Only One String Attached

Part 4

"So Katsuki, what do you do that pays you so well that you can afford to spoil Eijiro so well?" Denki questioned, as he moved to sit in one of the old overstuffed chairs set up next to the beat up couch that they had picked up at a thrift store.

"Denki!" Mina exclaimed, smacking his arm as she settled into the other chair. "You can't just ask stuff like that!" Then she turned to Katsuki, and smiled sweetly. "Although I am curious."

"I hate both of you." Eijiro groaned, dropping his head into his hands.

"It's fine." Katsuki murmured only loud enough for Eijiro to hear him, before he answered the question. "I'm the project head at a tech firm." Denki and Mina watched him closely, waiting for more information. When they realized that was all he was going to say on the matter, they exchanged looks.

"Which company?" Denki prodded, trying to push for more information.

"Not at liberty to say." Katsuki responded, his voice even and steady. Denki's eyes widened a little bit.

"So it's classified?"

"You could say that." Eijiro's eyebrows knit in confusion. When Katsuki had told him about his job, he didn't say anything about it being classified.

"Whoa. Ei, you never told me he was some government lackey." Denki accused, rapidly changing emotions flashing across his face.

"Who says it's for the government?" Katsuki asked, and Eijiro could see the corner of his mouth suppressing the smirk that very obviously wanted to appear.

Well at least he's having fun. Eijiro thought to himself. He watched the two of them go back and forth, Denki asking questions about his job and Katsuki giving vague or no answers. Mina caught his eye and gave him a grin and a wink, and although some of his anxieties subsided, butterflies remained in his stomach. He absent-mindedly ran a hand over his small, barely noticeable bump, letting his mind wander aimlessly, just listening to Denki questioning Katsuki relentlessly.

As his mind wandered, he felt a warm hand rest on his thigh. He blinked rapidly as if that would wipe his mind from the undirected thoughts flowing through his head, before focusing on Katsuki, who was still listening to Denki as he tried to negotiate a deal for answers on what Katsuki actually does. Eijiro reached over, and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze, causing the corner of Katsuki's lips to quirk up in a grin.

"You guys make such a cute couple." Mina grinned as she watched the two of them interacting. Katsuki stiffened next to Eijiro, before pulling his hand away gently and moving to stand.

"I need a cigarette." He said, before moving towards the front door. Eijiro watched his back, as he walked out, anxiety building again.

"Did I say something wrong?" Mina asked, looking at him expectantly.

"Maybe. Katsuki doesn't want anyone to get the wrong idea about our arrangement being a relationship." Eijiro murmured, his eyes still lingering on the front door, his body desperately wanting to chase after the alpha.

"Well with him being all touchy feely and doting on you, it's pretty easy to get that confused." Denki shrugged. "Seriously, I can tell he was trying to control his scent, but the possessive scent that rolled off him when Mina showed up earlier, was intense." Eijiro shrugged, turning his eyes back to his friends, who both gave him looks filled with something bordering pity.

"I'm fine." He assured them. "I know what our arrangement is, and I'm totally cool with that."

"Are you sure?" Mina questioned, her eyes scrutinizing his face.

"Yeah." He did his best, to keep his tone as upbeat as possible, to prevent any further questions about it. Of course he was happy with their arrangement, he just wanted Katsuki in his life. If something more came out of it, then he would be totally happy with that, but he was just content that the alpha wanted him around. Mina and Denki exchanged a look, but Eijiro ignored it as his phone vibrated. He used the notification as a welcome distraction from his two friends butting into his... arrangement.