in love with someone.

And that someone was not her.

It was FUCKING Teddy.